From The Craft

HOW FAR HAVE YOU TRAVELED?

         How far have you traveled? When you joined the Masonic fraternity, you began a journey which hopefully has taken you to places you never imagined. If you have paid close attention to the degrees, read your Masonic Monitor, and generally paid attention, you have enjoyed some enlightenment. The Masonic fraternity is dedicated to the principle of "making good men, better." The Symbolic (or blue) lodge containing the three principle degrees, is only the beginning of your journey. Found here, in the symbolic lodge, are the basic principles needed to become a better person. The foundation, if you will, of your temple. Learn the lessons here, and learn them well. As Geometry is the foundation upon which the superstructure is erected; so, the symbolic lodge becomes the foundation upon which the superstructure of our fraternity is erected.

To become a better person, you must reach beyond yourself. It is mandatory that you understand, appreciate, and support those people far less fortunate than we. While the symbolic lodge supports the inner you, there is much to be done outside ourselves to fully benefit from the "Masonic experience." It has been said that "life is a journey, not a destination", and that is very true. We must realize that masonry is a journey, not a destination. We should never be complacent with where we are, but hunger for that far shore. Within our fraternity, there is so much more, and it should be embraced. The death of Hiram, and subsequent events surounding that event, are only the beginning. The degrees from 4 through 32 explain in more depth the historic events following the building of King Soloman's Temple.

The Masonic fraternity is a major philanthropic organization. While the Shrine is well known for their endeavors with their hospitals, there are many other avenues within the fraternity to aid and assist those less fortunate. It is through giving of ourselves that we truly find our greatest pleasure. The grand archetect of the universe did not expect us to be stagnant, but rather to do all within our ability to assist our country, our community, and especially our fellow man. Do not let complacency keep you from being all you can. Explore the entire Masonic community!

 WB: Bob Adams

Richmond Haller Lake 248

Senior Deacon

          Serving the Lodge this year as Senior Deacon, and last year as Junior Deacon,

I have developed a fond appreciation for one of the main responsibilities of the

Deacon position: the setting up and taking down of Lodge furnishings.

            Now this may strike most as a chore, kind of like vacuuming or doing the dishes.

    I initially approached the task with the same "get it done as quickly as possible" attitude that my teenaged children exhibit when confronted with housekeeping assignments. Sometimes brothers will pitch in and help distribute or put away some of the many artifacts, and I enjoy the hustle and bustle of shared work. I appreciate this because it means either more time available to spend chatting prior to opening the meeting or a quicker descent to enjoy the fellowship after closing.

    But more often than not I arrive at Lodge just as dinner is beginning and say a few brief hellos, then, feeling a bit guilty, go upstairs to an empty Lodge room. The guilt is from knowing that I could have left work earlier to set up Lodge in time to also eat dinner with my friends. But lacking sufficient discipline to manage my time at work with the necessary efficiency, I wind up excusing myself to perform my greater purpose.

    Now, when we sit in Lodge we all get to see the officers' aprons and jewels. We all watch the Great Lights and the Lesser Lights being arranged. We all hear the gavels in the East, West, and South. We all admire the Deacons and Stewards in that they get to walk around with rods.

    But over time I have come to appreciate the opportunity that I have, to spend time up close and personal, with each of the items used in the performance of our Ritual. I usually start with the Charter and Working Tools, placing them on and in front of, respectively, the Worshipful Master's podium in the East. After putting them in place for many meetings, I once said to myself..."I am probably the only brother that has actually touched our Lodge's charter for the past year." And then I realized that I also was the only brother to handle the three Great Lights of our Lodge. It was always pleasing to watch altar-work from the sidelines, but here I was actually unlocking and bringing them out, opening and closing them, then putting them away!  I started get a real kick out of being able to hande these Masonic icons rather than just watch them and would break into an inward smile as I put them into position while setting up the Lodge.  

    Moving the rods into place, setting aprons and jewels on the correct chair, arranging the items on each podium, I began to enjoy the opportunity that I had to touch and silently speak to every object used to turn a simple rectangular space into a Lodge ready for Masons.

    As brethren get clothed and enter in to the Lodge room, I watch this dignified and silent place become filled with energy and brotherly love. My favorite time at Lodge is the 15 minutes just prior to opening that we are all together in the Lodge room, sharing greetings and enjoying the anticipation of our Masonic ritual.

    At the end of Stated Meetings, some brothers are in a hurry to enjoy dessert, some are anxious to leave, and some simply hang around. I take my time to put away all the items just brought out - some things can be tossed back in to place, some require a little more care. But as I go about the task of restoring the Lodge to its bare beginnings, I always have a little voice inside saying to each of the items: "See you next month, buddy." 

 S.D. Tim Weist

Learning from the Best

The Masonic education of a brother starts way before he is initiated. Normally a mentor answer questions from the applicant before his official entry to the fraternity. This marks the beginning on his quest for more knowledge in Masonry.  The Lodge in general must therefore carefully and progressively teach young masons as he goes through the degrees. The more experienced, savvy and wiser members of Genesis Lodge are more than eager to impart the tenets of the fraternity.

Our newly initiated brothers expect no less than the best rituals and educational process from the Officers of the Lodge, from the Past Masters and from the Grand Lodge luminaries of the fraternity. I for one whole-heartedly agree that each brother be accorded the best education as he goes through the degrees. The better we prepare our new brothers, the better equip they are in their future journey.

This reminds me of the story of the young Warren Buffet who wanted to work for Benjamin Graham, the founder of the modern investment industry and the founder of the value school of investing. In order for the young Warren to gain the best education and experience, he insisted in getting job under Benjamin Graham. He was so eager to work for Mr. Graham that he told Mr. Graham that he would like to work for nothing and without pay. Mr. Graham’s response was: “You’re over priced”.

