The 18th C. came alive last night at Smithtown Lodge when an unexpected guest arrived.
None other than Bro. George Washington (W:. Bill Mountzouros)! He, with the able assistance of Bro. Gary Gudzik, DSA, entertained and ENLIGHTENED the Brethren.
The topic was Civility and proper comportment, in the very words of Bro. George (see slide-in photo).
Brothers,
It is with a heavy heart that I relay the news that V:.W:. Boysie Singh, Past Master of Potunk Lodge No. 1071, laid down the working tools of life and has passed upward to that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
May the GAOTU hold him in his hands. The Secretary will send out arrangements when they are available.
Please keep his wife Terry and their three daughters in your thoughts and prayers.
As the days get longer and brighter, the demand for live events is building. New data reveals that consumers are buying tickets at a rate we haven’t seen since before the pandemic. The proof is in the numbers.
Since the start of 2022:
Tickets sales for entertainment events are up 176% in NYC and 127% in LA
The above is just a snapshot that reflects national trends.
If you’ve been waiting for the right time to kick off and explore that new event idea, now is the time to act on the attendee demand that’s sweeping the nation. Whether you are holing a small dinner or a full-fledged party or musical event, now is the time!
If you are the member of your Lodge, or in the district, that is responsible for creating and running events there are a few things to remember:
The Suffolk Masonic District and the LIPMA have teamed up to bring Hiram’s Tickets to all the Lodges and appendant bodies in the area. You can sell tickets to your Lodge or appendant body event right from the suffolkmasons.com website event pages. There is a cost as the system is a professionally coded and implemented software suite. The cost is minimal, just $1.00 per ticket sold. So, what do you get for your $1.00/ticket price?
A representative from LIPMA can come and explain more if requested.
Let’s get those events listed. At the very least you should enter your event on the Suffolk District BAND and this calendar is sync’d with the suffolkmasons.com website calendar so it will be listed tickets or no tickets and there is never a cost to add non-ticketed events. In fact, you can create RSVPs as well and there’s no fee on that either.
If you would like more information, you can check out this post for more detail -> Introducing Suffolk Masonic events tickets powered by LIPMA
Dear Readers,
The critics have spoken and it’s unanimous!
Thanks to all those who participated I last night’s event. Fantastic evening for everyone. Kudos to the Stokke family for all they do. – V:.W:. Bill Debenedetto
Thats just one of the many posts since last night’s Venison Dinner. With this event canceled the last 2 years due to concerns, it was a welcome and wonderful return. I’ll just point to all the smiling faces in the images to tell you how the evening went. A big thanks to the Stokke family and Bobby Able and all those that pitched in and made this event a great success.
Below are images taken by our Brother Paparazzi – W:. Al Baker
There are lots of pics so it may take a few seconds to load…be patient.
Suffolk District AGLs V:.W:. Bill Debenedetto and V:.W:. Gil Kruse came out last night to Potunk Lodge #1071 for a School of Instruction. On the agenda was to discuss and get info on the Drama of the 3rd degree.
Brothers from Potunk Lodge, Riverhead Lodge, Smithtown Lodge, Suffolk 60 and others all joined in the discussion and ritual.
All had a very enlightening evening and are looking forward to the next.
Although the holiday is most often referred to as “Presidents’ Day,” the observed federal holiday is officially called “Washington’s Birthday.”
Neither Congress nor the President has ever stipulated that the name of the holiday observed as Washington’s Birthday be changed to Presidents’ Day. Additionally, Congress has never declared a national holiday that is binding in all states; each state has the freedom to determine its own legal holidays. This is why there are some calendar discrepancies when it comes to this holiday’s date.
So why is Washington’s Birthday commonly called Presidents’ Day?
In a sense, calling the holiday Presidents’ Day helps us to reflect on not just the first president, but also the founding of our nation, its values, and what Washington calls in his Farewell Address the “beloved Constitution and union, as received from the Founders.” Additionally, Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is in February (on the 12th), so by calling the holiday “Presidents’ Day,” we can include another remarkable president in our celebrations as well.
Today, many calendars list the third Monday of February as Presidents’ Day, just as quite a few U.S. states do, too. Of course, all of the 3-day retail store sales are called “Presidents’ Day” sales and this vernacular has also been influential in how we reference the holiday.
Historically, Americans began celebrating George Washington’s Birthday just months after his death, long before Congress declared it a federal holiday. It was not until 1879, under President Rutherford B. Hayes, that Washington’s Birthday became a legal holiday, to be observed on his birthday, February 22.
