 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issue No. 37 January 12, 2007 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
R:.W:. Joseph R. Leo R:.W:. David L. Blasch V:.W:. John W. Cola V:.W:. Scott A. Klein Lodges of the Athelstane Cornerstone Goshen Hoffman Hudson River Jerusalem Temple Naurashank Port Jervis Stony Point-Wawayanda Wallkill Warwick West Point Archives No.
1 5/5/06 |
It's been another busy week in the quarries, and the coming weekend and week will be even busier for me. After attending the Entered Apprentice Degree at Port Jervis Lodge this evening, I've got a few hours rest before the DDGM Visit to Jerusalem Temple Lodge tomorrow morning and then a trip to Utica tomorrow afternoon for Long Range Planning and Lodges and Buildings committee meetings. Then it's back to Grand Lodge next week for iDC Course meetings and video shoots for the new LSOME program. Now, tell me again about the length of our cable tows?
My Brothers, as we evaluate candidates for Freemasonry, we must look for more than a pulse and appropriate private parts. Remember, it is better that no Craftsman be added to the rolls than one who will tarnish the luster of our calling. This means traveling to his home, conducting an effective interview with the candidate and his family, inquiring of his expectations of us, and making our expectations of him clear. This, of course, means knowing what your Lodge expects of a new Brother. What level of proficiency in our Work is expected and, more importantly, what level of participation does the Lodge consider adequate? Does he have the time to become an active participant in your Lodge? If not, then perhaps this isn't the time to become a Mason. Finally, is your Lodge ready to receive this new Brother? Do you have your Mentoring and Masonic Development Course programs in order? Do you have plans on your trestleboards that you can lead a new Brother to and ask him to work on? Is your Lodge ready to deliver the Masonic Experience that every Brother deserves? If not, please contact myself or our Grand Director of Ceremonies and we'll help you make the preparations necessary to receive a new brother and help him become a member, not just a number. Grand Lodge has sent all of the Lodges new membership packages with CDs, membership information cards, and the new 'Who Are the Masons?" brochures containing our Masonic Compact (please throw the old ones away!). Once more, Grand Lodge is offering you the tools to seek and welcome new Brothers to our Craft. It's up to you to wield these tools and add suitable Craftsmen to our rolls. See you next week! DISTRICT NEWS
Wallkill Lodge Fundraiser Editor's note: The Brothers of Wallkill Lodge are also visiting the Sutherland home fairly regularly to assist with clean-up and repairs after the fire. This is an awesome exemplification of the call for Personal Service as exemplified in our new Masonic Compact. Well done! Masters and Wardens Meeting George Washington's Birthday Celebration ORDMA NEWS
ORDMA Calendars Now Available! DATES TO REMEMBER
SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION
The Orange-Rockland School of Masonic Instruction will convene on the second Monday of each month, at locations around the District. Instruction will rotate on a monthly basis between Ritual, Grand Lodge educational programs, and seminars on topics like Leadership and Communication. Our next School will be held on Monday February 12th at Jerusalem Temple Lodge at 8:00 p.m. The trestleboard for the School will be the Entered Apprentice Degree. Please bring your Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts for this informative evening .A brief Masters and Wardens meeting will precede the School at 7:00 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact the DDGM. We'll see you there! Editorial
Finding Answers Our good Brother, Rashied K. Sharrieff-Al-Bey, gave me a comment a while back, when we were having an e-mail discussion on membership, which I thought was good: "We fail to attract [and retain] new members because we do not do what we say we do; we are not what we say we are." I can agree with what he meant because, there are some Lodges where the educating of new Masons on what Freemasonry is all about is precious little to not existing. In general new Masons, if they have an interest at all in learning the lessons Masonry has to pass on to its votaries, needs to seek out the information on their own; this is something that might be able to be done without being a member of a Lodge. I was at a Masonic function, not all that long ago, where there were many, many new Master Masons; one of the speakers, after saying what a wonderful organization Freemasonry is, told these new Masons that Masonry will provide the questions but it will not provide the answers; 'those', he said, 'you', (the new Masons,) 'will need to find out for yourselves.' I like better what Brother Philip Steel of the Grand Lodge of Michigan had to say regarding this topic. "Masonic Lodges must become places in which Masonic Education takes a man from the ritual to an understanding of the ideas of that ritual, and to the effect they should have on his daily life as a citizen of this nation and as a son of the author of all life." He also said; "To parrot-like repeat the words of the ritual is not enough - you must learn what Freemasonry means, for what it stands and what it means in our daily lives." A Brother who was giving a talk at the Midwest Conference on Masonic Education back in 1992 said that in order for the Master of the Lodge to give the Brethren of his Lodge 'proper instruction' he must know more than the Craftsmen he is trying to instruct.' Well, I think I could disagree with his statement to a certain extent. While it would be nice if the Master of the Lodge, and the Wardens, Deacons and others who desire to go through the chairs to become Master were well versed in things Masonic, sometimes this just isn't the case; to me it just isn't that important because, the Master can employ others to do what he is unable to do; [an important part of leadership] such as a Lodge Education Officer, or LEO for short. For a Lodge who has a LEO it is his job to assist the Master in providing good and wholesome instruction, and an effective Master will appoint a Lodge Education Officer ordering him to provide a Masonic Education Program at every stated communication, and to implement the Grand Lodge Mentor Program. The LEO does not have to do this strictly by himself; he can also enlist help from others who have an interest in contributing; who have some knowledge to pass on, and are willing to help. Many a Mason came into our Lodges hoping that Masonry would have something to teach him that would benefit him in the future; something that would help him become the best man he was capable of being. Masonry does, and it is through the implementation of the Mentor Program, as well as good Masonic information and education in each stated communication of the Lodge, that Freemasonry provides the answers to the questions all Masons have as they journey through their Masonic life. Freemasonry does provide the answers, but it takes dedicated Masons who are willing to be Mentors to help those of us who have questions. A Mentor will lead and point us in the proper direction for us to learn, and to enjoy our association with the Sons of Light: A Mentor will guide us in the right direction. There is more to Masonic Work than just putting on a degree, and then expecting that the degree alone is sufficient to convey what Masonry is to the new Brother. "Education must not simply teach work - it must teach life." Brother W.E.B. DuBois From the Great Light in Masonry, "Instruct a wise man and
he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his
learning." - Proverbs 9:9 NIV SICKNESS AND DISTRESS
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Bro. Pat Pryor of Wallkill Lodge No. 627. Though not a member of our Craft for very long, Pat greatly enjoyed his time with us and was proud to be a Mason. He will be sorely missed. A Masonic Service was held for Pat last Monday and we ask that you include him and his family in your prayers. HELP WANTED
Restoration Help Wanted Master Mason Degree Assistance Needed Master Mason Degree Assistance Needed Copyright 2006-2007 Orange-Rockland District, GLNY F&AM. All rights reserved. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nobody is expected to be as busy as all this
but, with Brother Bring a Friend Nights and new Degree cycles starting
up soon, it's time to take a look at what our expectations of new Masons
are? How much time ad effort should it take to become a Brother? Masonry
is not a right, its a privilege, and members are more important than
numbers. Does your Lodge make its expectations clear to a petitioner
before he submits his petition? Do you ask him about what he can contribute
to the Lodge? Do you expect him to make an effort or every
effort to become a useful member of your Lodge? 
ORDMA Dinner Dance