I received a couple of very nice thank you notes from people as a result of AL#5's hosting "Table Lodge" on March 28th. It prompted me to ask myself the question - why is it so rare to send a "thank you" note? Is it the cost of postage? Is it the notion of there being a right/wrong way to do it? Does it bring you back to being "forced" to write one for the gift you received for your birthday/Christmas?
At this point in my life, it seems to me to be the courteous response after someone has done something special for you.
April 1st was the deadline for scholarship applications for 2008-2009 and we received a total of 12 applications. Last year, our Lodge received a thank you note from one of the recipient's. Along with the note, this young woman stacked up her books so that the value of the books equated to the value of the scholarship and had a picture taken of her outside the dorm along with the those books. A fun way for her to show us she appreciated the scholarship and how it was being used. Just so you know - this young scholar also happens to be my niece - who over the years - with similar family expectations as my parents had for me - we learned to write a thank you note. My parent's patience in trying to explain that if I didn't appreciate the gift I received, maybe I didn't deserve the gift. It wasn't until much later in life that I fully appreciated this "burden" of having to write the note.
My final question is - have we (as a society) become to busy to take (or make) the time to appreciate gifts received. Are we just too self-centered - too rushed for time (I'll do that later....) - or afraid of getting it wrong? For me, I know I am too busy, and probably too self-centered. Is it something that can be changed? Of course! It will take time - yet I hope to make it part of my own personal expectations - to write that note - to remember to appreciate gifts received.
On that note, I do want to say a big thank you to all of you for an exceptional first quarter of 2008. I am thankful for the gifts I have received from each of you - your time, your talents, and your dedication to making Ancient Landmark #5 a great place to call home.
Fraternally,
Alan Peterson, Master
On March 20th members of Ancient Landmar Lodge #5 invited some non-members to join them at the St. Paul Pool & Yacht Club for the purpose of introducing men of integrity to the benefits of Freemasonry.
Lectures were given by Ancient Landmark’s own Jeremy Nienow on the historic role of masons in the frontier. And Past Grand Master Neil Neddermeyer on the many benefits of membership to the craft.
Brethren,
I would like to talk a little bit about the new membership social that was held on March 20th. When WM Alan first mentioned the idea of the social to me I thought it was a good idea but I wasn’t sure how it would come off. Well, I have to say it was a success. The turn out was very good. There were 5 potential members and quite a few brethren in attendance.
Jeremy Nienow gave a wonderful talk on why some towns have disappeared and others flourished and the connection an active Lodge in a town may or may not have played.
Also on the agenda for the evening was Past Grand Master Neil Neddermeyer. RWB Neil talked about his early Masonic life and the connections he has with his Lodge. It is the connections we form in Lodge that keep us coming back to Lodge month after month, year after year.
This year the Lodge is trying to make more and more opportunities available for the members of this Lodge to connect with their Brethren and with the Lodge. Both in the Lodge and outside the Lodge.
With that in mind let me invite you to a chance to connect with your brethren at the Saint Paul Saints. We’re having a pot luck picnic before the Saints take on the Canaries of Sioux Falls. It all happens on Sunday June, 22. The game starts at 1:00 and the picnic gets underway at 11:30.
The Lodge is supplying the hamburgers, hot dogs and condiments, you supply the fellowship and side dishes. Of course it wouldn’t be a ball game without the families present so bring your family along with you to the game.
The cost for the game and picnic is only $15.00 per person.
See you at the ballpark
Please RSVP to: rsvp@ancientlandmarklodge.com
or call Loren at 763-574-1747
Loren Davis
Sr. Warden
As you know, on the 27th of March, we brought in two new brothers as Entered Apprentices. We also had some men who visited who came to our social at the St. Paul Pool and Yacht Club express interest in joining our lodge. Also, another man who visited our Bunco Night may become one of us. In my opinion, we can help our lodge to grow and prosper by doing three things: first, get to know our new brothers by sitting at them at our dinner before our meetings, second, invite your friends to events where they can meet us, and third, befriend those whom you do not know when you see them at dinner before our stated meetings and at our social gatherings. I think we have a wonderful group of men in our Lodge, but others will not know that if you don’t introduce yourselves to them.
