Dear Brother:

When we enter a Masonic Lodge, our attention is drawn to the "Three Great Pillars." As the Master opens the lodge, we see that his pillar and the pillars of the Wardens are used as a communication vehicle. They are more than a place to rap or to store the Grand Lodge Constitution and By-Laws. They have deep meanings that are what Masonry is built upon. They represent Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty and they support our institution.

Wisdom is mentioned 244 times in the Bible because it is considered to be so important. Remember when God asked Solomon what one thing he desired most, Solomon answered "Wisdom." With his Wisdom, Solomon became the wealthiest, most powerful man on earth. Therefore, the pillar in the East of the Lodge represents Solomon and symbolizes Wisdom. Few men achieve wisdom, but all should strive for it. It comes only from knowledge, which comes from study and experience. Your knowledge grows as you experience the lessons of our degrees and with continual study your knowledge will ever increase. Many men, both good and evil, possess knowledge. Few are ever wise!

Strength is a necessity of Masonry. Without strength, neither wisdom or beauty can long endure. We speak of subtle strength and passive strength. This strength is contained within the heart, mind and soul of mankind. It is the strength of purpose, the ability to master one's self. The support for a spiritual building must be strong, not the strength of iron or steel, but that of character. The speculative Mason follows the divine plan to symbolically build with the pillar of strength.

Beauty is symbolized in a Masonic Lodge by the Corinthian column. It is the most beautiful of the ancient orders of architecture. But beauty to a Mason is not that of material things. As we look inward, it is beauty of the spiritual that we should revere. Beauty of the mind, character and spirit. Beauty of the wonderful works of nature. Beauty of unselfishness and idealism. Beauty of the illumination of love.

The pillar of Wisdom was represented by the first Grand Master, Solomon, King of Israel. The Worshipful Master is the symbol of Wisdom in the lodge. Hiram, King of Tyre, symbolized Strength because of the support he gave to Solomon. The Senior Warden is the pillar of Strength in the Lodge. Hiram Abif, because of his skillful work in brass and other metals, is the third of the original Grand Masters and he symbolizes the pillar of Beauty. His counterpart in the Lodge is the Junior Warden.

Why not come to lodge and behold the pillars and gain Strength, Beauty and Wisdom. Enjoy our new meeting place and all that it has to offer.

Fraternally,

John Lacki Jr.
Worshipful Master