FROM THE PILLAR OF WISDOM
Brethren & Ladies:
Greetings.
As January arrives and a new group of leaders take the helm of this lodge I want to take a moment to thank everyone for the confidence you have placed in me in electing me your Master. The role of Master of a lodge is a profound task, one that I have previously experienced, appreciated and enjoyed.
We say in Masonry, “As the sun rules the day and the moon governs the night, so should the Worshipful Master endeavor, with equal regularity, to rule and govern the Lodge over which he is called to preside.”
May God grant me the strength and wisdom necessary to rule and govern our Lodge as Past Masters of this Lodge have done before me.
Fraternally,
Kyle Dau, PM, WM
FROM THE PILLAR OF STRENGTH
Brethren and Ladies;
I want to thank all of you who could attend our Officer Installation for coming. Your support and recognition give the Officers of the Lodge motivation to continue on our Masonic journey of emulation of those good brethren in whose well trodden path we follow.
Your help enables us to continue our mission of spreading the cement of brotherly love by providing relief to those in need in our community, attending to the needs of brethren, wives, their widows and orphans who find themselves in difficult circumstances, and your support motivates us to doggedly complete the more mundane tasks required to keep our organization compliant with federal, state, local and Grand Lodge rules and regulations.
Special recognition in December to outgoing Master Clint Black and his lady Judy for all their hard work in 2009. And to our new lodge Treasurer Jim Achenbach, PM. Each year Jim asks the principal of Sequoia Elementary to identify families in financial distress in order that we might provide some relief by delivering all the fixings for a full turkey dinner complete with gifts for the children. As usual it came off without a hitch due to brother Achenbach’s organizational efforts.
Thanks also to our lodge Secretary John Gamache, PM for his organization of the Installation, Marty and Judy for setting up refreshments, Michael Allen, PM for acting again as Master of Ceremonies and District Inspector David Haslim, PM for his work as Installing Officer.
I look forward to working with the new Master of the lodge and all the officers and line members to continue our traditions. With your help we will work to preserve and enhance those worthy endeavors.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Steve Laurvick, SW
FROM THE PILLAR OF BEAUTY
Brethren and Ladies;
I would like to say thank you to the Brethren for allowing me to serve as Junior Warden. I am so fortunate to be a member of S. W. Hackett and am honored by this opportunity. I will do my very best to serve in a manner that will only bring pride and respect to this great Masonic Lodge.
Fundamentals of Freemasonry: (From an article by Norman Williams Crabbe)
Masons themselves cannot agree on exactly when Freemasonry began. Some say it was when the Grand Lodge of England was established in 1717. Others who have studied the fraternity closely put the date nearer to 5000 BC—though it was not then necessarily called Freemasonry. Masonic ritual is secret because throughout history men have suffered persecution for having opinions different from accepted doctrine; secrecy protects life, limb and the message.
Freemasonry uses allegorical symbols to teach a philosophy concerning the nature of the Creator, the origins of the universe, and humanity’s universal destiny. The religious doctrines in which most people are raised are designed to shape their religious beliefs and hopefully form them into a good and productive person of society. To get a truer understanding of the nature of the Deity requires a long-term commitment of study. Freemasonry strives to keep this knowledge alive from generation to generation. Though dealing with religious themes, Freemasonry is not a religion: Nor is the Masonic Lodge a place of worship; it would be better considered a classroom. Progressing through the three degrees of Masonry, the student increases in Masonic knowledge. As a Master Mason he is informed that one of the most important duties of a Mason is to “seek truth”.
The search for truth is a fundamental principle of Masonry. In all worldly endeavors Masons are reminded to be truthful to others, to follow the path of truth, and ever to look for the truth in their daily lives. As one’s knowledge grows the search becomes easier.
Freemasonry leads toward truth by giving the student “working tools” to find true answers. As one grows in the study of Freemasonry, one also grows in the knowledge of all religions. Truth is learned. From true knowledge, wisdom is born. To be wise is to be godly, and to be godly is to know ourselves, our universe, and our Creator.
The duty of a Freemason is to practice brotherly love and friendship by transcending the differences in people to find their similarities. While in a Masonic Lodge anywhere in the world, a Brother Mason cannot discuss politics or religion, in order that first and foremost there is harmony among the Brethren while in lodge. Relief is a prime belief. Freemasons are obligated to help others less fortunate than themselves when it is possible to do s. Charity work, whether of the group or individuals, is most important.
Practicing Masonic beliefs outside the lodge instills harmony into everyday life. When enough Masons throughout the world practice the fundamental beliefs toward their fellowmen, they will be passing along the true codes of ethics for the earth. Hopefully, by this example others will move towards the ideal of practiced harmony and treat their fellowmen with peace, love, tolerance and understanding, and this worldly peace will in turn improve the harmony of the universe. So, if Freemasonry does nothing else, it will continue to shape world events by bringing together men of different races, creeds and nationalities under the auspices of the Masonic teachings of brotherly love, relief and truth. In this one act, it will have served mankind on a grand scale by promoting a dialogue among all members of the human race.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Dennis Stahr, JW
LADIES CORNER
Happy New Year!!!
