Squirrels Among Us
Mehr Licht!
More Light!
Number 139 – October 01, 2007
From the newsletter of the Masonic Lodge in Forest Lake, MN we have the Secretary’s column written by the then Secretary, W. Brother Mike Hill. I always like Brother Mike’s insight and his writing; I think you will too.
Squirrels Among Us
Squirrels had overrun three churches in town. After much discussion the elders of the first church determined that the animals were predestined to be there. Who were they to interfere with God’s will? They reasoned. Soon the squirrels multiplied.
The elders of the second church decided that they could not harm any of God’s creatures. So they humanely trapped the squirrels and set them free outside of town. Three days later the squirrels were back.
It was only the third church that succeeded in keeping the pests away. The elders baptized the squirrels and registered them as members of the church. Now they only see them on Christmas and Easter.
Sometimes it seems Masons follow the same course of action when it comes to increasing membership. There are several men outside of our Lodges who have heard about Masonry and/or have a sense of the good works we do. They want to belong to an organization, which brings a sense of family and promotes community service.
However, once a Candidate begins his degree work we forget the tenets that brought them and ourselves together. For instance, how many Lodges publish a “Greeter Schedule” in their newsletters? Yes, that would be two Brethren assigned to greet Candidates and visiting Brethren who attend Degree Work and Stated Communications.
How many Lodges have a “Mentors Program” to help candidates with their memorization work, which meets regularly? In fact, how many Lodges use the Mentors Program to learn and improve their degree work? How many Lodges use the Greeters & Mentors to learn about their new members and for the new members to become comfortable with the elder Brethren?
How many Lodge Brethren call Candidates or new Brethren before Degree Work or Stated Communications and offer to pick them up? How many Brethren go out after a community event for a cup of coffee and a piece of pie to chat about the highlights and enjoy the fellowship?
Lastly, it seems there are a lot of Brethren who believe it is up to the Grand Lodge to come up with a solution on how to make Masonry interesting so men will want to remain Masons and share the experience with their families…I wonder about this.
Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. Past Masonic Monday Questions and the current one may also be read on the Web Site for the G.L. of MN at www.mn-masons.org under Masonic Monday Q&A When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com This week’s question is: “Must all three chairs be occupied throughout the Craft ceremonies?”
More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.
Fraternally,
Ed Halpaus
More Light!
Number 139 – October 01, 2007
From the newsletter of the Masonic Lodge in Forest Lake, MN we have the Secretary’s column written by the then Secretary, W. Brother Mike Hill. I always like Brother Mike’s insight and his writing; I think you will too.
Squirrels Among Us
Squirrels had overrun three churches in town. After much discussion the elders of the first church determined that the animals were predestined to be there. Who were they to interfere with God’s will? They reasoned. Soon the squirrels multiplied.
The elders of the second church decided that they could not harm any of God’s creatures. So they humanely trapped the squirrels and set them free outside of town. Three days later the squirrels were back.
It was only the third church that succeeded in keeping the pests away. The elders baptized the squirrels and registered them as members of the church. Now they only see them on Christmas and Easter.
Sometimes it seems Masons follow the same course of action when it comes to increasing membership. There are several men outside of our Lodges who have heard about Masonry and/or have a sense of the good works we do. They want to belong to an organization, which brings a sense of family and promotes community service.
However, once a Candidate begins his degree work we forget the tenets that brought them and ourselves together. For instance, how many Lodges publish a “Greeter Schedule” in their newsletters? Yes, that would be two Brethren assigned to greet Candidates and visiting Brethren who attend Degree Work and Stated Communications.
How many Lodges have a “Mentors Program” to help candidates with their memorization work, which meets regularly? In fact, how many Lodges use the Mentors Program to learn and improve their degree work? How many Lodges use the Greeters & Mentors to learn about their new members and for the new members to become comfortable with the elder Brethren?
How many Lodge Brethren call Candidates or new Brethren before Degree Work or Stated Communications and offer to pick them up? How many Brethren go out after a community event for a cup of coffee and a piece of pie to chat about the highlights and enjoy the fellowship?
Lastly, it seems there are a lot of Brethren who believe it is up to the Grand Lodge to come up with a solution on how to make Masonry interesting so men will want to remain Masons and share the experience with their families…I wonder about this.
Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. Past Masonic Monday Questions and the current one may also be read on the Web Site for the G.L. of MN at www.mn-masons.org under Masonic Monday Q&A When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com This week’s question is: “Must all three chairs be occupied throughout the Craft ceremonies?”
More Light – Mehr Licht ©, Masonic Matters © and T.F.S. ©, are sent out by E-mail at no charge to anyone who would like to receive them. If you enjoy these publications please share them with others. To subscribe to any one or all of these publications just send an E-mail to ed@halpaus.net with Subscribe and the Title, or ‘all 3,’ in the subject line and you will be added to the list to receive the publication you want.
Fraternally,
Ed Halpaus
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