My Brothers, summer is behind us and the wheel of seasons has turned and we find ourselves trying to get things going again, so too turns the wheel of our Masonic ritual. When we went dim in June we had raised three of our own to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in the ancient ceremony that cements the bond between us all and all of the illustrious Brethren who came before us. As we approach another year of Freemasonry we begin again with bringing in men of fine character and demeanor to join us in our labor for the betterment of mankind. As we go through the degrees as a lodge it gives all of the Brethren a chance to learn and delve deeper into our gentile craft. Things we have seen many times over will only reveal their secrets to those who truly invest their mind and spirit into what we do.

This month we will confer an Entered Apprentice Degree on some worthy gentleman who wish to join us. This is a perfect time for Brothers who are in between degrees to watch the degree from the sidelines and re-start their Masonic journey by getting proficient before passing on to the next degree. This is also an opportunity for Master Masons to perfect their craft. I urge the Brothers to step up and raise their dedication to our lodge; take on a lecture for a degree, learn a new lecture you have not done before, volunteer for a committee, investigate a candidate, help an officer of the lodge in carrying out his duty; these things will make you a better man and Mason.

I would like to discuss and try out some of the things that Traditional Observance lodges do in their work. I think the future of Freemasonry revolves around rediscovering practices that have been lost or forgotten. Included with your Trestleboard I have attached a paper that has been a big influence on my Masonic journey and I think can effect yours called “Laudable Pursuit”. Let us all read it and discuss it at our first Stated Communication this month.

There is much work to be done,