2015 November TB

TRESTLE BOARD

LEESBURG LODGE No. 58 FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS OF FLORIDA 200 Richey Road Leesburg, Florida 34748 Phone: 352-787-5696 Email: [email protected]

Meets the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of Each Month at 7:00pm Chartered January 15th, 1868

November 2015 Vol. XV Issue XI

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Officers for 2015 Worshipful Master Bro. Ron Glover……………………...874-9504 Senior Warden Br. Jeff Lamb (Sherri)..…………....753-0277 Junior Warden Br. Wayne Reynolds.(Linda)407-484-0096

Treasurer W∴ Larry Duff (Brenda)………….874-2164 Secretary W∴ Hank DeBerry (Paula)...….. 430-0238 Lodge……………………………………...787-5696 Senior Deacon Br. Ed Spencer………………………...324-2134 Junior Deacon Br. Pedro Arroyo (Marcia)…386-804-2043 Senior Steward Br. James M. Thomas……………….568-1554 Junior Steward Br. Norman Novis (Alona)………...409-7669 Tyler W∴Jim Angelos………………………...255-1724 Chaplain Vacant

Marshal W∴ John Haas (Tina)……………….360-9114 Organist Vacant

Lodge Instructor W∴ Hank DeBerry (Paula)……....330-7311 Lodge Historian Vacant

Librarian W∴ Larry Duff (Brenda)………....874-2164

Trestle Board W∴ Hank DeBerry (Paula)…….. .330-7311 Trestle Board Printing Leesburg Printing …………………….787-3348 Lodge Web Mail [email protected]

Committees for 2015

Board of Relief

Chairman W∴M∴Ron Glover, Jeff Lamb, Wayne Reynolds

Lodge Property

Chairman Jeff Lamb, W∴Don McIntyre, W∴Jim Angelos,

W∴ John Haas, W∴M∴Ron Glover

Finance - Investments & Budget

Chairman Jeff Lamb, R∴W∴ Ken Graves,

W∴Tom Russell, W∴Larry Duff, W∴John Haas

Vigilance

Chairman W∴John Haas, W∴Bob Browning, Jeff Lamb,

Charity & Scholarships

Chairman W∴John Haas, Sec. W∴Hank DeBerry, Ed Spencer

Education

Chairman W∴Hank DeBerry, WMRon Glover, Jeff Lamb

Lodge Mentors

Chairman W∴Larry Duff, W∴Hank DeBerry, all Past Masters

Catechism

Chairman W∴Don McIntyre, Sr., W∴Bob Browning, Jeff Lamb

Petitions Investigation

Chairman W∴M∴Ron Glover, W∴Larry Duff, W∴ Hank DeBerry

Investigations Interviews

W∴M∴ Ron Glover will appoint as needed

Funeral

Chairman W∴Jim Angelos, W∴Bob Browning, Ed Spencer

Activities & Awards

Chairman W∴M∴ Ron Glover, W∴John Haas, Jeff Lamb,

Wayne Reynolds

Officers meet at 6:00pm, first stated meeting, Committee Chairman

meet the second meeting of each month for business and planning.

Living Past Masters

Charles Porter 1959 G Kiser Hardaway 1964 Jack Holloway 1968 R∴W∴Ray Richardson 1969* William “Ed” Davison 1974 Robert H. Smith 1977 R∴W∴Colin Crews 1980^* H. C. Connell 1985 R∴W∴Theodore Jansen 1986* Michael Dozier 1988 John H. Meier V 1989 Jay A. Frizzell, Jr. 1992 Raleigh Sorenson 1993/1994 Don Barfield 1996 Tom Russell 1997/1998/2002 Mervyn Harris 1999 R∴W∴Kenneth Graves 2000* R∴H∴ Thomas E. Beach 2001 Robert H. Browning 2003/2004 R∴W∴Dennis Ricker 2005/2007^* Roland P. Gibson 2006 Bill Green 2008 Richard Ecott 2009 Donald McIntyre, Sr. 2010 Randall Jesmok 2011 Larry Duff 2012 Jim Angelos 2013 John Haas 2014

Affiliated Past Masters

M∴W∴Joseph Brearley Henry DeBerry Jack Delauter Robert C. Gleckler Robert Kennedy Clifford Moore Frank Peregrin Glenn A. Reynolds*^ Edwin Robbins Robert L. Welch Forest Case* Wayne Parks Fred Lint Raymond D Trudeau John R. Haas Gary Towne

^ Past District Instructor * Past DDGM # Past Grand Master

18th Masonic District

DDGM R∴W∴ Alan Heist 407-718-5841 District Instructor RH Ed Mayfield PDDGM 352-751-3532

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Chaplain’s Corner Brothers, I thought this month should be a time for reflection and prayer so hope this meets with your approval.

