If you have been reading these regular messages and recall many of the messages I wrote for the Knight Templar magazine while serving as Grand Prelate, you know that I am a huge proponent for improving how we help, aid, and assist our worthy distressed Knights, their wives, widows, and orphans, as well as all worthy brothera and sisters who might have a claim upon our kind offices.. It has been my experience, both first-hand and by observance, that we have traditionally failed–and I’ll say it–miserably in fulfilling this part of our vows of Knighthood. My Fratres, we simply must do better.
We vowed to care for those who had a claim to our aid and comfort. It’s a common promise made in many Masonic obligations and vows. In some jurisdictions we are even reminded of that as part of the closing ritual with a paraphrase of Galatians 6:10–“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (English Standard Version) Note that we are admonished and encouraged to do good when we have the opportunity. That is, not on meeting nights, or on Sunday morning, or when the moon is full, or it is not raining. It means whenever there is a need presented before us, we are called to do good to everyone. Our charity is to know no bounds, except as our abilities permit and the worthiness and needs of the one in need of our charity require.
We’ve all failed at this, me included. I’ve not helped the panhandler on the corner, even though I have seen her seeking aid, every time I see her. When I worked in the city, I would travel the same basic route and got to “know” who was going to be on what corner. There were a few that I assisted as often as I could—a bottle of water, a few dollars, even an extra sandwich or order of fries if I had it. Sometimes, traffic didn’t allow me to stop, but I would at least offer a prayer that someone else would be able to assist. These were the “worthy” folks. Could I have done more? Perhaps. I have also experienced resistance to help, too.
There are, of course, those who present themselves as “needy” but truly are not. In a community in which I used to live, there was a grizzled-looking man who was always on a certain busy corner every day for weeks on end. He looked totally destitute—dirty clothes, unshaven and unbathed for a long time. One day, I just happened to be at that intersection and saw him leaving for the day. I watched him walk to a nearby parking lot, thinking he was going to the bus stop. Nope. He passed the bus stop, walked to the Mercedes-Benz parked nearby, opened the door, tossed his sign in the back seat, take off his wig, and drive away. Clearly, this man was not worthy nor truly in distress. Had I helped him out before that? Yes, I had. Would I do it again? Certainly not, but it doesn’t discourage me from helping others, either.
These are easy examples. There are a lot more that are not as obvious. Many times, we might not even know that there is some need, because the person who has a claim upon our kind offices might choose not to call out for help because his or her personal convictions—or sense of pride—says “No, there are others worse off than me. I don’t really need help. I’ll make it.” These are the tough ones for us. Sometimes, we need to take the initiative and have that private conversation with the person, asking general questions and having casual conversation to gain an understanding of the situation and need. Sometimes, it can be as simple as driving by the person’s home and noticing that there is yard work to be done, gutters to be cleaned, or a fence to be repaired. Identify the need, and then take affirmative action to help. You know the 75-year-old widow should not be up on a ladder cleaning her gutters. Call a couple of others, grab your ladders, buckets, and trash bags, and on a nice day, go clean her gutters. You know the 60-year Knight living down the street from you has no business shoveling the snow from his driveway and sidewalk. Take your snowblower down there and clear it for him. Maybe the Commandery arranges with a landscaping company to mow the yards of your widows every two weeks during the warm weather. Send them a note (or better, stop by their home and visit with them) to let them know the Commandery is going to make sure their yard is mowed or driveway cleared of snow. You don’t have to be a “rich” Commandery to make a difference. You just have to want to make a difference and find the way to do it.
We can do so much, my Fratres, without taking away from the other work we do. We are richly blessed, and it is beyond time for us to step up and live out our vows for the good of those who are in need, just as our ancient exemplars risked life and fortune to defend the pilgrims on their journey to and from the Holy Land.