Master's Message - December 2015

“Serious and Solemn Reflections”

As we progress through the process of raising our six new brothers, it gives us the opportunity to
reflect on our own experiences as Hiram Abiff. “Our brother (insert your name here) absent? This is truly alarming!” The absent brother who does not attend the work of his lodge is equally missed, both physically and fraternally. What the absent brother misses is the chance to commune and break bread his with brothers in Masonry as well as the opportunity to realize that personal growth gained in the experience of the degrees. “That which was lost, and with your assistance and my own exertions I hope to obtain.” It’s all in there brethren, if only you seek to find it!

Indeed there comes a time when the lessons inculcated in our ritual achieve a level of personal epiphany or spiritual awakening for every committed Mason. This is one of the great gifts of Freemasonry. As Masons, we use terms such as, valuable tenets, virtues, vital principles, obligations, secrets, mysteries, jewels, tokens, signs, symbols and emblems to convey the seriousness and solemnity of these lessons. Each of these words is carefully chosen as a specific descriptor, that the brother might both instinctively and intellectually appreciate the depth of these significant expressions. As an officer in a Blue Lodge “line” many of us are invariably attached to the dreaded cipher book, painstakingly pouring over the words and the symbolism relevant to every moment of each degree. The significance of the passages becomes clearer to the ritual scholar as he delves into each new mystery to be conveyed to the candidate, and by extension the officers also hope to convey that same depth to the Brethren on the sidelines. It is a simple fact that the more often a brother experiences the degrees, the more likely they will enjoy the gift of Masonic enlightenment.

December also brings the joys and reflections of the holiday season. Whether Christian, Muslim, Jewish or Buddhist, our invocations to Deity are somehow deepened by the significance of this time of year. Our energies are refocused on the more meaningful aspects of our journey, our family and faith. Thus we have made a conscious effort to keep our Masonic schedule light to facilitate that purpose. Our Regular Communication is scheduled for Tuesday, December 1st, and it will be a “step-up” night for our officers with Wor. Christopher Ives presiding in the East – (officers should be prepared for the full-form opening). On Tuesday December 8th, we will confer the 3rd degree on the final group of 3 candidates from our fall class. The winter/spring class looks to be equally impressive! We will of course have our annual Bell-ringing event for the Salvation Army with details to follow. Lodge of Instruction is scheduled for Tuesday December 22nd in the Worcester apartments. Finally, for those interested, we have a limited amount of tickets for the annual Fast of Saint John @ Grand Lodge scheduled for Monday December 28th.

Finally, I want to thank all of our members for their continued support of our Fraternity whether active or not. The future of Freemasonry is dependent on both established and new Masons finding purpose and meaning in being part of one of the greatest gatherings of men in the history of mankind. We discovered at the beginning of our journey, that we were first prepared to be made a Mason in our hearts. The enlightenment we receive in our journey when “going around the circle” brings us right back where we started, in our hearts with God.

Have a blessed and joyous holiday season!


Brother John F. Sullivan, Master

Master's Message - November 2015

 “How will you be tried? 

As we reflect on the change of season, where nature journeys into slumber, let us also consider one of our ancient landmarks, and with it, the elegance of the words ”…our hope in immortality”. In our survey of Nature, we do not view the turning of the leaves with despair, but rather with faith; faith that God has made them vibrant and colorful for their transition, that we may rejoice in their existence. We view each change of season with surety that it is but a journey to the next; a point along the circle of life.

Our Masonic journey toward immortality is a similar one. It is one which is taken through the metamorphosis of each brother’s conscience; where the mysteries of Freemasonry reveal their true nature and the true depth of the man’s existence is revealed. As we are first spiritually hoodwinked to the glorious promise that awaits us in the realm after this world, how do we prepare with hope for our place under God’s grace? How exactly does a brother “… hope for what he cannot see?” Through the exploration and inculcation of Freemasonry’s universal truths, men, like the leaves are also beautified. The fraternity provides each willing brother, a pathway toward a greater fulfillment of that hope in immortality. Our hope is realized as our lives are more meaningfully spent in the service of God and our fellow man. Thus much like the assurance we have of the coming spring; through the life-long practice of the tenets of our institution, we develop the surety that our personal journey will be eternally rewarded. As we live our lives by the square of virtue, so shall we be tried before God and man.

