United Grand Lodges of Serbia
"Two things fill the mind with ever-increasing wonder and awe, the more often and the more intensely the mind of thought is drawn to them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me."
— Immanuel Kant
When Socrates described an ideal way of life and an ideal society, Glaucon opposed him and said: “Socrates, I do not believe that such a Gods town exists anywhere on Earth”. Socrates replied: “It does not matter whether such a town exists in heaven or if it will ever exist on the earth, a wise man will, according to the ways of such a town, refusing anything to do with some other and in such a way he will bring order into his own house”.
Most Worshipful Grand Masters, Right Worshipful Grand Officers, Worshipful Masters, delegates to the Annual Grand Session of the UGLS, Dear Brothers in all grades and stations,
This privilege and honor to address you at the Annual Grand Session of the UGLS, I understand as a serious responsibility - to convey to you in words that moral and spiritual unity, which was, for centuries, the source of the strength and of the purpose of Freemasonry. The historical development of Freemasonry through the centuries as well as Freemasonry today, and perspectives for the future, show us clearly that our craft has a strong foundation on which we build our Masonic vision and apply the humanistic values in our societies.
The continuation of the Masonic ideals through the centuries based exclusively on the moral and humanistic principles of our Masonic teachings prove the accuracy of the old Latin expression "Historia magistra vita est". More than anything, this expression tells us that we should not understand the history as chronological chain of events but as the school of life, in which we get important lessons, particularly from those key moments in history that left strong marks on the development of our societes from the very begining of human civilization.
The historical development of the Masonic teachings and practice, prove, not just the validity of the principles of justice, freedom, truth, dignity, and tolerance, but also that these principles, through our masonic practice, can survive in all political and social circumstances. These moral principles are in the core of our inner personalities, and without them the survival of our societies would not be possible; or as Thomas Hobs tells us: " our social conditions would become a constant war of everybody againt everybody".
The birth and development of organized Freemasonry in Serbia, at the critical time in our history,in 1876. in very obvious way, prove the importance and validity of the moral values to which we, as Masons, subscribe. This is an opportunity to remind ourselves that Freemasonry started in Serbia, at the time when our country, unorganized and weak, surounded with world powers, was still in the process of liberation and in the constant fight for independence.
Sixty five years of growth of Freemasonry in Serbia, in very chalenging conditions, was folowed by fifty years of discontinuity, not only of Freemasonry and its principles, but also by the discontinuity of many other basic social values. But, Freemasonry didn't die, and as soon as the conditions have changed, its renewal started with vigor and optimism. The renewal of Freemasonry was initiated by good men and masons with a deep sense of moral values.Today, the very same men still work in the quaries of masonry transfering masonic principles and humanistic ideals to the new members, with the important message that the admition in the Brotherhood of Freemasons will not bring to a person the material benefits, but only the privelege and obligation to contribute to the best of his abilities for the betterment of men and to the common good. In that sense, the admition in the masonic fraternity represents the first moral test to the individual person, or in the words of the ritual, we are asked to subdo our passions and releive ourselves from all metalic substance (materialistic concepts).
The meaning of this short review of Freemasonry today, is to ask ourselves what is the purpose of our masonic work in this chalenging and contraversial times? In today's world we are overwhelmed with many problems: global economic crises, widening of the gap between rich and poor with many living on the brink of existance and loosing hope, religelous conflicts, and wars. How to transfer and implement our teachings and philosophy into everyday practical life.
In all truth, each historical epoch puts before Freemasons the very same question. The life of a Freemason is quite different than the life of any other profane person. Masonry doesn't stop in the lodge room, with ritual work. Everything we do in masonry has dual purpose - of strengthening our spirits, and chalenging our moral responsabilities. With this, Freemasonry becomes a part of our life outside of the lodge room, and a part of our life as a whole. Althought, it seems that today is harder to hold to the masonic principles then in the times past, we still have to come with the answers and solutions to the most pressing questions of the times in which we live. If we don't suceed in this endeavor, then our work, duty, and the social responsability as Freemasons, would not have a purpose.
The global crises of the "global village", which we face today, as many others in the times past, is at the same time political, economic, and social, but more then anything it is the crisis of the morality; rather to say –the main cause and the roots of the most crisis is always the lack of morality in the society on all levels. The events in the world, and particularly in Serbia, prove that society can not overcome political and economical problems, without moral recovery as the main condition for everything else. So, many would ask very cynical question" "What is the price of the morality?"
Any human being with the common and basic sense of morality would answer this question in the same way – the morality doesn't cost anything; actually it does not have a price or as somebody would say – it's price is not measurable. However, the materiale damage to the individual or society as a whole, caused by the lack of morality in any organized society, is very measurable, and could be expressed with the financial and economical parametres. As a metter of fact, modern political science has two categories that are defined in its theories as "the ethics of economy" and "the economy of ethics".
The nature and the character of Freemasonry, basic masonic principles, its history and tradition, the history of Freemasonry in the world and in Serbia; in one word – all of the masonic heritage left to us by those before us – puts a question in front of each Freemason every morning of every day: In this time of crises and big moral and social chalenges, what have I done yesterday, what am I going to do today and tomorrow for my own benefit, for the benefit of my fellow men and our society. In doing so, we have to understand that the sucess of our social mission can not come out only from our good works. The important thing is to make positive exemples that would ultimatle inspire and motivate people around us in the profane world.
We should remind ourselves of the words of our Saviour Jesus Christ at the last supper – the event which probably more than any other story from the New Testament symbolizes the idea of "serving to others".
