From the East
Brethren,
Summertime and the livin’ is … well, HOT! I hope each of you has time to take a breather this summer before we all head back to (from my perspective) heavy school and work traffic in another month or two. Meantime, our flurry of degree work the first half of this year has led to six Master Masons (five new, and one nearly new) putting their final touches on their last catechism to enable them to begin their respective journeys to the East. Twenty-five, Fifty and Sixty years as Master Masons. Thank you and congratulations to our brothers who have reached these lofty milestones in their Masonic careers. Honors to you, Brothers Jim Shore and Joel Blady (25), Illustrious Sir, WB Paul Whitfield (50), and WB Jack Rimmer (60). Thank you WB, Illustrious, Bob Braswell for the these fine presentations that were made at Phalanx on May 31st before family, friends, and brothers.
Thank you also to Worshipful Brother Walter Grahling, for his heartfelt donation of his personal gavel and beautifully crafted wooden chest handmade for him while he was Master of Joppa Lodge. According to WB Grahling, “My wish is for each serving Master of Phalanx to pass this gavel to the incoming Worshipful Master to use during his tenure in the East.” It was also great to see WB Grahling up and about after some rather trying health issues during the past few years.
Please be safe and I’ll see you at our next stated on July 12th!
Fraternally,
John Harder – Worshipful Master, PM
From the West
Brothers,
Greetings from the West.
Over the past two months I have been preparing to deliver the Short Talk Bulletin titled ALTAR and have spent a great deal of time thinking about it’s message and meaning.
After delivering the talk, I realize the truth of it and one of it’s central themes – No man can learn the truth for another and no man can learn the truth alone.
I thank you for being with me as I learned this truth and if you learned it with me, I thank you for letting me be there with you.
The Altar of Freemasonry is an Altar of Fellowship. If you haven’t been in the lodge lately, come join us in our fellowship.
I look forward to meeting you or seeing you once again.
Fraternally,
Bill Stout, SW
From the Secretary
Brothers,
Congratulations and many thanks to each of our Service Award recipients for your continued engagement and your presence on this special evening. Unfortunately we will miss presenting awards in person to Brothers David Potts (25), Charlie Jessup (50), G.C. Pitman (50) and Walter Moody (60), but these Brothers’ awards will be or have been mailed to them at their request. We Mike Hamrick, PM do have six more Brothers due an award, and another Service Award presentation evening scheduled for October 25th at which we hope to see them.
Fraternally,
Mike Hamrick, PM
Secretary