Friday, August 22, 2014

Old Tiler Talks: IN MEN'S HEARTS



"Where is the most beautiful Masonic temple in the world?" asked the New Brother of the Old Tiler.

"Wouldn't the answer depend on one's conception of beauty? retorted the Old Tiler. "I might think, and you another, while an architect or an artist might choose still another."

"Well, which one do you choose?" persisted the New Brother.

"I don't!" answered the Old Tiler. "The House of the Temple in Washington is impressive; Detroit has a wonderful temple; Philadelphia's temple is massive and beautiful, the Albert Pike memorial in Little Rock is considered fine. I cannot choose."

"You think it is one of these?"

"No, I am simply trying to oblige," laughed the Old Tiler. "I know three temples which impressed me more than any of these."

"I asked because I am taking a winter vacation. I'd like to see the wonderful temples Masonry has erected. Tell me where your three are located!"

"One temple that to me is great in beauty is in a town of about 2,000 people in the Middle West. The lodge room is over a country store. The floor is bare of carpet. The chairs are plain wood. The heating plant is one large stove; it is the Junior Deacons' business to feed it during the meetings. The walls are stained, the lamps are kerosene, there is no organ or piano and the ribbons in the lodge jewels are frayed. Not very up-to-date, the members of this lodge.

"But this lodge made a boy of twenty-two a Master Mason just before he went to France in the first world war. After Soissons he lay all night on the field with a shattered leg and an arm so badly mangled that later they cut it off. While he lay there he heard familiar words from the familiar burial service of a Mason; 'this evergreen, which once marked the temporary resting place of the illustrious dead is an emblem of our faith in the immortality of the soul.'

"The wounded boy called for help. Came crawling to him was a man slightly wounded, who had said the service over the remains of a comrade. At the risk of his life he hauled the wounded boy to safety. That wounded boy came back to this little country lodge to tell his brethren of what Masonry means in men's hearts when they carry it into the battlefield. As I listened the plain board walls fell away, the deal floor became tessellated marble, the low stained ceiling became a vaulted archway and the Great Architect Himself entered the East Gate.

"Another beautiful temple I only heard of. Civil engineers were building a railroad in the Andes. One of their laborers, a Mason, had fever and had to be sent home. This party of five sat out under the trees and the stars and talked on the square. Each of them gave a month's salary to the sick laborer. He had a wife and two babies in Denver, the wife trying to live in spite of the dread disease Denver's high altitude cures. Our ancient brethren met under the stars, where their 'covering was no less than the clouded canopy or starry-decked heaven.' But none of these ever held a more beautiful lodge than those five young men, filled with Masonic charity, giving each more than he could afford for a day laborer in hard luck, because he was a Mason.

"My third most beautiful temple was made of many little tents. There were children in them; children large and small, and there was no distinction between them of race, creed, color. All a child had to be was poor to have two weeks in the open. Nor was this a lodge charity; it was the work of a Masonic club, and run by individual contributions. As I looked I heard the organ peal as I have never heard it in many temples of stone.

"As a teacher said, 'for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.' Where three, five, seven or more Master Masons gather in the name of Masonry, there is the temple. It is right and wise that we build great temples of stone and carving; which give testimony to all the world that here men gather in brotherhood. Masonic structures play a great part and we could spare them ill. But the greatest Masonic temples are builded in men's hearts.

"If you would visit beautiful temples in your travels. seek less for mighty building and more for a house not made with hands. 'Masonry builds her temples in the hearts of men' and in men's hearts shall you seek for, and find, those most beautiful."

The Old Tiler ceased and looked off into space as if he saw a vision. The New Brother looked at the Old Tiler.

"I do not need to travel far to see one of the most beautiful temples," he said.

Friday, August 15, 2014

From the South


Brethren,

It is my pleasure to bring you the upcoming events for August and the first part of September.

Firstly, Don't forget Union lodge's cave degree event is tonight and Saturday.  The dinner is tonight at Union lodge #38 from 4pm to 7pm, with a Georgia F.C. degree to follow.  Tomorrow's Events will start at 9am. More information can be found HERE.

TAMALES are now up for pre-order.
   Last year we started selling tamales and the results were astounding. These are not small tamales. We make mild or spicy and with or without pork. this fundraiser will be going from now through the holiday season. They are $12.00 a dozen or $20.00 for two dozen.  Call J.W. Dustin Wade at 865-686-2064 to place your order today.

Aug 21st we will be having 2 F.C. Degrees. We will eat at 6pm, Degree at 7pm.

Aug 28th we will be having an E.A. Degree. We will eat at 6pm, Degree at 7pm.

Due to in-climate weather last month, we will be re-hosting our 6th Annual Ice Cream social on Aug 30th This is a free event and we still have a ton of ice cream.

Sept 4th will be our official visit. I would like to see a good turn out this year. This is not just a chance for the grand lodge to grade us; it is also an opportunity for you to get a lecturers or proficiency card and a chance to ask questions.  It is also an excellent opportunity for the rusty mason to get his feet wet again.

Sept 20th we will be having a steak dinner at the lodge from 6pm to 8pm. This will be a true restaurant style, cook to order, all American, STEAK dinner. Sides will be baked potato and salad and yes there will be dessert. Tickets are $10.00, Kids 12 and under are $5.00. Call W.M. Mark Dixon at 865-414-0811 for Tickets and more details.

Don't forget you can sign up to receive Rockford's weekly trestle board on the right hand side of the trestle board page on our website at http://rockfordmasoniclodge469.org/trestleboard.htm.

