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Members of the Bainbridge Rotary club gathered at the Kirbo Center for their weekly meeting on Tuesday. The speaker for the day was Jason Sawyer, a member of the Masonic Lodge, who gave the club an overview of the organization’s origins, ideals and activities.

According to Sawyer, Freemasonry traces its origins back to European stone mason guilds, eventually transitioning to fraternal organizations not exclusively centered around stone masonry, from “operative” masons to “speculative” masons.

Sawyer described the guiding principles members are expected to display, including integrity, friendship, respect, and charity. Members are not supposed to discuss matters of politics or religion during meetings so as to not divide people; during the application process too become a Mason member, a person deemed to not have good integrity can be disqualified from joining; and charity work, including organizations like the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, are a big part of the organization. Sawyer also emphasized the brotherly bond the organization fosters, saying, “Although there are many titles a man can carry throughout his lifetime of masonry, there is no title that is more regarded than that of a brother. That is a bond that is indescribable… It is truly family in that regard.”

He further discussed the history of the Masons, their symbolism and hierarchy, and went into more detail about their charitable activities. Sawyer concluded the presentation by taking questions from the audience.