Thoughts from the East

Brethren,

Something occurred to me as I was listening to an EA Proficiency this past week. The candidate was an excellent young man who will do our Fraternity proud. The EA Proficiency takes a while to go through and he did a great job of it. I thought to myself how fortunate we are to be Freemasons, who have it built into our ritual an automatic defense against today’s tendency toward the thirty second snippet or sound bite. What I mean is that Freemasonry cannot be easily summarized or contained within a few simple sentences. The First Degree Proficiency is an excellent example of this, demanding a continuous effort over many minutes as well as a good understanding of the underlying philosophy of that degree. Personally, I just started reading the first volume of Mackey’s History of Freemasonry, and I can say beyond any doubt that our history is filled to the brim with men who were able to carry a train of thought to great length and depth. We owe it to them and to the future of our fraternity to continue that endeavor.

In current events at our Lodge, we owe thanks to Brother Jake Yoder for his serious trimming of the bushes in front of our building. Once we get into warmer weather, it is my intention to add a few touches to that side of our building to increase our curb appeal and make people who pass by look twice at their local Masonic Temple. On a less positive note, we were unable to get a final decision in time for our February meeting from our insurance company regarding any assistance in stemming the settling of the lobby wall. By our April stated meeting, we will definitely have that information. At that time we need to make the best possible decision on how to proceed.

We have a Master Mason degree on March 3rdat 6:30 PM, which is an exciting event and brings me back to talking about Lodge ritual. I want to encourage all members, not least my own officers, to turn in ritual sections throughout the year. Several of us have already elevated our ritual proficiency this year, and making it official by getting a Section Card for our effort makes it even nicer. I firmly believe that this is an important way of keeping Masonry alive and vibrant. In fact, it is my personal intention to turn in all thirteen sections required for a full Section Card by the end of the year. Now, I will need some assistance with the three lectures, but it doesn’t hurt to aim high!

Our Lodge is dark in March due to Grand Lodge being in session, but we still have practice the 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 6:30 PM. Looking forward, we have the first of three Fellowship Nights this year on April 29th. Also mark your calendars for Saturday June 26th which is our District 11 Table Lodge, held at Sacramento Lodge. Our most distinguished guest will be the Grand Master of Masons in New Mexico.

It’s a great year to be a Mason. I will have a couple of petitions for our next stated meeting, and I encourage everyone to be on the lookout for potential candidates. We know our Lodge depends on it. We build our future one new mason at a time, so let’s not wait!.

Fraternally,

Jorgen Hallbeck, Master.

as of February 24, 2010

Beauty from the South

Brethren,

I want to apologize for missing the deadline for last months newsletter. Hopefully I will do better from now on and keep you informed on some thoughts and happenings from and around the lodge.

A few weeks ago I, along with brothers from around the state, had the opportunity to attend an outstanding conference in Las Cruces at the Scottish Rite Temple for Lodge officers and others who wanted to attend and learn what we need to do to help our lodges prosper and encourage new and old members to continue their education about Masonry.

The session was only one day but the topics presented were all very near and dear to our hearts.

I felt some were more pressing than others but all were of equal importance and both new and established members alike would benefit from the information we were given.

Presenters covered topics of Leadership and Education, Duties and Responsibilities of Lodge Officers, Planning (short and long range), the Monitor and its uses, Mentorship for new members and finally Masonic Charities.

Each presenter had from just a few minutes to over an hour for the subject matter he was to discuss and I felt everyone gave an outstanding presentation throughout the day.

There are to many areas to cover in this edition of the newsletter but I would like to touch on some areas that made the most impression on me.

Most Worshipful Shem Peachey talked on the importance of Leadership and Education. This area is in a lot of ways the foundation of our day to day operation of the fraternity. When someone asks a question about Masonry it is very important for us to be consistent in our answers and present it in a manner that is clear and not confusing to those outside our fraternity. We, as officers of the lodges, should be ready and willing to help out where and when needed and above all else present united support to the Master and his agenda.

He spent some time discussing the importance of the lodge officers needing exposure to the Grand Lodge long range plans. We should make it a point to know what the Grand Lodge long range plans are and how we can help make them a reality. Work within our lodges and make it a point to establish our own long range plans. He stressed the importance to all of us to take a personal interest in our candidates.

In his closing remarks he stressed that we should make it a point to post what is happening in our lodges and what we are doing for the community, in the local newspaper. Show the community that we are here and what we are doing. Publicize our meetings, degree work and in general let the non members in our communities know who we are and what we are doing for our communities.

Before closing this article I would like to reflect on one of the handouts given at the conference.

It gave a lot of information about the number of lodges and the charities that are supported by the Lodges and the Grand Lodge of new Mexico.

The Grand Lodge of New Mexico was established in 1851 and there are 62 lodges in New Mexico. Associated with the Blue Lodges are the Scottish Rite, York Rite and Shriners. Attached to these bodies are the Eastern Star and Amaranth. Even though the Amaranth was not mentioned in the handout they too are to be commended for all they do and their involvement in the Diabetes Foundation.

Attached to these organizations we must include the organizations offered to our youth. They are the Demolay, Rainbow for Girls and Job’s Daughters.

Each and every one of these organizations, in some way, support local and national charities to the tune of millions of dollars every year.

We, as Masons and members of these organizations should be and in different ways must continue letting our communities know what we do.

As we are somewhat limited to space I will continue further discussion next month of other topics that were presented at the conference.

Larry Eakin

Jr. Warden.

From the Secretary's Desk

 

Brethren, I thought that I would discuss the investigation of a visiting Brother this month. Normally, the Junior Warden and the Deacons compose the Committee, but if they are not available or are busy, the Master may appoint anyone he chooses.

First of all, your primary purpose in the examination is to do everything you can to determine that the Brother is indeed a Mason. Some examining committees seem to think that they are to show off to the Brother and show him just how much they know... DON’T! Probably the first thing you want to do is have the Brother sign the register. Next ask for his Dues card, Then when you receive it, compare the two signatures and check to see that the signature in the Register Book matches the signature on the Dues Card. If so, this is the Brother that signed the Dues Card. That is the reason that when you receive your dues card, you are to sign it immediately. This way, if it should be lost, hopefully no one can use it to gain admission to another Lodge.

When you are satisfied that this is indeed the Brother that signed the Dues card, check in the Book of Lodges” to see that his lodge is listed. Then the committee is to repeat the oath listed in the Monitor with the Brother. Then And Only Then, are you to ask for a password, or grip or what ever means you may use to ascertain that he really received the Masonic degrees. Remember, although basically the Masonic Ritual is the same in all jurisdictions, there are differences and the words he uses may not be the ones you are accustomed to hear. Just work with him, without embarrassing either yourself or him until you are satisfied.

Remember, you are not to determine just how much he knows, just satisfy yourself that he is a Mason. Try to think just how you would want to be treated if you were the visitor! If you will follow this routine ,a visitor will feel that he is welcome in your Lodge and you can be satisfied that he is really a Mason.

Don’t forget his rights! He may want to inspect your Lodge Charter. If requested, immediately take him to it and let him satisfy himself that Sacramento Lodger is indeed a Regular Lodge and a member of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of New Mexico.

Also, don’t. forget that the Brother may be Vouched for by a Brother you know to be a Mason! but the avouching Brother must have sat in Lodge with the Brother being vouched for! See you next time!

Fraternally,

Delmar A. Sanders, PGL