Live Within the Compass, Part Upon the Square
My Brother, in the Courtyard
Each one of us has stood
Outside the tyled Temple door
Awaiting as we should.
Take heed, thou young Apprentices
The Word emblazoned there:
To meet upon the level
And part upon the square.
My Brother, at the Altar
Each one of us has knelt
With solemn Oath and Brotherhood
The Mystic Tie we’ve felt.
Take heed, my Brother Fellowcraft
The Word emblazoned there:
To act upon the plumb
And part upon the Square.
My Brother, in the Temple
Each one of us was Raised
And on receiving further light
Into the Light, we gazed.
Take heed, my Brothers, Masters all
The Word emblazoned there:
To Live within the compass
And part upon the Square.
– Author unknown
A Little Lodge Of Long Ago
The Little Lodge of long ago-
It wasn’t very much for show;
Men met above the village store,
And cotton more than satin wore,
And sometimes stumbled on a word,
But no one cared, or no one heard.
Then tin reflectors threw the light
Of kerosene across the night
And down the highway served to call
The faithful to Masonic Hall.
It wasn’t very much, I know,
The little lodge of long ago.
But, men who meet in finer halls,
Forgive me if the mind recalls
With love, not laughter, doors of pine,
And smoky lamps that dimly shine,
Regalia tarnished, garments frayed,
Or cheaply bought or simply made,
And floors uncarpeted, and men
Whose grammar falters now and then-
For Craft or Creed, or God Himself,
Is not a book upon a shelf:
They have a splendor that will touch
A Lodge that isn’t very much.
It isn’t very much- and yet
And, if a handful or a host,
This made it great: there Masons met-
That always matters, matters most.
The beauty of the meeting hour
Is not a thing of robe or flow’r,
However beautiful they seem:
The greatest beauty is the gleam
Of sympathy in honest eyes.
A Lodge is not a thing of size,
It is a thing of Brotherhood,
And that alone can make it good.
Introducing the Officers of Fraternal Lodge No. 37 for 2022
Officers for Fraternal Lodge No. 37 have been elected and installed to their respective positions, with the help of Worshipful Brother and Grand Secretary, V.S. “Mac” McGee. We are grateful for everyone’s support as we prepare for another year!
L to R: PM Tom Carder (2021), WM Mark Wright, PM David L. Lee (2020).
Bottom L to R: Bros. Gary Smith (Junior Deacon), Jim Robinson (Senior Deacon), Dacus Grant (Senior Warden), Troy Thomas (Junior Warden), Ed Shulak (Secretary).
The Lambskin Apron
A Poem by Edgar A. Guest
It is not ornamental, the cost is not great,
There are other things far more useful, yet truly I state,
Tho of all my possessions, there’s none can compare,
With that white leather apron, which all Masons wear.
As a young lad, I wondered just what it all meant,
When Dad hustled around, and so much time was spent
On shaving and dressing and looking just right,
Until Mother would say: “It’s the Masons tonight.”
And some winter nights she said: “What makes you go,
Way up there tonight thru the sleet and the snow,
You see the same things every month of the year.”
Then Dad would reply: “Yes, I know it, my dear.”
Forty years I have seen the same things, it is true.
And though they are old, they always seem new,
For the hands that I clasp, and the friends that I greet,
Seem a little bit closer each time that we meet.”
Years later I stood at that very same door,
With good men and true who had entered before,
I knelt at the altar, and there I was taught
That virtue and honor can never be bought.
That the spotless white lambskin all Masons revere,
If worthily worn grows more precious each year,
That service to others brings blessings untold,
That man may be poor tho surrounded by gold.
I learned that true brotherhood flourishes there,
That enmities fade ‘neath the compass and square,
That wealth and position are all thrust aside,
As they’re on the level men meet and abide.
So, honor the lambskin, may it always remain
Forever unblemished, and free from all stains,
And when we are called to the Great Father’s love,
May we all take our place in that Lodge up above
Are You the One Keeping the Lights On?
Someone at the Lodge
I know there is someone at the Lodge,
There’s a meeting there twice a month.
I know someone cuts the grass,
I can tell because it gets done;
I know someone pays the lights and water,
Because I see them on each month.
I know someone repairs the building;
Because I see it happen when needed.
I know someone teaches the work;
Because candidates go through.
I know someone sends in the reports;
Because the Lodge keeps its charter.
I know someone keeps things going;
I’d like to help but don’t have time.
I’ll let them do it,
They seem to always be around.
I’ll just wear my ring;
And pay my dues.
When others ask about the Lodge;
I’ll proudly say I’m a member.
And I’ll just let someone else,
Do all the things that keep it going.
Sometimes, though, I wonder…
Who is that someone?
Robert E. Rowland, PM
Secretary, Goshen Masonic Lodge No. 71
The Bridge Builder
Dedicated to Past Masters of Fraternal Lodge No. 37
An old man going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening cold and gray,
To a chasm vast and deep and wide.
Through which was flowing a sullen tide
The old man crossed in the twilight dim,
The sullen stream had no fear for him;
But he turned when safe on the other side
And built a bridge to span the tide.
