A tradition is the act of delivering into the hands of another person or another generation, opinions, practices, customs, etc.
Tradition prevailing I will be stepping down as Master of Ancient Landmark Lodge and delivering into the hands of another the gavel to the Master’s position.
At the Peterson’s household, fall is a time of a number of traditions. The first to happen is the Sunday before Halloween. Traditionally we gather nieces, nephews and now their kids, to carve pumpkins, eat dinner, and reconnect socially. It started years ago when Jane and I noticed that our siblings’ families were not carving pumpkins, so we decided to invite them to our home to carve pumpkins which traditionally we did as children ourselves. It has been fun to see the kids develop. The older kids now are doing some pretty elaborate pumpkins and this year even pumpkins carved inside of other carved pumpkins.
We also invite the “kids” over the first Saturday in December for the annual cookie bake – age range is from 2 to 82! It sometimes gets a bit messy but well the kids don’t seem to mind. Jane and I get to clean it up – time for us to reconnect.
Another tradition which occurs is our annual family Christmas concert. It’s an afternoon event in which any family member (and expanded to friends of family) who ever played a musical instrument is encouraged to join our afternoon family band. It’s been 5 years now, the first year most of us couldn’t recognize the 3 songs being played. This year we are adding another song. It is the kids currently in high school band that lead the family band. We also enjoy the cookies we made!
All three events, the kids remember and look forward to participating. We get telephone calls in August asking if we have the dates picked for the events. Yes it is about the fun, but it is also about connecting through traditions. It’s about the elder generation connecting with the younger generations, and younger generations connecting with the older generations.
This year the officers of our lodge continued our Lodge traditions. We tried to become more connected with our younger brethren; we scheduled more social activities and asked them to take roles in our degree’s. But it is not all about the activities, it’s also about getting connected with our brethren. Hopefully in the coming years we can continue to have a mix of activities which allow our membership to interact among one another, to become more connected between all of us.
As Master of the Lodge this year I appreciated the support of so many of our members. By having many members freely contribute to degree work, social activities, etc. it disburses the work load so that the burden is not on a few people. To all who contributed this year, thank you for your assistance.
I appreciated the opportunity to be your Master of our Lodge and I hope that I served you well.
Fraternally,
Alan Peterson, Master
December is the darkest month of the year, at least for those of us in the northern hemisphere. Everyone knows the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year (and the first day of winter) happens in December.* But did you know that in the Twin Cities we average less than nine hours of sunlight a day in December? That’s right, in December it is dark for over 15 hours a day! No wonder people can get moody in December what with all that darkness. Here I thought it was the lines at the stores.
So, how have people coped with the dark days of December? In many cultures feasts and celebrations surrounded the solstice. Many cultures viewed the solstice as a rebirth of the sun and a return of light. The solstice also marked the beginning of what were called the famine months, the span between January and April when food ran scarce. Much of the livestock was slaughtered around the solstice so they wouldn’t have to feed it over the winter. Since there was an abundance of fresh meat at this time and the beer and wine that was made after the harvest was now ready, it was a natural time to have a feast. One last hurrah before the winter really set in.
We tend to cope with the darkness by turning on the lights. I love driving around the neighborhoods looking at the light displays my neighbors have put up to ward off the darkness of December. Another good source of light in December is the Lodge. There is plenty of Masonic Light to be had so mark your calendars. We will be conferring the Third Degree on Saturday December 6th. The Stated Communication and elections are on the 11th and the annual Christmas Party is on Saturday the 13th.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
See you in Lodge
Loren Davis
*this year the Winter Solstice happens at 6:04am on the 21st – interesting note: the winter solstice is an event that happens in a second, it is the exact moment when the axis of the Earth is pointing exactly 23½ degrees away from the sun – hmm 23½ degrees, does that sound familiar to anyone? Deacons? Stewards?
Our activities for the year 2008 are rapidly drawing to a close. We have to put our new brothers through the Third Degree ritual and elect officers for 2009.
