Brethren,
On Saturday, February 11, Harmony Lodge No. 22, A.F.M. sponsored its fifth annual Valentine’s Day dinner. The Lodge was decorated and the event organized by Darlene Dopson and her sister, Grace Laughlin and Sandy Spears. These ladies spent their time and effort sweeping, mopping and generally beautifying our lodge in anticipation of a most delightful and socially satisfying party. We all owe them a heart-felt gesture of gratitude and appreciation!
In the absence of our Worshipful Master, Paul Griffin, who was attending his 40-year high school reunion, I was called upon to serve as Master of Ceremonies and I read a little history of the two Saints Valentine whose unfortunate fates have come down to us as the original reason for the season.
The menu was prepared and served by our Master Chef, Christian Sherbert with the assistance of our Steward, Larry Morales. The char broiled rib eye steak (or was it prime rib?) was superb. There were separate tables for salad, baked potatoes with fixings and a dessert table with a chocolate dip for strawberries, apples, grapes and other delicacies.
Darlene Dopson set up a Newlywed Game for four couples and prizes of coffee and chocolate baskets were awarded for the winners. A drawing was held for the door prize, which was a heart-shaped Le Creuset casserole. It was a lot of fun!
What is the Regius Poem?
Sometimes called the Halliwell Document, it is, loosely speaking, the oldest of the Manuscript Constitutions of Freemasonry. Dated approximately A.D. 1390, it is in old Chaucerian English, difficult to read without a translation. It is preserved in the British Museum.
It is not, accurately speaking, a Constitution, although it has within it much that is found in manuscripts. It is more a document about Masonry than for Masons. It is discursive, rambling, wordy and parts of it are copies of contemporary documents, notably Urbanitatis and Instructions to a Parish Priest. Within the Regius, thirty-eight lines are devoted to The Four Crowned Martyrs, who are not referred to in any of the manuscript Constitutions.
The book is approximately four by five and one-half inches, the pages fine vellum, the letters in red and what was probably once black but is now a rather drab greenish brown color.
Its most curious feature is that it is written in verse, which is why it is often called the Regius Poem, although it is much more doggerel than poetry.
It is important to Masonic students for many reasons; to the average Mason its most salient feature may be that it ends with what are, so far as is known, the oldest words in the Masonic ritual.
Why do we use "So mote it be" instead of "Amen?"
“So Mote It Be” are the final words in the Regius Poem. “Mote” is old English for “may.” Masons have used the phrase since the beginning of the written history of the Craft. Freemasonry includes many other words, now obsolete, which bring the sanctity of age and the continuity of ritual from ancient days to modern times. [One Hundred One Questions About Freemasonry, #6, The Masonic Service Association, 2003]
On Thursday, February 9, the officers of Harmony Lodge No. 22, A.F.M. were able to don their dark suits and gather in harmonious congregation to have their picture taken. Our Worshipful Master, Paul Griffin, provided the Sony camera, smaller than a pack of cigarettes! It just goes to show how advanced our technology has become, doesn’t it?
It’s almost that time of the year when we celebrate the “Loves” in our lives: our wives, mothers, daughters, sisters; our husbands, fathers, sons and brothers, and those friends who are so very important to us. Please join the Men of Harmony Lodge 22 and the Members of Beaufort Order of the Eastern Star on February 11 at 6:30 for a wonderful evening of dining and celebrating Valentine’s Day. We celebrate those wonderful “Loves” that are present with us as well as those who have left us for a more wonderful “Love.”
From the Field
I’m in Okinawa; on Okinawa rather. I was home in December but just missed the meeting, as I landed that night at 2200. I recently graduated Career Course at the Staff Noncommissioned Officer’s Academy. 
I learned a lot, and did well, receiving a plaque with a Ka-bar knife on it as the “Gung-Ho” award. Aside from that, there’s not much new. My fiancée and I are still doing well and have set a date for our wedding. As of right now we’re shooting for November 2, 2013. I miss all the brothers and attending meetings. I’ll be back one day though, that’s for sure.
- Respectfully
- SSgt Michael Liberty
- 3rd MLG Ammo Chief
- DSN (315)637-2118
- CELL 080-4144-2077
Something for Everyone
Beginning with the month of March, the books on the shelves in the dining room will be available for lending. All that is required is that you request a book from the Lodge Librarian (who is also your Senior Warden and Newsletter Editor) and put down your name and phone number on the book card, which will be kept in the Lodge until the book is returned. Each book is available for one month to any Brother who is interested in expanding his reading horizons.
