Our annual Christmas party for the women's shelter was a wonderful event and a great way to start Christmas. Mrs. Claus and her Elf greeted families and posed for many pictures. We gathered in the lodge and were entertained by clowns, a magician, and a local dance troops.
After the perfect kid's meal with a fantastic classically trained pianist playing carols we all know and love. When the man of the hour, Old Saint Nick arrived it caused much excitement. The children took turns sitting on Santa's lap telling him their wishes and posed for pictures. Each child left with a stocking stuffed beyond their limits with goodies, a painted Rudolph nose and smile on their faces.
Fraternally,
Justin Carlin, Chaplain
Hello Brothers. Just a few days ago we held our 2007 open officer installation. It was a wonderful success. There were about 90 people attending the dinner and several others who arrived after dinner to attend the installation ceremony. There were representatives from the Grand Lodge, York Right, and Eastern Starr, as well as Masters and Brothers from several other lodges. All of these were treated to an evening of fine food, world-class music provided by Brother Roderick Phipps-Kettlewell from St. Paul Lodge #3, and a most dignified and professional ceremonial thanks to the considerable efforts of WB Bruce Sherman and WB Loren Davis. I want to extend my very personal and sincere thanks to these two Brothers, and to all who helped in the planning and execution of this wonderful Masonic event. (I know that our non-Masonic visitors were so impressed and moved by the ceremonial that at least one new petition was signed that night and another may be in the works.)
One reason that the installation evening went so well was that we knew to expect a larger group than usual because the Brothers are becoming better at responding to our requests to R.S.V.P. We still have a bit of a problem with a large number of people waiting until the very last minute to respond, and that makes it difficult to plan. In the coming year we know that we are facing sharply higher expenses because of the loss of rental income from the Grand Lodge. Therefore, in an attempt to keep our costs down, we will only be providing meals to those who make timely reservations for our various events. Please note that we want to include everyone who enjoys our social and Masonic events, so please make a point of reserving early.
As part of the installation ceremony, the incoming Master usually addresses the Lodge and lays out his plans or his goals for the coming year. This year was no exception, and if you want to read the Master's 2007 address to the Lodge, you will find it on our web site under the Masters' Hat. As part of that address, I talked about a little book that my daughter recently brought home to me called, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom. Basically, this book says that if you will just make four simple agreements with yourself, you can avoid a ton of heartache and drama in your life. I received so many comments and questions about The Four Agreements since that address; I decided to write about the first agreement in this article. The first agreement is: "Be Impeccable with Your Word". When I first read this line, I thought I fully understood its meaning. I thought it simply meant, always tell the truth, and certainly that core meaning is obvious. However, the author goes on to explain that there is a deeper meaning beneath the obvious. He explains that to truly be impeccable with your word, you should also, "avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others." He admonishes us to always use the power of our word in the direction of truth, and love. Never speaking against others to bring them down, and never speaking against ourselves with our self-talk, which is a very potent self-limiting force. I find this to be a very Masonic teaching and I consider it to be good and wholesome instruction for our labors. Personally, I think we should all accept the challenge to: "BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD".
I'll see you in Lodge, Todd Henderson, Master, 2007
Last night was our annual installation. Brothers, we are a Lodge! It was impressive, incredible, and down right great. Bruce Sherman, Loren Davis and Todd Henderson did all the work -- I had the luxury of observing and learning. We had over 90 people attend, please join us next year. Just stick your hand out and say hello. Nobody bites. Actually they are kind of nice. Let me summarize.
Prior to our dinner, some socialized and some told stories. I didn't ask if they were true or untrue, I just listened and watched as our numbers grew. Dinner started about 6 pm - a nice salad and then beef brisket or salmon. Oh - it was good!
Installation started at 8 p.m. Picture this in your mind. Calm room, nervous lodge officers, then piano music. Not just any piano music, but CONCERT pianist music. Mozart. Brother Roderick gave us a lesson in music appreciation. Everyone was in awe and thankful for his gift and for taking the time to share it with us. What will I do next year?
The reception started following the installation. We did ourselves proud – there wasn't a crumb left of the cake or a cup of coffee left to drink! Brother Roderick played again – adding much enjoyment to the end of an enjoyable evening of food and fellowship.
SAVE THE DATE! February 10th at the Lex. The annual Sweetheart's Dinner. Bring that special someone to you. I am bringing Jane, my wife, but bring anyone you think significant or friendly in your life. We just want to see you and are interested in what you are doing. By the way, Roderick is playing the piano again. RSVP is a must. Your notice is in the mail. Honestly, I want you see you there. I will be the blond guy with glasses. Just turned 50 and yes, I am having the exam. Why do you ask?
Last thing.
Brothers, we have energy in the Lodge. We have a great line of officers, great wives keeping us on track, social events, ritual, AND at least 11 candidates for spring degrees.
We could use your help. Stick your hand out and reintroduce yourself. Come on down – the waters fine...
Fraternally,
Alan Peterson, PM
Senior Warden
PS any apprehensions/questions call me privately at 651-248-9926
by James McKenna, Junior Warden
It is said that there is a first time for everything, but there can only be one first time for anything. Think about it! I remember a particular time in my youth when we sat around the fire in the cave discussing the merits of a rather novel but enigmatic invention. It was originally called a feddig, then a whistabrigger, then a jerbundolin, and finally, after much discussion and debate, the powers that be finally settled the issue by calling it . . . the wheel.
I remember the clan L.E.O. pulling me aside, putting one hand on my shoulder, pointing to it with the other hand, and saying, with a broad, inscrutable grin on his face, "Well, son, there it is! Isn't it great! Now that it's been invented, it can't be invented again, you know . . . it can only be improved. Do you understand?"
