From the Worshipful Master

Brothers,

The cable-tow is a very important part of our ritual during our degrees, but the effects of the cable-tow last a life time. We can trace back the use of a cable-tow in Masonry from time immemorial, but since a lot of what we do and practice involves symbolism I thought I would share with you how I relate the cable-tow to my membership in Free Masonry. The cable tow is the instrument that first binds us to the lodge and fraternity. Once the cable-tow is removed and we are free to move around on our own, our subconscious maintains this bond. I relate the cable-tow much the same as an umbilical cord between a mother and child. Once we are born, the child is freed of the umbilical cord, but the bond between the mother and child is innate and last a life time. Our bond to the lodge, the craft and brothers is also innate, it is natural, intrinsic and essential in perpetuating our growth from good men to better men. It is true that we are bound to the fraternity by a stronger tie, a tie that is larger and stronger than a simple length of cord or rope.

The lodge will go dark for stated meetings until September but we intend on moving our candidates through their degree work all summer long and I hope that you can continue to come and support this effort when you are able. I hope that you will find time to rest, relax and spend time with your families on a vacation, and if you do please be safe. Keep watching the trestle board and email for events and opportunities to support the lodge, as your participation is essential.

Fraternally,

Doug Steele
Worshipful Master

From the Senior Warden

Brothers,

The Masonic Alter is among the most important symbols that we covet in the Fraternity. We are obligated by it. The Holy Works rest on it. And the only other piece of furniture that is allowed to be on it is a ballot box. But why? What makes this inanimate table-like structure something of great importance?

The Alter is a place of meeting. It is a place where ritual takes place. The ancients did business by an Alter, with the idea that they were closer to The Great Architect of the Universe when doing so, almost forcing them to deal even more plainly and even more fairly with one-another. The ancients regarded the Alter as the most sacred spot within their religious and social circles and we as Masons must do the same.

As we enter into another Grand Lodge Communication, the Alter should be remembered as a place of peace and harmony. Peace and harmony must prevail above all other things. It is easy to get caught up in the politics of any organization, and constituent lodges and the Grand Lodge are no different. The Alter will be present at the Grand Lodge just as it is in our home lodge, and it needs… nay it must remain a symbol of peace and harmony as we conduct the business of our organization. I pray that I will be able to vote in the best interests of our lode with the Alter within my sight.

I look forward to a restful summer, meaningful degree work and times with our family and friends, and may we all live in peace and harmony.

Yours in the Craft,

Jason Michlowitz
Senior Warden

From the Junior Warden

Brothers,

When English-speaking Christians of many varieties end prayers, they typically do so with the word, “amen.” Merriam-Webster follows the word from Middle English to Old English, back to Old Latin, to Greek, and finally, to its origin in Hebrew. It is typically translated to mean, “So may it be.” In other words, “may the thing I’ve prayed for, come to pass.”

Freemasons, however, end prayers with the phrase, “so mote it be.” Most of that is pretty clear, save, perhaps, for the “mote” part. Merriam-Webster says that word comes through Middle English from the Old English, “mōtan,” or… “May.” So… it seems that “so mote it be” means the same thing as “amen.”

So why do we not just say amen?

From what I can gather: tradition.

Freemasons do love our traditions. We cling tenaciously to them, and to archaisms, fill our rituals with elaborate phrases.

The phrase appears to come from the Regius Manuscript, a 14th century poem that is the oldest known record of Freemasonry, stored at the British Museum. It begins, in English translation, roughly, “Here begins the constitutions of the art of geometry according to Euclid,” and describes the ways of Freemasonry and a good Freemason. It ends with the phrase, “Amen! Amen! So mote it be! So say we all for charity.”

Why cling to such traditions? Because, in part, it makes us who we are. Tradition is one of the things that binds us to the Freemasons of history, knowing that men before us stood in this manner, spoke these words, and did these deeds, stretching back, hundreds of years.

So mote it be!