Weekly Masonic Reflection Letter: Sep 24th, 2026.

“Fix your own major faults, the beam that is in your own eye, before you try to correct the minor faults, the mote that is in your brother’s eye.”

Dear Brethren, as we enter into the Temple for the first time, at the beginning of our Masonic journey, we encounter the rough ashlar, symbolizing the state in which we all come to Freemasonry. But its lesson does not remain behind when we advance through the degrees. However much knowledge, experience, or responsibility we acquire, there are always corners of the self that remain unworked. To recognize this is not to diminish our progress, but to understand the true nature of Masonic labor or self-examination.

The roughness of our stone is found wherever prejudice escapes examination, pride resists correction, passion overrules judgment, or certainty leaves no room for sincere inquiry. Our working tools therefore remain useful long after we first receive them: reason tests our assumptions, conscience measures our conduct, and discipline removes what prevents greater freedom of thought and action. The Master Mason is not the finished stone, but the Mason who has learned that refinement must remain a conscious and continuing work.

And we shape ourselves because a better-worked stone should fit more harmoniously into the human edifice, more capable of listening across differences, practicing equality without demanding uniformity, offering fraternity without condition, and placing service above recognition and awards. The rough ashlar reminds us that the Temple we hope to build in the world begins with the quiet courage to keep working upon ourselves.

Fraternally, VM Valdeir, Chief Editor of the Weekly Masonic Letter.
Signed in spirit and truth.