| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on April 5, 2000 |
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"If I were accused of being a Freemason, would there be enough evidence to convict me?"
Dear Brethren and Friends,
Last week I was listening to a local radio station when the question was posed: "If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" I had heard that question several times in the past, but it got me to thinking:
If I were accused of being a Freemason, would there be enough evidence to convict me? This led to my thinking about what is the evidence to prove that I am (or anybody is) a Freemason. So for the past few days I have been making up a list. Please let me hear of suggestions you have to add to this list.
1. This month did you attend a stated meeting or a special meeting. 35 points if you attend a meeting, 15 extra points if you attended the meal. 25 extra points for each guest you brought to lodge. (including women and children to any meal.)
2. Did you read the trestleboard? 20 points if you read the Master's article. If not, 1 point.
3. Did you write an article for the trestleboard? 25 points.
4. Did you attend a sister blue lodge event during the month? 35 points each time. 50 points if it was more than 60 miles from home.
5. Did you attend an Officers' Association meeting? 50 points.
6. Did you attend a Masonic funeral? 50 points.
7. Did you attend a practice for our lodge? 25 points if your ARE an officer. 50 points if you are NOT an officer. (We always can use an extra person or two at our practices, even if all you do is act as our "candidate".)
8. Did you serve on a lodge committee? 25 points for every committee meeting you attended.
9. Did you visit our Home in Union City or Covina? 50 points.
10. Did you attend any concordant or appendant body meeting? 1 point each if you missed our stated meeting. 10 points each if you DID attend our stated meeting.
11. Did you attend a youth order meeting? 50 points.
12. Did you attend a youth order fund raiser? (Pancake breakfast, car wash, etc.) 50 points each.
13. Did you present a petition to our lodge for a candidate for the degrees? 100 points.
14. Have you paid your dues for this year yet. If yes, 0 points. If not, minus 50 points. (Hey, this is April already!)
15. Are you serving our Grand Lodge? 25 points for each event, including committee meetings, Grand Lodge receptions, etc.
16. Are you reading a book about Masonry. If you have read 20 or more pages in any month, 25 points. If over 50 pages in a month, 50 points.
17. Have you visited a brother or widow this month? 50 points each visit.
18. Do you wear an outward sign of being a Mason? Wear a Masonic ring? 1 point for every day you wear it. Wear a square and compass on your lapel? 1 point for every day you wear it. (Three points a day if you are also wearing a Masonic ring at the same time.) Wear a Masonic belt buckle or tie? 1 point for every day you wear it. (Three points a day if you are also wearing a Masonic ring at the same time.)
Do you talk about Masonry to non-Masons? 25 points for each non-Mason you spoke with about Masonry AND Los Altos Lodge (not just Masonry in general) for at least 5 minutes.
Did you commit to memory any ritual in Masonry this month? If one or more sentences memorized, 25 points. (Doesn't count if you already had it memorized, unless more than 10 years has passed since you last spoke it.)
Add up how many points you have. If you are over 200 points, I would say you are providing evidence that you are a Mason. If 50 -199, then you are pretty active as a Mason. If under 50 points, are you sure you are a Mason? If you have a negative number of points - PAY YOUR DUES!
At our stated meeting in March we were fortunate to have our own Bro. Maury Dunbar give us an insight to the world of book collectors. Bro. Maury brought several samples from his personal collection, including a miniature book and several first editions. As many of you may know, Bro. Maury is the author of Hooked on Books, a delightful and informative book about collecting books. If you have a bunch of books in your home, as I do, this book is MUST reading. In addition, Bro. Maury has served as librarian for almost 20 years, and has put together at our San Jose Scottish Rite an excellent library of over 3,000 items of Masonic books, and Masonic related books. Also, at our March stated meeting we had a representative from DeMolay (our own Jason A. Martin) give to the Masons a portion of the DeMolay Initiatory Degree - the portion explaining the seven cardinal virtues. (Known as the "Magnificent Seven," or "Mag Seven" for short.) Jason had just returned from the Pac West DeMolay Ritual Tournament, where he had won First Place in competition form DeMolays from the Western eight states for the Mag Seven, so he gave us an excellent recitation. Thanks to both Brothers Jason and Maury!
Fraternally,
Robert W. Martin, P.M.
Master
Wor. Dan McDaniel, PM, Inspector 170th Masonic District
(At our March stated meeting Worshipfull Dan McDaniel made his official visit as representative of the California Gran Master, Most Worshipful Alvin J. Weise.)
