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