A LAST WORD...MASONRY'S CAPACITY TO CHANGE
THE WORLDBy:ANDREW BORACCI
Editor and Publisher
MASONRY’S CAPACITY TO CHANGE THE WORLD IS TRULY AWESOME
If only we let ourselves realize the clout for good that rests In the hands of we 18-million Masonic beacons of light world wide
We all have experienced milestones that we later recognize as having altered the course of our life. For this writer there were three. When his childhood sweetheart agreed to become his wife many, many years ago it became clear that because of this "yes" the universe held no obstacles. "Yes, I will...."
The second came while doing a story for McGraw-Hill's Engineering News- Record. on the construction in 1970 of the Aswan High Dam that was to create Lake Nassar, the dam's reservoir and one of the world largest artificial lakes. The creation of the Lake required the relocation of some 90,000 people together with many archeological treasures, including the Nubian Temples at Abu Simbel. All this busy activity in and around Egypt's ancient Nile River proved very newsworthy and was duly reported at the time in the world press. Not recorded anywhere, however was the way nearly 5,000 workmen lived in the middie of dry desolation for all of the 10 years it took to raise the dam to its dedication in 1971. They lived as you do now, in harmony with your next door neighbor. They sent their children to school, attended church or Temple services, went to the movies on Saturday nights, fell in love, married, and made more babies which were born at home or in the local hospital. But, you might well ask, how could all this domestic activity take place in one of the driest, most uninhabitable places on earth? Simply. The contractors, government agencies, school systems and unions pooled their capabilities to create a
city of 5,000. That in itself was revelatory. But even more awesome was the. realization that numbered among these 5,000 were highly skilled engineers and their families, down to (or up to) the lowliest of the lowly laborers and their families. But still more. The participants came from all parts of the world, representing many cultures and religions, ones often at odds with their neighbors back at their real homes.
Not so at Aswan High. There were no ghettos. No segregation. No elitist superiority —no evidence of separatism, the world's last remaining sin. Men, women and children of different color knew one another by their first names, supervisors and employes pretty much the same. Housewives gussied up and cared for their husbands and children with love and concern. And community parties drew everyone to the same large tent. These same people in a civilized setting would be at each others' throats. It was as though the building of Aswan High came with a sort of truce that read; "Peace at each others' throats. It was as though the building of Aswan High came with a sort of truce that read; "Peace for the run of the contract." Not "for all time," just for the run of the contract. Just like in air travel, when people of diverse cultures sit alongside one another in truce for the "run of the flight " followed by the familiar—"if only people could be like this every day of the year."
18 Million Beacons of Light
The third revelation came four years ago about the time this writer undertook the publishing of this magazine extolling the virtues of the oldest, most respected fraternity in the world.
What earns us this title—"the oldest, most respected fraternity in the world?" Certainly not our purported beginnings in 1717 as English gentlemen drinking clubs that called themselves Masonic Lodges. Yet, these same clubs sent America Masons such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Nathan Hale, Paul Revere and others who literally invented America as we know it today. What were the special qualities that saw a millennium come to an end with Masons or their forerunners numbering nearly two thirds of those who made meaningful contributions to the betterment of humanity? Membership in old drinking clubs—? Hardly. Maybe it was the secret passwords, handshakes and rituals that set our special people apart—? Secret passwords, handshakes and ritual—? Very doubtful.
There had to be something more. Something simple and appealing to people of good will who, in the final analysis, are the only kind of people we attract to the Craft. And how about our love of God? There are no atheists in Freemasonry . In fact, we have to believe in God—by whatever name we call Him—to even petition for membership. Then there's the Soul. We have to believe in the immortality of the Soul—that we return to earth or linger in the cosmos to insure that Brotherly love prevails wherever we are. Finally, there's that third thing—that always present obligation Masons assume—that we do unto others only as we would have them do unto us. In this belief we live and have our being. It makes us pretty special, when you think about it. Take a look at the holocaust photo that opens this editorial. Do you know by. glancing which one of these men was a Mason? Hint. He's the one wearing the "Forget me Not" as a recognition device. Even when sent to the ovens with the Jews we Masons honored our Craft by recognition means. Yes, we are a special lot —not for some elitist reason but for having hearts that decry suffering in any form, color or economic circumstance. There are six million of us in the world today. With six million of our beautiful wives at our sides, and at least six million offspring who are walking the walk of Masonry, we can help change the world.
But we need to come out of the closet and share our so-called secret with the outside world—our secret of God, Soul and Service. That's where Freemasonry has to head. That's where this magazine is heading. .
— Bro. Andy Borecci
American Mason
PO Box 645, Sag Harbor, NY 11963
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