"Yes, of course, I understand," I said, ". . . but . . ."
"But what?" he asked, still beaming in odd wonderment, as most L.E.O.'s often do.
"Well," I stammered, "I don't get it! What is a wheel and what's it supposed to do?"
"That's where the improvement comes in. We have the thing . . . all we have to do is to find a use for it, so that everyone can benefit."
Well, here I am years later, sitting in the South, and I find myself in an elected office, which, like the wheel, should not be arbitrarily tampered with and cannot be reinvented, but can and must, in some measure, be improved to better serve the Brothers of the lodge. So, what's to be done? Well, since the office of Junior Warden cannot be reinvented, it seems reasonable to assume that the only way of improving the office is to improve the officer holding the office! This, with your help, is what I am humbly and devoutly committed to do . . . evolving in the South in such a way, so as to bring credit to Ancient Landmark Lodge #5, and justify the faith that you placed in me when you elected me to this office. Thank you all!
Fraternally, James McKenna, Junior Warden
Our Brother Robert Burns once wrote: "My love is like a red red rose..." As we approach Valentines and our annual sweetheart banquet take a moment to ponder the great good fortune of having a true life's partner. According to the one of Biblical stories of creation, the only correction the great architect had to make to his initial plan was to create a helpmeet for Adam. To often we also tend to make the importance of our most important co-worker an after thought. The book of sacred law has much to say about the worth of a good wife as well as the danger involved in becoming unequally yoked to an unbeliever. Many of us have had first hand experience of this latter admonition. Nothing can destroy our ability to live as much as having constant strife at home. Nothing can make life so sweet as a loving relationship with mutual respect and appreciation.
Too often as men we delight in the humor of the times when we and the ladies just don't seem to be able to communicate. This often means she just doesn't understand that we are right. (Of course she knows better! ) There is not time or paper enough to enumerate the true blessings we receive both by the support and the constructive criticism of our dearest friend. How often she is the benefactor who bestows that gift Brother Burns referred to saying: "O what a gift to give us to see ourselves as others see us". But perhaps the greatest gift of our companion is to see beyond our obvious flaws and show us a glimpse of who we can become. We would do well never to loose sight of the importance of her patient positive regard in giving us the will to overcome the obstacles that impede our path. The passions of erotic exultation of new love are to be savored and remembered fondly but the true blessing is the companionable trust that grows with each year of shared living.
Our upcoming sweetheart banquet is a wonderful opportunity to show that special someone just how much we care and appreciate her presence in our lives. My uncle used to advertise his furniture store by saying you furnish the home we'll furnish the house. Furnishing a home is a job for two people committed to shared responsibility for a warm loving environment. And by shared I don't mean a mere 50/50 partnership but rather people who are each 100% committed to each others welfare and happiness.
Fraternally,
Austin Harris, PM
LEO
Looking on the internet we find a definition that says; "R.S.V.P. stands for a French phrase, "répondez, s'il vous plaît," which means, "please reply." The person sending the invitation would like you to tell him or her whether you accept or decline the invitation. That is, will you be coming to the event or not? Etiquette rules followed in most Western cultures require that if you receive a formal, written invitation, you should reply promptly, perhaps that same day. For hosts who are planning a dinner party, a wedding or a reception, this is important from a practical point of view, because they need to know how many people to count on and how much food and drink to buy. More important, though, is the simple courtesy of responding to someone who was nice enough to invite you, even if it is to say that you regret that you will not be able to attend."
Apparently however there are Brothers among us that feel it is not necessary to respond to such a request by the requested date or respond at all, even feeling they can just show up to a Lodge event and expect to be accommodated.
This is simply an irresponsible attitude and it puts anyone planning an event including the Lodge in a very difficult position. Where it maybe correct that planning an event might include planning for an additional number of guests over the expected number, that additional number is small to keep the costs down. With 300 members and all invited to attend any and every lodge event, without some kind of response to a planned event it is very difficult to know how many to plan for.
The Lodge has two choices, we can plan for a large number regardless of the responses we receive and pay much higher costs, which will of course be passed on in the cost to the membership, or we can simply say that if you do not respond by the requested date you will not be accommodated.
I think the choice is obvious. With catering costs going up every year and the cost for a good dinner approaching $50.00+ per plate, the lodge simply will not accept the expense of planning for a large additional unknown guest list. This means if you do not respond by the requested response date, you will not be accommodated at that event.
Looking at the upcoming calendar, I see that the Sweetheart's Dinner is coming February 10, following that we have Bunco Night March 31. You should have received by now the invitation for the Sweetheart's Dinner that includes a response card and envelope. If you plan to attend, send it in to the Lodge with your check to reserve your place at this event. If you do not you will not be admitted to the event.
Where we do not send formal invitations for Bunco Night we still need to know how many are coming and will record all who respond. Call the Lodge office and let us know. Your name will be put on the list of attendees. If you do not respond by March 23, you will not be admitted.
It's safe to assume that all Lodge events including the breakfast and dinner banquet for the Canadian Visitation will require reservations in advance of the event.
Please take the time to respond and help the Lodge keep a check on the increasing costs of Lodge events. By doing this you will also help keep the cost you pay down.
Take the time, send the response card, make the call, help your Lodge keep a check on costs and continue providing these social events.
Fraternally,
Bruce L. Sherman, PM
Secretary
P.S. If you haven't paid your 2007 Lodge dues, your late, according to Article V, Section 2 of the Lodge By-Laws. Please take a minute and take care of this important matter.
Published monthly except July and August by Ancient Landmark Lodge No. 5. Non subscription newsletter to members and friends.
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