Good Evening, Brethren:
It is again my pleasure to stand before you tonight on this the occasion of my official visit to your Lodge, and I bring you greetings from our Grand Master, the most worshipful Alvin J. Weis. I want to spend some time with you this evening examining Most Worshipful Brother Weis' theme for the year, and how it relates to you as a Lodge.
"Living the dream - building a better tomorrow."
Brother Weis' dream is that Freemasonry again be a relevant and people-centered organization known for the quality of its members and the excellence of its programs. Isn't that the dream of all of us? How can we realize this dream? How can we make good men want to become Masons? First, and foremost, Freemasonry must satisfy you, the lodge members, if it is going to appeal to anyone else. Maybe we have to change some things, and it is up to each one of us, working in our Lodges, to overcome resistance and fear of change. So I say to you, that if you can make your Lodge more appealing to you, the members, then it will become more appealing to the non-masons who may be looking at Freemasonry and wondering if there is something there for them. Not only must we seek to achieve higher standards in our lodges and become more innovative and creative in our programs, we have to become relevant in the society of the next millennium, whether it starts this year or next year. In all of this, however, we cannot forget our basics.
Brotherhood
Freemasonry has many detractors from outside its ranks, but it is easy to be our own worst enemy from within. We are, first and foremost, a fraternity - a brotherhood of men who are dedicated to making the principles of Freemasonry help us become better men. Practice both in and out of the Lodge those great moral virtues to which we have pledged ourselves: brotherly love, relief and truth.
Masonic Charity
Never allow your Lodge to forget that the first call on your resources is for your members who are in need, and their widows and orphans. Organized masonic charities, no matter how worthy, can never replace this primary duty which we owe as Masons. That being said, it is also important to remember that our masonic charities have great power because we do work together to achieve common goals. Do not forget the Masonic Homes and those they care for, and do not forget the California Masonic Foundation, which is our outreach to the community through scholarships and the Masonic Student Assistance Program.
Masonic Education
Your candidates come to you seeking the light that Freemasonry can shed on their lives, and you owe it to them to teach them. Do not be misled into thinking that memorizing part of our ritual is a substitute for learning what it means to be a Freemason. Your lodge should be a workshop and a school: a workshop where the ideas of Freemasonry are made to work in our daily lives, and a school where we grow by learning, and learn by growing in masonic knowledge.
Leadership
There are unparalleled opportunities for your present and future officers to learn how to be leaders. To name a few of these opportunities, there are the Wardens' Retreats, the Officers' Management Workshops, and the Secretaries' Administrative Seminars. By participating in these workshops and seminars you will become more proficient, and will thereby encourage others to follow in your footsteps. Accept the challenge of learning to be better at your job. Let me close my remarks by inviting you to consider the mission statement developed by the Grand Lodge Research and Planning Committee: the purpose of Freemasonry in California is to satisfy our members as we teach moral standards and support a way of life that promotes fellowship, brotherhood, and self-improvement through excellence in leadership, education, family involvement, charity, and community involvement.
Thank you brethren,
Wor. Dan McDaniel, PM
Inspector of the 170th Masonic District
The Senior Wardens Retreat took place the weekend of March 3-5. It was a very enjoyable event, the Wardens and their wives were kept busy from 7 pm Friday evening until we departed at 11:30 am on Sunday. The Deputy Grand Master, David Decker and his wife Nancy were much involved with all the activities.
Friday night we had an excellent sessions on motivation and in developing team work. On Saturday they provided great ideas and instruction on how and what we should and could do in our year as Master. In the evening there was the elegant formal affair with much conversation, interaction and dancing.
The retreat ended after Sundays session on what we can all do to improve the craft and membership, with a parting film 'The Gift' depicting the importance of respect for one another. Los Altos 712 had the distinction of having three members who are installed Senior Warden in three different lodges attending.
(Editor)
Brethren the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of California is having its Sesquicentennial Dedication on the week of April 13th in Sacramento at the State Capitol.
On Thursday 13th at 10:00 a. m. there is the Grand Master's Presentation to the Masonic State Legislators, West Steps of the State Capitol.
On Friday the 14th are Tours of the Shrine Hospital and Family Entertainment Night.
On Saturday the 15th will be the Opening of Grand Lodge and Dedication and Plaque Unveiling Ceremony. The ceremony is a rededication the original corner stone laying.
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