April 21, 2025 • 24 mins
David Graham poses a thought-provoking question in his 2025 Oration: “What’s in a name? When my name rolls off someone's tongue, what taste does it leave behind? If I am hoping to enjoy the happy reflections, consequent of a well spent life, I should pay very close attention to my name.”
Get ready for an adventure with the pride of Wayzata No. 205. Topics include: growing up in the small town of Black Duck, a cruise ship gig through the choppy straits of Magellan, and a mugging in Rio. There's no time for sea legs, it’s an all-new Minnesota Masonic Histories & Mysteries.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Our guest today is David Graham,who just wrapped up his
(00:02):
appointed position as GrandOrator from 2024 to 2025,
appointed by Foster Solem.
Our friend and brother is also amonitor of the ritual and
proudly served as master ofWisetta Lodge number 2 0 5 in
2018.
Welcome, David.
Thank you, Reid.
It's nice to be here.
Tell us more about you.
(00:23):
Where are you from?
School, hobbies.
Let's hear all about you.
I'm from a little town in, uh,Northern Minnesota called Black
Duck, Minnesota, which is notthe end of the world, but we can
see it from there.
It's just north of Bemidji.
Uh, that was about it for BlackDuck.
I got out of there as soon aspossible.
(00:44):
What's the size of Black Duck?
695 people.
There were 80 kids in mygraduating class, and I knew
them all from first grade to12th grade.
Well, what was that like?
I grew up in a relatively smalltown, but in that level you
really, truly, it's a.
Close quarters is all the wayfrom first through graduation.
(01:06):
My dad used to say that God madethe world, man built the cities
and the devil made the smalltown.
Uh, I couldn't disagree with'em.
Everyone was related toeverybody really can't go, can't
go anywhere.
No.
For generations back, they'reall related to everybody.
How often do you get back?
(01:26):
Twice a year.
So not very often.
What type of activities duringthose years and was, were you
into sports?
I know you're a music guy, we'lltalk about that, but what was
the evolution of your talents?
The evolution of my talent.
My mother made me take pianolessons and uh, my dad was a
(01:51):
minister.
Everyone told me that your dadtalks funny.
I thought you should talk.
But anyway, he was a ministerand uh, I watched him do a lot
of public speaking.
Uh, in ninth grade I gotinvolved in the drama club,
which I thought was a lot offun, and then speech and that
bug kind of stuck with me.
I went through college doing alot of that and some community
(02:13):
theater in Minneapolis as well.
I got to work on mall rats.
Really?
That was shot in Minneapolis.
Oh yeah.
What did you do?
I was the swing gang.
Me and my brother were part ofthe Swing gang.
I worked on a couple of moviesin town here.
That's cool.
What year was that, approximate90.
It was back after I got backfrom the cruise ships.
It was, must have been thenineties.
(02:33):
It's been that long.
Wow.
It had their 25th anniversary acouple of years ago.
God, stop.
I was supposed to be a teacher,but I decided that you had the
right to remain ignorant andbeing a teacher was not for me.
So I got into the trades and Ithought, I gotta try something
else.
So this was back in the daybefore internet and in back of
magazines, you know, come be awork on a cruise show.
(02:56):
Sure.
So with some writing back andforth, uh, I left Minneapolis
with two$20 bills and a one wayticket to Fort Lauderdale.
I got a job in a restaurant as awaiter so I could eat and six
weeks later I was on the sea Iran lights and sound in the
ballroom for all the shows anduh, it was amazing.
(03:17):
In September we went aroundSouth America.
I got mugged in Eponine Beachand Rio Des Janero.
It was, uh, the most amazing 18months of my life.
I don't mean to laugh at that.
You're saying that with a smilethat's a little terrifying.
Yeah.
No, no, no.
It was a 13-year-old kid with abroken bottle.
I.
And, uh, I wasn't in any fear atall.
(03:40):
Uh, one punch would've takenthat kid right out.
But I was with this crazybeautiful but hysterical woman
who with wild flailing of armsjump between me and the kid, and
I thought the best thing, givehim a few dollars cash and calm
her down.
What was the sea like?
How often are there bad stormsand rough seas and something of
(04:01):
that size?
We went through the Straits ofMagellan.
Oh God, I loved it.
Really?
We had 29 foot swells for fivedays running.
Me, uh, and a friend of minewould sit at the back of the
ship and all you would see wouldbe the sea, and then all you
would see would be the sky.
