From the West – August 2023

Greetings from the West!

In July, WE, Sunnyside and Washington Lodges, successfully concluded our votes to consolidate the two Lodges. This has required many hours of discussions for those with the responsibility of finding the right combination and clear understandings of the different expectations of the various members. Thanks to those that made this happen.

I was recently. reading some masonic history and came across something that describes for this writer what is a Freemason? It is from 200 years ago and is still true today.

“The Character of a Freemason”
From the Farmer’s Almanac, 1823 Andover, Massachusetts

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 principle.”

Warren Burkholder, Senior Warden