Harmony Lodge, # 22, A.F.M.

Paul S. Griffin, WM

Dear Brothers of Harmony Lodge,

The Festival of St. John the Evangelist is rapidly approaching, which signals the end of the Masonic year. As I write to you for the last time as the Master of Harmony Lodge, I can say without a doubt that it has been a truly meaningful experience, and I have learned much from it. For me, it has been both a both a challenging and a rewarding year.

The biggest challenge was the replacement of the HVAC units. This much needed improvement to the physical plant was long overdue and caused us several less-than-comfortable communications. Ironically, this challenge also provided an important reward. The response to the financial demands of this project proved quite fruitful and we were able to get the job done. Through this project, I learned that Masonry, and Harmony Lodge in particular, are still very important to many of you. Brothers who are no longer active made contributions. Brothers who no longer live in the Beaufort area, some as far away as Colorado, Nevada and Missouri, made donations. We came together in a spirit of brotherhood and achieved our objective.

Other challenges were of a more routine nature. Whether it was finding a substitute for an absent officer at a communication or ensuring that all the roles were filled in the various degree work, it seemed as if there was always some small hitch. Again the spirit of brotherhood prevailed and these difficulties were overcome. I was rewarded with brothers from Harmony and other lodges in the district who gladly filled those roles when asked to do so. To all of you who answered this call, please know that I appreciate it.

There are so many of you to thank for making my term in office an enjoyable one. I am hesitant to single out particular individuals for fear of omitting someone, but I would be remiss if I did not mention some of you. Thanks to the 2012 officers for working so well with me, to WB David Spears, PM for getting me off to a good start as my coach, to RWB Kevin Ennis, PDDGM and RWB Chuck Weickhardt for their guidance and support, to RWB Joe Giunta, PDDGM for lecturing whenever I asked, and to all my brothers for extending to me the fellowship of the Masonic fraternity.

In closing, I am looking forward to serving the Lodge next year as secretary with the confidence that the spirit of brotherhood will overcome any challenges that may arise. Having had the opportunity to serve you as the Master of Harmony Lodge #22 this past year has been my honor and privilege. I know that this sounds a bit cliché, but it is the truth! May God bless each of you with a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Fraternally,

Paul S. Griffin

Worshipful Master

Brethren, ,

As we look forward to the New Year and its promises of peace both here and abroad, I wish to thank you all for your trust and confidence in my abilities as a Mason to have placed me in the East by your ballot. Several individual brothers have figured most prominently in my progress through the chairs of Harmony Lodge 22 and to these brethren I owe a great debt of gratitude and obligation.

It is most unfortunate that these particular brethren were unable to attend my installation due to illness and infirmity; no one can guess the vicissitudes of Fate or the mysteries of the plans of the Great Architect of the Universe! Our trust being in God and our faith that all events work toward His Will, we pray that our good brethren will return to us improved in body and spirit so that they may share in the brotherly love and fellowship of their Mother Lodge.

During my voyage through the chairs, I have picked up on a number of ailments suffered by Harmony itself, which I would like to address in this first letter of the New Year. They are several, although not many, and I will not bore the reader with endless details; however, to name but a few, we have cracked window panes to be replaced and a fire escape door in need of repair, as these wounds tend to leak heat during the winter and cool air during the summer and are harmful to the prestige and dignity due a Masonic Lodge. It is my first wish to have the warped fire escape door repaired and made proof against air leakage and the cracked window panes replaced. In addition, so that we may feel safe against the horrible event of a fire, the fire escape figures prominently in my plans for improvement. At present, it is a laughing stock at best and a dangerous construct at worst. I don’t believe these repairs and replacements will cost a prohibitive amount of money and I will make these motions at our next regular communication if time permits.

The first degree work of the year will be the raising of Matthew Eric Simpson to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on Saturday, January 19. This will be a morning ritual; breakfast to be served at 0800 and the gavel falling at 0900. All Masters, Past Masters and Master Masons are invited to attend. It would be very much appreciated, when planning to attend, if you would be kind enough to let me know, by phone or email. In this way, a more accurate judgment can be made of the amount of food needed. Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Fraternally,

Howard R. Harris

Worshipful Master-Elect

---

Brethren, ,

Belated happy holidays. 2012 was an exciting and wonderful year in the South and I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to have served Harmony Lodge as Junior Warden.

We accomplished many things in 2012: numerous successful degrees; a deep cleaning of the lodge; an excellent “Night on the Town”; a meaningful Inspirational meeting; a successful awards luncheon; and the development and growth of several new young master masons in Harmony Lodge. We have a lot to look forward to in 2013 and hopefully we will see all of the old faces on hand, as well as many new ones.

I am most appreciative and flattered that the lodge has voted for me to move to the West. I am looking forward to another wonderful year serving our lodge in masonry. As a side note, I am running short of culinary options. Please email me a list of your favorites or new suggestions that you would like to see in 2013. My email address christian@islandreality.info

Fraternally,

Christian E. Sherbert

Senior Warden

Something for Everyone

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 a box or under something else. We have Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite, York Rite and Eastern Star paraphernalia. Prices, unfortunately, reflect current inflationary trends.

