April 2007

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Message for April ‘07

BEING USEFUL TO MANKIND

One of the most eloquent and exhaustive exhortations that an entrant into Freemasonry, and indeed any Brother, is privileged to hear is the Charge after Initiation. There is nothing in the Charge which is superfluous or needs amendment, alteration or addition – so complete it is, in its advice to an initiate on how to conduct himself, as a Mason, and a Human Being.

From this Charge, many guidelines can be sought and drawn, from which to set out a course of conduct through life. However, there is one phrase which carries with it an enormous amount of meaning, purpose and practical utility which is the content of my message for the month.

What does being useful to Mankind mean, through which as the Charge continues to say, one becomes an ornament to the society of which one has become a member.

As a member, of any community, one has duties in one’s work place, in a family circle, in a social environment which encompasses ‘civic duties’, fraternal relationships and a myriad other contacts that one makes on a day-to-day, and even on a minute-to-minute basis.

Being useful in the various roles or duties means making a positive impact, rendering a discernible input or service, that enhances the value of a relationship or achieves a desired communal goal. Being useful also means that one has been objectively a contributor to a social good which does not necessarily provide a subjective benefit to the contributor. It is by definition an act of self-less service, for its output has to be recognized as benefiting some one other than one-self.

In that phrase therefore lies a whole philosophy, a complete code of conduct for by various acts of ‘being useful’ one can certainly achieve the recognition of being an ornament to our society, or any society for that matter.