I am indeed grateful to the Master, Wardens and Brethren of the
Caledonian Masonic Lodge for inviting me to preach the Sermon at
this Service which marks an important milestone in the history of
the Lodge. The text I have chosen for this address may seem a bit
odd considering you are observing the one hundredth Anniversary of
the Lodge and past achievements are no doubt in many minds. But I
have chosen it because although the members of the Lodge should look
back with thankfulness to God for the good they both individually
and collectively have been enabled to do over the years (for
thankfulness to God should be as habitual as the reception of
mercies is constant), they, and indeed all of us, not forgetting the
lessons of the past, must be concerned about the present and the
future, since without a shadow of doubt we have a part to play,
however small, in moulding it. So though in one breath I say to the
members of the Caledonian Lodge heartiest congratulations on your
one hundredth Anniversary, and express the hope that you will always
say with the Psalmist, "Praise the Lord 0 my soul and forget not all
His benefits", in another breath I say to you and everyone else,
"Come let us build ourselves a city"

If any nation, society, community, group or what have you is to
progress there must be persons therein who having conscientiously
considered the pros and cons know what is meant by and involved in
true progress, e.g. the need for worthwhile and beneficial change.
Some people call it peaceful revolution, and I am reminded of some
words of John F. Kennedy, "Those who make peaceful revolution
impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." Then there must
be those who see the need for morality and religion and who are
willing to do what is necessary to aid its progress-very often
sacrificially. It is unfortunate, but it is nevertheless true, that
there are those who cannot see where Freemasonry fits into this
"operation progress", for a number of reasons.

Firstly, for many, Freemasonry is a secret Society, and Secret
Societies they feel are always engaged in something sinister, so
they view Freemasonry with some suspicion. Indeed, in some countries
it is even outlawed, and one major denomination up to not so long
ago excommunicated those of its members who became Freemasons. But
Freemasonry is not a secret Society as such, but rather a Society
with Secrets which are intended to inculcate Fidelity or if you like
Faithfulness or Loyalty or Trustworthiness- something which is
necessary if good relations whether between God and man, or between
man and man are to flourish and abound. Where God is concerned there
is no doubt about his Fidelity, and the words of the Psalmist will
be forever true - "his faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield
and buckler". Where man is concerned, and from our point of view we
do well to remember it, one writer has said, "To God, thy Country
and thy friend be true, then thou wilt never be false to any man

Another reason why the role of Freemasonry in "operation progress"
is questioned is that Brotherly love, relief and truth (as far as
some Masons are concerned) are limited to members of the Fraternity.
We are an exclusive Society some people maintain and whereas, so it
is felt, Masons will do almost anything to assist other Masons, they
do not as a body and in some cases individually show that same
concern for non-Masons. It is with the hope that you will do all you
can to help change this opinion that I speak to you today, for most
if not all of you are Christians or men who acknowledge the
Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man. Furthermore your
obligations to your Brother Masons ought not to exclude or be
considered more important than your obligations to your Brother who
is not a Mason. It is true that we cannot be Masons without being
Brethren and we cannot be Christians without being Brethren, but the
two are not mutually exclusive, and for the Christian, Masonic
Brotherhood ought not to transcend Christian Brotherhood.

This brings me to another point which does Freemasonry no credit and
it is that for many Masonry has taken the place of the Church and
organised Religion and these have little or no attraction for them.
Many Masons feel more at home in Lodge than in Church. This ought
not to be so, as I am positive that this was not the aim of the
founders of the Order in general or this Caledonian Lodge in
particular. Now this adverse feeling towards the Church is not
peculiar to Masons as we all know, but without watering down her
teaching or lowering her standards the Church has to ensure that her
approach is an inviting one To stay away for selfish reasons will
result in spiritual poverty. If I understand Freemasonry correctly
it should be an adjunct to religion. Freemasonry is not a religion,
but it is intended to be a community of religious men who prize
honour and virtue above the external advantages of rank and fortune.
Further, Freemasons ought to be men of the highest moral principles;
men who acknowledge the centrality of God in the lives and affairs
of men, and who spend part of the twenty- four hours of each day in
prayer to the true and living God Most High, and who in times of
danger and difficulty, indeed at all times put their trust in Him.
Now the questions we must each ask ourselves are these: "How far am
I attempting to put into effect those important religious and moral
principles found in Christianity and which Masonry highlights?" "Has
Masonry made me a better person?" "'What can I as an individual and
with the other members of this Lodge and Fraternity do to aid the
total development of my fellowmen whether Masons or not?" And this
brings me to the city which we are to build, and the contributions
we should make to our society. For apart from our poor and
distressed Brothers, we Masons are privileged men. So then what
influence are we exerting on our Community? We have received much
and to whom much is given much is required. Furthermore as one
writer has remarked and we do well to remember this, "A civilisation
does not come about by chance, it is the civilisation we deserve."
If we do not involve ourselves faithfully and relevantly we shall
find that others whose motives are not God-inspired, and who in many
instances propound Godless ideologies and programmes have taken over
with disastrous consequences. Let us also remember that there are
those whose main aim is to destroy and have nothing constructive,
worthwhile and Godly to offer.

