Tolerance Tuesday-The Quiet Strength of Tolerance

 

In a world that often mistakes volume for virtue and outrage for righteousness, Freemasonry reminds us of a quieter strength...tolerance.

Not the kind that shrugs or retreats. Not the kind that avoids discomfort. But the kind that listens, endures, and chooses respect even when disagreement runs deep. Tolerance, in the Masonic sense, is not weakness. It is moral courage in restraint.

We see it in the compasses, those elegant tools that teach us to draw boundaries with wisdom, not with anger. They remind us to circumscribe our passions, to temper our judgments, and to measure our conduct with grace. The compasses don’t erase difference. They help us live within it.

In Lodge, we sit beside Brothers of every background, belief, and temperament. We rise together, speak in turn, and listen with intention. This isn’t just ritual it’s practice. It’s training in the art of tolerance. And it’s one of the most radical things we do.

Because tolerance is hard.

It asks us to hold space for ideas we don’t share. To honor people, we don’t fully understand. To resist the easy pull of tribalism and choose, instead, the harder path of unity. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t trend. But it builds something lasting.

A bridge. A bond. A Brotherhood.

So, as we begin this Tolerance Tuesday series, let’s start here: with the quiet strength that undergirds our Craft. Let’s reflect on the moments when tolerance changed a conversation, softened a heart, or preserved a friendship. Let’s remember that every time we choose patience over pride, we lay another stone in the temple of understanding.

This week’s challenge: Practice one act of quiet tolerance. Listen without interrupting. Pause before reacting. Extend grace where it’s not expected.

Because in that silence, in that restraint, in that deliberate kindness...there is strength. And it is the kind of strength the world needs more of.

See you next Tuesday.

“A Night at the Heritage Center: Gala Highlights and a New Dream”

 “Honoring 105 Years of Care and Unveiling a Vision for the Future”

On September 27th, the Masonic Heritage Center in Bloomington, MN welcomed guests to the 20th Annual Minnesota Masonic Charities Gala. A celebration not only of two decades of giving, but of a legacy 105 years in the making.

This year’s Gala focused on raising critical funds for the Minnesota Masonic Home, a place where compassion and dignity have guided care for generations. For over a century, the Home has been a sanctuary for residents and families, offering trusted care when comfort and connection matter most. 

But this year, the evening carried something more: a dream.

CEO John Schwitz shared a bold new vision, to build a dedicated space on campus where Brothers of the Craft and Sisters of the Eastern Star could live together in their twilight years, surrounded by fellowship and exceptional care. It’s a vision rooted in tradition, but reaching toward the future: a Masonic community where shared values become shared lives.

To explore this possibility, the Second Century Committee has been formed. Their charge? To seek out the best path forward, honoring the past while building something enduring for those yet to come.

The Gala was more than a fundraiser. It was a moment of renewal, a reminder that charity, like light, grows brighter when shared. And that the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood don’t fade with time; they deepen.

Here’s to the next century of care, connection, and community.

Tolerance Tuesday-The Work of Tolerance — Building Bridges

 Tolerance isn’t passive. It’s not silence. It’s not simply “putting up with” difference.

Tolerance is work. Bridge-building work.

And in Freemasonry, we are builders by tradition. Not of walls...but of connections. Of understanding. Of peace.

The trowel, one of our most cherished symbols, reminds us of this labor. It spreads the cement of brotherly love and affection. It binds stone to stone, not by force, but by care. By intention. By skill.

In a divided world, this is sacred work.

It means listening when it’s easier to argue. It means showing up when it’s easier to withdraw. It means extending a hand across the gap, especially when the gap feels wide.

Tolerance is not weakness. It is strength under control. It is the discipline of empathy.

And like any discipline, it must be practiced.

We build bridges when we:

• Invite dialogue instead of debate

• Share stories instead of statistics

• Ask questions instead of assuming answers

• Honor the humanity in those we don’t understand

This is not easy work. But it is necessary. And it is ours.

Because every Lodge is a bridge. Every Brother is a builder. And every act of tolerance is a stone laid in the path toward unity.

This week’s challenge: Reach out to someone whose views differ from your own. Not to change them, but to understand them. Ask. Listen. Learn. Lay one stone.

The bridge begins with you.

See you next Tuesday.

Tolerance Tuesday- Symbols of Unity in a Divided World

In times of division, symbols matter more than ever.

They remind us who we are. What we stand for. And what we’re capable of...together.

Freemasonry is rich with symbols. Not as decoration, but as instruction. Each one carries a lesson, a challenge, a truth. And among the most powerful is the mosaic pavement—that checkered floor of black and white tiles, laid side by side in harmony.

It doesn’t erase difference. It honors it.

The mosaic pavement teaches us that light and dark, joy and sorrow, belief and doubt—all belong. That unity is not uniformity. It is the art of holding opposites in balance.

In a divided world, this is radical.

We are taught to walk that pavement with reverence. To tread carefully, thoughtfully, knowing that every step is a choice. A choice to build, not break. To listen, not shout. To understand, not dismiss.

Other symbols echo this call:

• The compasses, drawing circles that include rather than exclude.

• The plumb, reminding us to stand upright in our dealings with all.

• The trowel, spreading the cement of brotherly love.

These are not relics. They are tools for today.

Because the world is watching. And when we live our symbols, when we embody their meaning—we become something more than members. We become messengers.

Messengers of unity. Of dignity. Of hope.

