06/14/2026
Brother George Washington left us many lessons, but this one has a way of settling into a man’s thoughts: “Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.”
His words remind us that the people we choose to walk beside shape the kind of men we become. In our Lodges and in our daily lives, we grow stronger when we surround ourselves with those who strive to live uprightly. Their example steadies us, sharpens us, and encourages us to hold fast to the values we claim to uphold.
Washington was not only warning us to avoid poor influences. He was urging us to rise to a standard worthy of good company. Each of us should aim to be the kind of man whose presence brings calm, clarity, and trust. When we stand alone, we have the chance to examine our own character. When we stand with others, we reveal it.
May we continue to seek companions who lift us higher, and may we work to be that kind of companion in return.
