| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on Dec. 3, 2002 |
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The final month of the year 2002. By the time you are reading this Trestleboard our Past Masters will have conferred the 3rd degree on Bro. Jeff Bullen (on Nov 23rd at 2:00pm).
Congratulations Jeff! Thank you for all of those who took a part in the degree.
Before I forget the Grand Lodge voting results is available on the web at
http://www/freemason.org/
A notable decision (that has been getting closer each year) was made, and California now accepts Masonic application from men over 18 years old. If you are unable to access the internet, you can either contact me or our Secretary for more details on the results (also posted in the Trestleboard last month).
In November the lodge elected the regular officers, but failed to have candidates for Lodge Trustee (1), or for Temple Board (4). We hope to be handling these at the December stated meeting. If you would be interested in serving in either of these roles, please contact me, a trustee, or a member of the LAMTA board.
Our Installation of Officers will be early this year: December 16, at 7:00 pm. Please come join us in installing the new team of Officers. There will be a dinner following. Please contact the master elect at 650-903-0525 for making reservations.
Speaking of new PHONE numbers, the Lodge is trying a few new things. Firstwe are trying to offer babysitting for our stated meetings. If we are truly trying to attract younger members and have them include their wives, perhaps the availability of a babysitter will help. Please call our reservations line below if you plan to bring children that need babysitting (so we can be sure to have adequate supervision). Secondly, the Lodge now has a dedicated phone number (650) 569-MASON. This number will give a list of current lodge events, allow callers to leave messages for the lodge officers as well as taking reservations for all lodge events.
See you in December.
Fraternally,
Robert Lake
Master
Los Altos Lodge has completed the election of officers for the ensuing Masonic year. I am honored to be elected to serve you as Master for 2003. The officer's line is composed of new, returning, and experienced Masons. A nice mix! I am confident that such a line which is also comprised of many Hiram Award recipients will assist in a smooth and successfully governed Lodge. I feel I am in good hands!
(Please find the list of 2003 Officers on page 11)
The Los Altos 712 Installation will be on Monday, December 16th, 2002 at the Los Altos Masonic Building. The installation ceremony will begin at 7:00 pm followed by refreshments downstairs in the dining room. There will be refreshments available starting at 5:30 pm downstairs for early-birds. The Most Worshipful William Holsinger will be the Installing Officer, Dan R. McDaniel, PM will be the Master of Ceremonies, W. Bruce Pruitt, PM will be the Installing Chaplain, and William Malmstrom, PM will be the Host.
Please let me know if you are planning on attending the Installation so we can ensure there are enough refreshments for all. (650) 903-0525
Looking forward to an exciting year of Masonry at Los Altos Lodge No. 712,
Fraternally,
Richard G. Weyers
Senior Warden
As I am sure you all know, I am not yet the Junior Warden, but we are now at advanced stations, so I will be writing this column this month.
Traditionally, refreshment is the domain of the Junior Warden. We often regard refreshment as less important than work or occupation. This misconception has the effect of diminishing the glory of the gift of life.
While work is clearly a mainstay of life, rest, recuperation, and refreshment, are equally as important. In fact, as the 24-inch gauge is an instrument of the 1st degree, rest and refreshment are clearly illustrated as one of the three divisions of our day.
Once we clearly understand this, we also begin to understand that it is our duty to play as hard as we work, and that is precisely what I want to talk to you about today.
The ancients understood this very clearly, and in fact, often divided their year into three parts. Although feast days were scheduled at important times throughout the year, one of the most important times of the year was the period beginning at the close of "All Hallows Eve" (October 31,) and continuing all the way until February 1.
This period was the all important holiday season, and in almost all ancient cultures abounded with important events, feast days, and miraculous births of special deities.
Even today, we find a special allurement for this wonderful season when our own humanity seems to want to extend a little more to our fellow humans.
Even our Masonic year seems to become overwhelming; with events so numerous, it sometimes makes our heads reel.
It is also true that we become so involved in the seasonal events of this time of year, that we forget why these events were deemed essential to begin with.
Someone once said, "Getting There Is Half The Fun!" and this is so true that we sometimes overlook its lesson. This saying and lesson is applicable to the holiday season in the following manner.
As the abundance of summer is gathered and the annual harvest is being completed, a natural elevation of social adrenaline takes place. However, as the work of gathering is completed, the season of natural rest begins. In the forests, the bear begins to intake vast amounts of food in preparation for his soon to come winter hibernation. In the skies above the migrating fowl, announce the arrival of autumn. Even the trees begin to contribute as they spread their blanket of falling leaves as if to protect mother earth during the coming dark and windy winter season.
