June 4, 2025
For it is written, one does not live by bread alone. — Luke 4:4
Bread, a wonderful staple of our diets; we can find just about any variety in our grocery stores. Who doesn’t like the aroma of freshly baked bread, or warm dinner rolls served with dinner Of course we shouldn’t over indulge with our consumption for our own well-being!
Perhaps this passage really is intended to remind us of the perils of self-sufficiency and “going at it” alone. Through our journeys and experiences in Masonry, we realize these entrapments. We cannot live with illusion because it becomes stale bread quickly.
As we cannot satisfy ourselves, we look to the Great Architect’s invitation to us to feast at the banquet table will will always be ever-satisfying ans set for us for all times.
May 7. 2025
What lies behind us and what lies in front of us pales in comparison as to what lies inside us — Ralph Waldo Emerson
I found this quote from Emerson the other day in the waiting room of a Doctor’s office [I got good news and don’t have cancer!]
This does rather parallel of that which we are reminded in the Entered Apprentice Lecture: the internal, and not the external qualities of us as Masons is what’s important when it’s all said and done. We realize the manifold comforts with the necessities of life, not needing the luxuries
I believe one of the messages of Masonry we have is an awareness of the importance of what lies within us, constantly striving daily to learn to improve ourselves, our households, our communities, our nation, and our world.
April 30, 2025
Today we’re going to take a look at another of our lesser known Masonic Presidents, James Buchanan.
Brother Buchanan was initiated into Lancaster #43 in 1816, where he later served as it’s Master and became a District Deputy Grand Master. He remained active in Masonry throughout his life.
He served in the Pennsylvania state assembly, was minister to Russia and the United Kingdom and was Secretary of State in the administration of James Knox Polk. He was nominated by his party for President in 1856 [the convention held here in Cincinnati] and elected our 15th President.
Unfortunately he turned out to be a weak and ineffectual President, angering both Northerners and Southerners in the period leading up to succession, claiming the Federal Government could do nothing to stop it
After he left the While House in 1861, he retired to his estate for the rest of his days.
April 23, 2025
Today I find myself composing this from a hospital bed — it’s been a week “we plan, and God laughs”. I became ill at church on Sunday morning and wound up here It wasn’t what I had expected
We’ve all had times and circumstances in our lives when things went off the proverbial rails or something not what had planned or hoped for. Life never promises us a rose garden.
I am fortunate for the many blessings of this life, especially my loving help mate wife Sandy. I give thanks that I carry with me the pure principles of Freemasonry and the many brethren I have known and hopefully will know Keep the faith and maintain one’s spirits all our days
April 16, 2025
“For It Is the Passover of the Lord”
We have now in a special time of the year, the observation of Passover and Holy Week. Masonry has long has taken a hiatus from Degree work during this time.
We all should be familiar with this story we find in Exodus and its messages of freedom and liberation as universal for all of us and relevant in this day and age. The Christian Passover, known in West as Easter and in the East as Pascha, is a continuous of the original
It’s interesting that those who threw down their cloaks and palms chanting “Hosanna” were later that week exclaiming ‘We have no king but Ceasar”. Does this reflect our fickle nature? Perhaps the crowd that morning in Jerusalem believed the Messiah would be their Great Leader, throwing off Roman rule [and Make Israel Great Again], but was not going to be that.
We look at this special time to pause, discern and determine how we can be free from what’s holding us back and be prepared for what new things will be forthcoming in our lives.
April 9, 2025
Save me, o God, from the waters have risen up to my neck, I am sinking in a deep mire, and there is no firm ground for my feet — Psalm 69:1-2
After a number of very wet days and flooding has come with our deluged, this passage seems very timely— here’s hoping that all is well.
It’s been several days now of nasty weather, damp rainy and cold. We all, at some time and to some extent have a bit of a “low spot” in our daily lives. Days when the sky above is definitely not blue — but we are “blue”.
We are most fortunate that as an antidote we can rely upon a firm belief in our Great Architect and our principles and tenets of Masonry, and we have the backing and support of our brethren when we need it.
March 9, 2025
— You are the salt of the Earth — Matt. 5:13
Isn’t this such a needed validation for each and every one of us as we are? We don’t need the movie & TV stars, A-listers, self-help books or Marketing directors telling us what to think,or that we need to go out and buy the biggest and latest item so we can keep up [supposedly] with everyone else.
We as Masons know we are beloved by our Great Architect; we work with God to replace the bitter taste of evil with the goodness of salt to the meal that is life in this world; we are practical and necessary for our Divine Parent’s purposes in this world.
March 5, 2025
Today at noon we will hear the monthly test of the weather severe warning system; this hopefully will remind us we’re entering into the period where we might have turbulent rapid weather changes at any time. Indeed, in this part of the world March is a figurative Joker Month.
When thinking about sirens and alarms, it may be a good time to prepare or be as ready as possible for the turbulence and rapid changes which may effect us in our daily lives. As Masons, we are to be “ever watchful and guarded”. We should always have provisions when life brings us dandelions and not a rose garden. Let’s always be ready and “on the lookout” to aid, protect and support one another.
February 26, 2025
They brought the jars to her, and she kept pouring- – – 2 Kings 4:5
This story is about the poor widow who was threatened by a creditor to take her sons as payment; the prophet Elisa told her to gather up olive oil jars and keep pouring from the one small jar she possessed. She kept pouring and filled up so many olive oil jars to pay what was owed
As Masons, we understand that the Great Architect provides and endows each and every one of us with certain talents and abilities to bring blessings to others – – – during our time in this life, let’s remember and resolve to keep pouring, just like.the poor widow did.