Washington’s birthday was celebrated on February 22 until well into the 20th century. In 1968, Congress passed the Monday Holiday Law to “provide uniform annual observances of certain legal public holidays on Mondays.” By creating more 3-day weekends, Congress hoped to “bring substantial benefits to both the spiritual and economic life of the Nation.”
Today, George Washington’s Birthday is one of only eleven permanent holidays established by Congress. One of the great traditions followed for decades has been the reading by a U.S. senator of George Washington’s Farewell Address in legislative session, which remains an annual event to this day.
Although the federal holiday is held on a Monday (the third Monday of February), George Washington’s birthday is observed on February 22. To complicate matters, Washington was actually born on February 11 in 1731! How can that be?
George Washington was originally born when the Julian calendar was in use. During Washington’s lifetime, people in Great Britain and America switched the official calendar system from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar (something that most of Europe had already done in 1582).
As a result of this calendar reform, people born before 1752 were told to add 11 days to their birth dates. Those born between January 1 and March 25, as Washington was, also had to add one year to be in sync with the new calendar.
By the time Washington became president in 1789, he celebrated his birthday on February 22 and listed his year of birth as 1732.
To summarize, Washington’s birthday changed from February 11, 1731 (Old-Style Julian calendar), to February 22, 1732 (New-Style Gregorian calendar).
The rest as you know dear readers is history!
Dear Brother,
As we know, Camp Turk at Round Lake is a premier summer camp and one of the crown jewels of New York State Freemasonry. The past two camping seasons have been very difficult as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2020 season was cancelled entirely, and last season Camp Turk operated with far fewer children than in previous years. This was due in large part because of the continued uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 protocols and the difficulty in finding competent staff.
As we continue our plans for the 2022 camping season, we need everyone’s help in bringing the number of children attending camp to pre-Covid levels. Therefore, I am asking that each district in our jurisdiction sponsor 2 children to camp this year. By sponsoring these children your District is not compelled to pay the full amount of weekly tuition. If the district is unable to pay the full amount which is $550 per week, there are scholarship monies available for families that qualify. We also expect families to pay a portion of the tuition as well.
This is an important transition year for us as we strive to bring our “one of a kind” camping experience to as many children as possible. This information can be shared with all our bothers, their families, neighbors and friends.
Applications are now being accepted by registering at our website at www.campturk.org . Please contact Mollie Denslow, Camp Administrator at 315- 392-2081 or email [email protected] , with any questions or to obtain a Scholarship Application.
Thank you for your kind and generous consideration.
M:.W:. Bro. Richard J. Kessler
Grand Master
Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of the State of New York
71 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010
As of late we have seen a great Brotherhood and competitive spirit among Brothers of the Suffolk District with the District Traveling Gavel. There has been Bragging rights and quite a bit of smack talk as well. All in good fun and of course good taste (mostly).
Lately, as April approaches, some Lodges once they have snagged the gavel for their Lodge, are going to greater and greater lengths to secure it and assure that none attempt to acquire it for another Lodge. Case in point, Suffolk Lodge No. 60, recently went to Amityville Lodge No. 977, where Start of the East Lodge No. 843’s, W:. Joe Lombardo, recently appeared with the Traveling Gavel.
Amityville Lodge was conferring the 1st degree on a candidate and the Brothers of the District came out in force to help, aid and assist the Lodge in the best way possible. Filling the Lodge with Brotherly Love and Fellowship. However, once the Traveling Gavel was spied, all that went out the window and in the end Suffolk 60 emerged with the Traveling Gavel. And there was much rejoicing.
The Brothers of Suffolk 60, naturally proud of their acquisition and not wanting the gavel to be absconded with, have secured the Traveling Gavel in a most interesting, and possibly dangerous way. You be the judge!
I am not sure about any other Brothers, but I am pretty sure I won’t be reaching for that Traveling Gavel in its current location. I suspect for another Lodge to acquire it, it will take thought and cunning and a very large steak by the looks of it.
Brothers the Craftsmen Online has taken another great step to bring substantial Masonic content to every Freemason. The Grand Master, M:.W:. Richard Kessler recently chatted with Craftsmen Online about his vision for Freemasonry.
You can get to Craftsmen Online and all their content here -> CraftsmenOnline.com
FROM Grand Lodge of New York:
We are very excited to announce our grand lodges partnership with the Craftsmen Online. To kick off our first conjoined program we bring you the Grand Master! This also was shot with a video segment you can see on their website. We will have a wide range of programming coming to you over the next weeks with access and insight to our Grand Lodge as never before.
If you have every looked closely at Masonic protocol & etiquette as well as Masonic Landmarks and law, it should become evident that there is a common thread.
