WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A ROYAL ARCH MASON?
Traveling to that, "undiscovered place" where only the brave and true
dare venture,one's inner self.
Learning who I am and what makes me what I am and being true to myself
about what I find there.
Then, applying the philosophy of Freemasonry to improve those things
that I find which fall short of what they should be.
Upon making the trip into my inner self, I found that the person there
was a lot different than the person that I was presenting to be to the
outside world.
The inner me was basically true, good, and had feelings, while the
outer me was basically strong, forceful, and unfeeling.
I discovered that the inner me was the real strength behind the outer
me and that while the outer me was a source of protection, it was also
a wall shielding me from the true joys of life such as, Love, Peace,
and Happiness.
The philosophy of Freemasonry, when accepted and practiced, provides
simple but profound solutions to the problems of inner self and outer
self-relationships, it also provides solutions to the problems of
human relationships.
The best-informed Mason is the Mason who studies and learns about
himself.
One must know his self, before he can know anyone else. One must
understand one's self, before he can truly understand anything outside
of himself.
He learns to understand the "Volume of the Sacred Law" of his Religion
and he also should also learn to understand the "Volume of the Sacred
Laws" of other religions.
For to be able to have some understanding of what others believe, you
have to have some knowledge of what it is that they believe.
It is with this knowledge and understanding that a Mason is able to
find common grounds to come together with others, in Love, Peace, and
Unity for the good of all mankind with any good man of any race, creed,
or religion.
To be a "True Royal Arch Mason", is to believe that charity and
service rendered are beyond measure.
To by live the "Golden Rule".
It means to become a better man through a firm belief in the
Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of Man, and the Immortality of the
Soul.
To know that the tenets of Freemasonry are ethical principles that are
acceptable to all good men.
To live with tolerance toward all mankind.
To be bounded together by bonds of "Brotherly Love" and "Affection"
towards all other Masons.
To dictate to no man as to his beliefs, either religious or secular.
Not to seek advantage through business or politics, only to be judged
on your own merits just as anyone else.
"To be all that you can be" is fine for the Marines, but the goal of
every Royal Arch Mason should be "To be what God wants you to be".
I will now leave you with these parting thoughts:
"Yesterday I was what I was"
"Today I am that I am"
"Tomorrow I will be what God makes me"
Yours in Love, Peace, and Unity,
Byron E. Hams
Most Excellent Grand High Priest
Most Excellent Grand Chapter,
Holy Royal Arch Masons