more light #48
The Worshipful Master Is Master Of The Lodge
by Douglas Smith, Jr., P.G.M. - Virginia
From the Philalethes Magazine 1969
Published
by Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Minnesota
5 December 2005
A few pointed paragraphs which may be helpful in the conduct of the affairs
of the Master's office
BE MASTER!
Act like one . . . in your bearing be worthy of the title which sets you
apart for the time.
a. Be dignified, but not stuffy. In dress, in carriage, and in behavior in
the Lodge.
b. Be friendly, but not frivolous in handling your Lodge or its business.
c. Be firm of opinion, but not inflexible - your election carries with it
no sign of infallibility - even Worshipful Masters may err in judgment.
d. Be courageous, but not cocky. The small man throws his weight about; the
big man uses the weight of his judgment and ability to carry his point of
view.
e. Be exemplary, but not sacrosanct. Feigned piety and self-deification can
destroy the value of an otherwise conscientious living of Masonic principles.
BE PREPARED!
a. Be well informed in the Ritual and its meaning, but delegate its
performance to your officers.
b. Be well informed as to your duties and responsibilities. Study the
Officers' Manual and the Methodical Digest.
c. Be prepared for each meeting - you tell the Secretary what the minutes
will be, and share an agenda with your officers.
d. Plan well ahead - even though you may find a change necessary, you can't
always get the program you want on the spur of the moment.
e. Time is of the essence - check it for the minutes, for the Ritual, for
balloting, for Catechisms, and business - if you are overlong, hold a second
meeting.
f. Delegate authority - a good leader directs others and doesn't try to do
it all himself.
SHOW LEADERSHIP IN ACTION!
a. Be the first to sympathize and congratulate - in the latter case,
especially the new Initiates and members who have done outstanding acts in the
community.
b. Be the last to condemn before knowing the facts - many Lodges and good
Masons have been ruined because of hasty conclusions based on unfounded
gossip.
c. Be always available and never too busy to lend an understanding ear to
the problems of your members. Many will come to you BECAUSE you are the
Worshipful Master.
d. Be the first to whisper good counsel in the ear of an erring Brother -
sometimes it takes more courage than you believe yourself to have, but often
it may save a life.
LIVE A BELIEF IN MASONRY AND ITS PRINCIPLES
a. Believe with a great faith in God - Freemasonry does not concern itself
with what you believe, but that you believe in God the Creator of all things
and without this, all else is lost.
b. Believe with your whole heart that there is a Modern Mission for Masonry
in our time. If you think that Masonry is passé and that it has been
superseded by civic clubs and other like organizations, then your contribution
to its future is limited.
c. Believe that your Lodge and you have a destiny to help meet this
challenge, and resolve to make it and you a part of it!
HOPE
Have an eternal hope that the battle is to be won by a continuous fight for
that which is good in life.
LOVE
You must love to love people and like things. There is a brief story about a
young man and his older sister who on one occasion averred, "I love ice cream."
He sagely observed, "No, sister, you like ice cream - you love people."
"HE WHO WOULD BE MASTER MUST FIRST BE SERVANT OF ALL."
In fine:
If you have the wisdom of Solomon; the patience of Job; and the love as
described by St. Paul in the 11th Chapter of First Corinthians, you have the
basics of becoming a great Worshipful Master.
GOOD LUCK - AND GOD BE WITH YOU
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