DECEMBER 28, 2022
Fast away the old year passes, Fa la la la la, la la la la.
We have reached the end of our “Old” Year of 2022, 2023 is just four days away.
It is natural for us at this time to take a look back at this year which has passed away rather quickly; one suspects we’ve had some really good days and some days that were not exactly, like the mosaic pavement of King Solomon’s Temple – checkered with good and not so good. Most of our days are pretty routine and unremarkable.
Here’s wishing to everyone a safe, healthy & happy 2023. In this new year may we all commit ourselves to the wonderful Principles and tenets of our Fraternity; remembering at this time Freemasonry needs all of us, our best efforts to not only strengthen our Lodge in particular and the well-being for the entire Craft.
DECEMBER 21, 2022
Do not doubt, but Believe — John 20:19
Today, some Christian denominations observe as the Feast Day of St. Thomas – the “Doubter”. We’re all familiar with the phrase, “Doubting Thomas”.
He’s gotten a bad rap – after all, he was honest.
It’s in our DNA to want and need proof of all things – in my job I request several – proof of income, proof of Escrows, proof of Property taxes and the like. Indeed, we run on “Trust, but Verify”. There are of course many things in our daily lives we believe since there’s proof – The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series in 1990 [and who when they’ll win another] is a proven fact.
One of the many beauties of Freemasonry is that all of us don’t need to be doubters about the existence of our Great and Beneficent Supreme Architect, that the Great Lights will always be there for us and with us, and that we need not tangible proof he has established His house and Kingdom forever.
As Masons we realize that the lessons in this passage parallel what we learn of in our degrees, always remembering foot to foot – to always to go out of our way not only for one another, but for all people we encounter.
NOVEMBER 30, 2023
Happy New Year!!!!
Have I lost my mind? [Don’t answer, please!] Isn’t the Rose Bowl and the Tournament of Roses Parade not until January 2nd?
Well, it is a New Year for our Lodge this evening as we will Install the Elected and Appointed Offices for 2023. There’s all sort of “New Years” – businesses have Fiscal Years, some Christian denominations observed their New Year this past Sunday; our Jewish Brothers and siters observe theirs in September usually.
It marks at once a New officer Line linked together by those leaving and by the timeless ceremony of Installation. We have the opportunity to both “look back” and thank those for their service and to “look forward” to new Officers.
Please make an effort to come out, enjoy the dinner beforehand and take part in the ceremonies – it would make the heart glad to see all seats on the sideline filled.
NOVEMBER 23, 2023
For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth, sea and sky
NOVEMBER 16, 2022
- Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? — Luke 12:17
I have always wondered what ever happened to the other nine lepers. Did they live their whole lives regretting that they failed to offer thanks for the gift of life given to them? Did they believe that their suffering entitled them to something better?
We live in an entitled world; “modern” people believe they deserve the life they desire. We see all around us examples of the nine who went away ungrateful.
We know as Masons that ingratitude is incompatible with our Tenets; that gratitude to the Great Architect is the cornerstone of our daily lives.
NOVEMBER 2. 2022
Tonight is our Lodge’s annual Awards Night, one of our major event of the year. Tonight we will pause to remember our brethren who have been called by the Great Architect in the year gone by, and rejoice for those who are receiving their sundry service awards.
While it is altogether a good thing to do this, there is, I believe, one universal award that all Masons receive :
V V B
All of us, through our common ties, merit the Very Valuable Brother award each and every day. All of us, in our own way,
with our own unique knowledge, abilities, experience and talent all add to that Common Stock which is indeed the very strength and support of our Intuition.
OCTOBER 15, 2022
The next day, he took two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said “Take care of him, and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend. – Luke 10:35
We’re all familiar with the parable of the Good Samaritan. We wonder what sort of names these days we might want to insert for those who passed by the wounded man, especially
in these days of not so civil discourse.
The Good Samaritan took the wounded man to an innkeeper, paid the innkeeper to take care of the wounded man, and then promised to make up any shortfall.
Not only did the Good Samaritan show mercy, but went further with commitment. He took it upon himself not to just have simply bandaged the wounded man up, but to
become a true and trusted friend.
As Masons we realize that the lessons in this passage parallel what we learn of in our degrees, always remembering foot to foot – to always to go out of our way not only
for one another, but for all people we encounter.
OCTOBER 5, 2022
Refrain from anger, leave rage alone
Do not fret yourself; it only leads to evil –Psalm 37:9
We all notice how much anger and rage there is in our public life and how [sadly] it creeps into our personal dealings.
