CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Stated Meetings
Thursday, November 11th, 7:30 p.m. Annual Meeting
Thursday, December 9th, 7:30 p.m.

Special Meetings
Thursday, November 4th, 7:00 p.m., Fellow Craft Degree
Saturday, November 6th, 7:30 p.m., Installation of WB Kenneth D Crouse
as District Deputy Grand Master
Friday, November 19th, 7:00 p.m., Installation of Officers
Thursday, December 2nd, 7:00 p.m., Awards Night

SPECIAL EVENTS

Saturday Morning Breakfast
November 27th, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m
Medina Masonic Temple Dining Hall

On Getting Something Out of Lodge
by Carl H. Claudy

"Well, brother, how do you like it now you've been a member six months?" asked the Old Tiler.

"Well, I am getting discouraged," was the dejected answer.

"Tell me about it," said the Old Tiler, leaning his sword up against the wall and making himself comfortable in his chair.

"Well, I guess maybe I expect too much. My dad was a Mason and he always thought a lot of it—he was a Past Master and a trustee and a representative to several bodies with which his lodge had affiliations. He talked a good deal about the friends one made in lodge and how valuable they are and the spirit of brotherhood I'd find there, and how Masons all helped each other. And I haven't found any of that. I come to the meetings and listen to the degrees, of course, and I find them beautiful. But it's all talk so far as I am concerned. I don't know any one in lodge, and I am not really a part of it—I just play audience."

"Humph," grunted the Old Tiler. "You remind me of a story. A chap came to a wise man and said, 'Tell me what's the matter with me. I'm not popular. People don't like me. They leave when I come around. I like people; I don't like to be unpopular. What's the matter with me?'

"The wise man looked his inquirer over and then said, ''What do you do when you are alone?'

"'I don't do anything when I am alone,' was the answer, "because I am never alone. I hate to be alone. It bores me. I bore myself. I have to be with people to be happy.'

"The wise man smiled and answered, 'How do you expect not to bore other people if you bore yourself? The man who has no resources to interest himself, cannot expect to interest others. Go, read, think, reflect, get an idea, a personality, a smile, a story, an accomplishment—learn something, do something, be something, amuse yourself, please yourself, interest yourself, and you can please, interest and amuse others!' "

"I see," said the Discouraged Brother. "You mean I find nothing of brotherhood in lodge because I bring no brotherhood to it?"

"You hit it the first shot!" exclaimed the Old Tiler. "Now listen while I tell you something. Masonry offers a whole treasure house for any and all of her children who take it. But it has to be taken. She doesn't take and stuff her treasures down your throat. Your father was a Past Master. That means he gave years of service to the lodge. He was a trustee—that means he was well known and liked, well trusted. Men do not get well known, well liked and well trusted by sitting in a corner listening. They must get up and talk, get out and work, do something, serve their fellows, to be known and liked. Your father brought rich treasures of service, interest, ability to his lodge. His lodge gave him back of its best—honor, responsibility, respect, love. You come and sit on the benches and listen—but that's all. We made you a Master Mason but only you yourself can make you a good one. We give you privileges—only you can enjoy them. We give you opportunities—but only you can use them. We did all we could for you, and now we wait for you to prove yourself.

"Many a man comes into the lodge expecting it to act as a special reception committee, crowding around him at every meeting, saying how glad it is to have him there. Many a man is disappointed. You have our undivided attention as a candidate, as an Initiate, as a Fellowcraft, and while we make you a Master Mason. Now it's your turn. We are through with your candidacy —you are now a part of the lodge. For every privilege you have there is a duty attached. When you perform those duties, you will find other privileges awaiting you. If you never perform them, you will never get any further. It is only fair that the responsibility we assumed in putting the seal of our approval upon you as a man worthy to be a Master Mason and sit with us should be shared by you. You have now the responsibility of being a good Mason and a good lodge member. There are good Masons who are poor lodge members, but they are not the beloved ones. The beloved lodge member, like your father, finds much to do, much to labor, much to serve, and takes his pay in the spirit of fraternity, in the love and admiration of other men, in the satisfaction which comes from playing his part."

"But what can I do—what is my first step?"

"You want to make friends in the lodge?"

"I surely do!"

"Then go and be a friend. I am told that the Master read out to-night that Brother Robinson is ill. Go and see him. I have heard that old Willis is back to work, been sick a year. Call him up and tell him you are glad. Hungerford just got back from the West. He is out of a job and wants help. Ask him to come and see you and talk to him. Maybe you can help him, maybe you can't. But if a brother takes an interest in him, he will be heartened and given courage. Go to the Master and ask him for a job—tell him you want to serve. He'll use you, never fear. We have a sister lodge coming to visit us next month —you have a car, offer it to the chairman of the entertainment committee. Bob always has trouble getting enough personal news of the membership to fill his personal column in the paper; scout around a little and learn a few things and tell him about them. I understand you play the piano. Go talk to the choirmaster—offer your help when he needs some one to take the organist's place some night. Man, there are one thousand and one ways a chap can make himself known and liked in a lodge. All you have to do is look for them."

"I see——"

"Not yet, you don't see. But you soon will. And this is what you will see when your eyes are opened. A lodge is a mirror—when you look for yourself in it you will see just what you are. And if the reflection is dejection, dissatisfaction, unhappiness, it is because those are the things you are. When you look in the lodge and find yourself happy, busy, well liked, giving service and taking joy in service and brotherhood as a return, you will know that you are a real Mason, a real lodge member, a real son to a father who learned that the real secret of Masonic joy is to give, that it may be given back to you."

"You are right. Say, don't you want to get a smoke? I'll stay on the door until you come back!"

MASONIC SNIPPET

Montana's first livestock brand was a square and compasses and is still in use. It was registered in 1872 by Pointdexter Orr of Beaverhead County, Montana.(Anon.)