July 1, 2015 The Vision Statement Of Oasis Masonic Lodge # 52 Is That The Lodge: Is A Recognized Active Participant In The Masonic Community Fostering Fraternal Fellowship And Masonic Teachings. Supports The Local Community Through Involvement With Public Schools And Programs Addressing Community Concerns. The Mission Statement Of Oasis Masonic Lodge # 52 Is To: Preserve And Promote The Teachings Of Freemasonry. From the East W.B. Jim Hewitt I Promote Masonic Values Through Service To Mankind And Our Conduct In Life. Inspire Good Men To Seek Membership In Our Organization. Encourage The Membership To Continually Seek The Truth. t s been a busy two months for Oasis Lodge: Promote Active Fellowship With Masonic on May 2nd we had our annual Pig Roast, Friends And Family. and it was a success by all accounts. On the 5th we had a second degree which went well. The 12th was the stated meeting. The following two weeks was pretty full for me. On the 19th we had a Long Range Planning meeting. Then on the 20th I joined Tucson #4 for a degree on the 23rd some of us made a visit to Tombstone lodge to join them in a Past Masters day where all the chairs were filled with Past Masters and they did a Fellow Craft degree on one of their members, after which they put on a barbecue. On the 26th we went over the Grand Lodge Proposals. On the 28th we assisted the Eastern Star in their installation by helping move chairs and serving the dinner for the ladies. And the following night we cooked and served dinner to a bunch of Girl Scouts that had been learning about what it s like to be a fire fighter. Then on the 30th we made a trip to Silver City New Mexico where Tucson #4 had arranged to put on a 3rd Degree for one of their members, Silver City Lodge hosted the lunch and a great time was had by all. June also was packed for Oasis Lodge, beginning with a 3 practice on the 2nd of June. Then the Stated Meeting on the 9th, then the Widows and Seniors Lunchion at the Red Lobster on the 14th (which was well attended). On the 16th of June we raised a brother to the sublime degree of Master Mason which we havent done since 2013 and it actually went very well and I want to congratulate everyone who participated, you make me proud to be a member of Oasis #52. I wish to reserve the rest of my article area for WB Paul Weathers.
Page 2 Features Page 1 Oasis Lodge Vision Statement Oasis Lodge Mission Statement Thoughts from the Worshipful Master Page 2 Masonic Birthdays Page 3 Upcoming Events 2015Officers 2015 Committees Page 4 From the West 9 Things You Didn t Know About Masonry (Article) Page 5 From the South The Level and The Square (Article) Page 6 Masonic Last Rites Request Form Birthdays Candidate to Brother Clarification. Paul Weathers, Past Master ccasionally we hear a new Brother still being referred to as Candidate O rather than the proper address of Brother. Perhaps it s time for a clarification. When the candidate for the degrees of Masonry is initiated; sealed his Masonic vows with a kiss to the Holy Writings, he is no longer a candidate, he is now a Mason, our newly made Brother, and from that instant he should be respectfully addressed as such. The Masonic Letter G Paul Weathers, Past Master oday I re-read Brother Paul Foster Case s booklet by this title and T again took special interest in the wording of the last paragraph, of which I concur with. I ll quote it here; We believe in Freemasonry. We believe it has a great work to perform, especially in the United States. But that work can never be done by persons who do not live their Masonry, and none may live it who does not really know it. Where do you stand? Natural July Bravin, Mike Chuk, Stevan Hoehn, William Promenschenkel, David Rice, Frank Stigers, William Tulloh, Dan Wangerin, Robert Weathers, Paul Wilson, James Brys, Dan Hooks, Thomas Parsley Jr, Paul Slocum, Eric Taylor, Richard Yaiser, Timothy Henke, Jon Starcher, Steve Yaiser, Timothy Cottrell, Vern *** Aug Masonic July Aug *** 43 Years a Mason
Page 3 Upcoming Meetings May 2015 07 July 7:00 PM: 3rd Degree Practice 14 July 7:30 PM: Stated Meeting (Open on 2nd Degree) 21 July 7:00 PM:3rd Degree COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Ritual Director Mason Of The Year WB Paul Assigned by Lodge Master Masonic Education Long Range Plans WB Tim Yaser WB Jerry Badinger August 2015 11 Aug 7:30 PM: Stated Meeting Candidates, Coaches, and Mentors WM Mike Bravin Annual Veterans Day Poker Run Bro Ray Donohue Widows / Welfare / Assistance WB Paul Weathers Youth Groups WB Dean Millard Spring Masonic Family and Friends Event WB Randy Jager Dues & Relief WB Jerry Badinger 745-4307 OFFICERS for 2015 WM WB Jim Hewitt, 721-4049, JLHewittSr@cox.net SW WB Frank Rice, 546-1312, FRice@microsoft com JW Bro Dave Promenschenkel, 207-8867, DaveProm2002@Yahoo.com Sec. WB Timothy Yaiser, 661-3008 TYaiser@cox.net Treas. WB Randy Jager, 405-6098 Randy@thejagers.com JD WB Wil Taylor Sr, 975-4898, WilTaylorSRPM@Gmail.com SD Bro Julio Sanchez, 434-4226 Chaplain WB Dan Tulloh, 370-4115, DWTulloh61@cox.net SS Bro Dee Webster, 270-3718 JS Jon Henke, 305-5468, jon.a.henke@gmail.com Marshal Bro Dan Brys, 306-8959, danjbrys@msn.com