Masters Newsletter 3/22/2021

 

March 22, 2021

Dear Brethren,

Thank you to everyone that showed up to show some love and support for our Senior Warden (BOO!) as he presided over his first FellowCraft Degree.  Those in attendance as well as our newest FellowCraft Horlston witnessed a spectacular performance.  The effort and practice your officers have been putting in during our down time is really showing and paying off.  You all should be very proud of your officer line, I know I am.  For those who missed it, you have a second chance to see your SW in action on the fifth Tuesday of this month when we will be having another FellowCraft Degree for Dylan.

This week we have our next Masonic Education night.  WB Carson Smith will be in attendance and will be presenting an educational piece on Rosslyn Chapel.  I have read and heard many rave reviews on this presentation so be sure to be in attendance for this as that will afford the best experience.  This will once again be recorded and done through Facebook Live on our public Facebook page.  A link will then be posted to our private Facebook page as well as to our website and will be in the next newsletter.  We would much rather have you there in person but we do understand conflicts arise.  The presentation will start after our normal announcements (so about 6:50pm) and will most likely run until 7:30pm.  After the presentation there will be a craft guild practice up in the Lodge room where we will be working on the allegory for the Master Mason Degree.  We could really use some more Brothers to step up to the plate and help out with the allegory for this degree.  Craft Guild is led by WB Bruce Frazer and it is a fun time as well as very informative.

This coming Saturday, March 27th, several of us will be travelling to Englewood Lodge for their Centennial and Rededication Ceremony.  This starts at 10:00am and is followed by a BBQ lunch.  Come on out and join us, especially if you have never seen a rededication before.  It is sure to be a good time and a great day to spend with your Brothers.

Our Eastern Star Chapter is back at it on the first Saturday of the month serving all you can eat breakfast for $8.00.  Proceeds from these breakfasts go to supporting ICAN which trains service dogs for adults and children with disabilities.  The next breakfast will be on Easter weekend, Saturday, April 3rd.

We have had a few Brothers step up and state their interest in the officer line but we are always looking for more.  Some have asked what are the requirements we are looking for so here are just the beginning steps.  Be active in Craft Guild  as well as start learning the CrossFires and volunteer with the Junior Warden to do one during an actual degree.  We really need to see that you can get over the “stage fright” and are willing to put the time in to learn and rehearse with the officers.

Last but not least, calling all sportsmen; there is a fundraiser shotgun shoot being held at Sugar Creek on Saturday, April 17th.  This is open to anyone; they do not have to be a Mason and it is a good opportunity to bring someone who may be interested in Masonry.  Contact WB Michael Kinder if you are interested in this event and/or are in need of a team.

Quote of the Week:

 

“Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.”

Shaquille O’Neal
Former NBA player & sports analyst

            While thinking about what to write in regards to this quote, I actually learned that Shaq is a member of the Widow’s Son Lodge #28 in Boston, MA which is a Prince Hall Lodge.  This quote speaks about Masonry in that, to be great at what we do, to continue to be brought to more and more light and to understand and get meaning from our Masonic teachings, you have to keep at it.  You have to keep being involved with Masonry.  Just going through your degrees and then never stepping foot in the Lodge again just isn’t going to cut it.  Yes you are a Mason but it isn’t a habit for you.  You aren’t excelling at living by your Masonic teachings if you don’t expose yourself and surround yourself by them on a regular basis.

Millersville 126 News / Dates:

Mar. 23 – Masonic Education & Craft Guild

  • Dinner 6:00pm
  • Masonic Education (Rosslyn Chapel) 6:50pm
  • Craft Guild 7:30pm

Mar. 30 – FC Degree (Dylan Shiffler)

  • Dinner 6:00pm
  • Lodge 7:00pm

Apr. 3 – OES Community Breakfast

  • 8:00am – 10:30am

Apr. 6 – Stated Meeting

  • Executive Committee Meeting – 5:15pm
  • Dinner 6:00pm
  • Lodge 7:00pm

 This Week’s Birthdays

Jose Dominguez (22), Tom Fallis (22), Robert Buckley (23), Bruce Craig (23), Claud Hayes (23), Donald Bowsher (24), Roy Williams (25), William Fenton (26), James Wottring (28)

 This Week’s Raisings

Howard Kibby, Jr. (22), Irvin Larsen (22), David Ingland (23), Lawrence Lasek (23), William Throgmartin (23), Joshua Shinn (24), Michael Kinder (25), Fred Julch (25), William Cothran (25), Neal Stone (25), Matthew Martin (26), Donald Wilcox (27), David Fisher (27), Dennis Hicks (28), William Kirkland (28), Robert Dake (28), Ken Fodrie (28)

 Master’s Travels

If anyone is planning to travel or visit another Lodge or has been asked to come assist with a degree, please reach out to me and let me know so we can get a few more Brothers to go and make a visit out of it.  Below is the travel opportunities site I go to.  If you see anything there that interests you make sure to let me know.  This is also a great opportunity for Mentors to take their mentees to see some extra degree work to aid in their learning.

