My what a big month May is! And Friendship Masonic Lodge has used all five weeks to the max. The month began with with the official visit of the Grand Master (which you can read about here, along with the comings and goings of the first couple weeks), but that all seems ages ago after all else that has happened.
Friends and Brethren all! May is set to be an exemplary month for Friendship Lodge! It’s not just every day we have the pleasure of hosting the Grand Master of Masons in Oregon. And so nine months ago when our Secretary asked me if I wanted the GM to visit I had only one word to answer – yes!
Friends and Brethren all! Ring in the new year with Friendship next Wednesday! We will be enjoying more of Bro. Eric Pease’s expert cookery with a menu of Swedish meatballs, fingerling potatoes and wilted greens. Our lecture for the evening will be delivered by none other than Bro. Kent Smith, who will be presenting his original research on the shifting meaning of “libertine”, and just what its implications should mean for the contemplative Mason.
This lecture will be part of our closed meeting, but both the supper and hours of refreshment and fellowship following the meeting are open. Feel free to stop on by and meet a Mason (or twelve).
When Friendship last met to celebrate the Feast of St. John the Evangelist I was struck by the notion that in a few short hours I would officially take on the mantle of Worshipful Master. Several times since the morning of the 28th I’ve had occasion to call a Brother or two and have always noticed their joyful use of my new title, Worshipful Brother. It’s a trip to make such an abrupt transition, but it is a challenge and an opportunity to serve which I treasure and look forward to, and I thank you all for your support. Every Master before me has given his successor a better set of cards than he himself was dealt, and WB Schuman continued that trend. Read More
Brothers, as those who’ve been closely involved over the past two years already know, our Immediate Past Master, WB Bob Casey, led us last year to approve a new bylaw barring exclusion of candidates or expulsion of members, on the basis of their sexual orientation. MWB Art Borland, IPGM, approved this bylaw in January of this year. Then, he reversed himself in May of this year, and ordered us to present a resolution to rescind this bylaw he previously approved. Various reasons for this reversal have been offered by various members of the Grand Lodge, and its Jurisprudence Committee. Read More
Brothers, we continue to grow! On June 21st, Patrick Reilly was brought to light as an Entered Apprentice Mason. And, we anticipate evaluating the proficiency of EA Quinn Haase at our July Stated Communication, with hope for a FC Degree on the Third Wednesday of July. We welcome all our Brothers to assist in the work of our Lodge. Should you require any help coming to Lodge for a Stated Meeting or Degree, please call our Secretary Jim Loennig at (541) 499-2953, and your Brothers will help coordinate transportation for you. Read More
Brothers, we are growing. On May 17th, Candidate Quinn Haase was brought to see the light by which a Lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons work. Welcome, Brother Quinn!