STATING THE OBVIOUS

Being an emerging culture, in a young, aspiring nation, spread over 5 time zones where a good quality of life, governing an educated population capable of critical thinking- that was and is fertile ground for Masonry in Upper Canada where today, I find myself musing on stale preoccupations over the condition.   Pressed so closely into the trees, we haven't seen the forest for over a hundred years so it surprises some that communities are evolving, people are moving around, lodges are fading as naturally as the change of seasons.  Freemasonry has travelled well across thousands of km of ocean, yet with an immediacy borne out by our history. Without the benefit of a gentry, or merchantile elite,  Masonry has grown from the middle leaning toward all the benefits and pitfalls of elected accountabilities.  Were we enough?  We were pious enough? Were we without complaint? Were expectations in line?  Did we meet expectations?   Fascinated though we might be by the history this mysterious alchemy of applied Arts and Sciences, we have out of necessity had to create much of the context ourselves.  Fortunately, accelerated migration and a strong work ethic handed us unchallenged source of new members. Perhaps it is unfair to compare the enthusiasm with the South Sea bubble except that it suits us.  the 1720's were are different time. Right you are.  Unlike those Scots, we  didn't aspire to establish a new world trading block promising huge returns for those adventurous enough to invest. But armed with hind-sight we can find a parallel; disappointment when reality overtook enthusiam.  In fairness, we made masonry accesible across and enormous landmass without precident.  And it worked, initially. When the forces that gave rise to unrestrained growth adapted, there for everyone to see, unfortunately our unchecked aspirations did not. Until now.