Mar. 27 – Englewood Lodge #715 – Rededication 10:00am

We are sitting at 7 different Lodges visited for a total of 477 round trip miles.  We need at least 3 more visits to Lodges we haven’t already been too as well as 23 more miles.  Excellent progress in travel and this is only the middle of March.

http://masoniccalendar.blogspot.com/

Brian Bates

Worshipful Master

Millersville Lodge #126

Mobile: 260-615-8013

Email: tazmanfw@gmail.com

 

 

Masters Newsletter 3/8/2021

Millersville Lodge 126 March 8, 2021
4990 Kessler Blvd E Dr.
Indianapolis, IN 46220

Dear Brethren,
For those who couldn’t attend the Stated Meeting last week you missed a really nice
presentation on WB Mark Griffin to whom our 2021 Master Mason class is dedicated too. His
biography can be found on our website and I hope to soon have the photos of the rocks
glasses being commissioned in his memory also added. Our Senior Deacon David Levine did a
really good job putting the presentation together. Coming up this week we have another
Master Mason Degree on Tuesday. WB Ron Featherston will return to the East for this special
night as he will be conferring this degree on his son Ryan. It isn’t very often you get to see a
father raise his own son so make sure to come out and join us and be a part of this special
moment.

Also I would like to take a moment to remind everyone that we are conducting Masonic
Education on a monthly basis. It will be on the same nights we have Craft Guild which is the
4th Tuesday of the month. Up this month will be a presentation by WB Carson Smith on
Roselyn Chapel in Scotland and it’s Masonic significance. Be sure to mark your calendars and
join us for what I have been told is a very well done presentation. We will be recording this
one as well just in case you are unable to attend, though in person is always better.
We have found ourselves with an opening in the Officer line. Our Senior Steward Fred
has informed us that life events just won’t allow him the time to be at Lodge on a regular
basis. With that said, we will be moving Les Meyer from Junior to Senior Steward. If you have
an interest in serving the Lodge, let myself or one of the Wardens know of your interest. We
also invite you to come to Craft Guild nights to learn more as well. Learning ritual can seem
daunting at first but I can assure you that the Officers we have currently are dedicated in
making sure each of us succeeds. Each and every one is more than willing to help a person
learn and improve.

Last but not least, calling all sportsmen; there is a fundraiser shotgun shoot being held
at Sugar Creek on Saturday, April 17th. This is open to anyone; they do not have to be a Mason
and it is a good opportunity to bring someone who may be interested in Masonry. Contact WB
Michael Kinder if you are interested in this event and/or are in need of a team.

 

Quote of the Week:
“It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man
who is the miserable man.”

Benjamin Franklin
Founding Father of the United States

I am sure Brother Ben was thinking to the words we hear during the 3rd Master Mason
lecture or what we refer to as the Beehive lecture. Dig out your Indiana Monitor and refer to
the part about the Beehive in that lecture (page 111 in my Monitor). Man was formed for a
social and ACTIVE life, the noblest part of the work of God. We were made to be dependent
upon each other because that is one of the strongest bonds of society. I have had quite a few
messages from Brothers saying they haven’t been to Lodge in a while. Come back and renew
the bonds with your Brothers. Don’t worry if you have forgotten the Due Guards and Signs or
the Pass. We will be glad to help you. Come back and join us in this great and good work we
are doing. Don’t let yourself slip to becoming a drone in the hive of nature.

Millersville 126 News / Dates:
Mar. 9 – MM Degree (Ryan Featherston)
– Dinner 6:00pm
– Lodge 7:00pm

Mar. 16 – FC Degree (Horlston Francois)
– Dinner 6:00pm
– Lodge 7:00pm

Mar. 23 – Masonic Education & Craft Guild
– Dinner 6:00pm
– Masonic Education (Roselyn Chapel) 6:50pm
– Craft Guild 7:30pm

Mar. 30 – FC Degree (Dylan Shiffler)
– Dinner 6:00pm
– Lodge 7:00pm

This Week’s Birthdays
John Herder (8), Gregory Roberts (8), Dwight Stinson (8), Paul Reely (9), Robert Anderson (10),
Philip Roberts (10), Richard Hughes (11), Lawrence Lasek (12), Joseph Suazo, Jr. (13)This Week’s Raisings
Robert Taylor (8), Donald Dawson (8), Thomas Meier (8), Fred Catron (9), Steven Sonafrank (9),
Robert Switzer (11), Thomas Smith (12), John Montgomery (13)