On Tuesday, November 3rd we will hold our Annual Communication. At this meeting the Treasurer will reveal the results of our annual audit, and we will also elect a lodge Trustee, a building association representative and a Grand Lodge Proxy. The following week on Tuesday November 10th @ 6:30 pm, we will hold a 3rd degree rehearsal for the newly installed officers; all officers please make every effort to attend as there is much work to do. On Tuesday November 17th we will confer the 3rd degree on our first three candidates in this class; with the final three candidates scheduled to be raised on Tuesday December 8th. As of now, the monthly 23rd District Lodge of Instruction will be held on its usual night, Tuesday November 24th @7:00 pm.

Morning Star Lodge also has four additional candidates in the application and investigation phases, and we hope to begin the next cycle of degree work for those future brothers in January. All investigation committees should plan to have their completed recommendations to the Secretary prior to our December communication for balloting. Please remember that all investigations must now include a “home visit” to assess a candidate’s worthiness and ability to sustain membership.

Finally, I want to once again express my sincere gratitude to each of you for your support and confidence in me as Master of this historic lodge again this year. I am fully aware of our lodge’s significant legacy and expectation of excellence. Being the Master of Morning Star Lodge is a great honor and privilege, as well as a great responsibility. I pray for God’s guidance and your help to continue to uphold our treasured legacy and maintain that level of excellence in Masonry.

Sincerely and fraternally,

Brother John F. Sullivan, Master

Morning Star Lodge's Community Service Team Makes its Debut!

The MSL Community Service Team had its first event on Sunday, October 18th for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Thanks to all who generously gave their time and energy to this great cause.

Master's Message - October 2015

“What came you here to do?”

This question is, or should be, a fundamental inquiry for all candidates, and indeed all Masons. A Masonic lodge cannot be all things to all members; but it IS where a brother may come and explore the promise of Freemasonry. Inculcated in the degrees are the lessons which are our Masonic pathway to discovering the answer to this important question. This pathway is not a secret one nor is a brief jaunt, it is journey where personal exertion is required to unveil the universal truths of mankind; and like all great endeavors, this journey to self-awareness takes time to develop, and requires assistance. True personal insight, through the practice of Masonic principles, doesn’t magically occur at the raising of Hiram Abiff. That is merely our Masonic gateway. Sustained enlightenment comes at a much slower pace. Personal transformation occurs through the painstaking process of character-building; of practicing the “tenets and virtues” of our society; of enveloping ourselves in a fraternity of men seeking similar enrichment; of developing the habit of service above self.

We must impress upon the mind of every candidate the virtue of Fortitude; we must be candid about what Masonry actually is; a lifelong personal journey, not an immediate stepping-stone for status or praise. The only status that matters is the status of our motives in our service to God and a distressed worthy brother; the only praise that matters is that which we will receive from God in our final hour. As Masons, we must keep asking ourselves, “What came you here to do?” What we will find, if only we keep searching, is an endless wealth of insight which will evolve as we do personally in Masonry.

Our October schedule is rich with opportunity. On Tuesday October 6th we have a busy evening scheduled with our Open Installation of Officers (ladies welcome) followed by our Regular Communication which includes the DDGM’s official visit. At 5:15 pm we will all gather in the newly renovated dining hall for dinner (please RSVP by 10/2 with the Master or Secretary). Our Open Installation will begin promptly at 6:15 pm. Immediately following the installation the ladies are invited to gather at Sweets on Shrewsbury St for dessert and coffee while the brethren conclude the business of the evening. This portends to be a great night of Masonic fellowship.

On Saturday October 17th we will host our annual Masonic Open House event at the lodge alongside our brothers from Quinsigamond Lodge. Invitations to attend this event have been extended to Worcester’s Mayor and City Councilors, as well as our City Manager Ed Augustus. Our hope is to educate our city leadership on the Lodge’s significant historical contributions to our community as well as to establish our commitment to its future. Please try to attend and show your support for our lodge and our city.

