Lodge Motivation via the PTSD Project Video

Phenomenal Lodges attract Phenomenal men.  Phenomenal is earned, it does not come easy.  But if you sit on the sidelines and expect someone else to make your lodge phenomenal, it will not happen.  If you wait for those older or more experienced brothers to come up with the plan or ideas, you will wait forever.  YOU are the key to your Lodge's success.  YOU are the key to attracting phenomenal when you take the drivers seat and press the gas pedal to move things forward.  Your momentum, your motivation will motivate others who may need that subtle nudge.

You need to use the difficulties and adversities, turn them into strength and motivation to succeed.  There are so many opportunities in front of you.  You need to make that sacrifice, to sacrifice  you time and your effort to make it happen.  You have to be willing to fight for it and to make it happen despite the naysayers.  You have got to start saying YES to the goals of your Lodge and leave no opportunity behind you.  If no one shows up to your event, plan another.  You can not quit, you have got to make it known that you want to succeed and that energy, that motivation, over time, will be contagious.

The beginning of a Lodge in 1916

A new Lodge in Evanston

In February of 1916, a number of Masons got together to start a new Lodge in Evanston.  The Lodge was yet to be named, but the work was set in motion to make their dream a reality.  The record book was opened and their work was written.  The first minutes as printed in the records are as follows:

Evanston, Illinois

February 5, 1916

On February 5^th, 1916, the following Masons met at the Masonic Hall, 810 Davis Street, Evanston, Illinois.

Brothers              Geo. F. Baker

                                Wm. Balhatchet

                                Wm. D. Barnes

                                H. E. Bent

                                E. J. Brown

                                W. A. Carauagh

                                Carl M. Cooley

A.      W. Copeland

Chas. W. Davidson

E. D. DeMoe

Wm. D. Dickson

A.      G. Fraser

E. G. Gross

Wm. P. Gunthorp

A.      W. Hoffman

D. R. Hopkins

Marvin C. Hull

Chas. C. Kanin

Brothers              E. H. Merchant

                                S. A. Poe

                                T. S. Roberts

                                Lester Soule

C.  K. Thomson

Geo. F. Tyson

T. J. Williams

Meeting called to order by Brother Tyson

Motion made and seconded that Brother Tyson be made temporary chairman.  Motion carried

Motion made and seconded that Brother Cooley be made temporary secretary.  Motion carried

Motion made and seconded that meeting be held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.  Motion Carried.

Motion made and seconded that a committee of three be appointed by the chairman to consider a name and report on same at the next meeting.  Motion carried. 

Brother Geo. F. Baker, Wm. P. Gunthorp and Chas. C. Kamin selected by chairman to act as this committee.

Motion made and seconded that a committee of three be appointed by the chairman to suggest officers and report at the next meeting.  Motion carried

Committee appointed was Brothers T. J. Williams, S. A. Poe and D. R. Hopkins. 

Motion made and seconded to appoint a committee to secure more members.  Carried.

Chairman appointed all present as active members of this committee. 

Motion made to rescind motion making meeting nights the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.  Motion seconded.  Motion carried.

Motion made and seconded to make the first and third Wednesdays of each month, meeting nights.  Motion Carried

On advice of the Grand Lodge Committee, each brother present gave his experience in Lodge work as follows:

Brother                     Bent                      held no office

                                Thomson             Chaplain

                                Balhatchet          Deacon

                                Brown                   No active work

Brother                    Hull                        No active work

                                Merchant            Floor work

                                Gunthorp            No active work

                                Hopkins                No Active work

                                Copeland             No active work

                                Dickson                Instruction

                                Carauagh             No active work

                                Poe                        Stewart and assisted in team work

                                DeMoe                 No active work

                                Davidson             No active work

                                Baker                    Wardens & Secretary

                                Kamin                   No active work

                                Barnes                  Floor work

                                Hoffman              Master

                                Soule                     Junior Warden & Team work

                                Fraser                   No Active work

                                Gross                   Wardens             

                                Roberts                No active work

                                Williams               No active work

Motion made and seconded to extend a note of thanks to the Grand Lodge Committee.  Motion carried

A call for volunteers to attend school of instruction on Wednesday night, the following Brothers responded, Baker, Balhatchet, Brown, Carauagh, Copeland, Davidson, Fraser, Gross, Hull, Kanin and Soule.

Motion made and seconded to adjourn until Wednesday, February 16^th, 1916.  Motion Carried.

Meeting Adjourned.   

                               

Foundations of Obligation

And to keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same...

Brethren, We are men with one thing in common, we have all placed our hands upon a Volume of Sacred Law a minimum of three times, some of us many more, and have taken a solemn oath and obligation in the eyes of the Great Architect to live by a certain moral and ethical code. 

We have made a pact with the Creator that we will abide by a set of rules, which in my eyes, is supposed to set me a step above men that are yet uninitiated.  Why do I say that?  Because, the profane can live by those same moral codes.  I say that because we MUST live by that morality we have sworn to abide by.  We do not have a choice, lest we break that pact with the Creator.