Nature announces the slumber season and retires to rest and recuperation. In addition, God finds nature obedient to his command of rest.
On the other hand, Man also sees the approaching winter season, but instead of hibernating, his advanced intellect tells him there is danger in darkness and he envisions all sorts of goblins, ghosts, ghouls and spirits arising from the cold graves of their world. He prays to his deity for protection and reasons that laughter and merrymaking with lots of lights will surely chase the evil ones away.
Each year for eons of time, he creates special holidays and the merrymaking becomes tradition around the world down through the centuries.
Finally, it is established in many cultures that November 1st becomes the first day of the new year as well as the first day of the "Festival of Lights," a seasonal event designed to bring more light to the coming season of darkness.
The Jewish holiday Hanukkah, celebrates with the lighting of candles, as do the witches of Wicca, the Buddhists of Tibet, the Hindu, of India, the Druids of Great Britain, the Gnostics, and indeed even the Roman and Orthodox Catholics.
Each in his own way and tradition tries to bring light to the annual darkness of the holiday season.
And when the season has at last ended we oft look back and realizing how good our holidays really were, we begin to understand that indeed, "Getting There Was Half The Fun!"
Happy Holidays, from the brightness of the South!
Fraternally,
Lou Orozco
Junior Warden Elect
2002-2003 Blue Lodge Installation Dates
Dec 1, 2002 Morgan Hill #463 2:00 p.m.
Dec 7, 2002 Mountain View/DeAnza #194 2:00 p.m.
Dec 7, 2002 Palo Alto-Roller #346 5:30 p.m.
Dec 9, 2002 San Jose #10 6:00 p.m.
Grand Master Presiding
Dec 12, 2002 Daylight #844 10:00 a.m.
Dec 12, 2002 Friendship #210 8:00 p.m.
Dec 14, 2002 Fraternity/Willow Glen #676 6:00 p.m.
Dec 16, 2002 Los Altos #712 7:00 p.m.
Grand Master Presiding
Dec 27, 2002 El Camino Research Lodge
At Los Altos Lodge 7:00 p.m.
Jan 4, 2002 Los Gatos/Charity/Jarmin #362 7:30 p.m.
Jan 13, 2002 Golden Rule #479 7:30 p.m.
Jan 25, 2002 Liberty #299 6:00 p.m.
Grand Master Presiding
Dinner at 6:30 PM; OAM Begins at 7:30 PM
DATE HOST PROGRAM
Jan 23 Liberty #299 First Degree
Feb 24 San Jose #10 Second Degree
Mar 17 Golden Rule #479 Chicken Feed & GM Visit
Apr 24 Los Gatos/G. E. Tutt 3rd Degree
Second Section
May 21 Fraternity #399 3rd Degree
Candidate's Lecture
June 17 Palo Alto/Roller #346 3rd Degree
First Section
July DARK
Aug 27 Charity/Jarman Investigations
Sept 24 Willow Glen #676 Grand Lodge Preview
Oct 27 Los Altos #712 Grand Lodge Results
Nov 26 Mt. View/DeAnza #194 Swan Song
Dec. DARK
Elected and Appointed Officers for 2003
Elected Officers:
Master-elect Richard G. Weyers Senior Warden-elect Ernest Castillo, HA, PM Junior Warden-elect Luis J. Orozco II, HA, FM Treasurer-elect H. Sterling Bailey, HA, PM Secretary-elect Richard L. Rosenberg, HA, PMAppointed Officers:
Chaplain J. Kermit Williams, HA, PM Senior Deacon John J. Graham Junior Deacon Earl W. Gault Marshal Robert G. Sohigian Senior Steward James E. Gable Junior Steward Craig E. Schoonover Organist Robert G. Lake, Jr., PM Tiler H. David Kimball II
2003 Officers Installation Invitation:
Monday, December 16th, 2002
At 7:00 P.M.
Los Altos Masonic Building
146 Main Street
Los Altos, California 94022
Richard G. Weyers
Master Elect
Installing Officer:
Most Worshipful M. William Holsinger
Grand Master of Masons in California
Hors d’oeuvres at 5:30 P.M.
Installation at 7:00 P.M.
Reception at 8:30 P.M.
Babysitting Available in the Fireside Room
Please RSVP (650) 903-0525
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