Let us give thanks for all the wonderful blessings the Great Architect has bestowed on us this year and thank him for watching over us. Let us be thankful for our families and our Brothers and ask him

to watch them and keep them from harm in all they do. Watch over the men and women of our Armed Forces overseas in harms way and bring them home safe to their loved ones. Let us ask him for forgiveness in all we do that may not be pleasing to his eyes and help us to become better men and Masons through his teachings, so that we may become an example for others to follow. Guide our hearts and souls with tenderness and let us always be kind to our fellow man. All this, we ask in his precious name. Amen.

LIGHT FROM THE EAST

W∴M∴ Ron Glover

Before I begin, I would like to congratulate our newest Master Mason. Brother Jayson Wood was raised in Clermont Lodge No. 226 on October 12th in a joint degree put on by Clermont, Leesburg, Mt. Dora, and brothers throughout the district. Jayson was raised by his grandfather, W:. Jay Frizzell and he gave an emotional speech af-terward thanking his grandfather and the Brethren. Congratulations Jayson! I'm happy to call you Brother. Well the year is almost over. Seems like just yesterday I was getting installed, then I blinked and here we are getting ready for the holiday months. To all the Brothers that have helped this year, I thank you. To all the Past Masters that have given me encouragement and advice, I want to thank you as well and know that I took everything said to heart and your support throughout the year has been invaluable. I would again like to remind everybody of a few dates. Brother Juan Sepulvada will be coming to our first stated meeting in November. He will be giving a speech about Masonry as well as displaying his original Masonic art and aprons for sale if anybody is interested. For those that have heard Brother Juan speak before, you know that we are in for a treat. I would like to remind everybody that The Villages Masonic Lodge No. 394 is presenting a Rusty Nail De-gree at the Wildwood Masonic Lodge Building on Georgia St., Wildwood, FL, on Wednesday, 4 November 2015. Dinner will be at 6PM and the Degree will follow at 7PM. The Order of the Rusty Nail is a short program for use in a tyled Lodge of Master Masons. It is designed to refresh the memories of Brethren holding a valid dues card who are not regular in their Lodge attendance. It will cover topics such as the steps, passwords and signs of the three degrees, as well as Lodge customs. All Master Masons residing or visiting in the area are invited to attend. For further information, contact W. Lou Hook at 352-750-4799 or R.W. Ed Mayfield at 352-751-3532. I would also like to remind everybody of the District's Outdoor Degree that will be on Saturday December 5th at Draper's Farm. There will be donuts and refreshments at 7:00 with the degree starting at 9:00 am. I would also like to pass on that Brother Jay Kosnar of Groveland Lodge is looking to put on a Master Ma-son 1, 2, & 3 class here at Leesburg on Saturday November 7th starting at 09:00. If any Brother is interested please let me or our Secretary Hank DeBerry know. Brother Jay is looking at the possibility of canceling the class if he does not have enough Brothers sign up. One more item Brothers. I would like to remind everybody that the voting for next years Officers will be different this year. In order to be considered for an office you must have your name on a nomination form and turned in to our Lodge Secretary Hank DeBerry before I rap the gavel to begin our meeting on 1st. You can nomi-tate yourself or another Brother but whoever is nominated must sign the form agreeing that they will accept the po-sition if elected. Again I would like to thank all of the Brethren for the support so far this year. Please have a safe and happy holiday season.

