Brethren,We come from all walks of life. We all come from all manner of professions. We are many colors. We profess many different faiths. But we all have this in common, we have all found a fraternity, we have all become Free & Accepted Masons, and we are all brothers.
Freemasonry has and shall always affect the lives of men, taking good men and helping them become better men by providing them the tools to accomplish this noble and glorious task.
The roots of our fraternity date back to the building of king solomon's temple in Jerusalem around 1000 BC, but the origins of our freemasonry and be traced to medieval guilds of stone masons. The trade secrets of building churches back then, without the use of mortar, and with the use of geometry, were closely guarded secrets. This secrets were so jealously guarded that they were not even divulged to the priests of the churches that employed them. Those guilds were formed to train masons and enforce a high standard of workmanship. Masons were then, and continue to be, held to those high standards and expected to keep those most valueable secrets.
Eventually those guilds lost their purpose as the people became better educated across Europe. But in the age of enlightenment there was found in Masonry an ideal metaphor for character building in men.
By 1717, the purpose of Masonry had shifted from operative masonry (actually building structures) to a guild of speculative masons (character building). Taking the traditions of old and using them to build up good men, and make them into better men. It has been part of society for much of recorded history and part of America, long before the revolution against England in the latter years of the 18th century.
We, as Masons, hold firm to a set of timeless values and maxims which as relevant today as ever. The tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth have guided us through the centuries and they will continue to do so for the remainder of time. They have helped us to become better friends, fathers, sons, professionals, and citizens.
This age old fraternity has been an inestimatable gift to me in my own life, and one of the most dynamic forces for good I have ever encountered. I am tremendously honored to be a part of this ancient and honorable order, as I am equally honored to have met so many good people throughout my masonic career.
Thank You Brothers!
