2018 Masonic Year Trestle Board

Our 281st Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina has come and is now in the rearview mirror.  Brethren, we had a great session with positive reports, recognition and fellowship, most of all great fellowship!  During the Grand Masters Address, I placed several initiatives on the trestle board for 2018 - 2019 year that I believe will continue to serve the craft and move our Lodge of the Future program forward.  We will continue to focus on the primary initiatives
-         Improved Ritual Work Quality – to increase new member engagement.
-         Full Candidate Proficiency – to impress our lessons on new members.
-         Improved Member Communication – Staying in touch with all members.
-         Improved Masonic Education – Providing Quality Educational Programs.
-         Improved Financial Management – Lodges taking ownership of Budgets

Brethren, those Lodges that are embracing these programs, through their hard work and effort, are seeing improved membership experience. 

The new initiatives that your Grand Lodge officers are working to develop and introduce this year;
1.     Address and formalize the onboarding process for new members to clearly define the requirements for membership in our Jurisdiction. This process is testing well with inquiries we get from our website.    It will help our Lodges with retention and also with improved quality of applicants.  It is designed to better prepare those new members coming into our fraternity with understanding of the process of membership.                                                                                                               
2.     Develop a District Realignment strategy.  We currently have Districts with few as 5 Lodges and as many as 13 Lodges.  We will structure so as to maintain 30 Districts but we will include Lodge input that is critical to this project.
3.     Develop a Lodge of Excellence Recognition program to support our Lodges that are working to create the Lodge Membership Experience and move forward with the Lodge of the Future concepts. This recognition program will better define what successful Lodges are doing and sharing in the great results. More to follow in the coming weeks.                                                                                                        4.     Develop and implement a Grand Masters Unity Project this year.  This program is asking all Lodges and all appendant organizations of our fraternity to hold one fund raiser to support the Fraternity.  Each group that participates will receive a share of the contributions to demonstrate the great impact of our fraternity.  See the attached Lesson plan for details.

Gentlemen, we owe a great deal of thanks for the blessing we have in this Jurisdiction!  It is by the hard work and teamwork of our members, that we see great success.  We have many that worked so hard for our Grand Lodge and I want to publicly say thank you to the many on the Local Grand Lodge Committee and our Grand Lodge officers that worked on our Grand Lodge Session.  Our local committee and their ladies did a wonderful job in making our members and guest feel so welcome.
Thank you to the local committee you make us so proud to be a South Carolina Freemason!  
Fraternally
Michael D. Smith                                                                                                          
​Grand Master
​

GRAND MASTER’S ADDRESS
​THE MASONIC LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE

“Grand Master, I am having problems in my Lodge, getting members to participate.”  These words were shared with me on several occasions during the recent District Instructional Meetings, by Worshipful Masters concerned about the future of their Lodge.  These words certainly signal great concern for a Lodge, especially when they rise to the level of a conversation with the Grand Master and I certainly take them seriously.  More importantly, it signals that the Lodge needs to work to address the issue.  Often, the Worshipful Master and Officers, find themselves dealing with issues that have not been addressed within their Lodge, but address the issues, they must!

Brethren, I have reminded all the Officers attending the District Instructional Meetings of the obligation they took as officers by reciting the obligation.  
“I, Michael Duane Smith, do solemnly promise that I will serve this Lodge as _______, for the space of one year, from the festival of St. John the Evangelist to the one next ensuing and will perform all the duties appertaining to that one office to the best of my abilities, so help me God.”  I follow up by asking them if they understood and took that obligation seriously, do they mean it, do they own it!

Officers are expected to know their role and to give their best effort in the work and support as a member of the leadership team.  The emphasis points for this year are as follows based direct member feedback!

1.  Candidate Proficiency – All candidates are expected to    demonstrate full proficiency in all degrees.  They will    appreciate their accomplishment and will be better prepared    to assist the Lodge with pride.
2. Quality of the Work – Focus on teaching the candidates with    Ritual Excellence.  Masters have been asked to lead more    practice including teaching officers how to read the Ritual    correctly. 
3. Improve Member Communications – Using email, calls,    letters & texts to keep your members informed of all Lodge    Activity.
4. Improve Lodge Education - Masters have been asked to    provide Masonic Education at all Regular Meetings.  Focus    on the Ahiman Rezon, Ritual and the Lodge of the Future    Lesson Plans.