Imagine if the counsel of this Psalm were heeded : it would derail most campaigns for political office & destroy the business models of the cable news channels!
In the psalter of David, David had ample reason for fear, anger and rage; he had to flee into exile when King Saul turned on him and his own son Absalom rose up against him in rebellion.
As Masons we are fortunate as we understand to be still before our Divine Creator and wait patiently before him; we understand that our ultimate safety is in God and God alone.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022
There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it, but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with them.
– 1 Timothy 6:6-8
This text goes on to where we encounter that all-too-familiar bromide, “Money is the root of all evil” Is it? Should we instead consider that “Greed is the source of all evil”. There is nothing more distasteful and unseemly than greed; indeed, greed is and will always be incompatible with Freemasonry. We all need money whether it comes from W2 wages, Social Security, pensions, annuities and Investment accounts. This of course enables us “thereby being better able to support myself and family and contribute to the relief of all worthy distressed Master Masons, their widows and orphans”.
As we live our lives, let us remember to ever be content with the necessities of life, knowing that we will exit mortal life with nothing. There is no place in our daily lives for greed or to be concerned with possessions that someone else has; it is all vanity and wistfulness.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2022
In Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town, the residents of Grover’s Corner go about their daily routines just as we do. The rhythm of their lives becomes quickly predictable, looking much like ours.
Near the end of Act III, Wilder’s most significant character, Emily, asks, “Do any human beings ever realize life as they live it?” In other words, do we ever take time to recognize the things in life that matter most as we go about our daily routines? When was the last time any of us paused to consider what matters most?
Fortunately for us, sharing the Tenets of Freemasonry is the most important vocation we can have. We rejoice in the shared principles of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth which cements us into a common bond; it is incumbent upon us to bring what matters most to our communities, our nation and the world.
SEPTEMBER 6, 2022
O God, you know my foolishness, and my faults are not hidden — Psalm 69:6
When we think about some of the things we’ve done over the years, all of can certainly feel foolish. We can worry and have anxiety for days and weeks about any number of things; the moment arrives and our fears are put to rest.
Or there are times were we buy something on a whim – a shirt that doesn’t flatter, a book we’ll never read, a snack with way too much sugar and/or starch; we berate ourselves : what were we thinking?
One the many beauties of Masonry reminds and enable us to find this passage comforting: Our Supreme Architect knows we make bad choices or worry in lieu of putting our faith and trust in Him; He knows we are Rough Ashlars in this life; He created all of us and will be with us to the ultimate state of becoming that Perfect Ashlar.
AUGUST 31, 2022
Here it is . . .the last day of August. We have tomorrow the first day of our annual “S” month.
How much daylight have we lost since June? 55 minutes off sunrise and 58 minutes off sunset. Have we noticed that our days are a bit “brighter” as well.
There’s always a natural temptation to look at tomorrow’s calendar and say to ourselves that it’s autumn, when it isn’t yet. Our “S” month, along with its companion month of March can definitely be joker ones, weather-wise.
Swimming trunks, shorts and swimming pool supplies are all on clearance to make way for sweaters, jackets and sweat suits.
There’s much to look forward to . . . the return of college football, days that are less hot and humid, seasonal candy, apple cider come to mind.
We look forward to our Lodge meetings resuming and returning to labor in the quarries of Freemasonry. Masonry calls us throughout our three degrees to always be looking forward, ever remembering how abundantly blessed our Lodge and we are and looking forward to do our work found upon our daily Trestleboards in the Great Books of Nature and Revelation.
AUGUST 24, 2022
Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. – George Eliot
Today I am going to talk about our household cat, who has been with us going on 11 years now this October 5. He has no table manners, he does terribly in school [except if the course is Food Finding, then he’s on the Honor Roll], never wears any clothes around but has become a nice part of daily life.
Every day when I come home from work, I know I am going to be greeted with great happiness, regardless of the days I’ve had. He’s just happy that I’m home. All cats develop their own daily rituals and our friend has several that he must do daily.
I need to sit at the top of the steps so he can come up to me on my right to mark & get petted. I have come to realize that to this feline I represent his needs : food, water and security. Not only do I look forward to his daily rituals, this cat teaches me an important lesson – that my (and our) right relationship with our Supreme Architect of the Universe should parallel that which there is with the cat & I.
AUGUST 17, 2022
“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.”
