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MESSAGE FOR JULY ‘05

THE 24-INCH GAUGE

THE MANAGEMENT OF TIME

Masonry at our initiation reminds us of the apportionment required, of our Time, part to be spent in prayer, part in labour and refreshment and part in helping a Brother and so on – a clear exposition of the need to allocate precious time to our various concerns, public and private.

However, when one looks around, we find this non-replaceable resource, which in the present day, takes on a position of the highest importance, being wasted. Missed and late appointments, postponements and procrastinations all robbing us of this precious resource.

In our society, Time is used as if it is inexhaustible, depending on the importance, self-ascribed, of a person, in the forlorn hope that it will come again, perhaps in our re-incarnation. VIPs can be late, they can keep lesser beings waiting; and the pecking order of our society seems to be determined by how long one can keep someone else waiting our pleasure; this even on previously arranged appointments.

On Masonic occasions, we generally are punctilious about time, but there have been occasions when one has observed a certain lack of urgency, in “getting on with it” – whatever the occasion. We are today in an age when Time has become the most important resource, and in addressing a potential youthful membership class in our knowledge society, this is one aspect that a prospective candidate will consider before committing his time to Masonry. Our meetings and festive Boards even, need to be organised with the use of Time in mind.

We have now gone on to a global standard of Time, and Indian Standard Time can no longer have the luxury of being ‘stretchable’, if we want to stay in business, in a manner of speaking. As Masons, the symbolic 24 inch gauge, in the explanation of our working tools says it all, but needs to be practised more effectively and sincerely.