It is the beginning of a new year and I pass my writing torch on to my successor, John Rider. I wish him the best with all his endeavors and will support him in any way he asks.

Now when I say this I thought I would end the year of messages with my position on what a Scottish Rite Mason truly is. I take this directly from Morals and Dogma, "There can be no genuine Brotherhood without mutual regard, good opinion and esteem, mutual charity, and mutual allowance for faults and failings."

I feel that is the role of the Scottish Rite Mason to search for the beauty in all men. That everyman must have some good in them. Even the despot was at one time nothing more than a child. We should lend a helping hand to not only our brothers but our friends, and here is the hard part, our enemies as well. It is only when we can appreciate all men for what they bring to this planet that we can feel we have achieved a remote sense of brotherhood.

I will tell you I can not count how many of my closest friends at one time were enemies of mine. They were people I wished would leave me alone and crawl into a hole. But when I forced myself to look past the faults I was confronted with. I found a true brother.

I ask each of you brothers to try and make three new brothers this year. Try this not only in masonry but in your life as well. How many times have you known a person who could use help but decided to mind your own business? I ask that you help him. If you have a brother in the lodge who appears to need help in either his Masonic travels or his personal life, offer him advice. And in the Valley, help a brother by offering a hand with the services in the valley.

Finally remember our Valley supports some needy families through our language center. How many of you have ever tried to get know a family that uses the services we offer? I admit I have not. I would like to take the time to get to know a family or two.

I know each of you has a busy life. I personally work 50 to 60 hours a week, am a full time student in a Master's Program, and have a wonderful family that needs me as well. I have almost quit many times any one of the activities I do that takes me away from my family. I have tried to be a good father, student, worker, and Masonic brother. I sometimes slip in one area or another, but this is human.

To end this year I would like to quote the words of Ghandi, "Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength."

In the end remember your final vow in the 32nd degree. Keep it !

Gary Whitlock 32°
Commander of Kadosh