| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on February 11, 2000 |
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Master - From The East
It is September already, and our officers are looking forward to "advanced stations".
The year is going by very fast ... I guess time goes faster when we are having fun! Although there are only 4 months left this year, there are still a lot of Lodge activities and social events planned for all!
Be sure to check out our Saturday social events listed on page 11. Further detailed information on all of these events have been posted on the lodge website at http://www.jps.net/losaltos7l2/events-1999.html
, [Now http://www.calodges.org/no712/events-1-99.html; 2/11/2000]
or call me at 650-941-6615 and leave your regular mailing address, and I will mail you the same detailed list.
These events have also been advertised to all SCVOAM Lodges and Eastern Star Chapters in our local area, so the idea is that each and every event will be well attended, fun, and successful!
Our August Stated Meeting was longer and yet more exciting than expected! Congratulations to Jason Martin, he was elected as an affiliate member of our Lodge. Jason is our Senior Warden's son, and is a Master Mason in E. F. W. Ellis Lodge No. 633 A.F. & A.M., Rockford, Illinois. Robert has three sons, and the two eldest are Master Masons! David Kimball, the President of our Temple Board gave a short report on the activities of the Temple Board and invited all interested brethren to attend one of the monthly Temple Board meetings, whose meetings are held in the Fireside Room at 7:30 PM on the second Wednesday of each month.
He also outlined the planned building activities for the next several years and the possible costs involved. Those interested in these plans and assisting in their progress should attend a Temple Board meeting!
The Lodge also elected brothers Lou Orozco and Ernie Castillo to be members of the Los Altos Temple Board. It was pointed out that our Lodge Trustees are now Hal Bain, Gunnar Galsgaard, and Robert Martin.
Sterling Bailey, PM, presented the Treasurer's report for the first half of 1999, and notably concluded that our finances are in good shape at this time.
Also, our June "Receiving More Light" function was very informative as Gunnar Galsgaard, PM, David Anderson, and David Kimball read instructive paragraphs from the "Masonic Questions Answered by the Courts" pamphlet, published by the Masonic Service Association, 8120 Fenton St., Silver Spring, MD 20910-4785. These members did receive "More Light", in the form of Masonic flashlights attached to a key chain! This function will be repeated at each Stated Meeting this year! Also - special thanks for Gunnar who served as Secretary while Larry was on travel.
The Masonic Center (301-608-3457) reminds us that they have a new color eight-panel brochure entitled "Who Are the Masons?" for use as an easy introduction to Freemasonry. We have ordered several copies for our use.
Our Grand Master reminds us that the month of September is U.S. Constitution Observance Month; and his formal proclamation is reprinted on page 8.
In celebration of the establishment of our US Constitution, we are planning a special "Constitutional Observance Dinner and Program" for our families, friends, and guests on Monday, Sept. 27. Dinner will being at 6:30 PM, followed by the special program "Building the Flag" in the Lodge room. This 45-minute, VERY Popular Program, will be performed by the Heroes of '76, dressed in uniforms of the Continental Army worn during the American Revolution! They state: "The purposes of this program are to promote patriotism and Americanism, and to nurture the love of our country and its flag." This will be a very memorable evening for all! Bring your family, friends, and guests!
DATES: Our next Stated Meeting will be on September 13, as the first Monday in Sept. is Labor Day.
Our special "Constitutional Observance Dinner and Program" is on Monday, Sept. 27.
Our planned visitation to Monterey Lodge is on Saturday, October 2, and meeting there at 1:00 PM. Maps to the Monterey Lodge and area will be provided at the September Stated Meeting, or call me to mail you one. The after dinner program will be a "Baby Shower"! The ladies of the Lodge are celebrating the upcoming arrival of Robert and Becky Lake's baby. Following dinner, the ladies will join for a baby shower while the men are in Lodge. We will all have cake and coffee together after the meeting. For any questions, please call Helen [snip], Shirley [snip], or Joyce [snip] of things for our Lodge and each other. I'll look forward to seeing you in Lodge!
Fraternally,
Patrick Bailey
Master
Senior Warden - The Westerly Wind
From July 30" through August 1 I attended for my first time a Grand Assembly for Rainbow for Girls. This was a quick decision for me as I learned on July 15th that Lyn Stinnett, daughter of Jeanne Stinnett, was going to be receiving the Rainbow Grand Cross of Color at the North Dakota Rainbow Grand Assembly.
