April 24, 2005

Secretary’s Message:

Brothers, the 2005 Dues Cards are almost gone!!  I have only two (2) Brothers that have not paid their dues for the year 2005.  Please check your dues cards and remit your dues to IDEAL LODGE # 367, c/o: Armando Perez, 3620 Chalona Drive, Chalmette, LA 70043-1510.  Do not mail anything to the Lodge Hall on LeBeau Avenue.  Please send all mail to the Chalona Drive address, or I might not receive it!  Also, due to the Resolution to raise the per capita assessment, another $5, the dues are now $45.50 per year.  Please remember to add your optional 2¢ worth a day for an additional $7.30.  Please make check in the amount of $52.80.  Brethren, your dues are due at the first of the year, not the end of the year!  How do you expect us to run the Lodge and pay rent, per capita and other expenses, with some of the Brothers holding back until after September of each year?  

ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS LETTER IS SENT BY E-MAIL TO NINETEEN (19) MASONS AND THEY WILL NOT GET THE MAILED VERSION.  THIS HELPS KEEP THE COST OF POSTAGE DOWN AND ALSO PROVIDES THE NEWSLETTER TO THEM, TWO DAYS EARLIER!!  IF YOU HAVE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS, PLEASE PROVIDE IT TO:  "skipperez@aol.com".  THANKS!! 

Wednesday, May 11^th – Election of the Junior Warden.  We have been given Special Despensation to hold this election to fill the Jr. Warden’s chair and any other chair that becomes empty, due to that election. 

Wednesday, May 25^th  - OPEN HOUSE, Fifty Year Members W.B. Zach T. Stanborough, P.M. and W.B. Ralph A. McDonald, PM and his wife will be at the meeting to be presented their Fifty Year Certificates and Lapel Pins.  Capt. McDonald is quite excited about his Fifty Year Membership and I hope that all who know him will attend this function.  You have enough time to make plans to attend and visit with three of our Past Masters and now Fifty Year Members of our Lodge.  Also on this night we will honor Herman Robin, P.M. who is also a Past Master of Ideal Lodge No. 367 and a 50 Year Member.  This should prove to be a nice turnout and a wonderful occasion to visit with old acquaintances.

Wednesday, June 29th - The Eighteenth Masonic District Lodge will be hosted by Arthur M. Retif Lodge No. 473 at 946 Jefferson Hwy.  Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will be at 7:30 p.m.  All Master Masons are invited.  

Please mark your calendars with the above dates!!

WHY DOES THE MASONIC FRATERNITY PLACE CORNERSTONES?

The Masonic Fraternity developed from the guilds of stonemasons of the Middle Ages.  We are the oldest and largest fraternity in the world, with a tradition dating back hundreds of years.  In North America our forefathers laid the first cornerstones, and we continue in their tradition.  Many organizations do things in the public interest, things related to their own heritage.  The V.F.W. holds ceremonies in cemeteries on Memorial Day to honor the men and women who gave their lives in defense of the nation.  The American Legion presents American flags to schools and gives programs on flag etiquette.  Freemasons conduct cornerstone ceremonies on public buildings that are dedicated to religion, education, civic service, and philanthropy.  Many such stones are placed each year.

The ceremony has changed very little since George Washington laid the cornerstone of our nation's Capitol with full Masonic honors and ceremonies.  The clothing has changed, of course, and much smaller stones are used now, but the rest is about the same.  There are two elements to the event the ceremony itself and the celebration preceding and following it.  Usually the audience is called to order, a color guard presents the American flag, and everyone joins in the flag salute.  A prayer is then offered.  What follows next depends on the wishes of those responsible for the building. You may want remarks by local officials (mayor, local clergy, council members, etc.) to precede the Masonic ceremony, or you may want the Masonic ceremony to go first. The Masonic ceremony itself is short. The Grand Master (or a designated officer of the state Grand Lodge) makes a few remarks, introduces the officers participating in the ceremony, and explains their duties. Objects are then deposited into the cornerstone.  The ancient working tools of the stonemasons are applied to the stone: the plumb, the level, and the square.  With each application of the tools, the officers attest to the fact that the craftsmen have done their work correctly and with skill.  The Grand Master or appropriate officer then symbolically tests the stone with three knocks upon it, dedicates or rededicates the building, using the symbolism of corn, wine, and oil, and continues with the wishes of good health and peace bestowed upon the workmen and the people of the state.  These three elements have been used in dedications of buildings since the time of ancient Rome, and represent nourishment and plenty (corn), joy (wine), and peace, healing, and comfort (oil). The ceremony ends with an oration about the symbolism attached to a leveled cornerstone and a prayer.