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Most Worshipful Grand Master Gregory A. Vasquez

Masonic Basics

I recently heard a poem that reminded me of the basics of Freemasonry. The poem is entitled The Dash, poet unknown. The Dash speaks of a life lived, how our time is spent, and how we would like to be remembered by our friends, our brothers, and our family. The poem speaks of things accomplished and things acquired, but how those things do not matter if we never bother to live a good life and love our family, our brothers, and our friends.

However, the poet does give us hope. He suggests we reflect upon our lives and look for things to change and actions to improve. He encourages us to be timely for we do not know the length of our Dash. We are admonished to be less quick to anger, to show appreciation of others and for what they do for us. We are further admonished to treat others with respect and to smile, enjoying the moment because our Dash may only last a little while.

As I reflected on the words of The Dash I thought of the Masonic Degrees and how we are admonished to circumscribe our passions and keep them within due bounds, of how by the exercise of brotherly love we are to regard all who have been created by one Almighty Parent and how we are expected to aid, support and protect one another. I thought about how our apron, pure and spotless, should be and ever-present reminder of an unblemished life and how we should strive for nobler deeds, higher thoughts and greater accomplishments.

I thought that although The Dash is concerned with how we are remembered by those we leave behind, we as Masons should be equally concerned about the time when we stand before the Great White Throne, looking forward to hearing those welcome words, “Well done, good, and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Finally, I would like to remind us all to look at our lives, to reflect on our obligations and ritual and to do everything possible to adhere to and live by our Masonic Basics.

Greg Vasquez Grand Master 2019-2020

The DASH I read of a man who stood to speak At the funeral of a friend He referred to the dates on his tombstone From the Beginning –To the End He noted that first, came the date of his birth And he spoke of the following date with tears But he said, what matters most of all Was the DASH between those years

For that DASH represents all the time That he spent alive on earth And now only those who loved him Know what that little line was worth

For it matters not, how much we own The cars –the house –the cash What matters is how we Live and Love And how we spend our DASH

So, think about this, long and hard Are there things you’d like to change? For you never know, how much time is left That can still be rearranged

If we could just slow down enough To consider what’s true and real And always try to understand The way other people feel

And be less quick to anger And show appreciation more And love the people in our lives Like we’ve never loved before

If we treat each other with respect And more often wear a smile Remembering that, this special DASH may only last a little while

So, when your eulogy is being read And your life’s actions to rehash Would you be proud of the things they say? About how you spent your DASH.

-Unknown

I would like to express a special thanks to Worshipful Brother Hank Vlcek, a 27-year Master Mason from California for reading The Dash at Brother Jim Watson’s funeral and for providing me with a copy.