And that's the way I loved it.
(04:22):
I just loved it.
That didn't knock you sideways,like, no, no, no, no.
And being in the ballroom, I'dhave to go down to the theater,
which was like six decks below.
So as the back of the ship, wewere on the very, the very stern
as the back of the ship wasrising.
That floor below me was comingup to meet me so I could fly
(04:42):
down those six flights ofstairs.
And then when, when the ship wasfalling, uh, I could fly up
those same six flights likeSuperman.
It was for 27-year-old legs, youknow, it was no problem.
Yeah, sure.
No, you can rally back fromanything.
Uhhuh.
Wow.
Uhhuh.
I ran lights and sound.
That's okay.
Yeah, so I got to see it all andwe would, uh, have guests come
(05:05):
on for like two week stints aswe did this 50 day cruise around
America, south America, and, oh,it was fun to see.
We had a comedian and he tookone step to the left and I
thought, oh, you shouldn't havedone that.
He takes three steps to theright and now he's taken, he's
running to the left now as hardas he could and crashed into all
(05:26):
the dancers.
I mean, you gotta stand there atthe top of the teeter-totter and
just, you just gotta balance.
Once he started moving his feetand trying to catch himself and
catch himself, as the pendulumkept swinging larger and larger.
He never did.
Oh, no.
Did the audience think this waspart of the act or just did?
Oh, they knew better.
Okay.
They knew this was, they'd beenaround for a few weeks.
He's a newbie.
(05:47):
He comes on, does his bit, andthere he goes, physics, uhhuh.
Oh wow.
So then you ended up coming backto Minnesota after this?
Adventure Eventually.
Yeah, eventually.
Yeah.
And what kind of trades did yousay you're involved with?
I started framing houses andthen I got into commercial
construction out in college.
And uh, I worked on the Best BuySuperstore when they were
(06:08):
starting up.
We put up 11 Best Buy Superstorethroughout the area.
And, uh, I got to know Dick Schjust a little tiny bit, his
daughter Moore as I worked inher offices.
Uh, and then I got intoresidential.
An old carpenter sat me out.
He says, I want you to meet meat six 30.
(06:28):
Talk about mentorship.
You talk about someone to lookup to, and we know a lot about
that and where we're at now.
But this guy had me meet him atsix 30.
We started at seven and he says,the object of the day is to
guess what people do for aliving.
And some guy gets out of histruck.
It was 10 minutes before hecould stand up.
He's a cement worker.
(06:49):
And other people.
And one little guy, he was about65, and he comes just bouncing
in all light in his feet.
And I says, what does he do?
He's a taper.
He was wearing white, alwaysinside light duty.
I thought, oh, of all thetrades, that wouldn't be a bad
one.
That's another bad choice.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So I ended up, uh, taping and Istarted my, I got my start in
bear path, which is really somehigh end work.
(07:12):
And, uh, a guy that really knewwhat he was doing, you know,
and.
I started off my own and havenever really left.
I, I get to meet the coolestpeople and I get to see the
coolest things.
I've worked on a 60 foot groinvault in Lake of the Isles.
You know, it's just somepalatial places.
I've worked at Crystal Farms.
I've got to work at Dr.
(07:33):
Jerry's house.
Uh, Zach Parisi.
There's lots of sports figuresand things where I've don't know
who they are.
I'm not a sports guy, but I'vetalked to Zach.
He's got a dog, he's got acouple of kids in a lovely
space.
I had no idea who he was.
I bet they like that though,when you don't know.
I would think so.
I would think so.
Talking shop about stats and,Hey, Zach, he took a bad penalty
(07:57):
last night.
This is just, he's just a, he'sjust a regular dude.
It's a dog.
It's the kids.
It's a nice space.
Yeah, we're talking about.
Yeah.
His life, not what he does.
Right.
I like to ask a random questionor two on this podcast.
David Graham, what are you mostthankful for that you learned as
(08:18):
a kid?
Whoa.
My mother's face flashed into myhead, but I don't know why.
I mean, uh, the standards sheset, I think that would be it.
(08:38):
The standards she set regardingwhat, specifically how I'm
supposed to behave, what'sexpected of me.
What people expect.
What will people think?
Those phrases that we hate tohear.
Yes.
What will people think?
But you know, that's a bigthing.
If you meet someone, what arethey gonna think of you?
How are you gonna behave?
