The Trestle Board. Granada Hills Lodge # 378 Monthly Newsletter Granada Hills Lodge #378 Officers. Rock Sodusta Senior Warden

Transcription

1 The Trestle Board Granada Hills Lodge # 378 Monthly Newsletter Restituto Corpus PM Worshipful Master 2017 Granada Hills Lodge #378 Officers Rock Sodusta Senior Warden Sean Yu Junior Warden Bogsi Gonzales Treasurer Thomas Sheehan Asst. Secretary Ben Llamas Marshall Lito devera Organist George Sanchez PM Secretary Tim Zuniga Senior Deacon Eric Mendoza Senior Steward David Woody Tiler Alberto Casanova PM Inspector, District 705 Division 7 Manny Briones Chaplain Joel Corpus Junior Deacon Karl Lay Junior Steward George Sanhcez PM Officer s Coach 1 P a g e

2 2017 GHL #378 Officers 2 P a g e

3 Brethren, You honored me greatly last year by electing me to serve as Master of our humble Lodge. The long year of work in the Craft has deepened my understanding of our symbols and ritual. It also gave me the opportunity to build profound friendships with both the officers who served with me and the applicants whom I coached during my term. Together, we achieved remarkable progress towards the vision of a more perfect Lodge. We raised 14 new Master Masons last year in carefully performed initiatory degrees, as well as admitted 6 affiliate members. Many of those Brethren have already proven themselves in the degree works and other lodge functions. It is clear that we have great Brethren of sufficient dedication and zeal to lead the Lodge for years to come. The teaching of the Catechisms of all three degrees continues to flourish in our Lodge and I am filled with profound optimism that it will continue to make progress as it has this year. My appreciation goes out to all the members, Advisers, Officers, Past Masters, committee members, families, and friends, for all your help and support. Thank you for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to serve the lodge for the past year. It has been a great honor and privilege to serve as the master of the Granada Hills Lodge No 378. Sincerely and Fraternally, WB Mike Reyes, PM 3 P a g e

4 Message from the East Brethren, Time is slowly unfolding from our very eyes, and unfolding another chapter of our lodge. And we are already on the second month of the year as if we have just crazy for the holidays. It is being the month of hearts, Brethren let us fill our self with love. Let us celebrate with our family, love ones and our fraternity. Most are continue to remind us the tenets of Freemasonry: Brotherly love, relief and truth. We spread our love to mankind, and Relief: we extend our hands to help and raise a fallen brother and we practice charity and Truth as the sign of morality to square our action through life. Let us continue to promote harmony being strength of all the society especially of ours. Understanding and tolerance makes us exist and learn to accept one another. Responsibility and accountability of our action makes us person. Together we are strong, harmonize we survive. It being the month of February I take this opportunity to invite everybody to our Annual Ladies and Sweetheart Night on Feb 11 in the Lodge Dining Hall. Again, I take this opportunity to congratulate our newly installed officers. Your dedication, commitment and support to our lodge is gratefully appreciate. To our Jr PM WB Mike Reyes we owe your perseverance, dedication and commitment while in East and keeping our lodge to the best of your ability and also to those who supported the lodge as whole during your Mastership. Fraternally, Resti Corpus, WM, PM WISDOM Wisdom is seeing life simply and clearly. Many great men, who were also Freemasons, show clearly that they were, above all, Wise Men. As an example we can remember Benjamin Franklin who prepared the ideological ground for the American Revolution, Samuel Houston who fought for the freedom of Texas, George Washington the head of the Army during the Revolution as well as the First American President, Churchill and Roosevelt the main actors of the defeat of Nazi Germany, George Marshall and Harry Truman who worked so hard to rebuild Europe after the Second World War, as well as many writers and artists. Great authors of the past like J.W. von Goethe ( ), who wrote Faust, was a Freemason, and one of the founder of the modern German literature. Schiller too joined the Craft. As Mircea Eliade said, in philosophical terms, initiation is equivalent to a basic change in existential condition: the novice emerges of the ordeal a totally different being from the one he was before his initiation; he has become another. The ritual dramas that constitute the three ceremonies of Craft Masonry are part of a single initiation, as only after completing the three degrees does an initiate becomes a full Master Mason. It is also clear that the ritual is more moral than religious as Freemasonry is not a religion, even if it has religious basis, but a fraternity dedicated to teaching social concepts and promoting the three ideals of brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. The symbolic myth is one of death in the cause of honour, and not of death and resurrection. Those who created Freemasonry, as it is known to day, made it clear that it was not a religion, or a substitute for it, and in this they showed Wisdom. The only religious request for membership was a belief in God as the Supreme Being. All religious discussions are prohibited in the lodge, leaving the Craft open to all men of goodwill independently of their religion. As a result the Craft is tolerant towards religion, accepting among the members Protestant and Catholic Christians, Arab, Jews, Hindu and Moslem. In countries with a dominant religion, when the leader was also a Freemason, religious and political tolerance improved. Wisdom, in short, means the constant striving towards the good and the understanding of the views of others. Wisdom implies bringing changes towards what is noble and true in religion, politics, and moral or in the social life. The Craft and its principles are a mean of transcending social, political and religious divisions and to lead to stability. (9 4 P a g e