Our first family Community Service opportunity of the year is scheduled for Sunday October 18th at Elm Park where we will be providing logistical support for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk! All members and their families are welcome to come out and participate as volunteers and receive one of our new Morning Star Lodge Community Service Team T-shirts! Many thanks to Brother Tom Dillon for spearheading this initiative! If you want to participate please contact Wor. Chris Ives, our Service Committee Chairman.

On Tuesday October 20th we hope to confer the 2nd degree on our youngest group of Entered Apprentices. We await word from Grand Lodge on our dispensation request to confer the degree on all 6 of our brothers. This is the largest group of candidates we have had in many years, so please come and make them feel welcome in your lodge!

As always our Lodge of Instruction is scheduled on the 4th Tuesday of the month, October 27th at the Worcester Masonic Building. LOI’s now include a guest speaker/topic, this month RW Steve Cohn will speak on “Leadership, Planning & Budgeting”, so please come out and enjoy the evening of fellowship and knowledge. RW Stahl also has two additional Official Visits scheduled in October, one on Thursday October 1st at Franklin Lodge and the other on Thursday October 8th at Matthew John Whittall Lodge.

So, “What came you here to do? – As you can see, there is plenty to do and far to go!

Fraternally,

Brother John F. Sullivan, Master

Morning Star Lodge Unveil's New Lodge Banner

Thanks to Bro. Tom Dillon, we now have a beautiful lodge banner. Our three newest Brothers were gracious enough after a busy evening to hold it for us!

Master's Message - September 2015

“There is no more important role in Masonry than that of EXEMPLAR!”

Welcome back Brethren! The summer is drawing to a close and the 2015-16 Masonic year is upon US. This fall looks to be a busy and exciting season for Morning Star Lodge. We have upwards of eight candidates in the application process; eager to receive the degrees and begin their personal journeys in Freemasonry, and for that we are all responsible. Our lodge is blessed with a great team of elected and appointed officers to confer the degrees to our candidates. Along with our commitment to high quality ritual, we are equally committed to fellowship. What makes this experience more fulfilling for both officers and candidates? Having more of OUR brethren on the sidelines.


Morning Star Lodge is not just any lodge; it is our Mother Lodge. It is where our Masonic journey first took shape. It is where we were first brought into the fellowship. It is where we were first enriched in our personal journey as men of faith, fellowship and service. These early experiences were truly transformative for all of us. They began when we received the first degree in Blue Lodge.

Believe it or not, the new generation is seeking that very same experience! Indeed, your personal journey and your daily life may very well be different than that of our newest generation of candidates. You may well believe that you do not have any commonality with today’s candidates and that your attendance would add nothing to their experience, but nothing could be further from the truth. The real truth is that both veteran Mason and new Mason are equally enriched.

Think back to the early days of your Masonic journey; think back to the men who influenced you as a young Mason. Men you could look up to, men you admired for who they were to you and what they represented. Seeing these men in Lodge and getting to know them was a way of connecting with the grandeur of the past while prospering from their wisdom and counsel.

Our Masonic ritual teaches wise and serious truths. However to be effective, those truths must be passed on by men who are truly exemplifying those sacred concepts and practices in their everyday lives. Men like you, present on the sidelines, actively supporting and encouraging the generation that will pass those same truths on to the next by their own example. Indeed all of us are enriched in the very same way. The richness of their journey and your journey is dependent on the depth and breadth of your involvement in those formative times of fellowship.

Looking back, I reflect fondly on the men who fulfilled that role in my early Masonic journey, sideline stalwarts, EXEMPLARS like Herb Johnson, Herbert Berg, Lenny Kuniholm and many others; men I continue to admire and emulate. Though separated by generations, they gave their time and support freely, they gave their experience and wisdom so that I might prosper. They gave friendship and fellowship simply by being present.  I pray that I gave the same to them in some small way; and that we all will continue to give the same freely to the next generation, upholding our obligation as EXEMPLARS on the five points of fellowship!!