So that crazy woman from EponBeach, she gave me one of the
(09:03):
nicest compliments.
She said, I could take youanywhere.
Your mother did a really nicejob with you.
So I think that's what it wouldbe.
Yeah, her influence whether ornot I adhere to it or do any
good with it, but her influence,I think I'm most thankful for
(09:25):
What life experience has madeyou a better version of yourself
other than masonry fatherhood?
How so?
He changed my perspectivetotally.
Uh, here to four.
(09:45):
I'm fearless.
You give me a tree, you give meanything up in the air, I'll
climb it.
Once my son was born, I've gottoo much to lose.
If something happens to me,what's gonna happen to him?
Uh, my brother-in-law told meonce I should get a gun, and I
said, no way Brian.
(10:07):
I, I, you know, I'm gonna pullthe thing out.
I'm gonna hesitate, you know me,I'm gonna hesitate.
There's no way I'm pulling thattrigger.
Flash fast forward to Garrettbeing born.
I'll whip that thing up, blowyou away, and sleep like a baby.
I mean, it's a totally differentthing.
So it really changed me.
I, I'm sure I'd have nightmaresover it later, but at the time
I'm protecting him.
(10:27):
Not I can run away, but hecouldn't.
So fatherhood changed myperspective, you know, my
obligations.
Like I said, I went to FortLauderdale with two$20 bills and
a one way ticket.
As long as I had my hands, Ihave no worries.
Once I'm a parent, I don't thinkthat way anymore.
I gotta think.
Life insurance.
(10:47):
Are you kidding me?
What for?
I'll be dead.
Well, because you got a kid now.
That's why it all changes.
Yes.
So abruptly.
Yes.
Yeah.
at the time of this recordingtoday, we recently held our
annual communication in WaitPark, Minnesota.
As mentioned, you are the grandorator delivered a tremendous
(11:08):
oration.
I'm going to turn off my mic andhand this over to you, sir.
David Graham, the airwaves areyours.
We are pleased to have you shareyour oration.
Thank you.
What's in a name?
A rose by any other name wouldsmell as sweet and that is true.
(11:33):
It's difficult to argue withShakespeare.
We know that roses are called bymany names and none of them have
any bearing on their being.
A rose is a rose, is a rose, asGertrude Stein said.
After all, what's in a name?
(11:55):
There must be something in aname.
We all have one.
When a child is born, other thanthe physical description, the
first thing we are told is thename.
Whenever we meet someone new,the first information we
disclose is usually our name.
Even when completely irrelevant,what's in a name?
(12:20):
Why should I know the name ofthe person selling me an ice
cream cone or a tank of gas?
For some reason, even in themost innocuous transactions, we
feel the need to address oneanother by name.
Perhaps there is something in aname.
After all, science tells us thata child's name is one of the
(12:46):
first sounds a baby will respondto.
Each of us have had theexperience of hearing our own
name amid the noise andconfusion of a crowded event in
ancient Egypt to test whether ornot the king was truly dead,
they would first scratch thebottom of his foot to observe a
(13:07):
reaction, then place a piece ofglass under his nose and mouth
to perceive signs of breath, andthen finally they would lean
over, close to the king.
And whisper his name.
You'll recall that in theJudeo-Christian tradition, Adam,
the first man was given the taskof naming all the animals.
(13:33):
Adam is a Hebrew word.
It comes from the Hebrew wordadamah, which means ground.
So we know that at leastlinguistically Adam did in fact
come from the ground.
The word Adam means, man,slippery word man.
(13:55):
It can refer to gender coming ofage or the species as a whole,
but of all the descriptions I'vecome across, I think Hamlet said
it best, what a piece of workis, man.
How noble and reason.
(14:16):
How infinite in faculties informand moving how express and
admirable in action, how, likean angel, an apprehension, how
like a God, God, as many namesaround the world and throughout
(14:39):
the ages, God has been assignedtoo many names to mention.
In the Koran alone, they list 99of the most beautiful names of
God.
Even in our own traditions, Godhas many names.
The Grand Architect, the SupremeIntelligence, the All Seeing I
(15:07):
in contemplating the variousnames of God.
It is clear that.
Not only are each of the names adescription of an aspect of God,
but he in turn is the embodimentand fulfillment of the name.
If God exists and we as Masonsproclaim that he does, then he
(15:30):
must be.
It is interesting to note thatthe first name of God in our
tradition is the Hebrew wordywe.
