February 2006 Plumbline, Walden Lodge No. 274
Tidings from the East
Greetings Brothers,
It is my pleasure to bring you tidings and fraternal greetings and hope for a blessed new year.
You have honored me by selecting me to lead the lodge for the ensuing year. As we prepare to celebrate the coming new year and bid the old goodbye, I thought it appropriate to share some thoughts with you and show you a little insight into where I would like to lead us during my time in the east.
Our fraternity’s roots run deep and it’s branches reach far and wide. No other organization can claim to be as global and yet be focused on the local. Lodges grow and take their members from a local community. The villages, towns and cities throughout the United States contain one or more lodges. They all, from the largest to the most small all operate similarly.
Charity is the cornerstone of all lodges. Because we are community-focused, it is here that the bulk of our charity goes. This was the way the founding fathers viewed not only the role, but also the scope of the government they sought to leave as their legacy. Their vision of government instilled in the documents that forged this great nation was one of community, city, state, then federal. This idea was one whereby the community took care of its own with minimal interference by state or national bodies. The care of those unable to care for themselves flowed through the local churches, and yes lodges, first and foremost. It is here that I want to base my year. Not on ideals of anything larger than the community from whom we draw our membership.
To that end I will endeavor to work throughout the year. To accomplish this I intend to begin at the end. I know that sounds contradictory so please bear with me. I will begin by tasking our charity and Christmas committees to work closely together. They will meet and identify no less than one family who cannot afford to celebrate Christmas in 2006. It will then be our job to provide that Christmas for them. They will provide the budget required, along with the requirements needed from the lodge. This will not take the place of our yearly contributions to the widows of the lodge. This family may be Masonic, however we will also be looking outside the fraternity for a deserving family.
My fondest hope is not to provide Christmas for one family less fortunate. I hope to provide it to several families and start a new tradition, continuing year after year. The greatest gift I could give would be a legacy of giving.
In closing, I would like to again give you my thanks. I look forward to seeing you all at our next communication and meeting with you, on the level.
Sincerely, and fraternally,
Chris Grantham
Worshipful Master
“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety” – Benjamin Franklin
Tidings from the West
The New Year has arrived, ready or not. This is a good time to look at how we used our time last year, to the benefit of ourselves and family, and as a mason. Did you give enough time to your family, provide for them and make them feel loved? Did you give enough time to your Lodge and Brothers of the craft, as we are your family too?
I look forward to assisting the Worshipful Master in having a successful term in office. I know that Bro Chris would enjoy the support and attendance of all who could help and attend. Come and support your Lodge and wish the Worshipful a successful year.
I look forward to serving Walden Lodge.
Fraternally,
Henry H. "Chick" Davis, Senior Warden
Tidings from the
South
My Brothers,
I want to thank you for the wonderful turn-out to our first communication of 2006. It was great to see everybody. Kudos to Worshipful Brother Jack Grady on an excellent meal. He has set the bar high, and I will have my work cut for me, to try to maintain this standard. For those of you who could not be present at the meeting, not only did you miss a good meal but, Worshipful Brother Charles Pridmore, did a fine job, with a touching memorial service, remembering our brothers who are no longer with us.
With regards to our Worshipful Master’s request to focus on charity this year, I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes.
Sincerely yours
Bernie Wilber
Junior Warden
This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. - George Bernard Shaw