Moonlighter
Steilacoom Lodge #2	VOLUME 5, ISSUE 2

February 2003 Newsletter

Howdy Brothers and Sisters,

I hope everyone is doing well.  Our first month of the year is behind us.  We’ve had our first degree, on Brother Gary Evens.  So when you see him in lodge be sure to go and welcome him into our fraternity. 

February will be a busy month also.  It looks like we will be having a couple more first degrees.  At our next stated we will be looking over the Grand Lodge Long Range plan.  If the brothers decided to adopt this plan, it will be published in the next Moonlighter. 

I have several committees I would like to start up.  I would like those that are interested in helping out with these committees please contact me.  The committees are:  The School Outreach, Communications, Sickness & Relief, Widows & Ladies, Youth, Funeral & Cemetery, Community Awareness and Charity. 

Please take note that we have changed the night of our youth night.  It will be on March 21^st.  The warden’s conference is the weekend 15^th and our brother wardens would like to be at the Youth night in support of our youth. 

And speaking of our youth the Tyler Chapter of Rainbow Girls will be having their installation night on February 8^th at 2:00pm at Tyler Lodge.  I would like to encourage everyone to attend in support of our youth.  These fine young Ladies were our escorts at our installation and they have asked the officers of our lodge to be their escorts.  It will be a great honor to return the favor.

Ya’ll take care and remember this month’s theme is Valentines.  Our own Br Sr Warden is taking care of the main, Rosemary Roast Beast, errr… Beef, that is.  So please bring side dishes, salads, breads and deserts.  Take care and be safe in all your travels.

 Tom K. Master

May all your travels be safe,
May the wind always fill your sails,
May your table be filled with plenty,
And may the sun keep you in its' warm embrace!

Greetings from the West,

Hello Brothers! I want to thank you again for the confidence that you have shown in me by electing me Senior Warden. I look forward to some exciting times over the next couple of years!

Sitting in the West, my eyes are automatically cast to the East. From my position I get to watch the sun rise each and every morning the dawn of a new day, every day. We have come a long way, my brothers, in Steilacoom Lodge. We have successfully joined with the brethren from Clover Lodge to create a dynamic and exciting Masonic Lodge. A new dawn for both lodges was begun.

Unlike the physical day, this day can last forever! It is maturing into the brilliance of the noon-day sun and need never reach the twilight. It will take all of us, each and every Brother doing his part, do keep away the darkness that follows the setting sun. Learn the ritual, come to meetings, mentor our new members, share your thoughts on direction of the lodge, fund raising, etc.

Your elected officers cannot do it alone. We have seen too many of our brethren in lodges that are in the twilight. We need your presence, your input, your help. You don't need to memorize the entire ritual to help out, just being there for the candidate is a wonderful thing. To have a lodge FULL of masons for a brand new Entered Apprentice reinforces the significance of the degree to each and every one of us and makes HIM feel special and important.

I had originally thought, when I wrote this note to y'all, that perhaps my theme for the next couple of years would be "Keep the Light Shining". Maybe we can best do that by "Sharing the Light".  More on how we can "Share the Light" next month.

Fraternally,

Joe Fuller

Senior Warden

Announcements

Kaffee Klatsch

Tressleboard for February:

Well brethren all, the year is off and we have a lot going on.  We have several petitions in the makings and some great plans our Worshipful Master has made.  I am being broke in as secretary by taking care of many things and with confidence I can do it.  The members are very supportive.  What is really exciting is that the line officers are all first timers with a zeal to do their duties to the best of their abilities. Many of you have taken care of your dues which is very much appreciated.  Those who haven’t, I am sure you will do so soon.  Some of you have changed addresses, but we would like to have your new phone numbers and emails, if you have one.             We have lost two brothers in the recent past; Br. Glen V. Pero and Br. Myron F. Ebling.  Both have been given the memorial performed in lodge with sadden hearts but with fond memories and contentment that they have been taken by the hand by our Great Artificer of the universe. DO YOU KNOW? There is 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 your 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 agreement made preceding the oath.   Why the lodge meeting is called a “communication.”             In Old English “communication” was “to common”---to share with others.  In the church, “communion” is the common partaking of a sacrament.  In a Masonic lodge “communion”, “to common” is to gather in a “communication”, signifying not just a meeting of men to legislate, but a gathering of men with a common purpose, governed by a common idea, believing in a common ideal.  It is one of the precious and delightful ways in which Masonry keeps alive an old, old idea in the words of long ago.             Now this may not be new or unfamiliar to some of you but I found it worth while to mention.  With this said, I want to pass on fraternal thought and wishes from the brethren of your lodge.   “Sure if the United States has a right to make war, they have a right to prevent it.” --James Monroe “You can have such an open mined that it is too porous to hold a conviction.” --George Crane Tomorrow is the most important thing in life.  It comes into us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands.  It hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday.” --John Wayne   May my pen never go dry, till we meet in words again. Fraternally, WB Lee R.  Webb II

