MASONRY: NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL

Where I practice Freemasonry, we import history to mix with the young wine of a start up nation. Once, not so long ago our learning was sourced in our Grand Lodge. Gradually science moved forward. New and fascinating uses were commericalized, especially in forms of communication. A simple picture of the earth floating in a black abyss of space came into our thinking the same way the view of a height always fascinated humans.  From a day when mathematics and engineering were thought to be magic that warranted protection from the public connecting and sharing ideas overcame all barriers, manmade or otherwise.  In a way, time and space was conquered.  Immediately we took up the new tools and began exploring masonic sources worldwide.  Ready or not, we began a comparitive analysis. And of course we ignored context. We happily compared apples and oranges. Enriched masonic environments were joined with modest architecture. And guess what happened?  Questions. How do we get there from here?  Can we build on pre-fabricated plans?  We surged ahead with a post-war membership that put to rest any sense of shortsighted thinking. Expansion left us breathless.  Sustainability?  Why would we ask? We were still building.  This is why, today as the lost lessons of freemasonry come to task us we have answers. We are not sitting on the edge of the event horizon. We are there in hope, waiting for the courage to grip us and help us stumble forward. Without the fearlessness of youth, we rest on reason to take us to the next level.  In the upside down world of masonry, change has begun at lodge level. Our Grand Lodges to preserve the ancient landmarks and Constitutional proggatives need to harvest proof the new tools will be purposeful to our Order.  While most of todays communication is positive, it does come with unintended consequence. Meanwhile we search the far corners of the earth for answers.