Some of you may still be in lockdown but hopefully it won’t be long before you are able to return to some semblance of normality. However, for many people, the easing of restrictions – although welcome in most respects –  is causing some (understandable) anxiety.

We have been, and will continue to be, in unchartered territory for the foreseeable future – the situation has forced unprecedented change upon us and no doubt affected our mental and physical health.

We will need to be kinder, more compassionate, and perhaps less materialistic as we move forwards again in a precarious world.

So, how has it been for you all?  At the turn of the year, when we all thought the ‘twenties’ would be a new era, little did we know what kind of era! Lives turned upside down, for some the devastating loss of family, friends and brethren, and then global financial and personal uncertainty.

Life in general has become unpredictable, we are having to quickly learn how to adapt and survive. Maybe now is a good time to take stock of our values and how we are implementing them and how can we best take forward the lessons learnt from our time in the shadow of the pandemic.

Have the lessons learnt during your Masonic advancement helped you with regard to the struggles we are facing?

Has the third degree’s wisdom stood you in good stead with the existential threat to our mortality and way of life?

How has your lodge risen to the challenges you and your community are experiencing? How do you think things will change going forwards?

Let us know how you and/or you lodge have risen to the challenges experienced during the pandemic – editor@thesquaremagazine.com

One universal good that has emerged during our confinement to barracks, is the surge in ‘virtual lodges’ and the abundance of Masonic talks and lectures.

The Internet is not always a force for good, but in this instance it has certainly been a positive platform to allow us all to remain connected with loved ones, our work and social lives – up to a point.

Video calls and conferences have come a long way in terms of sound and vision, but it’s still not the same as being in a physical room with our family or friends.

Many members of the Craft live alone and perhaps aren’t computer savvy, so there is the danger that they have been excluded from much-needed social contact – hopefully lodge almoners and members have responded to this need, and at the very least some regular phone contact has been possible and maintained.

For those who have been online but may have missed the ever-growing list of Masonic-related podcasts, recorded lectures and talks, we have provided a guide with links to some of our favourites, which include those from: Masons of California, Open Lectures on Freemasonry, The Grand Lodge of Georgia and Universal Co-Masonry

Get all the up-to-date news, hot topics, in-depth talks, and lectures by prominent authors and presenters.

If we’ve missed something out, you’ve got something to share, you have a topic you’d like us to feature, or maybe an article to submit – we’d love to hear from you, just drop us a line – editor@thesquaremagazine.com

Until next time, stay safe and well.

All the best,

Editor