2009 February

DGM's Messages

2009

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RW DGM' s MESSAGE FOR FEBRUARY 2009

NEED AND GREED

Was it Mahatma Gandhi who said Take what you need (from society) but not out of Greed ? Recent events both in India and abroad have shown us the destructive nature of sheer greed which has brought down great business edifices, and caused untold suffering to individuals and institutions alike.

On analysis it can be shown that greed of this kind, and the immorality it exhibits, stems from poor up-bringing and an absence of instilled values. The values that parents, teachers and elders can instill in one, in childhood, and the maturation process forms the basis of ethical behaviour in later life. It guards against the accompanying arrogance of power which arrives with success and the amassing of fortunes. Money in the hands of immoral persons unfailingly leads to disaster – unfortunately not only for themselves, but for those associated in the pursuit of pelf – and power. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, it has been said, and we constantly see around us, these manifestations of its irresponsible use. This is the message that Masonry provides when one is admitted poor and penniless to underline the lesson that we arrived in this world, with nothing, and leave with nothing. In the meanwhile, we share our worldly goods without detriment to our families and recognize the need to help our fellow men.

To live respected and die regretted we have to recognize the needs we have, live within them while acknowledging (and assisting) in the needs of others. To succumb to greed, is the ultimate act of selfishness, as it in the end, affects other adversely in one way or another. That is the lesson of the past few weeks.