Today when the past is prominent in your minds it may be unnecessary
to remind you that much is being said about traditions and culture,
and many in the West Indies are passing through a time of much
uncertainty where these matters are concerned. There are those who
would like to destroy the memories of the past and start afresh, and
there is some justification for that feeling. Since it is not
possible to obliterate the past-in fact we can learn from the
past-it is up to us Masons (who should have respect and regard for
worthwhile traditions) and non-Masons to push aside that which in
our tradition and multi-culture is irrelevant, debasing and immoral,
and accept, cherish and build on that which will benefit all the
peoples of our country and region. If there is anything lacking in
our culture then let us supply it, but let us not replace good with
that which is not good. If people are enabled to live as they ought,
as God would have them live, good traditions will emerge.

Now if we were operative Masons, we would be concerned primarily
with the material side of things, but as we are not all operative
Masons the moral, spiritual, religious and psychological states of
people in our society, including ourselves of course, ought to be
our primary concern. This is not to say that the physical and
material things in our communal life ought not to be our concern,
they should be because we ate dedicated to the principles of
Brotherly Love and the relief of those who need, and as Christians
first and Masons afterwards our concern and our operations must
include all men.

Furthermore the physical and material conditions of our fellowmen
ought to be our concern as these conditions often, though not
always, account for their violent, crude and destructive behaviour
and unfortunately violence is almost endemic in many societies. Some
people can rise above their unfortunate circumstances, but many
cannot without help. Again it is not easy for an individual to
behave as a decent member of society when society takes no interest
in him and allows him to live in squalor, poverty and ignorance. So
then the physical and material conditions of our fellowmen, and the
conditions under which they live, ought to be our concern and it is
good to note that much is already being done by individuals and
organisations. It is good to note, as one writer has said that there
is "an increasing general concern about the distribution of the
world's material products, about extending educational opportunity
and supplying the needy with relief. All of which represents a
greater humanitarian awareness

It is also good to note that many Lodges here and elsewhere are not
only supporting the Royal Masonic Hospital and other Masonic
Institutions abroad, but are making an all-out effort to serve the
public at large and at home. This is conurtendable and just what is
expected of good Christians and good Masons. But we cannot and we
should not stop there, for the millennium cannot be achieved unless
in addition to an awareness of human need there is also an awareness
of God and sin: God to be worshipped, sin to be admitted and to be
sorry for. Furthermore man needs the opportunity and the
encouragement to develop his personality, to utilise those talents
and qualities with which God has blessed him. He needs to find that
satisfaction which things material, important as they are, cannot
provide. He needs the opportunity to love and be loved. Where his
fellowmen are concerned this will help him to appreciate the fact
that God loves Him, something which, though clearly shown on the
Cross, is often mediated through us or inhibited by us. Do remember
that love is that which makes for wholeness and integrates
individual with individual, and individual with God. And how we all
need this wholeness and this integration, for the truly integrated
individual who is centred on his religion is able to distinguish
between what is important in God's eyes and what is not. Many of the
things we consider important and strive might and main to get, are
not all important. I have in mind such things as popularity,
positions of authority, power and progress. Now do not misunderstand
me. It is good that people should be attracted to us and not put off
by us; better still if this attraction leads others ultimately to
God. It is a good thing if those who have the capacity and the
proper motivation and, above all, individuals who realise their need
of God, are in positions of authority and power for society,
institutions and organisations must have leaders. Advances in the
economic, technological, political and educational spheres are
necessary for every society. It is, however, the manner of the
quest, the inhumane struggle, and the selfish motives often,
associated with these things which give rise to problems, e.g.
discouragement, disillusionment and even violence, and where
progress is concerned (if one is not careful) it can have a
dehumanising and retarding effect, so much so that it has been said
that "Progress is nonsense" and "Man is advancing too
quickly-backwards". In some instances I dare say this is true. Thank
God it isn't in every case.

But many of these things, principles, values, virtues, call them
what you will, which are important are not so considered by many. I
have in mind, honour, integrity, holiness, love, justice, faith,
gentleness, courtesy, excellence which are essential in the city we
are helping to build and which Freemasons and Christians should know
about and practise. Many people today question these values because
those who speak of them and should exhibit them often do not. They
should be evident in your life and mine. Speaking about them is not
enough, and we do well to remember the saying "Actions speak louder
than words".

All these things are God's choicest gifts to men and come about
through our union with Him. And when all is said and done what man
needs most is God. "Good people today, and many Christians (and
Masons no doubt) among them are deeply concerned about the
horizontal values, the relationship between person and person on the
human level. There is a real danger of our losing the vertical value
of our relationship with God." So said Augustine Morris. The two, of
course, are indeed related. So in conclusion, let me say that the
best contribution you can make to the life of your society is to
help to foster an awareness of God in the affairs of this world and
also the spiritual and moral dimensions of life, while not
neglecting the material dimension for the city which we are all
called to build, is none other than the City of God, a city of
righteousness, of love and justice. And though our co-operation is
essential, let us remember that it is only in God's strength and
power that we all shall be able to accomplish the task which is set
before us. I trust we shall all in the days which lie ahead remember
and act upon this call to "COME LET US BUILD OURSELVES A CITY".