5 Message from the West Brethren, I would like to thank everyone for supporting our Installation of officers and also would like to thank the brethren from different lodges who attended as well. It was a great experience to have a tiled installation. I would like to ask everyone to continue supporting our mother lodge. Nothing is impossible if we are all be working together. We will be having lots of activities and feel free to volunteer yourself and be part of it. We need everyone's support and idea. At the end of the day it will be our mother lodge who will greatly benefit from it. Looking forward to be working with each and every one of you with peace and harmony. Fraternally, Rock Sodusta, SW STRENGTH The choice of the building of King Solomon s temple as the central point of the allegorical ritual drama of the Craft was not surprising due to its symbolism. It also provides opportunities for imaginative embellishment and development. It is easy to use it to represent the moral regeneration of the individual, and the moral aims of the Craft, as it is a universal symbol of the building of the spiritual temple within. The tools of the stonemason, too, symbolize the qualities essential to the perfection of the inner temple, as these tools have been used to build the Temple at Jerusalem, as well as the great Gothic cathedrals and the modern ones such as St. Paul Cathedral in London. Their beauty, evident to all of us, is balanced by the strength shown by their massive walls and columns. The stonemasons who built them were justly proud of their work, and they tried to leave a personal mark on their stones. Their techniques were jealously kept secret, partly to avoid poor imitations by unqualified workers, but also to ensure that the structures on which they spent their working life truly mirrored their spiritual purpose. There is little doubt that the same dedication that inspired the Craftsmen who built Solomon s Temple, inspired also the Speculative Masons of the eighteenth century who were their spiritual heirs as well as those genius, like Isaac Newton and Sir Christopher Wren, who preceded them before the founding of the first Grand Lodge. Their views of Solomon s Temple were based on their study of the Bible, but the Temple itself was seen as a cosmic symbol with a great spiritual significance that they tried to convey to others. When building their temples the masons looked to the past, to the classical and Hebrew models, but also to the Egyptian temples. A Mason, Frederick Augusta Bartholdi designed the Statue of Liberty in New York City, to celebrate the centenary of the American Revolution (although it was inaugurated in 1886). It was mainly financed by American and French Masons to promote Liberty and free men from their chains of tyranny and ignorance, some basic principles of Freemasonry. Freemasons distinguished themselves in war too. As example we can mention: George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette in the American Revolution; The Duke of Wellington who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815; Simon Bolivar in South America; Giuseppe Garibaldi in Italy; Theodore Roosevelt in Cuba; Field Marshal Haig, Marshall Joffre and General Pershing in World War I; Audie Murphy, Douglas MacArthur, Omar Bradley, Mathew Ridgeway in World War II. In the medical field we also have great Masons: Edward Jenner from England who introduced vaccination in 1796; the Scot Alexander Fleming who discovered the penicillin in 1928; the German Samuel Hahnenann who introduced the treatment known as homeopathy RESTORATION. A Mason who has been suspended or expelled pursuant to this chapter may be restored to the rights and privileges of Masonry under the provisions of Sections and of this Code. However, a restoration under any of those provisions shall not restore him to the office of Master from which he had been removed pursuant to this chapter. [Added: 2010.] 5 P a g e

