We began discussion our 2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt to be held in conjunction with the fundraiser for the new Hudson Community Center.

Education Officer Alan Eide began his education program with the presentation of Recognition Awards prepared by Joe West to Charles Scott (10 Years), Ric Porter (25 Years), and LeRoy Ross (40 Years) on their Master Mason anniversaries. The program included minutes available from the night they were raised and reminder of historic event that occurred in February of the year they were raised. In turn they each gave a fine response and received a warm applause from the Brothers gathered. At lunch after the meeting the three honored Brothers had their picture taken to commemorate the evening and we enjoyed cake brought by Ron West.

Alan continued he program with the conclusion of “Grand Lecturers of Dakota Territory” by W.B. Doug McFarland. Numerous heated debates took place over how the large area including all or parts of four states should be divided. The first W.M.s of new lodges were required to attend an existing lodge and show he could open and close in all three degrees AND do all parts to confer all three degrees. In 1883 it was decided that Grand Lecturers would be paid $10 per visit to a Lodge for a school of instruction. North Dakota lodges eventually adopted their own version of the ritual.

When I arrived, the Master Mason was pleased to see me as he asked me to sit down, and then he exited the room. He returned with a small box in his hand. He said, in a halting manner, that he wanted me to have the box and what was get it. When I open the box I beheld a Master Mason Trowel, given to him when he was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason, many years before.

I asked him why he was giving it to me. He replied quite simply, “my health is failing and I can no longer attend Lodge, so I feel duty bound to surrender my trowel. I can no longer live up to my obligation.” I was stunned. Never before had I met a man with such conviction concerning the promise he had made on the Volume of the Sacred Law. He stated his cable tow was “too short.”

I fumbled for words. I was speechless. Then I did what I believe was the right thing to do I told him that as master of the lodge I was in power to forgive this matter, or heal it if you will. I also bade him to keep his trowel until such time as he surrendered to the Grand Architect of the Universe. I further promised him a Masonic burial and I would see to it that his trowel be laid up in the Archives of the Lodge.

Reflecting upon this incident, as well as other Masonic situations I’ve encountered, I have encountered, I have come to the conclusion that we have let the length of our cable tow become an easy excuse for not attending Lodge or becoming involved in other Masonic activities to the betterment of the community.

All too often it is easier to justify why we’re not attending lodge, nor living up to the other obligations that we swore, while kneeling before the Great Lights of our Craft. At that time we promised, before God, in front of a Lodge of Master Masons, that we would obey all signs and summons issued by Lodge, or given by a Brother “if within the length of our cable tow.”

I found the following paragraph, defining the length of the cable tow, in the Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, The New Revised Edition, Volume 1, 1921, by Mackey and McClenachan.

Quote: Gadicke says that,”according to the aged laws of Freemasonry, every brother must attend his Lodge, if within the length of his cable tow.” The old writers define the length of the cable trial, which they sometimes call “a cable’s length,” to be three miles for an Entered Apprentice. But the expression is really symbolic, and, as defined by the Baltimore Convention in 1842, means the scope of a man’s reasonable ability.

Question: has our cable toe become so short that it is choking our Lodges??? Have we allow the caveat,”if within the length of my table tow” to become a Easy Button? Have we, in fact, lost our character?

Character can be expressed as: having the conviction to carry through with the promised long after the spirit in which it was made has cooled. Are we losing our character and consequently becoming just another organization of men who sometimes go to meetings? “For remember at the Altar you have promised.”

My dad used to tell me when I was young man, if I said I was going to do something, I’d better “man up” and do it.

To this, I admonish you in the gentlest but most assertive of manners: Mason up!

Live up to our obligations. Fulfill the hearts and souls of mankind with our presence and practices. Become a beacon of Light and Hope to those who need us.

It pains my heart even to contemplate that by the use of an “Easy Button,” as a convenient substitute for the length of our cable tow, we could lose sight of our duty, our dignity, and our sense of purpose as Freemasons.

Look in the mirror and say to yourself—-Mason up, my Brother, Mason up!! Go to lodge. Your Lodge needs you. The Fraternity needs you. The world needs you.