Masons Install Officers Under COVID-19 Rules

This is a paid post contributed by a Patch Community Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own, and the information presented has not been verified by Patch.

By an unimaginable coincidence, this past year was aptly named “20-20” because it proved to be a year of seeing clearly. For the officers and members of Madison Masonic Lodge, both the bad and the good effects of the pandemic were demonstrated at the 152nd installation ceremony, held amid a group limited to ten persons.

Most people would agree that restrictions on gatherings are essential in helping to bring the scourge of the pandemic under control, but the dislocation has taken its toll. The Masonic family was no more affected than other public and private groups, and the desire to safeguard members of all ages, and their personal families, made compliance certain, though it was neither welcome nor easy to do.

On December 9, Madison held its one-hundred-fifty-second consecutive installation, which in “normal” years would have included a ceremony open to Masons from Lodges across the State and non-Masons, including family and friends. This year, the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, parent of all Lodges in the State, restricted the group to no more than ten, in keeping with Governor Murphy’s directive. Only the five elected officers, installation team of three and two State Officials attended.

Absent were the junior, appointed officers and all other members. The newly installed Worshipful Master, Mike Hand, had anticipated the camaraderie of the ceremony and the reception that normally would follow it almost as much as he looked forward to receiving the Gavel. What the Lodge experienced was camaraderie of a different kind. Although disappointed, every other Brother, to a man, understood his duty to the others to keep everyone safe.

The installation is one of the times Masons look forward to each year because families and friends get to hear the ritual of installation that serves two important purposes. It includes descriptions of the roles of each of the fifteen officers of the Lodge. It spells out the duties of the Master to serve the Lodge, and the duty of all members to support it. This year, those two reminders were not necessary.

This past year reminded us all that Brotherly Love means supporting and protecting each other more than simply enjoying each-other’s company. With regular meetings and other occasions so restricted this year, Masons used Zoom and FaceTime to maintain what contact they could. Zoom, particularly, allowed us to see even some Brothers who live in distant States, and that was an unexpected benefit we all enjoyed.

Madison Lodge will continue to observe the restrictions under COVID-19 rules, but Brother Hand plans to do everything he can to encourage all members to return to Lodge when it is safe to do so. His plans include a number of community outreach activities to spread the awareness of his Lodge and Freemasonry in general. This past weekend, for example, the Lodge members contributed toys to the Madison Police Department’s Toys for Tots campaign, in a “low touch” gesture of community support.

Although shocks like the pandemic will no doubt leave their imprint on all organizations, Brother Hand expressed confidence that, like everything since the American Revolution and the Civil War which challenged the fraternity in America, saying, “Our organization will weather COVID-19, adapt to it and become stronger for having understood what it has taught us.”

Brother Mike noted that everyone is looking forward to a return to “normal”, or what may evolve into the new normal. “While we revere our traditions because they link us to all Masons and all generations, we know that the one thing certain is change. Masons joke that older Brothers may say, ‘We have always done it this way!’ when we all know the truth is that even the ancient ritual has evolved over time.

One of the symbols used in Freemasonry is the black and white mosaic pavement that reputedly adorned the ground floor of King Solomon’s Temple. It symbolizes human life, checkered with good and evil. That is a principle that informed our reaction to COVID-19. It helped us to see clearly that this pandemic brought sorrow, suffering and death. It also brought out the best in so many healthcare professionals and first responders, and in neighbors, friends and Brothers simply helping one another.

COVID-19 has been bad, indeed, but it has helped people do a re-set on what is important and meaningful in life. That is “20-20” vision.

Note from Contributor:

Why is he called, “Worshipful Master?”

“Worshipful Master” is a term often misunderstood by non-Masons. The man who rules and governs the Lodge occupies the chair in the East. He is not ‘worshiped’ as the Master. Quite the reverse is true. It is his sworn duty to make the Lodge a worshipful place, where all are reminded of their obligations to God, the Country, their neighbors and themselves. The Master serves the Lodge. It is not the other way around.

This is a paid post contributed by a Community Partner, a local brand partner. To learn more, click here.