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,

Is there a distinction between Masonic oath and Masonic obligation?

The oath is the “So help me, God” at the end of any solemn promise made with hand upon the Book of the Law. The obligation is the substance of the preceding promises. Oath is thus symbolical of man’s fear of God; obligation signifies the promises and agreements made preceding the oath.

What Masonic penalties are enforced?

The only penalties known to Freemasonry are reprimand; definite suspension from membership; indefinite suspension from membership; and expulsion from the Fraternity. To these must be added that intangible penalty which comes to any one who loses all or any part of his reputation. Other penalties suggested in the ritual are wholly symbolic – are not now and never have been enforced. They were legal punishments in the middle ages, designed with special reference to the religious beliefs of the time that an incomplete body could not “rise from the dead”; that a body buried in unconsecrated ground (as between high and low water mark) could not ascend into heaven. Some Grand Lodges offer an interpretation of the ritualistic penalties, in order to be sure the initiate understands the symbolic character of these otherwise difficult phrases.

Why does the ritual use so many repetitions, as in “duly and truly,” “worthy and well-qualified,” etc.?

Several word-pairs in Masonic ritual make interesting studies: “duly and truly,” “worthy and well-qualified,” “free will and accord,” “parts and points,” “hele and conceal.” At first glance it may seem that these are so arranged only for emphasis. In the Middle Ages, writing, especially in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, when Freemasonry was in the process of formation, England had two languages. One was Norman-French, the other Anglo-Saxon. To make sure of understanding, word pairs were much in use, a word of similar meaning being taken from each language.

The apparent redundancy of expression in a number of places in Masonic ritual may be traced back to these Middle Age usages. The perpetuation of such usage now, when clarity of thought and understanding might be served as well with one word, is one of many proofs that Freemasonry delights to cling to the ancient and venerated because it is venerated and ancient. [One Hundred One Questions About Freemasonry, The Masonic Service Association, 2003]

Words of Work

Allusion: noun. A passing or casual reference; an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication. An allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events, literary works, myths or works of art, either directly or indirectly.

Allude: verb (used without object), al-lud-ed, al-lud-ing. To refer casually or indirectly; make an allusion. To make an indirect reference.

Hail: verb (used with object) 1. To cheer, salute, or greet; welcome. 2. To acclaim; approve enthusiastically.

Hale: adjective, hal-er, hal-est. Free from disease or infirmity; robust; vigorous: hale and hearty men in the prime of life.

Hele: verb. To hide; to cover; to roof. Hide and hele things. – Chaucer.

Which one of these do you think we mean: hail, hale or hele?

Fraternally,

Howard R. Harris

NewsLetter Editor

---

Brethren, ,

As a 32nd degree Mason of over twenty-five years and a multi-generation Mason, it was never, nor will it ever be, my ambition to be other than a Brother of the Lodge. To serve as Junior Warden of old, historic Harmony 22 is an honor and, under the circumstances, an obligation; however, I do not plan to advance any further in the chairs. It is ironic that a 17th generation South Carolinian was raised in a Blue Lodge in Pennsylvania; the experience of having been exposed to the two oldest and probably the two greatest Grand Lodges in America has proved to me that we belong to the greatest fraternal organization in the world. We should all forever recognize that our first obligation is to God Almighty, our country, in my case my state and my family, all of which come first. The Masonic Order is a wonderful reminder of all of our moral obligations which are reinforced when we recognize the Great Light in our meetings.

We all have an obligation to give something back for the blessings we receive from God and our country. I have served my country. At this juncture, as Chairman of Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees and as a member of The Board of Visitors at Thornwell Home for Children in Clinton, S.C., these take priority over all other obligations, outside of God and my family. The life of a Mason fits quite well into those priorities.

It is not original with me, but in this World there are only two kinds of people, givers and takers. Masons should be givers one and all. Regardless of our so-called rank in the Lodge, if any of us thinks it is about us as individuals we would be very foolish and really miss the mark. The greatest leaders I have ever known were humble leaders. As officers of the Lodge, we serve, period.

Fraternally,

Elias Whilden (Bill) Nettles, IIII

Junior Warden

---

Fraternal Greetings Brothers, ,

I hope each and every Brother has a safe and joyous holiday season and I wish you the best for the coming year. 2012 was a good year for Harmony Lodge and I look forward to 2013.

I would like to welcome Worshipful Brother Paul Griffin, PM to the Secretary’s Chair. I am confident that he will do an excellent job and will serve Harmony well as Secretary. Let’s try to make his job easier by getting our dues paid in a timely manner. Dues for 2013 are $65.25 and are due. Please submit them if you have not already done so.

The Secretary’s job can be quite consuming at times and he will need your assistance. I plan to assist him in the background and will be performing some of the duties for a time until he is ready to take over entirely.

The new Officers are already practicing to perfect their work. It is good to see the eagerness of these officers wanting to do their best for Harmony. 2013 is already looking to be busy. Our Worshipful Master already has two degrees to perform in January. A Master Mason’s degree and an Entered Apprentice Degree for four candidates!

Way to go Howard!

