Though most of the world today operates on the metric system for weight, liquid, cubic, square and linear measurements, our country continues to use a system still known as the English system, despite the fact that the English switched to metrics decades ago! When Europe was starting to adopt the metric system, it was expected that we Americans would gradually wean ourselves off the English and switch to the metric system. Thus products produced in the United States, even those not manufactured for export, carry both the English and metric measurements. Similarly, goods imported into the United States generally carry both metric and English designations. But for most of our American school children, their only familiarity with the metric system is the knowledge that soft drinks come in one-, two-, or three-liter bottles.

There is, however, another system of measurement, linear at least, and I call it the "Masonic yardstick." It is simple to use, and it does not interfere with any other system of measurement. The rules for using the Masonic standard are as follows: When measuring up your Brother, neighbor, friend, co-worker, relative or any stranger, judge him leniently and favorably. When measuring yourself and your own accomplishments, be stringent.

Such an approach is certainly based upon the principle of "Love your neighbor as yourself." Just as a person's intrinsic self-love allows him to overlook his own faults, so, too, must we overlook another's faults. In regard to our own personal conduct, we strive both to push away the negative and to embrace the good. When relating to another individual, however, the Masonic method is to channel our energies solely into the positive path, "Do good."

There may be times when someone's conduct does not measure up Masonically and warrants reproof, but before giving even so-called constructive criticism, we should question ourselves as to whether we are fit to be the one to administer it. If reproof must be given, it should be offered gently, which will obviously enable it to be accepted more readily than if it were given harshly. Such words, privately conveyed to a receptive ear from one Brother to another, are part of our Masonic mission "to make good men better."

Also, to give a rebuke, one must love the other person just as a father loves his child or a brother loves his brother. We "aid and assist" each other when we "whisper good counsel" and thus assist each other to do better than we have and to be better than we are. Each of us can choose to be better, and in helping to create such a Mason, we improve our Fraternity and ourselves.

Whether he uses the metric, English, or another system of measure available to him in his daily life, every Mason should live by the Masonic standard, a measure that, I believe, was created not by man but by the Creator of us all.

Melville H. Nahin is an attorney in Los Angeles, a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of California (1998-99), Past Venerable Master of Los Angeles Valley, present Chairman of Los Angeles Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic, Past Master Ionic Lodge No. 520 and Southern California Research Lodge, and Chairman of the Board of Governors Shriners Hospitals for Children-Los Angeles Unit.