As I was watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade this year, I was struck by the Xfinity commercial where Santa and his elves were trying to come up with the greatest gifts for 2020, the year when normal gifts just won’t do. They came up with a way to package experiences like “Grandma’s cookies” and “togetherness.”
Of course, I couldn’t help but think of Masonic brotherhood and the fraternal bonds that unite us and the challenges that we’ve had this year. What’s the best way around this? For me, it’s been exploring the virtual offerings of Freemasonry. Here are a few that helped tide me over this year and will help in December as we meet only virtually.
1) Review the Speakers’ Bureau – some of these can do virtual meetings and may be a good opportunity: https://oh.grandview.systems/resources/196
2) Sign up for AASR Valley of Dayton’s virtual St. John’s Day experience on Dec 30 (open to Master Masons and special beverage recipes will be included!): https://daytonaasr.org/events/2020/12/virtual-st-johns-day-observance-with-chad-e-simpsong/
3) Check out the educational materials on Grandview for your lodge: https://oh.grandview.systems/resources/232
4) Learn new lectures/charges or start on the code/Royal Scofield Society courses on Grandview.
5) Explore Masonic readings online – here are a few free ones that I’ve explored (all count as readings for Royal Scofield Society!):
- The Masonic Initiation by W.L. Wilmshurst: https://archive.org/details/The_Masonic_Initiation_-_W._L._Wilmshurst/page/n1/mode/2up
- The Freemason’s Monitor by Thomas Smith Webb: https://archive.org/details/freemasonsmonit00webbgoog/page/n20/mode/2up
- The Genius of Masonry by Samuel L. Knapp: https://archive.org/details/geniusofmasonryo00knapiala/page/n6/mode/2up
6) Check out a Masonic podcast like the following:
- Whence Came You
- Worthy and Well Qualified
- Winding Stairs
- Masonic Roundtable
Whatever you do, keep reaching out to fellow Masons and make sure that you still connect to fellow brethren. Call your fellow brethren from lodge and meet virtually. If you need other ideas, please feel free to reach out to me or any of the other District Education Officers to help best we can.
We’ll see you soon in lodge!
Fraternally
Alf Butler
District Education Officer
Second Masonic District
Brethren All,
I know for many of you that this has been a very trying time, being shut off from our daily life and activities that we enjoy. However, we have been given new opportunities to explore new ways of staying active with our Masonic life. Some Lodges have started having business meetings on Zoom. This has been an incredible way of staying active and of staying in touch with each other. Even if no business takes place, having the ability to check in with your brothers to see if they are doing well will always put a smile on their faces.
This situation has opened up all kinds of educational items that I would highly encourage each of you to take part in. One is ‘Thursday Night at the Rite.’ The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction is offering this program. Every Thursday night at 7pm and 9pm a different degree is shown, for credit, too assist you in continuing your Scottish Rite journey. In the coming weeks, they will be showing the 12th, 31st and 15th Degrees. You must be a Scottish Rite Mason to view these programs. To get credit for viewing these degrees, please visit scottishritenmj.org/passport and follow the steps on the online form.
A new program that is being offered is the Speakers Bureau for your Lodge’s Zoom meetings. This a great way to offer your Brethren outstanding Educational Programs. You can find the list of approved speakers under the “Resource” tab in Grand View. If you need any help, please free to contact me and I will point you in the right direction.
For many of you that are officers in your lodge, or might be, these past several weeks have been a tremendous chance for you to learn a new Lecture or Charge. The Past Masters of your Lodges are always willing to help you along your path to the East. Also, its a has been a chance for the current officer lines to look at their duties for the coming year. Always remember, the hardest part of learning the Ritual is opening up the book.
Brethren, we are coming to the end of this long and difficult time and light at the end of the tunnel is near. When we get to that time, please use basic common sense in maintaining good practices of safe distances and good hygiene. Only then, we will once more be together again an enjoy our fraternal bonds.
In closing, it has been an honor to serve you, the Brethren of the Second District, as one of your District Education Officers this year. If I can be of any help to you or your lodge, please don’t hesitate to each out to me. As always I look forward to one day being with you all in Lodge and be able to shake your hand.
Fraternally,
Jamie Kilburn
District Education Officer
Second Masonic District
Brethren,
The new Masonic year is upon us, and your DEO’s would like to wish you all the best for the coming year. Set large goals and never hesitate to achieve them. The success of our lodges, our district, and our Grand Lodge is in the hands of each individual brother. To aid you in your preparation for the coming year in your lodge, the DEOs are again offering training for all the Wardens, Deacons, and LEOs in the district. This annual training will be held in conjunction with the Past Masters’ Convocation at the Hamilton Masonic Center on Saturday, December 7, 2019. Registration will begin at 8 AM, with the sessions beginning at 9 AM. The individual sessions should be completed by noon. All Wardens, Deacons, and LEOs are REQUIRED to attend these valuable and informative training sessions.
Again this year, the DEOs will be presenting DEO Education evenings throughout the Second District on the following dates:
Tuesday January 21, 2020: Alpha Lodge #729
Tuesday March 24, 2020: Englewood Lodge #743
Thursday May 7, 2020: Minerva Lodge #98
All three sessions will begin at 7 PM, and all brethren are invited to join in on these educational sessions. Representation of all District lodges at these sessions is highly encouraged and appreciated. Greater learning is had with a wider diversity of points of view at each of these educational evenings. Topics for each of the sessions will be announced at a later date.
Hearty congratulations go out the the following Brethren for earning membership in the Royal Scofield Society during its inaugural year:
RWB David Daugherty Washington #17
WB Taylor Kleineick High Point #773
Bro. Brian Slone Farmersville #482
“Give the brethren a chance to do something, anything, no matter how small or unimportant. A Brother convinced that he is helpful is enthusiastic.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt
“Not all Masons are obligated on the Christian Bible. Masonry is universal and men of every creed are eligible for membership so long as they accept the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. Therefore, the candidate should be obligated on the Book of the Sacred Law which he accepts as such since his obligation is a solemn and binding one.” ~ George Washington
Fraternally,
Rob Brower
District Education Officer