COMPLETING THE TEMPLE
This Masonic homily was presented at the opening exercises
of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina, at Charleston, April
27, 1967, by the R.W. Grand Chaplain, Rev. Brother Eugene G.
Beckman, who has graciously consented to its publication as
a Short Talk Bulletin.
Text: "So Solomon built the house and finished it."
I KINGS, 6:14
Every Mason is interested in the building of a temple. The
first concern of every Masonic Lodge, after it is
constituted, is to secure a place to meet. Some Lodges are
fortunate. They are able to erect a temple a year or two
after they have been organized. Others have to wait years
before they are able to own a temple. As a Grand Lodge
officer it is my happy privilege to have a part in the
laying of a cornerstone or dedicating a new temple. It
thrills us to be called upon to do this, because it is a
sign of progress, and a new temple always brings joy to the
hearts of our Craftsmen.
Every Mason is interested in King Solomon's Temple. We are
all familiar with the vital part this building plays in
Masonry. Solomon was anointed king before his father David
died. "And they blew the trumpet, and all the people said,
God save King Solomon. And all the people rejoiced with
great joy."
Then David charged his son to build a house for the Lord God
of Israel. "My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build
this house. But the word of the Lord came to me saying, thou
shalt not build an house unto My name, because thou hast
shed much blood upon the earth. Behold, a son shall be born
unto you, and he shall build an house for My name. Now, my
son, the Lord be with you."
The land was at peace, and his kingdom was established
greatly. "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding
exceeding much, and largeness of heart." With the material
his father had prepared, and with help from Hiram, King of
Tyre, Solomon built the Temple. "So Solomon built the Temple
and finished it." He overlaid the Temple within with pure
gold. "In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of
the Lord laid, and in the eleventh year was the house
finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to
all the fashion of it." As long as the world stands, Solomon
will be remembered for his constructive accomplishment.
Just as the king was engaged many years in erecting a temple
to Almighty God, we too, as Masons, are builders. We are not
called upon to erect an earthly temple that must finally
crumble into dust; we are called upon to build a temple of
the spirit, and to establish the Kingdom of God on earth,
that the glory and the knowledge and the love of God may
cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Therefore, let
us learn from that prince of builders, King Solomon, the
principles of construction which, if we follow them, will
assure the success that all of us desire to accomplish.
When the opportunity presented itself to King Solomon to do
a worthwhile thing for God, he looked upon it as God's plan
for his life. The record tells us that Solomon sent word to
Hiram: "You know that David, my father, could not build this
house for the wars which were about him. Now the Lord hath
given me rest on every side, and I purpose to build it, for
the Lord spake unto my father, saying, Thy son shall build
an house unto My name."
Then Solomon placed an order for several million dollars'
worth of cedars and firs. He sent ten thousand men a month
to help cut and hew the timber. At home he had seventy
thousand men that bore burdens, and eighty thousand hewers
of stone. When the opportunity came, Solomon realized that
it was God's plan for his life.
Not all men possess the ability to recognize opportunity.
Some, more than others, can visualize the tide which leads
on to fortune. As with the boy Samuel of old, some ears are
more sensitive to the voice of God than others. But while we
cannot all see the opportunity or hear the voice of God
equally well, everyone who turns to God, and says, "Lord,
what wilt Thou have me to do?" will discover something which
the Great Architect wants him to be and to do. God has a
plan for every man's life, - that he build a life that will
glorify Him and be a blessing to the world.
Not only did Solomon discover God's plan for his life, but
he proceeded to follow that plan. What kind of Temple did
God want him to build? It was not enough to get timber and
stone, silver and gold; all these things had to be put
together according to a plan -the architect's design. Things
do not work themselves out. Buildings are not erected by
heaping timber and stones and bricks upon one another. They
are built according to a plan.
God has a plan for our lives, and God expects us to work
with Him. God did not build the Temple Himself. He put it
into the heart of David and Solomon to do it.
The building of the Temple was no simple undertaking.
Solomon followed the plan, and we read: "In the eleventh
year was the house finished throughout all the parts
thereof, and according to all the fashion of it." Masons
must exhibit something of the wisdom of Solomon and plan
carefully their lives after the ideal plan of the Great
Architect of the Universe. They must devote to their tasks
the same scrupulous care that Solomon gave to designing and
building the Temple.
