Perhaps some people anticipated everything from calamity to miracles when the calendar advanced from the 1990s to Y2K; but what they found has been the opportunity for progress made possible by melding the promises of a new era with the proven values and traditions of the old. That's precisely what Freemasonry always has done, passing along its values, principles, rituals, traditions and fellowship from brother to brother, from generation to generation.

A poignant example of the impact that a Mason of an "older" generation has made on one of another generation is contained in a letter of tribute that Larry Hawkins, Steelton-Swatara Lodge No. 775, wrote to his lodge in January, 2000 after the death of his 99-year old grandfather, Karl Hoover. John D. Witmer, Jr., D.D.G.M., 2nd Masonic District, explained that Bro. Hoover, who served that lodge as Worshipful Master in 1964 and always attended regularly, fell last April, fractured his hip, and was no longer able to attend. He died Nov. 2, 1999.

Bro. Hawkins wrote, in part:

This Fall my studies at seminary (kept) me from lodge. In an ironic way, that was a small blessing because, ... there would have been no way to tell my grandfather that I could not take him (because) he was not in good enough health.... Being a Mason was important to Karl, and the brethren should know how much they meant to him.

I learned many things about our lodge from Karl.... He had a never-ending supply of stories ... about renovating lodge rooms, building our present lodge, trips around the country, memorizing ritualistic work, and much more. The common denominator in each of those stories was brotherly love.

I learned most about what it means to be a Mason by taking Karl to lodge. As Karl became more frail and his hearing and eyesight failed him, lodge was a great comfort to him. As he sat in lodge, he did not need to see everything, or hear everything ... the familiar rhythms and motions reassured him that there was a place in the world in which he could participate.

So many places in this world value a man for what he can contribute. At lodge, Karl had value merely because he was a brother. When he would repeat a story for the third time, we all would laugh ... when he interrupted (because he hadn't heard others speaking), no one took offense ... when he didn't recognize a person, no one took it personally.... In those simple actions ... I saw and understood what Freemasonry is all about.

There was one constant on all of our trips to lodge meetings.... he would thank me for the "evening out," and then he would pause ... (as if) seeing clearly for the first time in years. Then he would turn toward me and say, "That's a great bunch of guys ...!"