REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEONE
This challenge was made to the Masons of Rhode Island by Past Grand Master
Menge. We thank him for permitting its use as a Short Talk Bulletin. It contains
a lot of food for thought.
Freemasonry, is it the same as yesteryear? Are our accomplishments as great?
Is our work as meaningful? Are Masons as charitable as they once were?
There are many beautiful faces to Masonry: the child who walks through life
instead of crawling; the child who goes to sleep minus the pangs of hunger; the
child who wakes up to see that Santa did not pass him or her by; the child who
at least for a moment escapes the ghetto and sees nature in full bloom; the
young people who can further their education because scholarship money is
available; the Masonic Widow who is given support to face life after her loss;
the fallen Brother who ever so gently is lifted back to his feet; the Masonic
Homes for the elderly where care and love abound.
An organization thrives when it is needed and wanted, much as a person
thrives when he or she is needed and wanted. Take away the need, take away the
want and it or they weaken and become ineffectual.
Is the Masonry of today growing by taking in members based on the same ideals
and motivation as yesterday, or is it taking in bodies merely to perpetuate
itself? Are we losing our identity and becoming a social club rather than the
benevolent Fraternity that we started as?
How often do we hear the phrase that we are living in a time of change? Ask a
person who is one hundred years old and he or she will tell you they've been
hearing it for as long as they can remember. Yes, we are living in a time of
change and will continue to do so for as long as we live; but the basic
foundation of life, the concepts of Freemasonry never change, nor, God willing,
wil they ever.
Much has been said in our recent past about members of our Fraternity, who
upon completion of their degrees, step forth from their symbolic lodge room
to return no more. Maybe we failed in our degree work to light the flame. There
are a number, who for reasons known only to themselves, do join our Fraternity
with no intention of ever being active; do pay their monetary dues, stay on the
rolls and in due time receive their twenty-five year medal. So mote it be.
Then there are those Brothers who take their Third Degree, pause momentarily,
then move on to end up workers in Scottish Rite, York Rite or Shrinedom. No
criticism here for they simply found their own Masonic niche in life and the
opportunity to work and live their Masonic teachings, possibly with an opportunity not offered in their Blue Lodge.
There can be little controversy when it is said that Masonry is not as
prominent in the community as it was years ago; but what organization is? Times
and people change as do many of the human needs and wants. In the not too
distant past the social needs of the destitute, the handicapped and the elderly
without family were taken care of in any community by people within the various
religious bodies, veterans groups and the fraternal organizations, with the
local Masonic lodge playing a low key but prominent part. Masonry was known,
respected and membership in it was sought after. Times changed and what was once
a major reason for our growth and very existence, became a responsibility of the
state and federal governments. Agencies and departments were formed on both
the state and federal levels, programs initiated to make the lives of our senior
citizens more secure. All well and good; a commendable project on the part of
farsighted planners in our state and federal legislatures. Unfortunately,
however, in many instances, the human, personal touch was gone.
While Masons took on new ways in which to give of themselves, the hospitals,
the eye banks, the kidney foundations, scholarships, all to our credit; the
mystique, and much of the personal aspects took a back seat. Apologies are not
necessary, for we still stand tall. We can continue to be proud that our Craft
does not fail in works of charity. No organization is richer in benevolence.
However, is it possible that to a great extent we, like the government, have
lost the personal touch? Maybe for too long we have thought of charity and money
as being synonymous. Money has its place, is needed and provides for untold acts
of charity; but it is not all, and does not fulfill our obligation. Indeed
maybe we have for so long linked charity with the giving of money that the word
has all but lost its meaning. A notable exception is in the great benevolent
work of the M.S.A. Hospital Visitation Program, which indeed does "reach out and
touches someone."
In his sublime hymn in praise of charity, in the thirteenth chapter of
Corinthians, St. Paul does not mention money at all, except to say, "And
although I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and have not charity, it
profiteth me nothing. "
There is a Russian story in which a poor man asked aid of another who was as
poor as himself: "Brother, I have no money to give you, but let me give you my
hand" was the reply. "Yes, give me your hand for that also is a gift more
needed than all others," said the first.
We do stand tall, but we can stand taller still if we answer but one of the
most pressing challenges to confront our nation today,-that of our elderly
citizens. Here is a challenge to Masonry that staggers the imagination.
In 1900, four percent of our total population was 65 years or older. Now we
are rapidly approaching a figure of fifteen percent, and the percentage figure
will continue to rise.
In the early history of this land, generation after generation of a family
lived side by side in the same community, worked and played and were in daily
contact. Even today, contrary to a common notion, many elderly persons still
have daily or at least frequent contact with their children. A recent nationwide
survey indicates that most older people live relatively close to at least one of
their children and that contacts with the children are frequent. But, what about
those elderly who do not fall into this category?
