GLA: Suspension for Non-Payment of Dues

GRAND LODGE OF ALBERTA BULLETIN
VOL. 54, NO. 8, OCTOBER 1989

Suspension For Non-Payment Of Dues

The formal wording sent to a member of the Craft at the end of a year could in some cases be replaced by the following: "we don't know how you are or what your problems are but you haven't sent any money for a while".

The latter sounds as dreadful as the former sounds "official."

Is there any truth to the second statement? Has your lodge already visited each of those members who are now approaching the critical two year period when SNPD becomes effective?

Have you a committee or is it a responsibility of the Senior Officers to check on each person who could be suspended? If not, why not?

There have been concerns expressed for many years on the decreasing membership but is it because of new people not entering, or existing members Icaving the Craft? Have yau checked your lodge records to find out what the pattern is for your lodge? This is not a special year with Olympics, Expositions or Centennial celebrations that can dilute the effort of your lodge. Why not put 100% of your effort into your existing membership-finding problems, proposing solutions, discussing the future and being highly constructive in making the existing membership "Priority One" in your lodge. Then see what happens to your applications for memberships. Perhaps you will be pleasantly surprised.

— The Editor

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in Canada is a time of gratitude for the many gifts given by God to his children during the past year. There is usually a traditional dinner and a gathering of family and friends.

Let each one of us spend a little time considering our blessings and thanking God for a past year, for no matter what misfortune we have had, on this Thanksgiving Day we are still able to articulate our thanks.

It is also a day when we see how many blessings we have that we can dedicate ourselves to sharing with others.

Committee on the Work

There were a number of rulings during the past year by this Committee. These rulings cannot all be published here because of the references to ritual, but they should be carefully studied in your lodge. They are printed and explained in the Proceedings, which are now available through your Lodge Secretary.

The lodge committee, which must be struck to discuss the Proceedings, should pay particular attention to this area as it affects our ritualistic work.

An important change which can be noted here is that the word "traditional" in all the penalties and references to the penalties is now replaced by the word "symbolic".

There are many areas of the Proceedings besides the rulings which should be reviewed for the lodge and page 4 of the proceedings should be read to the members by every Secretary.

FROM THE NOTICES

Charity Brightest Jewel of Masonry

There is a little poem attributed to an unknown poet which goes,

"I sought my soul, but my soul I could not see.
I sought my God, but my God eluded me.
I sought my brother - and I found all three".

Reflection on the thought here expressed leads to consideration of that cornerstone of Freemasonry - Charity - which has been described as the brightest jewel in the Masonic crown, and is the topmost round of the mystic ladder to which Masonic Lodges are always dedicated.

It is unfortunate that the word "charity" has come to be known almost exclusively as liberality to the poor. While a Mason is expected, to the extent of his ability, to lend pecuniary assistance to all those in need, charity has a more noble and more extensive meaning. Originally it meant the purest love for God and man (as in 1 Cor. XIII), which is its Masonic, as well as its Christian application.

Guided by this definition of Charity, the true Freemason will "suffer long and be kind." He will bc slow to anger and easy to forgive. He will stay his falling brother by gentle admonition and warn him with kindness of approaching danger. He will not open his ears to slanders, and will close his lips against all reproach. He will write a brothers vices in water and his virtues in enduring brass. This is the charity that regards all men as brothers and is swift of foot and ready of hand in the cause of a com mon humanity. Such a practice of charity would illustrate the teachings of Masonry.

— Kitchener Lodge No. 195

Anecdote of the Month

Angry businessman on phone: "I don't want to talk to a middleman ... put me straight through to the computer."

MASONIC LIGHT

"Working Together"

All have a share in the beauty, All have a share in the plan. What does it matter what duty Falls to the lot of man? Someone has blended the plaster, And someone has carried the stone. Neither the nvan nor the Master Ever has builded alone. Making a roof from the weather Or building a house for a king Only by working together Have men accomplished a thing.

— Drayton Valley Lodge No. 182

Children's Answers to Religious Questions

• Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark
• The fifth Commandment is: Humour Thy Father and Thy Mother
• Holy Acrimony is another name for marriage.
• Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day - but a ball of fire by night.
• The Pope lives in a vacuum.
• Christians have only one wife. This is called monotony.
• The First Commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.

— High Twelvian, Fall 1987

FROM AFAR

Begorrah! There Was Light!

In going through the Lodge chest of an old Irish Lodge, a block of wood was found, with a length of brass tubing wired to it.

"What on earth was this used for?" In answer to this enquiry, an old veteran of the Craft replied that in his early days some enthusiastic young members sought to brighten up the ceremonies. For this purpose they had filled the tube with gun powder.