― Gandhi
I came across this quote of Mahatma Gandhi and found that it really resonates with who we hope to be in our daily lives as Masons.
While we have our own beliefs we certainly kept hm with us on a day to day basis as we work in our figurative quarries.
We are blessed in our Masonry to claim very important and ever-lasting values which will serve us and all humankind all the days of our mortal lives; we take them and hold onto them; destined to be called into the Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect presides.
AUGUST 10, 2022
Be not forgetful to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware. – Hebrews 13:2
They are many instances of hospitality in Scripture, which remind us of our calling as people, and especially as Masons.
We are reminded back in Genesis of the story of Abraham and Sarah, elderly and childless, who offered hospitality to three Wayfaring strangers who stated in response to their food, drink and shelter that they would have a son.
I believe it is in our human DNA to extend hospitality to all, especially at Lodge gatherings. Too often on an Entered Apprentice conferral nigh you can tell who is the candidate since no one is talking with him!
We do have the good fortune not to have this occurred! We never know just who that angel might turn out to be in our company.
We have the opportunity in 10 days to offer abundant hospitality to all those who will be attending our annual Summer Picnic – let’s offer one and all warm greetings and display the Great Tenent of Friendship.
AUGUST 3, 2022
- Take care! Be on guard against all kinds of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. – Luke 12:13-14
Greed and money, two of the many “traps” that are available to us during our mortal journey – to say the least, they are tempting and alluring.
Do we love money? We all like having money and other assets; indeed our Third Cardinal Virtue, Prudence, calls upon us to “wisely judge and prudentially determine all things relative to our present as well as our future happiness”.
Masonry reminds us that money and other tangible assets we have are important but not to be possessed for them alone. We all have known of instances where greed and
hoarding of possessions have unintended collateral damage to one’s self, family and others. We are to remember to make wise decisions and take right actions by keeping these “tempters” away from our lives.
So it is with those who store treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God. – Luke 12:21
JULY 27, 2022
— I greet you as a Brother
JULY 20, 2022
Well, here we are on July 20th . . . already . . . it is the 201st day of the year; we have now lost 25 minutes from our longest day. Today will be the last day that the Sun will set at 9:00 p.m.
It’s the time for peaches, nectarines, cantaloupes; salad days. We do not need to think about scraping frost off our windshields in the morning; our Fleece jackets are safely stored away.
It’s time when Baseball has had its Mid-Summer Classic [AKA The All-Star Game] the advent of College Football is only six and a half weeks from now.
Everything is in its place at this season; we need not check the weather forecast as is a daily one of SH+H [Sunny, hot & humid]
The Lord our Divine Artist is in His holy place, watching over us and guiding us in the work He has prepared for us to do.
While we enjoy this season, let us remember our sick and distressed and be ready to aid and assist all that may be in need.
JULY 13, 2022
I am searching my “Archives” today for something to write about, so I am going to go “back in time” to the
1960’s and the Ray Conniff Singers [I know full well I’m dating myself!] who were quite popular in those days.
One of their many songs was entitles “Happiness Is”; while I can’t seem to recall the lyrics what has always stayed with me
is the refrain – “Happiness Is Different Things To Different People, That’s What Happiness Is”
We all have our own particular things which make us happy and hopefully there are more things that make us happy than sad.
We Masons have one very important thing which should make us all happy, that is, we have one another to trust and
support, those intangibles which keep the dark as bright as the day each and every day. Freemasonry is our own Beauty And
Glory of the Day, our Lamp Unto Our Feet. It is that constant bond which ensures our happiness.
JULY 6, 2022
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” — Revelation 7:13
Without any doubt the author of this passage has experienced a vision of a vast and unaccountable multitude of people totally immersed in God’s healing and cleansing grace; they all rejoice for it.
Freemasonry also gives us this same ability to see ourselves in this extraordinary grace when we come together in our degree conferrals when we can experience the joys of brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, rejoicing in each other’s prosperity; when we return to the cares, concerns and rigors of our daily lives the memory sustains us, where we can drink from the springs of living water.
JUNE 28, 2022
As we near our mid-year Holiday of Independence Day, I want today to share with you something which pertains to our first
President [and Brother Mason] George Washington, which shows the blessings interwoven with our Houses of Worship and our Nation.
On August 7, 1789, the House of Bishops of the then newly-constituted Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States wrote : “ … to express
our cordial joy on your election to the chief magistracy of the United States . . . We devoutly implore the Supreme Ruler of the Universe to preserve
you long in health . . . the friend and guardian of a free, enlightened and grateful people.”