Which roughly translated means Iam.
It was later Latinized throughJehovah, which means he who is,
(15:52):
if God is to be at all, he mustcompletely be nothing and
partially exist.
Other names of God have beenreflected and echoed throughout
the ages.
In the Greek, the alpha andomega, the beginning and the end
(16:13):
is a mirror image of theZoroastrian.
Abide without beginning and abijam without end.
Again, one cannot be almosteternal.
You are either fully andcompletely eternal, or you are
not.
Our Islamic brethren used thename.
(16:38):
It means the vast, the allembracing.
You'll notice that each of thenames of God are verbs, am verb,
first person, singular, presentindicative of bee creator Elohim
(16:59):
in the Hebrew, in the Islam, likand predating both by millennia.
Is the Zian Bo the Root ofcreation.
The Koran uses a name, Al Muhi,the encounter, the number of
(17:22):
all, consider how many birds arein flight at this instant or at
this instant.
The Supreme intelligence, whichpervades all nature would know
(17:42):
in the Torah they speak a name.
We may recognize Elroy, the Godwho sees the Allee I whom the
Sun, moon, and Stars obey.
And under whose watchful care,even Comets perform their
stupendous revolutions, pervadesthe inmost recesses of the human
(18:07):
heart and will reward usaccording to our merit.
Which leads to the question,what will my name, merit, what's
in my name?
How does my name describe me andwhat are the duties I owe to my
(18:28):
name?
If God lives up to his name andwe are fashioned in his image,
shouldn't I then live up tomine?
If we are fashioned in God'simage and he has a multitude of
names, how many do we possess?
(18:49):
Each of us has a given name.
A name we are known by.
Each of us have names that wehave voluntarily taken upon
ourselves, such as husband,parent Mason.
We have names that describe usby what we enjoy.
(19:12):
Reader, golfer, fisherman, wehave names that.
Delineate us by what we do,carpenter, lawyer, teacher, and
we have names that define us byhow we do genius.
(19:34):
Fool.
When someone calls us by ourname, who or what exactly is
being summoned forth?
The expectations and obligationsof David the drywaller are far
different from David, thehusband, or parent or friend,
(19:57):
and the manner in which Irespond to my name for good or
ill further defines what my nameis.
Am I a competent drywaller, anattentive husband, a loving
parent?
Faithful friend, when my namerolls off someone's tongue, what
(20:23):
taste does it leave behind?
If I am hoping to enjoy thehappy reflections, consequent of
a well spent life, I should payvery close attention to my name.
What's in a name?
(20:46):
Oddly enough, the bard answeredhis own question years later, an
Othello who said, oh, I havelost my reputation.
I have lost the immortal part ofmyself.
And what remains his best still?
(21:07):
Hmm.
I guess it doesn't smell assweet.
After all.
We, however, are fortunate tohave with us today an
illustrious example of how toavoid the fate of Othello.
I first met him at a lodge ofinstruction.
(21:29):
I was encouraged and buoyed upby his enthusiasm as he taught
me the proper way to tie a cabletoe.
I never would've passed mymonitors exam without his
support.
His guidance and assistance wasvery much needed and appreciated
as I aspired to the nameWorshipful Master.
(21:54):
The fruits of his fostering careare far too bountiful to be
enumerated here.
When I first met our GrandMaster Foster Solem, I thought
to myself, now there's a man wholives up to his name Foster, to
(22:21):
promote the growth ordevelopment of to advance to
back to champion.
To cultivate, to encourage, tofurther, to nurture, to serve.
(22:46):
We have experienced by theexcellent example provided by
our very own grand Master thatliving up to one's name is, as
Shakespeare said, twice blessed.
It blesses him who gives, and hewho takes, and that living up to
(23:09):
the name Grand Master is somehoweven greater than the title
itself.
Each of us have our own name, aname that is unique to us.
It is for each of us to decidewhat that name means and what,
(23:34):
if anything, we are to do aboutit.
And each of us have a name incommon, a name.
We share a name which unites usinto one sacred band or society
of friends and brothers.
(23:57):
Are you a mason?
What's in that name?
That's a question that can onlybe answered by you.
As for me, I only pray I amgiven wisdom and strength that I
(24:19):
might be allowed to add beauty.
Our name.
I ask this in his name, so B.
Thank you David Graham.
This has been another episode ofMinnesota Masonic Histories and
(24:42):
Mysteries.