Let’s OWN IT, and work together in 2018 and begin to focus on those things which enable renewal, stability and success.  What will it take to make that happen?  Masonic Leadership with a focused, realistic approach specific for your Lodge this year.  Please see the Grand Masters Lesson plan at www.scgrandlodgeafm.com and click on the resources tab to get Lesson Plan No. 4.  Your actions now will impact your Lodge for many years to come.  Consider these questions for your Lodge.  Can a Lodge survive if the work cannot be properly exemplified?  Can a Lodge survive if they do not stay in constant contact with their members, all of them?  Can a Lodge survive if they do not understand where they are and can the Lodge meet the obligations to be a Lodge of Ancient Free Masons in SC.  Brethren, it means something to be a Freemason in South Carolina. 

Masonic Leadership is needed now in your Lodge!   Lead the Craft by showing them that you care for them and the Lodge!  Your Grand Lodge Officers are here to help you succeed.

Wardens are expected to attend the New Wardens Leadership Workshops either on March 3rd at the Greenville Scottish Rite Center or March 10th at the Charleston Scottish Rite Center.     
Fraternally,    
Michael D. Smith, Sr.    
​Grand Master

FREEMASONRY CELEBRATED
As I write this year end message, I am homeward bound from the Tercentenary Celebration of the United Grand Lodge of England.  RW Walter C. “Cal” Disher II and I had the great honor to participate in this gathering Grand Officers and representing all the members of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina.
Indeed, His Royal Highness, the Duke of Kent, Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England indicated this was the largest gathering of Grand Masters in History! 136 Grand Masters from all corners of the world gathered in London to celebrate 300 Years of Freemasonry as organized in the Premier Grand Lodge. Over 4000 attended the celebration on Tuesday, October 31st at Royal Albert Hall in London.  Freemasonry was truly celebrated at this event.
The ceremony, showed a young member beginning his journey as most of us have, by seeking a better life and choosing to serve others. By seeking and finding Light!  This portrayal had the young member being conducted by the Master Hiram stressing the moral lessons and those principle virtues so vital to a successful journey of a Freemason.  Along the way the novice was excited to meet many of the greatest Freemasons from history that taught the great lessons and virtues, including Benjamin Franklin and George Washington!
The presentation shared that the United States was founded on the principles of Freemasonry of Freedom and Toleration!  Brethren, we were proud of this portrayal.  May Freedom continue to reign and toleration remain a proper goal for our fraternity!
Brethren, I am here to tell you that you should be so proud of our history and those great Masonic leaders in our glorious past.  We were ordered at this session based upon our establishment of our Grand Lodge.  Being the eighth in history afforded RW Bro Disher and me some unbelievable opportunities.  I was seated with the highest officers of the Grand Lodge of England, Grand Masters of Ireland, Scotland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York and New Jersey and as such one of the first to meet the HRH the Grand Master of England, to get the prime seating for the celebration and seated at the head tables for the Grand Banquet.  Brethren from other jurisdictions wanted to know how we got to be in the select group.  I stated that is was due to those great Masonic Leaders of the past from South Carolina that afforded us this great opportunity.
Brethren, I also had the great privilege of attending the Grand Lodge of Scotland while in Edinburgh the week prior to returning to London and again South Carolina was recognized as one of the oldest Grand Lodges by the MW Grand Master Mason in their session. 
Brethren, as I contemplated these wonderful events where Freemasons celebrated the tremendous history, influence and the difference made in the world, I was moved by what we have in South Carolina.  We have a rich history of service to our members and the world.  A teaching Grand Lodge that works and our charity is noted because of what we have been taught!  Gentlemen, men need what we offer!  We must offer our best for the future of the craft!   
Gentlemen, I pose the questions again regarding the Lodge of the Future and our ability to continue such a great legacy for the coming generations.  How will we carry out our great mission when some of our Lodges struggle to even stay open?  Without a return to the pride in teaching the great lessons to our members, we cannot fulfill the very needs of our members to make a difference in their community.  If your Lodge is not meeting the needs of your members, then you must get your “house in order” and then and only then can your Lodge be what it is meant to be. A true force in the lives of your members and your community!
Time to STAND TALL my brethren and to GO TO WORK to make 2018 the best. 
We have great plans on the trestle board for all Lodge officers! 
Attend your District instructional meeting for hands on training for your officers.
Worshipful Masters are expected to attend the New Worshipful Masters Leadership Workshop on January 27th in Columbia at the Scottish Rite. 
Wardens are expected to attend the New Wardens Leadership Workshops either on March 3rd in Charleston or March 10th in Greenville at the Scottish Rite Centers.
May God grant each of us the recognition of our talent and dedication to develop our talent and skill to the benefit of others. Our Grand Lodge officers look forward to seeing you at our Instructional Meetings.
Fraternally
Michael D. Smith                                                                                                         
Grand Master  
 
