FROM THE EAST Brethren, Masonic year 1996 is swiftly coming to an end. Concord Lodge has raised 17 Master Masons and affiliated 3 and lost 6 to the Supreme Architect and 1 to demits, leaving a net gain of 13 for the year. Attendance at meetings has increased and the enthusiasm of our members is apparent. Thanks to the brethren and their enthusiasm and cooperation, we have qualified for the Jonas Leavy Blood award and the Noah Hillman award. You have done beautifully and I congratulate you for this progress. You, my Brothers have made this year one of the happiest in my life. We have grown together. I thank you for permitting me to occupy your Oriental Chair. May the Supreme Architect bless you one and all. I have the utmost confidence in your leaders for the coming years. Concord can only become a better Lodge under their guidance. I encourage all to attend your Lodge's open installation on December 14 at 2 PM. GRATITUDE (H.L. Marshall) "How can I ever repay you?" I'v said it and so have you. How can I ever in all this world repay you the things you do? Perhaps I never can repay to you-or you to me, but we can pass The kindness on to others we may see, and though you never Need my help-I pray you never do--by helping others, I'll repay My heartfelt debt to you Your Servant, Preston FROM THE JOBIES: In a time when Bethel's all across the country are having a problem keeping membership up, YOUR Bethel (#38) has found a way to grow. Even so, we still need your support. If you have a daughter, niece, or granddaughter between the ages of 11 and 20, tell her about us and pass us her name. You'll being a favor for both us and yourself. Think of Job's Daughters as a gift that keeps on giving. On Oct 27, the Grand Bethel Guardian of Virginia visited our Bethel. The girls were sharp and were commended for their ritual work and the original ceremony they created to honor our Grand Guardian. Lastly, Bethel #38 will be 40 years old in December. We are planning a birthday party. Stay tuned for time and date. Respectfully, Brother Bob Burleson, Associate Bethel Guardian THE MASTER'S MESSAGE By Jack R Levitt, P.G.M., Member, Southern California Research Lodge I have aspirations for our Lodge this year. That it continue to be successful in membership, in reputation and in having its members in the higher echelons of concordant bodies and as leaders in the community. That it be recognized as a place of trust and tranquillity in a world of strife, where we meet as brethren to learn to know one another, where we are lenient with each others feelings and ready to relieve each others wants. That it continue with the genus of its fabric - meetings with a concord of solemnity and humor, its members being serious without taking themselves seriously and that it have a lasting influence for good. I also have aspirations for the members of our Lodge. That they recognize Masonry as a way of life and its values are in accordance with the way they live its lessons. That they come to realize that being a good Mason is more than being a good ritualist, or attending Lodge, and that the marks of a good Mason are not glib phrases, nor shining jewelry, but an insatiable curiosity, a love of learning and a desire to know the truth. That they learn that Masonry teaches more than subduing the passions, that it impels them to improve their minds and their outlook to allow the spiritual in them to prevail over the material; the moral over the sensual; the ethical over the dishonest. That they come to appreciate that to learn and acquire knowledge is a necessity for every noble soul and that to share that knowledge with others is also, and that, in fact, that this is precisely what they came here to do. That they, therefore, equate the immortality of the soul with the necessity to study, reflect and discriminate so that they may use the spark of divinity that is in each one of them. I pray that my aspirations may come to fruition, and that each member may actually practice out of the Lodge those great moral duties which are inculcated in it and thus bear the flame of knowledge and enlightened thought to the betterment of mankind. CONCORD #307 TRESTLEBOARD December 3 Concord Stated: Audit, 50 year pin presentation, Election of Officers & Closing Lodge of Sorrow 7:30 PM 4 Bethel #38 Stated: Election of Officers, Ritual Proficiency 7:30 PM 7 A.D. Smith Lodge of Research, Alexandria 10 AM 10 Rehearsal for Open Installation 7:30 PM 14 Blood Drive at Sharon 8 AM 14 Open Installation of 1997 Officers 2 PM 15 Concord Masonic Family Christmas Party in your Lodge Room 1 PM 17 Called for Entered Apprentice Degree 7:30 PM 18 Bethel #38 Stated: Master Masons are encouraged to attend 7:30 PM 21 Gather at Lodge to deliver gifts to our Widows 10 AM Seasons Greetings to ALL January 7 Open Shrine Night 7:30 PM 21 Concord Stated 7:30 PM Every Thursday at Concord: Catechism and Ritual instruction by our LIW All EAs & FCs are encouraged to attend (Not on December 19 or 26) Freemasonry: an Uncommon Society in a very Common world! Masonic Birthdays for December Henry Joseph Bausili Richard Crane Ewald James Arthur Frost Sam R Gormley Robert George Keifer Edward G. Reames Ralph Lindsey Santmire The Quest by Pete Martinez, MPS You have been made a Master Mason! You paid your fees, and your friends and brothers participated in performing the ritual that brought you from "Darkness to Light". You were told that you are entitled to all the knowledge that the Lodge can give you. Remember, it was said ENTITLED. It was not said that you are now in possession of that knowledge. So in a way you are still a Fellowcraft, because as yet, you have only partial knowledge. You are still not in possession of the arts of a Master Mason. Nor will you ever be, unless you now proceed to make yourself a Master Mason. You see, you have only been guided in the right direction. Now it is your responsibility to truly put into practice the precepts and tenets you have been informed of in your three initiations and required lessons. You will have to observe Masonry in action and ask questions of informed Brethren. You will find many books just waiting for your searching and inquiring mind. Your Brethren will not abandon you in your endeavor, for they are pursuing the same goal. Therefore, to truly become a Master Mason, you must become a Self Made Mason, and this process is Continual and Endless!