| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on February 5, 2009 |
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Brethren -
I presented this message last year for your consideration and although I did not receive any responses at the time, I will present it to you again. Is anyone interested? Please let me know.
We CAN promote from within, is a theme once used in the 20thDist, of the GL of Texas. They had a gavel made with those words on it, and passed it around the District. It took three members from another lodge to get the gavel, at a stated meeting of the current lodge holding the gavel. Then all other lodges within the district were notified of the “new lodge in possession” with the date/time of their next stated meeting. In the event of a tie when multiple lodges visited, the current lodge master would flip a coin. Dual members of both lodges (current and visiting) lodges did not count as a visitor unless he was an installed officer of the visiting lodge.
I would like to thank the Brethren for the opportunity to serve Los Altos Lodge for the ensuing year. I trust that I may call upon you for your active participation. I have already been assured of your support.v Lastly, we will begin next month in distributing our Trestleboard by an e-mail attachment for those who wish to receive it in that form. Please let me know if you wish your copy sent to you in that form and we will begin. It will save the Lodge postage and printing costs.v Bob Rowan - Master
Don’t forget the Super Bowl Party on Sunday February 1st. We will begin at 2:00 PM and end after the conclusion of the Super Bowl. The Lodge will supply hamburgers, hot dogs and the trimmings together with soft drinks and the like. (Some Installation Refreshments remain in our supply and we will serve them as well.) The W.M. Will supply his world famous Chili and you are invited to provide any additional pot-luck dishes that you may wish to bring. See you Sunday afternoon!
My brothers, first let me congratulate our Worshipful Master Robert Rowan and the other members of Los Altos Lodge #712 on a very fine installation. This was by far the best installation I have ever participated in or observed. Randy Downey did an outstanding job as the installing officer, Glen McBride was as usual very good as Master of Ceremonies and Brother Ed Clark did a fine job as installing Chaplain. As I sat in the West and watched over 120 people at the installation I wondered how we would get through the installation with so many people and so little space. I also wondered how the Deacons would be able to carry their rods in such tight quarters. It was then I remembered a little article I had in the bottom drawer and thought I would share it with you.
Masonic Rods
There is no evidence of the use of Masonic rods by the Operative Masons. Neither is there any mention of rods used in the early table Lodges, and it is doubtful If space would have permitted their use there.
The Heraldic offices utilized the rod as a symbol of delegated authority, and in Britain the Grand High Steward of the royal Household carried a rod as a symbol of his office. It is from this source that the rod may have come into our Masonic Lodges, although it seems more probable that it was adopted from the House of Parliament in London. There the ushers carry black rods and white rods, respectively, and a person wishing the services of an usher would address him as “black rod” or “white rod” as the case might be.
The first mention of Masonic rods is in a procession of Grand Lodge in 1724 in which the Grand Stewards carried white rods, symbolizing purity and innocence. As late as 1812, in Pennsylvania, the Deacons in procession carried columns – the same columns which now rest on the Wardens’ pedestals. Deacons first carried blue rods tipped with gold, symbolizing friendship and benevolence; later these rods were tipped with a pine cone in imitation of the Caduceus of Mercury, the messenger of the gods.”
From Masonic Rods by Albert L. Woody, Past G.L. Illinois
I hope you plan on joining us for the Super Bowl party Feb. 1st and our Annual Sweethearts dinner Feb. 9th.
My Brothers, please plan on attending Lodge this year and if possible, get involved. We still have a few openings in the line and it would be my pleasure to discuss the possibility with you at any time.
Yours in Faith
Bobbie Byers
Senior Warden
The Southern Breeze
(not really)
This being my second article for the Los Altos Lodge Trestleboard, I confess to having writer’s block.
David Anderson
Junior Warden
If you have not sent your dues payment for 2009, you are not in good standing, and therefore, not entitled to Masonic Priveleges. Please remit ASAP.
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