Having found God's plan, and having done his utmost to give
this plan shape and form by purchasing cedars and firs from
Hiram, and by hewing great and costly stones in his own
country, Solomon faithfully executed those plans. He had
faith to believe that even so Herculean a task as that could
be accomplished, and he had the courage to tackle the job.
If ever there was a day when such men are needed, surely we
are living in that day. If the grave perils that threaten
mankind are to be overcome, we must have men. If principles
of right living are to have sway in the hearts of the
masses, we must have men. We are living in a grand and a
fearful time. As we meditate upon these things, well may our
prayer be, "God give us men!"
"God give us men whose aim `twill be
Not to defend
some outworn creed,
But to live
out the laws of God
In every
thought and word and deed.
"God give us
men alert and quick
His lofty
precepts to translate,
Until the
laws of God become
The laws and
habits of the State.
"God give us men with hearts ablaze,
All truth to
love, all wrong to hate;
These are the
patriots America needs,
These are the
bulwarks of the State."
The Masonic Lodge can make a real contribution to the world
by producing such men. If we really put into practice the
great precepts we are taught in Lodge, we can become such
men.
What are some of the perils that threaten mankind? One of
the cruelest is prejudice. By its nature the Masonic Lodge
is in a favorable position to make a real contribution
toward the elimination of prejudice of every kind. Having in
our membership persons of different creeds, of many races,
languages and customs, men from all walks of life, men who
put their trust in Almighty God, the Great Architect of the
Universe, our Masonic Lodge can point the way by example as
well as by precept to the Brotherhood of Man.
Another peril is nationalism. In a large measure selfish
nationalism plunged the world into war twice in our
lifetime. Nationalism threatens the peace of the world
today. International brotherhood cannot be established by
suspicion, envy, jealousy, distrust of the motives of
others. In our international relationships, as in our
personal affairs, the spirit of love and trust and concern
must play a prominent part. Masons can make a real
contribution here.
Another peril is the widespread carelessness and
indifference respecting one's obligation to God and to one's
fellowmen. If our country and world are to be brought to a
proper recognition of the place of God in human life, we -
who profess to know Him must let our faith shine through our
works. Only when we give ourselves to responsible living
with the self-abandon that Solomon gave to the building of
the Temple, can we achieve the victory that came to him. As
Masons we are taught "never to commence any great or
important undertaking, without first invoking the blessing
of Deity"; we can make a real contribution here.
A magnificent organ was installed in a great cathedral. No
one but the organist himself was allowed to play that
instrument. One day, while the musician was out for lunch, a
visitor came and persuaded the sexton to allow him to play
the organ. A few minutes later the organist returned to the
cathedral. When he heard some intruder playing, he was
furious. But he paused when he reached the choir-loft. He
had never heard such music before. He wanted to hear more.
By and by the music ceased. The two musicians introduced
themselves. What was the astonishment of the organist when
he discovered that the man whom he at first regarded as an
intruder was no other than Felix Mendelssohn! Only a master
could get from that instrument the wonderful music it was
designed to give forth.
Likewise, it is only when we yield the heartstrings of our
lives to the Great Musician, the Great Architect of our
lives, that we can produce the heavenly harmonies that they
are designed to render.
God grant that when the evening of life approaches for you
and for me, it may be truly said of us that the house that
God intended us to build has been completed. Then shall we
hear the commendation and welcome: "Well done, good and
faithful servant, enter into the Temple and City of our.
God."
"O keep us building, Master, may our hands
Ne'er falter
when the dream is in our hearts,
When to our
ears there come Divine commands,
And all the
pride of sinful will departs;
We build with
Thee; O grant enduring worth
Until the
Heavenly Kingdom comes on earth."
In the words
of King David, I say to you as fellow-Masons:
"Arise
therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with you."
"We are blind
until we see
That in the
Universal Plan
Nothing is
worth the making
If it does
not make the man.
"Why build
these cities glorious
If man
unbuilded goes?
In vain we
build the world
Unless the
builder also grows."
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