Brethren:

As we look at the working tools of the Entered Apprentice degree, the twenty-four inch gauge is explained as being a symbol of the twenty-four hours in the day. We are told to divide our time and to make the best of the time we are given.

What is time? Time is the very substance of life, its golden minutes the only stones we have with which to build. Every accomplishment of man, be it temple of marble or temple of character, act of selfishness or selfless giving to others, building a nation or building a house, must be accomplished with time. Without time nothing is ever done. Therefore, he who wastes either his time or another's time squanders that which he cannot replace; which comes from we know not whither, to go we know not whence; which, once gone, is gone forever.

We are surrounded with a variety of men who have many ideas of how time should be spent. Every human being has the same number of minutes in an hour, of hours in a day, of days in a year. Some have little or nothing to show for their years of life. Others have great accomplishments to exhibit as the product of their time.

Time is the substance of life! Time is a gift of the Great Architect! Time is the building stone for the spiritual temple! Time is man's greatest mystery, bitterest enemy, truest friend! Its care, conservation , employment, is the secret of the twenty-four inch gauge its waste and aimless spending is the sin against which this symbolic working tool unalterably aligns the Ancient Craft.

How much time do you get? We all know that it is impossible to predict just how many years our lives will contain. Cats do not have nine lives and we can have one hundred years or less to our lives. No matter what our total years may end up to be, the most important thing is that we use our time to the best of our ability. Only a fool would waste his life accomplishing nothing.

Is time on our side? No one really knows. Some of us will have long, fruitful lives, while others will have, what most would feel, are much too short a life. Brothers, let us make good use of our time and our lives. Make an effort to do what is right. Make an effort to help a fellow brother. Make an effort to be a faithful Mason.

Fraternally,

John Lacki Jr.
Worshipful Master