   
 
GRAND MASTER’S EDUCATION LESSON PLAN, NUMBER 3
PREPARING YOUR LODGE OF THE FUTURE
BACKGROUND:  NEW OFFICER LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING PROGRAM                                                     
ISSUES:            Delivering on our promise, Making A Difference to YOUR Members
NEEDS:            Improve Officer Training
                        Raising the Bar on Quality Ritual and Operations
ACTIONS:        Use the Grand Lodge Instructional Program to Improve Lodge Leadership.
                        Properly Elect and Install your 2018 Officers.                                                        
Engage your DDGM and Past Masters.  
                        Open installations are a great way to involve the family!
                        Provide the proper tools to the new officers.
                        Officers get together and study, read the Ritual to make certain it is correct.
                        ALL OFFICERS Attend Your District Instructional Meeting Together!
WOR. MASTERS  – Attend the NEW Leadership Workshop – 1.27 in Columbia.
WARDENS – Attend the NEW Leadership Workshop in Charleston or Greenville.
 
Plan to practice and practice to be better tomorrow. Make your Lodge the best it can be!  The best at teaching your new members! Your Grand Lodge Officers are looking forward to seeing you at Instructional Meetings and your Workshops.
 
If you have any questions please contact your DDGM for details.
STAND TALL and LET’S GO TO WORK TOGETHER.

​INSPIRED FREEMASONRY
The fall of the year is perhaps my favorite time of the year, as the temperature begins to moderate, nature paints a beautiful and vibrant picture with the changing hues of the leaves, the bountiful harvest and offers the anticipation of peace and plenty.  With the approach of fall, we all can take great interest in the beauty and majesty all around us.  Color abounds and is a key part of all things fall.  Being from the south, it is also a great time of hope for the success of your favorite college football team too!
The fall of the year is also a time to come together as Freemasons in our Grand Jurisdiction to celebrate a successful year, come back to labor and prepare for the year end.  For many of us, this is a welcomed tradition in South Carolina, to see old friends, make new friends, and spend time together, as the family of Freemasons.  I hope you make plans to attend your District meeting and to gather some new insight regarding our fraternity. It is a time to celebrate our success and recommit to our plans for the future.  It is time to prepare for the approaching new year!     
Inspirational meetings come in all formats from the new family picnic format with picnic foods, fun and games for the children and great fellowship, to the traditional banquet with a great meal, fellowship and educational presentations, hopefully, not too long and not boring!
Regardless of how we celebrate, the goal is to inspire Freemasons to engage and contribute their talent, skill and capacity for our craft and to expound our great teachings! We hope to increase fellowship and fraternity, create interest with our new members, and engage our family members.  Regardless of what format is selected, the real objective, in my mind, is how are we creating a positive and meaningful experience for our members.
At a recent event in Washington DC, I had the honor and privilege to attend the conference, as Master of Ceremonies of several event in part of my obligation, as Sovereign Grand Inspector General for the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite at the biennial session.  At the Gala Banquet, I had the privilege of presenting one or our George Washington Portraits to the Supreme Council in front of approximately 1200 people from all over the World.  We shared the successful program and how we have made a difference in the schools in South Carolina and also contributed to the Juvenile Diabetes Research program.  The inspirational part to me was what the audience did at the close of the ceremony, they came on stage and had pictures made with the George Washington portrait and asked about the program.  Again, Freemasonry Inspires!  It inspires us to think of what we might do to assist others.  It inspires Action, focused action to make a difference.  Gentlemen, as I frequently say, we make a difference every day!  Keep up the good work. Be the Freemason that works for others, lives worthily and supports your brethren.
While in Washington, I also saw a young lady born with a rare genetic disorder, Osteogenesis Imperfecta.  She was born with 50 broken bones and thus created issues with her development.  She learned to play the violin, not by the traditional method but as a miniature base or cello. Her method of play created a beautiful harmony as if multiple violins were playing in perfect harmony.  When she was asked about being an inspiration, her answer was even more inspiring.  Don’t think I am inspiring because of my circumstance, it is who I am, it is part of what God made of me.  It is more important that we work and develop our talent to share with others.  Freemasonry, when in action, does this too!
May God grant each of us the recognition of our talent and dedication to develop our talent and skill to the benefit of others.
Our Grand Lodge officers look forward to seeing you at our Inspirationals.
Fraternally
 
