Fidalgo Lodge #77 Trestleboard

Transcription

1 Fidalgo Lodge #77 Trestleboard Guidance From the East During the second section of the Fellow Craft Degree, the new initiate is presented with the wages of a Fellow Craft Mason. He is told the reward for the Freemason who has observed the moral and divine law and not wasted his time in idleness or vice is to be corn, wine and oil. Such wages were indeed true in ancient days when corn, wine and oil represented wealth and were used for money. The Fellow Craft Mason received these wages, not in a literal sense, but symbolically. In ancient days, "corn" was not what we think of as corn today. Instead it was a grain, such as wheat or barley, which was called corn. Thus, an ear of grain (corn) represents plenty. It is also a symbol of nourishment. Wine is mentioned in Psalms 104 as something "that gladdens the heart of man" and, as such, can symbolize health and refreshment of body and spirit. On another level, wine can represent the completed and perfected human life. Wine starts as an inferior juice when newly pressed from the grape, representing youth or immaturity. But with time and through fermentation, it can become a completed product, wine. Wine represents the maturity of mind and spirit we should strive to obtain in our relationship with God, while the fermentation process symbolizes the struggles of life we encounter in developing that relationship. The oil is olive oil, which was a necessity in ancient times as it served multiple purposes. It was used in the preparation of food, served as a medicine both internally and externally, and provided a source of light in the ancient oil lamps. In this view, oil can represent nourishment, health, and peace. As a food item, oil symbolizes nourishment for our physical bodies but also the moral development we as Freemasons should be striving to obtain. As a medicine or remedy, it represents physical health and the spiritual health (or joy) we obtain in our relationship to God. As a source of light, oil represents the physical and spiritual peace we obtain by overcoming the vices of life. Taken as a whole, the corn, wine and oil represent both the physical and spiritual nourishment, refreshment and joy the Freemason receives for living an industrious life devoted to the service of God and his fellowman. The faithful Fellow Craft Mason is assured that his wages, his reward, shall not be just sufficient but plentiful to supply all of his physical, moral, and spiritual needs. He will have health of body, mind, and soul. He will enjoy peace in this life, in the hour of death, and in the life to come. August Masonic Birthdays Raised to the degree of a Master Mason Blynn Cooper....8/26/1950 Robert Gara,,...8/29/1958 Vance Myers...8/20/2004 Most Fraternally, WB Bob Belli /G\ AnacortesMasons@gmail.com PAGE 1

2 Wisdom From the West A Hearty Summer Greeting from the West Brethren! Forget-Me-Not This month I would like for you to reflect on how much the world has changed since our fraternity became formalized in the late 1600 s and early 1700 s. How many monarchies and empires have come and gone over the past 300 plus years? How many horrific wars and revolutions have transpired in principalities, regions, or in and between nations where brother Masons lived over this period around the world? How many major natural calamities have happened? Through all this Freemasonry has weathered the many storms and still stands. In contrast to what one may see on the TV we are living in one of the most peaceful and prosperous times in recorded human history, but I think it is very wise to never forget it was not always this way and there is always the chance (hopefully however small) the often taken for granted peace and prosperity so many have fought and died to create and protect may be gone for many reasons. Through the dark times Masons have helped each other and their families survive the hardships in their own ways. A great example of this which our new brothers in Fidalgo Lodge may not know is how the humble Forget-Me-Not flower became a symbol of brotherhood. Shortly after Hitler's rise to power, possibly as early as 1934, there was an awareness that Freemasonry was in danger. The German Grand Lodge of the Sun In Bayreuth, one of the pre-war German Grand Lodges, realized the imminent problems which faced them and started to wear the little blue flower, the Forget-Me-Not, in place of the Square and Compasses, to identify them as Masons. This was to allay attraction by the Nazis who were in the process of confiscation and appropriation of Masonic Lodges and property. Masonry at this time was underground and so the Brethren needed an easily recognized identification. The little blue flower worn in the lapel distinguished those refusing to allow the Light of Masonry to be extinguished and during the Nazi era marked a Brother whether he was in the Concentration Camps* or in the cities. The Grand Lodge of the Sun was re-opened in Bayreuth in 1947 by Past Grand Master Beyer and a blue shaped pin shaped as a Forget-Me-Not was adopted as the official emblem of the first annual convention of the survivors of the bitter years of semidarkness which brought the Light of Masonry again into the Temples. This simple flower blossomed forth to become the Fraternity's meaningful emblem and perhaps the most widely worn in the world second only to the Square and Compasses. On a personal note, I was given my first Forget-Me-Not pin by a Master of a Lodge in Kyoto, Japan which seemed both ironic and fitting at the same time. I encourage you to research for yourself to find the multitude of examples where Masons helped one another during history s darker times. We are all connected to them as Brothers and owe a debt of gratitude to those who came before us. Look well to the east brethren and keep light shining. Fraternally, Andrew McLaughlin, 32 SW Fidalgo Lodge # 77 *Freemasonry during the Holocaust: AnacortesMasons@gmail.com PAGE 2

