Yellowhouse Lodge #841 A.F. & A.M Gary Ave, Lubbock, Texas P.O. Box 1648, Lubbock, Texas

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1 Yellowhouse Lodge #841 A.F. & A.M Gary Ave, Lubbock, Texas P.O. Box 1648, Lubbock, Texas December 2015 Monthly Newsletter Officers Ricky Sawyer James Scott Rolan Pirtle Worshipful Master Senior Warden Junior Warden Charles Morris Treasurer Dwayne McInroe Secretary Larry Burks Chris Felton Joey Powers Chaplain Senior Deacon Junior Deacon Nathan Shrode Senior Steward Jeremy Webb Junior Steward Garland Timms Marshal Bob Clemmons Master of Ceremonies & District Instructor Dan Redman Tiler Johnny Williams Trustee Bruce Short Trustee From the East... Looking Back Recently I have been seeing commercials, posts on Facebook, and even a plaque in my doctor s office about looking back and the value of today. The conventional wisdom (according to these sources) seems to be that looking back is a waste of time and unproductive. After all, you re not going in that direction. You should be looking to today and the future. That s where it s at. But how does this relate to our beloved fraternity? Without our past, what would we be? As I touched on in a recent newsletter the lodges stand on the shoulders of our past masters. That however is not the rest of the story. We also stand upon the shoulders of every Mason who has entered our lodge, from the youngest to the oldest. They have in some way benefited us and our fraternity. Again though this is only part of the story. We also rest upon the shoulders of ALL our brothers shoulders, worldwide. I recently had the pleasure of visiting with a Past Grand Master from New Mexico and he told me one of the highlights for him was traveling and meeting other masons and witnessing their work. It struck me again that it is those brothers, from years gone by that have defined our modern day work. They are the one s responsible for the forms and beauties of our current practices. If we only look to the future, what will we lose? In Masonry, as in life I believe, we would lose everything. Our past defines us to a large extent and we must learn from and apply those lessons to our daily and future lives. Terry Ewings Trustee Page 1

2 Yes, looking at today and into the future will benefit you. Failure to plan is the same as planning to fail. Decisions you make today will affect you tomorrow. But by looking back, you live and witness the lessons of life, and Masonry so necessary in developing the wisdom needed to continue building your moral and Masonic edifice, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Our future is built upon our past, we must look to both. Fraternally, From the West... Ricky Sawyer Worshipful Master Floor Practice is the 1 st, 3 rd, & 4 th Tuesday at 6:30 pm. Come and take part From the West Even the woodpecker owes his success to the fact that he used his head and keeps pecking away until he finishes the job that he stars Coleman Cox The following is from a website [ I found the site to be very informative. PSALMS 133 Entered Apprentice "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life forever more." Who was Aaron? Aaron was Moses brother and the first High Priest under the Mosaic Convention. Page 2

3 These verses represent youth when the body is strong. Those who walk in the way of the Lord are rewarded the blessing of eternal life. AMOS Chapter 7; Verses 7 & 8 Fellowcraft Mason Thus he shewed me : and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more: These verses represent uprightness of conduct thoughout ones life. The Fellowcraft Degree denotes middle age. To be continued. Fraternally yours, Bro. James Scott, Senior Warden From the South... The Masonic Apron From Jewel P. Lightfoot s Manual of The Lodge. Reprinted here with permission of The Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M. There is no one of the symbols of speculative Masonry more important in its teachings, or more interesting in its history than the lamb-skin, or white leather apron. Commencing its lessons at an early period in the Mason's progress, it is impressed upon his memory as the first gift which he receives, and the first symbol which is explained to him, in his admission into the fraternity. Whatever may be his future advancement in the "Royal Art"; into whatsoever deep an arcana his devotion to the mystic institution, or his thirst for knowledge may subsequently lead him, with the lamb-skin apron - his first investiture - he never parts, although changing, perhaps, its form and its decorations and conveying at each step some new but still beautiful illumination, its substance is still there, and continues to claim the honor title by which it was first made known to him on the night of his initiation as the badge of a Mason. As, in less important portions of our ritual, there are abundant allusions to the manner and customs of the ancient world, it is not to be supposed that the Masonic rite of investiture - the ceremony of clothing the newly initiated candidate with this distinctive badge of his profession - is without its archetype in the times and practices long passed away. It would indeed be strange, while all else in Masonry is covered with the veil of antiquity, that the apron alone, its most significant symbol, should be indebted for its existence to the invention of a modern mind. Continued next month. Fraternally, Page 3

4 Rolan Pirtle, Junior Warden Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being. Bro. Swami Vivekananda Upcoming Events December 4-6, 2015 Grand Lodge December 11, 2015 Stated Meeting (due to Grand Lodge on the first Friday) December 17, 6 pm Texas law Shield Seminar ($10 entry fee for non-members) December 1, 15, 22, & 29 th Floor Practice 6:30 or degree (if having a degree, meal at 6, open at 6:30) January 8, 2016 Stated Meeting (due to New Year s Day on the first Friday) February 16, 2016 (Tuesday) Past Masters Night Deacon s Corner Visitors at our last Stated Meeting: Rod Armstrong, Mackenzie 1327 Gary Armstrong, Mackenzie1327 Finus Branham, Lubbock 1392 Steward s Corner Turkey Trimmings Dessert Tea Page 4

5 Sickness and Distressed Brother Tex Tidwell Brother Stuart Dyess Carrolon Brother Bill Riley Brother Louis Rapp Brother Bruce Short Brother Richard Francis Bernell Scott Margaret Rapp Departed Brethren & Family Brother John S. Walton, Jr. Page 5