Excerpts from the Worthy Grand Patron’s Reception Remarks

 

After my reception, several members thought that some of my remarks should be made available on a wider basis.  As a result, I have made them available on our website.

 

I would like to give you my opinion on why our beautiful Order is on the decline.  It is only my opinion and food for thought.  I hope that the time never comes in this great nation when anyone is not allowed to express their own opinion.

 

As I have traveled around this great state, I have often heard “What is wrong with our Order?”  I am here to tell you that I think there is nothing wrong with our Order.  There are some small changes that need to be made and they will be made, but there is nothing wrong with our teachings or our moral values that our Order is based on.  I think the reason that our beautiful order does not appeal to many people in our country is because our values no longer match the values of the United States.  Even in our own beautiful Order, there seems to be confusion on such things as protocol, common courtesy, and proper dress suitable for the occasion.  For example, we used to be able to tell people to wear to informal meetings that which they wore to church.  That no longer works. 

 

There is a song written by Jeff Steele and performed by the Southern Gospel group The Steele’s that I think explains this.  It is titled “We Want America back” and I would like to read you the words now.

 

Something is wrong with America.  She once held the Bible as her conscience and guide, but we’ve allowed those who hold nothing sacred, like Sodom of old, to push morals aside.

 

Where are the men who once stood for right and the women who championed their cause?  We must return to the values we’ve left before this country we love is totally lost.

 

I love America, but I do not love what she has become.  Scripture says” blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord” and America has forgotten the Godly foundation on which she was built.  Something is wrong.  Our children are ask to attend Public Schools that in many cases resemble war zones without even the basic right of any soldier, the right to pray to the God of Heaven.  Many times the wild-eyed, drug addicted, gun toting teenager is allowed to stay in school, while the Supreme Court decided to expel God from the classroom over thirty years ago.  Something is wrong.  Television daily bombards the senses of our youth with the idea that wrong is right, that the abnormal is normal, that what is abhorrent is natural, and that what God calls an abomination is nothing more than an alternate life style.  And it’s had an effect.  Forty years ago, the number one program in America was “The Andy Griffith Show”.  Look what we have today.  Something is wrong when our government can pass out contraceptives to children without parental consent and yet The Gideon’s can no longer pass out the Bible on our campuses.  Something is wrong when our leaders can say to your children and mine that premarital sex is alright as long as it’s safe.  Yes something is wrong and I for one am ready for a change.  I will say to my government, “I’m not raising dogs in my house, I’m raising children created in the image and likeness of Almighty God, and I’m going to teach them the Bible.  If the Bible says its right, its right and if the Bible says it’s wrong, it’s wrong.” 

 

The only hope that America has is that godly men and women of character will stand up and say to the immoral, the impure, the obscene and the foul, “Your days of unlimited access to the minds of America are over.  The Army of God that has been silent too long is taking America back.”  We want America back, we want America back from those who have no self control, its time for the Army of God to arise and say we want America back.

 

Not until this has happened will our Order thrive again in this country.  It’s up to you and me.  Let’s let our lives be a testament to the moral values upon which our Order was founded. Don’t hide this Light under a bushel, but show it to everyone you meet.  Why are we afraid or ashamed to let people see and know our Christian values?

 

I believe that Dr Rob Morris was divinely inspired to write the Rosary of the Eastern Star.

Our Order which teaches Christian Values does not require its members to be Christians, only to believe in the existence of a Supreme Being.  This allows anyone who has the capacity to be saved to join our order.  It is our obligation to guide them through the labyrinth to Eternal Life.  If you are a member, go home and read your Ritual instead of trying to memorize it.  If you study hard enough you will see what it really is, a guide to living that in addition to the Holy Bible, will show you the way to Eternal Life.  We don’t nee “Political Correctness” if we live our lives as instructed by Jesus and supplement and refine it by the teachings of our Order.  It will help you whether you are a Christian, Jew, or anyone who can believe.  This is what we should tell to prospective members instead of some of the reasons we now use to try to get them into our Order. In closing, this story seemed appropriate.

 

The Quilt of Holes

 

The other night, I had a dream:  As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.

 

Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.

 

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was.  They were filled with giant holes.  Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life.  I saw hardships that I had endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me.  Nobody else had such squares.  Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune.  I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.

 

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.

 

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth.  The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries.  So filled their lives had been.  My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.

 

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.  I hadn’t had all the earthly fortunes.  I had love in my life, and laughter.  But there had also been trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it.  I had to start over many times.  I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again.  I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life.  I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

 

And now, I had to face the truth.  My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.

 

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.  An awe-filled gasp filled the air.  I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.

 

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me.  Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ.  Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes.  He said,”Every time you gave over your life to Me; it became my life, My hardships, and My struggles.  Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.”

 

May all of our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!