MEDINA LODGE NO. 58, F. & A. M.  Dispensation Granted  Monday, January 31, 1820 Chartered Tuesday, December 12, 1820

News from the Southeast Corner

Lodge votes a $10.00 per year Dues Hike

At the September 11, 2003 Stated Meeting the membership present heard arguments for and against raising annual dues. When the vote was taken it was unanimous in favor of raising annual dues to $60.00.

Lodge Votes to Remain at Medina Masonic Temple

After hearing the report of the Long Range Planning Committee (reproduced below) given at the September 11, 2003 Stated Meeting, the members present voted unanimously to continue to occupy the Medina Masonic Temple building and proceed with programs to provide monies to maintain, repair, and restore the historic structure.

Calendar of Events

STATED Meetings
Thursday, October 9^th, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 23^rd, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 13^th, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 11^th, 7:30 p.m.

SPECIAL MEETINGS
Installation Of Officers
Saturday, November 29^th
Lodge opens at 5:00 p.m., Dinner at 5:30 p.m., Installation following dinner

Awards Night, Thursday, December 4^th, 7:00 p.m.

Special Events

Saturday Morning Breakfasts
October 25^th, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
November 22^nd, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
December 27^th, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Medina Masonic Temple Dining Hall

October Dinner to be Held
Saturday, October 11^th, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Roast Beef Dinner
Spaghetti & Meat Balls Side Dish
$8.50 per Plate
Medina Masonic Temple Dining Hall
 

·           

Long-Range Planning Committee Report

There were only 56 returned surveys out of 320 sent out.  That represents a return of 18%.  Statistically the number of responses collected is sufficient to produce a substantially reliable basis on which we can make decisions.  However, we must consider the return percent, those who were more or less likely to return the survey, and other variables, which may skew the results one way or another.  The following conclusions can be safely made from the data collected.  There is a majority of members who would like to stay at Medina Masonic Temple if finances were not an issue.  Although there is support for some dues increase, the potential loss of members is greater than the gains of an increase.  For example, an increase of $ 15.00 in dues would net a loss of 70 members according to the survey, however, the survey's accuracy to forecast this event is uncertain.   There is not significant support for a tax deductible building foundation, although there are members who would commit to annual contributions to such a foundation.  Finally, a strong majority supports a continued rental relationship with other Masonic bodies.  Our committee has used these results and other information to conclude the following:

First, let's answer the question "Can we afford to stay at the temple?"  In the financial summery we explained that the lodge is running a $ 5,000.00 /year deficit and the Temple Company is running a $15,000.00 / year deficit.  Therefore, to stay at the temple we need to increase revenues by $20,000.00 / year at a minimum. 

The New Office rent is $8,400.00 / year, which leaves $11,600 / year to make up.  The theatre annex has been rented for $30,000.00 / year for 5 years.  That would give us a growing reserve of $18, 400.00 / year to put away for extraordinary expenses without forming a tax deductible building foundation, without raising dues, and without raising rents of the other bodies.  So, the short answer to the question is yes, we can afford to stay at the temple.  However, we must remember that our survival at the temple will remain dependent on rent from other Masonic bodies as well as keeping the office space and the theatre annex rented!

      Next we must explore the possibility of selling the temple and building a new facility at another location.  There are two possible outcomes for selling the Temple.  One is that we find a piece of property to buy and build a new facility on it.  The other possible scenario is to join resources with the Western Reserve Masonic Community and create a new Temple on their campus.

First, let's explore the idea of finding property and building our own new Temple.  Using the most conservative dollar amounts and time frames we are looking at a minimum of $ 650,000.00 and 4 years to complete.  Assuming we could find the land and obtain the loans to proceed with a modest initial investment the cost of the mortgage would run upwards of $ 36,000.00 per year not including the operating costs or any maintenance costs.  Again we would be faced with the prospect of renting out our facility to make ends meet.