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From the West

Bro. Jeff Lamb

No Article submitted

From the Secretary

WHank DeBerry

Hello Brothers, well just one more time after this one and you will finally be rid of me. I hope you have been thinking of a replacement for me and that he will begin to come in and learn what has to be done. The Lodge needs a Brother to step up and take this job! I think that is plain enough. We have at this time 13 Brothers who still have not paid their 2015 dues and here it is time to pay for 2016! If you are having trouble getting the dues together then let someone know and it is pos-sible you may qualify for the Emeritus list. It hap-pens and there isn’t any fault placed or blame to be had. Just let us know! The ones who just don’t want to be Masons any longer, well that time has come and gone for you. According to Masonic Law, you can not get a demit unless you are cur-rent in all your dues. So that means if you ever did want to return to the Fraternity, you couldn’t, be-cause you never got a demit from your Lodge. The Lodge has made it easy to pay your dues. For the past three years, we have been accepting credit cards in the office and through the mail. This is not for our convenience but yours Brother. We are charged 2.75% on each transaction that we swipe and if we have to enter it manually, 3.5%. We figured this would be better than not getting dues at all and it would spread the time you had to pay your dues over several months if you wished. Any way you look though, on December 1st I will be submitting a list of members who are to be dropped NPD. I sincerely hope that list is a very short one or better yet non-existent. One last reminder on the upcoming Lodge elections. Don’t forget, ALL five stations that are elective offices must have a nomination form. If there are no nominations then the incoming Wor-shipful Master will be forced to “protem” that chair. This is all according to the new procedure passed at the 2015 Grand Lodge. If there is only one nomination for a particular office, there can be a motion made and duly passed to elect by accli-mation. Brothers, don’t wait until the last second to get your nominations into the office. Please stop in and see me at the Secretaries office if you have any questions. Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoys the holiday season with their loved ones.

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Nov 2 - Boy Scout Troop Mtg - 7:00 PM

Nov 3 - Stated Communication -7:00 PM

Nov 3 - Election Day 7:00 AM -7:00 PM


Nov 6 - Saxophone Day

Nov 7 - MM 1,2,3 Class 8:00-4:00 PM

Nov 7 - Knight Mason/AMD meeting 9:00-4:00 PM

Nov 8 - Second Sunday Dinner 11:30-1:00 PM


Nov 9 - Rainbow Assembly 79 - Mt Dora - 7:00 PM

Nov 11 - Open Books/ School of Inst -Tavares 6:30PM

Nov 11 - Veterans Day


Nov 17 - Stated Communication 7:00 PM

Nov 18 - Masters and Wardens @ Umatilla 7:30 PM

Nov 23 - National Cashew Day


Nov 23 - Rainbow Assembly 79 - Mt Dora - 7:00 PM

Nov 26 - Thanksgiving Day

Nov 27 - Black Friday

UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES November 2015

(Child Safety Protection Month)

From the South Bro. Wayne Reynolds

Once again Brothers and Sisters we ask that you please DO NOT drive on the grass next to the Lodge parking lot. It is leaving ruts in the ground and they are hard to mow over. Thank You!

-Yard Maintenance Guy-

The holidays are upon us and we should be helpful to all those who are not fortunate enough to enjoy the benefits that we all have. We, as Ma-sons, should do according to our Oath and give to the relief of worthy dis-tressed brother Masons, their wid-ows, and orphans.

Because there is no breakfast this November, we will have for din-ner, Turkey breast, ham, mashed po-tatoes, green bean casserole, and Paula’s sweet potato casserole. Along with, salad, bread, sugar free and non-sugar free desserts, coffee, tea, and lemonade. Good conversa-tion with friends and Brothers.

December will have ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. Bread, salad, drinks, and desserts.

Sign up at the meeting or call the Lodge for reservations, so we prepare enough food for everyone.

Thank You!

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Name(s) of Those Who Attended:

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Date(s) Attended: _____________________________________________________________________

Function/Activity/Training/Etc. Attended:

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Number of Hours Involved:______________________________________________________________

Location of Activity: ___________________________________________________________________

Please leave completed slips on the Secretary’s desk at the Stated Communications, or email W. Hank DeBerry

with this information at [email protected]


____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Date(s) Attended: _____________________________________________________________________


____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________




with this information at [email protected], or place them in the slot in the Secretary’s door


____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Date(s) Attended: _____________________________________________________________________


____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________




with this information at [email protected], or place them in the slot on the Secretary’s door.


