The Vital Role of Knowledgeable Brothers: Mentors, Examples, and Challenges to Surpass

By W. John Barling – Secretary of Hyde Park Lodge 370

In every lodge, there are Brothers whose presence alone brings a sense of steadiness and legacy. These are the men who carry with them not only years of experience but a depth of knowledge and wisdom that cannot be replicated by books or lectures. They are the mentors, the examples, and in the healthiest of ways, the obstacles that rising Brothers must strive to surpass. Their role is not only valuable; it is essential to the health, strength, and longevity of our Craft.

The Mentor: Guiding the New and the Curious

Mentorship is a sacred duty in Freemasonry. When a new Brother is initiated, he enters a world of symbols, allegory, and moral teachings that can seem overwhelming at first. The wise Brother steps in not just to teach ritual or history but to interpret, to contextualize, and to walk beside the initiate as he begins his journey of self-discovery and moral refinement.

This passing down of light ensures that Freemasonry is not a static tradition but a living one, carried forward through the relationships we form and the guidance we offer. Without mentors, the chain breaks. Without mentors, ritual becomes routine and meaning fades.

The Example: Living Masonry Beyond the Lodge Room

Knowledgeable Brothers are more than instructors. They are living examples of what Freemasonry can produce in a man. Their consistency, their presence at meetings, their charitable works, and the way they carry themselves in the world are sermons in action. They show younger Brothers that the lessons of the Craft are not meant to stay confined to tiled meetings but are to be applied in our families, careers, and communities.

When a Brother lives out the principles of the Craft with integrity, courage, and compassion, he sets a bar for others to aim for. Not just in ritual, but in life.

The Obstacle: A Goal to Surpass

This idea may be less comfortable, but it is just as important. The most inspiring mentors are not only those who offer support but also those who challenge. Just as an apprentice learns by working under a master craftsman, part of the Masonic journey involves being tested. We are tested by standards, by expectations, and yes, by the accomplishments of those who came before us.

The knowledgeable Brother, by the very height of his example, becomes a kind of obstacle. Not to hinder, but to encourage growth. This is not about competition or ego. It is about aspiration. We honor our mentors best when we stand on their shoulders, reach higher, and contribute something meaningful to the future of the Craft.

Why It Matters

The longevity of Freemasonry depends not on buildings or bank accounts but on brotherhood. Brotherhood that is living, active, and generationally connected. A lodge without mentors becomes lost in formality. A lodge without examples becomes disoriented in purpose. And a lodge without standards to strive for becomes complacent, and eventually, irrelevant.

Every Brother, in time, must become a mentor. Every experienced Mason must see himself as a steward of the future. The torch must be passed not only with words but with actions, and with the challenge: Take this further than I did.

In that spirit, we preserve the Craft. In that spirit, we build something that will endure.

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Reflections on My Masonic Journey

Freemasonry, at its best, is not a solitary path. It is a journey we take side by side with men of character, wisdom, kindness, and strength. Our ritual teaches us to pursue light, but it is often the light we find in one another that shapes us most profoundly.

In every Brother I’ve met, I’ve seen something meaningful. An ideal to strive for, a helping hand, or a mirror reflecting my own potential. As we face the future together, I want to reflect on the Brothers who have had a lasting impact on my Masonic journey. These are men who have challenged, mentored, befriended, and inspired me. Their roles may differ, but their influence is the same. They helped shape the Mason I am today and the one I hope to become.

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Obstacles Who Inspire

Some Brothers don’t just guide. They push you to grow. Their standard is so high, their excellence so clear, that you find yourself striving to reach them and perhaps one day, to surpass them. Not for pride, but for growth.

• RW. Brother Tony Chavez
• MW. Brother Richard Lynn
• RW. Brother Rob Estell

These Brothers became my benchmarks. The obstacles I work to overcome in the healthiest sense. They lead with mastery, purpose, and unwavering commitment. Their presence pushes me to be a better Mason every single day.

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True Masonic Friendship

If the obstacles refine our standards, then our friendships soften our hearts. These Brothers welcomed me with open arms. They encouraged me, looked after me, and made me feel like I belonged from day one.

• W. Brother Ray Symonds
• RH. Brother Larry Rogers

Ray and Larry have been like godfathers to me. Not just mentors, but family. I have immense respect, admiration, and love for them. And I know that love is mutual. The bond we share is what all Masons hope to find in this fraternity. I was blessed to find it twice.

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Steady Hands Guiding the Present

These Brothers are the steady hands. Their leadership is not just remembered. It is felt in the present. They are still active, still working, still guiding.

• RW. Brother Robert Martinez
• RH. Brother Coley Bagocius
• W. Brother Lynnwood Thomas
• RH. Brother James Vick

These men have already left their mark on our district, but their influence hasn’t slowed. In the face of change, their consistency has helped keep our lodges stable and inspired. Their leadership is both grounding and forward-looking. They are building today and guiding tomorrow.

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Hope for the Future

I see so much hope in the next generation of Masons. These Brothers have only been raised for a short time, but their heart, energy, and commitment to the Craft give me great confidence in what’s ahead.

• Brother Jonathan Greene
• Brother Ian Bozeman
• Brother Chase Taylor
• Brother Luis Vargas

They’ve already contributed deeply to their Lodges and our district. Their excitement is real and matched by action. Their potential is endless. To call them my Brothers and friends is a blessing I hold dear. Knowing they will carry the torch forward fills me with peace and pride.

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A Final Word

Let me say this plainly. This list is far from complete.

If I mentioned every Brother who has helped, inspired, guided, corrected, or just there for me, this would be longer than a full York Rite festival weekend. So many men have walked this journey with me, and their influence lives in me daily.

But for now, I’ve chosen to highlight just a few whose impact has been especially pivotal. If you see yourself in these words, thank you. If I didn’t mention your name, please know that your presence is still felt and deeply appreciated.

This fraternity is a brotherhood. In that brotherhood, we build one another. Generation by generation. Degree by degree. May each of us strive to be an obstacle worth overcoming, a friend worth leaning on, a steady hand in times of change, and a beacon of hope for the next Mason to rise.

I hope to be that worthy obstacle for the next generation to surpass. And when they do, I will look upon them with pride, knowing I played a small part in their growth.

And when the Supreme Architect of the Universe, our Lord God in Heaven and my personal Lord and Savior calls me to pass through the valley of the shadow of death, I will stand before my uncle, my grandfather, and the other Masons in my family who have gone before me. I will be able to say with a full heart: I have been a good and faithful servant to the Craft.

So mote it be.