Many of the Lodge Library books are quite old and rather delicate, but this is no reason they should just sit on the shelf and not be read by the Brethren. Some of the authors represented in the collection are Claudy, Clausen, Coil, Cornwell, Gould, Hutchens, Mackey and Pike. There are several others, of course. Anyone interested in masonic research would do well to consider perusing the collection of the Harmony Lodge Library.
Fraternally,
Howard R. Harris
Senior Warden & NewsLetter Editor
Brethren, ,
Harmony Lodge is off to a great start this year! We have already initiated one, and have four new, petitions waiting for committee assignment this month. Come out and help us with these new candidates; we could use it! The work being done by our Worshipful Master and Officers is excellent and very enjoyable to watch.
We are anticipating the need to replace one or both of our HVAC units in the immediate future. We have requested bids from various service providers and will be reviewing them as they are available to us. This will present a financial burden for us for a period of time.
I hope everyone is enjoying the mild winter we have had and looking forward to being active in our Lodge activities this spring.
Please join us at our next communication.
Respectfully and Fraternally,
Kevin V. Ennis, PDDGM
Secretary
Brethren,
It is that time of year again, when the grass starts turning green and we prepare that special meal that Brother Sonny Gay enjoys so much: apricot-glazed corned beef. This, along with a cabbage side dish, fresh salad and bread will be the fare for our next regular communication this coming March 8th. I hope you can all attend and make a point to bring a brother whom you know has not been to the Lodge in a while. Call him and make plans to pick him up and bring him with you.
Our Junior Deacon, Brother Aaron Stephens and our Steward, Brother Larry Morales, who have been earning their EA Degrees in Kitchen Masonry this Winter, are about to graduate to the Degree of Kitchen Fellow Craft and start planning some meals of their own for the Lodge. Let’s offer them continued encouragement.
In a recent article I read, I discovered a tidbit I thought was interesting. In England in the 1400s, under the reign of King Edward III, local governments grew out of the merchant and craft guilds of the towns. The guilds had lots of money and property, as well as organizational and administrative experience. Heads of the guilds became heads of town councils, mayors, sheriffs and more. One of the ways a local official proclaimed his rank was by wearing a badge of office, or jewel on a chain around his neck. This practice survives today. Masonic lodges do the same thing to identify their officers, carrying over this old guild tradition.
Fraternally,
Christian Sherbert
Junior Warden
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 March 2012.
(A copy in Adobe PDF form is here for easy printing and reading) PUT THIS CALENDAR ON YOUR REFRIGERATOR AS A REMINDER.
Wit & Wisdom
“Doubt is thought and thought is life. Systems which end doubt are devices for drugging thought.”
-- Albert Guerard
“An ambassador is an honest man sent to lie abroad for his country.”
-- Henry Wotton
“One is always at home in one’s past.”
-- Vladimir Nabokov
“I do not believe that friends are necessarily the people you like the best, they are merely the people who got there first.”
-- Peter Ustinov
“You will know your enemies because they’re the ones that interfere with the work.”
-- Bette Davis
“Success isn’t permanent and failure isn’t fatal.”
-- Mike Ditka
“A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past; he is one who is prematurely disappointed in the future.”
-- Sydney J. Harris
“The secret of a good life is honesty and fair dealing; if you can fake that, you’ve got it made.”
-- Groucho Marx
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Brothers, Happy Birthday to you!
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03.29 David
William Bair
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03.02 Mark
"J" Henderson
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03.25 Larry
Ashby Bradham
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03.26 Ralph
Stuart Kaney
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03.21 Rudolph
Arnold Branton
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03.14 Wronnie
Laundqueiest Myers
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03.16 Harold
Chapman, Jr.
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03.14 Clinton
Arthur Porter
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03.15 Richard
Aldan Clark
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03.05 Christian
Everette Sherbert
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03.21 Norman
Francis (Sonny) Gay
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03.21 Dan
H. Thompson
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03.18 James
Ryan Gilchrist
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03.28 Willard
Growin Tuten
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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.
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.
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).
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