Brother & President Washington’s response is worth sharing verbatim : “I request, Most reverend and respectable Gentlemen, that you will accept
my cordial thanks for your devout supplications to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe in behalf of me. May you, and the people you represent,
be the happy subjects of Divine Benediction both here and hereafter.”
JUNE 22, 2022
Oh, what a beautiful morning,
Oh, what a beautiful day.
I got a beautiful feeling
Everything’s going my way.
This is the refrain of the song of the same name, the opening song of the iconic musical Oklahoma!, which made its debut on Broadway on march 31, 1943, and was the first of many collaborations of Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein.
Whenever I hear this, one parallel comes to mind : “As the sun rises in the East to open and illume the day . . .”
We have daybreak, we have as Masons staring our day with a blank trestle board upon which to write our designs for that day.
The things we know we need to do, what we hope to accomplish, what we do for those around us, ever remembering that each morning is our duty to work in partnership with the Divine Artist. We understand each beautiful morning that we are called to labor in our vineyards & quarries.
By so doing, we make the best of the gift of the time allotted us daily by the Twenty Four inch gauge.
JUNE 15, 2022
A Father’s Day Prayer
Dear Father Who Art In Heaven –
Help me to look to you for my fatherly focus.
Hallowed Be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom Come -–
May all I do as an earthly dad reflect the divine essence of You.
Thy Will Be Done –
Let me look to you for daily guidance for my family.
Give Us This day Our Daily Bread –
Give me strength and health to be a faithful wage earner.
Forgive Us Our Trespasses –
Forgive me for having “missed the mark” many times.
As We Forgive Others –
Help me forgive my family’s faults as You forgive me.
Lead Us Not Into Temptation –
May I keep my eyes on You and off the false glitter of the world.
Bu Deliver Us From Evil –
Protect my family and keep them safe under Your wings of love.
For Thine Is The Kingdom –
May what we do as a family help accomplish what You desire done.
And The Power and The Glory –
Whatever success we have, Lord, we give thanks in your name.
Forever and Ever –
Thank You for being our “Forever Father”
Amen.
JUNE 1, 2022
Sandy & I had our usual Sunday visitation to our favorite Chinese restaurant, this time in my Fortune cookie I got the following : There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.
I thought about this and realized this is something universal for all of us. Some of you may remember RWB Harry Himes, a member of North Bend Lodge. I certainly do, and can hear him saying that the only place you’ll find success before work is in the dictionary.
We’re tempted each and every day, I believe, thinking we can take a shortcut doing something, thinking “No one will ever know” Of course, that may be the case, but, most importantly, we know. For reference think of one of our emblems [the Sword] in the Lecture of the Master Mason degree.
When the temptation arises to take the path of shortcuts, we remind ourselves that our Masonry is a daily Commitment to Excellence in all we do, each and every day.
MAY 25, 2022
I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year,
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied, “Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!”
So mote it be for us today and all days.
Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day.
MAY 18, 2022
-One of the secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others.
Lewis Carroll
We’re all familiar the Lewis Carroll and his classic work, Alice In Wonderland, hailed as a work for children – but was it? We as adults can learn a great deal from his commentaries through the various characters Alice encounters.
In this quote Carroll catches the essence of our lives, and especially the very foundation of Masonry and what we called upon to do for all those around us on a daily basis. I receive a weekly e-mail from Freemasonry.network that lists the many charitable works of both individuals, Lodges and Grand Lodges around the world – our generosity truly extends throughout the world for those lees fortunate. We do it because it is the right thing to do; we continue so to do knowing we are working in conjunction with the Supreme Architech’s designs on His Trestleboard.
. . . so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7
MAY 11, 2022
I remember back to my school days when Report Cards got sent home, sometimes with some trepidation on my part! I would always hope that my Mom & Dad would look well at my grades in Writing,
History, English and the like and would discreetly “overlook” science and math! As a matter of fact, I had a running gag growing up that I always could that I was adopted since my Dad was an accountant!
Of course, once we were done with our formal education, the “Report Card” simply morphed into “Performance Review” in our adult, professional lives; as such, we’ve spent many years being graded.
Well maybe the concept of a “Report Card” for we Masons isn’t a bad one – a daily look back on how we “made the grade” – how did we do in the sundry aspects of our day in all situations and all interactions.
