St. Andrew’s Masonic Lodge in Bangor welcomed a guest lecturer on Jan. 15 at a special meeting.
Richard Rhoda of Houlton, Grand Lodge of Maine historian, presented a lecture on “Faith, Hope and Charity: A Mason’s Call to Action,” which was accompanied by a 6-foot by 3-foot painting done by Roger Morin, also of Houlton.
In his lecture, Rhoda said faith, hope, and charity were the foundation of Masonry although not prominent in the organization’s ritual.
“These theological virtues are not specifically presented for they are suffused throughout the experience of the craft. Without them, Freemasonry as we know it would not exist,” he said.
In Morin’s painting, faith is presented by a representation of the iconic photo of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London following the “Blitz of London” on Dec. 30, 1940. Hope is represented by Dante and Virgil at the entrance of Hell in Dante’s “Divine Comedy” on Maundy Thursday in 1300. Charity is represented by a Masonic candidate at a supposed “Chamber of Reflection” which was part of the Masonic initiation ceremony in the mid-18th century. The Chamber was supplemented with a quote from Samuel Beckett’s mid-20th century play, “Waiting for Godot” — “Let us do something, while we have the chance. It is not every day that we are needed.”
Rhoda said, “The essence of the play is that of inaction with the characters awaiting the arrival of Godot.
In the painting the candidate is moved to action. The future of Masonry lies in the hands of young men who want to be active in their pursuit of charity and brotherhood as they grow as individuals, Rhoda said.
Rhoda’s final observation was that the date for charity is today, always today.
For information on Freemasonry in Maine, visit mainemason.org, or by stop by the Grand Lodge of Maine offices, 1007 Main Road, in Holden.