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.”