We as Masons, of our own free will and accord, have obligated ourselves to lead a life of chivalric value.  In a nutshell, what are those values that we have so often heard while at the alter?  They are similar to the codes and values to the Knights of history. 

The Knights Code of Chivalry and the vows of Knighthood

The Knights Code of Chivalry described in the Song of Roland and an excellent representation of the Knights Codes of Chivalry are as follows:

·         To fear God and maintain His Church

·         To serve the liege lord in valour and faith

·         To protect the weak and defenseless

·         To give succour to widows and orphans

·         To refrain from the wanton giving of offence

·         To live by honour and for glory

·         To despise pecuniary reward

·         To fight for the welfare of all

·         To obey those placed in authority

·         To guard the honour of fellow knights

·         To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceit

·         To keep faith

·         At all times to speak the truth

·         To persevere to the end in any enterprise begun

·         To respect the honour of women

·         Never to refuse a challenge from an equal

·         Never to turn the back upon a foe

Of the seventeen entries in the Knights Codes of Chivalry, according to the Song of Roland, at least 12 relate to acts of chivalry as opposed to combat.  (http://www.lordsandladies.org/knights-code-of-chivalry.htm, 8/14/2014)

While the vows we took in our three degrees, or 7, 13 or 32 degrees, are not verbatim, the basis or the foundation are similar. 

This is not a code that is exclusive to western civilization, what we as westerners know as Chivalry, those with a knowledge of Eastern history, know an evolution of behavior existed concurrently with the age of chivalry, on the other side of the world.  The Code of Bushido a strict code that dsemanded:

·         loyalty ·         devotion ·         obedience ·         duty

·         filial piety ·         respect ·         self sacrifice ·         honor to the death

The code embraced seven virtues, which were:

·         Gi - Rectitude

·         Yu - Courage

·         Jin - Benevolence

·         Rei - Respect

·         Makoto - Honesty

·         Meiyo - Honor

·         Chugi - Loyalty

Samurai Bushido can be summed up in four main principles of a strict military code of honor and devotion:

1. Frugality - Living simply no matter of your wealth nor stature in life.
2. Loyalty - Devotion and obedience to your lord
3. Martial Mastery - Learning to fight with weapons and without
4. Honor to the Death - A dishonored warrior's only redemption was seppuku

(http://www.bigbearacademy.com/bushido-code.html)

The concept even existed within early 15^th century (and earlier) Albanian / Islamic cultures as the pillars of Kanun suggest (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanun_(Albania) ):

·         Honour

·         Hospitality

·         Right Conduct

·         Kin Loyalty

And the bebouin concept of Diyafa (hospitality):  a virtue closely linked to sharaf. If required, even an enemy must be given shelter and fed for some days. Poverty does not exempt one from one's duties in this regard. Generosity is a related virtue, and in many Bedouin societies gifts must be offered and cannot be declined. The destitute are looked after by the community, and tithing is mandatory in many Bedouin societies. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honor_codes_of_the_Bedouin)

The concept of Chivalry and Honor transcend the vastness of the globe and evolved concurrently across cultures.  Why is it so foreign to us as men in the 21^st century?

If we are to survive as an organization, we need to get back to the basics and embrace the oaths and obligations we have sworn to live by.  We need to set aside our petty differences and embrace each other as brothers.  We need to set aside the politics which we encounter and learn to find resolutions though the subduing of our passions.  We need to use these obligations to improve ourselves as men thus improving ourselves through Masonry.  We need to show the new people that come to our light, that we actually live by these obligations and not just go through the motions.

We as the Masters form the perfect ashlars through example.  Young men are impressionable and look to their elders as role models.  If they see that we, as the leaders of the Craft, do not take our obligations seriously, they quickly learn by that example and soon follow suit.  Many of the men that come to us, may not have had strong male role models in their lives, many may have been the product of single parent households.  They look at what the veteran members do and often follow our lead by the examples we set. 

I can reasonably say, I may not believe that the wrath of God will come down upon you for not being true to the obligations which you took, but the honor you keep as a man may wane if you yourself do not take that honor seriously.   

Look deep into yourself, re-read some of the many obligations which you swore before your Creator that you would keep and perform the same, and ask yourself, is that me?  Am I living by those furthermores? 

Read the charges of each of those degrees.  The charge, a duty or a responsibility laid down and entrusted to you by the Craft, just as beholden as the obligation itself.  Read that Charge and ask, am I living that life?  Do I deserve to wear that ring which I have placed on my finger?  The ring which serves to remind me of my Masonic vows, just as a wedding band serves to remind a man of the vows which he took to his life partner? 

We are, or rather should be, that League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.  We should be looked upon as men of honor, men who are solemn to their vows, who can be trusted unconditionally on their word.  We once were, if we are to survive, we need to regain some of that valor. 

