“Many Teach, Few Inspire”

"212 degrees of Fidelity, Today and Beyond"

Now that our Instructional Meetings are over, I would like to personally thank each of you that attended and participated. To our Most Worshipful Grand Master M.W. Brother “Mike” I pledge my continued support as you lay down your designs on the trestle-board for the craft to pursue. I would like to thank our current and past Grand Lodge Officers, remember you will always be part of our Grand Lodge family. To each of the elected Officers; thank you for allowing your name to be placed in nomination and congratulations to the craft that showed their wisdom by electing a great slate of officers to our lodges. To the appointed Officers; I would like to say we each have been appointed to an office of service, so as they say in baseball “let’s keep our eye on the ball”. The ball, in this case, is the mission of masonry. We all are guardians of the anteroom door, and it is our duty to mentor younger masons to guard against a breach of fidelity. We must teach and inspire them to faithfully serve on the investigating committee. 

R.W. Brother O.B. Smith Senior Grand Warden and Chairman of our Masonic Education Committee presented six little words which may help a Brother who finds himself a member of our important committee the investigation committee.  WHO, WHAT WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and HOW.  The following will give you an idea of some of the questions that spring from these keywords. From these questions, we can determine his intentions, and more importantly if he comprehends he is joining us. More importantly, joining our lodge is a lifetime commitment.

WHO is he?    (Not just his name)

does he know?

does he associate with?

WHAT are his reasons for petitioning?

            is his profession?

is his standing in the community?

is his general reputation at work?

is his attitude toward GOD?

WHEN did he become interested in Freemasonry?

                        did he come to this district?

WHERE does he live?

did he come from?

does he spend his leisure time?

WHY is he seeking membership?

did he wait until now?

is he petitioning your Lodge?

HOW does he intend to serve Freemasonry?
            does he intend to conduct himself?
            Most importantly, how has he lived in the past?

I now have the honor of sharing lessons from M.W. T Harry White, and M.W. H Wallace Reid. I first learned about these six little words in Spartan 70 from one of my mentors T Harry. As I reflect on some of my mentors who have been called to the celestial lodge above; I am grateful and saddened at the same time. Grateful for having the honor of being mentored by M.W Brother T Harry White who said: “Jay Adam it is not what you know, but the purpose for which you know it.” In masonry, we need to learn the lessons of the respective degree and emphasize that as well as the ritual. So I ask you, Worshipful Master does your lodge participate in Masonic education? Do you meet four times with each candidate to listen to him and talk with him about the lessons inculcated in the degree he just received? You see Worshipful Sir it is not what you know, but the purpose for which you know it. Did you learn the ritual and become proficient so others would say “he really knows the work”, or did you learn the work because the lessons of masonry have made you a better son, brother, husband, and father? If the latter is true as I suspect, then teach the lessons, after all, that is the purpose for which you learned it.

M.W. Brother T. Harry White

Born September 5, 1930

Raised in Spartan 70 A.F.M. 1965

Worshipful Master Spartan 70 A.F.M. 1970

Called to the celestial lodge above January 14, 2004

I am grateful for having the honor of being mentored by M.W. Brother H. Wallace Reid who was one of the greatest educators in South Carolina. M.W. Brother Wallace was a world-renowned educator.  M.W. Brother Wallace and I had many things in common; one we both got our start in education in the vocational trades. One of the most prized possessions I received from M.W. Brother Wallace was the first textbooks he started teaching within the vocational trades. When M.W. Brother Wallace started teaching each instructor was expected to purchase their own textbooks.  It was in a conversation about education that M.W. Brother Wallace shared with me the most profound lesson I have ever learned. He said, “Jay Adam many teach, but few inspire."

