Thank you members for your vote of confidence in me as master of Ancient Landmark Lodge #5 for 2008.
It is a duty which I look at with excitement as well as trepidation. Excitement because you had the confidence to select me as master of the Lodge; excitement because of the opportunities I see to expand the Lodge; and excitement because of the opportunity to work with a great line of officers! Trepidation: because I may not do the job sufficiently to please you; trepidation because of the added programs and activities; and trepidation because change is hard for all of us.
Over the course of the last year, I have asked 10 plus random people what they understand masonry to be. Most knew nothing - a couple simply understood it to be the little cars in parades. The most distressing was a person who works at the Masonic Cancer Center who thought it was "some cult group." If people do not know what masonry is - they will not join.
On March 20th, we will be hosting a new membership social at Joseph's Grill. The purpose of the new membership is for YOU to invite men, whether family, friends, or co-workers, to this social to learn what masonry is about - as well as what masonry has to offer them. It is up to them to ask to join, but we need to present the correct Masonic story.
Given the polarized political process and the media hype, I believe that masonry has much to offer our country about tolerance and brotherly love-and we do it one man at a time.
I am asking you, as a member of masonry, to think about every man you know. Ask yourself, would he make a good mason, and if so, invite him to this social. Even if you aren't able to bring a guest, I would hope you will join us for conversation and fellowship.
Ancient Landmark Lodge #5 NEW MEMBERSHIP SOCIAL
Private Room
651-222-2435
Josephgrill.com
Joseph's Grill
140 Wabasha Street South
St. Paul
Fraternally,
Alan Peterson, Master
I want to thank all of you for coming. I feel very fortunate to have such great support from you.
I have 16 family members here showing their love and support for me.
We have spouses and significant others here to love and support us. We have our sisters of Eastern Star here to love and support our masons. And, we have our brothers here to love and support our Lodge and Masonry. I have my personal family here and WE have our Masonic family here.
I am Blessed and you are Blessed.
The lodge officers and I took time this summer and fall to meet, where we worked on goals for 2008 - During those meetings we also learned more about each other and about our strengths and styles. As a result, we came up with 8 primary goals AND specific strategies for each goal - a business plan if you will.
I will share with you a little about two of the specific goals for our Lodge for 2008.
Number One: We have identified several strategies to help our membership grow with at least 36 new Masons to be raised, AND Number two; to help our current membership grow in their participation in our Lodge's activities, as well as in the activities of our affiliate groups such as - the Drum and Bugle Corps, Mighty Mites, Scottish Rite, York Rite, Demolay, Eastern Star, and the numerous others.
In order to achieve these goals, our Lodge must be an ORGANIZATION AND a SOCIETY of excellence.
By this I mean, we must be an "organization of excellence" that provides enough benefits so that our members WANT to participate. AND, we must be a "society of excellence" that provides enough benefits so that others around us WANT to be a mason.
In 2008, we intend to make our stated meetings more educational and more interesting, with great ritual work.
Our task for 2008 is to take the resources we have, and we have many resources: the bricks and mortar of this building - the intellectual capacity of our members - the integrity of our members - our courage - our dedication - our brotherly love - and comprehensively - and thoughtfully - we must remember our past - this rich history we have; which we must embrace and understand, to help plan for our future, and then implement the plan.
Thank you for being a part of tonight's installation of officers AND thank you for your love and support.
Please join us in the dining hall for dessert, conversation, and dancing!
I am writing this article on a (relatively) warm and foggy Sunday morning. Last night was Ancient Landmark’s Officer Installation and it was a wonderful beginning to a new Masonic year. The turnout was fantastic and the people there were treated to a dignified installation as well as to a pretty dang fun dance afterwards. Did I mention the cake was absolutely delicious? It was!
This is going to be a very busy year at Lodge. Each meeting will feature a bit of Masonic education put together by our L.E.O Dr. Steve Smith. Steve has given many interesting presentations in Lodge over the years and I am looking forward to more of the same. Socially, the Lodge has many events planned as well and this space will be a good place to look for what is coming up in that respect.
I hope you have received your invitation to the Sweethearts Dinner to be held at the Lake Elmo Inn Events Center and have sent in your reservations. The Sweethearts dinner is always a really good time and you don’t want to miss it.
