MASONIC LIFE
A Stinging Reminder of the Virtue of Industry
Cultures around the world and across eons have recognized the sacred nature of the honeybee. To the Cherokee, the bee represents the reward of patience, and its sting is the penalty for greed. The Celts and the Greeks alike believed bees had supernatural powers and that they could travel between worlds. The Bible mentions honey numerous times, always relating to purity or plenty. In Freemasonry, the Beehive represents the work of the Master Mason and the industry of our lodges, as it inculcates team work and dedication as means toward shared security and prosperity.
A recent incident, as I was being installed as Senior Warden of Sigma Council Princes of Jerusalem at the Valley of Schenectady, drew my attention to the industrious nature of the bee and its important message to the brothers of our great fraternity.
It was a warm evening, and Beukendaal Lodge 915’s building was buzzing with brothers and their families who gathered to celebrate the installation. Ill. David E. Barnes lined up the officers according to their line and rank. We walked out and stood at one end of the lodge as the proceedings began. I kept seeing something fluttering around the light above my head, but I ignored it, preoccupied with the importance of this moment to me and my brothers.
I wanted to be a great officer and make my fellow Sublime Princes proud, but my day job all too often makes it hard for me to be as involved as I’d like. In fact, I was exhausted, and my mind drifted back to my long day at work. Suddenly something landed on the back of my neck. I reached back and grabbed it. Ouch! I got stung by a honeybee! I was stunned for a moment, my hand throbbed in pain. I looked at the sting and thought man, what an incredibly bad time to get stung! I was glad I’m not allergic. I turned to the brother to my right and joked about it, saying I hope it wasn’t some sort of omen.
As the evening progressed, I continued to think about the sting. My friend, Paul Meher, Jr., 32° and Deputy Master of Sigma Lodge of Perfection, joked that maybe it followed me home from my work as a pest control service manager. The more I think about it, the more I believe it was a message from the Great Architect reminding me how Freemasons should be industrious, never sitting down while those around us are in need, especially when it is in our power to do so without injury to ourselves.
We must be as loyal as the worker bee is to the hive and its queen. We must impart our knowledge to the Entered Apprentice. If our individual lodges and our great fraternity are to thrive, we must perform our respective and many parts. Whether it be as small as checking on absent brothers, assisting an elder brother climb the stairs, helping to cover lodge expenses, volunteering to clean after an event, or serving as an officer, all labors contribute to a healthy hive for generations to come.
Photo: Bee hive at Masters Lodge 5 in Albany NY
Written by Bro. Russell W. Dickson
Bro. Dickson is the Senior Deacon in St. Patrick’s Lodge 4 and is at labor in Collabergh-Radium 859, both in New York. He is a Royal Arch Mason in Hiram Union Chapter 53, and is a 32° Scottish Rite Mason at the Valley of Schenectady, where he serves as Senior Warden of Sigma Council Princes of Jerusalem. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in journalism from the State University of New York at Albany, and has been a freelance journalist for more than twenty-five years. His work has been published internationally, in multiple languages, by both online and print news outlets.