Our guest today is David Graham,who just wrapped up his
(00:02):
appointed position as GrandOrator from 2024 to 2025,
appointed by Foster Solem.
Our friend and brother is also amonitor of the ritual and
proudly served as master ofWisetta Lodge number 2 0 5 in
2018.
Welcome, David.
Thank you, Reid.
It's nice to be here.
Tell us more about you.
(00:23):
Where are you from?
School, hobbies.
Let's hear all about you.
I'm from a little town in, uh,Northern Minnesota called Black
Duck, Minnesota, which is notthe end of the world, but we can
see it from there.
It's just north of Bemidji.
Uh, that was about it for BlackDuck.
I got out of there as soon aspossible.
(00:44):
What's the size of Black Duck?
695 people.
There were 80 kids in mygraduating class, and I knew
them all from first grade to12th grade.
Well, what was that like?
I grew up in a relatively smalltown, but in that level you
really, truly, it's a.
Close quarters is all the wayfrom first through graduation.
(01:06):
My dad used to say that God madethe world, man built the cities
and the devil made the smalltown.
Uh, I couldn't disagree with'em.
Everyone was related toeverybody really can't go, can't
go anywhere.
No.
For generations back, they'reall related to everybody.
How often do you get back?
(01:26):
Twice a year.
So not very often.
What type of activities duringthose years and was, were you
into sports?
I know you're a music guy, we'lltalk about that, but what was
the evolution of your talents?
The evolution of my talent.
My mother made me take pianolessons and uh, my dad was a
(01:51):
minister.
Everyone told me that your dadtalks funny.
I thought you should talk.
But anyway, he was a ministerand uh, I watched him do a lot
of public speaking.
Uh, in ninth grade I gotinvolved in the drama club,
which I thought was a lot offun, and then speech and that
bug kind of stuck with me.
I went through college doing alot of that and some community
(02:13):
theater in Minneapolis as well.
I got to work on mall rats.
Really?
That was shot in Minneapolis.
Oh yeah.
What did you do?
I was the swing gang.
Me and my brother were part ofthe Swing gang.
I worked on a couple of moviesin town here.
That's cool.
What year was that, approximate90.
It was back after I got backfrom the cruise ships.
It was, must have been thenineties.
(02:33):
It's been that long.
Wow.
It had their 25th anniversary acouple of years ago.
God, stop.
I was supposed to be a teacher,but I decided that you had the
right to remain ignorant andbeing a teacher was not for me.
So I got into the trades and Ithought, I gotta try something
else.
So this was back in the daybefore internet and in back of
magazines, you know, come be awork on a cruise show.
(02:56):
Sure.
So with some writing back andforth, uh, I left Minneapolis
with two$20 bills and a one wayticket to Fort Lauderdale.
I got a job in a restaurant as awaiter so I could eat and six
weeks later I was on the sea Iran lights and sound in the
ballroom for all the shows anduh, it was amazing.
(03:17):
In September we went aroundSouth America.
I got mugged in Eponine Beachand Rio Des Janero.
It was, uh, the most amazing 18months of my life.
I don't mean to laugh at that.
You're saying that with a smilethat's a little terrifying.
Yeah.
No, no, no.
It was a 13-year-old kid with abroken bottle.
I.
And, uh, I wasn't in any fear atall.
(03:40):
Uh, one punch would've takenthat kid right out.
But I was with this crazybeautiful but hysterical woman
who with wild flailing of armsjump between me and the kid, and
I thought the best thing, givehim a few dollars cash and calm
her down.
What was the sea like?
How often are there bad stormsand rough seas and something of
(04:01):
that size?
We went through the Straits ofMagellan.
Oh God, I loved it.
Really?
We had 29 foot swells for fivedays running.
Me, uh, and a friend of minewould sit at the back of the
ship and all you would see wouldbe the sea, and then all you
would see would be the sky.
And that's the way I loved it.
(04:22):
I just loved it.
That didn't knock you sideways,like, no, no, no, no.
And being in the ballroom, I'dhave to go down to the theater,
which was like six decks below.
So as the back of the ship, wewere on the very, the very stern
as the back of the ship wasrising.
That floor below me was comingup to meet me so I could fly
(04:42):
down those six flights ofstairs.
And then when, when the ship wasfalling, uh, I could fly up
those same six flights likeSuperman.
It was for 27-year-old legs, youknow, it was no problem.
Yeah, sure.
