Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brethren, Ladies and Guests, good evening.

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…

OUR FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

“Our” fountain of youth, as you might have guessed is made up of young ladies who are members of the many Bethels in the Order of Job’s Daughters and the young men who are members in the various Chapters of the Order of DeMolay, all who are sponsored by our Fraternity. They may be members of our immediate families, they might be our nieces and nephews, and they could be our grandchildren all of which combine to form part of this great organization called our Masonic Family. “Our fountain of youth” can also be construed as “our foundation of youth” because they are the building blocks for the future of this Fraternity. These young people are the builders of today, the leaders of tomorrow and the key to the success of this Nation.

Because the subject of this oration is about our youth I would like to start with a quote. Art Linkletter said, “Kids say the darnedest things!” and this quote can be exemplified here:

The math teacher saw that little Johnny wasn’t paying attention in class. She called on him and said, “Johnny! What are 4, 2, 28 and 44?” Little Johnny quickly replied, “NBC, CBS, HBO, and the Cartoon Network!”

They do at times seem to be in their own little world.

Finding one of her students making horrid faces at others on the playground, Mrs. Smith stopped to gently reprove the child. Smiling sweetly, the teacher said, “Bobby, when I was a child, I was told that if I made ugly faces, it would freeze and I would stay like that.” Bobby looked up and replied, “Well, Mrs. Smith, you can’t say you weren’t warned.”

Why do kids say the darnedest things? Being youthful in thought is why, the inhibitions of youth – the honesty of youth – the imagination of youth provide the keys. Inhibition, honesty and imagination are three elements that unlock the abilities for children to think, to learn and to grow.

Someone once said, “Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn’t have said.” They also said, “Children are natural mimics who act like their parents despite every effort to teach them good manners.”

It seems like the older we get the more distance there is between youthfulness and maturity. Maybe that’s why the “mature” mind is often closed to free thinking, closed to the open exchange of differing opinions and closed to new ideas – we become comfortable with the status quo.

It was Friedrich Nietzsche who said, “We must remain as close to the flowers, the grass, and the butterflies as the child is who is not yet so much taller than they are. We adults, on the other hand, have outgrown them and have to lower ourselves to stoop down to them. It seems to me that the grass hates us when we confess our love for It.—whoever would partake of all good things must understand how to be small at times.”

How do we begin to understand? Do we need to become more childlike in ways that open our minds to the youthful characteristics of inhibition, honesty and imagination?

Maybe we divest our minds and consciences off all the vices and superfluities of life?

And possibly, as all have done who have gone this way before, we divest ourselves of all those worldly distinctions and equipments that are not in keeping with the humble, reverent and childlike attitude it is now our duty to assume?

If we do this, maybe we can; as Nietzsche stated, “partake of all good things”.

Four-hundred years before Christ, Socrates said, “Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parent, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers.” This is neither an old problem nor a new problem. Recently it was Red Buttons who said, “Never raise your hands to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected.” Will these attitudes ever change? Will these values ever differ?

Someone once said, “Adolescence is a period of rapid changes. Between the ages of 12 and 17, for example, a parent ages as much as 20 years.”

These attitudes will and have changed because of the diligent, caring and steadfast labor that is instilled by the Moms and Dads – the guardians of the two organizations I mentioned above. It is the Job’s Daughters and the DeMolay Orders that contribute in building our foundation of youth. They teach, nurture and protect our young.

Our foundation of youth is built by teaching our young people the values of living a moral and upright life. They learn the skills in which to lead successful, happy and productive careers. They build confidence through public speaking, memorization and ritual work. Leadership principles and personal responsibility is instilled; and respect for all people and cultures are stressed.

Our foundation of youth is erected by nurturing our youth through love, tolerance and the strong bonds of lasting friendships. Through helping others, charity and community service the joy of giving is experienced.

Our foundation of youth is constructed by providing a safe and secure atmosphere to learn and grow as young adults. By fulfilling the duty of protecting our youth against the pressures of today’s world and the negative influences in today’s society our future is well secured.

When they are in our company, we must all be responsible at all times for the welfare, safety and protection of our youth. We must insure that the “All seeing eye” of the Fraternity is watching over all who are placed in our care.

“In order to help our youth organizations construct a solid foundation; we as individuals, as members of this Fraternity, and as part of the Masonic Family must become involved by submerging ourselves into the well from which the water of “our” fountain of youth flows. By becoming involved we calm the rough water of adolescent growth – we blend the troubled water of change with the tranquil water of certainty – we clarify the murky water of insecurity with the pure water of confidence. There are stones of ignorance, indifference and intolerance that are causing ripples within the pool of Fraternity; they threaten the survival, growth and longevity of our Institution. We must teach, nurture and protect.”

All of us have a stake in the actions, values and character of our youth today. Our Society desperately needs it – our communities cry out for it – our fraternity demands it.

Kids may say the darnedest things but they also speak volumes on their need for positive influences in their lives.

And remember, “Whoever would partake of all good things must understand how to be small at times.”

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your evening.

Frank C. Baker, Worshipful Grand Orator – © 01 April 2006