Greetings Brethren,

I would like to thank the brethren who have helped Claudia and me with the Stated Meeting dinner setups. Your help is invaluable and appreciated. I would also like to thank Aaron Shubb for putting together the February and April Movie Nights. Also, I wanted to thank Aragorn Hansard, my brother squared, for putting together the great trip to the Jimmy Kimmel Show in March. Finally, a welcome thanks to Bro. Steve Klein for putting together a great Blood Drive event last month.

I would also like to announce that we have a new officer appointment. Bro. Greg Stewart has been appointed as our official Masonic Formation Officer. He will be responsible for heading our Masonic Formation Committee this year. This committee consists of members of Hollywood Lodge who have been certified in Grand Lodge's Masonic Formation course. Grand Lodge defines Masonic Formation as a program to “combine candidate education with a lifelong learning experience for all members, Masonic Formation is a powerful new tool to inspire candidates and renew the spirit of Masonry in the Lodge.” For those who would like to know more about Masonic Formation, please contact Bro. Stewart or visit the Grand Lodge Website by CLICKING HERE. Expect to hear more about this committee later in the year.

Finally, I wanted to speak briefly regarding the events that have transpired at our previous Stated Meetings. For those unaware it seems we have a member or possibly members who are intent on destroying the harmony of our great Lodge. To date all blue applications for the conferral of degrees that have been presented for balloting have been met with black cubes. The cubes are without merit or any other justification. In fact, one blue applicant was a son of a member of this Lodge and whose mother is slated to become next year's Worthy Grand Matron of California for the Order of the Eastern Star. Grand Lodge has been notified of the activity and has appointed an investigative committee to ascertain the cause of these balloting abuses. I want to make it clear to the individual(s) responsible for this act, that your actions, if continued, will result in the suspension of Hollywood Lodge's Charter by the Grand Master, and our century plus long history will end abruptly and without dignity. I implore you to stop this unMasonic activity now. Furthermore if any member is aware of who this individual is (or individuals for that matter), I urge you to whisper good counsel and see that this activity ends.

I have an open door policy and am willing and open to hear all criticisms and concerns of any brother of this Lodge. I would hope that each one of us remembers our Masonic teaching to meet on the level and to square our actions by the square or virtue. It is your Masonic obligation to come forward and address your concerns openly among the brethren, anything less is a disservice to yourself and the Lodge. Furthermore, punishing an innocent applicant to make a statement to the Lodge or a member of the Lodge is beyond reproach and violates our Masonic tenents.

To help effectuate a solution to this problem, I am hereby issuing a NOTICE TO ALL MEMBERS. In order to attend and participate in our Stated Meetings, a member must present a current and valid dues card to the Tiler or his assistant before signing the registry.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A VALID DUES CARD YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED INTO THE LODGE. I understand this is a bit draconian, however, I want to be sure that all members who are voting do indeed have the right to do so. If you are in good standing and have not received your dues card, please let me and our Secretary know immediately, and I will make sure you receive yours in time for our next Stated Meeting. I appreciate everyone's understanding during this period.

I thank our Inspector and the Grand Lodge for their assistance, and I pray for a positive outcome. See you at our next Stated Meeting.

Fraternally,

James Bayhylle
Master

jbayhylle@gmail.com