The price of experience derived from an expert is priceless. The long term effect of the education is far reaching and rewarding. And sharing our Masonic knowledge to our brothers will surely make them well-prepared in their journey as they seek more light in masonry.

Remember, education is not an end but means to an end.

WM Mike Marave

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MASTER'S CHAIR
By WB Serg E. Firmacion II

    What I am about to share with you tonight is something very precious to me.
My term as Worshipful Master of Cagayan de Oro Lodge No. 298 last Masonic
Year exposed me to some hard lessons, painful realizations, but mixedwith
some joyful and memorable moments. My topic is especially aimed at the
brethren who are still on their way to the East and those who contemplate
on climbing the ladder that leads to fame in our Mystic Circle. I do not
claim to speak for the Past Masters, but I invite them to recollect their
own experiences as I talk about my own. I call my topic:

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MASTER'S CHAIR.

      What exactly do we see when we look at the Master's Chair? What
comes into our minds when we cast our eyes to the East? POWER. PRESTIGE.
HONOR. These are some of the rewards we expect to receive when we finally reach the
pinnacle of our dreams, which is the Master's Chair, it being the highest
seat in the Lodge. Being appointed to a Masonic District position is just
icing on a cake. Being elected as Master of the Lodge is the real
challenge.

      But truly, that Chair in the East can bring out the best and the
worst of us. For some, it is the ultimate prize that must be won by hook
or by crook. For others, it is a mysterious and fearsome black hole that
swallows everything in its path and must be avoided. And for the chosen few, it
becomes the vehicle that somehow propels them to greater heights with
their principles intact and their honor untarnished.

      One cannot begin to imagine the dirty politics that some brethren
resort to just to sit on that chair. They flex their muscles to show
who's the boss. They let everyone know they can put any brother to sit on that
chair if they so desire. Yes, my brethren, these men exist in many of our
Lodges.

      But they forget one important thing.

      What most of us see when we look to the East is not the power of
the gavel nor the authority that comes with the hat. Most of us see the
PERSON and his CHARACTER and the kind of stuff that he is made of.

      It is never easy to be a Master of the Lodge. True, that position
commands the obedience and respect from among the brethren. The Master is
empowered by the Masonic By-Laws to have the final say on any issues
during meetings. But it is also true that the Master prevails because the
brethren allow him to. The Master leads and governs because the brethren
are WILLING to follow and obey. In other words, the power and authority
of the Master emanates from those who have elected him. Once he loses the respect and trust of
the brethren, then his power becomes meaningless, much like a bamboo: firm on
the outside, but hollow on the inside.

      May I therefore be allowed to share with you what, I believe, are
the most important things to remember when one becomes a Master of the
Lodge.

      The Master must, at all times, practice HUMILITY. It may seem like a
contradiction in terms when we say that the higher you go, the lower you
must place yourself. He must be humble enough to accept criticisms
especially from some brothers who, at times, can be brutally frank in
their opinions. He must be willing to admit a mistake and, if possible, correct
a wrongful action.

      The Master cannot be angry for anger may blur his vision and impair
his judgment. He must be firm in standing by his decisions and accept the
consequences. He cannot be too proud because there are brethren who are
willing and ready to cut him down to size. Likewise, he must avoid trying
to please everyone, for he may end up satisfying no one.

      The Master must listen to the counsel of the elders. It is a waste
of time and energy to commit the blunders of the past, henceforth, the
lessons learned from the elders become valuable tools in achieving his goals.

      The Master must prepare himself for some domestic conflicts with
the sister. In the arena we call home, some Masters are lucky; some are not.
Although we Masons are taught to divide our time to include quality time
with our family, being the Worshipful Master is another story. He is
expected to attend all stated meetings of his Lodge, as well as those of
the other Lodges; he is to preside in all executive committee meetings,
join orientations of candidates, and all Lodge and District projects and
activities. So what happens? A tug-of-war between family and Masonry
becomes inevitable. Henceforth, the Master needs to develop his power of
persuasion, boundless patience and skill in balancing his time to put
both the Lodge and his home in order.

      Lastly, the Master must not take himself too seriously,
notwithstanding the solemnity and magnitude of his authority. The burden that rests upon his shoulder is enough to add wrinkles on his face and white hair on his
head… or even lose all those hair. It is imperative that he
maintains his sense of humor and take things as lightly as possible. Otherwise, twelve
months will seem like an eternity.

      To sum it all, the Master must have the stamina of the horse, the
strong presence of the lion, the humor of the monkey, the sting of the
bee, the patience of the turtle, the loyalty and simplistic manners of the dog.
These are just a few of the qualities a brother must aim to possess if he
is to sit on that Chair in the East.

      Some Past Masters fade away because they found no fulfillment
during their terms of office. They realized too late that HONOR and
RESPECTABILITY do not come attached to their position, rather, they are bestowed only upon those who deserve them. That is why I take my hat off to those Past
Masters among us who continue to be active and still respected among the
brethren. They are living proof that Freemasonry do bring out the best from even
the most ordinary men.

      True, embarking on a journey to the East is never an easy
proposition. Whereas before, a brother was a proud man; it is in the East where he
will be humbled. Whereas before, he grew up thinking that he was weak; it is
in the East where he will find new strengths. It is this self-discovery, my
brethren, that will be worth all the pain, the frustrations and the hard
lessons that the Master will have to endure. And as he finally passes on
the gavel and his hat to his successor, he will come out wiser, tougher
and deserving of a place in his Lodge's history.