C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°
Sovereign Grand Commander

Each moment in life and Masonry is an opportunity to learn, to grow, to help, and to make a difference.

One often hears "little things mean a lot." The wisest men have told us the same thing. Brother Benjamin Franklin, for instance, advised the readers of Poor Richard's Almanac to "take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves." Only 13 notes, perfectly arranged, were used by Beethoven to compose his epic Ninth Symphony, and the 26 letters of the English alphabet make up all the works of Shakespeare.

Freemasonry works by little things, too. The Candidate learns the importance of trust in the Blue Lodge-that he can trust others and be trustworthy himself. It's a small lesson, but it can change lives. In the Scottish Rite Degrees, he is taught toleration, that the beliefs of others are entitled to the same respect he demands for his own. This concept of free and independent thought is conveyed in little ways, one Degree at a time, but it is a principle that can change the world for the better. Just as pebbles dropped into a well will, in time, raise the level of the water, so the lessons received in Freemasonry raise the level of each Brother's consciousness, and he becomes a stronger, better, more independent man.

Our membership efforts, however carefully planned and funded, ultimately come down to a series of little steps. You talk with a friend who is not a Mason, tell him about Masonry, and explain what being a Brother means to you. These few minutes of conversation can make a difference for good in your friend's life and in our Rite. We learn Masonry progressively as we learn language, math, or music. A Masonic Degree may be conferred on us, but we "earn" that Degree by thought, study, change in attitude, and the action which follows.

Similarly, letter by letter, sound by sound, word by word, children in our RiteCare Childhood Language Program are taught to speak, learn, and understand. Usually, the progress from day to day is so tiny it cannot be seen. But, gradually, skills increase and abilities sharpen. Those little changes, minute though they are, build successful and productive lives, instead of lives undermined by frustration and failure. Child by child, Scottish Rite Masons build stronger communities and a better nation.

Clearly, little things mean a lot, and they come to us every day. Each day is an opportunity to learn, to help, to grow, and to make a difference. Look for these moments in your own life and in Freemasonry. Seize and use them as they come. Though little, they truly do mean a lot.