M.W. Brother H. Wallace Reid

Born May 25, 1925

Raised in Grove Station 166 A.F.M. 1947

Worshipful Master Grove Station 166 A.F.M. 1951

Called to the celestial lodge above December 13, 2002

Keeping the memories alive of our mentors is vital if we are to honor what they taught us. I have briefly shared some of the wisdom from two special men who took the time to mentor me. First I want to say when friends, mentors, and loved ones are called to the celestial lodge above we will cry, smile and often laugh when we recall how they made a difference in our life. There’s no time frame for how long it will take you to get through funny, good stories without crying about them first. I’m still not completely there when it comes to telling stories about T Harry and H Wallace. Nonetheless, once you get there, telling others about your friends, mentors, and loved one's funniest moments or any favorite tale will make all the difference in keeping their memory alive. 

There are those special friends, mentors, and brothers who are as rare and precious as diamonds.  I have been thinking a lot about diamonds lately. Natural diamonds that have been cut into many facets are considered one of the most beautiful things on Earth. This nature-made beauty when sculpted glistens and sparkles in the light. Diamonds bring joy to many people by their brilliance. However, few stop to think about their origins. Diamonds are made of carbon, one of the basic building blocks of our planet and all life on it. Under specific conditions, carbon changes into the clear, shiny substance we know as a diamond. There are four essentials in the creation of a natural diamond:

          · Carbon

          · Pressure

          · Heat

          · Time

Diamonds are not created on the Earth’s surface and very diamonds few are thrust there by the violent motions which the surface of the planet can sometimes be subject in the form of volcanoes. This is why companies must mine for diamonds. They are formed about 100 miles beneath the Earth’s surface. Diamonds are primarily made up of carbon. Pure carbon can take on many forms including diamond, graphite, and fullerite. To become a natural diamond, carbon must spend millions of years under extreme heat (900° - 1300° C) and pressure (45 – 60-kilobars) deep inside the earth. Incidentally, one-kilo bar is 14,500 pounds per square inch. This changes the way the atoms in the carbon bond together. The end result is a fully formed diamond.

If the temperature and pressure are not just right, then graphite will form. There is quite a difference between the beauty of diamonds and graphite. Graphite does have tremendous value and is commonly used as the core of pencils and to make brushes for electrical motors. Because diamonds are the hardest material found in nature, they can scratch virtually any surface. Imagine the vast number of materials in the world; a diamond must be extremely durable to rise above all others. Australia, Botswana, Russia, and the Congo account for a large portion of the world’s diamond mining.

The relative scarcity of diamonds is what has made them so precious across so many cultures. Our world is smaller in our global economy. Thereby it becomes easier for transportation, communication. It seems diamonds have taken on more significance as a display of wealth. Some people believe that the supply of diamonds is actually quite large due to new mining techniques. Suspicions abound that these diamonds are kept off the market in order to keep the price inflated. However, as populations grow and more people wish to own diamonds, there seems to be a burgeoning market for this precious stone in spite of expanding supply.

Brethren GOD created you for a specific purpose and you have been wonderfully made. Therefore each of us like a diamond requires four essential elements to reach the natural beauty we were designed for:

            · Sense of awareness

            · Deep and abiding Faith

            · Compassion for all Mankind

            · Since of Purpose

                                                  Sense of Awareness

From man’s existence he has asked himself a variety of questions:

     · Who am I?

     · Where did I come from?

     · What is my purpose?

     ·  How do I relate to GOD?

I would like to ask each of you a question, what defines you? Often a man is defined by his job and a woman by their family. Let’s peer deeper and answer what do you value in life because that is what defines a person and will allow one to truly know themselves. What are your values? What would you lay your life down for? “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

“Untested Faith is Inconsequential. Deep and Abiding faith is tempered through the fire of life and sustained in the forge of Grace.” Jay Adam Pearson

                                                  Deep and Abiding Faith

What is it that you believe in, not your denomination? What is truth and what is your relationship to GOD? What provides you hope? Lastly, can your faith stand up to a scholarly examination? Here is a question; do you live your faith? Do you have a personal relationship with GOD? There will be no Grand Children in Heaven. No child will get to heaven through their parents' relationship with GOD. Deep and abiding faith is vital. I do not know how people survive the woes of life without GOD.

                                               Compassion for all Mankind

Do you have compassion for all mankind… red, yellow, black, and white? Does your Lodge adopt a family in the community to care for their needs? Did you fill the last need you witnessed, or have you allowed circumstances to cause you to become a cynic?  Then Jesus said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Compassion is as simple as a, b, c, and d.