Coming up on March 20th is a new event. We’ll be meeting at Joseph’s Grill on Plato for an evening of Masonic information presented by Past Grand Master Neil Neddermeyer. If you know anyone that might be interested in joining the fraternity this event is for them. There will be more information about this event given at Lodge.
2008 is going to be a great year. Please come to Lodge and be a part of it.
I'll see YOU in Lodge
Fraternally
Loren Davis, Sr. Warden
In my last article, I mentioned the upcoming Third Degree sponsored by the Masters and Wardens which was to be presented on December 1, 2007. We had over 60 people in attendance during the first part of the degree, in spite of the snow storm. Many of those who were there have commented to me and others how exciting it was to have that many people in lodge for a degree presentation.
What we officers hope to do in 2008 is have a large number of Brothers attend all of our degree ceremonies. In my view, having a large number of Brothers viewing the ceremony tells the candidates that we consider this to be an important event. This higher attendance level at both our stated meetings and degree presentations also adds to the general atmosphere of brotherhood and camaraderie that is such a key part of our Craft.
Therefore, let us all resolve to increase our participation in the Craft next year by attending as many stated meetings and degree presentations as we can. I believe this would be a “win/win” situation for us as individual Masons as well as for our Lodge.
Fraternally
Allan Floyd, Jr. Warden
The past three years, I have held the position of Deacon at my church, the House of Hope Presbyterian Church in Saint Paul. I have held this position in reverence for these years, relishing each service in which I would usher, collect the offerings, set things right in the pew racks between and after services, or serve coffee to the faithful. In many respects, my work within our Lodge made me a better deacon. Getting the pew racks in order stemmed from my work as our Lodge Tyler, where my inner Felix Unger came to the surface. Bibles and hymnals were positioned just so and facing toward the pew; loose paper and discarded items were disposed of; informational cards were correctly aligned. Ushering was helped by my attendance at Lodge and the memory work we do, for as we all know, people like to have their names remembered.
The Bible first mentions the role of deacon in the New Testament as a title given to one in the Church who would serve. I leave this position at House of Hope this month and as my luck would have it, I now serve as the Senior Deacon of our cherished Lodge. So many have come to me to tell me what a "fun" position this is and that the Senior Deacon controls the Lodge - in a manner similar to the way a Conductor controls a train.
I am truly looking forward to my tenure as the Senior Deacon. We have all witnessed great work by our Deacons and I endeavor to carry on that tradition. A year is a short time to learn the steps and to develop one's style, but then I am in good company since all of our Lodge officers have just a year to develop their styles as well. In this year, I will also work with our Grand Lodge District Representative - Ron Larson, in the Ambassador's Committee. This work will involve promoting Brotherhood between Lodges, and working with our new members to aid in their understanding of procedures of proof and passwords.
A lot to learn in short order. I had best be off and work on that.
Brother Drew Bjorklund,
Sr. Deacon
Hello Brothers. I wanted to take this opportunity at the beginning of the year to introduce myself. My Masonic journey began in the summer of 2005 when I emailed the lodge from a link I had found on the website. I submitted a petition, but would have to wait until the spring of 2006 to take the degrees.
After eight long months, I was finally initiated into this lodge as an Entered Apprentice in March of 2006 and was raised a Master Mason in June of 2006. Less than one year later, I had the honor to step in and serve the lodge as Tyler, after our original Tyler for the year moved away.
When I first started talking about becoming a Mason, someone told me that you get out of it what you put into it. I understood what this person was saying, but at the time, I didn't see how this logic was applicable to Masonry. Now, I understand. Surely this will be different for everyone, but for me, the more active I become in Masonry, the more opportunity I have to meet, interact and socialize with men of similar interests, character and morals. I have had the privilege to meet some outstanding individuals who, without Masonry, I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet.
Brethren, this is our lodge and it is our responsibility as members of Ancient Landmark Lodge #5 to make it better and stronger. The only way we can accomplish this is by becoming active participants. Our new Master has put together an exciting plan for this coming year that I believe has something to offer everyone. I implore you all to become as active as you are able.