 GRAND MASTER’S EDUCATION LESSON PLAN, NUMBER 2
YOUR LODGE OF THE FUTURE
BACKGROUND:  INSPIRING MEMBER ENGAGEMENT                                                            
ISSUES:            Delivering on our promise, Making A Difference to All Members
NEEDS:            Improve membership support and engagement 
                        Discuss how to needs to be done to improve communication with your members. 
ACTIONS:        Use the Grand Lodge Membership System to update your membership roster
                        Ascertain how many of your members are not attending and reach out to them  
Divide the membership list among your Officers and Active Members and call them to check on them and get email address if they have it.  Welcome them to come back, share upcoming events and regular meetings.
Call or email your members on their birthday
Use the Grand Lodge – Grandview System to send your members information.
Hold a Family Breakfast and invite your Lodge members and families to visit.
Plan a special educational program and invite all your members.
Visit other Lodges and build the fellowship
Have a Lodge Project for 2017 to unite the members in a project for the community or the Lodge.
-          Disaster Relief Project
-          Veterans Homes and Nursing Home Project
-          Call your members to check on them.
-          Determine if your Lodges needs to Change your Meeting time to better serve members. Day Light Lodge for older members or a Saturday Morning Lodge.
​
 
 

TRAJECTORY OF OUR LODGES
As a young boy in the 1960’s, I was always interested in NASA and the great adventures of our Astronauts, their missions and accomplishments.  As we enter the summer months, I recall with great clarity the success and issues of the Apollo Missions.  On July 20, 1969 man first landed on the moon. As Neil Armstrong stated, “That’s One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Mankind.”  What a moment for all of mankind, the culmination of a decade of focused planning, scientific analysis, and unified work.  I first learned of trajectory with the space program.  Trajectory is a medieval term from the 1660’s meaning to cast over or casting over.  The geometric definition relates to the curve or surface that cuts all the curves or surfaces of a system at a contact angle.  Trajectory is an important term relating to future or desired success.  Trajectory in essence defines the pathway to success for complex systems.  The Apollo 13 Mission, in April of 1970, illustrated the impact of change in trajectory.  The movie is worth of a watch on overcoming adversity or changing trajectory for survival itself.
What is the Trajectory of Your Lodge?      
Brethren, as I have previously stated, Lodge membership is our most important asset.  While I am positive of the great influence we have as Freemasons and our future, and yet I am also greatly concerned about the trajectory of some of our lodges!  Many Lodges are just beginning to study membership trends, financial and sustainability reviews, to address their trajectory and adjust course.  Some of our Lodges have the path to success in front of them, while others are on a perilous trajectory that if uncorrected will lead to disappointment and perhaps devastation to their members.  We continue to discuss the Lodge of the Future program and to address the complex issues that face Lodges today!  Study will enable them to plan for a future trajectory for success. Collectively we need to set our Lodge target and trajectory for a successful future.   Does your Lodge have a Vision and Plan for what you really want your Lodge to provide your members, improving communication to all of your members and to determine what you want your Lodge influence to have in your community.    
I have been pleased hear from Lodges that are moving forward with the Lodge of the Future Program.  I have been blessed to see the first fruits from this effort with Lodges being focused on improving our meetings, adding more educational programs and considering what will your Lodge trajectory be in the coming months and years.  Your Grand Lodge is moving forward with membership and system changes that will change trajectory.  How we use the tools will  determine the success of Lodges who understand the great benefit to their members.
As with the Apollo missions of the past, we need to ask what will be the legacy of our leadership!  
Just imagine what we can do when we consider the possibilities, and take steps to get the craft moving together on a trajectory for greatness.  Take the small step forward and keep moving!
 
