James
D. Cole, 33° Elect
PO Box 5
Shawsville, Virginia 24162-0005
We learn so much in Masonry, but the
key is, do we put these lessons to use?
.....A little more than 24 hours ago,
I stood atop the battlements of Fort McHenry, overlooking the harbor of
Baltimore.* I was mindful, then, of the multitude of
blessings for which we, as Americans, should be thankful. As the cold wind
whipped around me, I was reminded of the bravery and courage shown by the
soldiers there, almost two hundred years ago. On September 13, 1814, a
total American force of about 1,000 men withstood a 25-hour bombardment
from about 16 British warships.
Those men survived. The next morning, at about 7:00 am, the flag of
the young United States waved proudly over the shell-shocked group, as
the British ships slipped away, having failed to win the battle. Francis
Scott Key, standing on a ship miles away, was stirred to write a poem,
entitled “The Defense of Fort McHenry,” which is today known as “The Star-Spangled
Banner.”
.....As I stood yesterday in that cold
wind, my heart was warmed by my pride in being an American. More significantly,
I was reminded that I am proud to be an American Mason. You see, it was,
as we know, Masons who led this country to our liberty. Several Masons
signed the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other significant
documents that are central to our American heritage. The man called by
many the greatest American Mason, George Washington, led our forces to
victory in the American Revolution and then led our country in its first
steps as a fledgling nation.
Our Masonic heritage in America is significant. Presidents, Supreme
Court Justices, Senators, Congressmen, Governors, business leaders, religious
leaders --- all Masons --- were willing to do their part. Masons lived
up to their Masonic obligations and put into action the lessons taught
in our Lodges. To these men, the values, morals, and love of their fellowman
taught to them in our Masonic teachings became very real parts of their
lives.
.....We learn so much in Masonry. The
key is, do we put these lessons to use?
.....I can proudly say that the Scottish
Rite does put our Masonic teachings to good use. We help thousands overcome
one of the most frustrating situations that can face a family, a child
with a language or learning problem. Imagine the agony faced by a mother
if her child can never speak to her, never communicate. How would you feel
if your son or daughter never, ever was able to say “Mommy I love you”
or speak out when in pain, saying “Daddy, I need you”? What could be worse
for a mother or father to face and feel? The result to the child, too,
is devastating. The little child would have to feel as if he or she were
alone in a dark world.
.....On the night of September 13, 1814,
about 1,000 brave American soldiers felt alone in a dark night that was
lit only by the explosion of bombs bursting in air over Ft. McHenry. These
men were in large part stationed outside the fort in a “dry moat,” apart
from the soldiers inside the fort. They were there to repel any landing
party the British might throw against the fort. Cold, wet, exposed—they
were in as scary a predicament as a child in a world darkened by an inability
to speak. Those patriots endured the night. These children can, also, endure
and triumph over the darkness of communication problems —with our help.
We, as Scottish Rite Freemasons, spend our time and our resources to
overcome the agony that tears apart the fiber of families. As Masons, we
learn to try to help other people. What better way than helping a child
learn to speak, or hear, or read! Our Scottish Rite Childhood Language
Disorders Clinics, Centers, and Programs heal the painful family problems
caused by a child’s inability to communicate. Parents leave our clinics
with smiling faces because they can, through our efforts, hear their children
speak. Can you imagine anything better than hearing a six-year-old’s first
words of “Mommy, I love you”? Certainly it is as stirring as the sight
of the “Star-Spangled Banner” that morning in Baltimore Harbor so long
ago.
.....In my mind, there may not be a more
Masonic effort that we can undertake than bringing the dawn to the long,
dark nights of childhood language disorders. Think of it! We are enabling
the leaders of the world of tomorrow to learn to communicate with their
fellowmen! What would the world be without communication among the children
of our Creator? God, by whatever name you may know Him, wants us all to
learn to live together. Can you not see the smile on His face when we help
a child to speak?
.....In every Virginia Lodge, as elsewhere,
we close our meetings by admonishing our members to remember that the valuable
lessons they have been taught in the Lodge are to extend further, for every
human being has a claim upon our kind offices. We are strongly encouraged,
therefore, to do good unto all.
.....I am so proud of the heritage of
Masonry in America and the heritage that we as Scottish Rite Masons are
creating every day. We learn from our Masonry to do good for others. We
help children. We help families. Look around you tomorrow. You will see
someone who can use your smile, or your kind greeting, or a helping hand.
Brethren, take the opportunity to be Masonic by simply doing something
good for someone in need --- whatever that need may be. That is the first
step in that greatest of Masonic lessons, to live a life doing good unto
all.
James D. Cole
is the 156th Grand Master of Masons in Virginia. He is
a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Roanoke, Virginia, and his Masonic
memberships include Blacksburg Royal Arch Chapter No. 65; Blacksburg Commandery
No. 32; W. T. Trevillion Council No. 190; Allied Masonic Degrees; Kazim
Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S.; Saint Thomas Conclave, Knights of the Red Cross of
Constantine; Fort Lee-Richmond Chapter No. 72, National Sojourners; and
the Scottish Rite Research Society. He is a Charter Advisor for the Hanging
Rock Chapter of DeMolay and has received the DeMolay’s Legion of Honor
(Honorary). Professionally, he is a CPA, employed as Controller for the
Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc. He regularly consults with various companies
and non-profit organizations throughout the country on fundraising, endowment,
and management issues.
*The above article consists of the
remarks by M.W. James D. Cole, Grand Master, to the Brethren of the Roanoke
Scottish Rite Bodies on November 21, 2000, and are presented here, edited
for article format, to celebrate June 14, Flag Day, and the Scottish Rite’s
Childhood Language Disorders Program.