Grand Master Cook’s Scottish Rite Reunion Address
Scottish Rite Reunion Address 19 April 2008
Thank you, Ill. Br. Curtis, for a well read obituary.
I would make a small correction to the most important item on the list of accomplishments. I’ve actually been Melody’s husband exactly 28 years today.
I suspect the applause is a sign of sympathy for her and congratulations for me.
Remember brethren, the key to a long marriage is to marry a woman better looking and smarter than you—a lesson which you already appear to understand.
I’m also celebrating a less important anniversary. It was 14 years ago that I completed these degrees and spoke to this Rite as the Class Orator. I thought of using the same speech, but since it took me 14 years to get back up here I thought I better make a better try at it.
I had been a Master Mason but a month. Roscoe Williamson had been my coach through the three degrees and asked the questions for the catechism to all three degrees in open Lodge. He was just as strict about ritual as Marianne is about not touching her computer in the Scottish Rite office. Consider that due and timely notice, brethren.
I was also tutored by David Lemons, now 33rd Degree, who prepared me to be found proficient as Master of Acacia Lodge, and then served as my secretary during my first term as Master. I continued to learn our Masonic Art. Sometimes it was ritual. Other times it was Masonic jurisprudence, a subject of which I’m still an unwilling student. Masonic protocol was taught me by Secretaries, current and Past Grand Secretaries, and Past Grand Masters, who set an example for me, by sending me private messages to help me, demonstrating in real terms the injunction of reminding a brother of his failings in the most tender manner AND aiding in his reformation.
As you heard during the introduction, during the years since, I’ve been given other opportunities to serve, including the degrees of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Notice the verb: I was GIVEN the opportunity. Someone took action to appoint me to an office or a role in a degree.
With that in mind, I wish us again to remember the Eighth Degree. Given that it was presented two days and 21 degrees ago, let me again set the scene for you.
It was in the Egyptian Room on Thursday afternoon. The lights were dimmed, giving depth to the remarkable design and colours of that room. The setting was during the building of King Solomon’s Temple, as we continued the recitation of the legend of the Third Degree. Our Grand Master Hiram had been laid to rest. It had been his role to supervise the building of the Temple, to lay the architectural plans upon the trestle board.
King Solomon presided in the East, between those rose and dusky green columns, doubled and ascending two stories above us.
We looked up as King Solomon explained to us that the work had halted on the Temple, due to the death of Grand Master Hiram. Because they had not been the ones superintending the work, neither King Solomon nor our other Grand Master, Hiram of Tyre, could think of anyone to take his place.
The King, being a wise leader, turned for advice to the Craftsmen. They responded that Hiram was fond of the young who were eager to learn, and he instructed them in the arts and sciences. Five particularly were noted. He had further given these five Craftsmen opportunities to superintend differing parts of the work in the construction of the Temple. To one in particular, Hiram had on occasion entrusted supervision of the entire work. Hiram had explained to the Grand Treasurer that at his death, these Craftsmen whom he had taught and given the opportunity to serve, would be capable of taking his place.
The Workmen whom we each represented indicated their Willingness to undertake the great project which Hiram and Solomon commenced.
We also made obligations about the way in which we would treat those who were in our employ and the needy.
We were admonished that we are expected to have studied our ancient craft to merit advancement.
We were charged to be charitable and benevolent, an example of virtue.
To be sure, there are esoteric lessons in the degree, but I would like us to reflect on the first part of the obligation we undertook:
The Workmen whom we have each represented indicated their Willingness to undertake the great project which Hiram Abiff commenced.
We of course, no longer labor in operative Masonry. We are Craftsmen of another building commenced in legend by our ancient Grand Master, the splendid edifice of Freemasonry. A construction not just of stone, but of reason, morality and virtue. We have, by a solemn obligation, undertaken this great project. What role, will you, my brother, undertake in this venture, in fulfilling the lofty mission of Freemasonry?
Brother Pike taught us that man has high duties to perform and a high destiny to fulfill on this earth. It is not merely a portal to another life…The present is a scene of action.
Now, there is another side to the lesson I find in the Eighth Degree and which I illustrated in the examples from my Masonic life. The five Craftsmen were able to declare their willingness to supervise the work only because the Master had taught them, had given them prior opportunities to superintend the work. My senior brethren, are we accepting our responsibility to teach, to mentor, to provide opportunities for when we, as expressed in the 14th Degree, finish our time on this earth. Have we tutored Craftsmen to take our place? Have we ensured their presence as we teach the principles of our Craft in our Lodges? Our opportunity to mentor only begins with the signing of the petition. It is the beginning of our life as brothers together. The mentoring program to be implemented in our Valley is a demonstration of this opportunity. Call those whose petitions you have signed and, as a corollary, those who signed your petitions to attend with you your Lodge, York Rite and Scottish Rite. Some of my choice Masonic experiences have been in a car on the way to and from a Lodge meeting. Though, perhaps, not coming back from a Lodge meeting in Price through Spanish Fork Canyon during a snow storm.
Brothers of the Rite, the eloquent language of these degrees is meant to motivate us, to help us comprehend the “lofty mission” of Freemasonry. As your Grand Master, I also sound the clarion call of selfless service trumpeted to us these last days and, indeed, throughout the ages of Freemasonry.
Masters of the Royal Secret, Freemasonry is not for “cold souls and narrow minds.”
It is for men who wish to live lives of substance and meaning—not for the earthly reward of rank and gold chain; not for the honors of men, but so that we may honor men. It is for men who have faith in themselves and the power to do good.
We must accept the charge of the 18th Degree and go forth into the world and be charitable and benevolent that we may not have lived in vain. Nothing is accomplished by inaction. Embrace the brotherhood which is our right to claim from one another.
May the blessings of God rest upon us and all mankind. May brotherly love prevail and every moral and social virtue cement us.
Thank you.
Good evening.
Brother Cook grew up in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. He attended the University of Oklahoma and the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He graduated from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 1982. He then entered active service in the US Navy Judge Advocate General Corps. He subsequently served as a Reserve officer, attaining the rank of Captain, including over six years as a General Court-Martial Judge, the Chief Reserve Judge of the US Navy and on the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals. Brother Cook is qualified as an attorney both in the United States and England and has a private law practice in Salt Lake City.