“If we had no winter,
The spring would not be so pleasant:
If we did not sometimes taste of adversity,
Prosperity would not be so welcome.”
I found that quote from Josh Billings, and find it fitting particularly at this time of the year and in this particular year. Think about this quote at this particular time within our nations business or economic cycle when many people and companies are struggling and add to that our nations coming fall federal, state and local elections.
While some use the end of the year to reflect, it’s not the year end yet. We need to analyze and make decisions. We are up to our posterior in “alligators” and we need to stay profitable or at least viable in the marketplace. We need to make decisions on the election of the president, senators, legislators, council members and judges, and we get conflicting information about the candidates.
Even though I love the variety of seasons here in Minnesota, I am growing kind of tired of a dreary and miserable winter. Before the winter season end, I predict, when I come in from the outdoors, I will be complaining about the ice and the snow and the miserable freezing temperatures. But I do love winter from the inside looking out, thermostat set at 72 degrees. A lot in life seems to have something to do with your current position and your outward perspective on the situation.
Nature uses spring as a time of renewal and growth and we can too. After December, our Lodge will have a new set of officers with a renewed sense of excitement. The political process, resulting in the general elections, will have been decided and those elected will take their positions to represent their constituents to the best of their abilities. Our nation’s economy has always experienced its ups and downs, 2008 is no exception. Our economy will adjust, make the necessary corrections and continue to grow and we will be even more prosperous.
Of course, putting together the Lodge business every month is a collaborative effort. It involves numerous people, who participate in the meetings, who do the degree work, and volunteer their time for the good of the Lodge. The same goes for every business or nonprofit organization out there struggling to do the best they can. And let’s not forget those in the political process. All are tough business’s in these times.
So thank you to all those who are involved in our process, and my appreciation to all of our members who support that hard work.
Fraternally,
Alan Peterson, Master
It seems to me I start every article with the words, “I can’t believe it’s… already.” Well, I really can’t believe it is October already.
This is a very busy time in the life of a Senior Warden. There is the planning for next year just in case tradition prevails in December, there is getting prepared for the fall degrees and there is the normal day to day working of the Lodge. All this could easily be a daunting and difficult task for one person to undertake. But for me it is not that bad. The reason why it isn’t too difficult, (it is actually fun) is the people in the line and the Brethren of the Lodge.
Ancient Landmark Lodge #5 is truly blessed. We have a very active group of core members that participate in our meetings and events, we have a great contingent of Past Masters that are always available for consultation and we have the Line Officers. These men make the job of being in the line a pleasure.
The month of October means the return of Ladies night to the Stated Communication. This month the Ladies will enjoy a rousing game of bingo. Come on out for dinner with our ladies and during the meeting we might have to ignore some robust shouts of “BINGO!” from the dining room.
The Second Degree happens on Thursday October 23. This is a large class and we are going to need some help with all the candidates. Please come out and show your support for our newest Brethren.
That is about it from the West this month.
See you in Lodge,
Loren
Usually, the phrase “here we go again” denotes boredom or anger. I would like to suggest that that need not be the case. Wouldn’t it be nice if the Twins won the pennant every year and we could say, “Here we go again?” Yankees fans experienced that for years, especially in the 1950s. This winning streak even inspired the Broadway musical “Damn Yankees.”
I would suggest that our Lodge is on a winning streak insofar as recruiting new members is concerned. We will be bringing 13 candidates through the Degrees in the next few months. This has caused anxiety on the part of the officers regarding how to handle this many at one time. What a nice problem to have!
This leads to two suggestions on my part: First, please help in every way you can to assimilate these new brothers into our lodge. You can do this by serving as guides as they go through the three degrees and by befriending them in Lodge and anywhere else you may meet. Second, please make sure we are well on our way to saying “here we go again” as we continue to bring large numbers of candidates into our lodge and into the Craft. You can do this by identifying those people you know and meet who would benefit us and themselves by becoming a part of Ancient Landmark Lodge #5.
Allan Floyd
Junior Warden
6pm Dinner
7pm Opening of Lodge
8pm LEO Presentation
8:30 Closing
November 13th is awards night for 10 year members, 25 year members and 50 year members. Please come visit and support our award members.
December 11th brings us to our annual elections and the renewal of our lodge’s line.