____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Date(s) Attended: _____________________________________________________________________


____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________




with this information at [email protected], or place them in the slot in the Secretary’s door

Masonic Education Worksheet

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Leesburg Announcement Forms

Please Print Clearly

Event:_________________________________________________________

Date (s):__________________________ Time:_________________________

Description/Comments____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

For further information contact:____________________ at ________________

Submitted by:_____________________________________________________

Please Print Clearly

Event:_________________________________________________________

Date (s):__________________________ Time:_________________________

Description/Comments____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

For further information contact:____________________ at ________________

Submitted by:_____________________________________________________

Leesburg Announcement Forms

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2014 TRESTLE BOARD SPONSORS

YOUR NAME HERE - INDIVIDUAL OR COUPLE FOR ONLY $20.00

Current year or any part thereof - HELP US KEEP YOU INFORMED!

John Dean Hank & Paula DeBerry Larry & Brenda Duff

Jim Angelos William & Sharen Aston Joe Schlegal

Suzanne Mina John & Tina Haas Jim & Becky Campbell

Richard Follett Ed Spencer George A. Brown

Bob & Carolyn Browning Ken Graves George Shoemaker

Betsey Jordan Bill & Sharon Staple RW Ed Mayfield

Gary & Alberta Grimes Dennis & Ginny Ricker Ronald J. Glover

Ronald W. Glover Ed Spencer Charles and Marlene White

John E. Parfumorse

If you would like to be a sponsor in 2015, please see the secretary with your donation. Your

donations are applied to the monthly mailing costs of the Trestle Board, we need 60 sponsors to

cover the yearly mailing costs. Sponsorship is $20.00 for the year or any part thereof. Our Goal

for this year is 60 sponsors. Please consider a sponsorship.

"You get out of Masonry only what you put in it."

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RAINBOW ASSEMBLY

No. 79 at Mt. Dora

Let’s not forget the young Ladies of our

local Rainbow Chapter. They need our support. We should also remember they are the fu-ture of our Ladies organizations and future leaders in our communities. Meetings are at 7:00pm on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month at Mt. Dora Lodge. Know a young Lady who might want to join, you can contact Chapter Mom Debbie Dyer at 407-908-6973 or Chapter Dad Warren Shippee at 321-689-6661.

Attend a meeting and be impressed.

DEMOLAY CHAPTER At Eustis

Let’s also not forget the young Men of our local De-Molay Chapter. They also need our support. We should also remember they are the future of Masonry and fu-ture leaders in our communities. Meetings are at

7:00pm on the 1 and 3rd Monday’s of each month at Eustis Lodge. Know a Man who might want to join, you can contact “Granddaddy” Philip Paul at

407-832-8771. Attend a meeting and be impressed.

HELP BY SUPPORTING OUR MASONIC YOUTH

18th MASONIC DISTRICT LODGES

Stated Communication Meetings

Leesburg No. 58 1st and 3rd Tuesday

Umatilla No. 65 1st and 3rd Monday

Clermont No. 226 1st and 3rd Monday

Eustis No. 85 2nd and 4th Monday

Villages No. 394 2nd Monday

Tavares No. 234 2nd and 4th Tuesday

Wildwood No. 92 2nd and 4th Tuesday

Groveland No. 190 2nd and 4th Thursday

Mt. Dora No. 238 1st and 3rd Thursday

Have YOU Traveled Lately?

HIGH TWELVE Meeting Times & Locations

Hawthorne Masonic High Twelve No. 547 - Meets at 11:00 a.m. on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month at Golden Corral, 1720 Citrus Blvd. (Hwy 27/441) – Leesburg, FL. Tel: 352-728-3911.

Tri-County Masonic High Twelve meets 10:30 a.m. 1st Wednesday of each month at La Haci-enda Recreation Center, The Villages. Reserva-tions for lunch due by the Thursday before the meeting, call Rita at 750-5561.

People rarely succeed

unless they have fun in

what they are doing.

- Dale Carnegie -

A friend is a person with

whom I may be sincere.