When children lose their parents and become orphans, adoption often follows.
Might Masons and Masonry consider adopting an elderly person or couple who have
lost their children or whose children are miles away? An interesting concept, a
charitable and loving concept, and possibly a challenge to Masonry.
There are many ways in which Masons and Masonry can help. When we say
Masonry, we include all of the bodies of Scottish Rite and York Rite, Eastern
Star, Amaranth, White Shrine, Rainbow, DeMolay, Job's Daughters--not one body is
excluded.
Here is a true story that was related to us recently: A woman in her
nineties, a widow for many years, living in her own third floor apartment with
a mentally retarded son who is in his sixties. Up until now she has managed to
take care of her home, doing all of the cooking, cleaning and shopping. Her son
helps her to the best of his mental ability. He is now bothered with bursitis in
both shoulders and will not go shopping with her and absolutely refuses to carry
the grocery bundles up the stairs. She contacted the Department of Elderly
Affairs with the request, "Can someone come to help me carry my groceries up the
stairs? I live on the third floor, you know, and it takes me ever-so-long to
make those stairs. I have to go real slow 'cause my heart is not that good any
more."
A whisper for help, a whisper for charity, a whisper for love. Brethren, here
is a challenge for Masonry that staggers the mind. Here is an opportunity to put
Masonry back in the community as in yesteryear. Very simply put, we in the
Masonic family can enable isolated and home-bound older people to live more
comfortably and decently within their own homes by providing assistance with
some of their daily needs, Just a little love, just a little understanding.
Through our lodges, chapters and assemblies, we can enable the isolated and
home-bound people to participate in community life through activities,
socialization and communication. Their lives will be enriched, the communities
will benefit, and last but certainly not the least, our Masonic family will
become richer in spirit knowing that we are living the creed that forms the
foundation of our Fraternity.
The state agencies along with the federal help provide many of the
desperately needed aids for our senior citizens, but there are just not enough
people or dollars to do all that is needed.
President Reagan has indicated to the people of this nation that there are
many facets of federal help that should and could be taken over by the private
sector. We in the Masonic family are now being presented with the opportunity
to put into practice those ideals which we profess to hold so dear.
A program could be instituted whereby referrals through the elderly state
agencies could be made to a committee chairman in each lodge, when the personal
touch, the truly "I do care" was needed.
A simple phone call once a day just to show someone cares that they are alive
and well can serve as a life-line.
Those of us in the Masonic family who have special gifts, like the know-how
of caning chairs, cake decoration, quilting, flower arrangement, might hold
get-togethers with our elderly at housing for the elderly units, elderly meal
sites, Nursing Homes, or our lodge buildings, and give of our talents.
Might there not be an "around the house project" for the younger set in our
Masonic family, the young men and women of DeMolay and Rainbow and Job's
Daughters? Those daily phone calls could include the question, "Can I pick up
anything at the store for you today? "
Holidays are usually a time of gladness and family get-togethers. They can
also be a time of sadness when there is no family to join. If they are adopted
then they would have the family and the happiness that goes with it.
It takes little imagination to see what this could do for Masonry. Better
still, think what a program such as this would do for those who participate.
They would truly experience the inner warmth that has permeated our Fraternity
since the very beginning.
You may recall reading an essay written by Washington Irving in which he
stated that, "He who plants an oak looks forward to future ages, and plants for
posterity. Nothing can be less selfish than this. He cannot expect to sit in its
shade nor enjoy its shelter, but he exults in the idea that the acorn which he
has buried in the earth shall grow up into a lofty tree and shall keep on
flourishing and increasing and benefiting mankind long after he shall have
ceased to tread this earth."
Our Masonic forefathers planted an acorn many centuries ago which has grown
into a lofty monument and as the mighty oak, provides a refuge for the weak, a
shelter for the oppressed, a defense for the defenseless, as does our Fraternity
provide Faith, Hope and Charity for our needy Brothers. Once again, we in
Masonry have an opportunity to flourish in our communities giving to our
elderly citizens that life blood which has surged through our root system. Faith
that there can be a bright tomorrow; Hope when the burdens of life seem to
bear down too hard; and the Charity of Love.
How often have you been asked the question, "What Is Masonry?" How often
have you heard or been a part of a discussion involving the need of Masonic
exposure? Much has been said and written about "public relations" and the need
to publicize the many charitable deeds performed by our Masonic bodies. The
picture in the paper of the check being presented, the list of students
receiving the Masonic scholarships is fine, but the grass roots approach of
"Reach Out and Touch Somebody".... Are we what we claim to be? Can we meet the
challenge?
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