| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on August 20, 2003 |
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Our August Stated Meeting resulted in approval to “display” the three degree charts in the Lodge. A committee has been formed to determine the proposed location of display within the Lodge room and the manner of preserving and protecting the charts. A recommendation will be made at an upcoming Stated Meeting. Several good points were presented during discussion both pro and con. A key point and probably the deciding factor in the approval was the fact that during our recent Masonic information tours of the Lodge room during the Los Altos Art and Wine festival, much curiosity and interest was expressed by “strangers” regarding one of the charts which was on display. In the Member Masonic survey that I presented two years ago as Junior Warden, “curiosity and the desire to learn more” about the Masonic Fraternity accounted for nearly 25% of the reasons why our membership joined the Craft. The charts will also be a valuable aid to our candidates and Members in reconfirming the lessons taught in our degrees. The charts cannot be used during degree conferrals but can be used as supplementary instruction to our candidates and Members. Increasing the interest in our community and awareness of the Fraternity has been a consistent goal in assisting in the preservation of Freemasonry in Los Altos and our surrounding areas. To this end, we hope the degree charts will serve this purpose well.
Maury Dunbar, FM, HA provided us with Masonic Education regarding the significance of the number three (3) in Masonry. I had originally asked him to present the meaning of the three degrees of Masonry but he informed us that would take about 8 hours. Maury’s talk was enlightening and he has requested to return on several occasions and focus on one degree for each session. Maury also explained his interpretation of the meaning of the Cable-Tow. In naval terms, the cable-tow is approximately 640 feet (or roughly two football fields) in length. This was to ensure the vessel being towed would not circumvent and possibly destroy the towing vessel through collision. My take from this is each of us has a responsibility to maintain the length of our cable-tows; to maintain our commitments to the Lodge and our Brethren. A cable-tow which is too short or too long may cause a disruption to the “peace and harmony” within our family as well as our effectiveness in assisting our Brethren.
Worshipful Dan McDaniel, PM had the honor of presenting a Member of LA712 and his brother-in-law, M.W. Ray Bonar, Past Grand Master of the state of New Mexico. M.W. Bonar informed us that as a PGM, he is typically expected to talk for at least 30 minutes, but as time was short, he would save his input for another visit.
September is our U.S. Constitution observance month. Los Altos Lodge, in combination with Mountain View-De Anza and Palo Alto Lodges, will be attending a program provided by the San Jose Scottish Rite on Thursday, September 11th. Dinner will be served at 6:30 PM followed by the program at 7:30 PM. The cost for dinner is $13 and I’m informed this will be a delicious meal. Please call the Lodge information line with your reservations and we will inform the Scottish Rite organizers of your expected attendance (650-569-6276).
Brother Howard Kahn, a Retired Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner, will be providing a workshop prior to our Stated Meeting on September 8th. He will review the following: PROBATE: “How can I avoid it?” and “The Myths and Truths about Long Term Care.” The Brethren of the Lodge, their Ladies, and their Guests, are invited to this Educational Workshop.
On Saturday, September 13th, the M.W. William F. Stoval, Past Grand Master, will be presenting Worshipful W. Bruce Pruitt, PM, with the Golden Veteran’s Award. Dinner will be provided at 7:00 PM (Prime Rib!) with the program commencing in the Lodge Room at 8:00 PM. As always, please call the Lodge Information line by Wednesday, September 10th if you would like to attend the dinner.
Please mark your calendars for the Lodge BBQ scheduled for Saturday, September 20th at Baylands Park in Sunnyvale. The event will begin at 10:00 AM and continue through 3:00 PM. This is a combined BBQ/Picnic with Valley Star Chapter 250, OES. Meat, Tableware, and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. We will have a “potluck” theme for the other eats. Please bring your own beer &/or wine to drink and a dish to share with your Masonic Family (corn; chili; garden, potato, macaroni salads; chips/dip; desert; fruit, vegetable platter are some suggestions). Baylands Park is located on Caribbean Avenue (end of Lawrence Expressway) and Freeway 237. Parking passes will be provided at Lodge at our September Stated Meeting or at the gate. Please call the Lodge information line if you anticipate attending the BBQ by Friday, September 19th so we can ensure we’ll have enough provisions.
