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March 2004 Plumbline

From The East
W. Kirby Burnett, Worshipful Master,
Words From The East:

Hello Brethren!  I’m pleased to report that many of the plans made so far this year have already developed into some fun activities and good Lodge meetings.  Best of all, I sense that all of the participants have noticed, like I have, that there is a renewed spirit of friendship and fellowship growing within our Lodge.

I realize that many of you, for various well-accepted reasons, are not able to attend our activities or meetings.  However, we still remember and pray for you at every meeting and consider you a full and faithful member of Walden Lodge.  Accordingly, I hope you are able to sense the renewed spirit I mentioned as you read this monthly newsletter and, in your own way, enjoy it with us.

Of course, we would love to have you visit with us in person!  Brother Chris Grantham, JW, has given information in his column about how to contact him to arrange for transportation or other assistance in this regard.  Please give that offer due consideration.  I have authorized Brother Grantham to appoint as many “temporary” Stewards as needed to assist him in this undertaking.

At our February meeting, Brother Charles Pridmore, PM, lead the annual memorial service for Brothers who have died in the past year.  Brother Pridmore’s presentation and accompanying music selections were very moving.  Those Brothers present had full opportunity to reflect on the certainty of death and the immortality of the soul.

Bother Larry Crain, PM, Chairman of our Coaching Committee, arranged a training schedule to certify our officers and any other Brothers, who wanted to participate, as “proficient” in the Third Degree.  We are proceeding through the schedule with excellent results.  All five currently un-certified officers, two other Brothers from our Lodge, and one other Brother from another Lodge are on track to complete their training.  We will have an Open-Lodge examination on the Third Degree at our March meeting.

Right Worshipful Brother Tom McConnell, DDGM, will be in attendance at our March meeting to observe the Open-Lodge examination and to present the Perfect Attendance Award, which was earned at the annual 18th Masonic District Training held in January.  Not only were all eleven officers in attendance, but also seven other Brothers came for the fellowship and training.

The originally scheduled program for March was a demonstration and discussion of the Masonic Funeral Service.  This program has been re-scheduled for our April meeting.  I consider this an important topic, because as Masons in good standing, we are all eligible to request these rites at our own funerals.  The demonstration is to introduce the service to those Brothers who may not yet be familiar with it, to stimulate a discussion about its more sublime meanings, and to assure the Brethren that our members are competent to present it in public.

Instead, the March program will be a presentation and discussion of Lodge finances and various ideas about possible fund-raising activities.  Please be there for this important topic.

Finally, be sure to mark your calendars for this year’s Grand Lodge meeting to be held in Spartanburg.  The dates are Thursday, April 22 and Friday, April 23.  More details will follow.

I look forward to seeing you at our March meeting!

Sincerely,

W. Kirby Burnett, WM
Greetings from the West
Mel Sinclair, Senior Warden
 
Greetings from the West – Let us meet upon the level

My Brothers,
in whom do you put your trust? At our February communication, Worshipful Brother Charles Pridmore did his usual outstanding work as he led us in our annual memorial service.  We reflected about those who, in the preceding year, had gone before us to that place not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  It was a special time, a quiet time, and a solemn time, to not only appreciate each of these fine men, but to bring forth to our own awareness once again, the mortality of the body and the immortality of the soul. 

Through our craft, we have had the opportunity to learn much about the life we should strive to lead, although many times we come up a little short.  Even Apostle Paul, at times, had problems (Romans 7:15-19).  The good news is that as the new day begins, we have the opportunity for a new start to become a better man.  How exciting; to awaken and start anew!    Hugo wrote, “Hope is the word which God has written on the brow of every man.”  Hope and trust in God lead us to other virtues that cement us as a fraternity.  My brothers, let us not forget our earliest walk in masonry, as we learned about the necessity of time well spent and of the importance of a pure heart. 

You may have heard the old proverb that says, “Imitation is the purest form of flattery”.  Let us live a life of hope, trusting in God; and that our journey will be one that will give much light to the fraternity, to our loved ones, to the disadvantaged, and to the ones we never knew were watching our every move and listening to our every word. 

If you’ve been away from the lodge for a while, mark your calendar for March 4 and I look forward to seeing you there …. on the level.

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” Albert Pike

Fraternally and sincerely,

Mel Sinclair, Senior Warden, March, 2004
Tidings from the South
Chris Grantham, Junior Warden
 
Tidings from the South:

Greetings Brethren.  It is a delight to serve you this year.  I enjoy seeing you at each meeting.  There are so many of you that I never get to see.  With in excess of 300 members in Walden, yet fewer than 30 who regularly attend, I know less than ten percent of you.  Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need assistance in attending our regular communications. 

I will bring the list to the March communication to sign up for the covered dish supper.  We may have to put it off until the May meeting.

This month’s menu will be:

Spaghetti with meatballs
Salad
Desert
Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Coffee


Again, it is my pleasure serving you in the South this year.  If you have any suggestions on how I can do a better job, please let me know. 
Sincerely, and Fraternally,

Chris Grantham, JW

Any and all material contained herein is protected by Copyright 2003-2008, Walden Lodge No. 274, A.F.M.  All rights reserved.  Nothing on this website may be copied or reproduced, in part or in whole, or in any manner, without written consent of the Lodge.  This includes, but is not limited to,  all articles, other written material and information, graphics, photos, etc. Walden Lodge No. 274 A.F.M is under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina.