Plano Lodge #768

Brethren:

May I be the first to wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

The year before us is a great opportunity of unlimited possibilities.  Where will you be in a year?  Where will the Lodge by in a year?  Choose to make it the best year yet, and recognize that each of us has the power to make it happen.  Make your commitment to move the Lodge move in this direction.

The Grand Lodge has announced that it will not be making a distribution this year from the endowment fund.  However, Plano Lodge is prepared because we raised our dues last year to prepare for the actions we knew the Grand Lodge would have to eventually take.

This is the year for you to make your contribution to the support of Plano Lodge.  We have the opportunity to make great strides this year, so come to Lodge and participate in everything that we have to offer.  I look forward to seeing you.

Fraternally,

JJ Miller
WM, Plano Masonic Lodge

Brethren:

December marks the close of 2008 and WHAT a year it has been.  Like every year, it has had its triumphs and tragedies, its good times, and its hard times.  December is a time to reflect upon the past year and begin looking forward to the next.  It is also a time to reflect upon all God has given us.  It is very easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, pursuing the “next” thing, or working frantically to get everything “checked off” our lists.  We are frequently too hurried, too tired, or too stressed to really enjoy those everyday blessings we have been given.  Each time you see your family and friends this month, take the time to think about what a special gift that person has been to your life, how they have made your life better, and how much that means to you.  These are the real gifts in life.

I want to wish everyone a safe and very Merry Christmas! (I hope everyone who practices another faith will reciprocate with a well wish for their spiritual holiday.)

Fraternally,

JJ Miller
WM, Plano Masonic Lodge

What does Masonry teaches us about death?  During October, November, and December the days grow shorter than the nights and the leaves and summer vegetation all wither and die back.  Many ancient religions believed the these months symbolized the death of the Sun with the longer and longer nights, until it seemed darkness would overcome the Sun completely.

Death is the great leveler.  No wealth, rank, or distinction of honor can prevent its coming.  Its approach is uncertain.  It frequently comes without warning and when we least expect it.  Death reaps its harvest with the scythe of destruction.  No one can calculate when they may fall victim to its power.  The ninth or last class of emblems on the Master’s carpet teach us to reflect and think upon our life’s events and how they will be received before the tribunal of eternal Justice.

The memory of the good and virtuous Mason will always be cherished, and their ashes will be safely deposited in the urn of mortality.  So live your life conscious of the balance between how your choices and actions will reflect upon you once you have passed.  Your family will always remember you longer than anyone else, so give them your first consideration.  It will be your family and friends who, after years have gone by, will reflect upon how you touched their lives and what you meant to them.  And finally, remember that whatever faults and frailties an erring brother may have had, the broad mantle of his charity should cover them.

Live your life accordingly.

Near the light,
JJ Miller

How do you apply each of the working tools to your life?  Which one is your favorite?  Do you use the 24 inch gauge and common gavel?  Do you behave with honor and integrity in all of your duties?  Do you act upon the square and treat people on the level?  Are you spreading the cement of brotherly love?  What are you doing to forge the bonds of brotherhood?

Every day we are presented with opportunities and challenges which we can use to our advantage by applying our working tools.

Each day use the 24 inch gauge to help balance the demands upon your time with your responsibilities.  When someone makes you angry or frustrated, use your compasses to circumscribe your anger and the common gavel to break that anger down into the fine material needed to make mortar.  By using your working tools to redirect negative energy into something productive, you will always come out ahead.

When confronted by something difficult, use your working tools to assess the issues and then resolve the problem.  Use your square to determine each angle of the issue, use the level to compare the equality and justice of different resolutions, and the plumb to be certain the solution leaves your honor and integrity intact.  It is hard to do these things all the time and often we fall short of what we seek to accomplish.  However, the more we practice using our working tools, the better we become at it and the more successful you will be at life.

If you are not using your working tools each day, get started today.  Set to work improving yourself, spend some time reviewing and researching the working tools, and learn how to apply them to your everyday life.  You will be so much better for it.

Near the light,
JJ Miller

Why did you join the Lodge?  Has your reason for staying in Lodge changed?  As an Apprentice, you were placed in the Northeast corner and given instructions upon which to build a moral and Masonic edifice, a floorplan for living a good life.  The questions and answers provided you with the cornerstone, but how much of your façade have you completed since laying that first stone?

Have you actively practiced charity, compassion, brotherhood, temperance, fortitude, prudence, and justice?  And what kinds of materials are you using to build your personal façade?  Are you deliberately taking the extra time to use stone and mortar or are you cutting corners and using wood or straw?  Are you breaking off the rough and unusable parts of the stones so they fit tightly?

Every one of us must strengthen and fortify our character to successfully weather life’s turbulent, rough, and tumble storms.  We must be actively reflecting upon what the esoteric work is trying to teach us about how to craft and place the many stones that compose our whole life.  Do not get in a hurry to complete your great work because you are building a Temple, not a shed.

