The Perfect Ashlar...on which all Masons should test the correctness and value of the tools in which they make their contribution to Masonry as well as to the society in which they reside... PAGE 1
Save these dates! Kern River Valley No. 827 Kernville First Degree: 7:00 pm, April 21 For those EA s and others that would like to see a First Degree For EA s looking to advance watching your degree from the sidelines can be a great benefit to your memory work. For additional information contact Green Dragon Gary Jackson, 661-345-3320 or gd.freemasons@icloud.com April 22 7:00 pm Libertas-Security No. 466 Third Degree for Bro. Joel Helms Lets all attend and support Brother Joel on this advancement Fellowship Breakfast 8:30 am May 4th Noriega Hotel, 525 Sumner Street $10 plus $2 tip Reservations required Note: If you make a reservation and are a no-show you still owe for the meal! RSVP to Gary Jackson 661-345-3320 gd.freemasons@icloud.com Fellowship 2014 Every Second Tuesday Elks Lodge, 12616-30th Street near the Chester Avenue traffic circle 6:00 pm Steak Dinner $10-8 oz. $15-16 oz Fellowship, smoke and adult beverages in the patio after dinner For more information on this and other Fellowship events gd.freemasons@icloud.com www.greendragonfreemasons.org PAGE 2
Random rants and raves... Grand Lecturer s School of Instruction On behalf of Worshipful Matt Ross I thank all the Brothers that attended the Officers School of Instruction held by the Grand Lecturer Worshipful Rose. It was very well attended and I believe that everyone came away more informed on the Fellowcraft degree than before. Brothers from Libertas-Security, Kern River Valley and Ridgecrest met Saturday morning in Bakersfield and car pooled to Tulare. ************************************** Brother Walter Jones Brother Walt is having surgery on his knee Tuesday, April 15th and will be keeping a low profile for a few weeks. Keep him in your thoughts. I will try to keep everybody informed on his progress. Gary Jackson Editor s Note: The Perfect Ashlar is no longer an official publication of Libertas-Security No. 466, F. & A.M.. Starting with the April, 2014 issue Libertas-Security meetings schedule will be published in the original Kern County Masonic Bodies Trestle Board and will be mailed to every member of record. If you do not receive your mailed Kern County Masonic Bodies Trestle Board contact the lodge Secretary Jimmy Howard. ************************************** Scottish Games and In-Gathering and the Green Dragon Tavern Masonic Fellowship group... Several Masons and friends of masons were on hand April 5th to help out with the Scottish Games and In-gathering. The Scottish Games benefit several children charities. Those friends and brothers that gave of their time: Bro. Walt Jones, Bro. Steve Hubble and son Steven, Bro. Randy McCormick, Bro. David Patrick, Bro. Don Beauford, Brian Tidwell and Bro Gary Jackson. Two Irish mercenaries on the left serving English beer at the Scottish Games...who says the Irish can t get along with anybody!!! PAGE 3
If Freemasonry is good, then lets talk about it... DEATH OF A CRAFTSMAN In Rosslyn Chapel, in Scotland, stands a memorial to the remarkable skill of the stonemason's art. Called the Apprentice Pillar, it might also be called the Pillar of Beauty, for it is an exquisite example of freestone carving by an operative mason. The legend, which may not be as old as the pillar itself, tells of the tragic end of the craftsman who carved it, and the jealousy that caused his murder. Crime of passion It begins with a Master Mason who assigns an Entered Apprentice the task of carving the third, and most beautiful, of the central pillars in the chapel. He does not give the Entered Apprentice any instruction in how to carve the pillar, perhaps because he wants the Entered Apprentice to fail at the task. The Master Mason then sets off for a foreign land, ostensibly to study a famous pillar and then bring the design back to the chapel, where he will complete the pillar that the failed Entered Apprentice could not carve. However, upon his return, he discovers that the Entered Apprentice has completed the pillar, and that he has done so with a skill that the Master Mason could never hope to achieve. In his anger, the Master Mason strikes the Entered Apprentice on the forehead with a setting maul, felling him dead at his feet. As a punishment for his crime, the other stonemasons carve a stone head