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From The East
Richard Segel
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From the East,
Greetings from the Oriental Chair. I hope your spring has been a joyous one. I always think of that old song this time of year:
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"Tho' April Showers
May come your way...
They bring the flowers,
that bloom in May
So let the rain bring no regret,
because it ain't rain you know,
It's raining violets"
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For all of those who were able to attend, I hope you enjoyed what was very likely our last Masonic Night At the Races at Bay Meadows.
(I grew up here in San Mateo, so I'm sad to see it go. guess we'll just have to carpool to Golden Gate Fields?)
I would also like to thank all of you who participated in our Rebuilding Together project this year. It was a great example of Masonic charity and community outreach.
Our stated meeting in May will be held on May 1st (Cinco de Mayo theme -- TACO BAR!), followed by our Public schools Night event. Mr. Teshara of San Mateo Adult Education will be in attendance along with students who have benefitted from our scholarship program.
Stated meeting for June will be on June 5th. In keeping with the upcoming summer, it will be BBQ, hot dogs and hamburgers.
Congratulations are extended to Brothers Shane Roberts and Moe Lofty on being raised to the Master Mason degree. They have been serving as our Senior and Junior Stewards, and now may be installed as such. Thank you for your efforts and spirit of volunteerism. We are also looking forward to some new Entered Apprentice degrees to be coming in the next few months.
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In America, historically, many towns and cities had their street grid laid out according to the principles of Sacred Geometry. This was often the work of our Masonic brethren.
The purpose was to subtly inculturate Masonic principles, virtues and harmonies into everyday life.
In many communities this was accomplished by a simple alighnment of the road grid along an east-west/north-south axis. Often, the Masonic temple was aligned with churches, civic buildings, City Hall, schools, courthouses, etc. Many times, the Temple would be in the northwest corner of the town square aligning to the point where the Winter Solstice sun first shines its light at sunrise. In our ritual, every candidate stands in that corresponding location in the lodge room after he has completed his Entered Apprentice degree.
The northwest corner is also the location that the first stone (cornerstone) was laid in the construction of churches, cathedrals, temples and civic buildings by operative masons, traditionally.
This aligns the structure and the spirit of the building -- or the individual with the sacred, to which we aspire; one of the goals of our ancient and honorable institution.
Richard H. Segel
Master
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From The West
Tom Barth, P.M.
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Brethren,
First of all, I would like to congratulate our newest Master Masons Shane Roberts and Moe Lofty. They will be joining the officers line as Senior and Junior Stewards and will be installed at the May Stated Meeting.
We will be having at least two first degrees in June with more degrees likely after our July break. Come down and see a degree soon!
As some of you may be aware, Grand Lodge records have not been completely up to date and some of our member information is out of date, missing or incorrect. They have made your information available on-line by way of a program called IMember (secure of course!) so that each Lodge can keep records current. If you suspect that you may be one who falls into this group, please contact me by email at barth.t@rcn.com. Please send your current address, phone number(s) and the dates of your degrees if you know them.
I will look up your records and be back in contact with you to verify if your information is correct. I corrected my records a few months ago as they were seriously out of date, and I have once again started to receive regular mailings from them, so I believe it works!
Fraternally,
Thomas Barth, P.M.. Sr. Warden
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