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REPLACE YOURSELF and We'll Travel Together Toward the New Millennium |
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Brethren,
A short time ago, I sent a personal letter to you -- and every Pennsylvania Mason -- asking for your help. I asked for your personal commitment to do just one thing: "REPLACE YOURSELF!"
I'd like to think that every Pennsylvania Mason has taken that commitment seriously. I hope you are one of the Masons who already has followed through on your commitment and talked to a worthy friend about Freemasonry, telling him who we are, what we believe and what we do. Remember, Brethren, each of us represents Freemasonry in our community. We are looked upon as men of fine character and esteem because of our good works, charity and brotherhood.
We do so much that is good for so many. We work to make good men better, serve humanity charitably, and benefit our communities. We are able to do this because we are a fraternity of men bonded for the good of mankind. For us to continue to do our good works, we must sustain that brotherhood. At the least, we must have a stable membership; optimistically, we will see it grow.
That's why your commitment to REPLACE YOURSELF is not only important, it's key to the future of your lodge and our fraternity. I am opposed to solicitation, and quite frankly, I don't feel we have to solicit. I sincerely believe that when good and worthy men can see what Masons -- men of quality -- are doing in the communities, they will want to be part of our brotherhood. Remember, as we work to build membership, we have an obligation and an objective to sustain membership quality.
So, "quality" is more than a "buzz word." As a man of quality yourself, it follows that a person you would select to tell about Freemasonry would be one whom you would appreciate having as a member of your lodge. Therefore, like you, he would be of good character, enjoy a favorable standing in society, and be fit to be made a Mason -- a man you would be pleased to call "brother."
If you haven't done so already, I hope you will offer a worthy friend the Friend to Friend brochure that came with my personal letter. Your friend will learn that he has to ask; and when he does, you have a petition and know what to do.
The outstanding charitable activities that the lodges are carrying forth in their communities because of the Matching Charity Grants Program suggest that there should be a growing potential of interested men aware of the good works of Masons. I call to your attention the cover story in this issue of The Pennsylvania Freemason reporting the gratifying, extensive charitable services lodges are giving to their friends and neighbors in communities across Pennsylvania.
In the first five months, more than 200 applications from lodges for matching grants totalling nearly a quarter of a million dollars have been approved for committed local charitable projects. Since these are matching funds, that means that already almost a half-million dollars of good work is helping individuals and service agencies in communities across the Commonwealth -- and each local lodge earns the sole recognition as the benefactor.
Most of our lodges called off from labor for the months of July and August, but Masonic enthusiasm has remained alive and well through the summer. Our presence on the Internet offers a new way to keep the light of Freemasonry glowing even while the lodges are dark. Every day, more and more people -- Masons and friends, from near and around the world -- are clicking on to the home page of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. More than 15,000 had accessed the home page and hundreds have signed in with messages in the guest book. Cyberspace communication with your fraternity is as near as your phone line and computer. These are progressive, exciting, and challenging times as we approach the 21st Century and Masonry in Pennsylvania is on a positive course. I ask you again to take your commitment seriously, REPLACE YOURSELF and we'll continue to travel that same road together toward the new millennium.
Sincerely and fraternally, |
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