PROOFING

Can you imagine a world before freemasonry?  It's hard, especially in a time of excess and indulgence, to always appreciate how ground breaking masonry was in the day when religiouis persecution was rampant and when despots flexing their muscle tried to define their values as our own.  Over time, science prevailed. When it broke through, it was more a way of thought than a single event.  We became instantly captured by the potential. Our best and brilliant minds sacrificed for the betterment of one and all, including the illiterate and disenfranchised.  One segment of society who had advantage took on responsibilty for another.  Relationships were being redefined.  Science helped us assign genius where it was found, not with the gentry. Mouth to ear teaching made it possible long before we had permissions from an artificial authority. One man trusting another, to exchange secrets. We were ready to protect that link because we valued it.  Even today, we find children of disadvantage achieving greatness, while men continue to suppress them. By comparison, masonic values and principles could easily fall into the 'too good to be true' category. Maybe the reaction isn't entirely cynical. Maybe it's scepticism about something that doesn't happen in real life.  We claim we are all that, and so it is up to us to pick up that responsibility and act on them.  Me? I like the personal approach.  I like caring for someone local, knowing just caring makes a difference.  Do I expect recipience of my largesse to bow and acknowledge? Hell no. That would rob them of their dignity.  We can celebrate the reputation of the Craft is built on ideals; beyond our grasp but what we strive to achieve. We go after the impossible.  Is it feeding and sheltering a family of outcasts? Is it treating lost souls with dignity? Is it sharing our benefits?  A good man could do that, right?