Did we grade well – then we have succeeded. If we found we honestly got a “C” we know that it was a Rough Ashlar day and there is tomorrow to bring that “C” to hopefully an “A” to the glory of Freemasonry.
MAY 4, 2022
I am reminded of a story about a family who lived down in the hollows; life hadn’t all that kind to them. One day, in the local newspaper, they saw an advertisement for a big Furniture sale at a store in the adjacent town. So they drove to the store and there found a nice Living Room suite but were a bit put off at its cost [even though it was on sale]. They sat and talked with the salesman about the price, when the salesman told them about their special payment plan – “You take delivery and then don’t make payments for six months.” The man turned a brilliant shade of red, leaped off the couch, looked around, turned to the salesman and said in a very low voice : “Who told you about us?”
Well that also is a good question for each and every one of us – Who told us about Freemasonry? I would suspect that each of us would have a different answer. For some it may be generational – father, uncles, grandfather – some perhaps by someone they knew and respected at their workplace or house of worship or in their circle of friends – someone who did things the right way and conducted themselves in that particular manner that Masons have.
We come to Masonry from our own unique paths with our own unique backgrounds, education levels and so forth to celebrate the beauty and glory of our Fraternity; perhaps by our lives and actions we will be the ones who tells someone about us.
APRIL 20, 2022
How far shall charity extend?
We learn, where is there dearth,
APRIL 13, 2022
For It Is The Passover of the Lord — Exodus
APRIL 6, 2022
- Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow’rful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
MARCH 30, 2022
What Is A Mason?
MARCH 16, 2022
The Lord is my light and salvation; whom then shall I fear? Psalm 27, Verse 1
MARCH 2, 2022
Today in some Western Christian denominations is observed as Ash Wednesday, it’s a day not to be “surprised” seeing someone walking around with ashes on their foreheads!
If nothing else, perhaps we could look upon today as a day of Attitude, examining ourselves with our sundry “Right Relationships” with one another, all we encounter, and most especially, with our Supreme Architect of the Universe. There is precedent for wearing of ashes as we recall the reluctant prophet Jonah proclaiming judgement on the inhabitants of Nineveh, who in outward token of their waywardness, donned sackcloth & covered themselves with ashes for 40 days, and were spared condemnation.
We need not do this; as Masons we want to remind ourselves that we are all Rough Ashlars, imperfect by nature, and wish to remind ourselves in the daily practice of Brotherly Love, Relief & Truth that we will arrive at being Perfect Ashlars.
FEBRUARY 23, 2022
Joseph said to his brothers, It is I, Joseph! Is my father still alive? — Genesis 45:3
We are all familiar, I hope, with this passage as we saw Joseph’s brothers who sold him in slavery to Egypt for silver [one is amazed at how well the writers of the New Testament were familiar with the passage, among others!]. One wouldn’t blame Joseph for being revengeful or “getting back’ at his brothers for what they did, yet Joseph asks first about the well-being of their father, as Israel had undergone drought and would last another five years.
It is a wonderful tableau about concern for others and offering reconciliation; it shows consideration for those present and future needs of others. Through his brothers, Joseph calls to all of us today to conciliate true friendship for all and to not rest while those around us are in need when we can relieve their distress without inconvenience to ourselves. We are indeed fortunate to find these themes and admonitions running all throughout symbolic Masonry, and so should it ever be, this day and all days.
FEBRUARY 16, 2022
In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion, but rid me and deliver me in thy righteousness.
Psalm 71:1-5
These are and can be construed as confusing times in our lives; it seems as though the last two years have been nothing but confusing. All around us we see, hear and read about things [whether informative or informative] which will cause confusion and create that awful condition known to one and all as anxiety. We have all left to one extent or the other of being lost in the proverbial forests of Lebanon. One is reminded of one of Alice’s exclamations in Wonderland that “things are not as they seem”.
We have the antidote to confusion in Masonry. We know that we affirm our trust is and remains in the Supreme Architect each and every day; we need not be confused by what is around us and that the righteousness of God will deliver us in this life.
FEBRUARY 2, 2022
I thank God for every remembrance of you
Philippians 1:3
We are approaching next Saturday a very important event in the life of our Lodge, its 175th Anniversary and Reconsecration to be observed Saturday February 12th at 9:00 a.m.
What an appropriate time to “take a look back” at where we have been since October 20, 1847 – it is truly remarkable. We also pause to try to think about all those who have come before us: members we never knew, and especially those whose hands we’ve grasped in token of brotherly friendship that we cannot any more. Take a few minutes sometime and look over the names of those brethren who signed our Bible the night we were raised. Are there any who are still with us?