Every day, take time to work on your Masonic edifice.  Deliberately strive to improve yourself and carefully measure, cut, and place each personal and spiritual stone.  By reflecting upon the lessons of the esoteric work and how you can apply them to the challenges you face each day, you will construct a Temple that magnificently reflects who you are.

Near the light,
JJ Miller

Why do we require candidates to learn the esoteric work? Is it to haze our new Masons or to yoke our members with an additional Masonic burden? Sometimes it may feel this way, but in truth, it has a higher purpose. Teaching the work is what distinguishes Masonry from all other civic groups. It is the starting point used to forge the strong bonds of Masonic friendship, and it is the common bond that unites all Masons. Cutting corners while teaching the work only weakens Masonry in the long-term because it weakens the foundation of our friendships.

Teaching the work is no easy task. It requires 35-60 hours of studying to complete all three degrees. However, during that time you really get to know the candidate and he really gets a chance to know you. By the time you complete the Master’s work, you will very likely have a very good friend due to this shared experience. Being an instructor is your chance to communicate what Masonry means to you, to reflect upon what the lessons of the esoteric work are trying to teach, and then determine how to communicate that to our new brother.

Commit to taking the time to learn the questions and answers and promise yourself to teach a new Mason. For your efforts, you will be richly rewarded with a new friend and you will also be contributing to the long-term success of our beloved fraternity by building a stronger foundation for our brotherhood.

Fraternally,

JJ Miller
WM, Plano Masonic Lodge

Brethren All,

We have recently closed our Grand Lodge annual communication in Waco. During that session some monumental changes in Texas Masonry occurred. For those of you who were unable to attend for various reasons let me inform you of the two changes I think will impact Masonry in Texas the most. First is that it is no longer a Masonic offense to posses a code book of the esoteric work in certain circumstances. Second is stated meetings may now be opened in the Entered Apprentice degree and all business can occur while open in that degree. I know there are strong feelings associated with both of these changes and I will leave that to be discussed in the lodge room.

This is the time of year when families and friends gather for celebrations; the time of year to reflect upon what has occurred during the previous months; the time of year when some see friends or loved ones not often seen; and a time when certain meals or dishes are prepared, that would simply not taste right at any other time. Please savor this time and spend it wisely for you will not get another chance for 12 whole months. Enjoy the season and all it brings. Spend time with those friends and family and reflect on what a great year 2007 has been.

In that spirit December will be a somewhat slow month at Plano Lodge. Our stated meeting will be held on the 13th; on the 20th I expect we will have an Entered Apprentice degree and something different will occur on the 27th. I don’t believe that many would show up at lodge that night, so to bring the friends and families together for a little fun lodge will be dark, but we will be gathering to view the new movie National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Let’s gather to have a little fun with Masonry and rest and refresh ourselves for what I am sure will be a very busy 2008.

In the light,

Chris

Brethren,

I have 2 things to talk about this month. First is a CD that some of you may own titled Hiram’s Call by brother Howie Dameron of Ohio. This was first brought to my attention by Brother Rhett North who performed a song from the CD at our family night in October. The song is about those of us who wear Masonic rings and what they stand for to Brother Dameron. I have been very moved by this song and listen to it often. The next track after this song is Brother Dameron speaking about masonry and what he feels makes a great lodge. Friendship, fellowship, and a true sense of belonging make lodges strong. I know we have that in Plano Lodge. So as Brother Dameron says “let’s continue to practice the successful art of gathering.”

Next, we had an open forum meeting in September and the subject of how Plano Lodge contributes to charitable causes came up. I have heard this question several times, in several ways recently. Some answers to this form of question are that we have semi-annual blood drives that benefit the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. We readily contribute to the relief of poor and penniless Masons and their families. Or simply that we are not a charity, but a fraternity which chooses to sometimes contribute to charitable causes. Hearing this question often and not really being happy with the answers, although all we do are great acts of charity and do true good in the community, I propose this. We manage our financial resources to better maximize return while minimizing risk, and create a pool of funds for charitable purposes. I would like to begin with a “scholarship” to accompany the Lamar awards we hand out each year. This has to be one of the most common fund raising causes for local lodges. It seems most other lodges in our district raise money each year and award 1 or 2 scholarships. Why not combine an award we already present with a monetary award that will provide an investment in young men and women who are of extraordinary character or have overcome hardships to continue with their education. I personally find it embarrassing that all we offer these students is a very nice medal and some paperwork. What a young man or woman graduating high school and continuing their education really needs is money. If we are able to use our resources effectively, we can provide a meaningful award to the students and not just a pat on the back.

