Freddie G. Davis, 32°
2027 W. 149th Street, Gardena, California 90249–3813

I sat recently during the conferral of a First Degree in a Lodge in my Masonic District. The work was great, as always in that Lodge, and the Candidate seemed to appreciate what he saw and heard. Two Past Masters conferred the Degree. One did the 1st section, and the other the 2nd section and lecture. The beautiful words and work kept you interested and awake.

As I drove home and over the next few days, I reflected on those two Past Masters and what I had seen. The Past Master who did the 1st section is going through the chairs again as Junior Warden. The Past Master who did the lecture is a three-time Past Master, now serving his third year in a row as Master. The thoughts that kept coming to me were "Where do we get such dedicated Brothers to serve our Fraternity, and where do we get some more of them? They serve again and again without too much complaining. I am sure if they had a choice, they would rather do something else, or would they? They love our Fraternity so strongly that we may not be able to make them stop! They know our Fraternity is in need, and they serve to meet that need."

Now more than ever, we need them to further our cause. We all know that our membership in Masonry is declining. We need new members. Until that happens—and we will make that happen—our Fraternity needs every member to share the load of running the Lodges, York and Scottish Rite Bodies, Shrine Temples, Masonic youth groups, etc. Yes, many of us may have to serve our various organizations in different positions again and again. Our efforts are needed to keep our Fraternity alive and moving ahead until the "cavalry" arrives, and it will. Our country and society need Masonry and what we stand for in the new century. After decades of being adrift without purpose or direction, America is again searching for those things that made it great before. At the founding of our nation, Masons came forward from all levels of society to lead our country.

We are really at this point again. Our society is again looking for quality education, moral values, community involvement, concern for children and seniors, support of our government, and, yes, good old-fashioned patriotism. Do these ideas sound familiar? They are exactly the things we as Masons stand for and promote. We, as Masons, must again lead by example. Our ranks must again include presidents, senators, governors, city councilman, doctors, lawyers, teachers, and the God-loving plain old citizen. We have every right to be proud of ourselves as Masons and of what we stand for!

Our hidden heroes—those who serve again and again and work in the trenches for our Fraternity—we need you to keep the faith, to keep Masonry alive, and to make it visible to the public to see and admire. I know you may become tired, frustrated, or feel all alone. Please do not falter. Your task is too important. You hidden heroes are probably saying "Okay, but how about some help?" To those Brothers who, for whatever reason, are inactive or only a little active in our Fraternity, I say, "We need your help today!

• Read your trestleboards and bulletins.
• Support the Degrees and other activities. If nothing else, be there!
• Show our new Brothers and the ones in the trenches that you are behind them.
• Bring your wife and family to those activities they can attend.
• Let's make everyone feel welcome and part of this great Fraternity.
• Attend the business meetings and help run your Fraternity.
• Get away from the television. I know it has a hypnotic, all-consuming quality, but are its programs more important than your Lodge and our Fraternity? I hope not! Put in a tape, watch the program later, and help our cause now.

Join our hidden heroes. The reasons you joined Masonry are still alive. Become a hero who changes and builds our great Fraternity. Help make it the foundation of America's new century as it was the cornerstone of America's first century.

Freddie G. Davis is a Past Master of Gardena–Ascot Lodge No. 372 and Inspector of the 367th Masonic District, Grand Lodge of California. He is active in the Los Angeles Scottish Rite, Al Malaikah Shrine, Sciots, Eastern Star, and South Bay High Twelve Club. In DeMolay, he holds the Chevalier Degree, Cross of Honor, and Legion of Honor. His community involvements include the Gardena Elks, Big Brothers, and the Gardena Economic Development Corporation (Vice President). A manager in field operations for 20 years with Pacific Bell, he is married with two stepdaughters and three grandchildren.