Think about how many Bibles we have signed over the course of time, and what a lasting memory that is to its owner.
We remember those who have worked on the building and grounds, and in all other aspects of the life of our Lodge which makes it what it is today.
It is truly amazing when we think and reflect on all that has transpired over this time; our work continues as we are the current stewards and must pass along a vibrant Lodge for those who are still to come in our Fraternity.
Please come if at all possible next Saturday, to enjoy a breakfast, and to give thanks to God for our Fraternity, Lodge and especially one another.
JANUARY 19, 2022
- Can Anything Good Come Out of Nazareth — John 1;46
This has always resonated with me as a snarky, snide comment about someone [or something]. Hopefully we haven’t had occasion to think this about someone we encounter!
Can anything good . . . this is still a very relevant thought at the present moment. We’ve all wondered to some extent about what good there is with omnicron, the rising cost of living, finding grocery store shelves empty, finding retail stores unexpectantly closed, and so on.
It calls us to look and discern about what good there is [or may be at some time in the future] Perhaps the good dealing with COVID is what we do for others, for what other do for us. Perhaps the good is being able to see one another while we stay safe. Perhaps when COVID & omnicron retreat, we will be thankful and very grateful for “back to somewhat” normal.
We remember and trust as Masons that our Divine Artist has established his house or kingdom forever, and that we continue to persevere.
We remember in whom we put our trust while being “still in darkness” : we follow our Guide, and will fear no danger.
For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to pay him homage — Matthew 2:2
DECEMBER 29, 2021
Snow swept the world from end to end.
A candle burned on the table;
A candle burned.As during summer midges swarm
To beat their wings against a flame
Out in the yard the snowflakes swarmed
To beat against the window paneThe blizzard sculptured on the glass
Designs of arrows and of whorls.
A candle burned on the table;
A candle burned. Distorted shadows fell
Upon the lighted ceiling:
Shadows of crossed arms,of crossed
Of crossed destiny.Two tiny shoes fell to the floor
And thudded.
A candle on a nightstand shed wax tears
Upon a dress.All things vanished within
The snowy murk-white,hoary.
A candle burned on the table;
A candle burned.A corner draft fluttered the flame
And the white fever of temptation
Upswept its angel wings that cast
A cruciform shadowIt snowed hard throughout the month
Of February, and almost constantly
A candle burned on the table;
A candle burned.
DECEMBER 22, 2021
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
These are words from a very wise and perceptive individual some many years ago; the thoughts are universal, they still resonate in our daily lives as 2021 comes to a close.
Greed — the desire and need to possess worldly wealth beyond one’s needs is out and about. It is one of the Seven Deadly Sins
One wonders if Mahatma Gandhi had ever encountered the last paragraph of the Entered Apprentice Lecture — if he didn’t he certainly understood the gist of it. [“Though constantly harassed more to produce the luxuries rather than the necessities of life . . . “]
We see this day in and day out around us. More, More and More . . . when Masonry reminds us to enjoy and be thankful for the comforts of having the necessities of life . . . shelter, a working furnace, food in the refrigerator and in the pantry, basic transportation. Our lives need to be a balance of avoiding [and even calling out when possible] greed and being ready and responsive to help relieve the distressed in their time of need. We need look no further to the death and destruction visited upon Western Kentucky last week. Perhaps we should consider making a donation [no donation is too small] via the Grand Lodge of Kentucky’s Web site.
Many blessings to one and all at this time of the year.
DECEMBER 15, 2021
One thing that I have come to enjoy as I have matriculated through my life is the prospect of clear sunny days in November and December. They to me are wonderful experience; it is a really good thing when you need to wear sunglasses when you’re out and about! It also means no clouds, rain, sleet or snow. I must say that clear nights are a different story — I will need to scrape frost of the car windows for the morning commute to my workplace.
DECEMBER 8, 2021
“You brood of vipers . . . “
I would say that while we wouldn’t want to address any group of vipers, we should take heed of John the Baptist’s message, of taking the first step and doing the right thing. His message: share with others when you have more than you need; do your job with honesty and integrity; govern justly; do not extort or take advantage of others.
As John the Baptist served the Great Architect with Freedom, Fervency and Zeal, we need to remember always to help making all the crooked paths straight in our lives and in our communities, to take our own “first step” of Justice and Charity, hallmarks of of our Masonic profession.