Because we are in an inflationary period, it is important that we try to keep a cap on our expenditures. One way you can help us do this is by letting us know whether or not you will be attending our special events. We want to have adequate food and drink for those who do attend, but we need to manage our finances to prevent overspending and waste. Please let us know as soon as possible whether or not you will be attending the Park Square Theater event on May 30th. Events like this are a great opportunity for you to introduce other men to our Lodge and Masonry in a non-threatening way.
See you in Lodge!
Allan Floyd,
Junior Warden
6pm Dinner
7pm Opening of Lodge
8pm LEO Presentation
8:30 Closing
Ancient Landmark Lodge is heading to Broadway!!! Well, actually to 7th Place in downtown St. Paul. The park Square Theatre, to be exact. On Friday May 30th Ancient Landmark has a block of seats reserved to see the award winning “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure.”
The Park Square Theatre always puts on wonderful shows and this Edgar award winner for best mystery will surely continue that tradition.
Tickets are only $26.00.
We do have a block of tickets reserved and we need your reservation no later then April 25. Please RSVP to: rsvp@ancientlandmarklodge.com or call Loren at 763-574-1747 Friday night at the theatre, what could be better?
The theatre is located at 20 W. 7th Place, a pedestrian mall that runs parallel to and between 6th & 7th Streets and St. Peter & Wabasha.
Tailgating and baseball. A pretty good combination. Midway Stadium is a great place to do both. Sunday, June 22, your lodge is having a picnic lunch and then we’re going to catch the game between the mighty St. Paul Saints and the Sioux Falls Canaries.
The game starts at 1:00. We’ll meet at the picnic spot at 11:30.
The Lodge will supply the burgers and hot dogs and condiments. Please bring a side dish to share.
The cost is $15.00 for the ticket and the picnic. Please RSVP to ancientlandmarklodge.com or call Loren at 763-574-1747 no later then May 22.
Has this ever crossed you mind?
I know we have heard it many times.
BS
comes to my mind
when I hear this echoing in my world.
BS
I wonder if it means "bee stuff"?
In the book
Bones of the Master
there is a wonderful explanation of BS.
It is an adventure book between a Buddhist meditative master
and a Woodstock generation poet.
A great read.
Here is the quote
as we dive into the deep end of pool of dialog
Afternoons were for our excursions and
"talking a little philosophy,"
as he put it.
His door was always open to me.
"Just come. Don't knock.
Friends."
"What do you call this kind of philosophy talk?"
he asked.
"English have word?"
"Bullshitting."
"Bull like cow? Shit like cow make?"
"Exactly."
He laughed appreciatively.
"Bu-shit," he said trying it out for size.
"Bu-shit so good describe.
Wonderful idiom. Chinese mind similar.
Shit can grow many good."
"Poems."
"Idea also. Very rich."
" You are a writer."
How did you know?"
" I don't know. Just guess."
"Good guess. Sometimes.
But poetry. Just poetry."
"Great!" He practically roared.
"Poetry best. Highest education.
Do you write any good ones?"
I recently had a conversation with a fellow mason.
A scholar of sorts.
I was trying to probe his mind
on the
Regis poem of masonry
from the 1400s.
He said,
"I wonder if it's authentic or just BS?"
Makes one think why it was written in the first place.
It's about our Masonic culture.
It's a long read and borderline boring
to any nonmason.
Yet, I think we can glean much from the mindset
of our Masonic ancestors.
Come hear,
what we can extract from this record of
our inheritance.
By Dr. Steven Smith, LEO
The Partners for Life Ambassadors of the East Metro District Invite all Brothers To...
A social and evening of Prizeless Bingo For the Benefit of the Partners for Life Campaign
Published monthly except July and August by Ancient Landmark Lodge No. 5. Non subscription newsletter to members and friends.
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