Brethren,
The first month of the year is behind us and my first Regular Communication is done. All seems to have gone as expected, that is, with a bit of blood, sweat and tears, to paraphrase Mr. Churchill. To quote my Treasurer, Johnny Harvey, PM, who tried successfully to put my anxiety to rest, “Howard, it’s just us.” Thanks, Johnny, it seems to have worked. From now on, it’ll just be sweat and tears!
In January’s newsletter, I spoke of our trust being in God and our faith that all events work toward His Will. We move forward with brothers Laurence Laughlin, PGJD, Craig Dopson, PM and Clayton Cooler, PM well on their way to recovery via rest and rehabilitation. Our prayers continue to go out to them and we hope that they will return to the bosom of their lodge in due course and in much improved health and well-being.
At least one of the wounds I spoke of has been healed! Brother Matthew Simpson, who will have been raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason (Saturday, January 19) has been generous with his spare time and has replaced four (4) broken panes of glass in the window frames nearest to the rear door of the lodge. Even though the lodge can certainly reimburse Brother Simpson for the cost of the materials, there seems no way we can sufficiently thank him for the time he had to take from his family and personal business to perform this task! Therefore, I trust that we will have had a good showing on his behalf for his degree work.
At the time of this writing (1/22/13), Brother Simpson is our newest Master Mason. He gave his proficiency with style and clarity; he was congratulated by many of his brothers and I received my share of congratulation as his coach and, I have to admit, in the manner in which I conducted my first degree work. A very heart-felt thank-you goes out to those brothers who responded to my general plea for assistance; they stepped up and played their parts in the work with practiced skill: Brother Joseph Giunta, PDDGM, delivered the Lecture; Brother Paul Griffin, PM, the Charge; Brother Fred Horton was the Wayfaring Man; Brother Terrell Altman, PDDGM, the Speaking Fellowcraft; Worship¬ful Brother Tim Shea of Port Royal 243, First Base; Worshipful Brother Joe Rutland, Second Base; Worshipful Brother Jack Jackson, Third Base; and our own Senior Warden, Christian Sherbert delivered the Working Tools Lecture. My brothers, you are all to be congratulated for your willingness and cheerful fraternal cooperation. I am in your debt!
THE LADIES OF THE LODGE WISH TO REMIND YOU THAT VALENTINE’S DAY IS COMING. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A BROTHER¬HOOD, MUCH OF THE ACTIVITY WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE WITHOUT THE WIFEHOOD. THE LADIES, THEREFORE, WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF EACH OTHER, SO BRING YOUR WIVES, SISTERS, AUNTS AND NIECES TO THE VALENTINE’S DAY PARTY ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16 AT 6:00 P.M.
Fraternally,
Paul S. Griffin
Worshipful Master
Something for Everone,
Advertise your fraternal affiliation proudly! The Harmony Lodge jewelry cabinet is OPEN FOR BUSINESS. From bumper stickers to lapel pins and anything in-between, all you have to do is ask your Senior Warden. Cash, check or money order, they’re all good (no plastic – sorry). If you don’t see it, ask and it shall be rendered unto you via catalog order or a quick look in the cabinet. We have Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite, York Rite and Eastern Star paraphernalia. Prices, unfortunately, reflect current inflationary trends. [Ed.]
Your Worshipful Master has just laid in a supply of bumper stickers which are proving very popular among the fraternity:“Real Men Wear Aprons.” The stickers include an apron graphic overlaid with the Square, Compasses and G all in blue. These bumper stickers sell for $5.00 and support the Low Country Masters & Wardens Club Scholarship Fund. Please see me to purchase your bumper sticker. Thank you for your support!
If you have not been observing your birthday celebrated on our Happy Birthday list near the end of this newsletter, please call or send me an email and I will include you in that list. Just the month and day; I don’t need the year. [Ed.]
Brethren,
Why has Symbolic Masonry three degrees only and not four or seven or a larger number, as have other branches of the Fraternity?
Three is the numerical symbol of the equilateral triangle, which is man’s earliest symbol for God. It was the “most sacred number” at the dawn of civilization. Masonry emphasizes it: three degrees, three circumambulations in the Third Degree, three Great Lights, three Lesser Lights, three steps on the Master’s Carpet, three Fellows who stood at the gates of the Temple, three who discovered the Master Workman, three principal rounds [rungs], three Grand Columns, etc.
Evidently, the ritual makers of an early age believed that there should be a symbolism of number as well as of object in the teaching of Masonry regarding the fatherhood of God, to instruct that He is present at all times in every ceremony and meeting. [One Hundred One Questions About Freemasonry, The Masonic Service Association, 2003]
Words of Work
Embargo: restriction, ban, prohibition, restraint, bar, stoppage, impediment.
Clefts: fissures, crevices,
cracks, gaps.
Tenets: creeds, doctrines, canons, beliefs, principles.
Tenants: occupants, renters, residents, lodgers,
boarders, leaseholders. Not a word used in the Work.
Vile: dreadful, despicable,
abhorrent, revolting, awful, contemptible,
abominable, hateful.
Impious: sinful, irreverent, wicked, immoral,
irreligious, ungodly.
Imprecate: curse, execrate, maledict, revile, call down.
Interment: burial, entombment,
committal.
Chaplain: minister,
vicar, priest, pastor, rabbi.
Chaplin: Surname of an internationally famous early 20th
century silent film comedian.
Fraternally,
Howard R. Harris
NewLetter Editor & WM