Tyler WB Paul Weathers, 290-6260, pwabble@cox.net Trustees: 3 year WB Mike Bravin, 2 year Bro Robert Shrager, 1 year WB Roger Cousineau Public Schools WB Roger Cousineau Masonic Communications WB Dean Millard Fall Masonic Family and Friends Night WB Jim Hewitt Membership Committee WB Jerry Badinger Trestle Board Editor WB Jim Hewitt 721-4049 jlhewittsr@cox.net WEB Master WB Frank Rice Public Relations WB Bruce McLaughlin SICKNESS and DISTRESS If you or your loved ones are stricken with an illness or distress or any other major concern, don t keep it inside, let us know about it. We may be limited in many cases to remembering you in our prayers. But I believe that the majority of us believe in the power of prayer so please let us be informed of your troubled times. Call WB Paul Weathers at (520) 290-6260 or Brother Ray Donohue at (520) 290-9802.
Page 4 From The West WB Frank Rice Senior Warden 9 things you didn't know about Freemasonry [Extracted from CBS news writer David Morgan] (This information may help with questions from friends or potential candidates.) 1. When meeting, Masons do not discuss religion or politics. "There are certain subjects which are prevented or we simply proscribe from discussing within the lodge," Piers Vaughan, master of St. John's Lodge #1 in New York, told Mo Rocca. "And religion is one. Politics is another." 2. Freemasonry is not a religion. "Freemasonry has the look of a religion," said UCLA history professor Margaret Jacob. "You think of religion as ritual, there's also this ritual element. But there are no priests, there are no ministers, there are no rabbis, there's no system of clergy of any sort. Everybody's their own thinker." 3. The Catholic Church condemns Freemasonry. Jacob said the initial response to Freemasonry in continental Europe, particularly in Catholic Europe, was suspicion from seeing "all these men [from] different neighborhoods, different professions meeting in the cafe, breaking bread together, doing rituals, what could this be? Political conspiracy or religion." In 1738 the Catholic Church condemned Freemasonry, and has since issued about 20 decrees -- directly or indirectly -- against the fraternity. In 1983 Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (the future Pope Benedict XVI) re-affirmed this position. 4. Atheists are not welcome. Freemasonry is not a religion per se, but agnostics or atheists cannot belong, said Brent Morris, a Masonic historian, editor of the Scottish Rite Journal, and a 33rd degree Freemason. So could an atheist join? No, said James Sullivan, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York: "The reason we, I think in the past, wanted somebody that had a belief in a supreme being is because we take certain obligation to be a good man, to support the fraternity. And if you didn't have a belief in a supreme being, the obligation would mean nothing." 5. Most of the Founding Fathers were NOT Freemasons. Two of America's earliest presidents, George Washington and James Monroe, were Freemasons, as were Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock and Paul Revere. But many leading figures in the American Revolution -- including John and Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Thomas Paine -- were not Masons. Of the 56 figures who signed the Declaration of Independence, only nine were confirmed Masons, according to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania; and of the 39 delegates of the Continental Congress who signed the draft of the new nation's Constitution in 1787, only 13 (one-third) were Freemasons. To be continued in the next issue
From The South Bro Dave Promenschenkel Jr. Warden Page 5 The Level and the Square by Bro. Jeff Young T he Lodge meeting is almost over, all the business has been conducted and everyone has had their opportunity to speak their concerns and revelations about our great fraternal order, and the impact it has on our wonderful Lodge. The Worshipful Master has made the last call for any comments from the assembled body and is proceeding to close the Lodge. By this time, most of us are winding down from the meeting and getting ready to go home. After all, this is just the Lodge closing formalities that we have listened to hundreds of times and it is the same thing we heard at opening, just an hour ago. The next time you have the opportunity to witness the closing formalities of a Lodge, I challenge you to listen carefully to the last part just before the closing charge and dismissal. We meet upon the Level, act upon the Plumb, and part upon the Square. These are more than just words that are said before you get to go home. They are the very foundation and strength of how Masons should act to all mankind. Think about those simple, yet significant words, and what they mean to you and how you conduct yourself in your day-to-day interactions with others. WE MEET UPON THE LEVEL. All men are equal in the eyes of The Great Architect of the Universe and our fraternal order. Material wealth or station in life does not make a man a better Mason, one over another. The rich man leaves his wealth outside the Lodge and the poor man finds