All dates are also available on our calendar at http://rockfordmasoniclodge469.org/calendar.htm

~ J.W. Dustin Wade


Friday, August 8, 2014

From the West


Brethren,

July was a busy month for us. Continuing our influx of masons, we raised 2 new Master Masons last month. So many young masons have been getting involved and dedicating their time to the lodge and these young men are no exception. They are already great additions to Rockford.

We held our first annual community yard sale last month and the turn out was awesome. Between vendors and visitors, we ran out of parking spaces. All the vendors were extremely thankful for the opportunity and many look forward to participating next year.
  More YARD SALE photos can be found HERE

Another annual event was our 6th annual ice cream social. Unfortunately, due to in-climate weather, the turn out was minimal. We still have a lot of ice cream and will hopeful re-hold the event this month. Watch the "From The South" for more information.
More ICE CREAM photos can be found HERE

The beautiful lights that were made by brothers Joe Mencer and Doug Cable found their way to Sweetwater Lodge on July 18th. A few brethren along with the fore-mentioned brothers, presented the lights to the lodge prior to assisting with a Master's degree. A special thanks goes to brother Andy Swicegood for having us and for his work in that lodge.
 More LESSER LIGHTS photos can be found HERE

Rockford and Prudentia Lodges came together at Prudentia to provide a late luncheon to the area Masonic widows and orphans. We had wonderful food and fellowship and I sincerely hope to see these friends around the lodges more. Our doors and arms are always open.

At the end of the month we held a long over due family night and all I can say is WOW. The turn out was unimaginable.  A special thanks to everyone that attended we look forward to doing this again very soon.
More FAMILY NIGHT photos can be found HERE

Thank you all for an incredible month. Thanks to you Rockford is running strong.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Old Tiler Talks: ATHEIST AND AGNOSTIC


I have had a shock!" announced the New Brother, sitting beside the Old Tiler.

"Shall I send for a doctor?" asked the Old Tiler.

"No, a minister," countered the New Brother. "I just met Smithkins in the lodge. He's a member and I never knew it."

"If you like Smithkins, that must have been a pleasant shock," answered the Old Tiler.

"Oh, I like him all right. But it was unpleasant to find him a member of the lodge. Smithkins is an atheist! He can't be a real Mason."

"Oh! So Smithkins is an atheist. Was he an atheist when he signed his application?"

"Of course he was! He's always been one!"

"Then your course is clear. You should prefer charges against him for un-Masonic conduct and perjury, and have him thrown out of the fraternity."

"But-but why should I do it? Smithkins never did me any harm!"

"Oh, yes, he did! If an atheist lied to gain admittance to the Masonic fraternity, he injured Masonry and injured all Masons, and you are a Mason. So he injured you."

"But, why must I do it? You do it I You know so much more about such things than I do!" answered the New Brother.

"Oh, thank you!" smiled the Old Tiler. "But I know nothing about Smithkins being an atheist. I never met an atheist. I don't know what one looks like. And if Smithkins is an atheist, then an atheist looks and acts just like a theist. Where are his horns and his tail?"

"Oh, don't make fun! This is serious! How can we allow an atheist to continue in membership of our lodge?"

"I don't think we can!" comforted the Old Tiler. "But how can you prove Smithkins to be an atheist? He must have signed his statement that he believed in God when he joined the lodge. Atheism is a matter of belief or non-belief; it isn't a thing you can prove if he chooses to deny it."

"I have heard him say he doesn't believe in the divinity Christ!"

"Oh! Is that what made you call him an atheist? Many thousand Masons don't believe in the divinity of Christ; some are in this lodge. Jews do not; the Chinese do not; Mohammedans do not, but that doesn't mean they don't believe in God."

"But I have heard him say he doesn't believe in the God of the church."

"There is a conception of God in several churches in which I don't believe, either!" retorted the Old Tiler.

 "The God in whom I put my trust is not a vengeful God, swayed by passion or prejudice. The God in whom many good people believe is a terrible God, who gets angry and is revengeful and plans horrible torments for those who do not please Him. Because I don't put my faith in that particular idea of God doesn't mean I don't believe in God. And the people who believe in the Deity as pictured by Calvin and Luther and the Puritans may think my conception of Deity is all wrong, but that doesn't make them call me an atheist.
"The atheist is a curiosity. The very fact that a man says, 'I don't believe in God,' shows that he does. Where does he get his conception of the God he denies? The only real atheist is the man who never heard of God."

"Maybe Smithkins isn't an atheist, but he is an agnostic. He doesn't know what he believes!" defended the New Mason.

"That is different!" smiled the Old Tiler. "The agnostic isn't satisfied with the God of Moses, or the God of Calvin, or the God of Luther, or the God of the Jews, or the God of Jesus Christ. He defines his own God, made according to a formula which suits his particular ego. Let his child be desperately ill or he be in danger of drowning, and you'll hear him. Yes, and the 'atheist,' too! . . . cry to God for help. Luckily for poor impotent humanity the Supreme Architect is a merciful God who hears the cries of His children in distress whether they are simple men you know and like, or strange-minded men like Smithkins."

"Then you don't think Smithkins is a menace to the lodge because he is an . . . because he believes . . . differently from you and me?"

"I do not!" smiled the Old Tiler. "I know Smithkins pretty well. He doesn't lie so he must have some belief, or he wouldn't be a Mason. It doesn't concern us, or the lodge, or Masonry, what his belief is, so it is sincere. It takes all sorts of people to make a world, and if we all thought alike . . ."

"Why, then," interrupted the New Brother, "there would be no use for Old Tilers and their talks to the ignorant!"

"That would be terrible, wouldn't it?" agreed the Old Tiler, as he rose to answer knocks from within.