Dwight A. Hamilton, 33°
1600 Broadway, Suite 500, Denver, Colorado 80202–4905

On September 13, 2001, two days after the terrorist attacks on America, a reporter asked President Bush a question, which caused him to turn away for a moment and lower his head. When he turned back, his eyes were brimming with tears. The question is a fair one for each of us to ask himself: "What are you thinking in your prayers, and how are you approaching this tragedy in your own heart?"

The President answered, "Well, I don't think of myself right now. I think about the families, the children." Blinking away tears, he said, "I'm a loving guy. But I'm someone, however, who's got a job to do and I intend to do it…. This country will not relent until we have saved ourselves and others from the terrible tragedy that came upon America."

A reporter said it was the moment George W. Bush put on the entire mantle of the Presidency, never again to be President-in-Training.

When I asked myself the same question, I remembered the words of the 91st Psalm:

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in Him will I trust.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

As a patriot, I immediately realized that the 91st Psalm speaks to America. At this time in particular, it is important for us to have a focus and for each of us to assume his office as citizen, patriot, and leader. It is time for each of us to put on the whole mantle of citizen and patriot—never again to be a patriot-in-training.

How do Masons lead? By Example. Albert Pike, in Morals and Dogma (page 158) has given us wise counsel: "Not often is a country at war; nor can every one be allowed the privilege of offering his heart to the enemy's bullets. But, in these patriotic labors of peace, in preventing, remedying, and reforming evils, oppressions, wrongs, cruelties, and outrages, every Mason can unite; and every one can effect something, and share in honor and glory of the result."

So my Brothers, as Masons, let us smile and let us effect something from this. As we think about September 11th, remember Lincoln's words at Gettysburg: "We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain…that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom."

That is our quest.

See related item in this issue.