When asked by one of the apostoles, who is the first among the equals, or rather which one of them will sit on the right side of Jesus at the Hevenly Throne, his answer was – the one who do the most and serve the most for the common good of all people. With this words, he left a moral message, not only to his apostoles, but to all of us. For as Freemasons, it represent a message that it is more important to use our creative energy, to the best of our abbilities, in serving others and for the common good of the society, and not for the aquiring of the personal material wealth or positions of power. It is only when we unselfishly use our energy and work for the common good, that we get the best results. We now that the prime condition for the individual to get to the personal freedom, dignity, happiness and fulfillment, is to live in the society where everybody has the same opportunity to get to those privileges.
This concept of moral advancement, built in the foundation of Freemasonry, and built, I hope, in the foundation of every good man, puts an obligation in front of us in this hard times of political, economic and social crises all over the world – that obligation is to be brave, strong, and commited in facing all of the chalenges and problems of society. – not to be afraid to speak up or act for the true cause, and not to shy away in front of the chalenges of any kind, for only by acting we can solve problems and help the advancement of humanity.
History teach us, that in the economicaly poor societies like Serbia, it is very hard to mantain the humain standards of living and of the social justice. Usually, the distribution of wealth only guaranties that the poor will get even poorer. As a citizens, and particularly as Freemasons, we can not close our eyes and ignore the obvious problems of the society like unimployment, social unjustice, corruption,poverty , and hopelessness of living for many. As a matter of fact, it is our duty to speak up and support all of the activities in order to find the sollution for a problems and to overcome them. We can not be happy and fulfiled individuals if we live in the society where we are surounded with poverty.
In conection with this, we can not ignore the fact that the poverty is not caused by the natural disasters.Contrary, poverty is the result of the economic injustice and of the greed of those who own and manage economic resources, who, somehow, failed to put ethical norms in their business strategical plans and programs. The level of the economical and technological development of any society is in direct proportion with the condition of business ethich and morality.
Our major duty, as Freemasons, is to put maximum of our efforts in the preservation and strengthening of the Masonic ideals with the most important purpose of the general advancement and betterment of our societies. I am convinced that all of us agree this to be the meaning and the purpose of our mission in all times and in all circumstances. Regardless of the strength of our moral principles and the readiness of each of us to work to the best of his abilities, in order to succeed, United Grand Lodges of Serbia have constantly to work on their growth in membership. The fulfillment of our mission on the national level will be better and faster if more of Brothers work at the quarries at the same time. Our weakened and poor homeland needs our assistance.
I believe that I share the opinion of all of my Brothers when I say that we are committed and have enough strength and readiness to complete our work, without which Freemasonry would not make any sense.
I often think, as many of us, of the day when I was initiated. That was, in many ways, the beginning of the new phase in my, and not only mine, life. As we all remember, before our admission, we were not asked about our religious and political beliefs, neither of our nationality, nor of anything else, that could be the source of discrimination or the cause of divisions among the people. In doing this, those Brothers admitting us, were expressing their respect of us as of a free men. However, I have to remind you: the very same principles we have to apply in the profane world. This is what we promised in our obligation – that we should accept people around us according to their moral and intellectual values, and not according to their status in the society, their political opinions or religious beliefs. The principle of the equality of men, as one of the major Masonic principles, reminds us that the contribution to the vision of our future is not the privilege of few, but the right and responsibility of everybody.
In speaking about our readiness and capabilities to do our mission in these complex times in which we live, it is necessary to point to the connection between our mission, our aims, our public activities, and our internal work. When we speak about solidarity, justice, truth, love for each other, we have to be aware that in doing our work, we constantly have to reexamine ourselves and our efforts with the tools of Freemasonry, because our Inner Temple and the Temple of Humanity could only be raised by the use of the right stones, on the angle of the square, on the level and by the plum. Without this, our building would not succeed.
Freemasonry is based on the universal principles and values, which are defined by the philosopher Emanuel Kant as "moral law" that is universal and timeless. According to Socrates, each human being has a center within, and the whole world is centered within man, because his conscience of himself is the center of his understanding of God. This is the very important part of our story of the Masonic morality.
Same way, the history of Freemasonry in Serbia, proves moral strength and importance of solidarity among Brothers and men. Without fraternal support from the Brothers of other Jurisdiction, this process of renewal would not be successful.
Only through the respect of the universal Masonic principles within our national organizations, we can join other masons around the world in our common goal – building the universal Temple of humanity. Within this context, we have to develop, reexamine, and hold to our internal laws, rituals, and regulations, whose main purpose is to build our discipline, responsibility and respect for each other. This is not possible without presence of the Three Great Lights of Freemasonry: Square, Compasses, and the Holy Bible, and without the firm belief in the Great Architect of the Universe. Only by applying these tools in applying the cement of our moral values, we can finish our Temple.
We cannot stop the building of our Temple. This is the essence of our belief in the Great Architect of the Universe. As Elias Levi says: "Everything done in the world will not make sense if the work on the Temple is not completed".
In hope that we will succeed in our endeavor, that we will have enough wisdom to accept all Divine blessings in the renewal and advancement of humanity, I wish all the best to You and Your families,
In addition, I wish UGLS lots of success in further advancement of Freemasonry in Serbia, for our own benefit and for the benefit of the Serbian society.
God Bless You,
So Mote it be,
M.W. Grand Master of the UGLS
Bro∴ Vladimir S. Markovic