The Lodge 693 Trestleboard November 2015 palmspringsmasons.org november 2015 from the east Greetings Brethren, Lodge 693 Stated Meeting November at 7:30 PM Election of Officers for 2016 Dinner Served from 6:00 November is a time of "Thanks. I am extremely grateful and want to thank"all the Brothers who have stepped forward to pitch in and help improve the operation of our Palm Springs Lodge #693. One brief example would be our Hall Association and its President, Mark Steiger. Brother Mark has been busy with his various Hall Association duties and has set goals endeavoring to secure new needed revenue by renting our Lodge space when not in use. One such new rental (two were secured in October) was for a French Degree by The Santa Monica French Masons for their October Stated Meeting. It was very exciting for me as an attendee, because it was done completely in French. Let's not overlook the spectacular lunch, served in our dining room by two of our local valley French restaurants. I have been told that they enjoyed themselves and will now make this an annual tradition. Rentals like these are needed positive income generators, and will help to financially strengthen our lodge! To raise our profile in the community, Brother Michael J. Sekera, Senior Warden has organized a Palm Springs Unified School District Student of the Month award program, and to be topped off by a Student of the Year celebration. This program is underwritten by The Altura Credit Union. The committee is now forming, and I urge all Brothers to see SW Sekera to get involved. continued next page
from the east continued As you are aware, November is the time of our Annual Election of Officers, and all brethren are requested to attend. Coming up in December we will vote on a potential change in our By Laws regarding our annual dues. As you can see the year is winding down and we are still very busy. That's a good thing! Let me express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all those Brothers who have helped to work diligently and tirelessly with reestablishing Palm Springs Lodge #693 towards peace and unity. I wish the best of luck to all newly elected Officers, both the elected and appointed. I also want to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all our members and their families whithersoever dispersed. Remember, my Brethren, Tuesday night is Lodge night! Sincerely and fraternally, Kurt Handshuh Master from the grand lodge Lodge 693 altar arranged for the French Degree done by the Santa Monica French Masons Sunday October 25th 2 Register for the World Conference: Meet brothers from throughout the world in San Francisco, Nov. 18-21. Events include a San Francisco Bay dinner cruise, elegant City Hall gala, and discounted tickets for San Francisco Opera s performance of The Magic Flute. Reserve your place at wcrmgl.com. Questions? Contact communications@freemason.org.
from the west One of the duties of the Senior Warden is to be in charge of the Craft while at Labor. With that in mind, I intend to focus my article in that area. Those of you who know me know that I have a real passion for the Esoteric work for it is through our Ritual that the lessons of Masonry are communicated and passed down from generation to generation. It is our Ritual which ties us to our Masonic past and heritage, and the Ritual that contains the lessons and tenets of Freemasonry. Just as our Ancient brethren used the common gavel, square, level, plumb, and other working tools of masonry in its Operative sense, so do we apply these same tools to our Speculative Masonic work. What is this great work that we are trying to accomplish? I believe that the purpose of our Masonic work is to become better men: better husbands, better fathers, better citizens, and more thoughtful human beings. We work to improve ourselves and transform the rough ashlars that we are into perfect ashlars. Being in the company of other men working towards this same goal helps us in this task, for we see in others examples of good qualities that we can emulate in our own behavior. We also help one another by correcting irregularities in each other s behavior, and supporting our Brothers in their efforts at reformation and self-improvement. So how do the Working Tools of Masonry help us accomplish this? The working tools are symbolic, and guide us as we explore the lessons of morality: our duties to God, our families, society, and to ourselves. They also help us to be able to communicate with our Brethren through a common understanding of what these symbols mean. It is up to each Mason to determine for himself how these tools apply to his own life and what their deeper meanings are, but there is also a common meaning to these symbols that is understood by all Masons. It is these common understandings that tie us together into one sacred band, or society and upon which we build our Moral and Masonic edifice. So Brethren, I encourage you to think about the working tools of Masonry, and how they can be applied to your own life and actions, and how by doing so, you can become a better man, thereby fitting yourself as a living stone for that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Sincerely and Fraternally, Bro. Michael J. Sekera Senior Warden 3