Although my daughter Hillary has been a Rainbow Girl for four years, I had never attended a Grand Assembly, and boy did I experience a wonderful time.
Let me start by providing a few facts: The entire State of North Dakota has a population of about 700,000 (approximately 1/50th. of California). North Dakota, which borders Canada, has extreme weather, from - 40 Fahrenheit in winter to over 100 in summer. North Dakota is a large state, al-most 400 miles across and 200 miles from north to south.
The nearest large city is Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. North Dakota's largest city is Fargo, followed by Bismarck, the Capitol, and Grand Forks. Freemasonry has a long and strong tradition in North Dakota, and the Order of Eastern Star has about 25 chapters. There are I 1 Rainbow Assemblies, with 146 members in the state. Amaranth and Jobs Daughters are not in North Dakota, but there is one White Shrine in the state. The family of Freemasonry is like a really big family, and everybody knows everybody else.
I was very fortunate to be housed in a hotel room with the State Rainbow Dad, Steve Makepeace. Steve is a young man in his early thirties, who is married but has no children. He was just finishing up his year as State Rainbow Dad, and from what I observed, he did a wonderful job. I mention this because he was the best known man there, and I was the least known, at least at first.
By the end of the three-day Grand Assembly I had met the Supreme Worthy Advisor, Mary Muhs, who is the world-wide adult leader, the North Dakota Supreme Inspector Janice Sather, the State Mother Advisor Cindy Voulgarakis, the Grand Master Howard Frieje, the Junior Grand Warden Alan Malm, the North Dakota Executive Officer of DeMolay Curtis Mertz and lots of other people.
The wonderful part about it was that "meeting" these people was not just a simple introduction, but in many cases the chance to talk at length about Rainbow, DeMolay, Eastern Star, and Freemasonry.
The challenges faced in North Dakota are the same ones we face here in California. The youth groups need more adult leaders, particularly Masons. There are lots of competing activities for everybody's time. But the enthusiasm is great. All but 60 of the Rainbow Girls in the entire state came to the Grand Assembly, and four of them could not attend due to a conflict with their church camp. The only DeMolay Chapter in the state provided DeMolays for the "Crowning Ceremony" for the newly installed Grand Worthy Advisor, Angela Hennagir. This ceremony is done after the formal closing of the Grand Assembly, and is truly impressive.
Not every state (including California) has crowns for the Worthy Advisors and Past Worthy Advisors so this ceremony probably has not been seen by many of us here, but I suggest that you attend one if you ever have the chance.
I am not a recipient of the Rainbow Grand Cross of Color, so I was not able to attend the closed ceremony. However, it was nice to be there to congratulate the new recipients immediately afterward. It is similar to our Hiram Award in lodge, and is given to only the most deserving girls and adults. This was a fun experience, and Freemasonry living and fun!
Fraternally,
Robert W. Martin, P.M.
Senior Warden
"Devil Worship In Kenya: Freemasons Are The Target"
This month we celebrate our U.S. Constitution. We have dot this for many years, and as much as we try to understand its importance, we who have lived under its protection all our lives, sometimes take it for granted. For me, this became abundantly clear when Brother Tom Miller sent me an email containing the following shocking news article from Kenya
Presidential commission investigates devil worship in Kenya
Freemasons are the target
Source: Africa News
Date: August 5, 1999
Kenya; Government urged to investigate Freemasons and devil worship.
Nairobi - The activities of the Freemasons should be investigated, a presidential commission on the cult of devil worship has recommended. The Freemasons have their temples (lodges) in Nairobi along Nyerere road, in Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret, Kitale, Nyeri and in Mombasa. "Many members of the Freemasons society are rich, successful businessman and top leaders including members from all religions. They go to the temples to seek powers from their master - Satan - for the protection of their positions an ill- gotten wealth," the commissioners were told.
The report, which came to the public domain on Tuesday, said that in every country, members of the Freemasons were people who wielded great influence in society and governments and also hold responsible positions in international organizations.
The commissioners said they were unable to conclusively confirm that Freemasonry was a cult of devil worshippers due to the fact that the impenetrable society's activities were shrouded in deep mystery. But the report said some of the symbols and items the commissioners saw at the Freemasons lodge on Nyerere Road were similar to those associated with devil worship.
