A Vision of Freemasonry in Maine
The mission of Masons, Masonic Lodges, and Masonry, is to
enable men to associate freely and improve themselves in an environment
characterized by equality, community, opportunity, charity and security.
To that end we share the vision of a Masonic Lodge which
offers a Mason an opportunity to participate in an environment where every
man is treated as an equal and with respect. Masonry regards no man for
his worldly wealth or honors. He is judged only on the principles he lives
by. Equality is the first principle of Masonry, and our Founding Fathers,
many of whom were Masons, made this principle a cornerstone of the new
Republic.
We share the vision of a Masonic Lodge characterized by
community. Masons have long held that we bring together on common ground
men from every country, sect and opinion, men who would otherwise have
remained at a perpetual distance: older Masons, younger Masons, long time
Masons, brand new Masons. A Lodge is s place where all mix freely with
each other. Maine is the least ethnically diverse state in the Nation,
but true to this principle, it should set an example of diversity in this
state.
We share the vision of a Masonic Lodge which offers a Mason
an opportunity to improve himself and to grow in wisdom. Indeed, the opportunity
for self-improvement was the source and original purpose of speculative
Masonry. We do this, perhaps most importantly, by making an effort to
provide good examples to each other and by exemplifying for each new candidate
and for each other, the great allegory of Free Masonry - the story of
the stone mason as he progresses in life from youth, through manhood to
old age. We learn by coming to know the explanatory lectures in our hearts
because we know them by heart.
We share the vision of a Masonic Lodge which enables a Mason
to join other good men in doing acts of charity. Charity, a term from
our Ritual is taken from the King James version of the Bible which today
is often translated as "love", carrying the connotation of a
generous-spirited and giving relationship. Lodges are not service clubs,
but they do provide a structure where good men can join together and accomplish
good things, and Masons do good works far out of proportion to their numbers
and at every level, from the monumental achievements of the hospitals
built by Shrine Masons over the years to small acts of caring and sensitivity
shown to older Masons and their wives.
We share the vision of a Masonic Lodge that offers an environment
where men can be safe from stress and petty contention. In the words of
the closing charge a Lodge is a "Sacred retreat of friendship and
virtue". A Lodge is an environment where everyone knows that we will
meet on the level, in equality, and where we will part on the square,
having been dealt with fairly and where they are secure in the knowledge
that we will be dealt with fairly the next time we meet. A lodge characterized
by equality, community, opportunity, charity and security is the vision
we share.