3 Refreshment From the South Dear Brothers: Let s discuss a bit of The Craft s role in the Declaration of Independence and War of Independence. In 1776, the second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to finalize the manuscript that declared our independence from Great Britain. Most members of the Congress were influential land owners, merchants or successful businessmen; men who were attracted to Freemasonry. Even so, as opposed to popular belief, out of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence only eight are definitively known to have been lodge members. Of the signatories to the subsequent Constitution of 1789, less than a quarter of them were Masons, although several were later initiated into the Craft. Because of the far-reaching, momentous effects of the Declaration of Independence there were Freemasons who were for and those opposed to the document. Probably the most significant guide that ultimately served to define the document were the words of Tom Paine in his pamphlet Common Sense in which Paine urged the colonists to rebel against the rule of George III and declare the colony an independent republic. While Paine was not a Freemason he was involved with the Fraternity and even wrote an essay in support of the Masonic movement and its strong roots that helped anchor the Enlightenment or Aufklärung period of Europe. The first man to sign the Declaration was John Hancock, who was a member of St. Andrew s Lodge in Boston. He wrote his name extra-large and when asked about this overemphasis, he said, so that King George can read it without having to put on his spectacles. Other names forever linked with the Declaration and subsequent war of independence were the Freemasons John Paul Jones, the Scots-born founder of the US Navy, as well as Richard Caswel, Mordecai Gist, James Jackson, Morgan Lewis, and John Sullivan, all of whom became Grand Masters of their States Grand Lodges. One of the more romantic names in US history, Paul Revere, who rode from Charleston to Lexington rousing militiamen in every town and village he past, that the British are coming was a passionate Freemason and spokesman for independence. He entered Boston s St. Andrews Lodge in 1760 and later became Grand Master of Massachusetts. By 1781 the British made peace with the rebels and the awakening of the New Nation began. The initial huge step in this direction was the Louisiana Purchase made by President Thomas Jefferson (a Freemason) when the US bought from Napoleon all the land from the Mississippi-Missouri to partially known west. It wasn t long before pioneers and settlers moved from the eastern seaboard states into the vast new US territory, to farm, raise domesticated animals, and look for other riches such as gold. Naturally many these adventurous, groundbreaking men were Freemasons. Fraternally, Robert Gara JW Fidalgo Lodge # AnacortesMasons@gmail.com PAGE 3

4 From the Secretary s Table: Highlights of the July Meetings Guests from out of town: Secretary s Desk From Langley 218: VWB Tony Gill, VWB Jim Fulton, WB David Surface, WB Carl Fjelsted, JW Bruce Blakeslee. From Garfield 41: WB Marty Leukhardt A recap on the cost of the new chairlift: Olympic Home Modification: $14, Ohm Electric: $1, TOTAL: $15, Communications: 1. Beware of a Scam: Grand Secretary Clint Brown writes; We have received information that Brothers are once again receiving phone calls from Mount Olympus Lodge. THIS IS A SCAM CALL. If you receive a call asking for money, you should just hang up. Please let the members of your Lodge know that this is a scam. 2. Conner Thomas sent a thank you note for his Bike for Books 3. GM reaffirmed that Resolution is still operative and that Lodges can purge from their rolls (after a vote by the Lodge) those EAMs and FCMs who do not advance through the degrees in a year s time. Circle of Care: 1. VWB Red traveled to Bellingham and visited Paul Knowles, who is doing quite well and will have reached his 103rd birthday by this time next year. 2. Lee Dawes: looking good 3. Bro Bob Higgins wife, Judith, has a brain tumor; operating on 18 July 4. Ike Jurgens and Blynn Cooper both lost their wives 5. Wayne Deming : 100 year old b/d party on Sunday WB Eric Johnson, P.M. The Ward Koeberle Canon WB Lee Dawes has been caretaker of the canon for a number of years. That duty has now passed on to Bro. Charles Manning. We had hoped that the canon would be fired at the opening of the Independence Day parade, but there were some leftover concerns expressed by the Port of Anacortes that resulted from the canon being fired on a weekly basis at Cap Sante Marina at the request of the Port. In any event, the details are too murky for the Secretary to comprehend, so he will make inquiries at City Hall and the Port of Anacortes and see if the canon might be fired at the Veteran s Day event. Good of the Order 1. SD Bro. Corey Stout has seven new-in-the-box bicycles that could be used for raising funds for bikes for books; if anyone has any ideas on how that fundraising can be done, please contact Corey at cstout@sprocketscience.com 2. Upcoming events: We will be conferring the First Degree on Mr Andrew Barrineau Friday, 8/31 at 7:00 pm. And conferring the Third Degree on Bro Scott Anderson Friday, 8/24 at 7:00 pm. AnacortesMasons@gmail.com PAGE 4

5 FIDALGO LODGE #77 ANACORTES WASHINGTON August 2018 WANT ADS Positions Available Treasurer. By 12/8/2018. Seeking a Mason to take on the exciting and rewarding job of Treasurer of the Lodge. Also seeking another (or the same) Mason to become Treasurer of the Temple Board. Computer skills not required, but desirable, because a SmartPhone (iphone/android) will enable you to make deposits from the comforts of your own home. Contact AncortesEric@gmail.com for details or call (360) Fidalgo 77 August s Calendar of Events 8/14/18 (Tuesday) Temple Board (5:30 PM) Dinner (6:30 PM) Stated Meeting (7:30 PM) 8/15/18 (Tuesday) Masonic Education Evening (7:00 PM) 8/24/18 (Friday) Scott Anderson s 3rd Degree Conferral (7:00 PM) 8/31/18 (Friday) The Fidalgo Trestle board is edited and published by Bro. Daniel Brown. For any submissions or comments, please at danielbrown1235@gmail.com Andrew Barrineau s 1st Degree Conferral (7:00 PM) AnacortesMasons@gmail.com PAGE 5