Far Hills Lodge #784 F&AM

Fraternal Greetings from the East

Brethren, I hope that this newsletter finds everyone in good health. If you have not been able to attend the meetings lately, you have been missing out on some great fellowship.

Our awards night went well. Thanks to the Brethren who were able to show up for their awards. Our night out with the Ladies at Ryan’s Steak House was enjoyed by all who attended.

We will be conferring a Fellow Craft Degree on two candidates on May 24th. Please come out and support your Lodge.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate RWB Richard L. Coy for being selected as the Scottish Rite honoree for their spring reunion. WB Thomas R. Spettel was the honoree for the York Rite reunion and Grand Masters Class York Rite conferral and WB Bobby G. Campbell is the Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masons of Ohio. It is quite an honor to have these Brethren as members of our Lodge. I would also like to thank them for all of their countless hours of dedication to freemasonry.

This month Brethren we will be having two work days at Lodge one on May 5th and the other on May 12th from 9am to around 2pm.

NEWS FROM THE TEMPLE BOARD

At the meeting on April 26th, the Brethren voted unanimously to sell the property that use to be the ball field. Yes, we have a buyer. More later.

Temple work day on Saturday, May 12, 2007. Brethren we can use your help.

From the Lodge Education Officer

So many people embark on projects to make changes in their lives, only to get detoured or bogged down in the numerous other things that are in their lives. These can be physical blocks, such as a cluttered living room or kitchen but they can also be emotional
issues, mental clarity or personal relationships. Here are a few guides to simplifying your life of the obstacles that stand between you and fulfillment of your
vision. (continued from last month)

CLEAN HOUSE. A big part of simplifying is to declutter your physical landscape. Start with one small area like the kitchen counter or junk drawer and finish it in one shot. Focus your energy on this one space; don’t think about the messy garage or bedroom closet. You can even invest extra. into your small project such as putting in a drawer liner or organizing tray. This may encourage you to protect it from future clutter. It’s important to come up with a system as you organize and also to take steps to prevent clutter from even coming into your home.

GET A HEALTHY BODY. While you are getting rid of the junk around your house, examine your eating and health habits and start eliminating the junk there, too. Along with limiting caffeine, sugar and alcohol, look at eliminating junk food, tobacco and any other thing that ages, erodes, clogs up or adds weight to your body and puts your health at risk. It’s also good to update your personal appearance.

CLEAR OUT YOUR DEBT. Stop impulse buying and start paying off your credit cards. Establish a budget and start living within your means. Can you imagine all of the free time you’ll gain when you are not worrying about money?

SIMPLIFY YOUR LANGUAGE. Try to speak honestly and directly with courtesy and kindness. Don’t use whiny and apologetic language to ask for what you want (”I wonder if I could possibly persuade you to…”). Get rid of the swear words, hostile comments and the idea that you must voice your opinion about everything. Throw your judgment of others to the wayside.

LEARN TO SAY “NO.” It was probably one of the first words you ever learned, so why are you having so much difficulty using it now? Use it. It’s your life/your time, your resources and you have the absolute right to use it as you see fit.

LIMIT TRADITION. Tradition is wonderful so long as it doesn’t run your life. If a tradition has lost its meaning or purpose and is just a timewaster, then get rid of it. When anyone says “but we’ve always done it this way,” figure out why. If it no longer makes sense/then feel free to walk away or change it.

MAKE TIME FOR YOU. Time is tight for most of us. Make a decision that you will set aside time that is just for you. Start with 15 minutes a day if that’s all you can find. Lock your door/turn off the phone, or whatever it takes, but it’s important to create a space where you can focus on only you. Meditate, pray, write in a journal or eat an apple. Whatever you want to do with your time, do it.

JOKE FOR THE MONTH

A man had been convicted of murder and was about to be hanged. Just before the sentence was executed, the hangman asked the man if he had any last words. “Yes” came his reply, “I hate Masons!” “Why do you hate Masons?” asked the hangman. “The man I killed was a Mason,” explained the murderer, “the sheriff who hunted me down was a Mason, the Prosecutor who tried my case was a Mason, the Judge who presided at the trial was a Mason, and all of the men on the jury who found me guilty and said I should be hanged were Masons!” “Is that all?” asked the hangman. “Yes” replied the convicted murderer. “Then you will advance one step with your left foot.”

Fraternal Greetings from the East

Greetings Brethren, I hope that you are all well. Our Fellowcraft Inspection went very well. I was really proud of all our officers for their hard work. Brother Jack Harless, SD and Brother Michael Perry, SS did outstanding work with the Lecture and Charge, respectively. All the extra practice that we did paid off. It was n ice to see so many of our Past Masters in Lodge and I thank them for their help before and after the inspection. The dinner before lodge was very good.

We will be doing the EA Degree on march 8, 2007 on one candidate and maybe two EA Degree candidates on March 22, 2007. This is a very busy month with the Grand Masters Reception being held on March 17th and the Grand Master’s Class (one-day) on March 31st.

Thank you to all the brethren who have been busy turning in petitions. This is the way we grow and strengthen the Lodge. Brethren, if you know of a good man and think that he would make a good Mason, don’t be afraid to tell him so, and give him a petition. Then, follow up with him to make sure that he turns it in. Remember our motto to take a good man and make him better.

Something to think about: have you uppdated your will? Do you have a will? Come back to Lodge and support your Officers. I hope to see you soon. Thanks to all who are sending in extra money to help support our Lodge. Check the list. Is your name on it?

News from the Temple Board

The lodge inspection and the York Rite Reunion is over, so now we can get back to work with keeping this building in shape. The new lights have provided the lounge, the dining hall and the kitchen with “more light in masonry” for the knife and fork degree.

If weather permits, we will sponsor a work-day on Saturday, March 24th. Check with the WM if you are interested.

From the Secretary’s Desk

The Lodge books and records have been inspected. The financial records have been reviewed. The ritual work has been validated and the inspection has been passed.

If you are due a service award for 25, 50 or more years of membership, let the secretary or the WM know.

We will also accept donations for the support of the Lodge.

Brethren, keep us posted on address changes and health problems. Your Lodge is here to support you. Let us know your needs.

From the LEO

Fact of the Day: Today marks the death in 1746 of Charles Radclyffe. Radclyffe was a staunch Jacobite and fervent Freemason. He founded the first Masonic lodge in mainland Europe, in Paris, and is said to have originated “Scottish Rite” Freemasonry. he met his end after being arrested in 1745 as he tried to join up with Charles’ invading army. He was beheaded at the Tower of London. Read more Masonic history at www.heritage.scotsman.com.

In Memory

Gerald Beckworth Sanders, Sr.
DOB: 09/05/1913 Died: 02/22/2007
EA 04-11-1966 * FC 05-15-1966 * MM 06-27-1966
40 years a member He rests from his labors

Carl K. Ray
DOB: 04/04/1924 Died: 03/03/2007
EA 01-21-1957 * FC 03-18-1957 * MM 10-07-1957
49 years a member He rests from his labors

Joke for the Month

Q: How many Masons does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: Three. One to screw it in, one to read the minutes from the previous light bulb replacement, and one to sit on the sidelines and complain that this wasn’t the way they used to screw in light bulbs.