may 2014 09bakersfieldmasonicbodies.org/newsletters/may-2014-09.pdf · freemasonry!may 2014 page 2...
TRANSCRIPT
FREEMASONRY! MAY 2014
PAGE 1
The Perfect Ashlar
“.....on which all Masons should test the correctness and value of the tools in which they make their contribution to Masonry as well as to the society in which they reside.....”
FREEMASONRY! MAY 2014
PAGE 2
Save these dates!
April 22 7:00 pmLibertas-Security No. 466
Third Degree for Bro. Joel Helms
Lets all attend and support Brother Joel on this advancement
Fellowship Breakfast8:30 am May 4th
Noriega Hotel, 525 Sumner Street$10 plus $2 tip
Reservations requiredNote: If you make a reservation and are a
no-show you still owe for the meal!
RSVP to Gary Jackson661-345-3320
Kern River Valley No. 827Kernville
First Degree: 7:00 pm, April 21 For those EA’s and others that would like
to see a First DegreeFor EA’s looking to advance watching your degree from the sidelines can be a
great benefit to your memory work.
For additional information contact
Gary Jackson, 661-345-3320 [email protected]
Every Second Tuesday
Elks Lodge, 12616 - 30th Street near the Chester Avenue traffic circle
6:00 pm Steak Dinner$10 - 8 oz.$15 - 16 oz
Fellowship, smoke and adult beverages in the patio after dinner
For more information on this and other Fellowship events
Green Dragon
Fellowship 2014
FREEMASONRY! MAY 2014
PAGE 3
Grand Lecturer’s School of Instruction
On behalf of Worshipful Matt Ross I thank all the Brothers that attended the Officers School of Instruction held by the Grand Lecturer Worshipful Rose. It was very well attended and I believe that everyone came away more informed on the Fellowcraft degree than before. Brothers from Libertas-Security, Kern River Valley and Ridgecrest met Saturday morning in Bakersfield and car pooled to Tulare.**************************************Brother Walter Jones Brother Walt is having surgery on his knee Tuesday, April 15th and will be keeping a low profile for a few weeks. Keep him in your thoughts. I will try to keep everybody informed on his progress.Gary Jackson
**************************************Scottish Games and In-Gathering and the Green Dragon Tavern Masonic Fellowship group... Several Masons and friends of masons were on hand April 5th to help out with the Scottish Games and In-gathering. The Scottish Games benefit several children charities.Those friends and brothers that gave of their time: Bro. Walt Jones, Bro. Steve Hubble and son Steven, Bro. Randy McCormick, Bro. David Patrick, Bro. Don Beauford, Brian Tidwell and Bro Gary Jackson.
Random rants and raves.........
Editor’s Note:
“The Perfect Ashlar” is no longer an official publication of Libertas-Security No. 466, F. & A.M.. Starting with the April, 2014 issue Libertas-Security meetings schedule will be published in the original Kern County Masonic Bodies Trestle Board and will be mailed to every member of record. If you do not receive your mailed Kern County Masonic Bodies Trestle Board contact the lodge Secretary Jimmy Howard.
Two Irish “mercenaries” on the left serving “English” beer at the Scottish Games...who says the Irish can’t get along with anybody!!!
FREEMASONRY! MAY 2014
PAGE 4
If Freemasonry is good, then lets talk about it... DEATH OF A CRAFTSMAN
In Rosslyn Chapel, in Scotland, stands a memorial to the remarkable skill of the stonemason's art. Called the Apprentice Pillar, it might also be called the Pillar of Beauty, for it is an exquisite example of freestone carving by an operative mason. The legend, which may not be as old as the pillar itself, tells of the tragic end of the craftsman who carved it, and the jealousy that caused his murder.