No, you can rally back fromanything.
Uhhuh.
Wow.
Uhhuh.
I ran lights and sound.
That's okay.
Yeah, so I got to see it all andwe would, uh, have guests come
(05:05):
on for like two week stints aswe did this 50 day cruise around
America, south America, and, oh,it was fun to see.
We had a comedian and he tookone step to the left and I
thought, oh, you shouldn't havedone that.
He takes three steps to theright and now he's taken, he's
running to the left now as hardas he could and crashed into all
(05:26):
the dancers.
I mean, you gotta stand there atthe top of the teeter-totter and
just, you just gotta balance.
Once he started moving his feetand trying to catch himself and
catch himself, as the pendulumkept swinging larger and larger.
He never did.
Oh, no.
Did the audience think this waspart of the act or just did?
Oh, they knew better.
Okay.
They knew this was, they'd beenaround for a few weeks.
He's a newbie.
(05:47):
He comes on, does his bit, andthere he goes, physics, uhhuh.
Oh wow.
So then you ended up coming backto Minnesota after this?
Adventure Eventually.
Yeah, eventually.
Yeah.
And what kind of trades did yousay you're involved with?
I started framing houses andthen I got into commercial
construction out in college.
And uh, I worked on the Best BuySuperstore when they were
(06:08):
starting up.
We put up 11 Best Buy Superstorethroughout the area.
And, uh, I got to know Dick Schjust a little tiny bit, his
daughter Moore as I worked inher offices.
Uh, and then I got intoresidential.
An old carpenter sat me out.
He says, I want you to meet meat six 30.
(06:28):
Talk about mentorship.
You talk about someone to lookup to, and we know a lot about
that and where we're at now.
But this guy had me meet him atsix 30.
We started at seven and he says,the object of the day is to
guess what people do for aliving.
And some guy gets out of histruck.
It was 10 minutes before hecould stand up.
He's a cement worker.
(06:49):
And other people.
And one little guy, he was about65, and he comes just bouncing
in all light in his feet.
And I says, what does he do?
He's a taper.
He was wearing white, alwaysinside light duty.
I thought, oh, of all thetrades, that wouldn't be a bad
one.
That's another bad choice.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So I ended up, uh, taping and Istarted my, I got my start in
bear path, which is really somehigh end work.
(07:12):
And, uh, a guy that really knewwhat he was doing, you know,
and.
I started off my own and havenever really left.
I, I get to meet the coolestpeople and I get to see the
coolest things.
I've worked on a 60 foot groinvault in Lake of the Isles.
You know, it's just somepalatial places.
I've worked at Crystal Farms.
I've got to work at Dr.
(07:33):
Jerry's house.
Uh, Zach Parisi.
There's lots of sports figuresand things where I've don't know
who they are.
I'm not a sports guy, but I'vetalked to Zach.
He's got a dog, he's got acouple of kids in a lovely
space.
I had no idea who he was.
I bet they like that though,when you don't know.
I would think so.
I would think so.
Talking shop about stats and,Hey, Zach, he took a bad penalty
(07:57):
last night.
This is just, he's just a, he'sjust a regular dude.
It's a dog.
It's the kids.
It's a nice space.
Yeah, we're talking about.
Yeah.
His life, not what he does.
Right.
I like to ask a random questionor two on this podcast.
David Graham, what are you mostthankful for that you learned as
(08:18):
a kid?
Whoa.
My mother's face flashed into myhead, but I don't know why.
I mean, uh, the standards sheset, I think that would be it.
(08:38):
The standards she set regardingwhat, specifically how I'm
supposed to behave, what'sexpected of me.
What people expect.
What will people think?
Those phrases that we hate tohear.
Yes.
What will people think?
But you know, that's a bigthing.
If you meet someone, what arethey gonna think of you?
How are you gonna behave?
So that crazy woman from EponBeach, she gave me one of the
(09:03):
nicest compliments.
She said, I could take youanywhere.
Your mother did a really nicejob with you.
So I think that's what it wouldbe.
Yeah, her influence whether ornot I adhere to it or do any
good with it, but her influence,I think I'm most thankful for
(09:25):
What life experience has madeyou a better version of yourself
other than masonry fatherhood?
How so?
He changed my perspectivetotally.
Uh, here to four.
(09:45):
I'm fearless.
You give me a tree, you give meanything up in the air, I'll
climb it.
Once my son was born, I've gottoo much to lose.
