September 2004 Plumbline, Walden Lodge No. 274
Words From The East:
Hello Brethren! I hope you had a great summer and are ready for your fall activities! I realize that in planning them you may have more choices than time slots available. With that in mind, I sincerely invite you to make attendance a priority and mark your calendars to join us at lodge meetings.
It seems that our June meeting was just the other day. Brother Chris Grantham, JW, served a fine meal. Business was conducted post haste and highlighted by a positive report on petition for membership, which was followed by a unanimous vote. Finally, we set some plans for our upcoming meetings, so please read them below and take note of them.
We decided not to confer the first degree in June. Not only that, but we decided to confer the degree during our regular communication on Thursday, September 2, 2004. Walden Lodge has not conferred a degree during a regular communication in several years, so this should be a real treat. Please plan to attend! Brother Chris Grantham, JW, will preside during the degree, and Right Worshipful Brother Tom McConnell, DDGM, will be present for an official visit.
We decided to confer the succeeding second and third degrees, if approved by the Lodge, during our usual degree communication on the third Thursdays of October and November.
Please take notice that Recovery Lodge, our brother lodge which shares the Greenville Masonic Center where we meet, is having a “Table Lodge” on Thursday, September 16, 2004. This special event will be held at the Greenville Scottish Rite Center at 7:00 PM. To reserve your place at the table, call Jack Grady, PM, an active member of both Walden and Recovery Lodges, at the Scottish Rite Center at 232-5430. Walden Lodge members have been cordially invited to attend.
We are going to do something a little different for our October regular communication. The other officers and I are going to meet on a couple of evenings between now and then to call and invite you personally to attend that meeting. Over the past several years we have averaged about 25 to 30 Walden Lodge members present at each regular communication, but we want to have 70 to 75 members present together in October! Even if you have not attended in several years, won’t you plan to be with us on that particular evening? I would be glad to receive you. A wheelchair ramp has been installed at the back door, and the meeting will be in the downstairs lodge room to make it as convenient as possible for all to attend. The program will be short so you can get home early.
We will have the annual awards presentation during our November regular communication. It is always a pleasure to recognize those brothers who have reached membership milestones as well as those brothers who have distinguished themselves.
Annual officer election and installation lead the agenda for our December regular communication. We are very fortunate to have a great line of current officers who have already shown dedication in preparing themselves for additional future responsibility.
The Christmas party committee chaired by Art Strandemo, PM, is ready to begin planning another fun event for the entire family. Please be ready to give some suggestions and to offer your assistance in making it the best one yet. We will set the date soon.
There are two final notes. First, I’m pleased to announce that Walden Lodge received a $5,000 bequest from a generous brother. Second, lodge officers are planning to win the lodge opening and closing ceremony contest sponsored by the Scottish Rite. Further details will follow!
Sincerely,
W. Kirby Burnett, WM
Greetings from the West – Let us meet upon the
level
Brethren:
With the upcoming degree and my recent birthday, I’ve come to think about the twenty-four inch gauge and what it means to me. Time. There is a time for work, a time for rest, and a time for our spirituality, service to our family, and mankind.
The operative mason used the gauge for several purposes such as to assure that the ashlar was the perfect length, the perfect width, and that it was truly square. If it were not perfect in all aspects he would toss it on the rubbish pile.
For the Speculative Mason, the symbolic gauge reminds us of how we spend our time. Time for the Speculative Mason is special indeed. Aristotle's definition of "time" is "the measure of motion according to the before and after." What this means is that "time" is a way of describing change (not something that "exists" in its own right). That brings us to the “present”, to this very moment when you are reading this message. I know that I’ve had many wasted moments and I think of the “rubbish” that could have been perfect ashlar, if only I had spent my time more wisely. Of course there are, and were, many times when the time that I “used” was well spent. My last two comments have to do with, as Aristotle put it, what came “before”, what has passed. Generally there is little that can be done about the past. At least there is nothing that can be done to change the past.
So, where can I put this most noble symbol to use in my life? It’s simple, yet many times so very difficult. One can take action, yes, action, to help a worthy brother, or to go to a loved-one who has a heavy burden, or to simply stop for a moment and lift someone up in prayer to the Great Architect of the Universe. As we work on that temple not made with hands, let’s be reminded of the ashlar (moments of opportunity) in our lives. Let us not fret about the past, but build in the present, for the future; especially considering our relationships with others.
How much time do we have? The only thing that we know for sure is that we are here at this very moment and we can make a difference. I don’t know about you, but I’m checking my 24 inch gauge right now …. no more rubbish permitted!
“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
Tidings
from the South:
Greetings Brothers,
I hope that everyone enjoyed his summer break. Fall is fast approaching, and it is time to resume our labors. We will be having a First Degree at our business meeting in September. I will enjoy seeing all of you there for the work. I hope to be introducing some brothers from the great state of Georgia who made me feel welcome on a recent visit to their lodge in Augusta, GA.
There are some changes that happened during our break that I would like to bring to your attention. As many of you know, I was elected for 2004 to be the Treasurer of the 18th Masonic District’s Masters and Wardens Club. This body is made up of the elected members of each lodge in the 18th district. It has now undergone a major change! It has changed its constitution and name to reflect this change. It will now be known as the Square and Compass club. Membership is open to all, but voting membership is now open to all elected and appointed officers. This effectively more than triples the voting membership. The Square and Compass club meets on the second Wednesday of every month. We eat at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting commences promptly at 7:30. If you would like to attend our next meeting, please feel free to contact me and I will gladly help you. There is always good fellowship to be found, and your presence will only greatly enhance.
I look forward to seeing you at the business meeting and degree work.
Sincerely, and fraternally,
Chris Grantham
Junior Warden