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A MESSAGE FROM THE MOST WORSHIPFUL FRED SORSABAL
My theme for the year is “United We Stand, Together We Can Make A
Difference–The Family of Freemasonry.” During my year, I hope to focus our
attention on the Family of Freemasonry by encouraging all members to again
come together as one to show our communities the collective strength of our
various orders. By working together, our fraternal family can demonstrate the
strength of our bonds so that all may see the ideals of the Family of
Freemasonry in action. This year, Grand Lodge will be emphasizing the need to
enhance our leadership development programs for our lodges. I believe that by
developing leadership skills, we Masons will have the men necessary to lead our
lodges to success and thus have fewer calls for lodge consolidations.
This year′s issue includes an interesting and informative article on the
Masonic Trowel by John L Cooper III, Grand Secretary. I will attempt to
paraphrase it here. If you want to read the entire article, you can access a PDF
version of the entire newsletter at the address above.
The trowel is a working tool of a Master Mason. In an article
published in The Builder magazine in 1916, the following observation was made
about the Masonic trowel:
Today this implement is considered the appropriate working-tool of a
Master Mason, because, in Operative Masonry, while the Apprentice is engaged in
preparing the rude materials, which require only the [Twenty-Four Inch] Gage
and [the Common] Gavel to give them their proper shape, the Fellow Craft places
them in their proper position by means of the Plumb, Level, and Square; but the
Master Mason alone, having examined their correctness and proved them true and
trusty, secures them permanently in their place by spreading, with the trowel,
the cement that irrevocably binds them together.
This answers the question as to why the trowel is the special working tool
of the Master Mason, and not that of a Fellow Craft or of an Entered Apprentice
Mason. Only the Master Mason has the symbolic skill to bring all the materials
together to properly build a wall or a building.
However, it may be observed that in order to build a wall or a building, cement
is not absolutely necessary. There are structures built in antiquity which did
not use cement to bind them together, and they have endured for thousands of
years. The Egyptian pyramids were built without aid of cement, as were the
cyclopean structures at Mycenae.
The article continues for several more paragraphs, so please take the time to
look at it at www.masonichome.org.
There are several other articles of interest in the newsletter, including
anarticle on “THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP” by Marlene Gogue, Manager
of Masonic Outreach Services (MOS)
Remember that you can see the entire publications, and back issues, by going
to www.masonichome.org and
then going to News, and then to News from the Quarries. If you
have any questions, drop me a line.
Bill Miller, PM
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Calls for
MASONIC ASSISTANCE
A single phone call is all it takes to address your questions and need for
services. Call today if you are considering applying for admission
to the Masonic Homes or for assistance through our Masonic Outreach Services
(MOS) Department.
888-HOME-MHC (888-466-3642)
WAIT TIMES FOR ADMISSION
Plan ahead. There is a 12 – 18 month wait for Independent Living
units and a 24 – 26 month wait for Assisted Living units. To ensure
that members′ needs are promptly and effectively met, those on the waiting
list with immediate needs are referred to the Masonic Outreach Services (MOS) for
assistance.
CONTRIBUTE!
All gifts to the Masonic Homes of California are coordinated through the
Grand Lodge Office of Philanthropy.
Grand Lodge Office of Philanthropy
1111 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
1-800-831-8170 or 1-415-292-9117,
CHILDREN′S SERVICES
Please contact them at
Masonic Home for Children
1650 old Badillo Street
Covina, CA 91772
1-626-251-2226
mespinoza@mhccov.org
A Note from your Lodge Ambassador:
From time to time, I will attempt to bring you news from the Grand Lodge
and from the Masonic homes, as distributed to me in the publication "News from
the Quarries." This is a joint publication of the Grand lodge of California and the
Masonic Homes of California. I hope you will find this page interesting, and
would appreciate any feedback you can give me. Please contact me by
email. Also, the Masonic Homes has
recently revamped their web site. You can read about the latest developments at the
Homes, download recent mailings, and learn all about the programs and services they
provide. Please visit the site at www.masonichome.org
Bill Miller, PM
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