   
MASONIC EDUCATION LESSON PLAN, NUMBER 12
YOUR LODGE OF THE FUTURE
BACKGROUND:  Improving the Lodge Experience for All Members                                                            
ISSUES:            Delivering on our promise, Making A Difference to All Members
NEEDS:            Lead the discussion with your Lodge members as to what has improved over the last 2 years. 
                        Discuss what yet needs to be done to improve the Lodge Experience with your members. 
ACTIONS:        Use the Grand Lodge Membership System to update your membership roster
                        Ascertain how many of your members are not attending and reach out to them  
Divide the membership list among your Officers and Active Members and call them to check on them and get email address if they have it.  Welcome them to come back, share upcoming events and regular meetings.
Call or email your members on their birthday
Use email to keep your members informed.
Hold a Family Breakfast and invite your Lodge members and families to visit.
Plan a special educational program and invite all your members.
Visit other Lodges and build the fellowship
Have a Lodge Project for 2017 to unite the members in a project for the community or the Lodge.
​

Grand Masters Address
It is a distinct honor and privilege to serve our beloved Fraternity in any leadership position.  I recognize that leadership has always been based upon the respect given by the membership if for only a short time.  Leadership, in any case, is always accompanied by the responsibility to act on behalf one’s peers and to act in the best interest for all.
Most Worshipful T. Harry White once shared, “It is not how much a man may know that is important, as much as, the purpose for which he knows it.”  This has always resonated with me in my Masonic Journey and one of several important realizations that I have gained from great Freemasons that have influenced me.
I have observed those great Freemasons that I follow in the office of Grand Master. These Brothers acted in the best interest of the Craft, as they faced the issues and challenges of the day.  Having working with all of our Living Past Grand Masters, they all share the passion for Freemasonry and work for the craft.  They have earned a place in history for their effort.  I continue to be amazed by their great influence and labor for the craft.
Yet I am even more amazed and excited by the future of Freemasonry, because of the opportunity we have to make a difference in the world, but most importantly, among our newest members and future members.  Freemasonry needs to be an integral part of the communities in which we labor.
I am, indeed, humbled and honored to have been elected and installed as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina. I promise that I will pray, listen, consider and evaluate the decisions that come to the Office of the Grand Master. I will work to address the issues that we face as a Fraternity.  It will take work and faith in each other! By working together, we can create great opportunity for our gentle craft to in service to our members, communities and the world.  We make a difference where we are!
I have been asked to comment on my Grand Mastered lapel pin.  I was inspired to by the great lesson of the Five Points of Fellowship. When studied, all of us can benefit by the great lessons that can be gained from the rich meaning from our ritual instruction.  The Blazing Star represents many things, the Five Points of Fellowship, the Da Vinci image of the Vitruvian Man, the elegant geometric proportion use to deliver the beautiful reminder of the Spiritual part of man that is found in each of us.  The Hebrew letter Hei, found in the center of the star represents both the numerical value of 5 and also alludes to the ineffable name of God as we further pursue truth and light. 
Brethren, so let us work together to elevate and improve the Freemason’s experience in our Fraternity, and in so doing elevate the Fraternity.  It is up to each member to commit and work to improve our own experience by study.  Better Ritual, Better Fellowship and Better Education.   
I look forward to the opportunity to serve with those of you that want to better our Fraternity!
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Michael D. Smith, Sr.
​

