I wanted to put a post up about my year as Worshipful Master of Rockingham Union Lodge No. 27. I have not been a Mason very long and my journey to the East was an abbreviated one in comparison to many others. That being said, the values of Freemasonry and the weight of leadership are not new. I spent many years in the Scouting program and still give my time and treasure to that organization; helping young people become better citizens of this nation. But Scouting and Freemasonry share some harsh realities at present with declining membership and a question of relevance in today’s society. But both of these organizations have an important role in the fabric of our community.
I have heard people comment about both of these groups in the vane of “I didn’t know you were still around!” This is something that needs to change. Our Lodge is fortunate in that it sits in the middle of a thriving downtown district. Harrisonburg is a happening place with businesses, organizations, and events all coming together to create a vibrant community that is always improving. But where does Rockingham Union fit into that? Harrisonburg was formed in 1779, and ten years later our Lodge was chartered. We have been in downtown Harrisonburg from the very beginning so we obviously have a place in this community but we need to not let it slip from our grasp.
Freemasonry takes the tools of operative masons and uses them to teach valuable lessons. Much like masons built houses and temples, we talk about houses and temples not made with hands. Masons have built many other things throughout history, bridges being among them. There are beautiful examples of bridges built by stonemasons from antiquity to modern times. My goal for this year is to work on building bridges not made with hands.
So where are we going to build these bridges? Well, to our community, obviously. That is a big one. Making sure that people know we are still here. Working with community organizations like Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Foundation, and others to see what we can do to be of help to those in need. Whether it is helping set up for a festival downtown or raising money for a local charity, these are bridges we can build.
I also want to build bridges within our fraternity. Build bridges between the generations in our Lodge. I want us to move forward, but we always must honor our past. What sets Freemasonry apart from other civic organizations is the ritual and traditions we hold so dear. Without those we might as well be Rotarians. Not that there is anything wrong with the Rotary, I love those folks and we have several Brothers involved with them as well, but these traditions are what make us, us, and bridging these generations can help us better understand those traditions and our history. We also will work on those bridges between our other Lodges and with the Grand Lodge. We have a great working relationship with other Lodges in our area, but we can always improve on that. I also want us to be more active in what is happening with the Grand Lodge. I want Grand Lodge officers to know who we are and what we are doing. As we work to shine a light on Freemasonry in our community I want us to be an example to others.
These are lofty goals, for sure. It won’t just take one year, or two, but I hope to lay the foundation for those who come after me. I want us to work together. I want us to put our working tools to use. This is going to be a great year, and I thank all of you for entrusting me with this role. I may be relatively new to Freemasonry, but this work is not new to me and neither is this community. Have a wonderful Holiday season, and I look forward to seeing you in the new year.
Matt Phillippi, Worshipful Master