Newsletter 1

` THE TRESTLEBOARD Volume 6, Issue 12 Davy Crockett Lodge #1225 A.F. & A.M. June 2014

Visit us on the web at: www.davycrockettlodge.com

Stated Meeting 1st & 3rd Tuesdays; Practice 2nd & 4th Tuesdays and every Wednesday

From The East

Bradley Edward Kohanke

Worshipful Master

Well my Brothers, this will be my last column to you as

Worshipful Master. I have to tell you that this has been one

of the great honors of my life, and I must admit that I’m

feeling a little melancholy about my year in the East coming

to an end. Thank you all for the opportunity to serve. My

sincerest hope is that at some point, even if only for a

moment, I helped create a feeling of happiness among you

and a feeling of pride in Davy Crockett Lodge. Your

Officers have served you well, your Past Masters continue

to be the backbone of our Lodge, and the new members are

working diligently to emulate all of you. Thank you from

the bottom of my heart.

As has been the case all year, May was a very busy

and productive month. On May 3rd

we hosted the

“Community Builder Award” banquet and in conjunction

with Anchor, Nat Washer, and Perfect Union Lodges we

presented the award to Mr. Bart Sherwood, co-founder of

TADSAW (Train a Dog Save a Warrior) foundation. It was

a great night and he is a most deserving recipient. The first

Stated meeting of the month was our traditional “step-up”

night, and although I was not present, by all accounts

Brother Chris Dryzmala did an outstanding job as

Worshipful Master. Way to go Brother Chris! Then came

our Mothers’ Day Program. For those of you who missed it,

my former dear friend PM Chris Williams put together an

hilarious comedy skit involving all the Officers, including

yours truly dressed as “Big Mama.” Apparently my gown

stuffed with balloons and a fake keester must have made

quite the impression, considering the number of

propositions I received from the Brethren after the show.

On the 15th

, several of us were privileged to visit the home

of Brother Carl Dennis where we officially presented him

with his 50 Year Award. We were then treated to sweet

rolls, coffee, and a great conversation with Brother Dennis

and his wife. Also last month we conferred 5 more (yes

FIVE) Entered Apprentice Degrees, received another EA as

a transfer, and conferred a Fellowcraft Degree! For those of

you keeping track, that makes 11 EA’s working, 1 FC

working, and 1 MM working on their proficiencies…and

we have more EA’s coming in June!!! Finally, on May

29th

we were invited to the Senior Awards Night at KIPP

University Prep High School. Numerous awards were

handed out that night, but the honored last spot was

reserved for Davy Crockett Lodge. We were able to

surprise both an outstanding educator (Mr. Andrew

Walton), and an outstanding student (Miss Leslieann

DeLeon) by presenting them each with the “Mirabeau B.

Lamar Award of Excellence.” Miss DeLeon also

received a $1,000 scholarship from the Lodge. It was a

wonderful evening and Miss DeLeon’s parents were so

very proud and happy…they want me to convey to you

their sincerest thanks for our support and they send

blessings to you all.

Now just because it’s the last month of this

Masonic year, don’t think we’re gonna coast through the

finish line. We have at least 2, and maybe 3 more

Entered Apprentice Degrees to confer this month. Our

“Past Masters Banquet” and Ceremony is scheduled for

the evening of the 4th

. Then Elections and my farewell

program are scheduled for the 17th

…and that’s just the

stuff I know of right now! So come on out and help us

finish strong.

Once again, thank you all…I love each and every

one of you…and I wish you all “Safe Travels!” ******************************************

From the Secretary’s Desk Chris Williams

210-872-3291--- c-williams@sbcglobal.net

This is the last time I will ask for dues for a couple of

reasons….but on June 23rd

those who haven’t paid I will

unfortunately be forced to suspend their membership.

Please call me or e-mail me and let’s get this done and

let’s end this year on a positive note. We are getting

ready to end a great Masonic year and to begin a new

one. I hope all of you will attend the June 17th

Stated

meeting and participate in the Lodge elections and see

what the Worshipful Master has prepared for us. Please

offer your support and help to the newly elected officers

so that Davy Crockett can continue to move forward. As

always I look forward to seeing you in Lodge.

Newsletter 2

Light Reflected

A monthly “opinion” by

Brother Bradley Kohanke, 32

This month instead of an article, I’d like to share with you the text of

the speech made as we presented the “Mirabeau B. Lamar Award of

Excellence” at KIPP University Prep High School. There were only

four of us there, and I want each of you to know a little more about this

year’s winners and what was said on your behalf. I veered off script a

few times, but this is the gist of it.

Hello…my name is Bradley Kohanke and I am currently in

charge of the Davy Crockett Masonic Lodge here in San Antonio…just

down the street actually. Here with me today are Robert Cox,

Christopher Dryzmala, and Aaron Gonzalez.

You may wonder why the Masons are presenting an award

here today, so I would like to tell you just a few things about Masonry

before making the presentation. And, I will try not to talk too long.

The Masonic Fraternity has existed in Texas since before we

won our independence from Mexico. In fact, the official Charter for

the first Masonic Lodge in Texas was carried in Anson Jones’

saddlebags as he fought in the Battle of San Jacinto.

Many of the early Texas heroes were Masons – Sam Houston,

Anson Jones, Lorenzo De Zavala, Juan Seguin, Davy Crockett,

William Barrett Travis, and Antonio Navarro…just to name a few. All

of the Presidents of the Republic of Texas were Masons, and there

have been hundreds of other very famous men who were Masons, in

Texas and around the world. As a matter of fact, since we are meeting

on the property of Trinity Baptist Church, I’d like to also point out that

when the Texas Baptist Education Society petitioned the Republic of

Texas to build its first university, they named it after Robert E.B.

Baylor – another Mason. To this day, the Grand Lodge of Texas

makes its headquarters in Waco, Texas…near Baylor University. So

you can see, there have been quite a few fine men who have been

Masons, and chances are you probably know some yourself.

Masonry began in England in the days when the mighty

Cathedrals were being built. The craftsmen who designed and built

those magnificent buildings organized themselves into lodges, and

those ancient lodges were the beginnings of Masonry. The Fraternity

of Freemasonry still uses the tools of the old stone masons as symbols

in teaching its moral principles today. One reason is that although we

are no longer involved in the building of great stone Temples, we are

constantly working to improve ourselves…our minds and consciences

are now what we consider to be the REAL temples of God, and as such

we are constantly striving to improve our faith and behavior in the

world in which we live.

The object of Masonry is to help people become wiser, freer,

better, and consequently a happier society. It has always been the

belief of Freemasonry that an educated populace is the key to a free

society. As such, the Fraternity has long supported public education.

In the early days, most lodges were two-story buildings. The reason

was so that the lodge could meet on the second floor, while schools

and local churches were invited to meet on the ground floor. Many

lodges not only started public schools in their communities, but

actually paid the teachers’ salaries. Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second

President of the Republic of Texas was a Mason and is known as “The

Father of Public Education in Texas” because his work resulted in

Texas setting up a public school system. He also set aside land for the

establishment of two State Universities…known today as Texas A&M

University and the University of Texas. His quote, “The cultivated

mind is the guardian genius of Democracy,” is still the official motto

of the University of Texas. It is therefore fitting that the awards we

will be presenting today are called the “Mirabeau B. Lamar Award of

Excellence.”…………….. next….

Each year, Davy Crockett Lodge tries to identify an Educator and a

student who are outstanding achievers; who overcome personal

difficulties or hardships, and accept the challenge to excel and make

our communities, State, and Nation stronger. That is why we are

pleased to be here today to recognize:

- Mr. Andrew Walton; and Miss Leslieann DeLeon

Will each of you please join us.

