Masonic Tombstone Dedication Address

Tonight, the brothers of William J Sherman council #141, Allied Masonic degrees will dedicate a new tombstone honoring Worshipful Brother James Wilson, the first Master of Lancaster Lodge #57, Free and Accepted Masons, Operating under the Grand Lodge of Ohio.  Brother Wilson served as a surgeon in the War of 1812 and as an early town council member.  He died in 1823 at the age of 43.  His original tombstone was destroyed by vandals some years back.  What follows in my address from the event:

FREEMASONRY: AN INTRODUCTION

 



Freemasonry is the world’s oldest and largest fraternity. It is dedicated to the promulgation of those ethical values which are shared by so many of the world’s great religions, and to the idea that all men are created equal. It is our belief that people of different religions and political persuasions ought to be able to live in peace and work together to make the world a better place.

While the origins of freemasonry are lost in time, modern freemasonry dates to the early 1700’s in England, Scotland, and Ireland. It was there that gentlemen who did not make their living in the building trades sought to join the free stone mason’s guilds to share in their fellowship and to experience the ethical lessons which were taught in their initiation ceremonies. Those ceremonies, called degrees, are three in number. The first introduces a man to the great truths of natural law and holy Scripture as the bases for a life lived well. The second teaches the importance of education and equality, and calls all men to work for the common good. The third is more reflective in nature, and calls us as Masons to consider those things which are truly important in life, such as fidelity, courage, and faith.

While Freemasonry requires belief in God from all her members, she is not a religion, because she does not teach a way of salvation. Rather she encourages all men to practice faithfully the religion they profess, and to work for the betterment of society with all men of good will, whatever their religion. Freemasonry certainly has proprietary information, mostly modes of recognition which stretch back to the days of the cathedral builders' guilds, or unions. But she is not a secret society, because her meetings and buildings, and her basic teachings, are public knowledge. The great secret of freemasonry is not a buried treasure or a conspiratorial meeting, but relates more to how good men seek to better themselves and live for the good of others.

Brother James Wilson, like many of the builders of our county and town over the years was a faithful freemason who served his nation in war and his community in peace. We are proud today to honor him, and we hope that one day, it might be said that we have followed faithfully in his footsteps. Thank you for joining us today as we dedicate this stone to his memory.