…presented at St. John's Lodge No. 35, Cayuga, October 4, 2007.

Old sayings are handy!

They neatly encapsulate years of experience from observations of the consequences of action, reaction or inaction. There has to be truth in them which has kept them in common use. You don’t have to be a genius to understand them and, if your memory is good enough, there seems to be a saying to match your every need.

They are a short form of “canned” wisdom that takes little explanation.

Masonry, like old saws, may leave much unsaid for you to discover. It supplies a system of self-development with a collection of essential elements drawn from age-old observation.

Our ancient heritage is set in man’s attempt to make sense out of his world, to understand the amazing mysteries, to explore the natural world and engage in its systematic study.

In our search for order, men have tried to leave no rock unturned.

In short, we use commonly known things to represent truths about our natural and spiritual world.

Today, we would like to think our symbols speak of the material world which so engages our society. In the past, we fondly think of them dealing with virtuous, moral and spiritual values.

Well, perhaps, we had best not get into a discussion of the good old days as opposed to the degradation and utter folly of the present day so clearly seen by everyone over fifty.

We cannot deny that the past has brought us valuable insights and we, as masons, are said to preserve the secrets and knowledge of antiquity.

Let’s venture to identify some of them and, if we are off-base, at least we will be left with a basis for Masonic education.

Order, symmetry, proportion and the duality of all things are the secrets we keep. Order in our universe, in our society, in our relationships and in ourselves is the essence of beauty and perfection. It is to be found in harmony, integrity and peace.

Symmetry recognizes the balanced duality of all things for the yin and yang of life is forever with us.

Proportion is the great moderator of beauty and makes pleasant the most diverse of relationships.

Our symbols contain the acquired wisdom of mankind. They speak of a concept of beauty premised on the great virtues and our belief that, seeming chaos, is ordered by the great creative force we name the GAOTU. His tracing board is the great plan in which we participate as we see fit.

If we are to participate in the vast plan of His tracing board, we will do it individually and as a part of all that has been, is now, and shall be.

We are bound to assist each other in that pursuit and I urge you to give of yourself.