From the South

By Andrew Hawes, PM — Jr. Warden

There's a good chance that of the people you have to deal with today, there will be some who are ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest or surly.  Perhaps many.  Perhaps even most.  Sadly, the world is full of darkness.  People who lie, cheat and steal.  People who don't care about anything but themselves.

But the fact that they're out there, so many of them, doesn't mean we should join them.

Instead, it is our duty, as good men and Masons, to be beacons of light in this dark world.  

The darkness in the world and the people who pursue and live in it are enemies of the light.  We should never become like our enemies!  People will be the way they are, and this will never change, but we cannot control that.  We cannot control them, but we can control ourselves.  We should ever strive to set shining examples.  Be honest.  Be stalwart.  Be decent.

We have to be.  Don't let the ugliness in the world infect you.  Stand tall and be proud of who you are.  Choose to be good and true, and look with pity and compassion on those who allow themselves to sink into the darkness.  Hold out your hand to them not your fist, and if one takes your grip, gently try to pull them up to stand in the light with you.

Be the man you know you can be, and always try to do the right thing, even when it's hard work.