Worshipful Roni Zulu Installation Address
December 13, 2008This evening’s honor is much more about you, my brothers, and less about me.
It is every one of you who has contributed to the lessons which I have learned that have brought me to the place where I now stand before you.
It truly is all of you who should be recognized this night; for any good deeds I have done in this lodge are a reflection of your teachings.
As Master of this lodge it is now time for me to pass along those valuable lessons you have taught me to the current and next generation of Masons.
As your leader, it is I who will follow…All the rules and regulations of Freemasonry.
As your teacher, it is I who will be the student…ever willing to learn.
As your Master, it is I who will serve…all of you.
But most importantly…
If you were to remove my apron, my top hat, my jewel, my gavel or divest me of any further Masonic paraphernalia…
As a mason, it is I who will always be your brother.
This year I have decided to emulate a Grand Lodge tradition by issuing a lapel pin.
A variation of this design can be seen on the cover of tonight’s program.
It reads: North Hollywood Lodge # 542, UNITED, Brotherly Love, Relief, Truth.
The illustration on this pin depicts two men of differing color shaking hands.
One of these men may be black and the other white.
One man may be Mexican and the other Armenian.
Their differences may extend that of physical appearance.
One of these men may be Christian and the other Muslim.
We may never truly know the ethnic or religious backgrounds of the two men depicted on this pin.
But, the one thing that we are absolutely and positively sure of is that these men are Masons who consider themselves brothers.
They are men who have devoted their very lives to insuring that their homes, their neighborhoods, their communities and their world is a place where love is the unwavering law of the land.
They are men who do not tolerate injustices of race, creed or color and who rectify these injustices not by force, but by education.
My theme this year is a simple one, yet poignant…UNITED.
It is inscribed on this pin under the two brothers embraced in good fellowship.
“Unite” defined is to cause to be in a state of mutual sympathy, or to have a common opinion or attitude; to join, combine, or incorporate so as to form a single whole or unit.
I am happy to say that this is already the case concerning the members this lodge.
We will now and henceforth insure that the community we live in; our schools, churches, hospitals, child and senior care centers and any other aspect of community service and learning institutions reflect that which has been inculcated in this very lodge room that you all now occupy.
These men live their lives UNITED by the tenants inscribed on this pin; Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.
I am very proud to say that the two men on this pin represent the Brethren of North Hollywood Lodge #542 and it is fitting that they wear it as a badge that they have so graciously and humbly earned.
Allow me to read to you my mission statement that each wearer of this pin will live by.
We, the brethren of North Hollywood Lodge #542, in order to contribute to and maintain a positive community, pledge to provide its members the means for a strong and viable leadership within the framework of peace, harmony and good will.
To embrace the diversity of religious, ethnic and cultural differences.
To raise the moral, social, intellectual, and spiritual conscience of society by teaching the ancient and enduring philosophical tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth and insure that these tenets preserve the reverence and respect of our elders and are passed down to our youth; preparing the future generations for the world they must build.
What is a “mission statement’?
Webster’s definition of the word mission is as follows…
A group or committee of persons sent to a foreign country to conduct negotiations, establish relations, provide scientific and technical assistance, or the like.
By definition we shall do just this...
We will venture into the foreign or unknown areas of our community to conduct negotiations where we may find unresolved differences, discord or unrest and restore peace, unity and understanding.
We will establish relationships that will bring its inhabitants together working as a whole unit…one dependant on…as well as uplifting the other.
And we will provide assistance in any way our means will allow to maintain a healthy and happy community of friends and family.
At the past Grand Lodge communications we had the privilege of listening to an uplifting and highly motivational address from our Most Worshipful Grand Master Larry Adamson.
He spoke of applied Masonry and informed us that he would only accept his office if we were willing to roll up our sleeves and get to work.
He’s thrown down the gauntlet and I have accepted his challenge and will now pass it on to this lodge.
I have some questions to put before the room…
Do we know the names of and the addresses of the public schools in North Hollywood?
Do we know the names of and how to contact their principals and leaders?
