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From The East: February has gone by in a flash. The amount of time and work that all of you put into making Marion-Dunn so successful is amazing. I will not try to mention everybody because I would leave someone out. Please except my thanks for all your hard work. To the Past Masters of Marion-Dunn Lodge thank you for your advice and wise council, please keep it coming. March is going to be on the same fast pace. Men’s Night we have some business to catch up on. Family Night will start early with the dedication of our Marion-Dunn Youth Park at 4:30 p.m., followed by another one of Brother Randy Strong’s outstanding dinners. Our Brother Secretary Paul Ferguson has put a lot of time and effort into this park and dedication and I hope we have a large turnout of our members on hand. Family night is also Brother Bring A Friend Night. Brother Ken Shaw has a new program put together that sounds very interesting. If you have someone in mind please get their names to the office so we can send a letter inviting your friend. I want to give special thanks to Brother Donald Boyd for the very interesting program on Brother George Washington at our last Family Night. I had quite a few people ask when Brother Donald is going to do the next presentation. We will all find the subject at the same time. I hope Brother Donald will come up with something. I hope you are all well and I will be looking for you at lodge. Fraternally, Paul D. Düscher Worshipful Master From The West: Dear Brethren: Looking around my yard, it is apparent that spring is coming. The abundance of colors around Marion County provides a warm and soothing inspiration. What a great time to invite prospective members to Marion Dunn for Brother Bring a Friend Night. Worshipful Mark Shaffer, Worshipful Jarvis Johnson, Worshipful David McConnell and Worshipful Herbert Collins have been preparing and will make the evening extremely informative and interactive. If you have not provided Brother Paul Ferguson or myself with a prospective member please do so at your earliest convenience. A prospective member may be an individual at your current or previous job, your neighbor, doctor, dentist, banker, insurance agent, letter carrier, accountant, attorney, or anyone that recently serviced or repaired your property. If you think of someone even the day of March 20th please bring him. In February, I visited Belleview Lodge No. 95. Worshipful Paul Sullivan and the brethren are always extremely hospitable like all the other lodges I have visited. The brethren at Belleview have a lot of activities coming up, a Fish Fry on March 15 and a Child I.D. Program on April 12. I will be visiting Morning Star Lodge No. 94 on March 13. Morning Star Lodge is located in Silver Springs and I will depart Marion Dunn’s parking lot at 6:00PM. I encourage all the Brethren to accompany me. In anticipation of the up coming workday in April, I have taken some photos of furniture and equipment being considered for disposal. The photos are posted on the bulletin board. If you have comments about any of the items please let me know. — Ken Shaw From The South: Dear Brethren I would like to start off with thanking all the ladies for their side dishes and desserts. I can never thank you enough for your help. Well it is time again for another Masonic Camp-A-Thon We will again camp at Suwannee River Hideaway in Old Town on April 10-11. All those that wish to go please call me or Worshipful Ladd so we can make reservation. Everybody seems to like this place. Well, not a lot to write about this month I’ve been sick most of February and it has been going around so in closing I hope that all you Brothers and your families stay healthy and may God be with you all. March Menu — March 6th Men’s Night — Beef Stew over Noodles and Corn Bread March 20th Family Night — Smoked Pork Tender Loin with mashed taters and brown gravy, green beans... and Hot Rolls. And Our Ladies side dishes and Desserts. Mmmm good. Fraternally, Randy Strong Secretary: Talk show hosts say they have a “stack of stuff” on their desks from which they plan their daily shows. The same might be said of my desk. That is a nice way of saying it some times goes from messy to very messy, and that is the situation today as I try to find the words that will inspire you to call with names of your prospects for membership in our Fraternity. Maybe the photograph of Worshipful Mark Shaffer, who was Master when I was Raised a Master Mason, presenting aprons to Louie Franklin Wise 3rd and old friend Bob Taylor. Presentation of those aprons comes after these new Masons have completed presentation of their catechisms to the Lodge, and is an important part of Masonry. Recently, I have had called from families of Brothers who have been called to the Celestial Lodge Above asking about “Daddy’s White Masonic Apron,” and how it should be handled. “He told us it was very important, but I am not sure what I should do,” is usually the question. Members of the Craft know how important that apron is to a Master Mason. And maybe that importance will cause you to call with the name of a friend you would like to see come into the Lodge. Maybe the picture of Worshipful John Story on the ladder installing a new American flag on our flag pole will make you think of someone who appreciates the patriotism that Masons feel, and the way we honor our veterans of military service. Brother John has been a tremendous help around the Lodge for several years, and especially after his retirement 18 months ago. He, like most of our Brothers, is willing to step in and help where needed, and we need more like him. Thanks, Brother John Story, for the inspiration you are to many of us -- even