A new Brother

This is a picture of our newest Brother. Brother Ron was raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason this evening.

The degree was very impressive and the fellowship was excellent. We look forward to having him as an active member.

I think I will talk about what happens when a man joins the Lodge. First he is initiated. He is only initiated once. When he received the degree of an Entered Apprentice he becomes a Mason. The other ceremonies (or degrees) which he receives are sometimes called initiations but they aren't really. An Initiation is a rite of passage ceremony marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society. When Brother Ron entered the Lodge for the first time he was initiated. The Second time he is passed to the degree of a Fellowcraft and finally he is RAISED to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason. We refer to the three ceremonies as Invitation, Passing and Raising. Three different words for three different experiences.

Masonry is a search for Light (or Knowledge) and in each ceremony the candidate (first degree) or Brother (Second and Third Degrees) enter the room blindfolded. He receives his sight again after taking the solemn obligation in which he promises to keep our "secrets" The secrets are the signs and passes of the three degrees. Everything else is really not a secret and if you ever come to an installation of officers you will learn a lot about what we do and what our tools stand for. We are not really a "secret" organization. Our temples, lodges and Masonic centers are right out there for everyone to see. We put our emblems on our cars, fingers and lapels. We are not secret, just private. No one gets to sit in on our meetings unless they are a member. Just as no one gets to sit in on a private corporation meeting unless they belong.

We now have a new Brother who belongs and we hope he will attend many of our meetings as he grows in Masonic Knowledge and the fellowship of the fraternity becomes an integral part of his life.

As always thanks for stopping by, ARTYAL, Hugs, jcs