TRUTH TRIANGLE No. 31 – January, 2023

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TRUTH TRIANGLE No. 31

On Saturday, December 3rd, the ladies of Truth Triangle held their semi-annual Public Installation of Officers at Jephtha Lodge. In a tearful and beautiful ceremony, after presenting a significant donation to Island Harvest from her term fundraising, Beloved Queen Lilyonna retired her crown after 18 months of service. Her grace, poise, and desire to succeed helped the chapter to grow and prosper under her leadership.

Following the retiring ceremony, several Suffolk District Alumni took the floor to perform the Founders Day Degree, as is traditional during the meeting closest to the birthday of our founder, Rose E. Scherer. The members of Truth Triangle were then installed into their new offices, in which they will serve for the next six months, and our chapter Supervisors were presented.

With the cooperation of an escort team consisting of Truth members, Rosebuds, and Rainbow sisters, Beloved Queen Sophia was installed as the 186th Beloved Queen of Truth Triangle. Sophia has been dreaming of this moment since her youth, as her mother, Janet, is a Past Beloved Queen and Past Junior Advisor of Suffolk District. Additionally, during this term Sophia is looking forward to helping her “home” Triangle, Meridian #71, rebuild in their new home at Riverhead Lodge. She also serves our New York DeMolay Brothers as a member of the Sweetheart Leadership Committee.

Sophia was surrounded by family and friends as she took her oaths and received the crown, including members of several of our Masonic fraternities. In attendance were Jephtha Lodge Master W Mike Crispino, Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of New York RW Tim TenClay, Senior Warden Bill Fenty III, and District Deputy Grand Matron Renay Fetcher.

Beloved Queen Sophia has chosen as her term charity, ALS Ride for Life. This charity has great significance to her family, and she hopes to raise considerable funds to support their efforts during her term. The chapter will also be fundraising to help our members attend the next Biennial State Convention to be held in October of 2023.

Thank you to those Brothers who were able to attend to represent Jephtha Lodge in support of our ladies, and to all of the Brothers and Sisters of our Masonic family who work to help our ladies along the path to “A Finer American Womanhood.” We look forward to seeing you all at our upcoming events!

Respectfully submitted,
Deborah Schulbaum
Junior Deputy, Truth Triangle No. 31

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Greetings from the Corner Desk – January, 2023

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GREETINGS FROM THE CORNER DESK

During COVID, about a dozen brothers from Jephtha met monthly by Zoom for a book study on Alchemical Psychology. It was one of my favorite experiences of that strange and confusing time. With permission from the W Michael Crispino, it is my pleasure to invite you to join a new book study on The Path of the Holy Fool: How the Labyrinth Ignites Our Visionary Powers by the Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress. The book explores the Parsifal/Grail legend and invites each of us to explore our own unique journeys as we hone our rough edges and seek to become better men and brothers.

Though Lauren is a priest in the Episcopal tradition, this book (and our study of it) will not be sectarian nor uniquely Christian – all of our brothers, regardless of their specific religious tradition, are invited to join. This study is open to anyone who is an Entered Apprentice or above. It requires no previous knowledge of the legend nor any interest in working with a Labyrinth (though, naturally, I will gladly facilitate the opportunity to explore that with anyone who has interest).

We will be meeting once a month by zoom on an evening to be determined by those who will be participating. If you are interested in joining us, please let me know (email: teejtc@gmail.com) as soon as possible. In order to provide the best possible experience, we will be limiting this particular group to 15 brothers and giving first preference to those who are members of Jephtha.

Grace and peace,
R:.W:. Tim TenClay, Secretary

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Greetings from the South – January, 2023

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GREETINGS FROM THE SOUTH

My brothers, as we approach the new year having celebrated the holidays with family, friends and fellow Brothers, we should be reminded of three important teachings which are too easily forgotten:

First, the wise and noble words set forth in the opening of Psalm 133, specifically, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity.” What a joy it is to celebrate and rejoice together with Brothers of Jephtha Lodge in harmony. Isn’t it? Brotherhood unites us and should always be on our minds as we approach and reflect on the new year with excitement and refined purpose. As Masons, we are taught to strive for kinship, obtaining peace and prosperity within the Lodge. For some, it may have been distinguished by what is past, but fear not, harmony will be back again in the present and into the future. Let us continuously remember this about friendship and realign our goals so it is the main destination or central ingredient of our success going into 2023 and beyond.