GOLDEN SENTENCES

THE CRAFTSMAN - 1866

From an address by De Witt Clinton, before Holland Lodge, the evening of his installation, Dec. 24, 1793

HIS DEFINITION OF FREEMASONRY.
It is well known that our Order was at first composed of scientific and ingenious men who assembled to improve the arts and sciences, and cultivate a pure and sublime system of morality. Knowledge at that time, was restricted to a chosen few; but when the invention of printing had opened the means of instruction to all ranks of people, then the generous cultivators of Masonry communicated with cheerfulness to the world those secrets of the arts and sciences which had been transmitted and improved from the foundation of the institutions then our Fraternity bent their principal attention to the cultivation of morality. And Masonry may now be defined as a moral institution, intended to promote individual and social happiness.

THE EQUALITY OF MASONRY.

Our institution asserts, in language not to be misunderstood, the natural equality of mankind. It declares that all brethren are upon a level, and it throws open its hospitable doors to all men of all nations. It admits of no rank, except the priority of merit, and its only aristocracy is the nobility of virtue.

THE ONEROUS CARES OF THE MASTER.
Sensible I am that neither m age, experience nor abilities entitle me to fill this place. Sensible I am that it is surrounded with difficulties and embarrassments; that it requires promptitude of expression, quickness of thought and presence of mind, and that it demands conciliatory manners and instantaneous perception of character, and a considerable knowledge of mankind.

THE BENEFICENT WORK OF MASONRY.
How often has it showered down its golden gifts into the seemingly inaccessible dungeons of misery! How often has it radiated with its beneficent rays the glooms of affliction, and converted its horrors of despair into the meridian splendor of unexpected joy! How often has it, with its philanthropic voice, recalled the unhappy wanderer into the paths of felicity, and with its powerful arm, protected from the grasp of malice and oppression the forlorn outcast of society! Let the widow, the
orphan, the prisoner, the debtor, the unfortunate, witness its beneficent deeds, and in a symphony of gratitude, declare that on the flight of all the other virtues, charity as well as hope remained to bless mankind.

THE DUTIES OF A MASON TO HIS BROTHER.
A Mason is bound to consult the happiness and to promote the interests of his brother; to avoid everything offensive to his feelings; to abstain from reproach censure and unjust suspicions; to warn him of tie machinations of his enemies; to advise him of his errors; to advance the welfare and reputation of his family; to protect the chastity of his house; to defend his life, his property, and what is dearer to a roan of honor, his character, against unjust attacks; to relieve his wants and his distress; to instill into his mind proper ideas of conduct in the department of life which he is called to fill; and, let me add, to foster his schemes of interest and promotion, if compatible with the paramount duties a man owes to the community. If such are the obligations which a man owes to brother, they are precisely the duties that one freemason ought to perform to another. Our Order enjoins them as rules from which nothing can justify a deviation, and considers their infraction a violation of honor; conscience and religion; a prostitution of all that is deemed sacred and venerable among men. But Masonry does not confine the benignity of her precepts to her followers; she rises higher in the scale of excellence, and enjoins the observance of honor, honesty and good faith to all men; she espouses the cause of universal benevolence and virtue; she declares as unworthy of her patronage those who violate the laws of rectitude, and her votaries exemplify in their lives the truth of the remark that, although there are vicious men in the fraternity, yet they are better, than if they were not Masons.
 

THE RELIGION OF MASONRY.
As Christian Masons, acknowledging the divinity of Christ, we have introduced the Bible into our Lodges, to manifest our belief in the doctrines which it inculcates. In like manner the followers of Moses, Mahomet and Burmah may introduce into their Masonic assemblies their Pentateuch, their Alcoran, and their Vedan; and yet the unity of Masonry would remain - the essential principles on which she moves would be the same; she would still declare to her votaries, I regard not to what sect you attach yourselves; venerate the popular religion of your respective countries; follow the light of your understanding; forget not, however, the doctrines of the religion of nature; adore the Great Architect of the Universe, acknowledge the immortal soul, and look forward to a state of future retribution when the virtuous of all religions and countries shall meet together, and enjoy never fading bliss.

Lets us pray for all of those who lost their lives in the past few days.  Keep their families in your prayers too.  Keep a prayer in your heart and minds for all of our service members who may be in harms way.