Mr. Walton is well-respected by his peers, and well-loved by

his students. As a way of pointing out why he was selected to receive

one of this years’ Lamar Medals, I’d like to read a portion of the letter

nominating him:

Mr. Walton is one of our most committed and passionate

teachers. His classroom is always a joy to observe and is a constant

reminder of why we are in the business of student success. He

has inspired his students as well as his colleagues with his insatiable

desire to learn. He has several degrees and has recently been

accepted to Trinity's Master's of Educational Leadership. Mr. Walton

is a true believer in teaching the whole child. This is evident in the

countless hours he spends after school and on the weekends hosting

community service events and coaching the cross country team. He

genuinely possesses a servant heart for children and UPrep is blessed

to have him!

Congratulations and thank you, Mr. Walton! It is an honor to

present to you, the “Mirabeau B. Lamar Award of Excellence.”

Our student recipient, Miss Leslieann DeLeon, was one of

many students who were nominated. Each of these students was asked

to answer several questions and those answers were reviewed by the

faculty and staff. Although each student is very deserving, Miss

DeLeon’s responses rose above the rest and she was selected to receive

the 2014 Lamar Medal…which also includes a small scholarship to

aid in her continued education next year at Texas A&M University,

Corpus Christi.

In addition to maintaining and excellent grade point average,

Miss DeLeon participated in JROTC at Alamo Heights High School

where she was a Platoon Leader and held the rank of 2nd

Lieutenant.

Additionally, not only has she been working regularly at Chuck E.

Cheese, she has also been involved with Kym’s Kids since her

freshman year. Almost every weekend and holiday break they

participate in various community service events such as Habitat for

Humanity and SNIPSA, which is a group of dedicated and caring

individuals who help rehabilitate and find homes for unwanted animals

in San Antonio and the surrounding areas.

In response to the question about how Mirabeua B. Lamar and

the Masons of Texas have impacted her, she stated in part:

…if it wasn’t for this man’s perseverance and determination

to make a difference, I would not be as successful as I am today and I

would not have a chance to be even more successful in the future.

Miss DeLeon, it is indeed an honor to present you with the

2014 “Mirabeau B. Lamar Award of Excellence” and a check from the

members of Davy Crockett Lodge to aid in your continued education.

Congratulations and we wish you the best of luck in all your future

endeavors!

Newsletter 3

Upcoming Davy Crockett Light Brigade Programs

The Light Brigade is a Davy Crockett Committee charged

With the duty to present a program of Masonic Education

Or Masonic History at all Davy Crockett Stated Meetings.

Tuesday June 3rd

- The Program for this meeting will be “Davy Crockett…The

Lodge” presented by PM Chris Williams followed by a special feature. Don’t miss

this night!!

Tuesday June 17th

– The Program for this meeting will be “The Year in Review” by

our outgoing Worshipful Master Brad Kohanke. This will be his last Stated Meeting

he will preside over this year. We have a lot of stuff planned for this meeting so please

come and enjoy.

Tuesday July 1st – The Program for this meeting will be and introduction to the new

Masonic Year presented by Chris Drzymala our new Worshipful Master.

Tuesday July 15th

-- The Program for this meeting will be “A Deeper Look at the

Entered Apprentice Degree” presented by Brother Bruce Baker PM Perfect Union

Lodge #15

June Birthdays

Walt Hammons Chris Drzymala Baldamar Castro William Sharp Harry Greer

Larry Bracken Robert Swann Steven Hibdon Richard Gutierrez Sam Green

Bart Martinez John Watson Leslie Guilliams Eddie Bowers Herman Hoekstra

Robert Waggener John Root Art Reyna Thomas Lawhon David Kass

Dustin O’Neill Conan Cummings Olaf Emblem Chris White William Stern

Phil Applegate Harold Moore Richard Cardenas William Klein Richard Chetter

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHERS

Newsletter 4

Davy Crockett Lodge #1225 2013-2014 Lodge Activities Calendar

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June 3rd—Stated Meeting – Special Presentation

June 7th – Bring a Friend Program at Kingsbury Lodge 10AM

June 10th – Entered Apprentice Degree….Dinner 6:30

June 17th – Stated Meeting/ Lodge Elections

June 28th – Davy Crockett Installation ……..

Newsletter 5

Masonic Did You Know?

The Profound Pontifications of

Brother John Deacon By Chris Williams

I had left the shop to go and pick up some parts for

a car we had in the shop and was heading towards

the east part of the city when my phone rang. I

looked and the caller ID said J. Deacon. I was

actually kinda glad that he was calling because the

month was slipping away and I had nothing from

him for the newsletter. When I answered he had

only one word…….. ”where”. I told him that I was

on the other side of town and he informed me that

he had a GPS and he knew how to use it. I believed

the first statement but I highly doubted the last. I

had just read about a new place not far from where I

was called the Angry Elephant which boasted

gourmet Hot Dogs. I figured that I could probably

get out of there feeding John without having to take

a second mortgage on my house, so I gave him the

name and approx location and told him I would

meet him there after I picked up the parts. When I

got there he was already inside ….probably causing

trouble. It wasn’t until I got inside that I realized it

was a politically themed bar and grill. I found John,

not at a table haggling with the waitress about why

they didn’t have his favorite Chicken Fried Steak,

but wandering around looking at the pictures on the

walls of all the past Presidents and other political

figures in our country’s history. For old guys like

John and I, it was a nice walk through the past.

Actually one did not really have to walk around to

see everything because the place was so open that

everything could be seen by just sitting in one place

and swiveling around on the chairs at the tables that

were selected for that purpose. Eventually we did

just that and I noticed that this was one of the first

times that John was enjoying a restaurant before

tasting the food. Our server was a thirtyish young

lady named Claire and as it turned out Claire was

apparently short for Clairvoyant because she

seemed to know what we were going to say before

we said it. She greeted us by sitting two menus and

two iced teas in front of us and asking how our day

was going. John had an impressed smile on his face

and told her that our day was getting …..next column

better by the minute. She informed us that she

would let us check the menu out and would be

back in a couple of minutes and before John

could ask about his Chicken Fried Steak, she

was gone. The menu turned out to be another

nice surprise. I had heard that gourmet hot dogs

was the main item and as it turned out it was

pretty much the only item but with an amusing

twist. All the hot dogs were named after a

president or famous person or politician…..and

they weren’t just regular hot dogs either. Some

were traditional favorites from the States or

Cities that the named person was from and

others were just something crazy on a hot dog

you would never expect. We were so engrossed

in reading the menu that neither of us saw that

Claire was standing at our table…..ready to take

our order. I commented that there was so many

that looked so good that it was hard to decide.

She smiled and said, “You look like a quarter

pound George Bush BLT Dog”. I was shocked

cause, danged if I hadn’t pretty much decided

on that bacon, lettuce, and tomato, with mayo

covering a big beef sausage on a Kaiser roll.

She must have seen it in my expression cause

she wrote it down and turned to John who was

befuddled trying to make up his mind. She

smiled again and said, “You need to have a Ben

Franklin Philly Cheese Steak Dog with onions

and peppers and beefsteak with cheese sauce on

a poppy seed bun, and yours is gonna be a half

pounder.” I could see what look like drool

forming on the corners of John’s mouth as she

spoke and she must have seen it to as she

reached in her apron and slid a couple of

napkins towards him. “And these come with our

homemade potato chips”, she said as she turned

for the kitchen. “Whoa up there filly,” John

blurted out…..as usual louder than necessary,

“We ain’t nearly done here.” She turned back

around with a confused look on her face. “First

of all,” he said matter of factly. “I am gonna

need one of them Gerald Ford Rueben Dogs

with the Swiss cheese, 1000 island dressing,

corned beef and sauerkraut on a rye bun..

