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March 2010

From the East

Bill Young - Worshipful Master

 

A couple of weeks ago, the Inventory Committee met, followed by a meeting of the Audit Committee. As we sat there agonizing over parts of the work, the thought occurred to me, “Is this what I became a Mason to do?” And the answer is, “Yes!”

This kind of day-to-day gritty work is the place where we all spend most of our time, and Masonry’s reason for existence is to teach us how to live properly in these circumstances. It is all well and good to subscribe to our high ideals, but living them out is a lifelong challenge. It is also a lifelong opportunity for growth as a human being. 

Masonry is not an end in itself. It is a means, and a beautiful one, to living the life we were created to live. As winter gives way to spring, I hope to see more of us in lodge, learning and growing into the spring of our being, regardless of our earthly age. You never know what we might accomplish by striving to fulfill the tenets of our fraternity.

A couple of other things:

1. Every time we send out an E-Mail to the brethren, about 15 or so come back. If you are not receiving E-Mails regarding Stated Meeting Dinners, and wish to do so, please send me your current E-Mail address. E-Mail me here.

2. You may have noticed that we often do not have all officer chairs filled by the brothers elected or appointed to them. One reason for this is to give upcoming brothers hands-on experience in the next chair up. The other is to give us flexibility when a brother cannot be present. I want to commend each and all of those sitting in various chairs each week. Even with all the changes, our ritual is first-rate, and I am proud of the work we do. Thank you to each one!

S&C

From the West

Wayne DeVliegher - Senior Warden

Changes & Challenges

 

 

       Brothers, Peoria #31 is being challenged with changes ... and change (someone once said) is the essence of life ... but every time I find the meaning of life, someone goes and changes it!  So, as Reinhold Niebuhr wrote, "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

 

       Change has effected the personal life of our brother SD, Todd Kalina and, as a result, he finds it necessary to step out of the officer's line.  Todd is a very valuable asset to this lodge and will be sorely missed.

 

       But the difficulties of life in the lodge are intended to make us better, not bitter.  So the lodge (and particularly the officers down line from the SD entrusted with its care) must view this adversity as having the effect of eliciting talents which, in perfect circumstances, would have lain dormant.  "Problems are only opportunities with thorns on them." - Hugh Miller

 

"Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or the handle." - James Russell Lowell

 

       The line of adversely effected officers (Walter Young, Bill Miller, Dale Justus & Zenji Reynolds) have accepted the challenge that change has laid at their feet.  I applaud their courage.  Members of this lodge should be willing to support them in their swim against the tide of trouble, to help them grab the knife by the handle and use it as a tool for progress.  Remember brothers, a little bit of praise and encouragement will go a long way to helping them achieve the goal of skipping chairs and becoming proficient against all odds.

 

       It has been said that there are six pillars of character.  These important character traits should be incorporated into each of our lives to assist us in achieving new goals, especially those in the line.  Character counts ... maybe more so than memorizing ritual ... for what good is memorizing ritual to achieve proficiency in your ultimate goal of becoming Master if you aggravate and alienate brothers along the way and fail to get voted into the higher positions of pedestal chairs?

 

       Use the points listed below to help you advance through life without friction, working smoothly and efficiently to become a better man.  Some points you may be familiar with, others you may be deficient in and have to work to overcome.  Use the three precious jewels of a FC Mason (an instructive tongue, an attentive ear, and a faithful breast) to improve yourself in Masonry.

 

       Trustworthiness - be honest, reliable, and do the right thing to build a good reputation.  Be loyal - stand by your lodge brothers in all circumstances (M & T E).

 

       Respect - treat others with respect, use good manners, and be tolerant of differences.  Be considerate - of others feelings.

 

       Responsibility - be self-disciplined, exercise self-control, think before you act, and consider the consequences of rude and crude behavior.  Be accountable - do what you are supposed to do.

 

       Fairness - share your good fortune, listen to others, and be open minded.  Be just - don't take advantage of others, blame them, or shame them carelessly.

 

       Caring - have compassion for your brothers in lodge, one and all, express gratitude, and show kindness.  Be forgiving - help those in need.

 

       Citizenship - do your share to make your lodge better, cooperate, and get involved in lodge affairs.  Be informed - a good neighbor respecting authority.

 

       I don't mean to preach, brothers, I only wish to support your efforts at becoming better men.  These are common sense points that can be applied to all walks of life successfully.  But sometimes common sense ain't so common!

 

       So, "when you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." - FDR

S&C

From the South

Bill Cramer - Junior Warden

Why do freemasons recite “blood curdling” penalties?  

Again there is an honest difference of opinion. First, it must be emphasized: These penalties have never been carried out. It must be remembered that few men could read and write, they had to depend on clerics and other learned men for information. They learned by “mouth to ear.”

This one reason the early Masonic catechisms contained so many doublets and triplets such as: duly and truly; worthy and well qualified; conceal, hele (to cover) and never reveal; and so on. The breaking of vows was considered morally foul (and this concept should still prevail). Reciting the medieval torture would imprint wise and serious concern on one’s mind.

It should be mentioned that John J. Robinson in his Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry, has another explanation for the penalties. He believes these were developed by the persecuted Knights templar (not the same as present day Templar’s) as protection against spies of the king and Pope, because the knights were outlawed by church and state. However, it was the seventeenth century before penalties were mentioned. Today, and as far as can be determined, the only penalties suffered by Freemasons are reprimand, suspension or expulsion from the fraternity.

S&C

Fred Cheek

Fred Cheek - Chaplain

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over-prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Regina Brett, Cleveland, Oh

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