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April 2004 Plumbline
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From The East
W. Kirby Burnett, Worshipful
Master, |
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Words From The
East:
Hello Brethren! March was another good Lodge
meeting.
Right Worshipful Brother Tom McConnell, DDGM, was in
attendance to observe the Third Degree Open-Lodge examination and to
present the Perfect Attendance Award, which was earned at the annual 18th
Masonic District Training held in January. He also presented two of
our newer Brothers, Bernie Wilburn and Jason Williams, with certificates
which recognized them as becoming Master Masons on the 250th anniversary
of our Brother and Father of our Country, George Washington, becoming a
Master Mason. He praised Walden as a leading Lodge in the District
in his concluding remarks at the end of the meeting.
The program
highlight was indeed the Third Degree Open-Lodge examination. It was
very evident how well the seven candidates had been prepared by Brother
Larry Crain, PM, Chairman of our Coaching Committee. In fact, when
they presented themselves for examination, Brother Mark Cooper, PM,
suggested that their order be “mixed-up” so that the Brothers observing in
the audience might know that the candidates knew all of the questions and
answers no matter what the order. He rearranged them himself, and
the candidates still performed flawlessly!
Six candidates were from
Walden Lodge. They were: Malcolm Carmichael, PM, Chaplain; Chick
Davis, SD; Bernie Wilburn, JD; Tom Mowbray, Steward; Jason Williams; and
Ben Treen. One candidate was from Pelham Lodge. He was Danny
Walker, SW.
During the business session, Right Worshipful Brother
Bob Kendrick, PDDGM, Chairman of the Audit Committee presented the
committee’s recommendation to accept the Lodge’s 2003 annual financial
report after presenting the financial highlights and leading the following
discussion. The report was duly accepted by the
Brethren.
Brother Mark Cooper, PM, Chairman of the Technology
Committee, reported that his committee had already had one meeting and
that another had been planned. He said that he expected to give a
more definitive report at the April meeting.
Right Worshipful
Brother Charlie Hendricks, PM, Chairman of the Past Master’s Advisory
Committee reported that his committee had also had one meeting and that
its members were following-up on several assignments such as analyzing
potential fundraising and cost-cutting activities, contemplating the
feasibility of a possible Lady’s Night program, and studying format
alternatives to the Annual Christmas Party. He was especially
pleased about how many Past Masters had come to the committee
meeting. He reminded everyone that all Past Masters are welcome to
the committee meetings and are encouraged to attend Lodge meetings, even
if only occasionally.
Brother Charles Pridmore, PM, Chairman of the
Charity Committee, reported on their various activities. They are in
the process of completing the re-certification of our Masonic Relief
recipient.
The program scheduled for April is a demonstration and
discussion of the Masonic Funeral Service. 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 Officers and members are competent to present
it in public.
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 at the
meeting.
Sincerely,
W. Kirby Burnett, WM |
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Greetings from the West
Mel Sinclair, Senior
Warden
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Greetings from the West – Let us meet upon the
level
Brethren,
“….and pay the Craft their wages, if
any be due”. Have you thought very much about what that
actually means? I’ve read many ideas and definitions; however, there
isn’t sufficient space in this article to discuss them fully. I
would like to speak to one area, leadership, which I believe to be
important in paying the craft their wages and also to the survival of our
great and noble fraternity. My brothers, how many good men have
entered the door at the West, only to later leave and never to set foot in
a lodge again? If we look at our membership rolls, we are indeed
blessed to have great talent and leadership. Many of these men,
however, we do not really know. One thing about leaders, they will
go where they can make a difference. Are we encouraging these men to
give of their time and talents for a noble cause? I am sure that in
some cases we are doing a great job and in others we’ve dropped the
ball. Perhaps we were too busy to notice these men? Perhaps we
were among our usual group of brothers and didn’t take time to make sure
that all were included. Have you seen a brother having dinner by
himself? Have you seen a brother sitting with a group, but being new
to the group, no one invited him into the conversation? Has a
brother dropped out due to some discouraging comment? Do we need to
mend any fences? Politics and jealousies have no place in our noble
fraternity. Good leaders, and that could include us all, will not
allow that to happen. Good leaders recognize, encourage, and lift up
those who have a Mason’s heart, even though we all at times fall
short. I am going to redouble my efforts to “pay the Craft their
wages”; however, that’s not just the Senior Warden’s job. My
brothers, let us all join to “pay the craft their wages, if any be
due”.
“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 |
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Tidings from the South
Chris Grantham, Junior
Warden
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Tidings from the
South:
Greetings Brethren. It seems that spring is about to
spring! Warmer weather is just around the corner and that means
summer isn’t too far behind. My how time flies!
I hope you enjoyed
last month’s menu, as I enjoyed preparing it for you. My thanks to
Brothers Harold Sherbert, and Tom Mowbray for their continued
assistance. Our Stewards are doing a wonderful job, and are to be
commended. I can’t do it without you guys: thanks!
This
month we were going to have a covered dish supper, but that has been
postponed. Instead this month we will have a meal catered by Tommy’s
Ham House. The menu will be:
Meat Loaf
Mashed
Potatoes
Green Beans
Dessert
Sweet Tea
I look forward to
spending time with you, and hope that if you don’t attend, that this finds
you in good health.
Fraternally,
Chris Grantham
Junior
Warden |
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