…sounds yummy and …..next page

Newsletter 6

also an FDR All American Dog cause I love the

mustard and pickle and relish and ketchup. And

make all of them half pound, foot longers.” Claire

stood there a little stunned as were the guys at the

table closest to ours who already had made the

mistake of ordering the foot long, half pound

dogs. I saw them looking at their unfinished dogs

and back at John who had just ordered three of

them. Shaking her head Claire said to John, “You

have ordered more than I have seen anyone order

in here and such a weird combination…..why

those three?” John puffed out his chest with pride

and replied, “Because all three are my Brothers. I

couldn’t possibly get one without the others.” She

was still shaking her head as she disappeared into

the kitchen to turn in our order. John and I made

small talk as we waited for our food….mostly

about the place itself and all the paraphernalia on

the walls. I asked him if he had something

interesting for the newsletter for this month and

he said that he hadn’t really thought about

anything but that he was just hungry. I said, “Are

you kidding? What am I going to put in the

newsletter? You always say that good

information comes with a price every time you

stick me with the bill for lunch every month…

…so I guess that means I am not buying today.”

“Well,” he snorted defensively. “How come I

always have to come up with something

profound…..can’t you think of something

interesting to say?” “John, if I had profound

things to say I wouldn’t be spending my son’s

inheritance buying you lunch every month,” I

growled back at him. “And the title of the column

wouldn’t have John Deacon in it.” “Why don’t

you put something else in there this month,” he

whined back at me. “It’s hard trying to think of

something to talk about every month. It’s a lot of

pressure.” It’s a whole lot more pressure having

to pay for your lunch,” I snapped. “OK, Ok, OK,”

he said smiling. “As soon as I get some chow in

me I am sure I will think of something.” I just

stared at him as Claire filled up the table top with

his three meals and my one. Those three gigantic

hot dogs with all the trimmings and …next……

homemade chips covered every inch of the table

and of course caught the attention of several of the

nearby diners including the guys who has gotten

to-go containers because they couldn’t finish.

Everyone watched as John dug into the mountain

of food before him……me hoping he would

remember something important to say and the

others wondering how and if anyone man could eat

all he had ordered. Of course John never talks as

he is eating and I watched his eyes and expressions

for a clue that he had thought of something….

anything to give me for the newsletter…wishing

that I had been born with the gift of philosophical

thinking that John had…… but the only

expressions I saw were those of pure enjoyment of

the food he was consuming….at a very high rate of

speed. There was no doubt he liked everything

very much. The guys at the next table were done a

long time ago but were hanging around to see if

John finished everything. I could have told them it

wasn’t going to be close. I had seen him eat more

than this at one sitting. Claire had been clearing

plates and keeping the tea glasses full and as she

reached for his last plate he smiled up at her and

said, “That was darn good there Miss Claire.” She

rolled her eyes and smiled and walked away still

shaking her head in disbelief. I waited while he

had some more tea and asked if in his solitude

while eating he had had an epiphany that he could

share with me and his answer was an eloquently

put, “Nope”. I wanted to strangle him but I calmed

myself and asked, “What did you do Masonically

last month John? Did your Lodge do anything that

you want to talk about?” He thought for a second

and shook his head and said noooooo, I don’t think

so…..hey wait a minute, .. I do have something I

want to talk about.” Yes…yes John. That’s great.

Bring it on…..but it had better be good.” As he

glared at me he said, “Brother Chris, you know I

have seen a lot of degrees over the last 20 years

and even got to participate in a whole lot of them

too. One thing has always and still continues to

bother me about the way we do degrees is that it

seems that it is generally accepted that when the

Lecture is done then the degree is over.” …Next

page

Newsletter 7

… ..in short the charge brings everything

together. And the charge is the last thing the

Candidate hears before the degree is done……and

if given the proper attention and importance by

the Brethren will make a distinct and lasting

impression on the new Brother. Brother Chris,

just last week I recited the charge for a new

Master Mason and as I spoke the words I could

see in his eyes that he was feeling every word…

…and after the Lodge was closed he came up to

me and told me how much those words had meant

to him. It was a very profound moment for me.”

As I listened to John relate his thoughts and

telling the story of the charge given the week

before, I could see as he gazed off in the

distance….not looking at anything….that he was

moved by the experience. Heck it kind of got to

me a little bit just listening to it. I said, “John, I

am one of the guilty ones that never realized how

important the charges were. I promise that I will

never think about them the same again. That was

pretty good John. Not bad for a last minute

comeback.” “So that means that you have to buy

lunch then,” he laughed ….proud of himself. I had

forgotten about the guys at the next table but

apparently they had been listening to our

conversation and now slid their chairs over

towards our table and introduced themselves. One

of them asked John, “I heard you say that

Benjamin Franklin, Franklin Roosevelt, and

Gerald Ford were your Brothers. How is that

possible?” John smiled and answered that they

were his Masonic Brothers. That led to more

questions and then more until I had to excuse

myself and go back to work. I shook hands all

around and John barely noticed when I left. He

was basking in the attention of the three men

asking one question after another. They sure

seemed interested and it looked like it was only a

matter of time before they all asked for a petition

… .so before I drove off I slid three through the

door of John’s truck. I smiled all the way back to

the shop with the knowledge that when he finally

came down off of this attention high and realized

that he had to pay for lunch, the look on his face

was going to be priceless. Have a great month

y’all.

“I don’t think so John,” I interrupted realizing too

late that he was going to be upset about it. “The

charge is the last thing……. in the first two degrees

that is.” “Yes, of course it is,” he replied, obviously

irritated. “But the point is that Lodges don’t give

the charge any real importance at all. Heck most

Lodges don’t even have anyone who has learned

the charges….they just read them out of the

Monitor. Most believe that since the charges are

actually written that they have no real importance

which is an opinion held by many hard core

Ritualists. One of the first things that I did when I

was raised to the sublime degree of a Master

Mason was to learn all three charges. I did it

mainly because my Lodge had so many Brothers

working in the rituals that there were few parts

available to do…but no one had really learned to

do the charges. Actually most of the Brothers

didn’t like doing them and so many times a new

EA or Fellowcraft was assigned to read to the new

Candidate or Brother. When I learned the charges

and the Brothers knew it they were more than

happy to let me do that part of the ritual….so they

didn’t have to bother with it. As I did more and

more of the charges, I began to realize the

important messages they were intended to convey

and that the charges were much more important

and profound than most everyone thought. Actually

the first few I did, I was just saying memorized

words in somewhat of a monotone making sure I

got them all in there without missing one….but

after a while and after realizing what the charges

were trying to say, I began to slow down and speak

the words with some of the meaning intended in

them. And when I did I not only transmitted the

meaning but also felt the meanings. I don’t know

why we convey the impression that the charges are

less important than anything else ….but we do.

And I truly believe that the charge of a degree is as

important as any other single part. The degree itself

starts laying out the lessons and principles of our

Fraternity……giving the candidate the tools with

which to begin and carry on each Masonic journey.

The lecture tries to explain those tools and reasons

behind the lessons. But the charge is most certainly

the instructions of what to do and the incentive and

inspiration to begin the journey …..…next

Newsletter 8

.

. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.

This Month’s Humor

A young doctor had moved out to this small community to

replace a doctor who was retiring.

The older doctor suggested that the young one accompany him

on his rounds so the community could be introduced to the new

doctor.

At the first house a woman complains, "Lately I've been a little

sick to my stomach."

The older doctor says, "Well, you've probably been overdoing

the fresh fruit... Cut back on the amount you've been eating and

see if that does the trick?"

As they left the younger man said, "You didn't even examine

that woman? How'd you come to the diagnosis so quickly?"

"I didn't have to. You noticed I dropped my stethoscope on the

floor in there? When I bent over to pick it up, I noticed a half

dozen banana peels in the trash... That's probably what was

making her sick."

The younger doctor said, "Pretty clever. If you don't mind I

think I'll try that at the next house."

Arriving at the next house they spent several minutes talking

with a younger woman. She said that it seems she just didn't

have the energy she once did and that she'd been feeling terribly

run down lately.

"You've probably been doing too much for the Church," the

younger doctor told her. "Perhaps you should cut back a bit and

see if that helps."

As they left, the elder doctor said, "I know that woman well.