Before him, I may think

aloud.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson -

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Scottish Rite

www.OcalaSR.com or www.SROrlando.com

Ocala Scottish Rite meets the first Monday of each month, at 7:30pm.at Ocala Scottish Rite Center, 3632 NE 7th Street, Ocala, Fl. Orlando Scottish Rite meets at 1485 Grand Road, Winter Park, Fla. on the 4th Friday of each month, except, November, which is on the third Friday and dark in December, meetings at 7:30pm.

York Rite Bodies

“A Continuation of the Blue Lodge”

www.flgyr.org

Ocala York Rite Bodies – Meetings at Belleview Lodge No. 95

Ocala Chapter No. 13 - Meets Second Wednesday of January, March, May, September and November beginning at 7:30 PM. Ocala Council No. 22 - R&S Masters - Meets Second Wednes-day of February, April, June, October and December beginning at 7:30 PM. Ocala Commandry No. 19 - Knights Templar - Meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM.

Lake/Sumter York Rite Bodies - Meetings at Leesburg Lodge 58 Eustis Chapter No. 33, Meets on the first Wednesday at 7:30 PM Golden Triangle Council No. 28—Royal & Select Masters - Meets first Wednesday at 7:30 PM. Chapter and Council will alternate on who begins first. Triangle Commandery No. 38 –Knights Templar—Meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM.

Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter No. 84

Lady Paula DeBerry PM– Worthy Matron W∴ Hank DeBerry PP—Worthy Patron Lady Orrissa Maurer PM—Secretary W∴ Robert Welch PGP – Treasurer

Brothers and Sisters, Paula and I want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and we hope you and your families are safe and happy this holi-day season. We thank you for your support through out the year. Hank & Paula

Editors Note: All articles and infor-

mation must be received by the editor

prior to the 23rd of the publishing

month for inclusion in the next issue.

Articles can be e-mailed to:

[email protected]

November Birthdays

Nov 1 - Richard Newman

Nov 2 - Jeff Lamb

Nov 5 - Edward Bergman Jr.

Nov 5 - Wannie Frazier

Nov 8 - Joseph Brearley

Nov 8 - Clyde Waller

Nov 11 - Roger Sutton

Nov 16 - Ed Spencer

Nov 19 - Michael Abendschein

Nov 24 - William Ranquist

Nov 24 - Ron Glover

Nov 27 - Robert Gleckler

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On St. John's Day, June 24, 1717, two hundred and forty one years ago, the

Freemasons of London formed a grand lodge and started the system of

organized Masonry which has spread over the entire world, and its law has

come to be recognized by Craft Masonry as the criterion by which regularity

may be determined. Freemasonry was up to that time a system of Guilds

composed of workers in stone, to which honorary or "accepted" members had

begun to attach a certain philosophy taught by symbolism based on the

working tools of the operative Masons. Then as now the basic hope of man

was for an after-life existence. Instinctively he turned to the suggestion

offered to him in the story of the plants which may only live again by passing

through the period of deep sleep we as humans call Death. The Legend of the

Third degree was devised and it held forth to every Mason the fulfillment of

that hope for himself which could only be gained by suffering from those

calamities to which flesh is heir and conquering the evils and temptations of

this life, thus deserving and winning the right to resurrection pictured in the

raising to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. Every Rite of Freemasonry

eventually recognized the fundamental value of this lesson and adopted it in

some form in some of its degrees. Ceremonial rites offering certain privileges

to the Mason who successfully passed through the ceremony of Raising

gradually became degrees themselves and as the multiplicity of these

ceremonies became cumbersome new rites or assemblies of degrees were

formed. In Britain, as might be expected, this became what is known today as

the York Rite, always bearing true faith and allegiance to the Grand Lodge

from which it sprang.

Spreading over on to the continent of Europe and into the France, the idea of

another Rite embracing the "floating" degrees resulted in the Rite of Perfection

which seized upon the idea of progression in knowledge and symbolism and

subordinated the Craft Degrees to a progression of degrees and teachings

topped by the 25th degree. What more natural than to develop the thought

that the higher the number the higher the power of those possessing the

"highest" degree?

Thus we have the gradual departure of the Latin Masonry from the

fundamentals of the Anglo Saxon Masonry.