Recently, say in the last five years or so, we celebrated the birth of Paracelsus, a very key geometrist. I call Paracelsus this because no one knows if Paracelsus was female or male. In the early 1500’s it was nearly impossible for a female to be educated formally. Well, somehow with contemporaries like Leonardo da Vinci, Martin Luther, and Nicholas Copernicus, Paracelsus became educated. Formally or not, we do not know. Yet we do know he was influenced by Albert Magnus’s work of three hundred years earlier. We also know he studied Archimedes and we know he somehow found reference to Thebias’s work, which was lost theoretically in the fire of Alexandria.
Well, within all these great works of arts and crafts they are many similarities to the great archival ceremonies of masonry. We are taken some place in our left brain, a familiar place or location of questions. Slowly, if we chose, we seek the answers. Yet, how many questions are there? This was a thought of Paracelsus.
He figured out that there are five questions to the power of fifty. Yet sorting through these he found… Guess what!!!! I mean, guess what he found?
You see, he found there is really only one question after all. If that one question can be answered then all the other questions will also be answered. This is like masonry; we are a treasure house of knowledge. Where shall we start asking first?
Hhhmmm in the lodge!
By Dr. Steven Smith, LEO
Brothers,
The dues notices for 2009 will be arriving in your mail boxes soon. It will be very appreciated if you took care of this minor detail as soon as you receive the notice. Your dues are comprised of $29.00 per-capita to the Grand Lodge and $20.00 that remains with the Lodge to help support our activities. The $29.00 per-capita assessment is made by the Grand Lodge to all Lodges in January. Whether we have collected all our due or not we have to pay the per-capita for all our membership. This puts an unnecessary strain on the annual budget if there is outstanding current year dues. Additionally, if you are multiple years behind in your dues payments as several of our Lodge Brothers are, the Lodge still has to pay the Grand Lodge.
It should also be noted that any Brother that is behind in his dues payment 2 years is at risk of being suspended from Freemasonry for non-payment of dues if he has not paid up his back dues and current dues by December 31, 2008. What this means is if you are also a part of the Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shrine or any other part of Freemasonry including the OES or are affiliated with another Lodge, your membership in all Masonic bodies will also be suspended until you have made petition to and paid up your back dues to the Lodge that suspended you and that Lodge has voted to restore your membership.
Your dues accounts for 10% of the annual budget in the Lodge and where that may not seem to be a lot, it does help to relieve some of the pressure on our investments in these uncertain financial times.
If you are currently two years behind you must bring your dues current before December 31, 2008 or you will be suspended for non-payment of dues. If you have not paid your 2008 dues please bring your dues up to date as soon as possible by either paying them now or paying them with your 2009 dues statement before December 31, 2008. Do not allow yourself to fall behind and risk being suspended.
Keep in mind that it is within the power of the Lodge at the desecration of the Master to suspend anyone who is not current with his dues by December 31. That suspension would remain in effect until that member has paid his dues current.
This is a small matter that takes little time and effort to complete. It helps the lodge financially and operationally when paid on time. Please consider this and help your Lodge.
Bruce L. Sherman, PM.
Secretary
Ancient Landmark Lodge No. 5
A.F. & A.M. of Minnesota
Members holding Dual membership shall be liable to pay dues in each Lodge, is entitled to vote in each Lodge, and bear office in each Lodge, except that he shall not hold the offices of Master, Wardens, Treasurer or Secretary in more than one (1) Lodge at the same time. ALSO, loss of membership for nonpayment of dues or for other causes resulting in suspension or expulsion from either Lodge shall result in the loss of membership in both Lodges (Article IX, Section C9.04(a), Minnesota Masonic Code)
He must pay the Lodge whatever he was delinquent at the time he was suspended, and also the current years dues. He cannot buy back the time he lost while suspended. If it is within a year of his being suspended, he does not have to repetition and the Lodge does not have to investigate him again. Because the minutes state that he had been suspended, it will be necessary that the minutes show that he was reinstated and the date. If after one year, he does have to repetition, be investigated, and voted on in the usual manner. Upon reinstatement the member retains his original register number. (Article IX, Section G9.08, Minnesota Masonic Code)
SECTION C8.06 It is the duty of every Mason to belong to some Lodge and to contribute to the support and funds thereof. Arrears for dues for one (1) year or more may subject a Brother to be stricken from the rolls in the manner which the Grand Lodge may prescribe; the status of such Brother so stricken shall be that of an Unaffiliated Mason, with no further right of visitation or of Masonic burial or assistance.
Published monthly except July and August by Ancient Landmark Lodge No. 5. Non subscription newsletter to members and friends.
Any article appearing in this publication expresses only the opinion of the writer, and does not reflect the official position of Ancient Landmark Lodge No. 5 or the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.
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