Do we know the location of the police or fire departments or the names of the leaders of these civil servants in North Hollywood?
Are we aware of the locations of the churches and spiritual leaders in North Hollywood?
Do we stay in contact and communicate our wanting to serve the afore mentioned bodies?
If this building were to burn to the ground…would the community of North Hollywood grieve and suffer in missing our community service to them?
If we can answer “NO” to any of these questions then we have a lot of work to do.
In 2009 the city of North Hollywood will come to love, cherish and even depend on the leadership and philanthropy that this lodge has to offer.
We will form committees devoted to communicating with and assisting our widows and elderly.
We will have lodge functions directed at involving more of our wives and children, for they are as much a part of this lodge as the body of brethren.
Our lodge cannot be an island…in order to maintain the body of Freemasonry as a whole we will visit other lodges in our area to support and fellowship with them in order to strengthen our network of Masons.
We will be in contact with our troops overseas by sending them letters, care packages or some sort of support letting them know of our gratitude for their service.
We will offer our volunteer service at the Downtown Mission to help those who have nowhere else to turn to and are desperately trying to help themselves.
We will reach out to the DeMolay, Jobs Daughters, Rainbow for Girls and other youth groups who are looking to use for guidance.
It will be my job to assist you in rising to the incredible potential I see in each and every one of you.
Yes…I will ask a great deal of you in 2009.
It is only because I know, from experience of working beside you, that you are all great men, hard working men and brothers that I know have abilities far above the average person.
And though I ask these tremendous labors of love, your time, your dedication, and your knowledge…I will never ask of you that which I would not do at your side.
One of my membership concerns in 2009 will not be how many masons we raise…but, how we raise our masons.
Masonic education among our new members is an essential part of their development.
We will assign mentors to the new brethren and assure they are well cared for in their quest for knowledge.
The other is; although I am excited about our fraternities growth with new members; not to be so enthralled with attracting new members that we lose sight of bringing those back to the fold who are already our brothers who we have somehow lost.
For in the parable of the prodigal son we read…Luke chapter 15 verse 32…
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Let us find and reach out to those brothers who have…maybe not received a phone call from us asking how are you doing, or a change in his work hours, or possibly his fear of embarrassment because he cannot afford his dues…
For whatever the reason for his absence we will assure him that he is missed and we anxiously await his return.
And though my office deems me as your leader; my concern will be that all of us functioning as a team.
For Henry Ford, a great mason, once said…
Coming together is a beginning.
Keeping together is progress.
Working together is Success.
Most of you know that my occupation is in the field of body art; in particular tattooing.
Many of you in this very room are wearing tattoos I have done…don’t worry…I’ve taken a solemn oath to keep your secrets as my own J
My motto as a tattoo artist is never to put something on you, yet, bring something out of you.
For instance…
When I tattoo a square & compass on a brother Master Mason I do not consider that I have put something on him.
What I have done is illustrated that goodness which was already within him and brought it to the surface as art and it is now a permanent and daily reminder for him to live up to the obligations of a Freemason.
Metaphorically, we, the Brethren of North Hollywood Lodge #542 will do the same with the men we take into our fold this year.
We will reach deep within the hearts of every man we obligate and bring his goodness to the surface and teach him how to be a better man.
It will be just as obvious as the mark on my face, that every member of this lodge wears a spiritual mark.
A mark of service.
A mark of excellence.
A mark that answers to a higher being.
A mark that once taken can never be removed.
A mark that may not be seen by the human eye, but that is very visible to every human heart.
For you see; every Mason’s heart in this room has been tattooed by the Great Architect of the Universe and it reads in big bold capital letters…Brotherly Love, Relief & Truth.
In closing I would like to make a prediction that will definitely come to pass…
When I am old and grey…
Your children, your grandchildren, friends, family and even you…
Will grow tired of Old Man Zulu constantly pulling you aside and saying…
“Sit down here next to me…and let me tell you of the awesome year I had severing as Master of North Hollywood Lodge # 542.”
Thank You,
Zulu, Worshipful Master