Nordic Masons soon saw the loyalty and cohesiveness of Masonic influence and

DETERMINING RECOGNITION

Harry W. Bundy

Grand Secretary Grand Lodge of Colorado

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adopted a strange system which combined adherence to the Christian religion and

influence of the Templar background of the Masons of Central and Northern

Europe-the submissiveness of the Trades union or Guild member, and the

autocracy of the Grand Master. Thus the Scandinavian Rite was established

with the King of Sweden as Solomon, the Grand Master.

The Rite of Memphis, with over a hundred degrees was organized in Italy and

based its authority on the Egyptian influence of Freemasonry as practiced in

Egypt and brought into Rome by the practice of the Roman Emperors of

making philosophers and religionists of all types most welcome in the Eternal

City and thereby building an influence which could be used as a personal

loyalty when needed to further ambition. Thus Italy welcomed the smooth

tongued, plausible and capable though crafty imposter Cagliostro. This man

recognized the desire for more light and led those who were groping for the

light down pathways which called them far from the fundamentals of Masonry

as originally established.

Now let us deal with Latin America. Latin Masonry followed the adventurers

into South America. and with it the inclination to yield precedence to

the hand which held the scepter of authority. The thirty-third degree of

Scottish Rite Masonry became the official or ruling degree by natural

sequence. This lasted well over a hundred years.

In the meantime, the Rite of Perfection had come to the shores of the newly

created United States of America. The Latin influence and the religious

domination over the minds of men caused seven degrees to be added and the

thirty-third became the ruling or governing degree of the newly created

Scottish Rite.

In this English speaking, English thinking country there was an inevitable clash

with the hierarchical as contrasted with the democratic system of

government in Masonry. The compromises of the Constitutional Convention,

where each of the newly formed states yielded some personal privilege for the

universal harmony of the entire country, had taught the Americans the

necessity of having a common cause and objective and the newly formed

successor to the Rite of Perfection, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite

accepted the historic right of the Craft Masonry to rule and govern and

gracefully recognized the Priority of right held by the Grand Lodges. The newly

formed Grand Lodges themselves declared their sovereignty over the lodges

operating in each state of this new country and added to that a principle

known as the American Doctrine of Exclusive Jurisdiction which in effect said

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that the first group to form a grand lodge in any territory not previously

governed by a Grand Lodge should be the only regular Masonic authority in

that jurisdiction and all others not yielding allegiance would be declared

clandestine. This brought a howl of protest from our Latin American Brothers

at first, but soon seeing the advantage of such a system in maintaining

regularity the Latins started changing their system of government in Masonry

to acknowledge the Grand Lodge system of government by the Master Mason

Degree, instead of the Thirty-third.

In October, 1921, a convention of the International Masonic Service

Associations was held in Geneva, Switzerland, at which a system of

determining regularity was adopted. Naturally the English system governed

and seven tests were set by which regularity could be measured. This has

become the measure of regularity the world over. These are:

1. That it was regularly established by three or more recognized Lodges or

legalized by one or more recognized Grand Lodges;

2. That it is independent and self-governing and exercises supreme and

exclusive jurisdiction;

3. That it limits membership to men, believing in a S.A.O.T.U., and

obligated on the book of sacred law recognized by the initiate;

4. That it requires the display of the three great lights in every Lodge at

work;

5. That it bars controversial, political, and religious questions from its

Lodges;

6. That it is founded upon and adheres to the ancient landmarks, customs,

and usages of the Craft;

7. That it does not maintain fraternal intercourse with bodies which violate

these principles.

Let it be noted that religion and politics are forbidden as a matter of discussion

in a regular lodge. The participation of women is forbidden. Racial lines are

supposedly eradicated. This last step has been often referred to by

Mason and profane alike as the tie that has held the British Empire together.

The doctrine of exclusive jurisdiction has been adopted by all North American

Grand Lodges and has resulted in the lodges formed among negro Americans,

they (being branded irregular and clandestine) have been deprived of the

privilege of regular membership by the use of the ballot in individual lodges.