6 Message from the South Brethren, Love is in the Air... As we celebrate the love month, you are cordially invited to celebrate with us on our GHL No. 378's Annual Sweethearts Night. I also would like to congratulate the 2017 Granada Hills Lodge No. 378 F&AM Corps of Officers for a very successful Installation Night held last January 11, 2017, evening tiled lodge event. Several brethren of different lodges were present with a total of 87 Master Masons composed of Grand Lodge of California District Inspectors: WB Rueben Zari PM. (Inspector at Large), WB Alberto Casanova PM., WB Freddie Davis PM., WB Nicholas Mitchell PM., Assistant Grand Lecturers: WB Charles Cross PM., WB Al Moen PM., Lodges such as: Atwater Larchmont Tila Pass Lodge, William Rhodes Hervey, Ararat Lodge, Sunnyside Lodge, Beverly Hills Lodge, Gardena Moneta Lodge, Artesia Sunrise Lodge, Metropolitan Lodge, Torrance University Lodge, Old West Lodge, Southern California Lodge, Home Lodge, Pomona Lodge, Hollywood Lodge, San Fernando Lodge, Van Nuys Lodge, Pacific Rim Lodge, Dona Ana Daylight Lodge (New Mexico), Rising Sun Lodge (Japan) under the jurisdiction of Grand Lodge of the Philippines, Palayan City Lodge in Nueva Ecija & Jose Rizal Lodge (Philippines). My warmth gratitude & fraternal greetings to everyone who supported on that night. Fraternally, Brother Sean R. Yu Junior Warden (by the plumb) BEAUTY Beauty, the third pillar of Freemasonry, represents the perfected Soul quality that every Mason should manifest in himself, and in every aspect of his life. The keywords for Beauty are Balance and Harmony. Balance between force and form, coupled with awareness, produces joy and fulfilment, the spiritual experience of Beauty. Harmony relies on the perfect proportion of its several parts and leads to Unity. In Arts, beauty is subjective, but conditional on each individual s subconscious understanding of the laws of Harmony and proportion. When a Mason enters the Porch of the Temple, between the pillars of Strength and Wisdom and of force and form, he experiences the Pillar of Beauty in all its Glory, and he becomes one with all his initiated brethren. It is a living Temple built from the enlightened Souls of Man. Masonry is the story of the transformation of the Soul, and the ritual of its ceremonies is an allegory of that journey that all Masons must make to achieve their higher potential. The principles of the Craft have always inspired men to become great artists, poets, musicians, architects and philosophers and, in this way, they have created Beauty. Soul qualities are not inherited but won by each individual who wants to return to his Creator. Gilles C H Nullens NOT UNMASONIC CONDUCT. The following do not constitute unmasonic conduct sufficient to support the filing of a charge against a Mason: A. A business dispute not involving fraud, or other violation of the moral law or a material breach of the obligations of the degrees; B. A business dispute that involves the innocent inability to pay a just debt as promised; C. Political differences and acts in respect thereto; D. A possible conflict of interest arising from a transaction between a Mason in his private capacity and his Lodge or Masonic Hall Association where a full disclosure of the possible conflict has been made prior to the transaction; 6 P a g e

7 From the Secretary s Desk My Observation Good leaders must be good role models, knowledgeable in their fields and worthy of respect. There are many ways to lead and one of these is your leadership role at work on how you communicate yourself to your members. Apply the tenets of freemasonry, set example of what you've learned and practice it. Don t let your position cloud your good judgement. Retaliatory and inflammatory are racial act. People will respect and listen to you, if you respect them as you respect yourself. There s no need to intimidate or be Retaliatory and inflammatory in your words because it only shows your discriminatory attitude. Act professionally. Though you may be the leader, you should still be cordial to all of your members and meet the basic standards of professionalism. You should be communicating in a professional manner especially if they are of different ethnicity and color. Racial discrimination is when a person is treated less favorably than another person in a similar situation because of their race, color, descent, national or ethnic origin or immigrant status. Practice those great moral and social virtues which are inculcated in your masonic education and with reverence study and obey the laws which thou hast given us in the holy word. Sincerely & Fraternally, George Sanchez, PM Secretary Activity from Gains: Initiated 2 Passed 1 Raised 4 Affiliations 4 Affiliations (Out of State) 0 Restorations 3 Total Gains 9 Losses: Withdrawals 3 Suspensions NPD 0 Suspensions Trial 0 Expulsions 2 Deaths 2 Total Losses 7 Membership Total as of 01/12/17: 219 Master Mason Total as of 01/12/17: 203 NOTE: We have 100 members who have not paid their dues and will be subject for suspension if not paid by March Please check your dues card if you are current if not, mail your dues. Remember that dues are due on the first day of each year. Interpretation of Section of the California Masonic Code. Optional Long Form Proficiencies (1998 G.M. Decision No. 2) Each candidate in this jurisdiction may decide on his own whether or not he proves his proficiency by learning the traditional long form of the proficiency, or by learning the Obligation, and the signs, 7 P a gwords, e and modes of recognition only. In each case, the demonstration of the proficiency of the candidate shall be in a tiled Lodge in the manner approved by the Grand Lecturer.