DECEMBER 1, 2021
See, I am making all things new,Also, he said “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
— Revelation 21:5
Happy New Year!!!
Happy New Year? The author must be losing his ever-loving mind!!! Happy New Year?? Where was the Tournament of Roses parade? The Rose Bowl isn’t on ESPN today . . . .what gives?
Many New Year’s Day’s don’t coincide on January 1st. This past Sunday, some Western Christian denominations marked Advent Sunday as a new liturgical year. Many businesses have all sorts of New Year’s Day throughout the calendar year for their Fiscal year [as our Lodge does too]. New Year’s Day this calendar year was September 6th for our Jewish brothers and sisters.
This evening our Lodge celebrates our “New Year” with the installation of Officers. This year we are able to come together in better circumstances than last year, ever mindful of the distance we’ve traveled with COVID, knowing there’s a ways to go. We will as always invoke the blessings of the Great Architect over our Family of Freemasonry and to be our pillar of fire by night and pillar of cloud by day.
There is no “newness” as the tenets of our Fraternity are eternal. We rejoice in our ability to gather unfettered in our great Nation and celebrate another year in the life of our Lodge, as all Brothers and Fellows have done before. It would do the heart and soul well to see our sidelines full this, grasping once again our hands in token of our Fraternal friendship.
May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, be with us this day and all days to come.
THANKSGIVING, NOVEMBER 25, 2021
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done
In whom the whole world rejoices,
Who from our mother’s arms
Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.
Words, Nun danket alle Gott, Jonathan Kruger [1598-1662]
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.
— Malachi 3 : 11
A wish for a happy, blessed and safe Thanksgiving to the family of Freemasonry, near and far this day and all days.
NOVEMBER 17, 2021
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met here on a great battle field of that war. We are now have come to dedicate a portion of it as the a final resting place of for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to the that cause for which they here gave gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
— Abraham Lincoln, on the occasion of the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, November 19, 1863
Lest we forget.
NOVEMBER 10, 2021
God's green hills are set ablaze
His forests filled with dancing deer;
'Tis Mother Nature's Grand Finals
-- Harvest Time is here.
The tangerine moon is shining
Silhouetting trees down in the dell --
The silent corn stalks stand in rows
Under Autumn's awesome spell
Wild white geese are flying southward
Red Macintosh apples now arrear;
'Tis Nature's Grand Finale --
-- Harvest Time is here.A Poem of Douglas Raymond Rose
Grand Prairie, Texas
OCTOBER 20, 2021
It was at this time of the year [pre-COVID, I might add] when driving on I-75 to Lodge that I noticed on one of the sundry billboards an advertisement for Cappel’s, showing a person clad in a Halloween outfit with the caption : “Be somebody you’re not”.
SEPTEMBER 22, 2021
It had rained last Tuesday night and into the morning Wednesday when I left for work, though it appeared the clouds were beginning to lift and I drove in a Southwesterly course.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
Today I am going to talk about a very interesting and unique fellow Mason, born on this date here in Cincinnati in 1857 — William Howard Taft, the only person ever in our history to have served as President of the United States and Chief Justice of the United States.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 LABOR DAY
Come, labor on, who dares stand idle on the harvest plain,
SEPTEMBER 1, 2021
Transition — [Noun] The process or period of changing from one state of condition to another — Webster’s English Dictionary
AUGUST 25, 2021
I have a confession to make. We all know what Mark Twain wrote about this subject : that while it may be good for the soul, it can indeed be bad for the reputation.
AUGUST 18, 2021
My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
AUGUST 11, 2021
You shall not be afraid of any terror by night,
AUGUST 4, 2021
august — Adjective, meaning “respected and impressive” [Webster’s Dictionary]
JULY 28, 2021
Sir Alexander Fleming, a demure Scotsman, was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal of the Grand Lodge of New York. On the occasion of this presentation, Brother Fleming recalled his work on penicillin. One night, he failed to have closed the window with some vials containing bacteria and moulds got blown together. Upon arriving the following day, he found the upturned vial and bacteria in contact and that the bacteria was dead. He knew at that juncture that he was onto something significant.
JULY 21, 2021
Happy Independence Day — Belgium! Today is the day in 1830 when the French & Flemish of the then United Provinces declared their independence from the Netherlands, becoming a member of the family of nations, the latest one in Western Europe — surely there are a number of new nations over the last 30 or so years in Eastern Europe.
