Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the Scottish Right Journal podcast and audio presentation
of the Scottish Right Journal, brought to you by the
Supreme Council of the Scottish Right Southern Jurisdiction Mother Supreme
Council of the World. This message brought to you from
our Sovereign Grand Commander, Jim Cole. Thirty third degree, is
called three and comes from the March April twenty twenty
(00:23):
five issue of the Scottish Right Journal.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hello Jim Cole, here, Sovereign Grand Commander, and I want
to share with you an article from the March April
twenty twenty five Scottish Right Journal. This particular one is
entitled simply three, as in the number three. In my job,
(00:51):
one of the duties I enjoy most is assisting in
creating content for our social media efforts. I was recently
reviewing the edited version of one of my interviews on
our YouTube channel when I was reminded of the old adage,
if at first you don't succeed, try try again. The
(01:17):
interview I was reviewing included a story in which I failed,
but tried again, failed a second time, yet persisted for
a third time, and finally succeeded. I wonder how many
(01:37):
times in life does a single failure prevent our success.
In August two thousand and two, I received a call
from the then Sgig of Virginia, David Krueger, thirty third degree,
(01:59):
reminding me of a meeting two years prior, in which
I had held a lengthy discussion with then Grand Commander
Fred Klein Connect on the topic of effective investment of
Masonic funds. Illustrious Brother Dave asked if I might visit
(02:21):
Commander Clin Connect to continue that discussion. Having never visited
the House of the Temple, I had to call Brother
Dave a few days later to obtain directions to the
magnificent building. Upon arriving early, of course, in Masonic fashion,
(02:43):
at the Temple in Washington, d C. As instructed, I
rang the doorbell at the rear of the massive building
and announced my name. When asked through the speaker mounted
on the wall, I told that I was not on
the list of approved visitors, therefore I could not enter.
(03:08):
I stared at the speaker on the wall, some panic
beginning to creep into my mind, wondering if being late
for a meeting with a world famous Masonic leader would
carry any consequences. Summoning a tad bit of courage, I
pushed the buzzer again, and when a gruff reply came forth,
(03:32):
I asked if the person could call the Grand Commander's
office to verify my appointment. That request was sharply denied.
I walked away from the door, growing a little numb,
thinking well, I tried. I walked around the parking lot
(03:53):
for a couple of minutes. Then I decided to try
one third and find attempt. When the clearly annoyed voice answered,
I quickly proclaimed, my name is Jim Call. I am
the immediate past Grand Master of Virginia, and I have
(04:15):
official business with Commander Klein Connect. I immediately heard a
new voice from a volunteer from the Valley of Alexandria, Virginia, who,
having walked by the security desk at that very moment,
recognized my voice, then instructed the gatekeeper to allow me
(04:40):
to enter. Minutes later, the door opened to display two Masons,
one smiling, one very apologetic, who together led me to
Commander Klein Connect's office. As I later settled into a seat,
(05:01):
Commander climb Connect, in the first few sentences ask if
I would accept an appointment as Deputy of Scottish Rite
in Virginia, which, though in shock, I accepted. Had I
accepted the first and second failures, I would not be
(05:24):
writing this article. Throughout our Masonic journey and the journey
of life, we face failure. Any Mason who has ever
recited in Masonic Catechism has experienced failure. Any human being
(05:45):
who has ever lived more than a few days has
met failure. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, the cake burns
in the pan, the new technologlogy does not work, the
car doesn't start, our friend disappoints us. The list of
(06:10):
examples can grow very long. We cannot prevent a lot
of these failures. But what we can do, what is
solely in our power, is to not give up. We might,
as I did, try a slightly different tactic, or we might,
(06:35):
as happened with me, gain assistance from a friend who
happens by just hang in there, keep trying. Success may
not be that far away.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
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