Master’s Travels
If anyone is planning to travel or visit another Lodge or has been asked to come assist
with a degree, please reach out to me and let me know so we can get a few more Brothers to
go and make a visit out of it. Below is the travel opportunities site I go to. If you see anything
there that interests you make sure to let me know. This is also a great opportunity for
Mentors to take their mentees to see some extra degree work to aid in their learning.
Mar. 10 – EA Degree – Noblesville Lodge #57. Dinner 6:00pm, Lodge 7:00pm
Mar. 27 – Englewood Lodge #715 – Rededication 10:00am
As of the end of February we are sitting at 6 different Lodges visited for a total of 447 round
trip miles. We need at least 4 more visits to Lodges we haven’t already been too as well as 53
more miles.

http://masoniccalendar.blogspot.com/

Brian Bates
Worshipful Master
Millersville Lodge #126
Mobile: 260-615-8013
Email: tazmanfw@gmail.co

Masters Newsletter 3/1/2021

Dear Brethren,

Another great turnout on Tuesday as we raised a Brother to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.  As more and more Brothers get their vaccine shots we hope to see those numbers continue to rise.  It really does make for a more impactful evening when the new Brother sees so many of you there to watch him progress through his journey.  Next up is our Stated Meeting and then we get right back at it again for another Master Mason Degree.

Speaking of Stated Meeting this Tuesday, make sure you are there for dinner.  This year we will be dedicating our Master Mason class to the memory of WB Mark L Griffin.  Our Senior Deacon, David Levine, will be making a presentation on WB Mark just after our dinner announcements.  We are also working on having some rocks glasses designed that will be given to each new Master Mason as well as will be available for purchase.  We have learned that due to supply issues, we won’t have the rocks glasses until sometime in April.  I can assure you they are indeed worth the wait.  I will have photos to share of what they will look like.

We have found ourselves with an opening in the Officer line.  Our Senior Steward Fred has informed us that life events just won’t allow him the time to be at Lodge on a regular basis.  With that said, we will be moving Les Meyer from Junior to Senior Steward.  If you have an interest in serving the Lodge, let myself or one of the Wardens know of your interest.  We also invite you to come to Craft Guild nights to learn more as well.  Learning ritual can seem daunting at first but I can assure you that the Officers we have currently are dedicated in making sure each of us succeeds.  Each and every one is more than willing to help a person learn and improve.

Last but not least, calling all sportsmen; there is a fundraiser shotgun shoot being held at Sugar Creek on Saturday, April 17th.  This is open to anyone; they do not have to be a Mason and it is a good opportunity to bring someone who may be interested in Masonry.  Contact WB Michael Kinder if you are interested in this event and/or are in need of a team.

Quote of the Week:

 “It seems like the simplest gift you can give someone, but one of the best: to make them know they are seen.”

Kyle Carpenter
USMC Medal of Honor Recipient

This really is the simplest thing we can do as Masons; just acknowledge each other.  When you see a Brother who may not have been at Lodge in a while or a visiting Brother or guest, make an effort to welcome them and let them know you are glad to see them.  Sometimes the simplest acts we may take for granted can have the most meaningful impact to those around you.

Millersville 126 News / Dates:

Mar. 2 – Stated Meeting

  • Executive Committee Meeting 5:15pm
  • Dinner 6:00pm
  • Dedication of year to Memory of Mark L Griffin 6:30pm
  • Lodge 7:00pm

Mar. 9 – MM Degree (Ryan Featherston)

  • Dinner 6:00pm
  • Lodge 7:00pm

Mar. 16 – FC Degree (Horlston Francois)

  • Dinner 6:00pm
  • Lodge 7:00pm

 This Week’s Birthdays

Andrew Carr (1), David Hillery (1), Adam Catron (3), Seth Catron (3), Evan Smith (3), David Levine (4), David Roberts (5), Butler Faulk (6), Michael Kinder (6)

 This Week’s Raisings

Robert Thompson, Jr (1), Douglas McCoy (1), Frederick Clift (3)

 Master’s Travels

If anyone is planning to travel or visit another Lodge or has been asked to come assist with a degree, please reach out to me and let me know so we can get a few more Brothers to go and make a visit out of it.  Below is the travel opportunities site I go to.  If you see anything there that interests you make sure to let me know.  This is also a great opportunity for Mentors to take their mentees to see some extra degree work to aid in their learning.

Feb 25 – FC Degree at Pentalpha Lodge #564 – Those who went were treated to a Degree done in a very different way.  It was done with more solemnity and was intended to make you reflect and contemplate the lessons taught in the degree.

Mar 27 – Englewood Lodge #715 – Rededication 10:00am

As of the end of February we are sitting at 6 different Lodges visited for a total of 447 round trip miles.  We need at least 4 more visits to Lodges we haven’t already been too as well as 53 more miles.

http://masoniccalendar.blogspot.com/

Brian Bates

Worshipful Master

Millersville Lodge #126

Mobile: 260-615-8013

Email: tazmanfw@gmail.com