Black Mountain Lodge No.845 F&AM
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Calendar of Events June 2007 |
Black Mountain Lodge Beacon June 2007 From the East, from the South, From the Officers' Coach, From the Secretary: |
From the East by Worshipful Master Rodolfo AlqueroBrethren,
It is nice to be back! That vacation I enjoyed in the Philippines to visit my 87 year old Mother was both a worthwhile and refreshing experience. It also gave me the chance to attend the Philippine Annual Grand Lodge Communication. On that convention, I met several Brethren from the Tirol and Podomo Lodges based in Davao City in the Mindanao Island. They invited me to visit their Lodges and was able to witness their kind of ‘Third Degree’. There were three candidates and it was a full day affair on a Saturday. Coincidentally, the immediate Past Grand Master, Romeo Yu, was there in those degree conferrals as well as in the reception that followed in a restaurant. It was really a privilege for me and other Brethren present to be with him throughout.
From my observation of their Degree Works as compared to ours, 90% of the words are the same and about 40 % different for the floor works. The Brethren’s hospitality on my stay there gave me a deeper meaning and understanding of our Fraternity.
Congratulations to Brother Melvin Lansangan upon his conferral of the Sublime Degree of Masonry on May 22 and also to Brother Christopher Gunn on May 29. Their conferrals were well attended by our members as well as from other Lodges. Ample food was provided by our newly raised Brothers at the reception.
June 17 is Fathers’ Day. Best Wishes to all Fathers but especially our Brethren-Fathers who have reared their children in the ideals of Freemasonry.
ALERT, ALERT… Brethren, we are now at the threshold of raising to the Sublime Degree the 100th Master Mason in our Lodge. Top Signers, prepare your candidates whoever may be the most qualified candidate for this milestone and this we will celebrate and give proper acknowledgment.
St. John the Baptist, Patron Saint of Freemasonry
By history, custom, tradition and ritualistic requirements, the Craft hold in veneration the Festival’s Days of ST. John the Baptist on June 24th and St. John the Evangelist on December 27th.
St. John the Baptist was a stern and just man, intolerant of sham and weakness. He was a man of strength and fire, uncompromising with evil or expediency and yet courageous, humble, sincere and magnanimous. He was a Levite. His father was a Temple priest of the line of Abijah and his mother Elizabeth was also descended from Aaron. Jesus and John the Baptist were related, their mothers were first cousins.
John lived in the mountainous area of Judah, between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. His clothes were mad of camels’ hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. He had a popular ministry and started at the age of 27, spreading a message of repentance to the people of Jerusalem. He baptized Jesus on the Jordan River, stepped away and told his followers to follow Jesus.
John’s ministry and life ended when he admonished Herod and his wife, Herodias, for their sinful behavior. He was imprisoned and was eventually beheaded.
St. John’s day June 24, symbolically marks the Summer solstice, when nature attains the zenith of light, life and joy. St. John the Evangelist’s day in winter, December 27, symbolizes the turn of the sun’s farthest journey- the attainment of wisdom, the rewards of a well-spent life and love towards one’s fellow man.
The first Grand Lodge organized in England in 1717 was on the Festival Day of John the Baptist. The United Grand Lodge of England was created in 1813 on the Festival Day of the Evangelist.
In the English catechism of the early 18th century, the following 3 questions and answers were included as an explanation of why Lodges were dedicated to the Holy Saints John.
Why to John the Baptist?
In him, we have a singular instance of purity, zeal, simplicity of manners and an ardent wish to benefit mankind by his example. To him, we are indebted for the introduction of that grand tenet of our institution, which it is our glory to support: Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men.
Did John the Baptist have any equal?
To carry into execution this grand tenet, and to transmit to future ages a valuable doctrine, an equal has been selected, John the Evangelist, in whom we find talents and learning alike conspicuous. Hence, it is to him we pay due allegiance as the patron of our art.
In what is he considered the equal of John the Baptist?
He is considered to be equal to the former in this. As the personal influence of John the Baptist could not extend beyond the bounds of a private circle or so effectually defuse the benefits of the plan he had introduced, an assistant was necessary to complete the work he had begun. In John the Baptist, therefore, we discover the same zeal as John the Baptist, and superior abilities displayed to perfect the improvement of Man, copying the example of his predecessor we view him arranging and ably digesting, by his eminent talents the great doctrine which has been issued into the world: and transmitting by his writings, for the benefit of posterity, the influence of that doctrine to which the zeal of his predecessor had given birth. As parallels in Masonry, we rank these two patrons and class them as joint promoters of our system: to their memory in conjunction with Solomon, we are taught to pay due homage and veneration.
