My Masonic Brethren of Louisiana:
I appreciate the opportunity to communicate to you through the website and look forward to frequently keeping you updated with information, or thoughts for reflection.
Brethren, I fear our MASTER’S WORD IS LOST! It is one of our landmarks, that the first and greatest light in Masonry, The Holy Bible, be placed upon our altar, and at every occasion be opened to be a rule and guide to our labors. In this current society, the Word of God has been removed from our Schools, our Court Rooms and almost every aspect of our daily life. Legend has it that the Masons once preserved the Word by hiding them in columns and caves. I feel it is incumbent upon us to again protect God’s Word by using it in our Lodge meetings, listening with an attentive ear and depositing it in our hearts. As my first official act, I am issuing a Strong Directive that will require the Chaplin or other qualified member in the Lodge to read a passage from the Great Light in Masonry, as the first order of Business, after the lodge is opened. The Grand Chaplin will issue a list, on a monthly basis, of suggested readings, which may be used, or your Lodge Chaplin may select passages of his choice. The books of Wisdom of Solomon (Proverbs and Ecclesiastes) would be a good place to start. It would be my desire that this simple act of using the Holy Bible as the rule and guide to our faith and practice would become so pervasive and so informative as to become a way of life in every one of our Lodges. The Word of GOD never results in a void, so I am confident every man and Lodge participating will benefit.
As Masons we should cooperate with our leadership, even when we do not necessarily agree. We should endeavor to be the brothers, one to another, we profess to be. If we do not visibly display the qualities that set us apart from the rest of the world, then we are no different from those outside of our Fraternity. Our fraternity cannot sustain itself without true brotherly love, which we profess to have for one another. We talk about guarding the secrets of Freemasonry and yet are so afraid that we might reveal them, we forget to practice one of the greatest secrets and benefits of our Fraternity. The great secret can only be obtained by practicing an elevated morality and through personal growth. That secret, which words cannot describe, that makes the Mason’s heart leap with Comfort, Trust and Camaraderie when he meets and recognizes a NEW brother, instantly knowing here is a man on which to rely.
Let us resolve to be that BROTHER you expect others to be to you, let us resolve to offer our very best to each other and our fraternity, and most importantly let us resolve to build our lives by the rules and guides our Father, The Great Architect of the Universe has set out for us.
Fraternally and Sincerely;
H. Edward Durham
Grand Master