respect and brotherly love around our altar. And when we are finally called to that house, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, we are not sorted out based on status or stature, we are treated as equals, truly meeting upon the Level. But do we really treat all men as equal? Do we have some unkind word or thought about a fellow man be they a co-worker, friend, neighbor, or even Brother Mason? Dealing with problems can be very difficult, and we are but frail human beings that have many faults and deficiencies. Yet we can still meet upon the Level and solve any problem, yet still treating all men with respect and dignity, as we search for solutions together. WE ACT UPON THE PLUM. It is the rule and guide of a Mason to preserve an upright appearance before God, Mason and mankind; and that we honor our faith and give each man his due. We should walk upright in virtue s way, leaning to neither side, and remember that the Supreme Architect of the Universe reads what is in our hearts and bears witness to all that is true. Do we benefit from this teaching? Do we truly maintain that upright appearance in our daily events? Do we speak ill of a fellow man or bring discredit upon him simply because he looks different than we do or believes in some idea we don t embrace? Being in Lodge should be an opportunity to refresh our minds and bodies by remembering the Masonic basics and shrugging off the superfluities of life. AND PART UPON THE SQUARE. Parting upon the Square reminds us to always square our actions with all mankind, treating each other with equal reverence and dignity. After all, no man is accepted as a Mason because of his worldly wealth or status; so why should we make that a standard for dealing with others? Do we really treat all with equal reverence and dignity? I believe we all want to; and try to. But are we always successful? Do we look down on the penniless man on the street corner of life, or do we offer assistance at a level not to impede our own moral or financial stability? These important reminders are given to us all, just before parting Lodge, in an attempt to remind us how we should deal with mankind. Reality and human nature can make meeting these goals difficult. But how hard do we REALLY try?
Page 6 MASONIC LAST RITES REQUEST FORM Brothers, many times we put off the difficult decisions in our life feeling that time hasn t yet come. Unfortunately this important action can result in leaving to other s decisions we would much prefer to make for ourselves. In an effort to assure that your desires are adhered to, the following format has been designed as a service to help prepare each of us for that time, we must approach that undiscovered country from whose borne no traveler returns, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. This form is in no way a requirement. It is merely being provided for your convenience as an act of fraternal friendship and brotherly love from the brethren of your lodge. But keep in mind that it can be helpful to your survivors to know your wishes on that fateful day. Simply complete the information and your desires, insure that family members/friends know where it will be found when the time comes for arrangements to be made for your earthly remains to be interned to their long home. To the officers and members of Lodge No., members of my immediate family, members of the clergy or funeral home directors. I (PRINT NAME) - would like to have: [ ] Masonic Funeral Services conducted by. [ ] Masonic Funeral Services conducted at my place of worship along with my religious memorial rites if possible. I would like my Masonic jewelry; [ ] Interned with my remains. [ ] On my remains for the services and then removed and given to [ ] Given to my Lodge for future presentation to;. I would like Masonic mementos (Past Masters Apron, books, literature, pins, etc. given to [ ]my Lodge; [ ] The Grand Lodge of. [ ] Other [ ] Masonic Grave Side Service. [] Chapel Service [ ] No Masonic Service. [ ] Other explain;.
I would like to; [ ] Inform my local Lodge that I have made a provision in my Will for its future benefit. [ ] Inform the Grand Lodge that I have made a provision in my Will for its future benefit. Page 7 I would request the following Brothers to serve as pallbearers or as honorary pallbearers (if able and willing);. Special requests;. I would like to have my lambskin leathern apron; [ ] Placed on my remains. [ ] Draped on my casket/ urn. [ ] Buried with my remains. [ ] Given to after the funeral services. Other desires;. Your completion of this form is intended to provide comfort and relief for your family and loved ones at a time when you will be unable to guide them. Should you be willing to complete this form, please provide copies to family members and a copy to your Masonic Lodge. It will help them in their efforts to honor you and your wishes for your Masonic Last Rites and tributes. My will and other important documents are located. Other desires;. Signature and date.
The cost is only $125 / Year and it can be prorated. Contact our treasurer, WB Randy Jager for more details. Oasis Masonic Lodge #52, F&AM 450 N, Pantano Rd.