From the Office of the Right Worshipful Grand Lecturer
Traditions Should Be a Rudder Not an Anchor
Freemasonry has many traditions of which it has reason to be proud, provided it uses them as a rudder instead of an anchor.
When we point with pride and complacent self-satisfaction to the cherished traditions of Freemasonry and let them lead us to inactivity on our part, we are using those traditions as an anchor instead of a rudder by which we may be held to the course we should be following in fulfilling our obligations and in assuming responsibilities to which we, as Freemasons, are bound.
When we point with pride to what has been done by Freemasons of the past, and let that be an excuse for our doing nothing to which Freemasons of the future may point with pride as having been done in the past of which we were a part, we are using our time-honored traditions as an anchor, instead of as a rudder to guide us in equaling the performance of others to which we point with pride.
Aren't we, who are of many years in Freemasonry, inclined to point with pride to the things we did in our younger years in Freemasonry, when we were active in the work, when we passed through the line and filled the Master's chair using that past service to anchor us in inactivity, instead of as a rudder to guide us in giving the greater service which we should be able to give because of our former activities to which we point with such pride.
Let us not be content to point with pride to our long-established traditions. Let us not be content to point with pride to the number of Freemasons who were signers of the Declaration of Independence. Let us not be content to point with pride to the number of Freemasons who were members of the Constitutional Convention. Let us not be content to point with pride to the performances of George Washington and his generals who were
Freemasons. Let not us be content to point to the number of Freemasons who have been President of the United States, nor to the number of Freemasons who have been Governors, nor to the number of Freemasons who have been members of the Supreme Court, nor to the thousands who have held other positions of honor and trust. Let us not be content to point with pride to the things performed by these and other great Freemasons whose names have been emblazoned upon the pages of history.
True, we should have pride in the accomplishments of these Freemasons of other years, but our pride in their accomplishments should not anchor us in self-complacency. Rather, their accomplishments should be a rudder to guide us in accomplishing in a comparable manner for our God, for our country, for our brethren, for Freemasonry of today.
Traditions are splendid if used as a rudder instead of an anchor.