Something I read and thought my Brother Masons would enjoy.

In men's hearts.

"Where is the most beautiful Masonic temple in the world?" asked the New Brother of the Old Tiler.

"Wouldn't the answer depend on one's conception of beauty? retorted the Old Tiler. "I might think, and you another, while an architect or an artist might choose still another."

"Well, which one do you choose?" persisted the New Brother.

"I don't!" answered the Old Tiler. "The House of the Temple in Washington is impressive; Detroit has a wonderful temple; Philadelphia's temple is massive and beautiful, the Albert Pike memorial in Little Rock is considered fine. I cannot choose."

"You think it is one of these?"

"No, I am simply trying to oblige," laughed the Old Tiler. "I know three temples which impressed me more than any of these."

"I asked because I am taking a winter vacation. I'd like to see the wonderful temples Masonry has erected. Tell me where your three are located!"

"One temple that to me is great in beauty is in a town of about 2,000 people in the Middle West. The lodge room is over a country store. The floor is bare of carpet. The chairs are plain wood. The heating plant is one large stove; it is the Junior Deacons' business to feed it during the meetings. The walls are stained, the lamps are kerosene, there is no organ or piano and the ribbons in the lodge jewels are frayed. Not very up-to-date, the members of this lodge.

"But this lodge made a boy of twenty-two a Master Mason just before he went to France in the first world war. After Soissons he lay all night on the field with a shattered leg and an arm so badly mangled that later they cut it off. While he lay there he heard familiar words from the familiar burial service of a Mason; 'this evergreen, which once marked the temporary resting place of the illustrious dead is an emblem of our faith in the immortality of the soul.'

"The wounded boy called for help. Came crawling to him was a man slightly wounded, who had said the service over the remains of a comrade. At the risk of his life he hauled the wounded boy to safety. That wounded boy came back to this little country lodge to tell his brethren of what Masonry means in men's hearts when they carry it into the battlefield. As I listened the plain board walls fell away, the deal floor became tessellated marble, the low stained ceiling became a vaulted archway and the Great Architect Himself entered the East Gate.

"Another beautiful temple I only heard of. Civil engineers were building a railroad in the Andes. One of their laborers, a Mason, had fever and had to be sent home. This party of five sat out under the trees and the stars and talked on the square. Each of them gave a month's salary to the sick laborer. He had a wife and two babies in Denver, the wife trying to live in spite of the dread disease Denver's high altitude cures. Our ancient brethren met under the stars, where their 'covering was no less than the clouded canopy or starry-decked heaven.' But none of these ever held a more beautiful lodge than those five young men, filled with Masonic charity, giving each more than he could afford for a day laborer in hard luck, because he was a Mason.

"My third most beautiful temple was made of many little tents. There were children in them; children large and small, and there was no distinction between them of race, creed, color. All a child had to be was poor to have two weeks in the open. Nor was this a lodge charity; it was the work of a Masonic club, and run by individual contributions. As I looked I heard the organ peal as I have never heard it in many temples of stone.

"As a teacher said, 'for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.' Where three, five, seven or more Master Masons gather in the name of Masonry, there is the temple. It is right and wise that we build great temples of stone and carving; which give testimony to all the world that here men gather in brotherhood. Masonic structures play a great part and we could spare them ill. But the greatest Masonic temples are builded in men's hearts.

"If you would visit beautiful temples in your travels. seek less for mighty building and more for a house not made with hands. 'Masonry builds her temples in the hearts of men' and in men's hearts shall you seek for, and find, those most beautiful."

The Old Tiler ceased and looked off into space as if he saw a vision. The New Brother looked at the Old Tiler. "I do not need to travel far to see one of the most beautiful temples," he said.

a reply to: Aljoharris
I’m not a mason, but that’s a great story. The grandest temple of all is the one inside each of us.

Wow a lovely story about serving your fellow Mason's

You know I bet lots of people who were not Mason's served Mason's, helped them out, gave freely, sacrificed
When I read your story I get the feeling masons only serve other masons, that they don't care about others
That teacher you spoke about, He died for good people as well as bad people, sounds like masons are for masons only

Bah I thought it was going to be a recipe for baby stew .
But I did enjoy it some of the best old houses around here were built by masons.

Not a bad bunch good for the community.

originally posted by: Raggedyman
sounds like masons are for masons only

you couldn't be more wrong. We do what we do for others, not ourselves. Sure we will offer help to a brother in need, but we will also help a complete stranger, or a hospital full of children. It's how we are taught and who we are. But you likely won't hear about it much as we don't do it for recognition, and unless the stranger asks, all he knows is someone helped him when he needed it. We don't do "sales".

originally posted by: network dude

originally posted by: Raggedyman
sounds like masons are for masons only

you couldn't be more wrong. We do what we do for others, not ourselves. Sure we will offer help to a brother in need, but we will also help a complete stranger, or a hospital full of children. It's how we are taught and who we are. But you likely won't hear about it much as we don't do it for recognition, and unless the stranger asks, all he knows is someone helped him when he needed it. We don't do "sales".

