Brethren,
As we enter August, the summer supposedly winds down into cooler and shorter days and longer nights. The last of the summer vacationers plan that last chance vacation. The children maniacally cram every second out of every hour of the last of their summer vacations and parents eagerly plan for the new school year to begin. The officers of your lodge are also cramming for the ‘final exams’ that will allow us to proceed to the next year in our next station in the line. New brothers are learning their proficiencies and new applicants are anxiously waiting to hear an answer to their request to join our fraternal group.
I wish to again thank the brothers who were able to step up to the plate last month at the stated dinner and assist with the serving of the meal. I regret my absence that day but family matters must come before all else.
Thank you again in advance for CALLING in your dinner reservation ahead of time and COMING once you have made a reservation. Please come to this next stated meeting but please try to understand that there may not be enough food for you if you just show up without calling in your reservation.
I am keeping my article short this month in order to provide you with a short story I came across in one of the Masonic newsletters I subscribe to. The author is unknown but the story may catch the attention of a few. So, without any further ado, enjoy the story:
A member of a certain Lodge, who previously attended meetings regularly, stopped going.
After a few months, the Worshipful Master decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening, and the Worshipful Master found his brother at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.
Guessing the reason for the Worshipful Master's visit, the brother welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The Worshipful Master made himself comfortable, but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs.
After several minutes, the Worshipful Master took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth, all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. His host watched all of this in quiet contemplation. As the one, lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow, and its fire was no more.
Soon, it was cold and dead.
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The Worshipful Master glanced at his watch and chose this time to leave.
He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember, and placed it back in the middle of the fire.
Immediately, it began to glow once more, with all the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the Worshipful Master reached the door to leave, his host said, with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your fiery summons, my brother. I'll be back in our Lodge next meeting."
I hope to see you as well, Brother.
Fraternally,
Arthur Melendez
Junior Warden