Address of R.W. Bro. Stephen R. McIntyre
on His Official Visit to Corona Lodge No. 454,
December 1, 2011

The elusive spirit of Freemasonry is as varied as those who attend its meetings. Its goal is to form men into a cohesive brotherhood for the betterment of society, and to strengthen character.

With lectures, philosophy and symbolism, it appeals to the intellectual man, who has a deep rooted faith in a supreme being. The man who wishes to broaden his character through its teachings and help him think through life to a more hopeful vision. The greatest appeal is deep within a mans heart, where true issues of life and destiny lie.

In the end it is what a man feels in his heart, whether life is fulfilling or not, and whether he is a help or a curse to mankind.

Masonry is about relationships with the great architect of the universe, our family, friends, neighbours and fellow man. To be guided by his purpose and conscious of our fellowship with him - this is masonry on the spiritual side.

Then turning to your fellow man, friendship sums it all up. To be friends with all men no matter how they differ in creed, colour or station in life, can be the ultimate attainment of the wisest and best men. This is the spirit of Masonry and such its ideal. To realize this surely means that we must learn it, live it, love it, and make it come true.

The spirit of friendship is not a mere sympathetic sentiment of an unstable fraternity. No; it has roots deep in a profound philosophy which sees the world is friendly and that man must learn to be friends if they are to live in a world that can improve its destiny. For since we are born into this world by one high wisdom and one vast love, we are brothers to the last man, forever.

For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and even after death do us part. All men are held together by ties of a spiritual bond, sons of one supreme being. It is by this fact that the Masonic fraternity rests and which is the foundation of Masonry, not only for freedom, but for friendship among men.

The spirit of friendship is a vast melting pot of concessions, which is in fact the foundation of the universe. Throughout the universe every living creature adapts to their surroundings. With love being the builder, and those who have laboured hard to establish this on earth, have been the men who have loved their fellow man. Once this spirit prevails, the feuding factions will be lost in the multitude of those who come to the aid of those in need.

Ideally no man should ridicule the faith where his neighbour finds help for today and hope for tomorrow.

Masonry will teach him that God is found in many ways, by those who see him with honest hearts. If this spirit is the rule in everyday dealings, then the law of the jungle will cease and men will strive to build a social order in which all men may have the chance “to live and to live well”.

Throughout man’s history there has been a trail of self inflicted death and destruction. Society has slowly evolved from feud to friendship, through love and respect. From the beginning of time, every man lived for himself, where his heart was a haven of suspicion. Where every other man was his foe and therefore his prey.

Slowly there was the light of realization, in the truth that it is better to help than to hurt and he organized clans and tribes. But these too were divided by rivers and mountains and separate beliefs. Again there was war and sorrow. Great empires rose and fell, leaving a trail of destruction across the earth. But with this progress came greater mobility that brought men closer together. Men met and mingled and learned that human nature was the same everywhere, with hopes and fears the same. Still there were many things to divide and separate men from each other and there was plenty of bitterness. Now that the natural barriers had been conquered, men erected walls and barriers to exclude others.

The men of one sect were sure that the men of all other sects were wrong. Therefore when real obstacles no longer divided man from man, mountains were made out of molehills. Mountains made by man out of misunderstanding that were not easily moved.

Barriers of race, creed, stature, habit, and interest, separate men today. It is as if some power is invoked separating man from man due to suspicion, indifference and hate.

Amid the centuries of feuds and factions, Masonry, the oldest and most widely spread order, champions the cause of friendship. Uniting men on the basis of meeting with dignity and decorum. Each lodge is a haven of equality and goodwill in a vast world of strife. Striving to bond man to the service of his fellow man. At its basis men meet brother to brother without vanity and pretence, without fear and without reproach.

The spirit of Masonry as always is to mould a man, to refine his thoughts, to stir his sympathy, to broaden his horizons, to raise his attitude, to strengthen his relationships through life.

Through its vast history and traditions, its simple faith and solemn rites, its freedom and friendship are dedicated to a high moral goal, of seeking to keep him within due bounds of all mankind and in obedience to the will of God.

When the spirit of Masonry has won over man on earth, it will surely be a society of vast kindness and justice. With a system of human service, law a rule of charity and good will, and the temples of prayer dovetailed in simple faith.

Evil, injustice, greed and every vile propensity that degrades humanity will no longer be found in a wiser and merciful society.
Business will be upright, education prophetic and religion not a shadow, but a real presence.

The goal of Masonry toward a great friendship, is slowly evolving amid difficulties and delays. Through continual labour toward that day, when countries will revere freedom, have unstained leadership, and let no man trample the rights of others.

The spirit of Masonry will not falter until all the threads of human friendship are woven into one mystic cord, encircling the world and holding humanity in the bonds of friendship and brotherly love.

I leave you with this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “ What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters to what lies within us”.