I am honored to be able to serve the lodge again and am looking forward to a wonderful year.
Fraternally,
Keith Reierson
Junior Deacon
I'd like to take this opportunity to talk briefly about Todd Henderson and what I have appreciated about him -He brought talent and he presented many of his gifts to us:
One - that it is important to speak with integrity - to say what you mean; and to walk the talk -
Another - to ask questions of ourselves and then, to share our thoughts - this he did with respect for individuals and as a member of this organization, Todd lead by example;
and finally - the notion of always doing your best - whatever it might be -at that moment - let it be your best.
This was particularly important for all of us in our ritual work - okay was not just okay - we were expected to do our best.
I, in particular, think I benefited the most from Todd's thoughtful advice, especially with how to present my ritual work.
Each of us have memories of what this past year has meant - whether it was the sweethearts dinner and having an opportunity to watch him dance - whether it was at the Canadian visit - or just seeing his welcoming smile - I'd encourage you to share that memory with him.
To Donna, on behalf of the Lodge - thank you for sharing him with us. I know you have also worked tirelessly - with enthusiasm - and with love. Donna, On behalf of Ancient Landmark Lodge, Thank you for all you have done.
Thank you, Worshipful Master Henderson.
- Alan Peterson
General George Washington has agreed to
talk to us about his Masonic experiences.
The dinner this year is at the beautiful Lake Elmo Inn Events Center in Lake Elmo on February 9th: 6:00 Social Hour 7:00 dinner. We do need your reservation no later then Friday February 4th. Dinner will include a choice of Chicken Rondele or Top Sirloin with Mushrooms. So plan now to attend. All memebers are welocme. The Events Center is located at 3712 Layton Avenue North and Hwy 5 in Lake Elmo.
http://www.lakeelmoinneventcenter.com
Ancient Landmark will open lodge in the James J. Hill house for the second time. After lodge is closed there will be tours of the house.
In March we will have the New Membership Social at Joseph’s Grill with Neil Neddermeyer speaking.
April 5th is Bunco Night. Kim Remus puts on a great party. Its so easy to play, even the Master can do it. Food, Fun, Prizes, games and plenty of conversation.
The common gavel is an instrument used by operative masons to block off the corners of rough stones. The image inculcated here portrays work that we all would expect to require a lot of physical effort. Do we expect the symbolic use of the gavel to take any less effort?
In the book of Law we find a passage that says that if we have faith as a grain of mustard seed we could move mountains. We also find the lesson that the mustard seed is the smallest of seeds but when planted grows into a large bush.
Usually we emphasize the small size of the seed and the small quantity of faith that the size of a mustard seed represents and are disappointed when our desires are frustrated. Somewhere we have gotten the idea that having faith is simple and easy. Mother Teresa once said I know God will not send me any task I can not accomplish. I just wish He did not have so much faith in me.
Living up to the possibilities of our lives is the essence of the task we espouse as entered apprentices when we say we have come here to learn to subdue our passions and improve ourselves in Masonry. Notice we do not say perfect ourselves. Possibly the greatest source of demonic excesses in human history have been caused by people who thought themselves perfect and incapable of error. The very temptation attributed to the serpent in Genesis is to become like God knowing good and evil.
On the mountain of transfiguration when Peter sees the most wonderful revelation he can imagine and offers to build houses so they can stay here in the clouded heights of spiritual ecstasy he is rebuked. It is not on the mountain of the beautiful vision but in the valley where a father waits pleading for healing for his son that the true vocation of faithfulness is to be found.
If we are to be the better men our gentle craft seeks to help us to become we must expect to labor. The great structures that arose all over the world and in many cases stand today as monuments to the handiwork of operative masons over the ages dating back even prior to the dawn of recorded history did not arise without workers willing to expend arduous toil implementing the plan of their master builders. Most of the truly impressive structures took generations of builders to accomplish and yet the work was accomplished. Surely one can not give his whole life to working on a task that can not be completed in his own span of years without faith that is distinguished by more than its diminutive size.
It is modernity’s misunderstanding of faith that causes us to dismiss it as false hope or superstitious nonsense. We too often dismiss the admonition to expect our own success, and the triumph of the good results promised by the Divine Architect as hopelessly naive. While blindly following a societal doctrine based on getting one up on the competition. where the competition is every one else.