Now let's explore the possibility of pooling resources with the WRMC and OMH.  The Ohio Masonic Home, through the Western Reserve Masonic Community, is going to build a brand new Masonic Temple on its campus.  They have been approached by at least seven different Masonic Organizations about such a facility.  The timetable for its completion is 4 to 8 years from the date planning begins.  The new Temple there would be owned, maintained, and operated by OMH.  Masonic bodies that meet there would be lessees of the facility.  Here again it would involve capital investment, but in this scenario there would be a pooling of resources defraying the impact on any one organization.  The significant issue here is that this Temple will be built with or without the interest of Medina #58.  The significance is that when it is completed, if we have chosen to stay here at this Temple or if we have built our own New Temple, we will be faced with the prospect of competing for the rental dollars of other Masonic bodies, or developing a marketing strategy that will provide a sustainable flow of income from outside sources through rental or other incomes.

Given the above information it is clear that in the short-term at least we can afford to stay here at this Temple.  However, all of this information raises a new question.  Do we begin spending the new rental incomes on the restoration of Medina Masonic Temple or do we pursue any of the other opportunities and only spend the money required to maintain the Temple until a New Temple, either our own or one at WRMC, is completed?  The choice, brothers, is yours to make and we, the members of this committee, have done our best to provide you with sound information to assist you in making your decision.

We, the members of this committee, recognize that we were charged to give a preliminary report as of today's date with a final report due by the first stated meeting in January, however, we feel that we have accomplished our goal at this time.  We respectfully submit this as our final report.

Sincerely,

Bro. Bob Askew, Chairman,      WB Vaughn Cover,      WB Jim Gilbert,     Bro. Douglas Shuler

·           

Lodge Vitruvian - A New Kind of Masonic Lodge
By Jeffrey D. Naylor, Grand Lecturer; Grand Lodge of
Indiana, and Worshipful Master,Lodge Vitruvian No. 767, Indianapolis
[Published in the Winter 2002 Indiana Freemason]

In his book More about Masonry, the eminent Masonic scholar H. L. Haywood writes, "It is written in the first paragraph of the account of the founding of the Mother Grand Lodge in 1717 A. D., as published in the Book of Constitutions, that the old lodges in London had two (and only two) purposes in constituting a Grand Lodge: one was to establish a center of union and harmony, the other was to revive the Quarterly Feasts!" It is those two purposes that led to the establishment of Indiana's newest lodge, Lodge Vitruvian No.767 in Indianapolis.

The idea for Lodge Vitruvian began when W. Bro. Eric Schmitz of Bloomington and I began discussing our ideas for a lodge that would operate under what has come to be known as the "European Concept". This is discussed in the excellent paper, "Back to the Future - A Prescription for Masonic Renewal - The 'European Concept' Lodge Model" by W. Bro. Kent Henderson, Past Grand Sword Bearer of the Grand Lodge of Victoria, Australia.

European Concept lodges are dedicated to a number of primary tenets:

 •     Dignity and high standards are to be maintained by the lodge at all times.

 •     Nothing short of excellence in ritualistic work is acceptable.

 •     Candidates are advanced only after undertaking an intensive Masonic education

       program and proving themselves proficient in open lodge.

 •    The lodge always enjoys the fellowship of a traditional Festive Board following

       meetings of the lodge.

 •    Members are expected to dress properly to attend to the duties of the lodge.

 •    A lodge of this caliber must be paid for by its members.

Our first organizational meeting was held on May 5, 2001 at the Broad Ripple Masonic Temple in Indianapolis with W. Bros. Schmitz, Nathan Brindle and Chris Hodapp and myself attending. After a number of discussions finalizing our concept, we began recruiting in earnest and made application to then Grand Master Richard Wierzba for a dispensation that was granted on August 8, 2001. We received our permanent charter this year on May 22nd at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Indiana. Our Lodge was consecrated to the Glory of the Grand Architect of the Universe on August 17, 2002.