John the Baptist was simply a man who lived in one particular historical moment. Yet, his message of repentance, humility, devotion and love of God transcends time and culture. It is a message that is just as urgent and just as true today as it was 2,000 years ago. It is a message that was illustrated in John’s daily life. Morever, it is a message that underscores so many of the values that Freemasons today exalt as ideals for the living of a moral life.
(condensed from a writing of Philipp Elam, Grand Orator (1999-2000), Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Missouri)
Fraternally, WM Rudy Alquero |
From the South:
Black Mountain Lodge # 845 commemorated Mothers' Day on May 14, 2007. The officers and members of the lodge presented flowers to the guests-of-honor, the Mothers. Mothers, from time immemorial have been honored and respected. This immense gesture continues from the first generation to the present and will undoubtedly pass through future generations. We, therefore with sincere affection to our mothers, whether so ever dispersed around the world, offer our faithful love.
A formal diner catered by Ranch Events served a sumptuous full course meal. Twenty five total attendees graced the event. The celebration ended at 7:30 P.M. Stated meeting immediately followed.
Senior Deacon
Bernardo Gapuz
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FROM THE OFFICERS' COACH:JULY 4TH FUNDRAISER BREAKFAST AND PARADE
My Brothers,
June 30th and July 4th are upon us and we have a lot to accomplish
Between now and then. Officers need to be qualified, a pancake breakfast planned and a parade organized.
We need tables and chairs, cooking griddle(s), food purchased and a crew of cooks to prepare the food. The Epicenter needs the tables and chairs to be set up and serving line read to start slapping those pancakes on the customers plates. In the past we were able to use the kitchen facilities, but now we have none. We must improvise for ourselves. We must, therefore, be creative and very coordinated in order to convince the community, once again, that Black Mountain Lodge has the can-do spirit that has made us an important part of the July 4th festivities. We have been kicking the day off with a breakfast for 5 years and I am confident we will continue that service to our community. What I am asking is that when you are called upon to pitch in and help out, that you will be there for us. We will be having a few planning meetings for these events so if you have time, please attend.
We also need a presentable vehicle to pull our float and the driver needs to be there on time or we will be left out. Once the float is in place the Brothers who will be marching can gather around until the parade kicks off. Our position is toward the end of the parade in order to give those breakfast workers time to assemble there.
I will have more specifics at our Stated Meeting.
Y.I.M.
Bill
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From the Secretary... Membership to May 31st
First Degrees: 5
Second Degrees: 1
Third Degrees: 8
Affliations:0 Reinstatement:0
Withdrawal: 2
Suspension:0
Total Membership 130
3RD DEGREE ANNIVERSARIES
James L. White June 3, 1998
Gerald Winstanley, PM June 5, 1973
Hercules Dinglasan June 6, 2001
Samuel A. Donges June 6, 1984
Eugene Labasan June 6, 2006
Lemando L. Zapanta June 7, 2000
Ramil S. Valdez June 7, 2005
Tierre M. Gee June 20, 2006
Jimmy Palis June 20, 2006
Shaun C. Camantigue June 21, 2005
Joy M. Mejia June 22, 2000
Darell E. Smith June 22, 1961
Harold D. Davenport June 24, 1998
Liborio Molina June 26, 2002
Salvador Senar June 26, 1974
Alan Alcantara June 28, 2005
Michael Goldman June 29, 1989
William Byous, PM June 30, 1980
June Anniversaries
Wayne and Mary Olson 13th
Leonardo and Rebecca Ilog 24th
Raymon and Juliet Rufo 26th
James and Pat John 27th
JUNE BIRTHDAYS
Rico L. Morales 1st
Antonio Pineda 1st
Fred S. Saldana 3rd
Bernadette Mariano 4th
Jose Flores 6th
Waliodah Ochea II 8th
Liberty Maghinang 12th
Jose B San Andres 16th
Shaun C. Camantique 18th
Harold Davenport 18th
Gilbert I. DePerio 21st
Marylou Monzon 27th
William Byous, PM 28th
Myrna Garcia 28th
Dawn Hudson 30th