Last night, after a couple of delays earlier in the year, our good friend, Gustavo Ramirez was finally initiated into the craft of ancient Freemasonry. Forevermore he will no longer be Mr. Ramirez to us, but instead Brother Ramirez. 
It was a particularly hot day and the early evening wasn’t getting much more lenient, so the Brethren opted to work in shirtsleeves for the night – except our new brother, who evidently didn’t seem to mind sweating it in his 3-piece ensemble. Also it being the night before the summer solstice, quite a few regular Friendship brothers were away on family vacations and couldn’t attend. This turned out to be a blessing of sorts: giving our newest Master Masons and our youngest Entered Apprentice Mason a prime opportunity to step up – and indeed they did.
Brothers Quinn and Patrick (AKA Romulus and Remus) sat as Chaplain and Junior Steward for their first time and executed their duties with aplomb. WB Bob Casey presented Gustavo with his lambskin apron and delivered a moving apron lecture. Our Senior Warden, Bro. Chris Chase conferred the degree, while the Worshipful Master delivered the Entered Apprentice Degree lecture (a personal favorite of WB Lee’s). All around it was an exemplary degree – precisely what our new Brother, Gustavo deserved.
After closing lodge the brothers all moved up to the dining hall for refreshments and libations, and the opportunity to toast Gustavo and impart some words of wisdom and encouragement. Gustavo himself spoke for some time about the experiences he had, his enthusiasm for all that lies ahead of him, and how safe and at home he feels among the Brothers of Friendship Masonic Lodge. A short time later several brothers stepped out to enjoy a cigar and the (now much cooler) evening air.
Gustavo started coming to Friendship Lodge events in 2017, while shopping around for the lodge he felt was the best fit for him. After the first few months he started to regularly attend our events – even calling the Worshipful Master to double check what the month’s agenda would be so that he could be sure to keep himself available.
An enterprising theatrical producer and actor, US Army veteran, and earnest and affable fellow; it’s fair to say we liked Gustavo from the start. But even still, Brother Ramirez’s was not the fastest or simplest path of entry, scheduling setbacks, work and life, and familial obligations are all things we must remember to properly prioritize – but time can drag on if we’re not careful. Ultimately Brother Gustavo’s patience and perseverance won the day and earned him a place in the oldest and noblest fraternity in the world.
The brethren of Friendship Masonic Lodge are delighted to have brought our friend and brother to light, and look forward to working alongside him in his Masonic journey.