"Let there be Light!" the Worshipful Master said, and they set it off.

"And Begorrah! There was Light!", the old Master said, However, the explosion blew out all the windows of the Lodge room. The tube was never used again.

— Quebec Masonic Journal, Vol. 21, Summer 1989

Travellers

Men did not visit or travel much in the Middle-Ages-the majority of men did neither, except in their own neighborhoods; it was because of work and activities of many other kinds (including religion) being organized in guilds and fraternities with each one confined to its own local jurisdiction. A modern workman is free to go and come anywhere in the Nation, a medieval workman was not; he was tied down to his own farm, village, or town and to men five miles away he was a stranger or even a foreigner. To this general rule the Freemasons were an exception, as they were an exception in many other ways also, because any Freemason could come from any other town or even from abroad, and nearly always they did come from a distance; while they were traveling they could visit Freemasons or Lodges wherever they might come upon them, and not only could but were expected to do so, because it was from his traveling Brethren that a Freemason could have the news about his own Craft. When such a traveler arrived he was accepted as a guest as HOSPES, or XENIOS, and treated to hospitality; if he was ill he was nursed, if in need he received relief; and there was little danger of spurious visitors because each Freemason had received the Modes of Recognition under the oath of secrecy and could identify himself wherever he went. This freedom to travel and this right to visit were so necessary to Freemasons that without them they could not have carried on their w ork; being thus an essential, visiting b ecame a Landmark, and has continued to be one ever since.

24th MASONIC SPRING WORKSHOP

The 24th Annual Masonic Spring Workshop held in April is now history. If you were not in attendance, let me share with you some of the activities you missed.

The theme was "Let's talk Charity" and it was certainly timely. Discussion was found in halls and rooms as well as the discussion groups. I feel that good thoughts and ideas were brought forth by many Masons and it is up to us all to use those ideas.

The Schools of Instruction were well attended and a Masonic forum was held for the first time. This brought out a good deal of participatior. No easy solutions were presented at this forum but everyone attending had a much better understanding of the problems. The schoois are the standbys for the workshop and for new officers in a lodge it becomes an excellent method to gain knowledge.

The Masonic Education Session presented by Bro. Cameron Mackay was extremely well attended. Some who had seen it previously enjoyed the presentation just as much the second time.

In closing let me remind you that this year will be the Silver Anniversary of the Masonic Spring Workshop. The Committee will be planning a special program so that this will not be a year to miss.

David E. Ingoe Secretary,
Masonic Spring Workshop

Excepts From A Critique of Freemasonry's Critics

By V.W.Bro. J. Roberts

How do we respond to those who are our profoundest critics outside of Masonry? In the last several years there has been an escalation in the criticism of Masonry by a small but very vocal group of people in our society. I had not realized just how strident this criticism had become until about five years ago, when as Grand Chaplain of Masonry in Alberta at that time, I was asked on two or three different occasions to look at the problem. I was surprised to learn of the extent and the depth of their enmity. I think that most of us know that a lot of criticism of the Craft has been with us for a long time. And we also know that there have been times and places where simply being a known Mason was life threatening, or at the very least, merited social ostracism. As individuals and Lodges, we do not treat the detractors of Masonry very seriously. On the one hand that may be a good thing - but on the other it may do us harm in the long run. We could spend a lot of time build ing fort resses against attack, only to discover that the rabid anti-Mason will always find a way in. We cannot afford to be insular or separated out from the world, for we are a part of that world. But as Masons, we ought to know what our critics are saying for at least two reasons; first: so that we can discern among ourselves the errors in their judgement of the Craft; and just as importantly: examine what they are saying and ask ourselves how responsible we are for those attacks upon us. Perhaps in this kind of exercise, we can frame some kind of uniform response to our detractors.

From The Lodge Notices

The following are some philosophies which I came across that I think you will find are ideals any Mason should practice:

1. 1. Be Grateful: Begin the day with gratitude for the opportunities and blessings. Be glad for the privilege of life and your health to let you work.
2. 2. Cultivate A Yielding Position: Resist the common tendency to want things your own way - try to see the other person's point of view.
3. 3. Govern Your Actions: Cultivate a mental attitude of peace and goodwill towards your fellow man.
4. 4. Give Generously: There is no greater joy in life than to render happiness to others by means of intelligent giving.

So Brethren, I would like you to pick up the phone and offer a ride to a brother, and enjoy the fellowship To, At and From Lodge.

Lloyd G. Cartledge, W.M., Edmonton Lodge No. 7

Anecdote

Mrs. Brown: "Whenever I'm in the dumps, I get myself a new hat"

Mrs. Green: "I was wondering where you got them."

Neil Vester, The Bagpipe