2006 Grand Orator - Frank C Baker

ORATIONS

"Cementing Our Foundations" - There's an old saying that many Roman orators used before making a speech. "There is a time when nothing must be said and a time when something must be said - but never a time when everything must be said." Therefore, tonight I promise not to pack 'everything' into my speech. Instead, I will limit my remarks to three key points of Blue Lodge Masonry...Read The Complete Oration

"Mason Time" - In the last 24 hours - on average - you ate over three pounds of food, including this delicious meal. You drank nearly three quarts of water. You inhaled 438 cubic feet of air. You lost nearly a pound of waste. You spoke 25,000 words and moved 750 different muscles. You breathed more than 20,000 times. Your heart beat more than 100,000 beats. You exercised 7 million brain cells. Your blood traveled 168 million miles. With all that work you did, I hope you will have enough energy to bear with me as I discuss...Read The Complete Oration

"Apathy, Complacency and Other Dirty Words" - I quote George Carlin, "Scientists announced today that they have discovered a cure for apathy. However, they claim no one has shown the slightest interest in it." I hope I will hold your interest in this oration which is titled...Read The Complete Oration

"The Acts of Patriotism" - When Japanese Prime Minister Nakasone visited President Reagan during his administration, he asked for the auto import restriction to be rescinded, saying "We've had a rougher time of it: consider Hiroshima." The Gipper asked, "What has that got to do with it?" "Well, we've never destroyed one of your cities," replied Nakasone. Quickly Reagan cut in: "What about Detroit?" Well, I hope I don't destroy your attention when I talk about...Read The Complete Oration

"Our Foundation of Youth" - A man walking down the street passes a house and notices a child trying to reach the doorbell. No matter how much the little guy stretches, he can't make it. The man calls out, "Say there, let me get that for you," and he bounds onto the porch and rings the bell. "Thanks, mister," says the kid. "Now let's run!" Well, I hope you won't feel like running away when I talk about...Read The Complete Oration

"Taking Latitude With Attitude" - "Our perception of people, of places, of things at any moment in time is based on the attitude we have chosen for that instant in time." Perception is based on attitude. Positive and negative, optimism and pessimism, love and hate, good and bad are opposite words and emotions that influence us in all relationships - in all circumstances - in all situations...Read The Complete Oration

"Preserving Our Traditions" - In order to preserve our traditions we must first understand what tradition is. The dictionary describes tradition as, "an inherited, established or customary pattern of thought, action or behavior or the handing down of information, beliefs and customs by word of mouth or by example."...Read The Complete Oration

"The Rough Ashlers of Mediocrity" - When we are satisfied with ordinary performance - when we are happy with moderate quality - when a so-so attitude is acceptable; we become the unintentional instruments of second best, second class and second place. ...Read The Complete Oration

"What We Have Here is a Failure to Communicate" - When we communicate with others we do so in many different ways and through many different mediums such as speech and writing, body language and gestures, facial expression and eye movement all the while utilizing our senses and emotions...Read The Complete Oration

Freedom and Fraternity - I was going to start out by cracking a joke or quote a funny aphorism or maybe even tell a hilarious story until I realized that it is only three days before the fifth anniversary of that terrible event - 911; then all of the fun and the smiles and the jokes seemed meaningless, out of place and just inappropriate...Read The Complete Oration

"Southern Comfort" - What do the words Southern Comfort mean to you? Does it portray the feeling of that laid back attitude and slow sophisticated drawl that is common in the South? Could they possibly refer to that sweet intoxicating liquor you mix with your favorite beverage and imbibe while toasting in jovial libation?...Read The Complete Oration

Winning - The Real "National Treasure" - I was scanning the news on the web the other day when this story caught my eye: The Headline read: Gorbachev: 'Americans Have a Severe Disease'. Curious, I read on: '15 Years After Being Deposed From Power, Former Leader Discusses Russia, U. S.' The interview took place this summer in Saint Petersburg, Russia on July 12th 2006 during a meeting between world leaders and the President of the United States and as the relationship between the United States and Russia became strained by the criticizing of a democracy reversal in Russia...Read The Complete Oration

Grand Lodge Oration January 27, 2007 - Before I begin my address, I would like to thank Most Worshipful Grand Master, James D. Woodward for appointing me to the office of Grand Orator. This year has been a very fulfilling, enlightening and rewarding experience, thus enabling me to have the opportunity to freely express my thoughts in twelve orations. Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't thank my dear wife Carole who has so graciously and patiently acted as my sounding board throughout this journey....Read The Complete Oration