Fraternally,
Brother John F. Sullivan, Master

Annual Morning Star Table Lodge - A Resounding Success

6/24/2015 - Morning Star Lodge hosted its annual Table Lodge at the marvelous Grill on the Hill Restaurant located on the grounds of beautiful Green Hill Golf Course. The weather was spectacular, and it was an evening filled with good food, good drink and great company.

Master's Message - June 2015

Brethren,

Well it seems almost impossible but our Masonic year is quickly coming to an exciting close! Our calendar is full for June with our regular communication on the 2nd and a Master Mason’s degree on Tuesday June 9th for two candidates! The end of the month is also a whirlwind of activity centered on our annual Table Lodge on Wednesday June 24th and the years final combined 23rd and 24th Districts LOI on Thursday June 25th at the Auburn Masonic building @ 7:00 PM. This will be the last opportunity for us to retain the coveted district Tiki!!  Please make every effort to attend both the Table Lodge and LOI, as they are both great opportunities for fellowship!

Reflecting back on my first year as Master of Morning Star lodge, I am quite proud of the work we have done preparing ourselves for the compulsory lodge work necessary to raise candidates. Thank you all for all of your hard work and dedication to making MSL’s ritual the best! Thanks also to our dedicated past Masters for all of their guidance and direction. Your commitment to excellence truly conveys the traditions of the grand past of MSL to the bright future of our Lodge!

My vision for our lodge however goes beyond great ritual. I had hoped for more opportunities for fraternalism and family events. We did manage to include a couple of those opportunities in the year, but not as much as I had hoped; for that I apologize. Now that I/we have settled into our positions, my hope is that we can use this next year to establish a foundation for the future. Many lodges have events and community outreach projects that occur on an annual basis; they are well established and only need minimal planning and commitment to rehash each year. Like any design on the Trestle Board, the Master cannot build alone I will need your help.

I had thought that perhaps we would attempt to go after the Grand Master’s Award this year. This is a huge commitment, especially for the elected officers. But the GM award is only a snapshot of a single year, and does not necessarily build for the future. I believe our Lodge would be better served to use the collective energy of ALL the Brethren to shape the foundation for future Masters to build upon. I will be asking the junior officers as well as the Wardens to be integral parts of creating and establishing “MSL Signature Events” in the 2015-16 Masonic year.

Morning Star Lodge already has two Signature Events; one community related and one fraternal; our Salvation Army bell-ringing at the Greendale Mall during the holidays and our annual end of the year Table Lodge. My thoughts are that we concentrate our efforts on 2-3 more events or opportunities. At least one should utilize the magnificent facility we enjoy in some way. One or more other events should significantly elevate our profile and recognition in the community. We can create “new” opportunities and/or revitalize previous initiatives like the blood-donor program. Over the next month I would like your feedback and ideas. I have already been given a couple of ideas that we can explore including, an MSL walking/running team that participates in various community events sporting the MSL logo on our team shirts, and an aggressive awareness campaign at our local colleges. Food for thought!!

Let’s finish this year strong and plan for a great 2016!! We have 5-7 candidates in the queue for the fall, what a great opportunity for us to get them involved from the start!

Fraternally,

Brother John F. Sullivan, Master

State House Cornerstone Ceremony - June 17th, 2015

Calling all members of Morning Star Lodge! Let us assemble in force for this once-in-a-lifetime, historic event!

From the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts website:

"On Wednesday, June 17th, at 10:00 a.m., the Grand Master of Masons, M.W. Harvey J. Waugh, will have the pleasure of conducting a cornerstone ceremony at the Massachusetts State House and re-inter its time capsule.

Masons and their families from Massachusetts and beyond are invited to join the Grand Master and his distinguished suite as they process along the Boston Common from the Boston Masonic Building. The Grand Lodge officers will join the Governor, the Honorable Charles D. Baker, and the Secretary of the Commonwealth, William F. Galvin for a ceremony to relay the cornerstone.

Remarks will be made by Governor Baker, Secretary Galvin, and M.W. Bro. Waugh following the ceremony."

To register and learn more about the event, click here. Members of the lodge planning on attending should contact the lodge secretary.

