Becoming a Master Mason was something I never thought I would do.  I never knew any Masons or even thought I would ever meet a Mason…so for me, becoming a Master Mason was
impossible. 

Now that I’ve started the ‘impossible’ journey of a Master Mason, I find it even more difficult, challenging and frustrating than was the improbability of taking those first steps to become a Master Mason. I remain thankful I did so as the rewards, while intangible in most cases, are always present and always appreciated. 

Though I have now been elected Worshipful Master of Florence Lodge #281, I am even more confident than ever before, “It is impossible to become a Master Mason”.  That being said, however,  I have found through Masonry what is ‘not impossible’ is to strive for, work towards and commit oneself to the tasks of betterment, charity, perseverance, faith, hope, knowledge and humility. The pursuit of these goals and others can only benefit
the world as a whole, as well as those persons around us.  This process is what it means to me to work at becoming a Master Mason…While we Masons will never truly be ‘masters’ in my
estimation…we certainly will always persist in reaching towards this attainment by our actions and thoughts, and in my opinion, this means more than the actual achievement itself.  SMIB.

~R. Tomonelli
Worshipful Master
Florence Lodge (2020)