WBro. Washington wrote a booklet on rules of etiquette for gentleman. He gleaned most of this from books he had read as a boy and young man and from most sources here tried to live by these same rules.
I recently came across a social media post for “Rules to teach your son”. The post reminded me a lot of WBro. Washington’s booklet, albeit with a slightly more modern twist on it. I would also re-title this “Rules to teach a young Mason” The items in Red are the ones I would include that list. What’s your list look like?
Rules to teach your son
- Never shake a man’s hand sitting down. – Common Courtesy
- Don’t enter a pool by the stairs. – Be bold when called for
- The man at the BBQ Grill is the closest thing to a king. – Among men this is an axiom
- In a negotiation, never make the first offer. – Common Sense
- Request the late check-out. – Enjoy life
- When entrusted with a secret, keep it. – Self Explanatory of course
- Hold your heroes to a higher standard. – Never step down, always bid men step up to you
- Return a borrowed car with a full tank of gas. – Again, Common courtesy
- Play with passion or don’t play at all… – If you are going to do something, give it your all
- When shaking hands, grip firmly and look them in the eye. – Directly out of WBro. Washington’s booklet
- Don’t let a wishbone grow where a backbone should be. – Don’t let anything stop you in your pursuit of your dreams
- If you need music on the beach, you’re missing the point. – Certainly true
- Carry two handkerchiefs. The one in your back pocket is for you. The one in your breast pocket is for her. – Be the rock for the ones you love
- You marry the girl; you marry her family. – The nuclear and extended family is what make you what you are, love all of them
- Be like a duck. Remain calm on the surface and paddle like crazy underneath. – Never let them see you sweat
- Experience the serenity of traveling alone. – Know thyself
- Never be afraid to ask out the best-looking girl in the room. – pursuit of happiness
- Never turn down a breath mint. – share and accept what is offered to you graciously
- A sport coat is worth 1000 words. – Always overdress for an event or occasion. You can always remove to dress down
- Try writing your own eulogy. Never stop revising. – Momento Mori
- Thank a veteran. Then make it up to him. – Yes “thank you for your service is always nice, if you get the chance buy them a drink or event lunch.
- Eat lunch with the new kid. – seek out new members at meetings and get to know them, introduce them to well informed brothers
- After writing an angry email, read it carefully. Then delete it. – This, as in all things, is an axiom
- Ask your mom to play. She won’t let you win. – Your mom will always be your mom
- Manners maketh the man. – Again, right out of WBro. Washington’s booklet
- Give credit. Take the blame. – Definitely applies to every WM
- Stand up to Bullies. Protect those bullied. – Always and every time
- Write down your dreams. – Set goals, write them down and reference them regularly
- Take time to snuggle your pets, they love you so much and are always happy to see you. – of course, they are family
- Be confident and humble at the same time. – Stand erect among men, be the example of grace and humility
- If ever in doubt, remember
whose son you arethat you are a Freemasons and REFUSE to just be ordinary! – This is key to showing those in your life and the world what a Freemason is.- In all things lead by example not explanation. – Another truism if there were any
The rules above (with commentary) are not arbitrary. Like the “Golden Rule”, they have come down from antiquity from many, if not all, civilizations in one form or another.
Civilization must have “rules” like the golden rule and maybe even some or all of those above to be civilized. Freemasons need to embody No. 32 and exemplify it in all we do.
Just to cement the ideas above I will also offer the following:
In The Farmer’s Almanac for 1823 published at Andover, Mass., the following was printed under the heading,
“Definition of a Freemason”
The real Freemason is distinguished from the rest of Mankind by the uniform unrestrained rectitude of his conduct.
Other men are honest in fear of punishment which the law might inflect they are religious in expectation of being rewarded, or in dread of the devil, in the next world.
A Freemason would be just if there were no laws, human or divine except those written in his heart by the finger of his Creator. In every climate, under every system of religion, he is the same.
He kneels before the Universal Throne of God in gratitude for the blessings he has received and humble solicitation for his future protection.
He venerates the good men of all religions.
He disturbs not the religion of others.
He restrains his passions, because they cannot be indulged without injuring his neighbor or himself.
He gives no offense, because he does not choose to be offended.
He contracts no debts which he is certain he cannot discharge because he is honest upon principal.
Finally, I believe Bro. John “The Duke” Wayne said it more simply, yet succinctly:
“I won’t be wronged. I won’t be insulted. I won’t be laid a-hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” ― Bro.
It would really be a wonderful thing to hear what the Brothers say about the rules above, would you add any, remove any, re-word any? If you want a lively discussion in a Lodge, bring up what does it mean to be a Freemason, and a man.