“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near,
“You are wasting your strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day,
You never again will pass this way;
You’ve crossed the chasm, deep and wide,
Why build this bridge at evening tide?”
The builder lifted his old gray head;
“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,
“There followed after me to-day
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been as naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be;
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building this bridge for him!”
Fraternal Lodge No. 37 Hosts Boy Scout Troop 62 for Flag Retirement Ceremony
Retiring Old Glory
(McDonough, GA – November 4, 2021) The Officers of Fraternal Lodge No. 37 invited Boy Scout Troop 62 to present a U.S. flag retirement ceremony before the evening’s meeting. After burgers and hotdogs were served, the ceremony took place in the lodge parking lot with several Brethren in attendance. Many brought their retired flags for the event and each flag was properly and respectfully retired by fire.
When the United States flag (Old Glory) becomes worn, torn, faded or badly soiled, it is time to replace it with a new flag, and the old flag should be “retired” with all the dignity and respect befitting our nation’s flag. The traditional method of retirement is to incinerate the flag, but this does not mean that one should simply drop the entire flag (intact) into a fire.
A flag ceases to be a flag when it is cut into pieces. In addition, it is easier to completely incinerate the flag, if it is cut into smaller pieces. A flag should never be torn up like an old bed sheet. It should be cut up with scissors or shears in a methodical manner. The corners of the flag should be stretched out over a table top and someone should cut the flag in half, vertically (be careful not to cut up the blue star field (see the figure). Then, place the two halves together and cut them in half, horizontally. You will end up with four pieces of flag, one being the blue star field.
The reason we do not cut the blue star field is it represents the union of the fifty states and one should never let the union be broken.
U.S. Scouting Service Project
[FinalTilesGallery id=’1′]
I Am Proud to be A Freemason
I shall never forget my first thought as I made my initial entrance into the Masonic Lodge that conferred the Entered Apprentice Degree on me, and followed with the Fellow Craft and Master Mason Degrees. I was immediately made to feel that I was surrounded by Brothers. I felt there were no strangers present. This was one big family that seemed to have adopted me, and I, in turn, was elated to adopt them as my family.
My horizon of Masonry expanded, and my pride and joy were bubbling and effervescent. I couldn’t wait to be able to confer the Degrees on others as there was so much I wanted to explain and elaborate about each Degree.
I was offered this opportunity and immediately began to study and memorize many parts, and over the years I became very active, holding office, lecturing, and taking an active part in every phase of Masonry where my talents and abilities could be used. One aspect of Masonry that has made a great impression on me was the ability of all Brothers, regardless of religion, to ask me why did I need Masonry as a Rabbi, because my profession was one of integrity, kindness, honesty, and all the attributes expounded in Masonry. It was difficult for many to grasp my need for this addition and supplement to religion. I worked with men of different religions, as well as of the Hebrew faith, and they were all impressed when I would say that Masonry is not a religion, but to be a Mason we had to believe in God, and if this was the only aspect of our religion and we had no other formal religion, yet we adhered to all the moral teachings of Masonry; this too would have put us in the category of men of integrity. However, Masonry is not a substitute for religion, nor is it a religion.
My experience has shown that Masons are, for the most part, deeply religious men. I am proud to be a Mason and a part of an organization that is devoted to helping, without question or embarrassment, widows, orphans, and those in need.
I am proud to be a Mason and to be a part of a Fraternity dedicated to the upholding of the Constitution of the United States of America and the Bill of Rights.
I am proud to be a Mason who believes in the freedom of mankind and the sanctity of human life.
I am proud to be a Mason who believes in the dignity of God’s children and opposes hatred and bigotry, and stands for truth, justice, kindness, integrity, and righteousness for all.
I am proud to be a Mason and shall always be happy to number myself among those who uphold those cardinal principles and moral standards of life that are so needed if our organization is to continue on the high level that has been its character from its inception. May God grant it continued strength to go, to grow, and to glow so that I and all Masons can exclaim: “I am proud to be a Mason!”
Because I am a Mason
A salesman’s car breaks down in a remote country lane. A farmer in the adjacent field comes over and they discover that they are “Brothers.” The salesman is concerned as he has an important appointment in the local town. “Don’t worry”, says the farmer. “You can use my car, I’ll call a friend and get the car repaired while you go to the appointment.”
Off goes the salesman and a couple of hours later he returns but unfortunately the car is awaiting a part which won’t arrive until the next morning. “It’s not a problem,” says the farmer, “use my telephone and re-schedule your first appointment tomorrow, stay with us tonight and I’ll see that the car is done first thing!”
The farmer’s wife prepares a wonderful meal and they share a glass of fine single malt during an excellent evening. The salesman sleeps soundly and when he awakes there is his car, repaired and ready to go.
After a full English breakfast, the salesman thanks them both for the hospitality. As he and the farmer walk to his car he turns and asks “My Brother, thank you so much but I have to ask, did you help me because I am a Mason?” “No” was the reply, “I helped you because I am a Mason”.
Author unknown