8 February Calendar Event Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 31 1 Stated Meeting st Degree 2 Candidates st Degree 2 candidates Sweetheart s Night Midnight Mission st Degree 2 candidates FAMILY DAY/FELLOWSHIP 6:30PM February Birthdays Santor, Ricky, 01 Flueckiger, Joseph R. 15 Chavez, Michael J 04 Binney, Terrence D. 18 Cappa, Anhtony G. 07 Janolino, Raynell A.18 Childers, Randy W. 09 Allen, Edward W Jr. 19 Miranda, Roland M 10 Lee, Eric S. 19 Daga, Rizalito L. 11 Sandagon, Neil S19 Townsend, Stanley R. 13 Roodman, James R. 24 Clark, William h. 15 Palmos, jack Gustav J.26 8 P a g e

9 February Birthstone For individuals with February birthdays, the amethyst makes a perfect birthstone. This month is often cold, dark and short for many people around the world, so the amethyst which is often associated with qualities of peace, courage and stability is the right gem for individuals who need a little extra warmth and strength this time of year. A beautiful purple quartz, the amethyst is an easily recognizable gem, but you may not know everything about it just yet! Take a look at the links below to learn more about the amethyst. Dear Brethren, Family and Friends Granada Hills Lodge #378 is delighted to have this opportunity to salute our ladies as we celebrate Valentine s Day. Of course we should honor and cherish our ladies every day, but Valentine s Day should be a little more a little something extra a special day I hope you will convey these thoughts to the women in your life because they are indeed so very special to Freemasonry. Their support is critical to our individual growth and the growth of our Lodges. So, don t forget to say Thank You! in a meaningful way to our wives, mothers, sisters and daughters and especially the surviving spouses of our Brother Masons. 9 P a g e Love is in the Air... As we celebrate the love month, you are cordially invited to celebrate with us on our GHL No. 378's Annual Sweethearts Night.

10 Granada Hills Lodge #378 F&AM with St. Joseph the Worker School students and parents serving our brothers and sisters in Christ. Breakfast Service at The Midnight Mission in Skid Row Downtown LA January P a g e

