Archive for category: Stated Communication

My Dear Brothers,

In November, I spoke to you of Fortitude in remembrance of Veterans Day. This January’s choice is Temperance, which is the virtue of moderation while being forgiving and patient. To me, with day-to-day stress, continual testing of our patience, increased road rage, and daily life elevated with uncertainty, Temperance is the perfect virtue to demonstrate self-control. It is perfect to add to any 2022 New Year’s resolutions since it can help us maintain balance in our lives and moderate bad habits.

Years ago, after working at Ground Zero, I decided to quit smoking, replacing my smoking habit with peppermint balls. In 2021 I found out my replacement was causing my sugar to rise, so I immediately gave them up, which was easier than giving up smoking cold turkey, and to me a perfect steppingstone to do so.

Temperance doesn’t always mean abruptly stopping a bad habit but recognizing it, substituting it for something less damaging, and eventually moderating it. Temperance gives us the free will to do so. It also means keeping stability in our lives since it doesn’t involve removing all pleasures but balancing them. Temperance shouldn’t consume our lives, but help keeping everything in check.

Let’s remember our resolutions – eating less, making more money, paying off bills, being kinder or more charitable, but always remember what led us to making these resolutions. If we are worried about bills, in most cases it’s because we have a roof over our heads, paying for a child’s college or a car loan. If we resolve to lose weight, it’s because we have food on our tables. Making a resolution to be more charitable, means we recognize what we have, and understand there are those who have less, or have bad luck in life. We all will experience difficult times or situations, but we, as Masons, have each other’s Brotherly Love and guidance to elevate us to a more spiritual level.

As Senior Warden, I experience Masonic wealth traveling to other lodges, which I have done in the past, but more so now as I move toward Master. I’m meeting new bothers while becoming even closer to ones I have known for years. It was an honor to visit our Prince Hall Bothers of African 459 Lodge #63 in Brooklyn, witnessing their installation and seeing the differences in how we do rituals. Recently, I observed de Molay installations, something I had never seen before, and it was a distinct honor. I was also present at the Truth Triangle officers’ installation, another glorious night. These young men and women are our future. Gathering with my bothers at the Past Masons’ Dinner was a beautiful night. The Gala was impressive, the speeches on how Masonry has touched all our hearts was amazing, and the fact that Santa arrived was even better. Nothing sticks out in my mind more than hearing W:. Rich Harris yell in utter
excitement, “SANTA!!!” when he arrived.

I’d like to share an anecdote I recently read: “One day a very wealthy father took his son on a trip to the country for the sole purpose of showing his son how it was to be poor. They spent a few days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

After their return from the trip, the father asked his son how he liked the trip. “It was great, Dad,” the son replied. “Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked. “Oh Yeah,” said the son.

“So what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father. The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

“We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.”

“We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.” The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “It showed me just how poor we really are.” (Author unknown, translated from the original Chinese.)

Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don’t have. What is one person’s worthless object is another’s prized possession. It is all based on one’s outlook. Sometimes it takes the perspective of a child to remind us of what is important.

Enjoy a happy and safe new year, and always remember to treat every new day as you do on New Year’s Day, resolving to be a better person and a better you.

Sincerely and Fraternally,
Michael S. Crispino, Jr
Senior Warden

The post Greetings from the West – January 2022 appeared first on Jephtha.com.

My dear Brothers,

Growing up believing in Santa, and still believing in him, it has come to my realization he is indeed a Freemason. Like all of us he is worthy & well qualified, charitable, and caring of all mankind. Like me, he is overweight, and filled with
secrecy who meets in a special place with his brethren, his beloved elves. Santa is the reason for Toys for Tots and delivers his share in vast numbers in a limited amount of time while keeping his identity a mystery and avoiding any type of public display. He shows love for all.

On his yearly route I have concluded he starts from the North Pole in an easterly direction, and that is where we embark on our great Journey in Masonry the moment we become Entered Apprentices, the Northeast Corner of the Lodge.

St. Nicholas, on whom Santa is based, was a wealthy fourth century bishop from Turkey. The legend of Santa coming down the chimney began when St. Nicholas climbed upon the roof of a poor family’s home who couldn’t afford a wedding for the three daughters. He threw three gold coins down the chimney which landed in their stocking hanging by the fireplace and thus enabling them to get married. What differentiates this from my personal Santa experiences is the girls received gold, I usually received coal!

This event is why St. Nicholas has become the Patron Saint of Children. Every December 6th Saint Nicholas visits children on a white horse and asks how they have behaved the previous year. All children leave a pair of shoes with a carrot and hay for St. Nicholas’ horse, and the good children are rewarded with candy and small presents.

These traditions were bought to us by the Dutch settlers. About 150 years later, the poem “The Night Before Christmas,” also known as “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore, was written with all the details in which we believe today, including flying reindeer with names, with the newest reindeer, Rudolph, added by Robert L. May in 1939.

In my most humble opinion, Santa Claus is a Freemason, not just because of what is mentioned above, but because of the joy and hope he brings to all the world, especially to his cherished children. Although Santa is a Christian belief celebrating the greatest gift God has given us, the birth of his Son, Jesus, other important holidays are also celebrated this time of year – Diwali with lights, gifts, and toys; Hanukkah with its lights and gifts celebrating peace; the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe with singing, dancing and the blessing of roses; Kwanza with art, food and light; and the feast of St. John the Evangelist, one of the two Patron Saints of Freemasonry. We have many traditions in common and what a perfect way to end the year with family and brotherhood, gifts, wonderful food and good cheer.

I especially love the process of choosing the perfect gifts for those I hold dear. Please look at my Facebook page and see the Christmas Village I assisted my daughter in planning, a tradition I love, dedicated to friends & loved ones.

I thank all my Brothers at Jephtha Lodge for a wonderful 2021, and I look forward to a fabulous 2022 together. Enjoy a safe and Happy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year.

Sincerely and Fraternally,
Michael S. Crispino, Jr
Senior Warden

The post Greetings from the West – December 2021 appeared first on Jephtha.com.