A tale of Masonic men surrounding a
campfire in the Old West, at night,
discussing the Fraternity and its
teachings. One old man listened
patiently, and finally spoke up:
'I can tell you more about Masonry
in a little example than some of the
great Masonic philosophers can in
books. Everybody stand up, and
gather in a circle around the
campfire.'
They did that.
'Now, everybody hold hands with the
man next to him.'
They did that, too.
'Now, what do you see, looking
ahead?'
'The face of a Brother Mason through
the flames.'
'What do you feel in front of you?'
'The warmth of the fire, and the
comfort it brings on a cool night.'
'What do you feel at your side?'
'The warm hand of a Brother.'
'OK. Now, drop the hands, and turn
around.'
They did so.
'Now, what do you see, looking
ahead?'
'Complete darkness.'
'What do you feel, looking ahead?'
'A sense of loneliness, of being
alienated.'
'What do you feel at your side?'
'Nothing at all.'
'What do you feel on your backside?'
'The warmth of the fire.'
'So it is with Masonry,' said the
old man. 'In Masonic gatherings, you
can feel the warmth of Masonic
interaction, you can see the face of
a Brother through the light Masonry
brings to you, and you can always
feel the warm hand of a Brother.
When you turn away from Masonry, and
are out in the world, you see
darkness, feel alienated and alone,
and do not feel the warm hand of
your Masonic Brother. But Masonry,
and the warmth and light it brings,
are just a turn away from you.'