The use of the ballot is a landmark and must be used to protect the peace and

harmony of the fraternity socially, intellectually, religiously, politically, and

influentially. It may well be said that the ballot should not be used to

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determine physical qualifications such as color. But what of the Doctrine of the

Perfect Youth: which bars the non-male. the mentally impaired, the crippled,

and the under aged?

This landmark is almost universally acknowledged and used to benefit the

Craft. We find many modifications. In our Mother Grand Lodge we find the

Lewes system, which allows a youth of 18 to become a Member in the

Lodge of his father, attaining, to full membership at manhood. This system is

copied in many of the Latin Grand Lodges. American Lodges have forbidden

the practice and have substituted encouragement, if not actual sponsorship of

the Order of DeMolay, for boys budding into manhood. The "Equal Rights"

program of the American states made it natural that the question of sex be

modified in Masonry, and the O.E.S. was devised for women and the Order of

the Rainbow and the Order of Jobs Daughters for girls. These female and

juvenile orders, being builded on fundamental principles known as Masonic,

seem to have satisfied the desires of the members of these groups and to

have preserved the adult male character of Masonry. Where with ostrich-like

stupidity this necessity for modification of a centuries-old way of thinking has

been ignored, we find clandestinism flourishing, co-Masonry embracing both

men and women, and snobbery destroying the harmony which is the strength

and support of regular Masonry. We are reminded of the couplet facetiously

quoted when new rules for automobiles entering the traffic were made

necessary and a realignment of the rights of driver and pedestrian alike were

necessary:

He was right, dead right, as he sped along,

But he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong.

Masonry should modify its rules to meet the challenge of education, of equal

political standing for both sexes and all races, religious and political faiths. This

should be done while there is a choice of speed, of method and of goals, rather

than hysterical cataclysmic upsetting of the pitcher of cooling water which will

refresh and strengthen us all if judiciously used on a basis of share and share

alike, according to our needs.

We should have a common religious faith, too, often glibly referred to as a

belief in the Grand Architect of the Universe. We should not have the

absolutism of the Scandinavian or Eclectic system confining its members

to Christianity, the intolerance of the Roman system with the primary purpose

of preserving a ruling hierarchy, the fanaticism of the Moslem, promising

physical rewards for earthly morality, or the liberality of the agnostic who

(heavenly in his desire to please all) allows the atheistic nonbeliever to crawl

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under the tent of Masonry as is so woefully exemplified by the Grand Orient of

France and its adherents. We should make Deity truly the point within the

circle around the perimeter of which is room for every sect or opinion which

acknowledges the Fatherhood, of God and the Brotherhood of Man.

To get down to the everyday fundamental with which we come in contact,

should we use the hoodwink in initiations? One great jurisdiction has

practically discarded it, using it only as we use the door of the preparation

room between the profane and the accepted petitioner, discarding the

hoodwink as we open the door when we answer the raps of the candidate. It is

highly successful. Should we dispense with the physical portrayal of the

Legend and rely on the mental application of the allegory? Many jurisdictions

have done so under the pressure of caution, and the necessity for bringing

"Degree Teams" back from the amusement category of teaching to the solemn

purpose of teaching by allegory.

Should we demand the abolishing of jurisdictional lines which require a

petitioner to associate himself with a group in which he has little of common

interest, socially, financially, politically, religiously. or intellectually,

a process which almost guarantees his early withdrawal to the class of the

non-attending Brother, if not his complete renouncing of the membership

itself? May we cite the case of the Grand Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania where

except for the Grand Jurisdiction itself there are no "lines" of demarcation and

a profane may choose the lodge with which he associates himself, subject to

the possession of fundamental character qualifications. The United Grand

Lodge of England recognizes the desirability of this choice by the

encouragement of "Class" Lodges. Many Latin jurisdictions practice this in

permitting District Grand Lodges to operate in the language of the country of

origin of foreign born members. Should we? Would this not let the "color

question" solve itself? Would it not prevent forcible integration under

conditions distasteful to white and black alike where each is a sincere, thinking

Mason? We find a tacit acceptance of the principle of "Birds of a feather

flocking together" in the encouragement of Research Lodges for the students

of Masonry, in associations of Grand Jurisdictions with like problems. Witness

our RMMC. We might do well to approve lodges formed on the basis of creed,

color, occupation, and environmental conditions.