Your diagnosis is almost certainly correct... she's very active in

the church, but how did you arrive at it?"

"I did what you did at the last house. I dropped my stethoscope

and when I bent down to retrieve it, I noticed the pastor under

the bed."

**********************

THE ASHLAR Rough ashlar, a stone from the quarry before squaring, a symbol

of untutored man. Perfect ashlar, a stone squared and smooth,

symbol of enlightened manhood. Perfection is here attained by a

process of taking away; no stroke of gavel or chisel can add

anything to a rough ashlar; it may only remove. Perfection, then,

is already within. The famous sculptor. Gutzon Borglum (a

Freemason), asked how he carved stone into statues, answered:

"It is very simple. I merely knock away with hammer and chisel

the stone I do not need and the statue is there—it was there all

the time."

In the Great Light we read: "The kingdom of heaven is within

you." Images are made by a process of taking away. The

perfection is already within.

Masonic Trivia

From the book Masonic Trivia: Amusements and Curiosities

by Peter Champion

The Masonic phrase, “To that undiscovered country

from whose bourne no traveler returns,” was borrowed

from playwright William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act 3,

Scene 1, Soliloquy, “But that the dread of something after

death, the undiscovere’d country, from whose bourn. No

traveler returns.”

Comprehending the meaning of both phrases

requires knowledge that the obsolete early English word

bourn means boundary.

********************

"Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company" -- General, President and W:. Br. George Washington

Newsletter 9

TIME TO TUCK POINT? By George J. Harrison

Past Grand Marshal of Iowa

I work in a brick structure that is 80 years old. Tuck-

pointing, I've learned is "the process of removing old

mortar from between bricks or stones and replacing it

with new mortar." It is often done to walls of building

that have begun to deteriorate—have become so worn by

the elements that they no longer provide the protection

and support for which they were erected. If ignored and

allowed to deteriorate further they can even become a

danger to those in and around them.

As Masons we are taught to use the tools of operative

Masonry as the building blocks with which we erect the

Temple of Souls, our Masonic Character. In the first

degree we are presented with the 24-inch gauge and

common gavel and taught to divide our time and divest

ourselves of the vices and superfluities of life. As a

Fellow Craft the plumb teaches us to walk uprightly

before God and man; using the square to square our

actions; and the level to remind us that we are walking on

that level of time to that undiscovered country from

whose borne no traveler returns. Finally, we are presented

with the Master's especial tool, the trowel, and told that it

is to be used to spread the cement of brotherly love and

friendship, that cement which binds the stones presented

earlier into the structure of our Masonic Character.

If you are a Master Mason, really and truly a Master

Mason, you know that there is far more. Additional stones

are presented in the lectures of the three Symbolic

Degrees. Still more are quarried in the degrees and orders

of the York Rite, and those of the Scottish Rite. As we

advance in Masonry our inner structure, if properly

attended to, raises more stately and magnificent. As an

operative building needs constant maintenance to keep it

whole and sound, so does the structure of our Masonic

character. But even with regular maintenance, an

operative building will, over time, require some tuck-

pointing. The same holds true for the structure of our

Masonic character. We must continually maintain

ourselves Masonically by continually participating in the

degrees and practicing the truths that they teach. But,

even then a little Masonic tuck-pointing may become

necessary. How do you know if it's time to under go a

little Masonic tuck-pointing? First, step outside yourself

and take a critical look. Have you lost your temper at

someone who you think isn't driving fast enough? Sat and

talked about a brother in an unkind manner? Repeated a

confidence? Disliked someone simply because they were

a different race, nationality or religion? …NEXT……..

Stopped talking to someone because they didn't agree with

what you thought? Lost your patience with your wife,

children or grandchildren? With a friend or brother? Have

you used God's name in vain lately? Driven over the speed

limit? Over indulged in food or drink?

If you are guilty of any of these, even just a little guilty,

perhaps it's time that the structure of your Masonic

character underwent a little speculative tuck-pointing.

So what is speculative tuck-pointing? Relearn the lessons

taught to you in the degrees. Better yet, help introduce

others to them. Attend the degrees of the Rites, both

Scottish and York. Not a member of one or the other? Join.

The lessons of both Rites become clearer when you

participate in both Rites.

Now that you have been reintroduced to the teachings of

Masonry, begin to practice them. Every day. The more you

practice them the more they will become part and parcel of

your daily life. And when this is done, you will be able to

look at yourself in the mirror at the end of the day and

know you have done what you believed to be best for

yourself, for your brother, for your family, for your

country and for your God.

******************************

WORDS FROM THE WISE

“If you have knowledge, let others light their

candles with it.”

----- Winston Churchill, UK Prime Minister &

Freemason

“Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the

privilege to do so, too.”

----- Voltaire, French Author & Freemason

Newsletter 10

“The Sunday Masonic Paper” Thanks to W Bro

Wayne Anderson, FCF, MPS The Symbolism on Our Lodge Officers

by Norman Senn,

It is often said that symbolism is carried too far and this is difficult to deny when I think of Freud and other psychiatrists and psychologists who

seem able to find strange and often erotic meanings in all they see. The meanings given to every image based on repetition makes the lay-person

feel at a serious disadvantage when they wish to contradict anything that is given a meaning by such "Specialists." The symbolic object, which is

dredged up by the mind, seems to have no great pattern of consistency in the case of psychiatric symbol definition.

We are more fortunate in Freemasonry because we possess a body of ritualistic work which defines many of our symbols in at least one way.

This allows us to look at our symbols in two distinct ways, the first being in the way our teachings say and secondly at the common meaning

given to the same symbol by the profane. The similarity is usually very close but the range of meanings in the outside world is frequently much

broader.

When a new mason asks the question about symbols, "what is that?", or "what does that mean?", do we tend to back off? Do we have the feeling

that these are 'old' symbols that really have no meaning in our modern world? If this is the case, then we are in very serious trouble within our

Lodges because the Charge at our installations very clearly states that "...it inculcates principles of the purest morality, though veiled in allegory

and illustrated by symbols." We are also told in the same Charge that to penetrate through the veil of the allegories and symbols is to understand

the mysteries. While there is a far deeper meaning in the overall pattern of the craft, it is of great value to find some meanings of the individual

symbols and to attempt to recall that meaning on each occasion that we see them. This creates the 'repetition' form of learning that begins to

modify our life style to become that "better man" we all strive for.

One of the problems with the human mind is that it tends to ignore items which it registers frequently. We are the last ones to see our children

grow, and need a visitor to bring this to our attention. So it is, with the jewels worn by the officers of our Lodges. How many of you have looked

at your officers jewels - really looked. Firstly they are quite detailed, secondly they frequently have things on them that you were totally unaware

of. There are different companies producing jewels and each may embellish the jewels differently, but you can be sure that there is meaning

behind practically every identifiable whirl and loop.

In addition to the symbols on the jewel, each of these is suspended from a collar which may also have symbols upon it. Then the Officers also

have an apron, often the same as yours, and this has detail on it that we tend to observe when it is first presented to us, but then we never consider

it again.

What I hope to do in a short period of time, is to look at some of the jewel, collar, and apron symbols and consider some of the meanings that are

taught us and then also some of meanings which are known to be fairly common in the everyday world. There will be areas where we skip over

areas lightly, there will be a few diversions, but I hope that you will consider your Lodge jewels a little differently in the future.

A final point before starting is that all masonic symbols are positive, none are aimed at anything that is not for the good of the mason as an

individual, and through him, for the world at large. We degrade no symbol and none can ever be considered to be contrary to the high principles

we extol. Remember that there is no right or wrong to symbolism - it is what you accept as meaningful to you as a Craftsman. The following are

my findings and interpretations and it is quite likely that you will have different interpretations, but I wish to share my findings with you.

