Deputy Grand Master & the Future

A couple of Saturdays ago, the Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York, R.'.W.'. Neal Bidnick, paid a visit to the Onondaga District. This was part of his "Meet Your Deputy Grand Master" program where he visits the various districts that make up the Grand Lodge of New York.

While he was here, he explained some of the plans that he hopes to implement should he be elected Grand Master next May. Many will utilize modern technology and the Grand Lodge will really begin to make use of the Internet.

Communication always seems to be where organizations break down. The use of E-mail and Websites will allow for communications to be almost instantaneous. The Masonic University of New York (MUNY) should also begin with its online offering in the next year. I applaud the Grand Lodge Committees that are spearheading these programs.

Change is always a frightening venture for some, but if Masonry is to stay viable, change must happen. I am reminded that many lodge resited the postal service when Grand Lodge began using it.

I have a learned a great deal about the Craft from the Internet and have "met" alot of Brothers that I would have never had contact with were it not for the WWW. I look forward to the future of Masonry here in New York.

Balance

I find there to be alot of Kabbalistic symbolism in Freemasonry. I know you will be hard pressed to find any Grand Lodge agreeing with this, and fair enough, the discussion of symbolism is a subjective one and can differ from student to student. But from my point of view, there really can be no denying that the Fellowcraft standing between the two columns in the Second Degree is very symbolic of the three pillars of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life.

In both cases, the middle pillar and the Fellowcraft are in a state of balance between the extremes of the columns on the right and left. Both philosophies espouse the virtues of leading a balanced life. The center path of the Tree of Life is a direct route to the Grand Archirect of the Universe. Following that balanced path would seem to fulfill the Masonic promise to make good men better.