Thursday, September 17, 2009

The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Minnesota


Deputy Grand Master John Cook and I were pleased to attend the annual banquet of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Minnesota last evening. We offer our congratulations to MWB Alex Horne on his election as Grand Master, and to MWB Keith Johnson on the completion of his term as Grand Master.

DGM John and I were pleased to accept a certificate of appreciation from MWB Johnson on behalf of our immediate Past Grand Master Thomas Jackson.

There was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his best seed corn with his neighbors. “How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked.

“Why, sir,” said the farmer, “didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.” author unknown

The farmer understands the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor’s corn also improves. So it is in other dimensions. Those who choose to be at peace must help their neighbors to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches.

I think that Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Minnesota and the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons should each share our good corn. I can state, without equivocation, that the members of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Minnesota stand ready to cooperate and share the programs we have found helpful.