Should we demand proficiency in ritual? Which is more desirable, Masonry of

the head, or Masonry of the heart? How many Brothers of the Craft absent

themselves for fear of ridicule by those who meticulously demand that

every pass-word have a certain inflection, that every punctuation point be

16

exactly placed and that every piece of paraphernalia be regarded as

sacrosanct? Should there not be a liberalism between Jurisdictions, between

Lodges, and even between individual Brothers which will recognize

fundamental Masonic qualifications rather than superficial and artificial

acquirements? We err in intolerance within our own ranks.

Finally, should we not recognize the fact that circumstances alter cases and

that a Jurisdiction threatened in its very existence by a numerically, superior

ruling force must operate and concede privileges to preserve its

very existence. Masonry must "go underground" in Communist controlled

countries. Who would deny them the right to discuss politics or religion within

the sanctity of their lodge? Where can they keep the Holy Fire if not on the

Masonic Altar? What about domination of religious groups such as we find in

Spain where Masonic membership is accompanied with a decree of death

pronounced by the Roman Church. Closer than that, in Colombia, South

America, where assassination of "heretics" is condoned and encouraged by the

domineering Church? Can we forbid these Masons the sanctity of their Lodges

to discuss means of self preservation? Can we criticise justly our own

jurisdiction which does not open the flood gates which will drown them out

with the very water which if controlled will be of great benefit to they

development of democratic thought and action?

One could go on for time immeasurable with arguments for and against

uniformity and universality of governing laws. The final law must be the

answer to the question "Are we trying to fulfill God's will through Masonry? Are

we really promoting the Brotherhood of Man?"

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Pictures from around the Lodge

RW Forrest Case receiving his 55 year certificate from Worshipful Master Ron Glover at the October Sunday Dinner

W. Hank DeBerry presenting RW Forrest Case his 55 year pin.

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SUNDAY DINNER Leesburg Lodge No. 58

November 8, 2015

Menu Turkey or Baked Ham

Sweet Potato Casserole and green beans

Salad, Desserts both ( Sugared and Sugar free),

Drinks (Iced Tea, Coffee or Lemonade)

$8.37 + .63 tax - Adults, under 14 - $3.72 + .28 tax

11:30 AM until 1:00 PM Please call the Lodge at 787-5696 or sign the guest list in the lobby

and provide the number attending with you,. This ensures enough food is pur-

chased and prepared for all.

ALL MASONS, their families and friends are invited to our Monthly

Second Sunday Dinners and First Saturday Breakfasts

Help support your Blue Lodge, IT IS where all other Masonic Bodies Begin.

Future menu suggestions are always welcome!

Introducing 2015 Chef Crew JW Wayne Reynolds

SS James Michael Thomas JS Norman Novis

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NONPROFIT US Postage

PAID Permit#1040 Leesburg,, FL

34748

Leesburg Masonic Lodge No. 58 F&AM PO Box 985 Fruitland Park, Florida 34731 [email protected]

SUNDAY DINNERS 11:30 a.m. TO 1:00 p.m.

Menu items: November 8, 2015 Turkey or Baked Ham

Sweet Potato Casserole and Green Beans Garden Salad, Desserts (Sugared & Sugar-Free)

Coffee, Iced Tea and Lemonade $8.37 + .63 tax per person, Children under 14 years of age $3.72 + .28 tax

PLEASE call the Lodge at 787-5696, or sign the guest list in the foyer, provide the number of guests attending with you, this ensures enough food is prepared for all. ALL MASONS, their families and friends are invited . Menu suggestions welcomed, just fill out a comment card.

Don’t forget to call or sign -up!!!

Celebrating 147 years (1868 — 2015) in Leesburg, Fla. “The Lakefront City”

1st Saturday Monthly Coffee Klatch & Breakfast 8:00am to 10:00am

Eggs (cooked to order), Pancakes, Waffles, Bacon, Sausages

(Patty’s or Links), Breakfast Potatoes, Grits, Sausage Gravy, Bis-cuits, Toast

Coffee, Orange Juice $5.58 +.42 sales tax per person

Documents

2015 November TB