From the West September 2026

Well, my Brothers, September is upon us and our beloved Smithtown 1127 is about to rev-up to full speed once again; I hope all have had a fruitful and rejuvenating summer. As we start attending Lodge and/or traveling again, I find myself reflecting upon the implications (and dare I say, responsibilities) of calling another Mason my “Brother”. Each time I use that greeting I try to remind myself that it has certain implications; the first of which is that we both owe each other Respect, regardless of beliefs or background; I’ve heard it said that “the Lodge should be a place where a Mason can disagree without becoming disagreeable.” I also remind myself that the concept of Honesty is a natural extension of that respect, which over time also develops Trust between my Brothers and I. And of course, that trust  becomes even stronger when the concept of Confidentiality is assumed, most especially during private conversations. I’ve also found that it never hurts to ask whether or not a particular discussion should be assumed confidential.

The Lodge is the perfect place for me to practice these simple social “virtues” with my Brothers – with the hope of continued self-improvement as they spillover into my day to day relationships outside the Lodge.

Fraternally,
Bro. Dominic J. Ciardullo [SW]