The Master carries with him, a great symbol. If you are of a York Mason you will learn that it is immoveable, whereas if you use the Canadian

Work, that it is moveable. The square is the symbol of regulated life and actions. It is the masonic rule for correcting and harmonising conduct

on principles or morality and virtue, and as a symbol, it is dedicated to the Master. We also identify ourselves with this symbol, because we are

taught that squares, levels and perpendiculars are the proper signs to know a mason.

We are surrounded by squares in our Lodge for every mason wears at least one although the Immediate Past Master and the Past Masters wear it

most obviously. It stands, as one of the Great Lights, in the centre of all our activities and its legs constantly embrace the Worshipful Master. It

is repeated in our F.C. salute, our feet positions, our way of moving around the Lodge and our legs when at the altar in our initiation.

History tells us that the square, which is an upright with a right top arm, is the Greek letter gamma. Each one of us knows the meanings

associated with the letter G. In the construction trade, the square is used for "trueing" stones and "proving" them correct. We can see how easily,

the association with truth and virtue could arise. There was the historical belief that the shape of the ancient world was an oblong square and this

is represented in our "squared Lodge."

There have been references to the square's meaning as a symbol long before the start of Masonry, as we know it. The Egyptians believed that

truth and justice were 'on the square', Confucius in about 500 BC referred to the squareness of actions. Mencius, the Chinese philosopher of

about 372 BC refers to square actions. Simonides of Ceos, the Greek lyrical poet of about 600 BC and Aristotle in about 350 BC refer to 'square

actions' and associate this with honest dealings, high morality and virtue. The symbol is not original, it is certainly far from new, but it seems to

have a remarkable consistency of meaning.

If we move on to the Immediate Past Master's jewel for a moment we observe that it is identical to the Master's in shape except that pendant

from it is the 47th problem of Euclid. It is important to remember that Euclid only proved the Pythagorean theorem of about 300 years earlier.

When you consider what the theorem shows it is a multitude of further squares. Squares on sides, mathematically 'squared' numbers and a

central closed square, about which all the 'proof' stands. As an emphasis of the square symbol we could see nothing which could do it better.

We should know that the properties of this triangular arrangement were first thought to be magical in the relationship they demonstrated. In

addition, Pythagoras, being Greek, may have had the Greek letter/symbol G in his mind when he is reputed to have exclaimed 'Eureka' and it is

for us to decide if the utility or the symbolism had generated his joy. We learn in our work that we are to be inspired to love the arts and sciences

by this design and pro of. We should always marvel that such a simple figure could have had such impact on our world.

You may think that we should move on to the next set of jewels at this point but hold ... there is more, much more that we can find at this time

on the jewels that we have considered - look at the design on them. Now do not think that we will find new figures on all the other jewels but the

jewels of the three principal officers are the most embellished and we will stay for a little longer here.

Newsletter 11

still further back, through the Roman Collegia, Ancient Mystery, into Egypt and perhaps the very birth of the legend of Isis and

Osiris - be spiritually one of a long line of brethren who have knelt at this Altar, taken these vows, lived this life and loved these

teachings - that is a gift all Freemasons may have for the taking, and which none take but value.

In the angle of the square is the sun, radiant with its beams and with a rather clear face on it. Was this doodling the work of a metal worker with

time on his hands? Of course not, for the historical significance of the sun as a symbol is an integral part of all our Lodge work. We refer to the

sun in many places and also copy it is many actions. At the opening and closing of the Lodge, all the officers relate their actions to the sun. We

walk around our Lodge in the same direction as the sun appears to move across our earth. We travel towards the East, the place of light, after being

informed that the Master rules his Lodge as the sun does the day. If you think and possibly are aware, that culture seemed to develop in the East,

there was always the suggestion that the source of the sun had inspired this knowledge and culture.

Proof is readily available of the frequency of sun-worship as the first form of contemplation of a deity. Man has always looked upward for a

"source" and the sun met the early criteria of "supporter" of the life of the world. It is fairly natural that this early god would be personified by the

addition of a face so that the god could be given moreof the human attributes. Even with our own concept of God, we find the degree of

personification relates to the stage of understanding of the race or individual. Do we then have a reminder of that ancient worship on our jewel

which is 'a reaching back' to give evidence, albeit erroneous, of the great historical past of the Craft? Perhaps it is also a repetition of the many

death and rebirth mysteries and legends of the past .... and the present.

Perhaps for us we should remember more the sun as being the symbol of brightness, the opposer of evil. We know that we say in lodge that the

rays spread their benign influence and we also must have a constant search for light. In fact the degrees seek 'light', 'more light' and 'further light',

and this is given by our three lesser lights, one of which represents the sun as well as the Master. We are told also that the sun is the glory of the

Lord, and it governs the day. There is another link in our lodge with the sun and that is a symbol designated as meaning something else, but the

astrological sign for the sun is a point within a circle.

While the sun is one clear symbol, we also find the moon with a face on the jewel. Explain where it is. This symbol appears elsewhere in our

Lodge as one of the Lesser lights and is represented by the Senior Warden. The moon and sun have many similar characteristics in symbolism, but

regularity and stability have the approval of our teachings. These principles are desirable in life both in and our of Lodge, as our Warden states in

opening and closing. It is natural that in the absence of the Master (the sun), the moon should rule in his place.

The symbol in the profane world has always indicated measurable states, regularity and is strongly associated with the death-rebirth mysteries that

are continued as the principal theme and lesson in Masonry.

Yet another symbol is found on the jewel in the form of a cluster of seven stars. These are specifically referred to in the Canadian teachings and

are an important symbol in that they represent the etherial mansion, veiled from human eyes but the York mason learns only of the star-decked

heavens. The significance of these stars which adorn the ceiling of many Lodge rooms is very complex, in that the stars and the number seven are

almost constantly in symbolism. The stars themselves, in clusters tend to be associated with order and destiny and so to some degree reinforce the

symbolism contained in that of the moon symbolism. When we come to the seven we are almost overwhelmed with the many facts associated with

it. The number seven was said to be 'perfect' because it contained the numbers 3 and 4 and was itself indivisible and could not be created by

multiplication. This gave it the name of the virgin number. There were seven years to an apprenticeship, there were seven planets known to man

of the middle ages, and there are seven days in a week of which the 7th is the sabbath. The days of the week are named after the seven gods of the

Goths, a seventh son has special powers, the Jews swore by the number seven, there was a need for seven witnesses to agreements, and Solomon's

temple was said to have been built in seven years. Jericho was encircled seven times by seven priests, and these were the seven liberal arts and

sciences know as the trivium and quadrivium which were thought to contain the total sum of human knowledge. Seven represents symbolically the

combination of the Trinity and four cardinal virtues, it is the number of the basic musical notes, of colours and of the spheres. Seven is related to

perfection, to religious truth and also with knowledge. It is hard to find a more astounding mass of facts associated with a number until we

observe that three and five are similar.

Within the Lodge we are reminded that it needs seven officers to open the Lodge and those seven steps of the staircase reminding us of the liberal

arts and sciences. Jacob's ladder is usually shown with seven rungs of which 3 are considered most exemplary for masons. While then these seven

small stars on the jewel are insignificant they are repeated as a symbol at least three times within our Lodges and give us much to think about.

Finally we can move on to the jewel of the Senior Warden, the Level. We meet upon this sign, and we have all been raised from the dead level to

the living perpendicular. The symbol, we are taught, shows the principle of equality and reminds us that we are all descended from one stock and

possess one nature and it thus justifies our organization as a fraternity of equals. At Pompeii it was discovered that a carving of a level with

symbols of death demonstrated an early belief in death as the great leveller. This, is our great experience. We are also told that we are travelling on

a level of time to an undiscovered country from which no traveller returns. This also associates death with levels and this is patterned after

associations which exist outside the craft.

We observe again on this jewel, the sun, moon and seven stars and as we move to the Junior Wardens Jewel will see them yet again.