to my Grandson, Spencer, who was concerned when your picture as Master came down. “Where happened to Mr. Story, Granddaddy,” he asked. Spencer is happy now that John Story has taken his place among the Past Masters in the Lobby. Perhaps it you know a young man who might fit into our new DeMolay chapter, or a young lady who is the right age for Rainbow Girls, and you want to recommend their father to the Lodge as a member. Both DeMolay and Rainbow are recruiting new members, and they will appreciate any prospects you may have for them too. Maybe the picture above at right of the crew from the City of Ocala installing the new irrigation lines at the Lodge as part of the beautification program undertaken by the City of Ocala under the terms of our lease of the Lodge property for use by the city in their Parks and Recreation Department. The dedication of Marion-Dunn Masonic Park and the sign that will be unveiled at 4:30 p.m. on March 20 will provide untold visibility and advertising for the Lodge, and will let people know that Masons help provide for the young people of Ocala. The water lines, by the way, will use recycled water that had undergone extensive treatment at the nearby sewer plant, and will keep the new oak and crepe myrtle trees the city is installing watered. So perhaps seeing this picture will remind you of someone at the City, someone in recreation, the parent of a child you know who participates in one of the sports programs, and you will want to have us send them an invitation to Brother Bring A Friend night. The Master and Officers of Marion-Dunn Lodge hope you will come to the dedication of Marion-Dunn Masonic Park and unveiling of the sign designating the park at 4:30 p.m. on March 20. For more than 30 years, the children of Ocala have used the land owned by Marion-Dunn Lodge, and the lease merely formalizes the usage and provides visibility and recognition for the Craft. So, please give the office a call with names you would like to have invited to Brother Bring A Friend night. We will take care of the rest, and see if we can have a large class ready for the 2008 Outdoor Degree, to be held this year on October 25 at 3 p.m. Put that date on your calendar and plan to attend. Meanwhile, on normal Secretarial items, please check your dues card. If it does not say 2008, please take a moment and write your check for $88.65 and drop it in the mail. We will be sending out reminder statements in a couple of weeks, and you can help us save some expense if you will get your dues payments in now. We are here to provide any assistance we can. Give bus a call or stop by anytime. — pwf
I would like to bring before you some non-esoterical explanations of terms and interpretations for floor work. At ATTENTION: Standing with the rod in the right hand and the right forearm parallel to the floor and the jewel atop the rod facing forward so the jewel of their office can be easily distinguished. To CONDUCT: Physically conduct a person by the arm. To ESCORT: Lead a person to a particular location by saying “Follow Me “ GAVEL: It is correct to use either right or left hand in grasping the gavel during raps. HAT: The wearing of the hat by the Worshipful Master during opening and closing ceremonies and degree conferral is not optional. LEVELING: The Worshipful Master and Wardens do not come down from behind their Pedestals during the Benediction. Leveling is accomplished when the Worshipful Master begins by removing his hat and the subsequent covering of their Jewels by the Wardens and Worshipful Master. PEDESTAL: The Worshipful Master and Wardens remain behind their pedestals unless specifically directed to step out for a particular task. They return behind their pedestals immediately after the completion of that task. PRAYER: When prayer is being offered at any time in the Lodge or at a Lodge function, the Brethren should stand in a dignified manner but do NOT use either the Scottish Rite or York Rite signs of fidelity. Only the adopted Ritual Prayers are to be used during Opening, Closing, and any Degree conferral. SALUTING: All Brethren salute at the Alter Line when entering or retiring from the Lodge, unless directed to do otherwise by the Worshipful Master or when carrying out the assigned duties as part of the conferral of a degree. ROD GROUNDS: When a rod ground is required, the rod will be ground with a light audible sound. The jewel atop the rod should be facing forward. ROD “CARRY” POSITION: When the Deacons or Stewards are moving, the Rod should be carried close to the body parallel along the forearm and aloft at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with the jewel atop the rod rotated 90 degrees an facing side to side. SQUARE and COMPASSES: After the Great Lights are closed, the Square and Compasses are separated and placed beside the Bible, not on top of it. STANDING / SITTING: The Worshipful Master, Wardens, and Officers remain seated unless and until specifically directed to stand is required for proper etiquette. MARCHING LINE: A line that runs along all four sides of the Lodge Room in front of the several stations. This line is used extensively during Degree Work. This line would normally be one full step in front of the stations, however that can be adjusted based on the size and shape of the Lodge Room. The important thing is that this line is consistent with all Officers during Degree Work. ALTER LINE: A line that runs north and south that is located THREE STEPS west of the Alter. Open Books will be the fourth Saturday— March 22— this month. Breakfast starts at 8 a.m. and the Books open at 9 a.m. District Competition will be held that day. Hope to see you there. R. H. Greg Wilson |
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