Worshipful Master's Message - October 2022

Each month, the Worshipful Master provides an update on current events in relation to Freemasonry in general and Lodge No. 2 in particular. Please see below for for this month’s message from the Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 2.

Dear Brethren,

As Freemasons, it is sometimes tempting to lose ourselves in our forms and ceremonies. Our rituals are obviously important and carry immense weight, but they are not the core of what Freemasonry is truly all about. It is our core obligation as Masons to serve our Brethren and our communities at large. It doesn’t matter whether that takes place inside or out of the Lodge, or even in the context of anything Masonic – every one of us is a representative of the Craft in all we do. Over the course of the last few months, several members of our Lodge, both new and old, have proven that they exemplify these virtues as they helped a cherished Brother in need.

I was absent from our September stated meeting because I was on my way back from a (truly amazing) trip to Israel and Palestine. One of the many stops we made was a place in the Old City of Jerusalem known by many names. To Muslims, it is known as al-Haram al-Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary, where Muhammad made his Night Journey into Heaven. Jews call it the Temple Mount, and remember it as where the now long-destroyed Temples and their Holy of Holies once stood. Jesus spent much of his time in Jerusalem at the second of those temples, including his presentation as an infant and throwing out the money changers, so it is sacred to Christians as well. Indeed, it is ven-erated as a holy site by over half of the world’s population. For us as Freema-sons, it is referred to in our rituals as Mount Moriah, the location where our tradition places the most important Masonic event of all – the story of Hiram Abif, the Widow’s Son. It is a place with a long and storied history, and at our stated meeting I will be sharing some of that history in a presentation on what is arguably the “most valuable piece of real estate in the world.”

Sincerely and fraternally,

Paul R. Cleveland

Worshipful Master