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[ The Third Millennium was welcomed in numerous different ways. M.W.Bro Savas
P. Vafiadis , Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Greece between 1995 to 2001, while
welcoming the new millennium has indicated the duties of Freemasons. His lofty
ideas can provide guidance to all of us. We are posting his message as his
guidance will be relevant even now. Please read on …]
Welcoming The Third Millennium.
Mankind has just entered the 21st century and passed to the 3rd millennium
A.D. As it is well known our ancestors, systematically researched Nature, since
more than 2.500 years. Moreover, the ancient Greek philosophers pioneered in
trying to find answers to the eternal question of our existence. Thus social,
physical and exact sciences processed by leaps and bounds, resulting into the
recent immense development of sciences and technology. The most impressive
advance was undoubtedly made in the last five hundred years in Europe and North
America, mainly during the 20th century, which is now waning. Social and
economic laws have been established to make people's lives more balanced and
safe. Biology and medicine achieved an average increase of life expectancy by
twenty years. Engineering and mechanical progress have made our everyday life
more pleasant and comfortable; they also facilitated immensely all kinds of
transport and accordingly, promoted largely the communications, giving the
opportunity to human beings to strengthen their relations among them.
However, the question is, can we be content and satisfied with all these
high attainments and further more can we feel confident about the future,
considering the present social, moral and natural situation in our globe?
The answer is that everything depends on all of us and on each man
separately, namely on our education, our culture and our willingness, to take an
active part in everything that occurs, every day, around us. It also depends on
our perception about the mankind as a fraternal unity, without selfishness,
prejudice and superstitions; and, what is also very important, it depends on our
perception of Nature as a superb and sensitive dwelling, which demands our
strong, perpetual and sincere interest and respect.
Nevertheless, we all know that the right of the stronger is unfortunately
still valid, that an illicit competition among great financial centers is in
progress - to the expense of the weaker -, the only aim of those centers being
the accumulation of wealth and power by any means.
Finally, we bear witness to a daily violation of Nature to the environment
and to the microcosm, to the benefit of some selfish groups who act unilaterally
and without consideration. On the other hand there are millions of men, women
and children who live in misery, poverty and continuous peril.
As Freemasons we must not be pessimistic. We also must not be indifferent to
the injustice and violence caused by despotism. On the contrary, we must be
sensitive to the misfortunes and to the adversities of mankind. Our solemn
promises oblige us to be alert, to work peacefully, to enlighten people, to
extend our fraternal bonds to all honest fellow-men and to assist them to their
needs.
We, Freemasons, by our own example, can and must influence favorably and
honestly our relatives, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, even the persons
that cause humanity trouble for their own benefit. We should also help, assist
and support mentally or materially, according to our possibilities, all
unfortunate people who are in need. We can and should, finally, inform and
convince anybody responsible of the severe danger we all risk by the thoughtless
intervention to Nature.
So, welcoming with optimism, confidence and realism the entrance of the first
year of a new century and the beginning of the 3rd Millennium, I cordially wish
all people health, effectiveness and prosperity. I, also, ask Freemasons to join
all together in a world-wide union chain and sincerely vow to contribute
steadily and actively to the moral, physical and intellectual progress of the
human Society, never forgetting to protect and preserve our natural environment,
which constitutes a small but magnificent part of the divine and immense
Universe.
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