I am not perfect, I stray from living in the light as I have vowed to do, none of us are.  But to make the attempt, to try is all one can ask for.  To try would symbolically be the common gavel, stripping away the superfluities and vices of life, thereby making our minds, the living stones we have become, to better fit into the foundation of the temple which we strive to lay down as leaders.  Without those foundational stones, fitting perfectly, the foundation cannot be built.  Without the foundation, how do we as Masons, as Masters,  even begin to build a Temple?  

To Heal or Hail, Confusion Worshipful!

At one point in my life, I recall promising to hele something.  The first thing which ran through my head when I heard that I would always “hail” secrets, was, “huh”?  Hail the secrets?  What does that mean? 

For the most part, I can deduce what it means from the context of the paragraph in which it is found, but does that suffice?  Not for me, I see through my travels as a Master, that most people have an inkling of it’s meaning but do not have a command of it.  Furthermore, I have found extensive Masonic papers written about this one word, so I thought that I would throw my two cents in to the kettle. 

The Oxford English Dictionary indicates that the verb “hele” comes from the base Old English word “helan”.  Both the Oxford and the Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary indicate that the word and its root mean to conceal, hide or cover.  This is what I had deduced from the context. 

In its earliest transitive form, it meant, “to cover with”, “to conceal”.  This was noted from the period between 825 and 1200 AD.  Masonically, it is found in the second oldest Masonic manuscript, the Cooke MS of about 1450AD.  “…he can hele the councell of his fellows in logge and in Chambre…”.  According to research done by Brother Yoshio Washizu of the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon, in his paper, Notes on “hele”, the word is subsequently found numerous times in Masonic texts which allude to the same meaning.  However, the spelling of “hele” varies from dialect and location.  It is often seen as “hele”. “heal” and “hail” depending on who wrote the text and where.   

How it is pronounced is just as varied under the same circumstances, depending on period and location.  According to masonicdictionary.com, modern English dictionaries indicate that the correct pronunciation is HEEL, though this may be contradictory to common pronunciations used in the west of England and in the Cornish Country where it is pronounced as HALE.  Confusion Worshipful!

The primary thing to keep in mind is that the English language has gone through significant changes over the past few centuries.  Hele, being such an archaic word, it is possible that the pronunciation has changed over the centuries.  Quite often Old English words were spelled phonetically, which is noted in the writing styles of the 15^th – 17^th centuries. 

The Oxford English Dictionary, being an authority in pronunciation of English words, has hele being pronounced as “Hi:l”  or HEAL.  Though in early Masonic text, the spelling of the word attributes to the pronunciations of HEEL and HAIL, which according to the Wright English Dialect Dictionary was not uncommon, depending on when and where the texts were written.  Certain locations in England were known to pronounce the word as such. 

Confusion continued with the pronunciation of the word throughout the United Grand Lodge of England during the early 19^th century with most Masonic Scholars and Ritualists preferring to use the HAIL pronunciation, but without formal written edict from any source.  Because of this, up to the late 19^th century, a Mason would still see and hear both. 

At this point, up to the early 20^th century, it seems that both pronunciations were sanctioned based on a number of variables such as the scholar you talk to, the Lodges, the locations and the context in which is it used.  For Example, in many modern Masonic rituals, rhymes were often employed to assist in the mnemonics. 

In the works of Bro. Washizu,

It seems that originally the three words, "hele," "conceal" and "reveal," used in our ritual were likewise meant to rhyme. "A practical purpose was intended-that of making a special mark on the hearer’s mind, and fixing the three words in his memory," says Bro. Bernard E. Jones.

If the original intent is to be maintained, therefore, they should be pronounced to rhyme, whether with "heel" or "hail." "But," he continues, "if they are to be intelligible, then the old pronunciation ['hail'] is quite out of the question. 'Hale, consale and never revale' would either be meaningless, or would invite a smile at a point in the ceremony where least desired."

Bro. E. H. Cartwright is of the opinion that it should be pronounced "heel" and that if a Master likes to affect the archaic form of the word, "he should at least be consistent and say, 'hale, consale and never revale,' thus preserving the jingle that with little doubt had its attraction for our predecessors of two hundred years ago." 

Bro. Harry Carr is also inclined to support the pronunciation "heel" given in the Oxford English Dictionary. He says, "We use an archaic word, out of sentiment perhaps, but I see no reason for maintaining the archaic (or doubtful) pronunciation, when all the rest of our ritual is in modern usage."

To sum up, the word "hele" may be sounded "heel" or "hail." But if we are to have the three words, "hele," "conceal" and "reveal," rhyme in our present-day working, it should be pronounced "heel."

So there you have it, the confusion continues with that tiny little four letter word.  HEEL (HEAL) or HALE (HAIL), both seem to be correct depending on the variables in the context and environment.  The one thing that we can but sure of, is that in our ritual texts, it is spelled HELE and the meaning is still of the utmost important to us in the Craft.