The report noted that after taking the commission on a tour of the lodge, Freemason members denied that they were devil worshippers. But the commissioners state that some of the literature they examined confirmed allegations that Freemasons were devil worshippers. "In view of the conflicting information regarding the activities of Freemasonry, and given the secrecy of the society both to its members and the general public, the commission strongly recommends that the government institutes further investigations on its activities," the report said. The report further recommended that Freemasons come out openly and explain their activities. Allegations against Freemasons included claims that they conduct their prayers at night in the dark while nude; drinking human blood; eating human flesh; striping naked during rituals; walking backwards when entering the temple; and scouting for members through rigorous screening to avoid potential defaulters. The commission summoned top leaders of the Freemasons society who vehemently denied accusations that they were devil worshippers.
The Freemason leaders said their Organization was not a religion but had a religious basis in that they believed in a Supreme Being. Freemasons are involved in many charitable activities.
During the tour of the Freemasons lodge on Nyerere Road, the commissioners noted symbols and signs such as working tools of a mason; a compass; pentagram; star of David; an underground room with 12 pillers representing the 12 tribes of Israel and certain holy books like the Bible the Koran and the Gita.
Among arguments the report adduces to associate Freemasonry with devil-worship were writings of one Albert Pike, the sovereign pontiff of universal Freemasonry who purportedly claimed that Lucifer (Satan) is God.
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Brethren, the above article is abundant evidence of the importance of our U. S. Constitution. It is also a stern reminder of the wages we earn, if we remain silent in rebuttal against this kind of ignorance. Remember the words of Worshipful George Washington... "The price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance!"
Brother Luis Orozco
Editor
U.S. CONSTITUTION OBSERVANCE MONTH
PROCLAMATION FROM GRAND LODGE:
Our nation has now been in existence for almost 2 [and] 1/4 centuries. It has withstood the test of battle; it has withstood the test of time.
As we look about us in the world today, we must be thankful for the steadiness of our great nation. Whatever troubles and dissension we have, and we certainly do have them, whatever tragedies and political upheavals we have, and we have those too, the government of our great United States proceeds in an orderly fashion. Based on a Constitution that all citizens recognize and accept as a guarantee of their freedom and the framework of their liberty, the form of our government remains a dependable and known constant. It is an intimately familiar starting point from which each of us may travel forth to experiment with and entertain new ideas, knowing we can always return to the safety of the tested structure of our great Constitution.
This most successful form of self-government so far designed by man is still being pulled and tugged at by citizens who wish to change or modify this structure in some way, who believe they can bring the nation closer to the realization of its ideals by adding to or amending the constitutional framework on which our government exists. We are constantly exposed to the arguments and pressures of many groups wanting to make such changes. Some we will consider. Others we will reject. But as Americans, as individuals, we have the right, the freedom, the liberty to listen and to lend our strength to a cause, without fear. Our Constitution provides us with all the latitude we need; for this reason it has long endured and pray God it will long endure.
In recognition of the rare and precious benefits we derive from that noble document, I proclaim the month of September, 1999 to be U.S. CONSTITUTION OB SERVANCE MONTH and direct all constituent lodges in California to participate individually, by Districts or by combined Districts, in appropriate observances and meaningful patriotic programs to which the public shall be invited. I further direct that this Proclamation shall be read at the August and September, 1999 Stated Meetings and wherever possible be reprinted in lodge bulletins for September. Patriotism and love of freedom and individual liberty are not and never will be dead in America; they are alive and well and always shall be in the hearts and in the actions of Freemasons.
Dated this 1st day of July, 1999.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Melville H. Nahin
Grand Master
Open to all local Lodges and Order of Eastern Star members, families, and friends - all on Saturdays:
Sep. 4 - UFO Expo Free Exhibits, San Mateo Marriott (92 & 101), 10:00 AM.
Sep. 18 - Mah-Jong Instruction and Tournament: Lodge Dining Room 4:00 PM, Pot Luck Dinner 5:30 PM, 7:00 PM Tournament with Prizes.
Oct. 2 - Lodge Visitation to Monterey Lodge, 1:00 PM.
Oct. 16 - Bus Trip to Marine World. Advanced ticket sales required.
Oct. 30 - Costume Bowling, 7:00 PM, Palo Alto Bowl.
Nov. 6 - Car trip to Shrine Hospital and CA Lotto Drawing in Sacramento.
Nov. 20 - Car trip to San Jose Tech Museum and IMAX Movie.
Dec. 4 - Car trip to Grand Lodge, Library Tour, SF Shopping Trip.
For further information call the Master at (650) 941-6615.
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