| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on January 3, 2008 |
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Here it is May already. Time sure flies.
The first order business is to say “Congratulations to our newest Master Mason Brother Tom Ellison”. It was a degree that almost didn’t happen. Sunday, about an hour before practice I got a call from Craig Schoonover saying that he had hurt himself at the playground while playing with his daughter and would not be able to make both the practice and the degree. Past Master Rick Wyers was going to help with the degree, and agreed to do the Senior Deacons work, the practice went very well, all parts were filled and it looked good for Monday’s degree. Monday morning A call from Past Master Greg Buschek saying that he was sick in bed and would not be there for the degree, he was going to be the Senior Steward and second traveler. A call to David Kimball, who was going to do the charge, asking him if he would fill in for Greg, fixed that problem. Everything was taken care of, Right? Wrong! Just before leaving for lodge a call from Jason saying that an apartment at the complex that he worked at had a water leak and he had to fix it. There went the Junior Steward and Junior Deacon for the second section. Too late to call anyone so I hoped there would be someone at lodge that night that could be called on to fill the spot. When I walked into the lodge room one of the first people I spotted was Brother Bobbie Byres and when asked if he would fill in his reply was all you had to do was ask. The degree was done very well thanks to Brothers that were willing to step up and do the work and do it well. One of the “Stars” was Brother Bill Nye, who at the stated meeting I asked if he would like to help and at the first practice I had him get with our Chaplain, Kermit, who was going to be away for the degree (helping the economy of Hawaii), Bill said he could do it and he did a great job, Thank you Bill. Brethren this shows how important it is to attend lodge and degree practices. The officers can’t do everything. We need Brothers to fill in as candidates, missing officers, and in the third degree there are many parts that need filling. Come down on Monday nights and help us, we work hard but we have fun doing it. The officers will be working on advanced stations in preparation of moving up for next year.
We have two more degrees coming up. Brother Arron’s second and third. We could use more young members like Sean and Arron. With their enthusiasm our lodge would really grow and be here to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Los Altos 712.
Brother David Anderson asked me to pick a date for the wine tasting tour that he and his wife Melissa will put together. It will be a combined Lodge and Eastern Star function as they did one for Star last year and it was a lot of fun. For the picnic it also will be a joint event with Star and I’ll try to get one of the parks here in Sunnyvale with horse shoe pits and areas for kids to play in and adults if they promise not to hurt themselves.
I should have those dates by the next Trestleboard. If anyone has an activity that they think the lodge would enjoy, let me know and we will try to make it happen.
Shaken not stirred in 2007,
Bill Malmstrom, P.M.
Master
An Adaptation of First Corinthians Thirteen
For Freemasons
Based on an Adaptation by Josie Clark
Though I can speak five languages and talk intelligently on dozens of subjects, if I don’t have enough love to keep from gossiping or putting down others, I’m not just making so much useless noise, I’m being downright destructive.
And though I know the Ritual by heart, and can quote it flawlessly, and though I’ve held a lot of offices in Masonry, if I don’t have enough love to sometimes sacrifice some of my personal desires for others’ sakes, then all my knowledge and importance amounts to nothing.
And though I am active in every conceivable Masonic organization and volunteer for everything that comes along, if I don’t show love and kindness to those I live and work with, all my hard work and self-sacrifice are worthless And although I’ve had too many long and difficult meetings to deal with, love doesn’t let me get snappish and short-tempered. Love is happy for the brother who seems to get all the breaks. Love doesn’t have to have the last word.
Love isn’t rude, or crude, or selfish, and it doesn’t pressure others to get what it wants. Love is too busy being concerned about the needs of others to spend much time worrying about its own. Love is quick to believe the best about people, and slow to believe the rest.
Love is flexible, and takes everything in stride. It can handle whatever comes its way. Love is always ready to give others the benefit of the doubt, and looks for the best in them. Love wants to see others reach their full potential, and does all it can to make that happen. Love never runs out of patience, even with those who are slow to get with the program, or do their share. Love doesn’t keep looking at its watch when others are talking.
Love never fails, I fail others. and others can fail me.
There are lots of nice things in life, and lots of good things, but none are as good or as important as love.
Next month I will be more verbose and subject you to “Further Light in Masonry” derived from the Jr. Warden’s Retreat. It was quite interesting and I am honored that the Lodge would send me.
This month I was asked several questions that were instrumental in causing me to look for a short article I had written several years ago and the Brother suggested that it would be a good subject for our Trestleboard so here goes.
“You might be interested that Masonic Truths can be found in ancient Greece, in India, in Egypt and even in China.
In fact, there was a society in ancient China called “The Brotherhood of Heaven and Earth” which can be traced back to 386 AD. It had a supreme Grand Master, a Senior and Junior Warden, and many subordinate lodges. In the lodge ceremonies, the initiate knelt at the altar, with the Senior and Junior Wardens kneeling at his right and left, each holding a sword overhead to form a right angle over the candidate. The lecture given by the Worshipful Master taught that all are equal; that they must live uprightly and justly; that they must help a brother in distress, preserve his secrets, respect the chastity of his wife, and that they must obey the Worshipful Master. The three great principles of “The Brotherhood of Heaven and Earth” were, Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.”
Masonry is Masonry no matter what it is called in any age or time.
Bob Rowan, PM
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