Master's Message - May 2015

Brother Albert Pike wrote in his foundational work, Morals and Dogma; Chapter 2 Fellow Craft (1871):

 “The best gift we bestow on man is manhood. It is that which Masonry is ordained of God to bestow on its votaries; not sectarianism and religious dogma; not a rudimentary morality that may be found in the writings of Confucius, Zoroaster, Seneca and the Rabbis in the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes; not a little and cheap common-school knowledge; but manhood and science and philosophy.”

Masonry demands a candidate to be “worthy and well qualified” prior to gaining entrance, thus the man entering the Fraternity must already possess the foundational qualities necessary for the furtherance of his personal growth. Through the study of science and philosophy, the lessons of Freemasonry offer a life-long path for each brother to deepen and broaden his experience in the experience of manhood. This, like so many other endeavors in this life, is a continuous journey not a final destination. Each brother decides, “of his own free-will and accord” how far the journey will continue. His demand at the door, his request for admission, is in truth, a request he makes of himself. Only the individual brother can determine the extent of his journey; “from a point to a line, from a line to a superfice…”. Masonry provides the pathway, whereon like-minded brothers, also traveling that path, may help, aid and assist each other along the way.

The month of May brings revitalization to the earth and the warmth of spring to our lives. Morning Star Lodge will hold its Regular Communication on Tuesday May 5th. We are hoping to have upwards of 5 potential candidates join us for dinner that night who come to us from the Open House! Please come and help us welcome these men to the Craft. We will not have a degree in May, but will confer the third degree on our two new Fellow Crafts in June!

The lodge is planning a very special night of fellowship and patriotism on Sunday May 17th. Members of MSL and their ladies will be traveling to Boston in the early evening for dinner, and then we will be descending on Logan airport to greet the New England Honor Flight on their return from Washington D.C. This organization provides a full day of honor for our heroes, arranging for veterans to visit the various national memorials in Washington. We will be greeting them as they arrive home with flags, flowers and thanks in appreciation for their service to our country.

As this Masonic year comes to a quick conclusion, I want to thank all of the brethren for their dedication and support. My experience thus far in the East as Master has been truly magnificent. Our officer line is without question the strongest in the district. Our cadre of past Masters, all willing to serve and advise when needed is unprecedented. Simply saying thanks to you all does not suffice; you have my complete and sincere gratitude for your service, as well as my unqualified respect.

With warm regards,

John F. Sullivan, Master

Open House

I would like to thank everyone who attended the Open House this past Saturday. We had a great turnout of potential candidates in search of a meaningful path to self improvement and fellowship along with several visitors who came to see and explore our beautiful building. Special thanks to the Morning Star Lodge brothers that donated their time to serve as hosts during the day. It was a great day for us, and I trust a great day across the district and state!

Also many thanks to our brothers from Quinsigamond Lodge, especially Worshipful Dave Shea. It is an added benefit to share the facility with such a great group of guys as the members of Quinsigamond Lodge!! 

We have extended invitations to all the potential candidates to come to Morning Star Lodge on May 5th as our dinner guests and get to meet the brethren in force!!

Fraternally - John F. Sullivan, Worshipful Master 

Master's Message - April 2015

This month I would like explore the foundational question, “Where were you first prepared to be made a Mason?” The answer is of course, “In my heart.” Although this question can sometimes be glossed over as just a simple inquiry amidst a series of rhetorical responses, this is no idle or unmeaning ceremony; it establishes the basis for all that is possible for each mason and by transference for the Craft as a whole. As a fraternity we are indeed the sum of our parts; the richness we enjoy in lodge is made fuller by what we glean from each other as well as from the Supreme Architect of the Universe.

The ritual, the symbolism, the allegory are all vehicles for an interested brother to explore the depth of this quest for enlightenment. What is the philosophical purpose of this exploration of self? Is it simply an intellectual journey, or is it intended to be more substantive? Are we not seeking a transformation of our conscience as well?  Truly the lessons of Freemasonry are intended to transform not only the mind but the heart. We teach brotherly love, relief and truth, we explore temperance, fortitude, prudence and justice as the tenets and virtues we believe distinguish us from others; these are values that begin and end in the hearts of men. Many tremendously intellectual men have no capacity for these attributes. You there stand a just and upright Mason because these principles have meaning to you in your heart; they are what you came here to do; improve yourself in Masonry.