representing the Master Mason along the inner wall of the chapel, with its gaze forever fixed on the Apprentice Pillar. And across from this, they carve another head one representing the slain Entered Apprentice, with a great wound on his forehead, gazing forever at the stone head of his murderer. The crime and its consequences were carved in stone for all time. Regardless of whether this legend has any basis in fact, the beautiful Apprentice Pillar is still in Rosslyn Chapel, and the stone heads are still looking on after all these centuries. There is a Masonic allusion in this tale, but there is also a deeper Masonic significance in what the story tells us. Lessons carved in stone The legend is about the failure of the Master Mason to perform his prime duty of instructing his Entered Apprentice, and, instead, plotting to discredit him and claim the glory for himself. It backfires, and instead of our remembering the great skill of the Master Mason, we remember only his betrayal. The beauty created by the Entered Apprentice is his lasting memorial. PAGE 4
The story teaches three Masonic lessons that we should not forget. First, it is the duty of every Mason to empower another Mason to succeed. Every Entered Apprentice is told that his "future moral and Masonic edifice" will be built well and truly if he stays close to the "master builder" in his lodge symbolically represented by the master of the lodge. That, in turn, requires the master to teach Freemasonry to those in his charge, and particularly to a new Mason. Second, we are taught to circumscribe our passions, and keep them within due bounds. Focused energy is a blessing; unfocused anger and rage is destructive of all societies, and especially of ours. Jealousy has no place in Freemasonry, for as we are taught a Mason only succeeds in an environment of those who can work together and agree. Finally, there is another lesson that comes from this old legend of Rosslyn Chapel and its Entered Apprentice Pillar: the lesson of doing what we are expected to do in the best way that we can, regardless of the consequences. It is possible that the Entered Apprentice knew that he would be in trouble if he completed carving the pillar that the Master Mason had expected to complete himself. But he did so because he wanted to create a thing of beauty. That urge overrode any other possibility. By John L. Cooper III Grand Master, Grand Lodge of California Apprentice Pillar The most elaborately decorated pillar in the Chapel This pillar contains one of the most famous and fascinating riddles of the building. An apprentice mason is said to have carved the pillar, inspired by a dream, in his master's absence. On seeing the magnificent achievement on his return, the master mason flew into a jealous rage and struck the apprentice, killing him outright. PAGE 5
Masons 4 Masons Support THE brothers that support us CMC 809.220; B. Remember when this was a binding contract? To a Freemason it still is! Insect Trouble What We Do Hubble Termite Management specializes in the identification, treatment, and repairs of all wood destroying pests and organisms you might have. Call Hubble www.hubble-termite.com Serving Kern and Ventura Counties!!! Kern County 661-679-7950 661-873-4907 Ventura County 805-914-9710 805-389-0459 As a family owned and operated company, the Hubble Termite team prefers to treat our customers with the same devotion and respect as we would our own family. Here are some things to expect: We service all your Pest Control needs. Free Limited Inspection/Free Second Opinions Senior Citizen Discounts Better Quality Better Service Better Prices Guaranteed! PAGE 6
Masons 4 Masons Support THE brothers that support us Kern Construction Co. Steve Sonder - Owner/Agent TRI Canyon Insurance Services 3713 Mt. Pinos Way/PO Box 279 Frazier Park, CA 93225-0279 Ph # 661-245-3715 Fax # 661-245-3083 An affiliate of Pacific Interstate Insurance Brokers Bro. David Patrick 661-747-1424 General Contracting Remodels Repairs Commercial Residential We do it all at a fair price and on time!!! To have your business or Masonic Body featured in this publication as well as the Bakersfield Masonic Bodies and Kern County Shrine websites contact the editor at: gd.freemasons@icloud.com Masonic restrictions apply PAGE 7
Masons 4 Masons Support THE brothers that support us Executive Chef Brother Bruce Tisler...the new name for fine dining in Bakersfield... Opening late April PAGE 8