February 19, 2025
Since we’ve just observed President’s Day, we’re going today to look about one “lesser known” Masonic presidents, James Monroe.
Brother Monroe was made a Mason in Williamsburg [VA] Lodge #6 in 1776.
Educated at William & Mary college, he served in the Continental army in the Revolutionary War, he served our new nation in many capacities, including minister to both France and the United Kingdom, governor of Virginia, Secretary of State before his election as Fifth President in 1816. He advocated for friendship between North & South and less partisanship in public discourse. He’s best know for the issuance of what’s known as the Monroe Doctrine during his second term as President
Unfortunately, Brother Monroe had many financial and health issues; he was called by the Great Architect in destitute circumstances on July 4, 1831.
He was a true and faithful brother among us who served our country and Fraternity well.
February 12, 2025
“I have always found that mercy bears more fruit than strict justice.” – – – Abraham Lincoln
Since today is in fact his birthday, I thought that “Father Abraham” would be pleased! Truly, his comments on mercy and compassion resonate with us in today’s world.
It would appear that Hosea 6:6 [“I desire mercy and not sacrifice”] could be the forerunner of this observation — – – Lincoln was a living example of mercy and kindness throughout his life and especially while President during our tragic Civil War.
We would do well in our journeys through Masonry to be kind, considerate and compassionate to all those we encounter. Granted, it’s not always an easy thing to do, but we know it will bear much good fruit.
February 5, 2025
” . . By the Rough Ashlar, we are reminded of our own imperfect state by nature. . .”
It seems to be in our day and age of the need to be perfect — we are assailed daily by slick marketing campaigns to select and buy the perfect item, to rush out and buy the biggest wide screen TV [so we can host the perfect Super Bowl party] the latest laptop, tablet, phone or other electronic gadget [which will probably be outdated six months from now.]
Overworking and trying to accomplish six things at once are now modern day mantras
Because of this, it is natural to perceive that we haven’t *kept up” or maybe did our best; we can get down on ourselves. Masonry serves us that we’re not perfect [and never will be] but we trust that our daily efforts will find favor with our Great Architect as we look forward to being crafted into Perfect Ashlars. May it ever be so.
January 29. 2025
I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun,, shining around me and my companions. — Acts 26:13
I doubt any of us have had anything akin to what the apostle Paul had that day on the road to Damascus [or ever will, for that matter] God had had to use extraordinary methods to turn around his life: he had important work for Paul to do and needed his talents and abilities.
So too does the Great Architect call upon us through Freemasonry to put our time, knowledge, talents and abilities to work in bettering ourselves, our families, our work places, our houses of worship and our communities and supporting each other.
It has been written that God comes to us disguised as your daily life. Let’s all strive to pay attention to the messages we’re sent in those we encounter and the circumstances we face.
January 22, 2025
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told to you from the beginning?” — Isaiah 40:21
We can almost feel Isaiah’s sense of exasperation with these questions— “You just don’t get it” — seemingly shouting to get our attention. Unfortunately it can sometimes easy to forget or overlook what the Great Architect has done for us or put off doing His work He has for us to do.
Before the beginning of time, God desires that we should be made whole by his complete love and concern for us; as Masons we have for three plus centuries “passed along” this love and concern to our families, communities and to one another; it’s extent is universal in its scope.
As our national life now embarks on a new chapter, let it be our fondest hope that our elected leaders will pray to God for Solomon’s wisdom, that they make prudent decisions and take right actions for the welfare of our nation and the world
January 15, 2025
Sandy & I went the other day to one of our Chinese restaurants; I got the following fortune cookie: Follow the path of gratitude and blessings will be yours.
While it would seem that the usual season of gift buying and giving is in our “rear view mirror” by now, there is no more timeless or priceless gift than realizing and acknowledging our gratitude for all things and people who touch our daily lives.
As Masons we need to remember to pass along our thanks to one another for our remembrance of one another and hold up each other especially at times when our skies aren’t blue.
January 8, 2025
Winter left its “calling card” here this past Sunday [and into Monday as well]. It snowed and pretty much shut down most everything. Here’s hoping that all are safe.
It was silent outside; it seemed as though both people and nature took a respite from their sundry travails.
We are fortunate that there’s food on hand, the electricity and furnace both work.
This does give us as Masons to realize and be thankful for having the necessities of daily life as opposed to the “wants to’ of any supposed luxuries. While we might have had some “cabin fever”, we remember the many blessings we have and the comforts which constantly surround us.
And as a comfort to me, I wish my darling spouse Sandy a happy birthday today!
January 1, 2025
” . . . With Light added to the coming Light. . .” This phrase, heard in the Apron Presentation, has always struck a chord or resonates with me as it is a very profound and powerful message to us.
Our Winter Solstice has occurred, though while our days are still short they’re not getting shorter and will now slowly get longer.
While it appears dark, overcast and gloomy outside many days we as well might feel the same way. We as Masons have an antidote for the “blahs” as we the brightness of Freemasonry which shines with and through each and every one of us. We bear in mind that darkness is not dark to our Divine Artist.
May we all have a safe, healthy and Joyful New Year