From the Southeast Corner

Richard D. Longacre
It is with regret that we record the death at the age of 83, on Thursday, February 10, 2005, of Brother Richard D. Longacre. Brother Longacre was raised in Medina Lodge on June 12, 1948 at the age of 26. Our deepest sympathies are extended to his family.

THE MEDINA MASONIC TEMPLE FOUNDATION

As a first step in the eventual restoration of the Medina Masonic Temple, application was made to have the structure listed on The National Register of Historic Places. The application was approved and the structure was listed on the National Register in 2002. The Historic Structure designation opened the way for the Temple Company to establish The Medina Masonic Temple Foundation. The purpose of the Foundation is to receive tax deductible donations from individuals, companies, corporations and other entities for the maintenance and restoration of the Temple and Theater. Bequests are also accepted.

Preliminary estimates place the cost of restoration at $400,000.00. It will take some time to raise that amount, so the Temple will not be restored tomorrow. As money comes in it will first be applied to maintain the stability and safety of the structure. Fund raising campaigns are in the planning stage but contributions are now being accepted. You may assist in the restoration of the historic landmark by sending your donations to The Medina Masonic Temple Foundation, 120 North Elmwood Avenue, Medina, Ohio 44256-1827.

SPARTAN LODGE NO. 126 (MILLERSBURG)

Spartan Lodge is hosting its Annual Inspection on March 17th. The first section of the Master Mason degree will begin at 5:30 PM. Dinner will be served at 6:30 PM. The degree work will continue at 7:30 PM following dinner. WM Thomas regrets that he will be unable to arrive at Spartan Lodge in time for dinner. He will, however, be attending the second section of the degree at 7:30 PM and offers transportation to those of us who would be kind enough to accompany him. Meet him at the Temple for a 6:00 PM departure.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Stated Meetings
Thursday, March 10th, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 24th, 7:30 p.m.

Special Meetings
Thursday, March 3rd, 7:30 p.m., Master Mason Degree Rehearsal
- also -
Brother Lloyd Naragon will be honored on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the date he was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason (Don't tell him – It's a secret.)

Thursday, March 31st, 7:30 p.m., Past Masters' Night, Fellow Craft Degree

Thursday, April 21st, Ladies' Night (Bring your lady)
More details to follow in April Trestleboard

SPECIAL EVENTS

Saturday Morning Breakfast
March 26th, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Medina Masonic Temple Dining Hall

The Poem of Trathel
by Charles Clyde Hunt

In an old Gaelic poem called “The Poem of Trathel,” there is a scene which pictures a mother playing a harp while her children gather around, entranced as they listen to the sweet strains which issue from the harp at her touch on the trembling strings. She stops. The music ceases, and she lays down the harp. The children pick it up and finger the strings in an attempt to reproduce the music which had come from the harp at the touch of their mother’s fingers. In vain. A confusion of harsh discordant sounds comes forth but not the sweet music they longed to hear as a result of their own efforts. In bitter disappointment they cry out: “Oh Mother, why doesn’t it answer us too? Show us the strings where the music is.”

She replies, “My children, it is a secret I cannot tell you, nor can it be told except in the presence of Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty. Wisdom to discern the True, Strength to resist Error, and Appreciation of Spiritual Beauty, qualities which you must acquire for yourselves. The music is in the strings, but the power to draw it out is not mine to give you. I can help, but you must seek and find it for yourselves. If you truly wish to acquire this power you can do so, but think not the task is easy. It will come when you have earned it, but only after long and patient search.”

So it is with us. Our unaccustomed fingers wander among the wires of the harp of life. We seek the string where dwells the harmony of the soul. We seek the lost song, the lost chord, the lost word. Yet after all it is not really lost. The sweet harmony is in the strings all the time. We must learn, by study and practice, the art of drawing it out. In like manner, the Word we call lost is near at hand, even in our own hearts. It is we ourselves who lack the power to recognize it. The harmony of the soul is in the harp of life, it is not lost, and we can acquire the power to draw it forth if we will only patiently seek and work for it.

This search for the harmony unheard by mortal ears, the harmony discerned only by the spiritual ear of the soul attuned to the divine strings of the heavenly harp, is the great purpose of Masonry. We call it the search for the Lost Word. (The Nebraska Mason, VOL. XXIII NO. 2 - Summer 2004, The Grand Lodge of Nebraska)

MASONIC SNIPPETS

Three Points

It was formerly fashionable in Masonic writings, especially in the higher degrees, to use three dots in triangular form ( ∴ ) instead of the usual period after initials. The practice started in France, and according to Ragon (Jean-Baptiste Marle Ragon, a French Freemason and author (1771-1862)), was originated by the Grand Orient, Aug. 12, 1774. So, Freemasons came to be called Three Point Brothers. The custom has gained some popularity in America. They are sometimes used in very formal Scottish Rite documents. (Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia)

Three

A sacred or magical number among practically all ancient peoples. It or the equilateral triangle was often deemed the symbol of the Supreme Being. In both the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Scriptures, three is often referred to. Much 3-symbolism has found its way into Masonry, though it is not used so exclusively as some writers seem to think. Other numbers that occur quite frequently in Craft Masonry are 2, 4, 5, 7, and 12. Craft Masonry did not adopt any equilateral triangle, delta, or other 3-point symbolism of Deity as did some of the other higher degrees. The only fitting symbol of Deity in Craft Masonry is the letter G and probably that at first represented only Geometry, for, during the early years of the premier Grand Lodge, religious symbolism of any kind was scanty. (Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia)

The Three Steps

As early 18th century lodges commonly met in taverns, inns, or even private houses, lodge furniture was sparse or even absent, so that it was the practice to draw the lodge on the floor, that is, to mark it off on the floor with chalk or charcoal, showing the various stations, representations of furniture, and symbols necessary to illustrate the lectures. At the close of the lodge, it was the duty of the youngest Entered Apprentice to obliterate traces of the drawings, for which purpose, he was furnished with a mop and pail, said expression being so common that it became almost a symbol indicative of the Entered Apprentice. As lodges became better fixed financially or more meticulous about their work, they had the desired objects and symbols painted on canvass or oil cloth, thus creating floor cloths, floor charts, or carpets which could be rolled up and preserved to be used many times. Charts were sometimes suspended on walls or easels. The Master's Carpet related to the Third Degree and among the ideas represented on it were the three stages of Human Life: Youth, Manhood, and Old Age, which were referred to as the Three Steps on the Master's Carpet. Such carpets, floor cloths, and charts are used in many lodges at the present day. (Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia)

Is There a Dress Code?

Occasionally at Masonic gatherings, the topic of "proper attire" will arise. The Ohio Grand Lodge Code/Constitution does not specify a manner of dress for Masonic meetings other than one should present himself clean in body and spirit. Medina Lodge By-Laws contain no specifications as to what would be considered proper attire for Brethren and Officers to wear at meetings. Through custom, however, a jacket and tie have become expected and is the most common form of dress. Line Officers always wear jackets and ties at business meetings, and tuxedos at degree work meetings. Most Brethren wear jacket and tie at all meetings. Freemasonry being steeped in symbolism, your manner of dress is viewed as symbolic of your degree of respect for the institution. But we're not going to turn people away if they arrive otherwise attired but clean in body and spirit.