C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°
Sovereign Grand Commander

Freemasonry is both a refuge and
a commander center.

Fortunately, in Washington, D.C., we have been spared the catastrophic weather that has affected so much of our nation, especially in the Midwest, this spring and summer. The storm brewing outside my window as I draft this message is minor compared to what many have endured. All in all, however, it's a good day to be inside, and the House of the Temple is a good place to be. Built strong and true by the men who carved and placed its massive stones, the Temple will protect all who are within. As such, it is a fitting symbol of Freemasonry itself.

In a sense, Masonry is both a refuge and a command center. Men need to retreat from the world, from time to time, to refresh and recharge their spiritual and emotional batteries. The Lodge provides that safe place protected by custom and strengthened by ritual. No soldier can withstand the pressure of conflict without a break. That is true whether he is a soldier in the army protecting his country or an enlistee in Freemasonry's ranks fighting for the advancement and enlightenment of mankind. And no place of refuge is as secure as that constructed by his fellow soldiers or, in our case, built by our Brother Freemasons-men who understand the need for values and shared commitments.

Masonry is that refuge, but it is also a command center. In a sense, like soldiers, we get our marching orders from the Degrees of Freemasonry. Our great struggle, our Masonic plan of battle, is to advance and protect humanity by living up to our Masonic principles. The personal obligations of each Scottish Rite Mason are to make the world a better place, to fight for the personal freedom of every man and woman, and to oppose tyranny wherever it may appear-whether that tyranny is political, intellectual, or spiritual. We do all that in the real world, every day.

Through the RiteCare Childhood Language Program, we release the chains that bind a child who cannot read or speak. In awarding scholarships to worthy students and grants to teachers, we help them bring learning and light to the larger world. By honoring good men and women, we say to all, "This is what you can be." Our promotion of patriotism and our publication of educational materials undoubtedly benefit individuals, but they also lift whole communities and, ultimately, the nation. As individual men and Masons, we strive continually to live ethics-based lives and to insist on moral behavior in our leaders. The world is better because of our efforts, even when success is not immediately apparent.

In my years, I have seen many fads come and go-fashions in behavior as well as in clothing and entertainment. But I have also seen the value of the permanent. Society needs a core set of values to serve as an anchor. Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite provide such anchors, particularly in these days of terrorist threat and international uncertainty.

Our Craft, as a refuge for men of integrity and as a command post for those who wish to advance human progress, remains strong and intact. Our values will still be here to serve the world after any storm has passed.