GRAND MASTER’S LAST MESSAGE
          This is my last Masonic Light article as your Grand Master. I begin with mixed emotions as my time as your Grand Master is slowly coming to an end. I am sad because my term will soon be over. However, I am very thankful you gave me the opportunity to serve this Grand Jurisdiction as your Grand Master for the past two years. I will always have wonderful memories of the way you received me and of the many acts of kindness and courtesies extended to me as I traveled over this state visiting your Lodges. Also for the honor of representing The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina as I travelled to other Grand Jurisdictions for their Annual Communications. It was my privilege to meet and make friends with Brethren from many Jurisdictions in North America as I attended the Southeastern Masonic Conferences and Conferences of Grand Masters and Grand Secretaries of North America for the past several years.  
           I want to thank the elected line officers: Rt. Wor. Michael D. Smith, Sr., Senior Grand Warden, Rt. Wor. Walter C. Disher II, Junior Grand Warden, M.W. Jack A. Marler, PGM and Grand Treasurer, M.W. Gerald L. Carver, PGM and Grand Secretary, and Rt. Wor. A. Robert Nix, Grand Chaplain for their support. Congratulations to Rt. Wor. Michael D. Smith, Sr., as he is elevated to the time-honored position of Grand Master. To the Subordinate Grand Lodge Officers, District Deputy Grand Masters and Committeemen: thank you for your support these past two years. Also I want to thank Rt. Wor. Benny Hammond for his outstanding performance as my Grand Marshall and the times he accompanied me on my demanding travel schedule. 
          To M.W. Jerry Carver, PGM and Grand Secretary thank you for your wise counsel, advice and work performed for me. You were always there for me when I needed advice and counsel and I thank you for that.
          To M.W. Jack A. Marler, PGM, Grand Treasurer for the assurances that the funds of the Grand Lodge are properly maintained.
          To MW Ronald C. Mitchum, PGM, Chairman of Commission on Investments and Masonic Relief.  Thank you for your expert advice and performance with the Grand Lodge Investments and assuring stability in the future. Also for your work with the Masonic Relief to ensure those receiving assistance were thoroughly investigated.
          To our Past Grand Masters: MW Tommie Brant, MW G. Ray Marsh, MW Robert V. Pinkston, MW Samuel Tennyson, Sr., MW G. Kent Elkins, MW Barry A. Rickman, MW Jay A. Pearson and MW David J. DeChant, Sr.  This Grand Lodge is fortunate to have a dedicated group of Brothers as you.
          To all the Brethren who were always there when I needed a helping hand and prefer to remain anonymous. I know who you are and will always be indebted to you.
           To Jeanne, my best friend, the love of my life and my wife: I can’t express in words my love and appreciation for your love and the sacrifices you made supporting me through the forty seven years I have been active in this Great Fraternity of Masonry.  You have been so very encouraging and supportive every day.  
          Brethren, I look forward to our upcoming 280th Annual Communication to be held in Greenville, S. C. at the Embassy Suites Hotel on April 27th -28th 2017. I sincerely hope to see you there.
 
Fraternally,

William B. Rogers
Grand Master

​The Masonic Fraternity
          The origin of Masonry began hundreds of years ago as a skill based upon a need. It then became a trade which was organized into a guild. It required diligence and a commitment to quality work. Not just any man was taken in as an apprentice. Men were asked to measure up for a job he sought before he was allowed to do it. More important, no man who was unwilling to work to learn how to produce good work was allowed to remain very long with the Craft.
          Speculative Masonry also has the same requirements, but because the work expected is that of improvement of the individual it is not as easy to evaluate the quality or the results. But here again, any man who is unwilling to learn to produce good work should also not be allowed to remain in our Fraternity.
          For years we have been telling men who ask about the value of Masonry that what you get out of it is what you put into it. I hear this almost everywhere I go. I have never told a Brother that what you put into Masonry is what you will get out of it. This is a lazy non-answer and the result of it has been that men have been allowed to bring anything they enjoy from their daily lives into the craft and call it Masonry. The reasoning behind this appears to be that so long as what we are doing is good and will make the person a better man. Therefore, he believes this is what Masonry is all about. It cannot be just getting out of it what we put in, or we will have ended up nothing more than what we started with.
          Undoubtedly, the world we live in needs more acts of loving kindness and concern for our fellow man. Masonry calls us to perform such as part of our obligation to humanity. However, this is no more the sum of Masonry that it is in math. Every human being should be called to display goodness and love toward their fellow man as it should be with every Mason. But what the observant Mason must ask himself is how Masonry distinguished itself from other fraternal organizations. We must ask ourselves why seek membership in our Fraternity as opposed to any group of well intentioned people who do good things for humanity. When they do seek membership and have truly advanced beyond the door of the Lodge it is our obligation to help them understand the teachings which they are receiving. We must start by understanding that Freemasonry, unlike other fraternities, is not for everyone, and should never be offered as such. Masonry is and was always intended to be an organization that an individual must seek to join. The quality of the individual far outweigh the number of men knocking at our doors, quality of character far outweighs quantity of candidates, and less is more. If we select ten exceptional men to whom he can teach the whole of the craft, each of those ten men can in turn teach ten others. By working with fewer but dedicated men, the Fraternity gains substantially. We thereby gain the survival of the Craft. We have some who believe that more men are needed in order to save dying Lodges from extinction.
          The man who knocks at our door, in full knowledge of both the risk that he may be rejected, and yet proceeds anyway because the search for light is that important to him. Only such a man is one who should become a Mason. Why? Because such a man will understand that as with all things worth doing or having, the “true knowledge of the art” takes time, and cannot be achieved in a day. It requires a sincere pledge of time and effort. Men who should be Masons will make time for the Craft. They must not change its principles, methods or techniques in order to take all men at all cost, especially those who have told us that they do not have the time for it. Freemasonry does not offer itself to those who are outside the doors of the Lodge, or even to those who may simply be curious about its contents. The real reason for membership in the Craft is that it must be sought. The experiences of an Entered Apprentice’s and Fellowcraft’s first few months and a new Master Mason’s first years will determine how they view Freemasonry for the remainder of their lives. This is why our commitment to mentoring and the sustaining of fellowship is relevant, now more than ever. I believe our Lodges should strive for better Masons rather than more Masons.
          Freemasonry is oldest Fraternal Organization in the world. We owe no explanation to anyone for who we are, what we do, why we do it or how we do it, and no one has the right to demand an explanation from us.
Fraternally,
William B. Rogers
William B. Rogers
Grand Master