Second, the compasses are always leading the way and teaching us to look beyond our inflamed desires and focus on what is most important within the bounds of all mankind. This teaching should not be overlooked as there may come a time when we have been tested, or perhaps our desires and passions lead us and cause an event to occur which was the opposite of our intentions. Later we may realize what is really most important. Let us learn to circumscribe our pulling desires so we can enjoy the new year with a new start and work together with all mankind to spread Brotherly Love and compassion that is the heart of Freemasonry. For without our Brothers beside me, we are not a Lodge, but a freestanding fellow Mason when we should be Masons jointly. We are equals set forth to help all Brothers. We should always take care to listen before responding, or not act in the heat of our passions at any given moment. What is said by one speaking brother may harm another listening brother, even if that speaking brother had the best of intentions but may have chosen the wrong words or time to do so. Let us circumscribe our desires and refocus on what is the most important of all – Harmony and Unity that strengthen our Brotherhood.

Third, harmony. For after all, there is no truer phrase than “harmony is the support of all institutions especially this of ours.” I did borrow this from the Senior Warden (sorry Brother Bill), but no truer words have been spoken. Let us always remember, we must have peace within the Lodge to succeed and be successful. In our joint undertakings, Lodge like-mindedness is required for Jephtha to grow and prosper. To be truly in this spirit, we must all think before we act. We must all safely guide our fellow brothers by providing strong, positive examples and not examples of what should be avoided when our passions are not kept in the due bounds of all mankind. Any team, organization, corporation, union, group, fraternity or brotherhood – you name it – must have a meeting of the minds for it to adapt, to continue and to grow. Yet we should also be blessed with our own inner harmony or peace that we all seek. Sometimes, however, we can lose sight of it when we forget the teachings of the compasses. As we approach the new year, let us humbly come together and remember it is the joy of inner peace and that of the lodge that fosters brotherhood and unity, and that harmony and togetherness allow us all to dwell together while the Lodge continues onward toward thousands of more communications.

Let this be a new year with new beginnings, new thoughts, new considerations, new leadership and let harmony reign supreme again. As the new year progresses, let us continuously remember to subdue our discordant passions and always be reminded to keep those passions in the due bounds with all mankind. Let us celebrate Harmony with Unity as our ultimate goal.

I wish all Brothers and their families a happy and healthy new year. In the spirit of the station in the south, let us all enjoy nourishment, sustenance, and refreshment together in happiness.

Fraternally yours from the south,
Br John A Lentinello, Junior Warden

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Greetings from the West – January, 2023

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GREETINGS FROM THE WEST

Happy holidays and a happy new year!

Greetings from the west my Brothers. I know you are reading this in January with the opening of the new year and the holidays are now in the rear view mirror. I am, however, writing this missive at the opening of the holiday season and feel compelled to write about them as a reminder to all Brothers of the core tenants of Freemasonry – Faith, Hope and Charity.

Faith – May you always have Faith. Faith there is a Great Architect of the Universe, and He is a God that loves us and will do what is ever best for us even if we can’t see Him or understand Him. A child doesn’t always understand why a parent does certain things, but like a child, we must have Faith in our Father, that He is guiding us and doing what is best for us, much the way a child has Faith in his parent.

Hope – May you always have Hope. Hope this new year will be a good one, that all we dream of, that our wants and desires will somehow fit into the plan of the Great Architect of the Universe. With the start of the new year, I hope for all of us, we understand and remember that as we are Loved, so should we Love others.

Charity – May Charity always fill our hearts. CHARITY IS LOVE IN ACTION. We are tested by the Great Architect of the Universe, by our very moral code, to Love one another. Charity being Love in action is how we show one another that very Love. It is often thought of as giving material things – food, money, coats, and toys. In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, in the unrelenting focus on the material during the season, don’t forget, my Brothers, Charity is also the intangible – giving the benefit of the doubt, giving forgiveness for our Brothers’ transgressions, and by adopting a Charitable outlook for those who are being difficult. Charity and Brotherly Love is being kind even when the other person doesn’t necessarily deserve it. It does not have to be sticking our hands in our pockets to offer a monetary reward. It is also putting pride on the shelf, putting others first, turning the other cheek.

My Brothers, I hope your holiday season is a joyous one, full of wonder and excitement. May this new year be filled with happiness and good health. I hope for my Brothers we all find ways to experience the Love of the Great Architect of the Universe and we can share that very Love with all our Brothers, our families, and the larger family, the human race.

Wishing you Faith, Hope and Charity this holiday season and in the new year,
Br. Bill Fenty III, Senior Warden

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Greetings from the East – January, 2023

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GREETINGS FROM THE EAST

Greetings my Brothers,

Happy New Year, and I wish you all good health, joy and Brotherly Love in 2023.

Reflecting on my role as Worshipful Master in 2022, it made me think of what responsibility entails. Merriam-Webster defines it as: “…the quality of being responsible, such as a moral, legal or mental accountability; reliability, trustworthiness; something for which one is responsible: burden.”