Fraternally,

Chris Rhodes

Worshipful Master

Brethren,

I would like to start my column this month by saying Thank You to some of the brethren of Plano Lodge publicly. First I would like to say Thank You to Brother Charles McKay. Brother McKay brought me a situation regarding a Masonic widow here in Plano who was having some financial difficulties. Not only did Brother McKay bring this issue to me he worked with me to uphold our obligation by arranging more monetary help than Plano Lodge could provide on its own and worked with me to see that this issue was resolved in a very positive way. Second I would like to say Thank You to Brother Michael Young, Esq. who has provided the lodge with a contract between it and the Fillmore Pub about to open around the corner. Finally, I would like to say Thank You to Brothers Clay Smith and Jim McBeth. These brothers have taken on the duty of compiling a list of and contacting the Masonic Widows of Plano Lodge. Through their efforts we expect to have about 15 of our brother’s widows join us at the Family Night Dinner in October. Next time you see these brothers please give them a pat on the back for good work they are doing on behalf of Plano Lodge.

If you were at the Lodge meeting on September 20th you know about some of the plans for the enhanced Mentor Program at Plano Lodge. I thought since there were not that many of the brothers present at that meeting I would publish some guidelines for the duties of a mentor. The Mentor has essentially three goals in working with the new candidate:

• provide a personal link between the candidate and the lodge membership,
• provide an individual to whom the candidate can turn to for information, and
• provide encouragement for the candidate to seek Masonic knowledge through education.

Some suggested “duties” of a Mentor are:

• Ask the candidate if there are any special guests he might be expecting and, if so encourage him to inform them of the degree and to invite them to attend,
• On the night of the initiation, greet the candidate and explain to him how he will be dealt with and reassure any anxiety he might have about the ritual,
• Following the degree, reserve a seat next to the mentor for the candidate to take upon being welcomed into the lodge by the Worshipful Master,
• Keep in regular contact with the new member and personally invite him to attend appropriate meetings and gatherings of the lodge,
• Take responsibility for the new brother and insure every effort is taken to keep the new brother engaged in progressing through the Masonic degrees,
• For one year following his receipt of the Master Mason degree, keep in regular contact with the new brother and encourage him to participate in lodge activities, and
• Extend a special invitation to the wife and family of the new brother to attend open lodge functions. Take time to introduce them to other wives and families for their first several visits.

This is an opportunity to create in a new brother a feeling of pride in the Fraternity and aid him in his quest for the genius of Freemasonry. Through this endeavor I believe we can create even more confident and educated Masons in Plano Lodge.

Chris Rhodes

Worshipful Master

Brethren,

It is that time of month when I must put fingers to keyboard and submit a message to the lodge. I normally spend a fair amount of time contemplating what message it is that I want or need to send in any specific month. However, this month such is not the case.

I am a subscriber to Carl Jones’ email lists and recently received a message that I think every brother in Masonry should get. I have chosen to make a paraphrased version of that message the subject of my article this month.

Making Good Men Better

Let me first start at the end of the message with a list of attributes we should strive for younger Masons to see:

• Honor to the fraternity to never let it be defaced by bad intentions.
• Virtuous in our lodges, and in our daily lives.
• Truthful to ourselves about our need to change.
• Fidelity to our practices, so that younger men will want to be like us.
• Courage to speak out when others are not following Masonic principles.
• Loyalty to our brothers in letting them know we care, and are willing to help.
• Patience enough to wait and watch them change.
• Humble enough to accept criticism when we falter, or commendation when we succeed.
• Proud enough to commend the changes we see in our brothers.

This list was preceded by some suggestions of what is “good” for the Lodge and what is “not good” for the Lodge. Many of the “good” suggestions are practiced at Plano lodge, and many of the “not good” suggestions are also not practiced at Plano lodge. However, I feel the need to point out some items of both categories that I feel we can improve upon.

As an Entered Apprentice Mason we are taught that “a lodge is …a place where Masons meet for work” and as a Master Mason “… of who can best work and best agree”, of course we are all imperfect and striving learn to be the as perfect as possible. To that end I feel that we can improve in “Counseling”, “Edification of another”, “Controlled discussion of differences”, “Attitudes” and “Other profanity”. These items have been lifted from the afore mentioned email along with a short description.

Counseling – When a brother who is normally at lodge is absent for an extended time (for no apparent reason) we should be worried about him. We help our own first, and we worry about them when they are not with us.

Edification of another – There have been times that negatives were spoken about a Masonic issue, and younger masons started chiming in with their own negative views about Masonic issues. This cannot happen. The only way to prevent this is to ensure all do not get this kind of conversation started.

Controlled discussion of differences – Craft your discussion without emotion, or just say you don’t agree but cannot verbalize it. Keep the level of discussion to the point.

Attitudes – Please leave them at the door. All masons should have similar thoughts in mind when attending lodge. And remember, you represent your lodge when you do ANYTHING.

Other profanity – NO PROFANITY IN THE LODGE WHATSOEVER!!!

To make good men better, it takes “better men” to be role models for the “good men” to see and learn from. This is not a place where you “let your hair down”; it should be a haven clear of all negatives toward each other. We must all “mind our manner’ when in lodge or fraternizing with other Masons.

From the East,

Chris