Our fraternity is all about building our brotherhood through shared experiences, and last night I had the honor of witnessing this in true fashion. Gulf Beach Lodge No. 291 hosted the Annual Firefighter Master Mason Degree. This has been a tradition in District 18 for over 20 years, and it was clear that this was something very special and showed that the brotherhood within the brotherhood is alive and well.
There are many deep bonds that exist within the fraternity, and this “Brotherhood within the Brotherhood” takes the form of firefights, police, military, union members as well as many other groups. These organizations are also built around camaraderie and those who share those bonds have even more meaningful connections within Freemasonry. Many Lodges will take the opportunity to bring these outside bonds into the Lodge to help build and reinforce these fraternal ties in more meaningful ways. Last night was no exception.
Firefighters from all over arrived at the Lodge, wearing the uniforms from their stations and municipalities proudly. They gathered in the dining hall and shared many stories of their profession, past and present. Active and retired alike; they took the time to meet and greet each other with brotherly love and affection. The entire evening and degree had subtle and several not so subtle hints from the firefighter profession and it made for a unique experience for everyone!
It should be noted that Freemasonry brings together men from all professions and walks of life. These differences are some of the most important aspects of our fraternity and grants us the opportunity to learn from and gain a greater understanding of all mankind. The differences however, are few but the similarities are many and we cherish those every day!
It’s a great day to be a Mason!