Since I was 10 years old, I’ve had obligations. I hated delivering newspapers on a cold, snowy day at 5 AM, but it was my responsibility to do so. At 14 I worked my entire summer at a gas station, 12 hours a day. I took 2 buses to the Bronx since that was the only place that would hire me at that age. I hated the pay, but I still did the job to the best of my ability since that was the agreed upon wage. With devotion came reward. My unemployed friends didn’t have what I was able to buy, and all that was due to my responsibility to my job. Even though it was not the best job in the world, it made my life easier and nicer.

After these experiences, I was more appreciative of jobs that came afterwards. At 18 I left the gas station and started working for UPS, a union job which provided me guaranteed raises, benefits, and a pension. That job led me to my current position while earning my master’s degree full-time. Thirty-two years later (with 4 promotions), it’s a job I love, all thanks to the foundations of accountability I had developed earlier.

I have always taken my duties to heart and do the best I can. As a Mason, isn’t that what’s expected? As an officer I was sometimes unable to make certain events since I was working as a first responder on a rotating shift, but I made it a point to miss the fun occasions in my life so that I could attend important Masonic affairs.

As Worshipful Master I am in charge of our Lodge, which is to make sure that polices I put forward benefit the Lodge not only during my term, but in the future. This is certainly true with my Wardens and Deacons since my actions will affect their terms. Add to all of this, numerous officers’ meetings.

As Junior Warden it was not immediately possible to cook for my Brothers during COVID and lockdown. That ended in February. In the meantime, I decided to make my newsletter articles lengthier than previously to compensate for the lack of our meeting in Lodge. With time this became something I love to do and one of my agreed upon responsibilities in which I take great pride.

One of the joys of a line officer is to pass on my knowledge quietly to an officer moving up, as I have also done at work. I always pull fellow Brothers and fellow workers aside when a basic question is asked that is done daily or often and speak to them in a low voice so that others don’t hear me, preventing embarrassment. Others in charge may find this a burden and become unkind to those who may have erred.

In Lodge, I have made errors in the roles I’ve held, and Brothers have whispered to correct me since they felt it was their responsibility to tell me in a low voice what had gone awry. They also told me what a good job I had done even when mistakes were made. Isn’t that what learning is all about, trying something new and perhaps erring along the way? Being a Mason is making a responsible commitment to the Craft, doing everything possible to make what we do as perfect as possible. But if minor mistakes occur, we should remember an honest attempt was made and best of luck next time.

Responsible commitment means showing up for practice, studying, working out difficulties yourself, asking for help when needed, and embracing our agreed upon assignments. For me as Worshipful Master, that means writing monthly articles for this newsletter, having substantive communications, visiting other lodges, and representing our Lodge so that its light shines brightly.

As we advance in the different officers’ chairs, responsibilities grow. The Senior Deacon is one of the greatest responsibilities when performing degrees. He has to coordinate what positions need to be filled months in advance, set up practices, meet and greet visiting Brethren, and lead the candidates/Brothers on their next Masonic journey. This is the make-or-break seat for a Brother moving up the line. I loved this chair when I held it, but there were also nervous and trying nights when presenting degrees.

With responsible commitment comes growth, an inner, satisfying beauty as well as accomplishment. Your lines may not always be perfect, but it is the attempt that counts because you are meeting your deadlines responsibly. Don’t be afraid to ask for help but be afraid of not meeting your commitments. Most important of all is to never undermine anyone, maliciously or with false kindness, or say to him, “This isn’t the way it’s done.” It’s unfriendly and unwanted. In this case a brother should show Masonic Brotherly Love and say to this Brother quietly and as an aside, “I’ve been down this road before. Do you need help from me to help you get to where you need to go?”

Never do I address any of my Brothers as “friend.” That is unworthy when speaking of our Brothers. When I see or address a Brother it is always as, “My Brother.” When I went to hear Brothers Anthony Colonna and Walt Willems’ band play, they introduced me to the lead singer, and she asked if we were friends. I said, “No, I am their Brother.” She didn’t understand at first, but it became clearer when I told her we were all Masons. The word “Brother” is used with pride, and it is our responsibility to do so because we all fulfilled the same obligation and proficiency when we became Brothers.

I would like to thank all my Brothers for accepting their commitments and responsibilities, and for all you do to improve your lives and our Lodge. Let us remember in fulfilling our own responsibilities to help those who may need help in fulfilling theirs, and to do so quietly, with Brotherly Love.

Always remember, it’s up to each one of us to continuously show how brightly our light can shine.

Sincerely and fraternally,
Michael S Crispino, Jr

And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.
Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926), Austrian poet and novelist

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Important update from W:. Peppaceno

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Brothers,

 

On behalf of the Worshipful Master, Dominick Peppaceno:

 

The 1st degree that was planned for Tuesday, Nov. 1st, will be postponed to another date to be announced soon. The Lodge will open and close on Tuesday, November 1st and we’ll proceed to the Funeral Service for our departed Brother Jerry Shaw from there.

