October 2005 Plumbline, Walden Lodge No. 274
Greetings from the East
My brothers all:
I am sure that those of you who attended our September Communication enjoyed the visit from our Deputy Grand Master, Gerald “Jerry” Carver and our District Deputy Grand Master William “Bill” Rogers. I haven’t missed a meeting in a long time; however, I was on my back with a virus all week and was unable to attend. Thanks and congratulations to Brother Senior Warden Chris Grantham for sitting in the East. Thanks also to Worshipful Brother Larry Crane for stepping in as Senior Warden and Worshipful Brother Croft Bradley for stepping in as Junior Warden. One thing about Walden, the cooperation and team effort is terrific.
Many of you remember Hurricane Hugo in 1989. The destruction was enormous for many communities in our great state of South Carolina. We received many dollars in assistance from other Grand Lodges. With the recent onslaught of Hurricane Katrina, our brethren in the Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi now need our help. The Grand Master, MW Bro. Ron Mitchum, has requested that each lodge do what it can to contribute generously to this cause. Please plan to attend our October communication meeting when we will discuss this topic. I have had the privilege of assisting on several occasions with the feeding of the New Orleans evacuees at the Greenville Palmetto Exposition Center. Many of those people still have not heard from other members of their families. Let’s keep those affected and others in support and rescue rolls in our prayers.
Thought for the month: A life of perfection? Hardly. This message isn’t about “how to be perfect”. If it were, someone else would be writing this. The idea that I want to put forward is that as Freemasons and through our education, we are in a unique position to understand how to act and behave as we continue on that road to perfect ourselves in Masonry. As I attended some York Rite work recently, I was reminded that our “work” should be good work, true work, and square work. I was also reminded that we put our “mark” on all of our work. As mere men, we many times fall short of perfection. Our mark is our name, our word, and our character. Our mark has to do with integrity. Others see our mark through our actions. Our mark shows up in many ways but more especially in how we support not only our brothers but also our fellow man in general. Charity and brotherly love make up for a lot of our imperfection. One of the duties of the Senior Warden is to pay the Craft their wages, if any be due. When that day comes and the Supreme Architect pays my wages, I hope that He will say that my work was good work, true work, and square work. Charity and Brotherly Love? I’ve got a lot of work to do and the good news is that there are opportunities each and every day. Charity. Brotherly Love.
Please don’t forget to visit Walden Lodge #274 on the internet. Our website can be found at: http://www.mastermason.com/walden274
“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, Worshipful Master
Tidings from the West
Greetings Brothers,
I am writing this article for the Plumb Line before departing on a ten day, two city trade show trip to Ft Worth, TX and Reno, NV.
Due to an illness to WB Sinclair, I moved up one chair at our last meeting and we received the Deputy Grand Master of South Carolina, RWB Gerald Carver and his party. Thanks to the hard work of our Senior and Junior Deacons, we did Walden proud. If you were not there you missed not only a great meal but also some wonderful fellowship. I’d also like to thank Worshipful Brothers Croft Bradley and Larry Crane for filling in at the last minute. Without your support my time on the “hot seat” would have been infinitely warmer!
My brothers, we are witnessing a seminal event in American history with the destruction wrought by Katrina. This will be a time of sorrow and unlooked for joy. Sorrow at the losses, and the unlooked for miracles that will rise from this catastrophe. We look forward to the day when we can hear the song “When the Saints Go Marching in” on Bourbon Street played loud and strong!
Brothers, I am honored to serve you this year as your Senior Warden and look forward to the coming months as I know they will pass quickly. I look forward to meeting with you “on the level”.
Sincerely, and fraternally
Chris Grantham
Senior Warden
From the
South:
Had the Junior Warden written an article, it would have appeared here.
Henry H. "Chick" Davis, Junior Warden