If something happens to me,what's gonna happen to him?
Uh, my brother-in-law told meonce I should get a gun, and I
said, no way Brian.
(10:07):
I, I, you know, I'm gonna pullthe thing out.
I'm gonna hesitate, you know me,I'm gonna hesitate.
There's no way I'm pulling thattrigger.
Flash fast forward to Garrettbeing born.
I'll whip that thing up, blowyou away, and sleep like a baby.
I mean, it's a totally differentthing.
So it really changed me.
I, I'm sure I'd have nightmaresover it later, but at the time
I'm protecting him.
(10:27):
Not I can run away, but hecouldn't.
So fatherhood changed myperspective, you know, my
obligations.
Like I said, I went to FortLauderdale with two$20 bills and
a one way ticket.
As long as I had my hands, Ihave no worries.
Once I'm a parent, I don't thinkthat way anymore.
I gotta think.
Life insurance.
(10:47):
Are you kidding me?
What for?
I'll be dead.
Well, because you got a kid now.
That's why it all changes.
Yes.
So abruptly.
Yes.
Yeah.
at the time of this recordingtoday, we recently held our
annual communication in WaitPark, Minnesota.
As mentioned, you are the grandorator delivered a tremendous
(11:08):
oration.
I'm going to turn off my mic andhand this over to you, sir.
David Graham, the airwaves areyours.
We are pleased to have you shareyour oration.
Thank you.
What's in a name?
A rose by any other name wouldsmell as sweet and that is true.
(11:33):
It's difficult to argue withShakespeare.
We know that roses are called bymany names and none of them have
any bearing on their being.
A rose is a rose, is a rose, asGertrude Stein said.
After all, what's in a name?
(11:55):
There must be something in aname.
We all have one.
When a child is born, other thanthe physical description, the
first thing we are told is thename.
Whenever we meet someone new,the first information we
disclose is usually our name.
Even when completely irrelevant,what's in a name?
(12:20):
Why should I know the name ofthe person selling me an ice
cream cone or a tank of gas?
For some reason, even in themost innocuous transactions, we
feel the need to address oneanother by name.
Perhaps there is something in aname.
After all, science tells us thata child's name is one of the
(12:46):
first sounds a baby will respondto.
Each of us have had theexperience of hearing our own
name amid the noise andconfusion of a crowded event in
ancient Egypt to test whether ornot the king was truly dead,
they would first scratch thebottom of his foot to observe a
(13:07):
reaction, then place a piece ofglass under his nose and mouth
to perceive signs of breath, andthen finally they would lean
over, close to the king.
And whisper his name.
You'll recall that in theJudeo-Christian tradition, Adam,
the first man was given the taskof naming all the animals.
(13:33):
Adam is a Hebrew word.
It comes from the Hebrew wordadamah, which means ground.
So we know that at leastlinguistically Adam did in fact
come from the ground.
The word Adam means, man,slippery word man.
(13:55):
It can refer to gender coming ofage or the species as a whole,
but of all the descriptions I'vecome across, I think Hamlet said
it best, what a piece of workis, man.
How noble and reason.
(14:16):
How infinite in faculties informand moving how express and
admirable in action, how, likean angel, an apprehension, how
like a God, God, as many namesaround the world and throughout
(14:39):
the ages, God has been assignedtoo many names to mention.
In the Koran alone, they list 99of the most beautiful names of
God.
Even in our own traditions, Godhas many names.
The Grand Architect, the SupremeIntelligence, the All Seeing I
(15:07):
in contemplating the variousnames of God.
It is clear that.
Not only are each of the names adescription of an aspect of God,
but he in turn is the embodimentand fulfillment of the name.
If God exists and we as Masonsproclaim that he does, then he
(15:30):
must be.
It is interesting to note thatthe first name of God in our
tradition is the Hebrew wordywe.
Which roughly translated means Iam.
It was later Latinized throughJehovah, which means he who is,
(15:52):
if God is to be at all, he mustcompletely be nothing and
partially exist.
Other names of God have beenreflected and echoed throughout
the ages.
In the Greek, the alpha andomega, the beginning and the end
(16:13):
is a mirror image of theZoroastrian.
Abide without beginning and abijam without end.
Again, one cannot be almosteternal.
You are either fully andcompletely eternal, or you are
not.
Our Islamic brethren used thename.
(16:38):
It means the vast, the allembracing.