Finally, in keeping with Lodge Tradition, we will have our 3rd annual Roll Call/Coming Home night on Monday, September 29th. Dinner will be provided at 6:30 PM with further Fraternalism upstairs in the Lodge Room following dinner. Please wear your Lambskin apron. Please call the Lodge Information line by Friday, September 26th if you plan to attend the dinner.
Fraternally Feeling Good,
Richard Weyers,
Master
This year is moving too fast for my poor old bones. There is so much to get done before my year commences. One of the things I want in place is a phone committee. We are in dire need of such a committee for several reasons. First and foremost I think we should try to keep in touch with all our members. One of the beauties of being on the delinquent dues committee is that we get to call these brothers and see how they and their families are faring. We should be doing this with all our members.
The responsibility of the phone committee is not only to inform but to inquire as to the welfare of our brethren and their families. After all, how else can we know if we can be of help or service. The committee should forward this information to the Sunshine Committee for a report both in the Trestleboard and at the next Stated Meeting.
The phone committee should also remind the brethren and our Sweethearts that we have an information line for them to call to verify lodge events. The committee should remind the members of this new capability and provide simple instructions on how to access and get information from it.
The initial committee will be contacting only those brothers and widows that are in the 650 and 408 area codes. Any brother/widow in another area code wishing to be included in the telephone committee’s calling list please let me know and I will set it up.
I wish to suggest another item to the brethren. It is more involvement in our stated meeting dinners. Next year I hope to hold one or two pot luck dinners. Our JW will coordinate the dishes. We will also have the Officers prepare a couple of the Stated dinners. After all we have many fine chefs in the organization and this knowledge should be shared. It is part of the learning process of being in the line.
In the July Trestleboard I made a request for brethren interested in participating in a third degree team. I am sad to say that the response to this request was a resounding silence. BRETHREN, this is your Lodge! The Officers are your extension and representatives. Without your input we are at a loss as to how best direct our efforts. Let us hear from you.
Fraternally,
Ernest Castillo, P. M.,
Senior Warden
In any case, the lessons of the 1st degree being fresh in my mind, and September being Constitutional Observance Month, I was impressed on how the principles taught in the 1st degree are so very applicable in our present day national arena of Constitutional challenges. As a young man attending school I can recall it was very much emphasized that the Constitution is a living document, not set in stone, and as such it is amendable.
We were also taught that this is a country governed by laws and not by men, that the Constitution is the first law of the land, and it is our duty and privilege to serve our country as citizens by obeying our laws in spirit as well as in fact.
Much later in life I learned this concept is very basic in our form of a Constitutional Democratic Republic. Again, it was not until much later in life, when I had read and re-read the words and directions of our three Masonic Degrees, that I fully began to understand this critically important constitutional lesson.
Obey the law in spirit as well as in action!
Why is this so important, and what does it matter, as long as we obey the law in action? Masonic principles not only apply here, but also are the very foundation and reason for the required and proper citizen approach to the spirit of the law.
I was impressed and moved by the very honorable recent actions of our Grand Master, The Most Worshipful William Holsinger, when I learned, he had in compliance with the law establishing a secular public school system, directed the opening and closing prayers be deleted from the Masonic cornerstone ceremony when these ceremonies are held as a school function on public school grounds. I have the impression that other, less noble men, would have simply refused to hold any future cornerstone ceremonies as school functions on school property, or as a bull in a china house, simply continued saying the prayers regardless of the laws or the intent thereof. On the other hand, Most Worshipful Bill explained his actions eloquently by simply stating, “Masonry is nothing if not law abiding.”