Crime of passion
It begins with a Master Mason who assigns an Entered Apprentice the task of carving the third, and most beautiful, of the central pillars in the chapel. He does not give the Entered Apprentice any instruction in how to carve the pillar, perhaps because he wants the Entered Apprentice to fail at the task. The Master Mason then sets off for a foreign land, ostensibly to study a famous pillar and then bring the design back to the chapel, where he will complete the pillar that the failed Entered Apprentice could not carve. However, upon his return, he discovers that the Entered Apprentice has completed the pillar, and that he has done so with a skill that the Master Mason could never hope to achieve. In his anger, the Master Mason strikes the Entered Apprentice on the forehead with a setting maul, felling him dead at his feet. As a punishment for his crime, the other stonemasons carve a stone head representing the Master Mason along the inner wall of the chapel, with its gaze forever fixed on the Apprentice Pillar. And across from this, they carve another head—one representing the slain Entered Apprentice, with a great wound on his forehead, gazing forever at the stone head of his murderer. The crime and its consequences were carved in stone for all time. Regardless of whether this legend has any basis in fact, the beautiful Apprentice Pillar is still in Rosslyn Chapel, and the stone heads are still looking on after all these centuries. There is a Masonic allusion in this tale, but there is also a deeper Masonic significance in what the story tells us.
Lessons carved in stone
The legend is about the failure of the Master Mason to perform his prime duty of instructing his Entered Apprentice, and, instead, plotting to discredit him and claim the glory for himself. It backfires, and instead of our remembering the great skill of the Master Mason, we remember only his betrayal. The beauty created by the Entered Apprentice is his lasting memorial.
FREEMASONRY! MAY 2014
PAGE 5
The story teaches three Masonic lessons that we should not forget. First, it is the duty of every Mason to empower another Mason to succeed. Every Entered Apprentice is told that his "future moral and Masonic edifice" will be built well and truly if he stays close to the "master builder" in his lodge—symbolically represented by the master of the lodge. That, in turn, requires the master to teach Freemasonry to those in his charge, and particularly to a new Mason. Second, we are taught to circumscribe our passions, and keep them within due bounds. Focused energy is a blessing; unfocused anger and rage is destructive of all societies, and especially of ours. Jealousy has no place in Freemasonry, for—as we are taught—a Mason only succeeds in an environment of those who can work together and agree. Finally, there is another lesson that comes from this old legend of Rosslyn Chapel and its Entered Apprentice Pillar: the lesson of doing what we are expected to do in the best way that we can, regardless of the consequences. It is possible that the Entered Apprentice knew that he would be in trouble if he completed carving the pillar that the Master Mason had expected to complete himself. But he did so because he wanted to create a thing of beauty. That urge overrode any other possibility.
By John L. Cooper III Grand Master, Grand Lodge of California
Apprentice PillarThe most elaborately decorated pillar in the Chapel
This pillar contains one of the most famous and fascinating riddles of the building. An apprentice mason is said to have carved the pillar, inspired by a dream, in his master's absence. On seeing the magnificent achievement on his return, the master mason flew into a jealous rage and struck the apprentice, killing him outright.
FREEMASONRY! MAY 2014
PAGE 6
Insect Trouble
Call Hubblewww.hubble-termite.com
Serving Kern and Ventura Counties!!!
Kern County661-679-7950661-873-4907
Ventura County805-914-9710805-389-0459
What We DoHubble Termite Management specializes in the identification, treatment, and repairs of all wood destroying pests and organisms you might have.
As a family owned and operated company, the Hubble Termite team prefers to treat our customers with the same devotion and respect as we would our own family. Here are some things to expect:
We service all your Pest Control needs.
Free Limited Inspection/Free Second Opinions
Senior Citizen Discounts
• Better Quality• Better Service• Better Prices • Guaranteed!
Masons 4 MasonsSupport THE brothers that support us
To a Freemason it still is!
Remember when this was a binding contract?CMC § 809.220; B.
FREEMASONRY! MAY 2014
PAGE 7
Kern Construction Co.
Bro. David Patrick661-747-1424
General ContractingRemodelsRepairs
CommercialResidential
We do it all at a fair price and on time!!!
To have your business or Masonic Body featured in this publication as well as the Bakersfield Masonic
Bodies and Kern County Shrine websites contact the editor at: [email protected]
Masonic restrictions apply
Steve Sonder - Owner/AgentTRI Canyon Insurance Services
3713 Mt. Pinos Way/PO Box 279Frazier Park, CA 93225-0279
Ph # 661-245-3715Fax # 661-245-3083
“An affiliate of Pacific Interstate Insurance Brokers”
Masons 4 MasonsSupport THE brothers that support us
FREEMASONRY! MAY 2014
PAGE 8
Executive ChefBrother Bruce Tisler
“....the new name for fine dining in Bakersfield....”
Opening late April
Masons 4 MasonsSupport THE brothers that support us