Fidalgo Lodge #77 Trestleboard

Transcription

1 Fidalgo Lodge #77 Trestleboard Brethren, Guidance From the East Make learning about Freemasonry a priority; it is how we continue to grow as Masons. If you have a hard time thinking of topics to study on your own, the new study group would be an excellent place to start. I will take this last opportunity to remind the Brethren of etiquette that is sometimes forgotten in Lodge. All speaking in open Lodge is to be directed to the Worshipful Master. No side conversations in open Lodge unless specifically granted permission by the Worshipful Master, or the Lodge is declared Free from restraint by the Worshipful Master. There are a few Installations to go to, including ours, get out there and support our Brothers in District 9. Lastly, thank you all for your support during this year. I trust we will all continue to support our 2018 Worshipful Master and Officers. Kevin Magill Worshipful Master Fidalgo Lodge #77 AnacortesMasons@gmail.com PAGE 1

2 Wisdom From the West Brethren, Masonry is indebted to those dedicated Brothers of our Fraternity who labor for months and years learning the various elements of our ritual. Sometimes that effort and valuable time spent in memorizing and perfecting the magnificent moral lessons is not always fully exploited. This is not the result of faulty or halting memory, but rather ineffective delivery. Effective delivery is achieved whenever the candidate or audience has been able to clearly and reasonably understand the information presented. Every speaker should know instinctively if he is prepared, if he has adequately memorized and perfected his presentation; he must also know if he is speaking loud enough and pronouncing his words correctly. Remember, in a conversation, if you are difficult to understand, the listener can always ask, What did you say? But when delivering a lecture, a charge or reciting a verse, that isn t possible. If you aren t understood, the idea is lost because there are no instant replays for the speaker. Sometimes I might have applauded myself at the completion of my ritual. There was nothing omitted and I managed to survive the ordeal. But, was I effective? Did the candidate and others who were listening hear clearly; did they reasonably understand the message? If not, it was probably due to speaking too rapidly, distorting words by running sounds together, over stressing sounds or omitting sounds. It is difficult to understand a speaker under these conditions, especially during a period when the candidate is hoodwinked, he doesn t even have the opportunity to read the lips of the person speaking. All of us have sat through ceremonies of opening and closing Lodges, conferring the three degrees, installations and funeral services... Much of this rendered unintelligible due to poor speech. But it doesn t bother us because we ve heard it so often that we can mentally fill in the blanks and voids left by the speakers. But Brethren, can t you just imagine how some of this might sound to new candidates or Masons hearing it for the first time? Remember, if you re not understood, you ve wasted your time in delivering the message, you ve failed to take advantage of the time and effort in learning the work, and even worse, you ve left thoroughly confused listeners. Fraternally, Bro Bob Belli SW Fidalgo Lodge # 77 Fidalgo 77 December Calendar of Events 12/9/17 (2nd Sat in Dec) Installation of Officers. All are invited (2:00 PM) 12/12/17 (2nd Tuesday) Temple Board (5:30 PM) Dinner (6:30 PM) Stated Meeting (7:30 PM) Official Visit of the District Deputy 12/29/17 (2nd Saturday in Dec) Masonic Education Evening (7:00 PM) AnacortesMasons@gmail.com PAGE 2

3 Refreshment From the South Freemasonry and Christmas Season Hello from the South for the last time as I continue my journey towards the East. First off, it has been an honor to serve you this past year. Thank you for your trust and all the much appreciated assistance. I hope you have received ample refreshment and my many thanks to our Senior and Junior Stewards for all of their hard work making sure no Mason goes away hungry at a Fidalgo stated or special communication. They have set a high bar and I truly appreciate how much they made my job easier and the Lodge a better place for all. It being December, I was wondering if there are any ties to Freemasonry and Christmas? I did some research and although I learned a lot more about the origins of Christmas and how its celebration has changed drastically over the centuries, the only link I ve found with Masonry is a much older one than the commercialized holiday season familiar to us today. Masons are said to come from the Lodge of the Holy Saints John in Jerusalem. Exactly why and the origin are points of conjecture. What is interesting is Masonry has long had feasts (Table Lodges) in honor of St. John the Baptist on June 25th and for St. John the Evangelist on December 27th. These line up, though off by some days, with the summer and winter solstices every year. Today s Christmas likewise is aligned with the winter solstice because early Christianity adopted celebrations as their own which had already been traditions for hundreds to thousands of years in Pagan Europe and Rome. The point within a circle with two parallel lines has multiple teachings. One being just as the sun is its brightest and fervent at the summer solstice represented by John the Baptist, it also is at its darkest in the winter solstice represented by John the Evangelist. However as the circle between them shows, a Mason is always moving around it from wintery darkness to light to be renewed and re-awakened again. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and I hope you take time to feel joy this Holiday Season with those you care about. Warmest fraternal regards, Andy McLaughlin JW Fidalgo #77 For More on Saints John Days: AnacortesMasons@gmail.com PAGE 3

