As I
sat at my desk and opened my lodge folder, I couldn’t believe that it had been
over a year since I found myself participating in a degree conferral. At the
same time, I was excited at the prospect of being able to attend extra meetings
throughout the remainder of the year. There have been some good men who have
already entered the fraternity and a number of other men who have demonstrated
interest. Additionally, we have already had some great brothers transfer to our
lodge. It is quite the interesting group that we have brought together but also
a group of brothers passionate in their own ways about the freemasonry and
eager to do their part to improve the fraternity.
I
have always enjoyed extra meetings as it is a time when we all come together to
continue someone on their masonic journey but it is also a time when we are a
little more relaxed when beyond the outer doors. The same can be said about
fellowship nights but there is something about the purpose and importance of
degree nights that resonates on a much deeper level for me. The simple fact of
the matter is that we are all choosing to be at the lodge and participate in
these important occasions not just because we believe it to be expected of us
but because we enjoy the company of our brothers.
Throughout
the night there was a welcoming atmosphere felt by all, newly passed brothers
and all others sitting in chairs and on the sidelines. To my recollection, this
is a completely different feeling than that which I experienced during the last
conferral for which I was in attendance. And it was a great mix of masons from
those who are approaching 50 years in the fraternity to those who upon which
the last bestowed. All of us present for a singular purpose… to further our
collective progress on our respective masonic journeys.
These
are the nights when I walk back to the car and drive home feeling as though I
have helped to accomplish something… I have participated in something much
great than myself. While this is certainly part of stated meetings as well, it
is a much more pronounced emotion following the conferral of degrees. What is additionally
satisfying about these nights is that soon the men whom I witnesses advancing to
the next degree may be the ones conferring those degrees in the future. After
all, while I wasn’t present for the meeting, I know that it has already
happened once during my short time as a mason.
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