The Junior Warden's Jewel is of course the plumb referred to in our lectures as the symbol of rectitude and uprightness. A fairly simple

relationship to be sure. There is a link with this jewel and Jacob's ladder stretching between heaven and earth and stressing a morality which

should be practised. We are instructed in our steps to stand erect and charged to act upon this symbol as we leave Lodge. This association is

identical within and without the Lodge.

We now move to a few of the simpler symbols worn as jewels by our officers, and while some simply indicate their role they have a few meanings

on which we may think. The doves of the deacons have long had two symbolic meanings, that of a messenger and that of peace. The dove we see

in Lodge has the sprig of olive in its beak and is clearly a representative of Noah who used it as a messenger of good tidings. The deacon’s jewel

was, in an earlier period, a representation of the God Hermes or Mercury who was again the messenger of the ancient gods. In the Christian faith

the dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. This jewel then is really a representation of the work to be performed but with overtones of the early

church and the Bible.

The stewards wear and carry the cornucopia which is a representation of the horn of the goat which, in legend, suckled the infant Jupiter. The horn

symbolises strength and abundance and suggests the supply of food as it is usually displayed full of fruits. In our Lodges this is associated with

those responsible for satisfying the "inner man" after regular meetings are concluded. As in the case of Amalthea the goat with the "visiting

Jupiter", the supply is supposed to be particularly abundant in the presence of visitors. The organist wears the lyre, a six stringed instrument

associated with Turpsichore, the Goddess of music and is the symbol of musical accomplishment. It should constantly remind us of the

contribution that music can make to not only our Lodge but our total lives.

The chaplain wears what is perhaps the most important symbol within our Lodge, for his jewel portrays the open volume of Sacred Law, without

which no Lodge can operate. This symbol expresses our dedication to the God in whom we have a personal belief. It guides us in the erection of

our spiritual building and points out our whole duty.

Newsletter 12

Brethren and Friends

It is the rule and guide to our faith and is kept in our hearts between our meetings. The Bible on the jewel is open upon a triangle which has

additional symbolism for the Christian mason in that it represents the trinity. For all masons the triangle can remind us of the three moral virtues,

the principle tenets of our profession, the knocks, the ruffians, the Great Lights, the lesser lights, the three degrees, the three Grand Masters, God

and the Holy St.'s John and the steps, both our individual ones and those upon which the Master presides. There are so many references to the

number three that it rivals the number s even for sheer volume. Suffice it to say that the symbolism of this particular jewel is particularly

meaningful to masons, and each should have his own particular interpretation without any suggestion that this should be imposed on others.

Again at this point you should observe the positive nature of the symbols and the major influence they should have upon our thoughts.

The registrar has a simple scroll about his neck which signifies the historical record of events. This is a reminder to each one of us that our

actions make an impression on the great record of existence and we should strive to keep our book in correct balance.

The secretary wears the crossed quills which seem to be the international symbol of a secretary. The saltire pattern, the bows and the trailing

ends have no recorded significance, but, we all know this jewel indicates an onerous task performed by many sound Brethren.

The treasurer has crossed keys rather than quills and these are, of course, to the money chest of the Lodge. This is simply a role indicator but

these keys should remind us of "that excellent key - a Freemason's tongue which should speak well of a Brother present or absent. When this

cannot be done, adopt the excellent virtue of the Craft - SILENCE.

The secretary-treasurer has a combination of a crossed key and quill but I will not go into which one is on top.

The jewel of the Director of Ceremonies is the crossed batons. These are symbols of the batons of command which were presented on the field

of battle to an outstanding survivor. Possibly this is why this office is held by Past Masters.

The Inner Guard and the Tyler both have swords, differing only in that the tyler has one whereas the Inner Guard has two. These have always

been symbols of a protector and in particular have been associated with the defence of a faith. The sword has the reputation of warding off evil

because in the inverted position it forms a cross. In addition, within the Lodge, we know that the Tyler's sword guards the Constitution and is a

constant reminder to guard our thoughts, words, and deeds, remembering the masonic virtues of silence and circumspection.

Having looked at the jewels we should also observe the collars from which they are suspended, because these in some cases have symbols. The

principal symbols are the blazing star the entwined snakes and knots. The blazing star pattern used, is usually that of the "pentalpha", or five

pointed star with intermediate flames. This star is primarily the symbol of divine providence and can be found in our mosaic pavement. The five

points should remind us also of other masonic "fives". The five orders of arch itecture, the five points of fellowship, the five senses and the five

who must be present in order for a Lodge to be held. The star is also said to represent the Morning Star which is yet another symbol of rebirth

which is so significant to each of us.

I should point out that there is a six pointed star or hexalpha which is also known as the "Glory". This six pointed star is the Seal of Solomon

and also the Star of David. This star is also represented on the carpet at times and there is distinct confusion in the texts over which star is THE

star to use. The primary symbolic meaning of the six pointed star is the universe as an entity.

Also to be found on the collar is this complex looping which shows a serpent swallowing its tail, a common symbol of eternity and in many

cases associated with wisdom. The double entwined never ending loops are similarly symbols of eternity but have the additional meanings

ascribed to them of vibrant energy and active life. These symbols are worthy of our contemplation in relation to the stability and teachings of the

Craft.

We then hear the next symbol although modern methods sometimes deny us the sound which adorns the apron, the seven chained tassel. This is

a fairly late addition and is thought to be more a decorative copying of the ends of the original longer and centrally tied ribbon or belt. The

changing to tassels was slowly developed and perhaps we could turn our thoughts again to the symbolism of the number seven, already related

for the Masters jewel. In addition to the tassels we have the buttons which contain our principal symbols again. Here the only addition is the

compasses which I leave to your personal investigation for our teaching clearly suggests that they are for the craft.

Before closing we should end with a symbol of utility which would make Freud turn in his grave, for the standard hook on an apron is a snake.

While we will accept 'wisdom', it is possibly simply a decorated, very functional 'hook', with no great thought put into it. We certainly do not all

have one at any rate.

These are then the jewels of the Lodge, the collar and aprons worn by our officers and perhaps they have shown a little more than you have

normally noticed. If you would look at the Jewels in the next few Lodges you attend, you will find similarities and differences. These will take

on a new meaning because you have looked, and possibly you may find more meaning in various aspects of your personal masonry by

contemplation of the new symbols you find or the old ones that you know. I sincerely hope so.

***************************************

Davy Crockett Lodge #1225

Installation of Officers

********June 28th********** *******Saturday**********

Newsletter 13

Masonic “Did You Know”

Thanks to: W. Bro. Dwight D. Seals

Camden Lodge #159 Camden, Ohio Did U Know?

Pilgrim Governor William Bradford wrote that in 1625, a Pilgrim ship was returning to England with dried fish and 800 lbs. of

beaver skins to trade for supplies:

"They ... were well within the England channel, almost in sight of Plymouth. But ... there she was unhappily taken by a Turkish man-of-

war and carried off to Morocco where the captain and crew were made slaves."

Muslim pirates of Morocco raided European coasts and carried away over a million to the North African slave markets, where also they

sold tens of millions of Africans into slavery.

In 1627, Algerian Muslim pirates, led by Murat Reis the Younger, raided Iceland, and carried 400 into slavery.

One captured girl, who had been made a slave concubine in Algeria, was rescued back by King Christian IV of Denmark.

On June 20, 1631, the entire village of Baltimore, Ireland, "The Stolen Village," was captured by Muslim pirates.

Only two ever returned. Thomas Osborne Davis wrote in his poem, "The Sack of Baltimore" (1895):

"The yell of 'Allah!' breaks above the shriek and roar;

O'blessed God! the Algerine is lord of Baltimore."

Kidnapped Englishman Francis Knight wrote:

"I arrived in Algiers, that city fatal to all Christians and the butchery of mankind."

Moroccan Sultan Moulay Ismail had 500 wives and forced 25,000 white slaves to build his palace at Meknes. He was witnessed to have

killed an African slave just to try out a new hatchet he was given.