These precepts yield a hopelessly polarized world with everyone out to get theirs, while ignoring cries for justice as pleas for undue advantage. We tend to become more defensive and our frequent reaction is to question the validity of the teachings of brotherly love and to dismiss the possibilities we are asked to accept by faith as improbable and indeed untrustworthy. Perhaps we should examine what the mustard seed does rather than its size when we form our expectations of what is possible through faith.
First the mustard seed overcomes the temptation to view its diminutive mass as a reason to just give up and quit. Consider the times that human history has been renewed and revitalized by the actions of one man, branded a fool, who would not take no for an answer. If it were not for fools we would still be serfs hoping a benevolent master would allow us to earn a living and care for our families. Since the sixteenth century a significant percentage of the fools whose wacky dreams and gadgets have made our existence possible have been brothers in this gentle craft.
Next the mustard seed allows itself to become separated from all the other seeds on the bush and strikes out on its own into the unknown. When the craft guilds formed, assembly was against the law. Voting for one’s own leaders was the height of sedition. And regarding all men as equals in any society was absurd. All of these acts and ideas were punishable by law with imprisonment for life or death.
Now as if in verification of the mustard seed’s worst fears it disappears from sight into the earth. Only then after escaping self doubt, the pressures of conformity, and, risking it’s own existence, being lost in the earth does the transformation from actual to possible occur. Only now does this smallest of seeds burst forth and sprout becoming a bush so large that the birds of the air make their nests in its branches.
If we are to divest our minds and consciences of all the vanities and superfluities of life we must have faith as a grain of mustard seed. This faith isn’t for the faint hearted or those unwilling to risk the fearful transformation required of those who will reflect the beauty, strength, and wisdom found in this lodge as light for the world. Faith like a mustard seed refers not to the size of its mass but rather the scope of its commitment.
If your aim is to move mountains pray from the seat of a D9 Cat.
On Saturday December 15th, 2007, Montgomery and Ancient Landmark Lodges held the annual Christmas Party for Lodge families and two local area women's and children's shelters. Everyone in the house had a wonderful time. There was a magician, dancers, food, clowns, Santa, helpers with gifts, and lots and lots of happy kids and parents.
This is a very good thing that Masons and their families do for others and themselves. Don't miss this event same time next year. Enjoy the pictures.
WB Madison Overmoen presented Ancient Landmark Lodge #5 with this beautiful banner on behalf of Brother Sigurd Dregebo of Bergen Lodge, Norway. He and his wife were here on a visit and he took that opportunity to visit our lodge and observe our presentation of the Third degree.
We would like to thank brother Dregebo for his generous gift and we hope to see him in our lodge to thank him again.
As we begin the new calendar year of 2008 your Masonic Temple Association looks back on several accomplishments that I would like to mention. The most obvious to you is the painting of our building, our St. Paul Masonic Center. This building houses the largest collection of Masonic bodies in the state of Minnesota, a fact we are quite proud of. The new paint reflects the pride we feel in our home, and the Board hopes that you like the new gold and blue color scheme.
We are also happy to announce that we have also brought the board up to electronic standards by re-writing and putting into a Word document the by-laws of the Temple Association. We have done the same with the rental contracts of all of the entities that rent from us and inhabit our home once to several times per month. Finally, we have assembled a document that outlines how the building is to be used and respected by all who dwell here and will be made part of the new rental agreements.
As far as external changes in your Masonic Center, look for new changes in our building over the next year. These will include improvements to our kitchen, external and internal lighting, a new parking area on the east side (train track side) of our building, improvements in the control of our heating and air conditioning system and an additional roof drain.
We look forward to an exciting year in our new-looking building and encourage you to contact your MTA representatives, Chris Buck, Art Lingo, and Ron Harmon with questions, concerns, comments, or suggestions. By the time you read this in January, our lodge will have elected one new representative to the Board who will replace the outgoing Alan Peterson who has served on the board for many years and whose expertise will be missed but whose leadership at the helm of Ancient Landmark #5 will guide us well in the year to come.
Happy New Year to all brothers!
Chris Buck
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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