As most of you know, the third degree requires more people to participate than do the first two degrees. Please volunteer to help WB Peterson in any way that you can.
At our December stated meeting, we will be electing officers for 2009. Please come to vote for our elected officers and consider volunteering for one of the appointed positions. Having new people enter The Line each year is healthy for our Lodge and for those who assume greater responsibilities.
Finally, as a nation and state, we just concluded our election campaign, which, unfortunately, often got quite nasty. Now is the time to remember that we are all Americans, and we should practice the Masonic principle of tolerance, no matter what our political views may be. These are tough times. As Abe Lincoln said over a century ago: “United we stand; divided we fall.” Let us all work for the common good to improve our economy and to bring our nation together again, following the example of the gracious concession speech given by Senator John McCain.
Allan Floyd, Junior Warden
Carmel Chapter #127 OES held their last meeting on October 16th, 2008.
On October 21, 2008 eighteen members of Carmel Chapter signed the membership books of Oriental Chapter #187 in a consolidation ceremony.
We are still sorting out our possesions, but things are moving along smoothly, and we believe it is a good move for both Chapters. Thanks to all the Ancient Landmark members and friends for their support in the past months.
Bonita J. Benson, Past Secretary
Carmel Chapter #127
Our Lodge has recently passed to the Second Degree, nine newly admitted Fellowcrafts and we are truly blessed by their presence. We are as anxious to bring them through the Third Degree as they must be to achieve Master Mason – a most illustrious station in their journey into Masonic traditions.
What follows beyond the Master Mason’s Degree, is in part up to the Lodge – to provide meaningful meetings, enlightening programs and splendid events, but in large measure our newly admitted Brothers should recall their pledges made in the Fellowcrafts’ Degree.
In particular, I would single out the third promise made in the obligation; that you will answer and obey all due signs and summons’ sent to you. A “summons” is effectively a meeting; stated, called, special or otherwise. Our stated meetings, held once a month, are meant to conduct business that affects the health and governance of the Lodge. Our “degree nights” are meetings conducted to bring new members into our Lodge. You are urged, nay, obligated to attend each of these, if the vows taken in the obligation are to be taken seriously. Will we hold a gun to your head and force you to attend? No. Will you be blacklisted? No. But without your “answer” to the call to a meeting, you and the Lodge will miss that spirit that is within you. Is your participation needed? Yes. Will you benefit from attending meetings and degree nights? Most definitely.
Masons are an elite group of men who come together to study and share philosophical ideals from many, many traditions on which Masonry is based. You are summoned to the Lodge to understand how the Lodge is opened, conducted and closed. You will, in the course of your participation in the Lodge, be engaged in the “work”, either as a lecturer or as a Lodge officer. Your help in our several Degrees is encouraged, for it is when you are actively engaged in the Degree that you see the myriad of nuances in the lessons.
As you “answer and obey”, you will find yourself working with and living up to the virtues of the tools of this Degree. For a refresher – review the last paragraph of your obligation. This is truly, one of the most compelling paragraphs in our degrees.
Good luck my newly admitted Brother. We’ll see you in Lodge.
Fraternally yours,
Drew C. Bjorklund, Sr. Deacon
6pm Dinner
7pm Opening of Lodge
Saturday December 6th at 9:00am – Third Degree - Come to Lodge and help make this day a memorable one for our newest Brethren.
Thursday December 11th – Stated Communication/Elections - Dinner at 6:00 Meeting at 7:00
Saturday December 13th – Lodge Christmas Party – Check your email and the web site for times. Also, Ancient Landmark Lodge is doing the set up for the party. Check the web site for set up details.
Thursday January 8th – Stated Meeting/Closed Installation - Dinner at 6:00 Meeting at 7:00
Published monthly except July and August by Ancient Landmark Lodge No. 5. Non subscription newsletter to members and friends.
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