Dear Brethren all,
Father’s Day is a very special day dedicated to celebrating the profound impact of fatherly guidance and mentorship. It is a day that has been set aside to honor and give thanks for the men who have shaped our lives through their good example, offering wisdom, strength, support, and unrelenting love.
Although we tend to manifest the gratitude and affection that we have for our Fathers on this single day, I strongly believe that we should consistently show praise for our fathers each and every day. Too often, we take these our unsung heroes for granted. So today, visit or call your father just to say “Hello” and “I love you!”
When I think of my Dad, I know without any doubt that he always had my best interests at heart. I had a truly remarkable bond with my Dad. He may have been a tough taskmaster, and his rules indeed were strict, but his unwavering support and love clearly gave me a powerful sense of security that I still experience today. My father’s blueprint for life taught me exactly how to love, guide and protect my own children. Blending high expectations with a deep familial foundation, my father gave me the greatest gift that a father can give, a beautiful and caring legacy to share with my children.
In reflecting upon fatherhood and the brotherhood of Masons, I am reminded of the story once told by the learned Brother and Rabbi Abraham Feldbin, a former Emeritus Grand Chaplain of this Grand Lodge, now deceased, who said that amongst the most noble of legacies is the crown of a good name. The crown of a good name is the well-earned reputation that is everlasting, even beyond one’s own demise.
Brother and Rabbi Feldbin spoke of a member of his congregation, Mr. Bergman, who at the tender age of 102 years, would help lead in the chanting of the daily prayers and blessings. After his demise, his daughter found a handwritten short poem in his wallet titled “Your Father’s Name”:
It came from your father,
It was all he had to give.
So it’s your choice to use and cherish,
As long as you may live.
If you lose the watch he gave you,
It can always be replaced,
But a black mark on your name Son,
Can never be erased.
It was clean the day you took it,
And a worthy name to bear.
When I got it from my father,
There was no dishonor there.
So make sure you guard it wisely,
After all is said and done.
You’ll be glad the name is spotless,
When one day you give it to your Son.
If you hail from a familial lineage, where your father or grandfather were or are members of the Craft, you may want to consider wearing the Masonic Lewis Jewel. The jewel obtained its name from the operative Mason’s tool called the Lewis, which is a heavy-duty stone lifting device. The metaphor draws a direct parallel between the physical tool that lifts heavy stones and the father who raises his sons into the fraternity.
In closing, I wish to share with you this important verse from the Book of Proverbs, Chapter 17, Verse 6: “Children’s children are the crown of old men. And the glory of children is their father.” This verse emphasizes the high calling of fatherhood as it stretches across many generations. Fatherhood is not solely about what you do while your children are young. Fatherhood is the mark that you leave upon their lives and the lives of their children long after you have gone.
Rejoice in your Children, and rejoice in your Legacy. May God bless our Fathers and Grandfathers. Amen. With a kind fraternal embrace, I remain your Brother,
MW Robert Leslie Hogan, Jr.
Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York
This article was originally published by Grand Lodge of New York. Read the full original article here.