Fellow Craft Notes

For me the months of August and September have been most about the work in the Fellow Craft Degree. Either from participation in the Degree work or in working with Fellow Crafts on their catechism work. I am very wrapped up in it at the moment.

But it is in these moments that I am reminded of what a good friend and Brother once (and repeatedly) said to me. That one must take in and learn as much as they can about the Fellow Craft degree while they are a Fellow Craft. You should not look at the degree as the step before Master Mason. The Fellow Craft is full of knowledge for the newly passed Brother and that knowledge's value should not be overlooked.

I have a soft spot for the Fellow Craft lecture as well. I think it is one of the most vibrant because of it's wealth of philosophy and intelligence. The participation emmerses the newly passed Fellow Craft with a connection to our ancient Brethren.

I have a great excitement and renewal of zeal with all the new Brothers who are being passed recently I have been involved with the passing of 6 Brothers in the last 2 months and it has been a real pleasure to see all the Fellow Crafts who go out to watch the Fellow Craft Degrees at other lodges. They are learning more about their degree and showing their support for their Brothers.

I hope that we may ever be mindfull to nourish the needy, refresh the destitute, and pour the oil of joy into the hearts of the afflicted.

Keep well and travel light my Brothers.

Reading Recommendation: Twelve World Teachers

I have recently began reading Manly Palmer Hall's Twelve World Teachers. It was given to me by another Brother from my second lodge to return to the library of my home lodge, and on my way home I took a glance at it while my ride stopped for gas. I opened up the book randomly and I came to the chapter about Zoroaster (The God of Zoroastrianism) and soon found myself caught up in the book. When my Brother had finished pumping gas and made his way back in to the truck I realized I had found my next read.

Twelve World Teachers by Manly P. Hall is my current reading recommendation from our Sutherland Lodge Library.

Building Up The Lodge

The mythical beginnings of our fraternity date back to the Bible. In the great buildings of the Old Testament, most notably the Temple Of Solomon in Jerusalem. The Temple has a great signifigance to Masonry as a whole, and is a key symbol in the lodge. The Temple of Solomon is the backdrop of the Hiramic Legend and as well as an important location in that sacred volume of law that rests upon our altar.

Operative Freemasons continued this tradition by building many churches in Europe. Speculative Masons have done so by building good, solid, moral foundations in men. This vital tenet and tradition of our ancient order is as vital today as it was in antiquity.

It is up to us now to ensure that we continue to pursue this great tradition into the future and ensure it's survival for the future generations that will come. The sincere bonds of affection that are created in Freemasonry are special and sacred and we are truly blessed by the Great Architect of the Universe for those bonds we share.

But we are not lost in myth. We are real, flesh and blood, right her in front of your face. Living life as we do. But as we look back into the mists of time and legend for our own heritage we must remember always to be in connection with the traditions of Masons past. We must remember we are a continuation of what was built by our Brothers before us.

As Masons, we should be enriching ourselves with our shared heritage and common bonds. Building our bonds as Brothers, and allowing this to make our modern Freemasonry flourish. The benefit of the lodge is something that all Brothers should remember.

Much Love Brothers.

Our First Steps In Masonry

The evolution that a man makes when he first comes from the outer world is began when we reaches out for light. It is that effort that the individual candidate and Mason that sparks the fuse of our great Masonic expansion. It is the driving force behind why we are Masons in the first place.

Mankind has always dreamed of grasping knowledge in it's fullness and those men who asked and became Freemasons have made a declaration that they seek knowledge and light to shine unto their paths. The paths which lead men to their destinies and fates. Those paths which all men alive must tread.

The steps which a Mason first takes are those of understanding his degree. Some men do so by catechism cyphers, others by memory alone, but rest assured that the proficiency of his respective degree should be the concern of all Masons in the Blue Lodge.

The connections that a Mason develops when learning his catechisms are bonds which are truly unique and special. In these lessons Masons find out who they are and what they are truly capable of. Inside these degrees are some of the most useful maxims for character building in men. This is only reinforced by the bond established between a mentor and his pupil.

After one returns his work as a Master Mason (in this humble Mason's opinion) a Mason may go out and instruct new Brothers in their work and continue the bonds of fellowship into the future. So that the lodge may benefit from this good work, and Brotherhood may be developed amongst the Brothers of the lodge.

Let us not forget those who aided us in our work growing in Masonry, and look foward to doing all we can to help those Brothers with theirs. May the blessings of heaven rest upon you and all of those you love, and may we meet in good health and spirits next time. Have a great Labor Day!

A Trip To Grand Lodge

Bro. Bureau and Bro. Wendling of Sutherland Lodge #174 F&AM recently visited the Grand Lodge of Florida in Jacksonville. This is an account of their visit:

"We were greeted by the Grand Secretary Richard Lynn with Brotherly Love. Most Worshipful Lyn P.G.M. took us Brothers on a very detailed tour of the Grand Lodge and introduced us to theose behind the scenes to make the Grand Lodge run efficiently.

Being young in our Masonic lives we were in awe of this tri-story Grand Lodge. We started our tour on the main floor where all the magic happens. He showed us the newest addition to the Grand Lodge, their new printer. Which uses a block of colored clay to print and it saved them thousands of dollars in printing costs. As he took us on the tour we met several individuals that make it all possible and put everything together for our own lodges. One of the most amazing things to see was the 'vault'. This is where the lodges minutes and bylaws are kept since the Grand Lodge existed. Just to see the books from the early 1800's (which are not allowed to be touched without gloves) was breathtaking. To see information from our very own Sutherland Lodge No 174 from the 1930's was even more spectacular! They even have the original "books" of course those are locked away in a separate safe. After seeing this magnificent room we went upstairs to the third floor where accounting is done and the area for the Lodge Room is.

On the third floor they have a magnificent library which you must have an appointment to see any of the books. From there we went to the basement which was located in the bomb shelter where the bookstore is and any and all materials or books you wish to order is kept. It was amazing to see how much there acutally was in this room and how very well organized it was. We finished up our tour with the most amazing and breathtaking event. We toured the Grand Lodge musuem. Words cannot describe this two story history, from the pictures of all the past Grand Masters to the memorabilia from the history of Masonry in and around the world.

With all said I have suggested to Worshipful Scott that we rent a 12-15 passenger van and make the day trip to Jacksonville to allow those to experience the Grand Lodge. It is about a 4 hour drive there and with a large group it will take a few hours to tour. So we should plan on making it a full day venture. I will be getting with Worshipful Scott on the price and date." ~ Brothers Micheal G. Bureau and Rick Wendling.

Fellowcraft Degree!

Hey Guys! Brother Aaron here. Just keeping you up to date on the happenings at Sutherland.

I have to say that it is a great feeling to see people make progress in their Masonic journeys and watching them share in the rich traditions that our Craft has to offer. It has been most exciting being a part of the degrees in my lodge and one of the most satisfying parts is that I am taking a hands on role in mentoring my Brother in the ways of Freemasonry. That is both an honor and a privilidge to do.

Now my Brothers and I continue on to the Fellowcraft catechism and work on the continuation of that degree we all remember so well. I look foward to continuing to being a part of such a great lodge and community.