We recently learned of the passing of Brothers Carl E. Fulling on August 21st, Henry A. Day on September 2nd, and Frank Leach on November 10th. Masonic Services were held November 12th at Waite's Funeral Home in Medina for Brother Glenn W. Jennrich who passed November 8th. Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to the families and friends of each of these beloved Freemasons. They will live on....in our memories.

Due primarily to the Grand Master's One-Day Class last April, membership increased to 339 as of June 30, 2002, up from 326 as of June 30, 2001 – a 4% increase. This is the first net gain since 1991 when membership stood at 435. Grand Lodge experienced a net gain of 2,754 members bringing the total number of Masons in Ohio 131,557 – a 2% increase over the prior year. Grand Lodge states that this is their first net gain in 42 years.

On November 7th, as Worshipful Master Lloyd G. Egbert's year was drawing to a close, he deemed it proper and fitting to confer the Entered Apprentice Degree two more times. The excellent candidates were Mr. Anthony C. Calco and Mr. Gary A. Wagner. Welcome to Medina Lodge, Brethren!

The Grand Masters plaque, the Special Olympics plaque, and the "Building the Pillars of Lodge Leadership and Management" certificate were awarded to Medina Lodge at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge in October. The Grand Master's plaque was awarded for successfully completing all the necessary requirements in the Grand Master's program. The Special Olympics plaque was awarded for contributing $1,000.00 or more to the Ohio Special Olympics in 2002. The Building the Pillars certificate was awarded to recognize the Lodge's continued participation in the leadership and management seminars.

Brother Bob Askew's contributions of time, talent, and labor in the production of the fund raising spaghetti dinner were instrumental in winning the Special Olympics plaque.

Officers Elected
Grand Master: William P. Mayberry, Sr.
Deputy Grand Master: Steven J. Krekus
Senior Grand Warden: Jim S. Deyo
Junior Grand Warden: James M. Williamson
Grand Treasurer: Thomas H. Galyen, P.G.M.
Grand Secretary: George O. Braatz, P.G.M.

Officers Appointed
Grand Chaplain: Dwayne C. Jones
Grand Orator: Michael A. Himes
Grand Marshall: Ronald L. Winnett
Senior Grand Deacon: Charles R. Murphy
Junior Grand Deacon: Terry W. Posey
Grand Tyler: William P. Mayberry, Jr.

Proposed Legislation 2002-A: Code Section 29.06: Increased the purchase price of an Endowed Membership to $800.00 from $600.00 to provide additional annual income for Lodges. The effective date is August 1, 2003.

Proposed Legislation 2002-B: Code Sections 17.01(a) and 17.03(b): Changes certain procedures involved in the consolidation of Lodges.

Officers Elected
Worshipful Master: William C. Thompson
Senior Warden: Roger A. Thomas
Junior Warden: Theodore E. Thomas
Treasurer: Dennis L. Lawson PDDGM
Secretary: Vaughn H. Cover PM
Senior Deacon: Fred H. Justice
Junior Deacon: Robert D. Fenn
Tyier: Bobby J. Askew
Trustee: Lloyd G. Egbert PM

Officers Appointed
Education Officer: Edgar L. Harris PM
Assistant LEO: Robert E. Mackin
Chaplain: Larry B. Donovan PM
Senior Steward: Kevin E. Askew
Junior Steward: Scott E. Buell
Marshall: Earl L. Woodhull
FC Team Captain: Lloyd G. Egbert PM

Awards for Fifty Years of Masonic service were announced for Brothers Homer J. Hosey and Hugh A. Zimmerman.

Brethren who earned awards for Twenty-five years of Masonic service were Ralph A. Berry, Jr., Merlin E. Byrd, Harlen T. Hampton, Daniel R. Hanshue, David R. Hanshue, Kurt V. Korfhage, and William R. Schuster.

STATED MEETINGS
Thursday, December 12th, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 9th, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 23rd, 7:30 p.m.

SPECIAL MEETINGS
Entered Apprentice Degree, Thursday December 5th, 7:00 p.m.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Children's Christmas Party
Sunday, December 15th, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Medina Masonic Temple Dining Hall

Saturday Morning Breakfasts
Saturday December 28th, (Check with Chef Brother Bob Askew first!)
Saturday, January 25th, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Medina Masonic Temple Dining Hall

Masonic Principles Revisited
Brother Charles Donaldson, Master Mason
The Operative Lodge of Dundee No. 47, Scotland
Reproduced with permission from The Ashlar
Issue 5 September 1998
 
Part 3 of 3 parts

The three principal virtues are faith, hope and charity - the third group of four. Faith has variously been defined as belief, trust, devotion and dependence. It is a universal feature of humankind’s response to the presence of the divine in the midst of life. In the words of St. Paul ‘faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen’. Faith is the bond of friendship and a support of society.

Hope is an orientation towards some future event which will radically transform the present order. What is hoped for depends on the specific understanding of reality as displayed by a particular faith, by an individual or by society. Hope is a ground for expectation, trust or confidence. Hope can lead to dissatisfaction with the present order of things and becomes the basis of a liberating or transforming practice.

Charity, or brotherly kindness, is said to be the chief of all the social virtues and ought to be the distinguishing characteristic of every Freemason. Charity is devoted to the promotion of the welfare and happiness of humankind and not for the benefit of the individual. If charity is misapplied it ceases to be a virtue and becomes a folly.

Freemasonry is said to be supported by three great pillars called wisdom, strength and beauty, which have allegorical meanings. This is the last of the set of four.

In pursuing knowledge, the aspirant will find that knowledge, in itself, is insufficient but if coupled with understanding it will produce wisdom. In turn, wisdom gives an inner strength and these two combined will engender beauty, not the beauty of adornment, but the inner beauty of insight. The fact that knowledge expands through time should be a stimulus to those who pursue it and should give them greater wisdom.

Before becoming a Freemason, the candidate must affirm that he believes in a Supreme Being. The Supreme Being takes many forms in the various religions. Within our Volume of the Sacred Law we can see the Deity being transformed from a vengeful personal God of the Old Testament to a universal one of love in the New Testament. The proponents of a spiritual movement known as ‘Process Theology’ argue that god evolves along with men and is no longer thought of as an external, unchanging God. Believers, who are examining their ideas of faith, religion and spirituality on the Internet, which links computers to virtually any source of stored information, are rapidly accepting this view. Ideas can resonate and faith is being shaped by a collective spirit which will bind Christian and Jew, Muslim and Buddhist together. Thefounding fathers of speculative Masonry had thoughts on similar lines for it is seen in Lodges that there are various Volumes of the Sacred Law as, for example, the Bible for Christians, the Koran for Mohammedans, the Bhagauat Geeta for Hindus and the Torah for the Jews.

The concept of morality in the sense of right and wrong remains constant. It is with us today and by the allegory present in Freemasonry, can assist us in living a moral life in our changing society. The tenets of Freemasonry are self evident and still relevant today but only if kept alive by every member of the Craft living up to them. It is imperative that Freemasons cease paying lip service to the principles, translate them into action, and live by them.

Having questioned the relevancy of the principles of Freemasonry in today’s world and for the future, I hope that you will agree that not only are they relevant, but are the essential rock on which to anchor our faith, belief and conduct in society’s changing maelstrom.