 

Details on the funeral service will be sent as soon as they are received.

 

Fraternally,

 

V:.W:. Bill Arnold

Jr. Warden

Riverhead Lodge #645

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An Evening with Psychic Medium Jeffrey Wands

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On Saturday, November 5th, Riverhead Lodge #645 Free & Accepted Masons will host “An Evening with Psychic Medium Jeffrey Wands” in the Lodge collation room.  General Admission tickets are only $40.00 per person and open to All.  Each attendee will receive a complimentary glass of wine or beer with admission.

Doors open at 6:00 pm with Mr. Wands taking center stage at approximately 7:00 pm.

This is a great event and Mr. Wands is always quite engaging with the audience.

Tickets may be purchased online here at SuffolkMasons.com

Tickets can also be purchased via mail by contacting Terry Maccarrone at (631)-334-3698.

The venue is handicapped accessible.

Riverhead Lodge is located at 1246 Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead, immediately south of the Rte. 58 traffic circle. The entrance is at the rear of the building.

Call with questions.

Welcome to the 2022-2023 Masonic season

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Well September is here and it’s time to ramp up Masonic activities. WMs are busy setting up last minute trestle board items, events being schedule and Lodges will be meeting for stated communications.

There were a lot of changes over the last year or so, so please have a look at the events page here -> Events

We have also added a listing up upcoming events on the homepage that are ticketed events so if you want to attend any, click the link and get your tickets.

Want to sell online tickets for your event? Login to suffolkmasons.com and go to your events and create the event, add a PayPal email address and add tickets for sale, voila you are selling tickets online.

Also don’t forget to login to the Suffolk District BAND and all the dates and info is also there and matches the Suffolk District website calendar. If you add and event to the Suffolk District BAND, it will be transferred to the suffolkmasons.com website events calendar automatically.

Not a member of the BAND? Well, you can join by going here and requesting to join by creating and account -> Suffolk Masonic District BAND

There will also be a new page appearing soon on the site for the District Staff Officers and education events. There will be a registration page with details here soon and you can sign up for those courses right here too.

We hope all had a great summer and looking forward to getting back into the quarries!

Happy Independence Day 2022!

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American Independence Day is an important event for all Americans; however, it is especially important to Freemasons. It’s of no real surprise that many of the founders of this great nation were in fact members of the Craft. We all hear the listing of famous Masons and more often than not the founding fathers top the list.

So, what would make this day so special to Freemasons in particular? Well for those that know their history and history of the Craft, a deeper look into this nation’s founding documents should look almost as familiar as the ritual we use, and the structure and practices Freemasons employ still today.

Five of the men on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence were believed to be Freemasons and of those who signed the Declaration, the majority were Freemasons.

This shows that one of the most influential voices shaping the new United States nation was a Masonic voice. (Masonicfind.com)

All of these Freemasons who were a part of the founding would have been intimately acquainted with Anderson’s Constitutions. M:.W:. Bro. Benjamin Franklin published an edition of the Constitution even before he joined the Fraternity ~1738. If you read through Anderson’s Constitutions (The Constitutions of the Free-Masons, containing the history, charges, regulations, etc. of that Most Ancient and Right Worshipful Fraternity). The full title was of course a mouth full. 

Still to this day most of what was contained in Anderson’s 1723 and 1738 editions of the Constitutions is relevant and in use today. But enough of the history lesson, why is it so special today as it was in 1776?

Well, we all discuss the sacrifices of those that came before us and their fortitude and bravery. Unlike any other time in US history these men and Brothers, literally put their lives and fortunes on the line to create something beautiful and not seen before on this earth. Had they been captured by the British, well MWBro Frankin said it best; “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately”.

The fact that the nation’s capital city, most notably, the capital building itself, had its cornerstone laid in Masonic Tradition and by WBro Washinton himself is a testament to the amount of influence that Freemasonry had at that time. 

Fast forward to current times and many would say our numbers are dwindling, etc. with much hand wringing. I would suggest that the contraction is normal and possibly beneficial. Not so beneficial to those who have to maintain multi-million-dollar properties I’d venture. But here we are in this time of division and polarization in almost all aspects of public life. I’d also suggest that now is the time that Freemasonry is needed in this country. We need to know how to agree to disagree with civility. Understand each other and become one nation under God, which was our promise.  Of course, there will always be some disagreement, but a compromise was always our strong suit as a people.

So this 4th of July attend your local parades or gatherings and wear your Masonic emblems, shirts, rings hats, or whatever. Have your elevator speech about Fremasnry ready and talk to people. Not necessarily with the goal of prospective members, but that they may know we are here and that we espouse those virtues we talk about a lot. Who can best work and best agree?