The Catholic Order "Trinitarians" collected alms to ransom slaves.

In 1785, Morocco recognized the new country of the United States by capturing two American ships and demanding tribute.

Thomas Jefferson (not a Freemason, however, it is worth noting that both Thomas Jefferson's son-in-law, Thomas Mann Randolph, and

his eldest grandson, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, were Freemasons) met Tripoli's envoy in France and reported to Congress:

"The Ambassador answered us that it was ... written in their Qur'an, that all nations who should not have acknowledged Islam's authority

were sinners that it was their ... duty to make war upon them ... and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners."

Despite paying nearly 20 percent of the U.S. Federal budget as extortion payments, the Muslims continued their piracy.

Jefferson finally sent the U.S. Marines to stop Morocco's Barbary pirates.

The U.S. frigate "Philadelphia" ran aground on Morocco's shallow coast and was captured.

On FEBRUARY 16, 1804, in what Admiral Horatio Nelson called the "most bold and daring act of the age," Lieutenant and Br. Stephen

Decatur (Lodge No. 16, at Baltimore, and later in the same year received the Second and Third Degrees. Baltimore Lodge No. 16) sailed

his ship, the Intrepid, into the pirate harbor of Tripoli, burned the captured U.S. frigate "Philadelphia" and escaped amidst enemy fire.

The Marines later captured Tripoli and forced the Pasha to make peace on U.S. terms.

Frederick Leiner wrote in The End of the Barbary Terror-America's 1815 War Against the Pirates of North Africa (Oxford University

Press):

"Commodore and Br. Stephen Decatur and diplomat William Shaler withdrew to consult in private ... The Algerians were believed to be

masters of duplicity, willing to make agreements and break them as they found convenient."

John Quincy Adams, America's 6th President, wrote:

"Our gallant Commodore Stephen Decatur had chastised the pirate of Algiers... The Dey (Omar Bashaw)...disdained to conceal his

intentions; 'My power,' said he, 'has been wrested from my hands; draw ye the treaty at your pleasure, and I will sign it; but beware of the

moment, when I shall recover my power, for with that moment, your treaty shall be waste paper.'"

America's war with the Muslim Barbary Pirates was the country's first war after the Revolution, giving rise to the Marine Anthem:

"From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli."

Brief Bio of Br. DecaturBr. Stephen Decatur was born at Sinnepuxent, Maryland, on the 5th of January 1779, and entered the United

States navy as a midshipman in 1798. He was promoted lieutenant a year later, and in that rank saw some service in the short war with

France. In 1803 he was in command of the "Enterprise", which formed part of Commodore and Br. Edward Preble's (St. Andrew’s

Lodge, Boston, 1783; charter member of Ancient Landmark Lodge No. 17, Portland, Maine) and squadron in the Mediterranean, and in

February 1804 led a daring expedition into the harbour of Tripoli for the purpose of burning the U.S. frigate "Philadelphia" which had

fallen into Tripolitan hands. He succeeded in his purpose and made his escape under the fire of the batteries with a loss of only one man

wounded. This brilliant exploit earned him his captain's commission and a sword of honor from Congress. Br. Decatur was

subsequently engaged in all the attacks on Tripoli between 1804 and 1805. In the War of 1812 his ship the "United States" captured

H.M.S. "Macedonian" after a desperate fight, and in 1813 he was appointed commodore to command a squadron in New York harbor,

which was soon blockaded by the British. In an attempt to break out in February 1815 Br. Decatur's flagship the "President" was cut off

and after a spirited fight forced to surrender to a superior force. Subsequently he commanded in the Mediterranean against the corsairs of

Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli with great success. On his return he was made a navy commissioner (November 1815), an office which he held

until his death, which took place in a duel with Commodore James Barron at Bladensburg, Md., on the 22nd of March 1820.

Newsletter 14

From time to time I have included articles from a very good (and an award winning) e-magazine called the Small Town Texas Masons e-Magazine which has an abundance of good information in it. The Editor of this Newsletter is Brother Corky Daut and I have had the pleasure of communicating back and forth over the past few years with me asking if I can use something from his magazine. Brother Corky writes an article in his publication called “Surviving the Big Ones” which is a very interesting walk through life through the eyes of one who is a member of what is called “the greatest generation”. Whether you are young or old I think you will enjoy his writings. Here is one:

Surviving The Big Ones

The Old Folks Section By John “Corky” Daut The big ones for me were that 16 year period between the Great Depression and World War II. Being born in 1928, I grew up during the hard times between the stock market crash of 1929 and the end of World War II in 1945. During the 1930’s it was tough enough trying to find money to pay the rent and buy groceries. There certainly wasn’t much money left over for entertaining a whole family. That’s how it became popular for families to spend an hour or so on summer nights parked in the entrance of a cemetery. The Forest Park Cemetery on Lawndale Street in Houston’s east end was that place. There was a large pool with a fountain on the west side of the entrance with spaces to park in front of the pool. Actually the fountain was a number of different fountains in the pool that were choreographed to work together. The height of the streams and turning each spray head off and on for was controlled by a central control panel along with the lights. The lights were what made the fountains so spectacular at night. There were different colored spotlights and floodlights in and around the pool that colored the water streams and sprays and changed colors as the water’s spray patterns and highs changed every minute or two. It was very dramatic to park and watch as beautifully colored jets of water shot up, some as high as 10 or 15 feet high and some only a foot or so, as they forming intricate patterns against the night sky. There was enough variation in the patterns of light along with the different heights and textures of the spray that it was almost impossible to tell when the pattern begin to repeat it self. That made it possible to watch for a longer period of time without becoming bored. It was a particularly good place for young courting couples to park. There were enough families parked in the area and enough light to where a young girl didn’t have to worry too much about things getting out of hand. The main thing though, was that it was free and money saved could be spent later at Princes Drive In for burgers and cokes. I was with one of the family cars. I would sometime be invited to go with the Henry family from next door. Mr. and Mrs Henry along with their 3 girls and myself Our little group of boys was always looking for something to do that didn’t take money. Like most young boys (around 12 or 14 or so) we wanted to want to build something with tools. Our little gang of friends, Billy, Pete, Buck and I decided to build a little club house to hold our secret meetings in. Pete had a hard time getting permission to leave his yard sometime so we decided to build it beside his house. We scrounged the neighborhood for old pieces of lumber and our dad’s coffee can collection of used screws, bolts, nuts and bent nails. People didn’t throw those kinds of things away back then, not even bent nails, because they could be straightened and used again.

Newsletter 15

We built a frame work about 6 feet square and 6 feet high out of assorted pieces of 2 by 4 and 2 by 6 lumber against the back of Mr. Otto’s garage that backed up to Pete’s property line. The garage wall formed the back wall of the club house, saving boards and it leant stability to our building. We enjoyed that project so much, that a few weeks later we decided to expand so we added a second story. By the time we finished the second floor, we realized that the club house, being about 50 or 60 feet back from the street was susceptible to attack from our enemies, since we couldn’t see them coming. That problem was solved by building a platform up in the tree beside the club house, from where one of the club members could keep watch over anyone approaching the clubhouse. That worked well except that we finally realized there was a blind spot across the rear of Pete’s house. We solved that problem when we discovered a 20 foot length of 2 inch pipe. It fit exactly between our tree platform and a tree about 20 feet further toward the rear of the property. With an old piece of rope stretched between the trees, a about 5 or 6 feet above the pipe to serve as a hand rail, we could scurry between the trees without coming down to the ground. “Now we will be safe from a surprise attack by any enemies.” We said, congratulating each other. “Unless they come down from the sidewalk in front of the house.” Someone said. Back to the drawing board we thought. There was one insurmountable problem however. There wasn’t a board anywhere in the neighborhood that wasn’t already nailed down. We finally solved the last problem by installing a tin can telephone from the tree platform to another tree at the front sidewalk. This security system may seem to be excessive to the reader, but it worked perfectly. We were never attacked by an enemy (whoever they were) that whole summer. Billy, who was the secretary, still has the original notebook with the club rules. Number1. was, “Any one who breaks wind inside the clubhouse gets two pokes on the arm from each member present.” ***************************************

This is an old classic that probably everyone has seen and heard but I thought it might be worth another look at…………..enjoy!!!!!