JULY 14, 2021
Happy Bastille Day! C’est la fete national de France! All right, enough of my rudimentary French. I’ve always wondered how the French national anthem would sound sung with a Midwestern twang. [Allons enfants de la paternité and so on].
Today I want to share with you the life story of a French Mason by the name of Roger Nathan, son of a prominent Jewish family in Marseilles, who in his youth and early manhood was a keen sportsman and champion swimmer. He received the degrees of Masonry in 1934 in Lodge #104 EGALITE-JUSTICE and became its Orator [Chaplain] .
Life changed drastically in 1940 with France’s surrender. New anti-Semitic and anti-Masonic laws were enacted. Our brother now took the code name “Murat” and was active in the Resistance in southeast France, as he was the founder of the resistance group LIBERTE, whose members were quite adept and forging identification cards. He was finally arrested in 1942 after making sure his wife and daughter were safe in Switzerland. Even while in the Buchenwald Concentration camp, Nathen-Murat and fellow Masons were still conducting degrees.
In 1945, he escaped with two others; returning to Marseilles, where he resumed his Masonic activities, and working diligently to relieve the worthy and distressed Masons who had lost their jobs, homes and families during the occupation; demonstrating the true humanity of Freemasonry.
Vive Freemasonry, yesterday, today and always.
JULY 7, 2021
“Busy is back”, the news blares at us. Airports are jammed, planes are packed, mask mandates are over. I get the figurative mental image of Jailbreak! It’s the return of business; one can feel the anxiety rise.Do we need “busy” to be back? Isn’t it the last thing we need, as when we live, talk, text and work from a busy place, no one gets the very best of us. These are some thoughts brought up by Maria Shriver in one of her recent Sunday Morning blogs and I believe these are worthwhile thoughts for all of us as we enter new and uncharted waters post COVID.
JUNE 15, 2021
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?
–Matthew 12:34
As He must increase, so must I decrease.
-John 3:30
Tomorrow we mark the feast day of our one patron, John the Baptist. It’s no surprise or coincidence that June 24 was chosen, as we have marked the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere; the length of our days will now begin to slowly shorten [although it will be some time until we notice it!]
John the Baptist is a very appropriate patron for us Masons as his lifestyle and ministry found in Scripture illustrate Freedom, Fervency and Zeal. We might not go around clad as he was or dine on locusts and honey, but it does show a freedom from possessions and material wealth. Perhaps is was an overstatement to address a crowd by calling them a brood of vipers [something I hope we would never do] John went on to zealously indicate that we always will need to “take the first step”, such as giving one of our extra coats to someone who has none, and to generally do what’s right.
John also shows very clearly his own comprehension of his right relationship with the Supreme Architect by acknowledging that mortal life will [and must] decline while realizing the realities of the religious authorities of the day. Indeed, we must always be watchful of the King Herods of our day.
Please take some time tomorrow and reflect on this marvelous exemplar that we are fortunate to have, try to picture John the Baptist in the real world today, and that as Masons we should re-dedicate ourselves to serve each other, our communities, families, workplaces and houses of worship with our own Freedom, Fervency and Zeal.
Against you only I have sinned and done what is evil in your sight.
JUNE 2, 2021
— For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed,we have a building from God, a house not made of hands, eternal in the heavens.
MAY 19, 2021
LIGHT FROM WB MICHAEL PORADA, LODGE EDUCATION OFFICER
Sing to the Lord a great song
MAY 5, 2021
WHAT IS FREEMASONRY?
APRIL 19, 2021
MARCH 28, 2021
For it is the Passover of the Lord
MARCH 24, 2021
MARCH 17, 2021
By it, we account for the return of the seasons, and the number of scenes each season displays to the discerning eye
MARCH 3, 2021
A MASONIC RECIPE
FEBRUARY 24, 2021
Prior to the establishment of the first Grand Lodge of England on June 24, 1717, the origins of Freemasonry are unknown. Over the years many learned Masonic researchers and scholars have many books and articles about its establishment with differing theories. It appears no hard core evidence actually exists.
FEBRUARY 17 2021
Today, some Christian churches observe what is known as Ash Wednesday, beginning in the tradition of the Lenten season. It’s a day of attitude; members attend a church service where the officant olaces ashes on the foreheads of those as an outward reminder of our own imperfect state by nature. (This practice may be somewhat modified this year due to COVID concerns)
JANUARY 20, 2021
Can anything good come from Nazareth? — John 1:46
