FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
It’s All About the Journey
T H E
N O RT HERN LI G H T A magazine of 32˚ Scottish Rite Freemasonry
Spring 2022 | Vol. 53 | No. 1 by PJ Roup, 33˚, Editor, Active for Pennsylvania
SOVEREIGN GRAND COMMANDER Peter J. Samiec, 33° EXECUTIVE EDITOR Linda Patch
mind leaving the interstates to take in the unique sights of all the small towns along the way. I am slowly coming around to her way of thinking. While I may shave a few minutes from my travel time on the interstate, I do so at the cost of my inner peace. I rarely get cut off by aggressive drivers or boxed in by slow-moving vehicles as I traverse the back roads. It may have taken me a long time, but I finally realize that life is not about the destination, but rather, the journey.
My wife,
Gail, and I have a
continuing debate between us: how to get where we’re going. When we are taking a trip— whether it is 5 miles or 500 miles— I prefer to take the fastest route. I want to get on the highway, drive fast, stop infrequently, and get to my destination as soon as possible. Truth be told, if I could take a plane to the grocery store, I would do it if it bought me a minute or two. Gail, on the other hand, generally prefers the scenic route. On short trips, she almost always eschews the expressway in favor of the side roads. Also, she doesn’t
The same can be said of Freemasonry. Since the chief aim of the Craft is to know Truth and make us strive for perfection, the destination is really not attainable, is it? There is always room for improvement, after all. It stands to reason, then, that Freemasonry is about the journey. Our journeys through Freemasonry are as different as we are from each other. How you joined, why you sought it, and where it will take you are questions that only you can answer. What we share, though, are the fundamentals of the Blue Lodge, the 29 degrees and six Core Values of the Scottish Rite, and the unspoken truth about where our journeys began. This issue of The Northern Light is dedicated to our new campaign, “Journey On.” I am sure it will resonate with each of you as you reflect on the time you have spent in the Craft. The sights you have seen, the friendships you have forged, and the lessons you have learned along the way have been worth it. It may not be the easiest path, but remember: It’s all about the journey.
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EDITOR PJ Roup, 33° CREATIVE DIRECTOR Rodney E. Boyce, 33° CONTENT MANAGER Joann Williams-Hoxha DIRECTOR OF DESIGN Matt Blaisdell, 32° COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE Thomas R. Labagh, 33°, Chairman Richard V. Travis, 33° Donald R. Heldman, 33° Donald G. Duquette, 33° PJ Roup, 33° J. Brian McNaughton, 33° SUPREME COUNCIL, 33° Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A. THE NORTHERN LIGHT (ISSN 1088-4416) is published quarterly in the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter by the Supreme Council, 33°, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A., as the official publication. Printed in U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER Send address changes to The Northern Light PO Box 519, Lexington, MA 02420-0519 MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 519, Lexington, MA 02420-0519 EDITORIAL OFFICE 33 Marrett Road (Route 2A), Lexington, MA 02421 phone: 781-862-4410 email: editor@srnmj.org WEBSITE: www.ScottishRiteNMJ.org @scottishritenmj @TNLMagazine Copyright ©2022 by Trustees of the Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A.
