Greetings Brethren,

We are back to doing some degree work this Tuesday as we have a Master Mason Degree on the agenda.  Just prior to the degree we will have a 25 Year Award ceremony for Brother Jonathan Holden.  Once we finish with the 25 Year Award Ceremony we will jump right into the degree.  The cast is set but we would like to see a full house on the sidelines so come on out and show some support for the raising of our soon-to-be newest Master Mason.  This will also most likely be the last Master Mason Degree that I will perform as your Worshipful Master.  Move-up month (the full month of November) is fast approaching for your officers and they are ready and anxious to prove to the Lodge that they are ready for what will hopefully be the next chair up in the line for them.

Coming up the following week, October 26th, we will be having another Masonic Education night.  WB Steve Sonafrank will be talking to us about the Indiana Masonic Home Foundation and what it is they do and how you as Masons can help and assist.  One of those ways we will learn about is the Gold Card Program and for those who have received their Dues notices already, that is one of the donation/charity categories listed.  It is sure to be a very informative evening and will also be broadcast on Facebook Live.  I just hope I don’t have the technical difficulties that I had for our last education night.  Speaking of which, for those who were in attendance last Tuesday, WB Chris Hodapp gave a very informative presentation on the three different Grand Lodge buildings we have had here in Indiana as well as a bit of history on the early beginnings of Indianapolis and Masonic buildings being at the focal point in many cities.  Unfortunately, as I said previous I had some technical difficulties and it looks like my camera went out of focus through a good portion of the presentation.  You can still hear everything but it was so much better with the pictures.  For those who would still like to listen to this presentation, here is the link:

https://www.facebook.com/MillersvilleLodge/videos/902632413705316

On Wednesday, October 27th at Oakland Lodge #140 (address below) will be our Lodge of Instruction.  It will be over the Entered Apprentice Degree and is open only to Master Masons.  Oakland will be the Opening Lodge and Millersville will close.  If you plan to attend this Lodge of Instruction I need to know by this Tuesday (Oct 19th) as I will need to turn in a headcount to Oakland Lodge so they can plan accordingly.  This is a mandatory event for the Lodge Officers and dress will be jacket and tie.

As everyone will recall, this year’s Master Mason class is dedicated to the memory of WB Mark Griffin.  The rocks glasses commissioned to honor the memory of WB Mark Griffin are in and can be purchased from your officers.  These glasses look incredible and are American made!  The price for a single glass will be $10.00, two for $18.00 and a set of 4 will be $35.00.    Make sure to get your glass(es) early to remember the life of such a dedicated Mason and Veteran.

Quote of the Week:

 “There are two things which a man should scrupulously avoid: giving advice that he would not follow, and asking advice when he is determined to pursue his own opinion.”

Norm Macdonald
Comedian

The first part of this advice is one that used to really annoy me when I was younger.  I don’t know how many times I heard growing up “Do as I say, Don’t do as I do!”  It so very difficult to listen to someone’s advice when you see them doing the opposite of it.  It’s as if the advice only sounds good when spoken but really isn’t worth much else.  The latter is something I now deal with almost constantly at work.  My junior employees will ask for my input on some matter but then as I am giving it, they go into debate mode with me over it.  It’s like, why are you asking for input if your mind is already made up?  It’s like they only want your advice/input when it matches what they are envisioning in their mind.  To me what this all comes down to is this.  When giving advice, do your best to set a good example for the conduct of others less informed.  When asking for advice, clear your mind and actually listen to what the other person is saying, don’t start formulating an argument in the middle of their speaking as you will then have ineffective listening and not hear fully what it is they are trying to convey.

Millersville 126 News / Dates:

Oct. 19 – Master Mason Degree (Michael Redding)

  • Dinner 6:00pm
  • 25 Year Award Ceremony
  • Lodge 7:00pm

Oct. 26 – Masonic Education & Craft Guild

  • Dinner 6:00pm
  • Masonic Education 6:45pm (WB Steve Sonafrank will be talking about the Indiana Masonic Home Foundation and the Gold Card Program)

Oct. 27 – Lodge of Instruction

  • Host Lodge Oakland Lodge #140

11756 Verdin Street

Indianapolis (Oaklandon), IN 46236

  • Dinner 6:00pm
  • Lodge 7:00pm – Only Master Masons may attend

Nov. 2 – Stated Meeting

  • 6:00pm Dinner
  • 7:00pm Lodge

This Week’s Birthdays

Donnell Stewart (10/19), David Holden (10/22), Timothy Hunter (10/22), Daniel McAfee (10/23)

 This Week’s Raisings

Randy Adams (10/18), Thomas Coers (10/21), Mac Fehsenfeld (10/21), David Holden (10/21), Jonathan Holden (10/22), William Wilfong (10/22), Brad Sweezy (10/22), John Sweezy (10/22), Phil Greenwood, Sr. (10/22), Hector Munoz-Colon (10/23), Ryan Sohn (10/24)

 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.

We are sitting at 10 different Lodges visited for a total of 590 round trip miles.  We have completed the requirements for both of the Grand Lodge Travel Awards.  That doesn’t mean we are going to stop traveling as I would like to see us go for some of the many traveling implements in the area and bring them home to Millersville.  We will have a bit more upcoming travel soon as we will once again be going dark during July and August, however, we will need to keep our ritual game strong by traveling around and watching and being a part of degrees at other Lodges.

http://masoniccalendar.blogspot.com/

Brian Bates

Worshipful Master

Millersville Lodge #126

Mobile: 260-615-8013

Email: tazmanfw@gmail.com

Masonic Appendant Body News

Scottish Rite

October 24, 2021 – Children’s Halloween Party – 2:00 pm – Grand Hall

November 3, 2021 – Stated Meeting – Dinner 5:30 pm – Meeting 7:00 pm followed by 12th Degree

November 13, 2021 – Convocation  – 8:00 am start – 4th, 10th, 14th, 15th, 18th, 20th, 32nd Degrees

December 1, 2021 – Stated Meeting – Dinner at 5:30 pm – Meeting at 7:00 pm

December 5, 2021 – Orchestra Winter Concert 3:00 pm – Theater

December 11, 2021 – Children’s Christmas Party – Magic Show in Theater 2:00 pm, Games and Fun in the Grand Hall at 2:30 pm.

York Rite

Oct. 27 – H.E. Lackey Commandry – Order of the Temple Practice

  • 7:00pm

Nov. 10 – H.E. Lackey Commandry – Order of the Temple Practice

  • 7:00pm

Nov. 24 – H.E. Lackey Commandry  – Order of the Temple and Inspection

  • 7:00pm

Murat Shrine

Oasis is now open for lunch Monday thru Friday from 11:00am – 2:00pm

Oct. 18 – Stated Meeting

  • 7:00pm

Nov. 6 – Grand Master’s One Day Class

  • EA Degree 8:00am – 9:15am
  • FC Degree 9:45am – 11:30am (Millersvile Lodge will confer)
  • Lunch 11:30am – 12:45pm
  • MM Degree 12:45pm – 3:00pm
  • Murat Shrine Ceremonial 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Nov. 15 – Stated Meeting

  • 7:00pm

Nov. 27 – 2nd Sportsman Raffle

  • $20/ticket for a chance at 1 of 50 guns
  • See Gregg Stone, Jim Strauss, or Wally Renn for tickets

Dec. 20 – Stated Meeting

  • 7:00pm

Order of the Eastern Star

Oct. 21 – Marion County Worthy Matrons Meeting

  • 6:30pm

Nov. 6 – Monthly Community Breakfast

  • 8:00am – 10:00am
  • $8.00 donation