The importance of the Widow's pin

I was out with a brother last night visiting a few of our recent widows and providing them with a pin similar to the one you see here.

The pin is meant to remind both us and them that they are still connected to Freemasonry, even though our brother is departed. Once family, always family, and in the busy-ness of our own lives we sometimes lose track of that.

On both visits, the surprise was palpable; neither expected that such a show of support would have even come. To me this indicates we might need to do a better job of explaining to our families in general, and our wives in particular, the depth of the fraternal bond that we share with one another. Too often we might come back to complain about the difficulties we might face in lodge, without reminding the ladies in our lives that these are the same as, or at least similar to, the family squabbles we face within our own homes.

So we listened, learned, and helped in a small way to celebrate the life of our departed brother and remind his wife that she always has a place amongst us. All in all it was a very rewarding experience. I'm writing this particularly to any younger brethren that also might be new to this experience. If you have the chance to participate, do it. You'll find that any hesitation you feel will quickly melt away as you learn more about the members of your extended Masonic family.

Response to the Masonic Animal Farm

I was reading the post on Animal Farm and Freemasonry by Masonic Blogger. The article basically suggests that "some are more equal than others," one of the key messages promoted in the book Animal Farm, is evidenced in Freemasonry by the perceived elevation in status of Grand Lodge officers.

All in all, a really good, thought provoking post. I think it highlights the practice in its worst light, however, and there's another way to look at this.

I think that one could also approach it from the standpoint that as wages for a good number of years in service, these men are temporarily offered special recognition. Not in the sense that they are superior, but that they have achieved a high standard of effort and devotion to the craft. At the end of their GL/provincial term, they are no longer in the limelight, so to speak, but the trappings of that office remain with them as evidence of that service. His service is then recognized for the rest of his days.

A brother from our lodge is currently serving as our District Deputy Grand Master. I know of few brethren that are so devoted to the Craft as him. Each day he internalizes the lessons we're taught and strives to bring them into the outward world, and he often succeeds. Brethren from other lodges in the district have held this office with similar ideals and practices.

Insofar as this is what happens in my district, I know many, if not most GL officers to be modest men who were just happy to have been given the chance to serve. I have never felt as if any of them treated me as inferior because of my rank.

Now the age matter is something else entirely. I really think the attitude of which the author writes is simply part of the human condition. Again, in counterpoint, we as younger or newer masons can sometimes be dismissive of the experience offered by the more senior brethren. We, as masons, strive to overcome our prejudices. Often though, our efforts don't quite reach the mark.

That doesn't mean we should stop trying.