During the month of April, we have the opportunity to pass on these truths to the next seekers of enlightenment. On Saturday April 11th from 09:00 AM to 03:00 PM Morning Star Lodge in conjunction with Quinsigamond Lodge will host our biannual “Open House”. The majority of new masons are referred by friends and family to the Craft.   These open houses are a great opportunity for every current Mason to extend an invitation to a potential worthy candidate to come to the lodge and “ask” and explore the opportunities of Freemasonry. This invitation is truly a heartfelt gift of opportunity; please take the time to extend this gift.

We will conduct our Regular Communication on Tuesday April 7 and a nominating committee will be formed to validate next year’s slate of elected officers in accordance with the by-laws. We will have a brief rehearsal for the upcoming Fellow Craft degree following the business meeting, in anticipation of a 2nd degree on Tuesday April 21st for two candidates! Please remember that on Thursday April 16th at 7:00 PM we have our annual Exemplification. All elected and appointed officers are required to attend. If any of the officers cannot be present, they need to let me know ASAP so that I can inform the DDGM.

Finally, I would like to recognize and congratulate R.W. Bob Johnson on receiving the Joseph Warren medal this past month. There is no doubt that Bob exemplifies the very best attributes of those principles listed above, and is a shining example of how the Cardinal Virtues are implanted in the essence of a man, not simply the intellect. 

With warm regards,

John F. Sullivan, Master 

Open House - Saturday, April 11th

Please come join us at Morning Star Lodge and learn more about Freemasonry! We are located at 1 Ionic Ave in Worcester, Massachusetts - and will be hosting tours of our historic building!!

Master's Message - March 2015

Shakespeare wrote in Richard the Third, “Now is the winter of our discontent. Made glorious summer by this son of York…” Well I for one am willing to label the first two months of 2015 and its horrendous weather as the true “winter of our discontent!” Enough already with the snow! About all we can do at this point is dream of a “glorious summer” when and if the snow should ever melt! Alas, we shall toil on….

And toil on we will! March is full of promise and hope for warmer days and fewer flakes. With it, we have some work to do in the Lodge! We will have our first Fraternal visit from the new District Deputy Grand Master of the 23rd Masonic District, Right Worshipful Gregory L. Stahl at our regular communication on Tuesday March 3rd. This looks to be a grand night as we will recognize our 50-year veteran’s medal recipients. Three of our brothers are now residing out-of-state, and have already received their medals and pins. I hope many of you will show up and be present for the ceremony!

I implore every local member of Morning Star Lodge to make an effort to come to the lodge at least once this Masonic year; not only to support the candidates, but also to support and acknowledge all the hard working members who keep the lodge going week after week, month after month, year after year! We preserve the traditions and the grandeur of our historic lodge for ALL of the brothers who have taken the obligation on our altar, and that includes ALL of you. Without you, there is no fraternity; only history. History is a lovely thing, but fraternity is far better.

We are planning on conducting another Entered Apprentice degree in March for two to possibly up to four candidates! We will then look to April for the 2nd degree, and May and/or June to raise the new brothers to the sublime degree! Warning to all the past Master’s, R.W. Bob Johnson keeps encouraging me to consider a Past Master’s degree night, and that may be our best opportunity!

Please also note, all lodges will host an Open House on Saturday April, 11th beginning at 09:00 AM. If you know a worthy man interested in learning more about the craft, and thus seeking his own personal journey of growth and friendship, the Open House is a great introduction to our beloved fraternity. The following week we will have our First Degree Exemplification, Thursday April 16th at 07:00 PM at the Worcester building, all Master Masons are welcome.