​Early Years of Masonry
            When an organization comes into being there are Individuals with great ideas and skills that work and sacrifice to make their ideas come to reality and the same is true with Masonry. South Carolina has many Brothers who distinguished themselves in the early years. On the 28th of October 1736 the first Lodge in South Carolina was opened in Charleston with Bro. John Hammerton being unanimously elected as Worshipful Master.
            About the middle of the eighteenth century the division of the Fraternity in England into two conflicting societies of the “Ancients” and the “Moderns” came into being; although by the reconciliation in 1813 uniformity was restored in The United Grand Lodge of England, which was then formed. That uniformity was restored and did not extend to other countries with Lodges. Although nearly all Lodges in the United States, before the Revolution of 1776, derived their existence from the Grand Lodges of England, the American Masons do not use the multitude of signs that prevail in the English System.   
            In the early years of Masonry in South Carolina there were the “Ancient York Masons” and the “Moderns”. Moderns were the original Grand Lodge established in 1717 in London and became known as the “MODERNS”. The Ancients were the Irish Masons who formed a rival Grand Lodge in London in 1751 and styled themselves as “ANCIENTS’. The reconciliation in 1813 restored the two Grand Lodges in South Carolina. The result of the reconciliation was the formation of “The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient and Free Masons of South Carolina.”
            The degrees of Freemasonry are the steps by which a candidate ascends from a lower to a higher condition of knowledge. It is the opinion of the best Masonic scholars, that the division of the Masonic system into degrees was the work of revivalist of the beginning of the eighteenth century. Prior to this period there was but one degree or common platform of ritualism.
            In 1717 the whole body of the Fraternity consisted only of Entered Apprentices, who were recognized by the thirty-nine Regulations, compiled in 1720, as among the law givers of the Craft. In the old charges, and approved in 1722 the degree of Fellow-Craft is introduced as being necessary qualifications for Grand Master, although the word degree is not used.
            The Grand Mastery, published in 1725, makes no reference to any degrees. The division of the Masonic system into three degrees must have grown up between 1717 and 1730, but in so gradual manner that we are unable to fix the precise date in the introduction of each degree. As late as 1735 the Entered Apprentice’s Degree contained the most prominent form of initiation and he was an Entered Apprentice which was, for all practical purposes, a Freemason. After repeated improvements, by the adoption ceremonies and new regulations that the degree of Master Mason took the place it now occupies. In 1813, the Grand Lodge of England vindicated the ancient landmark, by solemnly enacting that ancient Craft Masonry consisted of the three degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow-Craft and Master Mason. The most important and significant of the legendary symbols of Freemasonry is, undoubtedly, that which relates to the fate of Hiram Abif, commonly called the legend of the Third Degree. The legend has always remained unwritten, and descended, from age to age, through the means of oral tradition. It has been considered of so much importance that it has been preserved in the symbolism of every Masonic Rite. Although over time modifications or alterations have been attempted. The legend of the Temple Builder has ever been left untouched, to present itself in all the integrity of its ancient mythical form.
            The idea, therefore, proposed to be communicated in the myth of the ancient mysteries was the same as that which is now conveyed in the Masonic Legend of the Third Degree, the sublime symbolism of a resurrection from the grave to a new birth into a future life.
Fraternally,
William B. Rogers
Grand Master