MEANING BEST SERVED TO A WILLING MIND

It was not that long ago our Grand Lodge came into existence. Our memories may be short on some things but not about the frequency of interlodge visiting. Meetings were better attended and Freemasonry was utopian.  My how our perspective has grown into the 21st Century. Our naisant days are beyond our grasp. Though there was never a second thought that lodges were permanent and membership would thrive, reality has interrupted that beautiful, uncomplicated thinking.  Upper Canada, like every place on the planet has changed. Life within the Lodge has been buffeted by shifting societal roles. Our history once comforting to a small population, has unravelled uncomfortable truths- all for the betterment of the nation but an intrusion into that utopia.  Small is now growing. Where we live and who we call neighbours is more pluralistic. Unable to keep stride with change, Freemasonry internally was still an harmonious island of solice; content to focus on very gentle requirements for members.  Uniformity, if ever there was such a thing, became islands of divergent thinking. Today, hindsight is telling us which island was ahead of the curve and which fell behind.  While indepth analysis was left in the box, understanding why, understanding motivation and inspiration was assumed in the grandist teleological manner. From the vantage point of 30,000ft, a small minority saw this coming, unable to shift perspective to think about the unpleasantness of our vulnerability.  Until the inevitable consequences were upon us, we were indifferent. We drove ahead without using seat belts. Knocked about, we found participation  fading quickly leaving us to scramble for answers. We became all too aware we were lacking a meaningful vehicle to deal with dessenting points of view. And though lacking animus, a disconnection filled in the vaccum of silence.  20th Century brought us here it is time to live in the moment.