11 RESTORATION OF AN EXPELLED MASON. A. A Mason who has been expelled as a result of any charge of unmasonic conduct filed in this Jurisdiction may be restored to the rights and privileges of Masonry only by Grand Lodge, as follows: Grand Lodge may act on an application for restoration by the expelled Mason, on an application for restoration by his Lodge or without any application. 2. An expelled Mason may apply for restoration to the rights and privileges of Masonry by filing a written application with Grand Lodge and with his Lodge, if it is in this Jurisdiction and is still in existence. If his Lodge is not in this Jurisdiction or not still in existence, his application shall be made to the Constituent Lodge selected by the Grand Master. His application shall be read at the first Stated Meeting of the Lodge following its receipt which is at least 60 days prior to the commencement date of the Annual Communication at which his application is to be presented. If the expelled Mason was a member of more than one Constituent Lodge, he shall file his application with each such Lodge, if it is in this Jurisdiction and is still in existence, where it shall be read at the next Stated Meeting. After the reading of the application at the designated Stated Meeting in each Lodge in which the application has been filed, the Master of each Lodge shall state that a vote shall be taken then or at the next following Stated Meeting on the question of approval or disapproval of the restoration. When the vote is taken, it shall be by ballot and the result entered in the minutes. The Secretary shall promptly notify the Grand Secretary of the result of the ballot. The Master shall announce that any member may express his endorsement of, or objection to, the restoration by direct communication to the Grand Secretary or that any member may orally state his approval or disapproval to the Master. Prior to the opening of the next Annual Communication of Grand Lodge, the Master shall inform the Grand Secretary in writing the number of endorsers and the number of objectors. 3. Whenever any Lodge desires to apply to Grand Lodge for the restoration of an expelled Mason without any application from the expelled Mason, the Master shall give due notice to each member of his Lodge whose residence is known of the intended action and of the Stated Meeting at which it will be considered. At the meeting, he shall cause to be recorded the fact that the notice was duly given. The votes of two-thirds of the members present shall be required to authorize the presentation of the application to Grand Lodge. 4. Grand Lodge may, at any Annual Communication, if good cause is shown, without or without an application from the expelled Mason or his Lodge, restore to the rights and privileges of Masonry any Mason who has been expelled within its Jurisdiction. Restoration shall not restore him to membership in any Constituent Lodge. The restored Mason shall be issued a certificate, advising all concerned of his status as an unaffiliated Mason. If he fails to become a member of some Lodge within one year from the date of the Grand Secretary s Certificate, he shall not thereafter be entitled to any of the rights, privileges or benefits of Masonry, except the right to apply for affiliation. If the expelled Mason has moved beyond the Jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, he may not be restored without satisfactory evidence furnished by action of the Lodge in whose Jurisdiction he at the time resides, duly certified, that the suspended Mason is worthy, and that his standing and character are such as would entitle him to affiliation in such Lodge. B. A Mason expelled pursuant to the provisions of Section of this Code may be restored to the rights and privileges of Masonry only as follows: 1. He may be restored to the rights and privileges of Masonry by a resolution presented and adopted by Grand Lodge in the same manner as an amendment to these Ordinances, as provided in Part 15 of this Code. Restoration shall not restore him to membership in any Lodge. The restored Mason shall be issued a certificate, advising all concerned of his status as an unaffiliated Mason. If he fails to become a member of some Lodge within one year from the date of the Grand Secretary s Certificate, he shall not thereafter be entitled to any of the rights, privileges or benefits of Masonry, except the right to apply for affiliation. 2. If, for the reason that he did not commit the offense, he either has been pardoned or has had his judgment of conviction of the crime giving rise to his expulsion under Section of this Code vacated or reversed, he may be restored to his Lodge or Lodges cin this Jurisdiction, upon payment of any dues and the performance of any other obligations required for his restoration in this Jurisdiction, unless he has also been suspended or expelled pursuant to the provisions of Section D of this Code, in which case he must also be restored pursuant to the provisions of Sections A, B, A or C of this Code, as applicable. C. A Mason of a Constituent Lodge who has been expelled by a Lodge in any other Jurisdiction may be restored to the rights and privileges of Masonry in this Jurisdiction, upon (1) his subsequent restoration to membership by the expelling Lodge and (2) the payment of any dues and the performance of any other obligations required for his restoration in this Jurisdiction, unless he has also been suspended or expelled pursuant to the provisions of Section D of this Code, in which case he must also be restored pursuant to the provisions of Sections A, B or A of this Code, as applicable. [Amended: 2010; 11 P a g e

12 Hall Association Rental Manager Information Bro. BARRY MANN Rinaldi St Granada Hills CA Tel No (818) Applying for Membership One of Masonry s customs is not to solicit members; men must seek membership on their own through a Mason they know or a local lodge. California Masonic membership is open to men age 18 or older who meet the qualifications and standards of character and intention, and who believe in a Supreme Being. Men of all ethnic and religious backgrounds are welcome. A Mason who recommends you for membership will assist with completing and submitting the application. After submitting the application, you will be interviewed by members of the lodge you wish to join so they can learn more about you and you can learn more about Freemasonry. If the interview is favorable, your application is presented to the lodge for a vote. If the vote is affirmative, you receive the Entered Apprentice degree the first degree of Freemasonry. When you advance through the next two degrees, you are a Master Mason and a full member of the fraternity. Below are forms for Application for Degrees and Affiliation. We meet every 7:00 PM. Go to calendar of events for schedules. Application for degrees P a g e