november at lodge 693 450 s. avenida caballeros, palm springs Tue November 3 7:30PM: Stated Meeting Dinner served from 6PM. Election of 2016 Officers Tue November 10: Degree Practice Tue November 17 7:30PM 1st Degree - candidate TBA Thu November 26 Thanksgiving Day Above is the Lodge 693 Calendar as of publication date. Any additional Degrees or other activity will be announced by e-mail, at www.palmspringsmasons.org, on Twitter @Lodge693 and on Facebook (Palm Springs Masonic Lodge #693) Steve Sanchez Nov 1 Hicham El Khoury Nov 6 Gary Okamoto Nov 6 Randal Viscovich Nov 6 Thierry Cuille Nov 9 Marvin Rudin Nov 11 November Birthdays Hector Minon Nov 12 Jeffrey Gibson Nov 16 Gary Knutson Nov 16 David Schrager Nov 21 Carl Story Nov 21 4
from the south Brotherly Love and Civility When we speak about the Brotherly Love, we Masons are expressing our affection and love to other Brothers as we would love ourselves. It is a sincere sense and love doesn't have different shades or colors. There is either love or no love. Our Masonic love is more sacred and perhaps a little different from Love in whole. You can love some one with lack of respect. If we look around us, we probably can find a family member or peer that we truly love, but not necessarily respect due to their characters or actions. When we talk about Brotherly Love in Masonry we can't love a Brother without respecting him. First of all it is goes against our sincere promise. To respect a Brother means being civil to him. All Brothers are different. No matter your religion, the color of your skin, your opinion, or your belonging to a different social class, we are all equal! We should regard our Fraternity as one family. Brothers, let s use these principles while in or outside Lodge. Never forget that the way we regard our Brothers, the same way we respect ourselves. Civility is a foundational building block for a healthy society. Let's use the civility as a cornerstone for the healthy foundation of our Fraternity. Fraternally, Arman Ordian Junior Warden 5 The Valley of Palm Springs Scottish Rite s 3rd Annual Feast of Tishri just took place at the Palm Springs Masonic Center. A lot of happy Brothers in attendance. It was a fantastic evening, full of Masonic fellowship!
We re%celebra*ng%a%special %50%year%Mason! 6 Save%the%Date: Saturday%December%5th,%when% Worshipful%Charlie%Ash,%PM will%receive%his%50eyear%pin at%the%palm%springs%masonic%center 2015%Lodge%693%Officers Need to rent an event space? The Lodge 693 dining room can look like this! Worshipful+Master+0+Kurt+Handshuh+760033304410+kurtlends@gmail.com Senior+Warden+0+Michael+Sekera+951026507717+mikesekera@gmail.com Junior+Warden+0+Arman+Ordian+760084404897+aordian@verizon.net Treasurer+0+Dan+Oates+760061002873+doates818@aol.com Secretary0+Alan+Franks+760039301985+dssar2003@aol.com Chaplain+0+Mark+Steiger+310065800308+marksteiger777@gmail.com Senior+Deacon+0+William+Roose+760025008980+waroose@verizon.net Junior+Deacon+0+Robert+Jacob+760045903440+revbobpaul@aol.com Marshal0+Ben+Manniere+760034303313+benj@dc.rr.com Senior+Steward+0+David+Mariner++760021807536+david.mariner77@gmail.com Junior+Steward+0+Randal+Viscovich+760032405142+rviscovich@msn.com Tiler+0+Dave+Berg+760088005916+kingdave39@hotmail.com Officers +Coach+0+Cesar+Rubio,+PM+760090203160+Astronomy6014@yahoo.com
RUSTY TROWEL All Masons Invited Family & Friends Feb 11, 2016 6:30pm All Masons & Shriners new to our area, All Masons & Shriners who have not been active in a while, All visiting Masons & Shriners, or All Masons and Shriners who just don't want to miss this event, You are all invited to attend our Rusty Trowel Program at Coachella Masonic Lodge. Family and Friends are welcome. There will be representatives of our local Masonic Organizations and Youth Orders. There will be a program on the Famous Masons that made our Nation, Masonic Homes, Masonic Foundation, and Shriner s Hospitals. Dinner ($12): 6:30pm Place: Coachella Masonic Lodge Program: 7:30pm 51100 Jackson St., Indio CA Refreshments: 9:30pm Come see what it is to be a Mason in today s world. Take a look at the Shriners and what they are doing. See the other Masonic Bodies and Youth Orders. Sponsored by Coachella Lodge No. 476 and Palm Springs Lodge No. 693 RSVP: Phone/Text: 760-610-4406, Email: kirkweissps@gmail.com