…presented at St. John’s Lodge No. 35, Cayuga, October 2, 2003.

Brethren my theme for this year involves the ‘cornerstones’ of our fraternity. By definition, each of us is a cornerstone-of our lodge, of our district and the fraternity itself. Cornerstones of the order may also be material items, symbols of the craft, or prominent Masons that have helped for Masonry into what it is today.

This evening, I would like to read an essay, prepared by one of those prominent individuals, Joseph Fort Newton, noted Masonic scholar. No doubt some of you have read works by Bro. Newton before and this particular one has a lot to say about what we as Masons should strive for. I repeat it here for you exactly as it was written, not because I am too lazy to prepare my own speeches, but because I could not a more eloquent was of saying this. It’s entitled When Is A Man A Mason?

When Is A Man A Mason?

When is a man a Mason? When he can look out over the rivers, the hills, and the far horizon with a profound sense of his own littleness in the vast scheme of things, and yet have faith, hope, and courage. When he knows that down in his heart every man is a noble, as vile, as divine, as diabolic and as lonely as himself, and seeks to know, to forgive and how to love his fellow man. When he knows how to sympathize with men in their sorrows, yes even their sin-knowing that each man fights a hard fight against many odds. When he has learned how to make friends and keep them, and above all to keep friends with himself. When he loves flowers, can hunt birds without a gun, and feels the thrill of an old forgotten joy when he hears the laugh of a little child. When he can be happy and high minded amid the meaner drudgeries of life. When star crowned trees and the glint of sunlight on flowing waters subdue him like the thought of one much loved and long dead. When no voice of distress reaches his ears in vain, and no hand seeks aid without response. When he finds good in every faith that helps any man to lay hold of higher things, and to see majestic meanings in life, whatever the name of that faith may be. When he can look into a wayside puddle and see something besides mud, and into the face of the forlorn mortal and see something besides sin. When he knows how to pray, how to love, how to hope. When he has kept faith with himself, with his fellow man, with his God; in his hand a sword for evil, in his heart a song-glad to live, but not afraid to die! In such a man, whether he be rich or poor, scholarly or unlearned, famous or obscure, Masonry has wrought her sweet ministry! Such a man has found the only real secret of Masonry, and the one which it is trying to give to all the world.