A Certificate of Maturity
EUGEN OVIDIU CHIROVICI
Grand Master, NATIONAL GRAND LODGE OF ROMANIA
During his recent visit to Romania, my good friend Thomas W. Jackson was posed a question to the effect: "What do you think is the main reason why freemasonry has endured for three centuries, in which time the world changed dramatically?" It was one of the few times I saw Tom become pensive; after four decades of practice at that level of the Royal Art, you seem to have all answers to all possible questions in your breast pocket. Finally, he said something like this: "I think it is the ability of the Craft to attract brilliant personalities in its midst". Indeed, having participated in dozens of international meetings, I have always heard an enumeration of celebrities which have decorated the Columns of the Temples in various countries: Mozart, Bolivar, Voltaire, Garibaldi, Newton etc, etc.These people / personalities, who shone in lively colors on the international stage, have "legitimated" us always and ever in the eyes of a large public almost always frustrated that he cannot see what goes on in the penumbra of the Lodges and who, at times, let itself be convinced by the promoters of conspiracy theories that we were hiding dark secrets. Masonry teaches us that first of all we must "work" on ourselves, before we have the pride to believe we can do it for the country or for humanity. However, always and ever, it has not been and it is not now a matter of indifference to us how we are perceived by those who have not received the Light. Even if they are not Brethren of the Light, they are in the Nation, whose supreme interest we have sworn to serve. In relation to the above, the recent anniversary of 130 years from the Setting Alight of our Grand Lodge constituted, I think, a true certificate of maturity. Internationally, because in the message of His Royal Highness, Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, the Duke of Kent, it was said "you have successfully accomplished the reinstallation of Regular Masonry in those lands". Internally, because an ample number of personalities of cultural, economic and political life in Romania were pleased to answer our invitation to join us at this anniversary occasion, leaving aside the reticence of the recent past. The most prestigious forum in the country, the Romanian Academy, paid us the homage to host for us – for the first time in our existence as an organization – a seminary on historical themes. This evolution comes to crown our work of the last six years. But also to commit us to the future.The human being is endowed by God with free will and is always faced with dramatic options and must ever find the best answers to the questions life presents to the conscience. It can choose good or evil, it can choose decency or indecency, it can choose imposture or honesty. All are options, nothing is fatality. All is choice and there is no excuse like destiny. For the future, this is the just option: to go on a road confirmed and validated as the only true one. It is the road that today makes us enter with heads held high into London, Washington, Paris or Berlin. It is the road that has legitimated us a credible interlocutors of the Romanian Academy, as an expression of the national intelligentsia. In the month of June, we expect the recognition from Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Belgium. These recognitions come to close an ample international construction the edification of which has been our constant labor through all these years. This means, at the same time, that the following period must all the more be dedicated to internal matters. This "software" we have installed in this period must be supported by the upgrading of meet "hardware", otherwise sooner or later incompatibilities will again arise between us as we, the elder of the Order, have experienced at some point. Moderately and without rashness – I have always said that we must have a different sense of time, ontologically speaking, than the profane – and on the basis of a vision largely shared by the Brethren. Not to others, but to ourselves must we prove now that we are progressing toward the Light and Happiness. Not to others, but to ourselves must we prove now that what brings us together is nothing but the desire to perfect ourselves and the happiness shared with one’s neighbor. Only six months are left until a new leading team, which you will elect, will be installed here, in the Orient. This succession also is a test of maturity. That is why I wish and will take care it be a confrontation of ideas, not egos, of programs and visions and not airs. And I invite you also, along with me, to discourage those attitudes and that behavior which hearken, I hope, to a dark past and not a promising future. I close, Beloved Brethren, by saying once more: it was an honor to know you and an unhoped for privilege to lead you. I have never considered myself your chief, but your friend. And God has helped me to give you in these years a multitude of good things, which I hope you will keep in the years to come. And, in turn, you honor me as I deserve by your beautiful actions. For all this, I thank you once more. I have spoken.
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