This week’s challenge: Choose one Masonic symbol. Reflect on its meaning. Then live it, intentionally, visibly, and generously.

Let your actions be a symbol. Let your presence be a reminder. Let your life be a mosaic, where difference is not feared, but welcomed.

See you next Tuesday.

Tolerance Tuesday-Brotherhood Beyond Belief

 

We live in a time when personal belief, political, religious, can divide faster than it unites. But Freemasonry offers a counterpoint: a Brotherhood that does not require agreement, only respect.

In Lodge, we do not ask what creed you follow, what party you support, or what doctrines you hold. We ask only this: Do you seek truth? Do you strive to live with integrity? Do you honor the dignity of others?

This is Brotherhood beyond belief.

It is not built on sameness. It is built on shared values, charity, humility, service, and the pursuit of wisdom. It is a bond that transcends dogma and welcomes difference, not as a threat, but as a teacher.

The square reminds us to act justly. The compasses teach us to restrain judgment. And the letter G is at the heart of our symbol. It calls us to reverence; however, we define it.

When we gather in Lodge, we do so as equals. Not because we agree on everything, but because we agree on what matters: the work of building character, community, and compassion.

This kind of Brotherhood is rare. It is radical. And it is needed.

Because beyond belief lies something deeper: a shared humanity. A recognition that every person carries a story, a struggle, and a spark of the divine. When we honor that, we build not just Lodges-but bridges.

This week’s challenge: Reach out to someone whose beliefs differ from your own. Ask a question. Share a kindness. Practice Brotherhood beyond belief.

Because tolerance is not passive. It is active. It is the daily choice to build connection where others build walls.

See you next Tuesday.

Introducing Tolerance Tuesday: A Weekly Reflection on One of Freemasonry’s Greatest Virtues

 

Introducing Tolerance Tuesday: A Weekly Reflection on One of Freemasonry’s Greatest Virtues

In a world that often rushes to judgment and thrives on division, Freemasonry offers a quieter, nobler path, one paved with understanding, patience, and respect. At the heart of that path lies a virtue we hold dear: tolerance.

Not tolerance as mere politeness. Not tolerance as passive silence. But tolerance as an active, deliberate choice to honor the dignity of others...even when we disagree. It’s the kind of tolerance that builds bridges, not walls. That listens before speaking. That sees the divine spark in every person, regardless of creed, background, or belief.

Welcome to Tolerance Tuesday.

Each week, we’ll explore this foundational Masonic principle, not as an abstract ideal, but as a living practice. Through stories, symbols, reflections, and challenges, we’ll ask:

• What does tolerance look like in today’s world?

• How do we embody it in our Lodges, our homes, and our communities?

• And how can we, as Masons, can be beacons of unity in times of division?

Whether you’re a seasoned Brother or simply curious about the values we uphold, this series is for you. It’s a space to reflect, to grow, and to recommit to the work of building a more understanding world...one Tuesday at a time.

So, let’s begin. Let’s make tolerance more than a word in our ritual. Let’s make it a habit, a legacy, a light.

See you next Tuesday.

A Beacon in the Fog: Comparing the Lighthouse to the Masonic Lodge

 A lighthouse stands tall against the elements, its singular purpose unwavering: to warn of danger and guide mariners to safety. Its beam cuts through storm and shadow, offering hope, direction, and protection. Yet behind that light is a keeper who is often unseen, whose duty is to ensure the flame never falters. The keeper’s vigilance transforms a working machine system into a lifesaving one, architecture into assurance. In this way, the lighthouse is not merely a structure, but a symbol of steadfast service. So too is the Masonic Lodge.

A Masonic Lodge, like a lighthouse, exists to illuminate. It does not guide ships through rocky shoals, but people through life’s moral and spiritual uncertainties. Its rituals, teachings, and fellowship offer a compass to those seeking purpose, integrity, and brotherhood. The Lodge warns of the dangers of ignorance, selfishness, and vice, and instead points toward charity, wisdom, and truth. It is a sanctuary where men gather not to escape the world, but to better understand it, and themselves.

The light of Masonry is not electric or flame-born, but symbolic. It shines through the principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. It is kept alive not by a single keeper, but by every Mason who enters the Lodge with a sincere heart and a willing hand. Each member becomes a keeper of the light, charged with maintaining its brilliance through action, mentorship, and moral example. Just as the lighthouse keeper must climb the tower, clean the lens, and fuel the lamp, so must the Mason labor in the quarry of self-improvement and community service.

Both the lighthouse and the Lodge are built to endure. They weather storms literally and figuratively, not for their own sake, but for those who depend on their Light. The lighthouse may stand on a lonely coast, but its influence stretches far beyond its foundation. Likewise, a Lodge may be tucked into a quiet town or hidden behind humble doors, yet its impact radiates through the lives it touches, the families it strengthens, and the communities it uplifts.

Importantly, neither structure fulfills its purpose alone. A lighthouse without a keeper is a cold monument; a Lodge without active Masons is just an empty building. The true power lies in the people who tend the flame, those who commit to vigilance, service, and persistence. In both cases, the light is not an end in itself, but a means to guide others safely forward.

In a world often clouded by confusion and conflict, the comparison is clear. The lighthouse and the Lodge are beacons, built to warn, to guide, and to inspire. Their keepers, whether tending a lantern or living a life of virtue, ensure that the light never goes out. And in doing so, they offer something rare and vital: a steady glow in the darkness, a promise that someone still watches, still cares, and still believes in the power of illumination.