11/27/2025
This was written by our very own WM, Tom Frantz. Worth the read:
“The Light We Share” — Address to Cyrene Lodge #325
Brethren,
Not long ago, I had a conversation that has stayed with me. A friend—someone of deep faith—found out that I am a Freemason. She smiled politely and said, “Oh, I guess I’ll have to act and talk differently around you.”
Curious, I asked her why. She told me, quite honestly, that she’d always heard the Masons were some sort of secret society—maybe even a cult.
Now, as Masons, we’ve all heard some version of that before. And while I could have brushed it off, I decided instead to explain who we really are, and what we actually stand for.
I told her that Masonry is not a religion, but that it requires a belief in a higher power—a Great Architect of the Universe—as a foundation of moral living. I told her that, in fact, Masonry is one of the few remaining places in today’s world where men of all faiths can meet upon the level, work together in harmony, and support one another without the barriers of creed, color, or background.
I explained that in this lodge, we do not ask what a man believes—only that he believes. And in a world so divided by ideology and fear, that is something truly extraordinary.
That conversation reminded me of something important:
We live in a time when faith is often used to divide instead of unite, when institutions are mistrusted, and when genuine brotherhood is becoming rare. But Masonry—our Masonry—remains a place where light is still shared freely among men who seek it.
And yet, the burden falls on us to make sure the world understands that.
We cannot expect the world to see us as we see ourselves if we keep that light hidden behind closed doors. It shines not only in our ritual and our meetings but in how we live our lives—how we treat others, how we serve our communities, and how we carry ourselves as Masons in public.
Every time we help a neighbor, speak kindly, or act with integrity, we are teaching the world what Masonry truly is. Every time we show compassion, patience, or humility, we are demonstrating that Masonry is not a secretive cult—it is a fraternity of men striving to be better husbands, fathers, friends, and citizens.
When the Square reminds us to act justly, when the Compasses teach us to keep our passions within due bounds, when the Level brings us together as equals—those are not just lessons for the lodge room. They are lessons for the world outside these doors.
We should never forget that our rituals and symbols are not ends in themselves—they are tools. Tools to build stronger character, deeper faith, and a truer sense of purpose.
And perhaps most importantly, they are tools to remind us that no matter what the world thinks of us, we know who we are.
We are builders—not of temples of stone, but of lives shaped by virtue and guided by light.
We are men who believe that faith and reason can coexist, that kindness is strength, and that unity among diversity is not a dream—it’s a duty.
So, brethren, as we continue our work in this lodge and in our daily lives, let us remember the responsibility that comes with being Masons. Let us strive to live so openly, so honestly, and so compassionately that when people hear the word Mason, they think not of mystery, but of honor.
Not of secrecy, but of service.
Not of division, but of brotherhood.
Let our lives be our best defense against misunderstanding. Let our actions be the truest expression of our faith.
Because in the end, the world will not remember us for the words we speak within these walls—but for the light we share beyond them.
Thank you, brethren.