The Lodge installation was a success, and we all wish Kyle a terrific year.
One of our favorite people came to see us at our December Stated meeting and the kids all had a great time. Thank you Santa!! Susie did a terrific job (as usual) on the table decorations, thank you very much. I would be remiss if I didn’t take the time to tell Judy how much we appreciated all the time and effort she put into helping make the lodge the success it was this past year.
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. See you at the January 5th. Stated Meeting Dinner.
Marty
SPECIAL NOTICE
Our newly appointed Jr. Deacon Michael Nolen, as well as our venerable Tiler
appointee Sam Jones were unable to be present for their installation during our
recent Installation of Officers, and, fates allowing, will be installed prior to
our January Stated Meeting.
ORIGINS OF FREEMASONRY
Most scholars today believe the origins of modern Freemasonry can be traced to ancient Rome, where an organization of workmen formed under the name of the Collegium Artificum, or Collegium Faborum – the College of Artificers, or the College of Workmen. This brotherhood consisted of builders and architects and was the prototype of the guilds and incorporations of the Middle Ages. The college flourished under the Roman Empire, which sent its members, endowed with skill in architecture and the spirit of confraternity, to the various provinces that the Romans had conquered. In all these provinces, but principally in Northern Italy, Gaul and Britain, they established similar colleges or associations, in which they transmitted to the native inhabitants their knowledge of the art of building and impressed them with their spirit of fraternal cooperation in labor.
After the fall of the Roman Empire and the transition of the provinces into independent and sovereign states, these colleges of workmen evolved into organizations of builders masons and architects – who in Italy assumed the name of Freemasons, in Gaul that of the Mestrices des Macons, in Germany that of the Steinmetzen, England that of the Guilds and Companies, and in Scotland that of the Lodges and Incorporations. These associations of builders and architects were bound together by regulations very similar to and evidently from those that governed the Roman Colleges, with other rules suggested by change of conditions and circumstances.
The associations, though mainly made up of professional workmen, sometimes admitted nonprofessionals – men of wealth, distinction, or learning – into their ranks as honorary members. At the end of the 17th century the number of these nonprofessional members greatly increased, and by the early 18th century they had completely changed the character of the Masonic organizations, known at that time as Lodges. The operative element – the practical application of the rules of architecture to the construction of public and private edifices – was entirely eliminated, and the Lodges were no longer companies of builders, but fraternities of speculative philosophers.
From The History of Freemasonry – Introduction, by Albert Mackey
EDITOR’S NOTE
Your items of Masonic Education and general interest are always welcome and earnestly requested. Just be sure to have them to me no later than January 18th. You may contact me by email uglidedc@cox.net or telephone 760-751-3469.
Fraternally, Dick Covert, PM Editor
JANUARY STATED MEETING DINNER MENU
Spinach Salad
Baron of Beef
Chicken Parmesan
Baby Red Potatoes
Green Beans Almandine
Assorted Rolls
Assorted Hot and Cold Drinks
Carrot Cake
FROM THE SECRETARY’S DESK
PLEASE If you are not on the permanent dinner reservation list, call at least two days prior to a Stated Meeting. We are always delighted to see you at Stated Meeting and dinner, but it can be difficult accommodating everyone who shows up without notice. Cost of dinner is $12.00 each. Brethren on the permanent list should call if they are unable to attend dinner. Please remember also to keep us advised of address and telephone number changes.
A special note regarding dinner reservations is needed. The lodge maintains a dinner reservation list in order to provide the caterer information on the number of attendees expected each month. Several of those listed are not coming to dinner and are costing your lodge $12.00 for each dinner requested and not served. Please take the time to ascertain if you are on the dinner list and cannot attend dinner so we may take that into consideration when ordering meals. Equally difficult are those of us who come to dinner without informing the Secretary at least five days prior to the Stated Meeting so adequate notice can be provided to the caterer.
Fraternally, John S. Gamache,
PM, Secretary
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
1 George Speer
2 Donald Harding
3 Donald Dibler
5 Bill E. Smith
7 Odes Martini, PM
11 Michael Nolen
14 David Najera
16 Ronald E. Hestand
Robert E. Wilson, PM
17 Gerald Lynn, PM
Anthony Thornburg
21 Lex Keen
Gary Parks,
PM
26 Dale McLellan
29 Steven Laurvick
31 Roger Parker, PM
ECHOES FROM THE PAST
60 Years
Virgil Ogle MM 1/2/50
51 Years
Edward Dangler MM 1/22/59
48 Years
Fred Lipscomb MM 1/30/62
44 Years
Ted Ketterer, PM MM 1/25/66
42 Years
George Glavis, PM MM 1/24/68
41 Years
Frank Danner MM 1/27/69