Newsletter 16

The Warrior Poet The Warrior Poet first appeared, in a shortened version, in the “The Scottish Rite Journal”, March-April 2008. This full version was printed and distributed by the Masonic Service Association of North America, 8120 Fenton Street, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-4785. http://msana.com Bro. G. Cliff Porter is a member of El Paso Lodge #130 – El Paso, Texas. Remember a time when men could dance the tango, quote Shakespeare, but hold his own in a fight? I don’t. I am Gen X’r, the generation of fatherless sons who have learned mixed ideas about manhood being either that of a man who wears pink Polo shirts and cries at lots of movies or some hyper machismo blockhead who goes through life kicking and punching. The nuclear family did its part to remove the family from the greater socials networks. No longer did the village raise the child. As a matter of fact, if we saw the village helping out when some youngster desperately needed a quick swat on the bum, with such a swat, the once uninvolved parents now rushed to sue on behalf of their child, claiming that the village was causing it much harm. What might have remained of any attachment that the nuclear family felt to society was quickly removed with the advent of the technological revolution. Human interaction was no longer necessary. The child woke in the morning to his single mother home. You see divorce was easy. Both parents had decided that they had grown apart and married before the found themselves, and the fact they had a little one is of little consequence. He was placed in front of a television so that mom could try to ready herself for the 10-hour workday ahead. At school he was ushered to the computer lab where he interacted with video instructions. Recess was at hand and out comes the handheld video games for a little more solitary play. Then it happened, an interest in girls. So, our young man receives some training in social discourse in the form of music describing and aggrandizing deplorable acts towards women. He is later provided images of the male’s current role in society. The images include Homer Simpson, Tim from Tool Time, and others. All of whom are more simian that human and lack any character or drive to be positive role models and leaders in their family or community. How many times in just the past few years have we heard of school shootings, mall shootings, and other random acts of mass violence perpetrated by youth? There are legions of young men who have grown up isolated by and through technology, who lack any form of a positive male role model in their lives, and lash out at a community from which they feel completely disassociated because they have never felt a part of it. So in comes the lost art of Masonry, Chisel and maul in hand, the speculative Craft seeks to hone men from the rough stone of youth, uncertainty, and intolerance. Masonry raises warrior poets. A man that can hug his Brother, pray with a widow, and wield a sword. I mean both literally and speculatively. How does our gentle Craft work such wonders in the speculative quarries of stone? Take for instance the man who received little in the way of training in discourse. He is likely to turn to violent or angry argument when he is faced with a situation where he must communicate his desires, but lack the training and ability to do so. The Craft, in one of its simple but extraordinary lessons, teaches the young man to stand up in lodge, to provide a detailed plan containing his ideas for the lodge, and to make a motion for the very ideas that he believes could benefit the lodge and his brothers. Any Brother who has attended such a meeting knows what comes next. A Brother, two, or three stand up a take a deep breath. The young man holds his and waits. A few of the Past Masters have some questions, some comments, some kindly advice based on their personal experiences. So, our Brother begins to utilize the lessons of his days as a Fellowcraft. He first utilizes rhetoric in explaining the progression of his theory. Then he practices logic in refining his theory when presented with obstacles that prove correct and help to

Newsletter 17

improve the idea. He practices Brotherly love in compromising and remembering that these men are his Masonic family and their concerns are true and valid. The obligations, although improper to discuss in detail, are not the obligations of a weak spine. They teach the necessity for a gentle spirit in caring for widows and orphans. At the same time, the obligations teach and recognize the necessity for action. They allow that we should not strike in anger, but in teaching such, they simultaneously and quietly provide the whispered message that the ability to strike is one of the working tools of a Mason. The young man comes to recognize the difference between lashing out in youthful anger and learning to care for himself, his family, and those weaker than him in his community. He likely thinks nothing of flying to a Brothers aid with little thought to his own safety. He has learned that how one action in anger is foolish; the other action in defense of oneself or community is courageous. We are taught that our personal establishment should be strong; that strength in spirit and courage in faith, hope, and charity are more powerful when wielded by a man of his word, that the sword of metal by a despotic man, group, or government. We learn to appreciate “art”. Any raised eyebrows with that one? There shouldn’t be. Our temples and lodges are often filled with beautiful symbolism. We stand before tracing boards, some original, some reproduced, all filled with wonderful and mystical images. Often, one symbol or another will touch a Brother in a special and meaningful way that words cannot even communicate. The, my brethren, is an appreciation of art”. When moving through the ritual to the sublime, he learns to recognize the downfalls and pleasures of power as we are faced with the dangers of mob rule, organized orthodoxy, and misguided desires in our Master Mason degree. The road he travels is perilous and just as his brothers before him; he is confronted with the need for real courage in the face of physical danger. We are taught of the need for physical consequences for weakness of the spirit in the penalties inflicted upon these unjust and uncaring Fellows of the Craft. We learn that an apology is correct, but that does not negate the requirement for justice. Too often does the world convince itself that being sorry for something somehow removes the need for consequences. Justice is a constant. Administered with integrity, it is powerful tool in the hands of an educated populace. Our newly made Mason learned his lessons from the degrees and learned them well. His fellow members decide to honor him with their trust and allow him to enter the line. He moves through the chairs and one day wields the gavel of authority and, in doing so, he learns the necessity of humility and discretion. He learns the hidden allegorical meaning taught in many holy books when an aspect of All Power is presented as a servant of mankind and his brothers. How many times has some young man looked to the example of his older and wiser co-worker? There is something different about this man. He is the image of confidence and uprightness, but seems compassionate and expresses a willingness to help and engage. The young man, noticing this difference, musters up the courage to approach and strike up a conversation. He knows there is something different about this man, but can’t put his finger on it. Speaking of fingers, he notices that the man is wearing a ring. Upon it are a small Square and Compasses. He asks about the ring. The brother says, “I’m a Freemason.” The conversation progresses and the young man with an interest asks, “Well what do Masons do?“ It is a difficult question to answer. Freemasonry is different things for different men. Many times, I believe, “It’s a secret” is blurted out as a response for fear of answering incorrectly. We talk of membership and dwindling numbers; we talk of promoting our Craft, but when faced with a young man, one whose values might be different, who seems a world apart and almost alien, we choke. It is difficult for us to imagine what this young man might want or how the teachings of Masonry might be relevant for him. Masonry is relevant my brothers! It is as important today as it was 200 years ago. So brethren, the next time a young man expresses an interest in Freemasonry to you, please feel free to share my story with him. Tell him that Masons are taught the art of the Warrior Poet. They are tempered like steel and molded with compassion. They are Warrior Poets.

Newsletter 18

Davy Crockett May Photo Gallery

WM, Brad Kohanke, PM Bob Cox, Brother

Chris Drzymala, and Bro Aaron Gonzalez

present the 2014 Lamar Medals and Awards

to teacher, Mr. Andrew Walton and an

outstanding student Miss Leslieann DeLeon.

WM Brad Kohanke and Mr. Bart

Sherwood

Community Builders Award

recipient Bart Sherwood of Teach a

Dog, Save a Warrior and his dog

Colonel

Mrs Dennis pinning the 50

year pin on Bro Dennis.

WM Brad Kohanke, PM Chris

Williams, PM’s Bob Cox, Max

Harvey, and Ernie Sessums,

Brother David Kienbaum

present a 50 year service award

to Bro Carl B. Dennis

Mothers Day Program. WM Brad

Kohanke..AKA

“Big Momma” and the officers

entertain the

Mothers with a funny Mothers Day

Skit