Best Regards,
John F. Sullivan, Master

Master's Message - February 2015

February traditionally ushers in the most bitter weather of the year, but alas with Valentine’s Day we are inspired by warmer thoughts and the notion to “follow our heart”. Here, in the “heart of the Commonwealth”, we pride ourselves in being of hardy stock; toil-worn and grizzled from all that Mother Nature can muster. This resiliency is also at the heart of Masonry. History reveals a tumultuous journey for Freemasonry, fraught with unfriendly winds and blizzards of misinformation and mistrust. These inclemencies are not unknown to us, as the biting wind is not unknown to our countenance; but still we persist.

So how has Freemasonry survived? We have survived through the tenets of our profession, Friendship, Morality and Brotherly Love, the life’s blood of our fraternity - service to others. Masons are by definition selfless. From the moment we make a demand at the door, we are inundated with new experiences and new ideas about what it means to be a man and a Mason. The degrees and the lessons contained therein provide the newly raised Mason with a foundation for intellectual, philosophical and spiritual growth. Delving deeper into the deeper significance of one’s own personal journey in Freemasonry takes commitment and perseverance. For Freemasonry to be successful in transforming a man, a Mason must continually renew his obligation. You cannot simply “take” the degrees, you must live their principles.

As Blue Lodge Masons we have the opportunity to renew our obligation thereby renewing our commitment to self, and further renew our service to God and our brethren by attending meetings and supporting our candidates through the degrees. If it is been some time since you attended a degree, I urge you to make that important commitment to yourself. Every time I have attended and/or participated in a degree I have been rejuvenated by the experienced. We will be performing the Entered Apprentice degree on Tuesday February 20th for possibly two candidates. I hope you will take the opportunity to come and support the new brothers, but also to renew your own obligation.

The Lodge is not the sum of just the officers in line; the Lodge is completed by the sideline brothers.

Also, please remember that we will be receiving our new DDGM, R.W. Gregory Stahl for a fraternal visit to our Lodge on Tuesday March 3rd at our regular communication. Let’s show our support for the district and throw down the challenge by making this visit the most well attended yet.

See you all in LODGE!
John F. Sullivan, Master

Master's Message - January 2015

Happy New Year brethren, we welcome A.L. 6015! The calendar year may be just beginning, but the Masonic year is in full swing! After a light December schedule so the brethren could have ample time to devote to family and friends during the holiday season, January’s calendar is full with Masonic opportunities! Along with our regular Communication on Tuesday January 7th, we will be having a full rehearsal of the 3rd degree on Thursday January 14th at 7:00 PM. The Master Mason degree will be held on Tuesday January 21st at 7:00 pm for at least one candidate. This is our first “raising” of the Masonic year and we want to make every effort to be “spot-on” with our ritual and floorwork for our brother’s degree.

The themes for this month’s Master’s Message are freedom, fervency and zeal:

Novelist Albert Camus wrote, “Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better.” Freemasonry offers that very freedom, that very chance; alas at a price! That price is to choose to be a better man; that price is the courage to take an obligation to be something you were not previously. Meeting the expectations of that obligation requires effort. It requires service; it requires effort to pass on the valuable lessons to the next brother, it requires commitment. Freedoms to choose, to association, to keep confidences, to grow as men, these are the lifelong endeavors of a Master Mason.

Fervency is be defined as “the intensity of feeling”. When a new brother, as a seeker of personal growth or light, has his first Masonic epiphany, there is a certain quality to that moment that can only be experienced in the lodge room. The light quite literally comes on and a new way of viewing the true possibilities of a life of service to others as a pathway to personal happiness is found. That intense feeling or fervency, a desire to have and receive more of the same is the joy of Freemasonry. “The more you put into it, the more you get out of it”, are words spoken at nearly every pre-application meeting with the candidate. These are words of truth born through experience.

Got Zeal? The consequence of freedom is the gift of fervency; the effects of fervency are the actions of zeal. A zealot is an advocate, a believer a champion of a cause. Ours is a fraternity of attraction not promotion. Our stated mission is to help good men to become great men. This is accomplished through the lessons of the degrees and further through the example set by each and every just and upright Mason who leads his life accordingly. Zealousness does not mean boisterous, it means leading by example as an advocate for the tenets we uphold.



Best wishes for the New Year to all my brothers and their families!
John F. Sullivan, Master