I was gonna say something but sincr he missed the entire point of the story. I figured trying to explain it would not do any good. So I just shook my head and moved along.

a reply to: network dude

There was a time not so long ago when no one really bothered to help me...

But there was a Mason I knew who helped me get a laptop computer. It wasn't the top of the line but it worked great for my purposes (writing and creating documents).

He didn't ask me anything, and I'm not enrolled in any societies either. It was a wonderful gift!

I'll never forget the generosity and kindness that Mason showed me, it was worth a lot more to me than the value of the laptop itself.

a reply to: Aljoharris

While I think some of you masons are out there with the fairys and do some pretty stupid stuff, I don't think you are all devil worshippers

The little story above was nothing more than a slap on your own back and an advertisement, that's fine but
I am aware the masons are not just about self service

I think you may have missed my entire point Alj

originally posted by: Raggedyman
a reply to: Aljoharris

While I think some of you masons are out there with the fairys and do some pretty stupid stuff, I don't think you are all devil worshippers

The little story above was nothing more than a slap on your own back and an advertisement, that's fine but
I am aware the masons are not just about self service

I think you may have missed my entire point Alj

You are either being a troll or just someone that wants to turn something into crap. I am not going to engage a simpleton who would like to over think a story that was supposed to be enjoyable to my brethren.
This is my only response to youn as well because I honestly don't care what you think about the Masonry or what you think we do, because it's probably going to be some misconstrued and irrational to the point where either I will face palm or laugh.

a reply to: Aljoharris

He sees you as competition he only thinks Christians are the good people here on earth.
Also he has fallen for all the pop culture surrounding mason's.

a reply to: network dude


I like to serve man.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: network dude


I like to serve man.

with or without onions?

a reply to: muzzleflash

I'm glad someone was able to help you out. I bet it makes them feel good knowing you appreciated it.

a reply to: network dude


With, the flavors marry perfectly.

I'm Christian and yet I found that story to be rather inspiring. I must say that sometimes, I wish I could find the brotherhood you guys seem to share, within the ranks of the church. I've always been an outlier though, and apparently we make people nervous. As a result, I find that my Christian brethren are more usually suspicious of me than willing to accept me for who I am.

Would it be different with masons? I don't know. Part of me suspects that it really is entirely my fault - but typically when I point out that the world isn't as cut & dry as some want to believe it is, I just end up losing the possibility of a friendship. And so yeah, I suppose it is my fault, in a way - if I would just shut up & drink the Koolaid then life would probably be swell.

However, another part of me thinks that my only failing is curiosity, to know the truth, to strip it back to its original domain & see it without all the spangles which have been added as distractions. Sitting out under the stars after an honest day's labour sounds like heaven to me, but sadly it's the sort of thing I can never experience now, being in a disabled condition. But to look at the glories of honour & dignity, where they can be found - whether at the church altar, or in a masonic gathering of some sort, the qualities themselves are inviolable, and no one path has patent rights on what is sacrosanct to all true seekers.

So let's enjoy the wisdom of the ages where it can be found, and let the decision-making on our virtue be left to one who is supremely more competent at judging the life's substance of each where they are found.

eastern starr and the masons should lose the secretiveness......put it out in the open for all to see

hard to do huh

my eastern star pipe hittin bitches are in need of some manly guidance really friggin bad ....like i mean tell them how it is in the workaday world....i'd tell em up front at the hall they paid six million for.....i'd get righteously up agianst em....i'd hit em with my Bible......i'd raise the rent i say god damn, god damn the pusher man

originally posted by: GBP/JPY
my eastern star pipe hittin bitches are in need of some manly guidance really friggin bad ....

If you find one I'll let them know.

a reply to: Raggedyman
No. Freemasons help everyone.

Here is another one i just read thought it was cool and worth sharing.

They All Came Just for Me
By Richard L. Jenkins
Something big is going on here.
Or so I thought that night,
As the Masons came to gather round
the Great and lesser lights.

One from here and one from there
From places far and wide,
They came to do, I knew not what,
As they gathered there inside.

But from each man I was greeted
With a smile and voice of cheer.
One said, so you're the candidate.
The reason that we're here.

I scarcely knew just what he meant,
For this was my first degree.
There must be much for them to do
Before they got to me.

Surely these guys would not travel
for the sake of just one man.
Yes, there must be much for them to do,
Before my part began.

The Brother Tiler was my company
As I waited at the door
To step into this brand new realm
I had not known before.

They shared with me the three Great Lights
and some tools of the trade,
That I might learn a thing or two
of how a man be better made.

When at last I had been seated
In this brotherhood of men
The Master then began to bring
The meeting to an end.

And with all things then completed,
They stayed a little more,
To eat and drink and share a laugh
Before heading toward the door.

But as we left I understood
And then began to see.
That they all came for one reason.
They all came just for me.

Dear brothers I pray every lodge
Will make new ones like me,
Feel as welcome as these brothers did,
When they held my First Degree

a reply to: Aljoharris

very cool. Thanks for posting this.