You'll notice that each of thenames of God are verbs, am verb,
first person, singular, presentindicative of bee creator Elohim
(16:59):
in the Hebrew, in the Islam, likand predating both by millennia.
Is the Zian Bo the Root ofcreation.
The Koran uses a name, Al Muhi,the encounter, the number of
(17:22):
all, consider how many birds arein flight at this instant or at
this instant.
The Supreme intelligence, whichpervades all nature would know
(17:42):
in the Torah they speak a name.
We may recognize Elroy, the Godwho sees the Allee I whom the
Sun, moon, and Stars obey.
And under whose watchful care,even Comets perform their
stupendous revolutions, pervadesthe inmost recesses of the human
(18:07):
heart and will reward usaccording to our merit.
Which leads to the question,what will my name, merit, what's
in my name?
How does my name describe me andwhat are the duties I owe to my
(18:28):
name?
If God lives up to his name andwe are fashioned in his image,
shouldn't I then live up tomine?
If we are fashioned in God'simage and he has a multitude of
names, how many do we possess?
(18:49):
Each of us has a given name.
A name we are known by.
Each of us have names that wehave voluntarily taken upon
ourselves, such as husband,parent Mason.
We have names that describe usby what we enjoy.
(19:12):
Reader, golfer, fisherman, wehave names that.
Delineate us by what we do,carpenter, lawyer, teacher, and
we have names that define us byhow we do genius.
(19:34):
Fool.
When someone calls us by ourname, who or what exactly is
being summoned forth?
The expectations and obligationsof David the drywaller are far
different from David, thehusband, or parent or friend,
(19:57):
and the manner in which Irespond to my name for good or
ill further defines what my nameis.
Am I a competent drywaller, anattentive husband, a loving
parent?
Faithful friend, when my namerolls off someone's tongue, what
(20:23):
taste does it leave behind?
If I am hoping to enjoy thehappy reflections, consequent of
a well spent life, I should payvery close attention to my name.
What's in a name?
(20:46):
Oddly enough, the bard answeredhis own question years later, an
Othello who said, oh, I havelost my reputation.
I have lost the immortal part ofmyself.
And what remains his best still?
(21:07):
Hmm.
I guess it doesn't smell assweet.
After all.
We, however, are fortunate tohave with us today an
illustrious example of how toavoid the fate of Othello.
I first met him at a lodge ofinstruction.
(21:29):
I was encouraged and buoyed upby his enthusiasm as he taught
me the proper way to tie a cabletoe.
I never would've passed mymonitors exam without his
support.
His guidance and assistance wasvery much needed and appreciated
as I aspired to the nameWorshipful Master.
(21:54):
The fruits of his fostering careare far too bountiful to be
enumerated here.
When I first met our GrandMaster Foster Solem, I thought
to myself, now there's a man wholives up to his name Foster, to
(22:21):
promote the growth ordevelopment of to advance to
back to champion.
To cultivate, to encourage, tofurther, to nurture, to serve.
(22:46):
We have experienced by theexcellent example provided by
our very own grand Master thatliving up to one's name is, as
Shakespeare said, twice blessed.
It blesses him who gives, and hewho takes, and that living up to
(23:09):
the name Grand Master is somehoweven greater than the title
itself.
Each of us have our own name, aname that is unique to us.
It is for each of us to decidewhat that name means and what,
(23:34):
if anything, we are to do aboutit.
And each of us have a name incommon, a name.
We share a name which unites usinto one sacred band or society
of friends and brothers.
(23:57):
Are you a mason?
What's in that name?
That's a question that can onlybe answered by you.
As for me, I only pray I amgiven wisdom and strength that I
(24:19):
might be allowed to add beauty.
Our name.
I ask this in his name, so B.
Thank you David Graham.
This has been another episode ofMinnesota Masonic Histories and
(24:42):
Mysteries.
Popular Podcasts
Boysober
Have you ever wondered what life might be like if you stopped worrying about being wanted, and focused on understanding what you actually want? That was the question Hope Woodard asked herself after a string of situationships inspired her to take a break from sex and dating. She went "boysober," a personal concept that sparked a global movement among women looking to prioritize themselves over men. Now, Hope is looking to expand the ways we explore our relationship to relationships. Taking a bold, unfiltered look into modern love, romance, and self-discovery, Boysober will dive into messy stories about dating, sex, love, friendship, and breaking generational patterns—all with humor, vulnerability, and a fresh perspective.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com