By his actions our Grand Master has taught us two important lessons. The first lesson is “To thine own self be true!”
I am reminded of the story of the man who was driving his car across a vast area, and came upon a stop sign in the middle of nowhere. Not a building could be seen in any direction. Not a person in sight as far as the eye could see, still he stopped at the stop sign. A small boy riding in the car with him asked why he had stopped when no one was around to catch him. “Well son,” said the man, “I guess I stopped because I made the law which had that stop sign put there in the first place. You see in a government such as ours, we make our own laws. Only a fool would break his own laws.”
The second lesson is to hold a strong respect for the rights of all men, regardless if we agree or disagree with their views, beliefs or non-beliefs. In the 1st degree we are taught, “Justice is that standard or boundary of right which enables us to render unto every man his just due, without distinction.” We are further taught that, “This virtue is not only consistent with divine and human laws, but is the very cement and support of civil society;”
The point to be learned here is that regardless if a secular public school system without prayer is something we like or not, the fact that it is the law, and that we live in a free self governing society, demands we must respect the views of all men and obey the law. This does not prohibit us from praying where the law does not apply, in our own lodges, or in our own churches, but during public school functions on public school grounds we are bound by our Masonic teachings to obey the law and ”render unto eveery man his just due.”
One might ask, "How does this have anything to do with the Constitution?” The answer of course is that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and in the first amendment to that venerable document, even the government is directed to respect the views and beliefs of its citizens.
Once again, we may or may not like what the law says, but while it is the law we must obey it or change it through just and proper methods. But what ever we do, we must, as good Masons, render justice to all men without distinction.
I again congratulate The Most Worshipful Bill Holsinger on his high morals, and sound leadership.
Fraternally,
Luis Orozco, II, F.M.
Junior Warden
You are invited to a mid-November Tea and Cocktail Party
Announcement from Kermit Williams, PM, HA and his lady Vera May:
You are invited to a mid-November Tea and Cocktail Party at the Williams “Party House”. A donation of $20.00 will be matched by your hosts (Kermit and Vera May) to benefit the elevator fund for Los Altos Lodge No. 712. More details will follow in the upcoming Trestleboards.
You Are Invited To the Presentation of The Golden Veteran’s Award
Announcement from W. Bruce Pruitt, PM, HA:
You Are Invited To the Presentation of: The Golden Veteran’s Award (i.e. 50-year Masonic Anniversary) To: W. Bruce Pruitt The Presenter will be: M.W. William F. Stovall, Past Grand Master At: Los Altos Masonic Lodge Sponsored by: Los Altos Masonic Lodge Saturday, September 13th, 2003 Dinner: 7:00 PM (gratis) Ceremony: 8:00 PM RSVP: 650-941-4653 or 650-569-6276 or wbpruitt@aol.com
Hiram Award Receipant Chosen for 2003
Special Committee Report Assigned By The Master:
If you are a Member of Los Altos Lodge No. 712 * who was born prior to 1950, * Who was raised on June, 30th, 1983 to the sublime degree of Master Mason, * Who was born in Minnesota, And * Who was Master of LA712 in 1992 & 2001, Would you please rise!I am pleased to inform you that the Hiram Award Committee has completed their investigation and has reported to me. The Worthy Brother selected among many esteemed Masons to receive the Hiram Award for the year 2003 at Los Altos Lodge No. 712, F&AM, is none other than William John Malmstrom.
Congratulations Worshipful Bill,
Richard G. Weyers
Master, Los Altos Lodge No. 712
Stay tuned for details to follow regarding our upcoming Hiram Award presentation night!
Communication from Ariele Greenfield
Communication from Ariele Greenfield, our Los Altos High School Scholarship Award recipient for 2003:
Dear Los Altos Lodge No. 712,
Thank you so much for giving me the Masonic Scholarship Award! It means so much to me and will be invaluable in funding my college education. I really appreciate your recognition of my efforts in high school as well as your support of education.
Sincerely, Ariele Greenfield
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