Tilting to the Right

Oh my. Sometimes the most obvious things are invisible to me. Do I think Masonry is in decline? No, not for a moment.  Do I think Masonry is experiencing confusion? No more that usual.  Can or should anything be done to ground masonry to our satisfaction?  To this I say, it is the stakeholders of masonry that feel vulnerable. It is the shareholders that exhibit diplomacy at the highest level.  Never attempting to extinguish criticism Masonry becomes re-energized when it is hit with recurring themes. It may be new to us, but Masonry is an intelligent old sage that has been mentoring men somewhere on this earth for well over 500 years.  Of course.  When we have a probing conversation with friends, we learn more about one another and ourselves.  When we are pushing out of our smugness, we find the security in open-mindedness, comes at a price. Learning to skills of a diplomat requires mastery of emotion that is beyond the grasp of boys and fools. I'm noticing there has been a shift going on without anyone giving permission. It is as if a higher power were actually guiding us.  We want to believe we were born out of raucousness at the same time we are humbled by the daunting brilliance of rational thought, blending sciences and the arts.  The bar is different in different places. Our work is spiritual but not religious. It is an opportunity without evaluation.  To avoid conflict, it offers praise rather than encouragement.     While my appearance shows the effects of time, personality can continue to grow.  Masonry acknowledges that fact.  It is not meant to be languid.  Change is never popular until the purpose is obvious.  In the coming days, we will find comfort in orthodox thinking.  Actors at the Globe Theatre study their lines by studying the meaning.  Understanding and meaning is what fuels Masonry. Coming days will find salons opening.