4 Meeting Minutes: Secretary s Desk On 10 Nov 17, at a Special Communication, Brother Ren Rodolfo was initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason. On 14 Nov 17, at a Stated Meeting, the ballot was spread for the Petition for the Degrees for Mr. Scott Anderson with favorable results. Temple Board elections with WB Ellis elected to the one open position. The members of the Temple Board for 2018 are: Name Term Expires Office 1 Howard Livingston 2018 President 2 Stephen Ellis 2020 Member 3 Daniel Brown 2019 Secretary 4 Corey Stout 2018 Member 5 Eric Johnson 2019 Treasurer 6 Robert Belli 2018 Ex officio 7 Andy McLaughlin 2018 Ex officio 8 Robert Gara 2018 Ex officio WB Eric Johnson, P.M. Brother Chuck Manning gave a Report on the Turkey Shoot: With 182 participants, this was the largest turnout ever, with the largest participation of Masons ever recorded. VWB Gerry Myers raised $800 in selling Targets, and a total of $4,400 was raised for Toys for Tots Dues: Invoices were mailed around the Thanksgiving holiday. The statement prepared by Grand Lodge includes both dues and assessments. $65 for dues; $30 for assessments. Those who have paid dues for 50 years are dues- and assessment-free. Life members pay only $30. Plastic dues cards should arrive in early December at the Secretary s mailbox and shortly after that for all who have paid their dues. AnacortesMasons@gmail.com PAGE 4

5 FOR FUTURE PLANNING Saturday January 13 th -- District 9 meeting at Fidalgo in Anacortes. Start time is 3:00 PM and there will be a meal and awards. This is a family affair and an opportunity to find out what is planned for District 9 and to hear what our Grand Officers have to say. Let s show our support for VWB Dino Conti our District Deputy. Fidalgo Lodge #77 has started a Masonic study group. Our intent is to bring to light the esoteric meaning behind the allegorical symbols and ritual of Masonry. We also look at the history of our fraternity and try to resolve questions concerning the operation and jurisprudence of our lodges. We meet on the forth Friday of the month. At our next meeting, Friday December 22nd, we will be discussing the esoteric meaning of the circumambulations used in our degrees. Do your homework and come prepared to defend your position. Remember; NO ONE VOICE SPEAKS FOR MASONRY, everything you read or hear about Masonry is the opinion of the author or speaker. District 9 Directory/Calendar I am in the process of putting together a District 9 directory/calendar. I expect this to be available at your stated communications in January. In the past, lodges have provided all their officers with a copy and purchased some extra for other members. The estimated cost will be $3.00 each. Every Mason is a Brother In my travels throughout the District I have noticed a lapse in Masonic protocol when formally presenting and introducing brethren. Senior Deacons and Masters seem to have forgotten that all Masons are brothers. I would like to remind you that because our Grand Lodge is too cheap to put B on the name badges of Grand Officers is no excuse to for not using the term BROTHER when formally presenting or introducing brethren. Hint it is MWB not MW, RWB not RW, VWB not VW and WB not W. Let s try a little harder to do it right. Happy Holidays! - VWB Gerald Myers The Fidalgo Trestle board is edited and published by Bro. Daniel Brown. For any submissions or comments, please at : December Masonic Birthdays Raised to the degree of a Master Mason Noel Guthrie /15/1953 danielbrown1235@gmaill.com AnacortesMasons@gmail.com PAGE 5