Please join us for our Regular or Special Communications and consider getting involved with coaching or lectures. Your involvement is critical to the health of Harmony Lodge. We need your support and presence.

Fraternally,

Kevin V. Ennis, PDDGM

---

Note: Your newsletter editor needs your correct/updated email address; please send it to him at 843-524-0981 (home) or 843-441-8317 (mobile) or howardharris@hargray.com.

---

From Home Page WEB Manager

Dear Brethern,

Here is the calendar for January 2013.

(A copy in Adobe PDF form is here for easy printing and reading) PUT THIS CALENDAR ON YOUR REFRIGERATOR AS A REMINDER.

---

Wit & Wisdom

“Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.”

-- Benedict Spinoza

“Of all duties, prayer certainly is the sweetest and most easy.”

-- Laurence Sterne

“The great secret of doctors, known only to their wives, but still hidden from the public, is that most things get better by themselves; most things, in fact, are better in the morning.”

-- Lewis Thomas

“A nation should be just as full of conflict as it can contain.”

-- Robert Frost

“If you attack the establishment long enough and hard enough, they will make you a member of it.”

-- Art Buchwald

“Buy land. They don’t make it any more.”

-- Mark Twain

“The mystery of government is not how Washington works but how to make it stop.”

-- P.J. O'Rourke

“The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for those who want to rule it.”

-- H.L. Mechken

“If you don’t learn to laugh at troubles, you won’t have anything to laugh at when you grow old.”

-- Edward W. Howe

“Faced with the choice between changing one’s mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof.”

-- John Kenneth Galbraith

“Two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind/we feel for what we take; the larger kind/we feel for what we give.”

-- Edwin Arlington Robinson

---

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Brothers, Happy Birthday to you!

12.01 Craig Bernard Dopson	01.14 Jamie Xavier Martinez
01.02 Harry Carroll Mathhews III	01.15 Billy Frank Johnson Jr.
01.05 Richard Eugene Roper	01.17 Robert Bruce Thompson
01.06 Royce Conard Chavis	01.22 Roger D. Kinzer
01.10 Charles Lynn Pochie	01.24 Robert Van Pinkston, Sr.
01.11 Matthew EEric Simpson	01.25 Lewis Hicks Wright
01.13 Phillip Randolph Caulder	01.27 Robert Rudolph Cooper, Jr.

---

Education WEB page information links is always "under construction", there is so much available for us to learn.

Pictures WEB page is always..."under construction" as we add new pictures.

The Library WEB page is also always..."under construction" as we add new books.

---

South Carolina Grand Lodge Official Web Site.

South Carolina Masonic Research Society Official Web Site.

Harmony Lodge history, 1756 to 1983.

Update to Harmony Lodge history from 1983 to 2000.

Most current Update to Harmony Lodge history from 1984 to 2009. - Under construction

Masonic information, "What's A Mason?"

---

Trestleboard Articles and Lodge News Letters 2012.

December 2012 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

November 2012 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

October 2012 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

September 2012 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

August 2012 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

July 2012 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.(Undergoing temp maintenance.)

June 2012 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

May 2012 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

April 2012 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

March 2012 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

February 2012 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

January 2012 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

---

Trestleboard Articles and Lodge News Letters 2011.

December 2011 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

November 2011 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

October 2011 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

September 2011 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

August 2011 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

July 2011 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

June 2011 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

May 2011 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

April 2011 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

March 2011 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

February 2011 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

January 2011 Harmony Masonic Lodge No.22 A.F.M. News Letter.

Trestleboard Articles and Lodge News Letters 2010

Trestleboard Articles for 2010.

Trestleboard Articles and Lodge News Letters 2009

Trestleboard Articles for 2009.

Trestleboard Articles and Lodge News Letters 2008

Trestleboard Articles for 2008.

Trestleboard Articles and Lodge News Letters 2007

Trestleboard Articles for 2007.

Trestleboard Articles and Lodge News Letters 2006

Trestleboard Articles for 2006.

Trestleboard Articles and Lodge News Letters 2005

Trestleboard Articles for 2005.

Trestleboard Articles and Lodge News Letters 2004

Trestleboard Articles for 2004.

Trestleboard and Lodge News Letters 2003

Trestleboard Articles for 2003.

Trestleboard Articles 2002

Trestleboard Articles for 2002.

Trestleboard Articles 2001

Trestleboard Articles for 2001.

Trestleboard Articles 2000

Trestleboard Articles for 2000.

---

Dear Brethren,

Harmony Lodge By-Laws "are under construction" and are formated for WEB page presentation only. For an EXACT copy as published and approved by the Grand Lodge, please read the "By-Laws" in Adobe PDF format that you can print from the following link:

Here is the exact By-Laws in .PDF format.

(A copy in Adobe PDF form is here for easy printing and reading).

---

Masonic Paraphernalia

Display your pride in membership in the Masonic fraternity and Harmony Lodge.

---

South Carolina Masonic WEB Site rules.

---

To E-mail the Harmony Lodge HomePage WEB Manager.

Copyright © 2000-2012 [Harmony Lodge, A.F.M.]. All pages of this website. All rights reserved.