Lodge Vitruvian is dedicated to Masonic fellowship, to Masonic dignity and to Masonic education. Our Latin motto is Moniti Mehora Sequamar (Let us, being admonished, follow better things.) Following each Stated Meeting, held at the Broad Ripple Masonic Temple in Indianapolis, we adjourn to a local restaurant to enjoy a traditional Festive Board. This is a Masonic feast where we dine together, take wine together and celebrate the ceremony of the seven toasts. We hear the presentation of a speech or paper on some matter of Masonic philosophy, history or tradition for the enlightenment of the Craft. We also pass the Box of Fraternal Assistance to donate to some worthy Masonic philanthropy.

Vitruvian does a number of things differently than most lodges. For example, we meet only quarterly (on the fourth Tuesday in January, April, July and October) rather than monthly. Because Vitruvian stresses Masonic education so strongly, meeting quarterly allows sufficient time for the preparation of papers and to acquire quality speakers from outside the lodge. Also, we know that we are competing with a number of other Masonic bodies and other interests for our members' time and attention, and quarterly meetings are simply easier to deal with than monthly (or more frequent) meetings.

We have limited the number of members who can belong to Lodge Vitruvian to 36. We want the lodge to remain a small, intimate group of friends and brothers rather than simply become another big lodge. We prefer to have a lodge of 36 members, 30 of whom attend, rather than have a lodge of 360 and have that same 30 brothers attend. Members of Lodge Vitruvian dress in tuxedo for our meetings. We believe that men dress for the important events in their lives and that attending meetings of their lodge should be one such event. Adding that extra level of formality to our proceedings reinforces the very special place Freemasonry occupies in history and in our own lives. We also purchase our own aprons in the style of regalia worn in English lodges rather than use common aprons owned by the lodge. Members and visitors always wear white gloves.

Dues for Lodge Vitruvian are $150 per year, not the highest in Indiana but very close to it. However, we do not at all believe that our dues are high. Many lodges are suffering financial difficulties because their dues have not kept pace with inflation. Also, it is simply a fact that quality speakers, programs and lodge paraphernalia do not come free. Keeping our dues at a proper level allows us to be able to afford these necessary items.

Lodge Vitruvian's newest program is the establishment of a Royal Arch Chapter. In English Constitution lodges, the Royal Arch Degree is considered to be the completion of the Third Degree. It is very typical for an English lodge to have a Royal Arch chapter "attached" to it with the chapter bearing the same name and number of the lodge. Lodge Vitruvian feels that it is a natural extension of our vision for Freemasonry to establish Chapter Vitruvian, which will share many of the lodge's operating principles, most notably a strong commitment to Masonic education. In the case of Chapter Vitruvian, we will try to attract speakers who can help ground our members in the traditions and philosophy of the York (or American) Rite, and particularly of Royal Arch Masonry.

Lodge Vitruvian shows that Indiana Masonry is a big tent. There is room for lodges that have a different   focus  and  philosophy,  and  the  door  is  open  wide  for  brethren  to  use  their  talent  and imagination to create new kinds of lodges, to expand the vision for Freemasonry in this century. M. W. Brother Dwight L. Smith said many years ago that he was convinced that the solution to Freemasonry's problems is Freemasonry, and asked why do we not try it? My challenge to my Indiana brethren is this: Clean off your trestleboards and draw new designs upon them.  Good, square work is always welcomed by this Grand Lodge, and new lodges dedicated to the serious practice of Freemasonry and working to the Glory of the Grand Architect of the Universe will be embraced with open arms. Try Freemasonry.

The author of what is thought to be the first book on architecture was a first century BCE Roman architect named Marcus Vitruvius Pollio. 

Visit Lodge Vitruvian website at http://www.vitruvian.org/.

·           

The paomnnehil pweor of the hmuan mnid
(Brought to us by WB Hugh Downing)

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

 Amzanig huh?