                                                        Sense of Purpose

Why do you attend your lodge's ladies night and award banquet? Will you attend your Grand Lodge Banquet? Will you attend to receive a plaque or an award? We all should attend to spend time with the diamonds in our life, our family, friends, mentors, and brethren. We live in a society where everyone gets a prize. Have you attended a children’s program lately… everyone receives an award. This is an atrocity, we are not helping our children when we falsely teach everyone wins, and everyone is in charge. Why did you become a mason? Have you ever attended a boring business meeting? Brethren I did not join our fraternity to attend a 1^st, second, or third degree. And I certainly do not like attending boring business meetings! I joined a band of brothers for a purpose:

            · To establish fraternal bonds

            · To help my community

           ·  To serve others

Brethren do not hide your gifts talents, or abilities, for they are GOD given. I hope and indeed I pray we each seek GOD with all our heart. I pray our fraternity begins to develop a sense of awareness, that we grow closer with GOD through a deep and abiding faith, that we begin to have compassion for all mankind. Because if we do then we will have a sense of purpose and that is why Masonry began.  To take a piece of coal we call an aspirant and refine it through the pressure of humanity, tempered by the heat of fraternal bonds, and through time or the life span, GOD has given to create a diamond for his glory. 

7 Ways to leave a legacy

                                    1. Be honest, with yourself and others.

                                    2. Establish a foundation of faith.

                                    3. Live your legacy daily “Do that which is right.”

                                    4. Live your life demonstrating you believe in integrity.

                                    5. Give your family the gift of your time.

                                    6. Keep a journal, establishing your journey and GOD’s faithfulness.

                                    7. Spend more time listening, loving, teaching, and less time talking.

The best way to honor your mentors is to pass their wisdom to another generation. Earlier I wrote that I was grateful and saddened as I reflected on some of my Mentors. The reason I am saddened is that many of you never had the honor of knowing and talking with M.W. Brother T. Harry White and M.W. Brother H. Wallace Reid. However, if we realize that it is not what we know but the purpose for which we know it, and we seek to inspire the craft to action than their wisdom will not be forgotten. Thus we can promote each other’s welfare to the honor and glory of the Lord our GOD.

Yes perhaps leaving a legacy of character and faith can be summed up by what Soloman wrote in Proverbs 4:23, verses 20-26 provide great context:

"My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a forward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

Thank you

As I think of family, friends, and mentors who have left this world that I can no longer listen, laugh, and learn from I smile thanking GOD for the honor of their love. My mind races back to the song Think of me from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera. While this is a love song between Christine and Raul two particular stanzas apply to the fond memories we share with those special diamonds in our life. I thank GOD for the ones like T. Harry and H. Wallace although  I can no longer talk with them their lessons continue to help me.

I especially thank GOD for the Brothers I can still listen, learn, and laugh with some of whom you may know: 
My father R.W. Dad, M.W. G. Ray, M.W. D. Samuel, M.W. G. Kent, my father-in-law M.W. Jerry, M.W. David, R.W Cal, R.W.O.B. R.W. Steve, M.W. Jack, M.W. Jim, M.W. Ronnie, M.W. Marty, R.W. Sid, R.W. Curley, M.W. Rex, R.W. Paul, R.W. Howard, M.W. Bob, W.B. Dale, R.W. Tommy, R.W. Bruce, W.B. Jeff, R.W. Sam, R.W. Trent, W.B. Wallace, R.W. Mark, R.W. Roger, W.B. Wayne, R.W. Doug, W.B. Grady, R.W. Stacy, and to you my brethren who helped make me a better man. Therefore, should our Father in Heaven call me home first I hope indeed I pray my life point you Jesus Christ my LORD and Savior causing each of you to:

"Think of me

think of me fondly, when

we've said goodbye

remember me

once in a while, please

promise me you'll try"

"Recall those days,

look back on all those times,

think of the things

we'll never do...

there will never be a day when

I won't think of you:

Your friend and Brother from Inman

Jay Adam