WB C.B. Brooks receives his Life Membership Certificate from Tom Velvin, MWPGM-MD. Tom is our Senior Warden acting as Worshipful Master Pro-Temp. We keep him working. Congratulations to WB C.B. Brooks!

From the Senior Warden:

Today is June 24th and today, Carole and I are celebrating our 54th wedding anniversary. It is hard to believe that on June 24, 1967, when the temperature was in the upper 90s in Greencastle, PA, we were married. We moved to Florence on October 5th, 2016, after living in Maryland for 50 years which was long enough for me to be raised in Camp Springs Lodge No. 227 and for me to be installed as Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Maryland on November 14, 2009.

One of the lessons that I have learned over the years is something that comes out of our ritual. The ritual mentions that Masonry unites men of every country, sect and opinion and causes true friendship among those who may have otherwise remained at a perpetual distance. I can truly say that the vast majority of Masons I have met and come to call friends over the years I have been a member of this Fraternity, I would have never met or known had it not been for both them and my being a Mason. That was true when we lived in Maryland and is also true now that we are living here in Oregon. There is one exception and that is my friendship with MWPGM Joe Jarvis. Joe and I met in college and our friendship was cast at a time before we became Masons. Joe and his lovely wife live in Cove, which is 16 miles from La Grande where he and I went to college and we have renewed our long ago friendship every year when we attend Grand Lodge here in Oregon. Joe, our roommates, and I shared a common bath in the dormitory where we lived.

Here in Florence, I have met and become good friends with all the Brothers who regularly attend Florence Lodge. It is my hope that we will continue our close ties for eternity.

As always, if you find that you need a ride to and/or from the Lodge, please let us know and we will be happy to provide transportation.

Fraternally,

Tom Velvin, MWPGM-MD

Senior Warden

From the South:

Brethren, it is summer and we are busy finally again. I enjoyed attending the Grand Loge sessions and installation of officers. We have been allowed to confer 2 EA degrees also. Next regular meeting we will be able to have a BBQ. It's nice to be back to our normal activities. Please plan to attend our meetings and watch are degree team at work.

Be safe and see you soon.

Stay Safe,

Duane Howard

Junior Warden

FROM THE EDITOR

Brothers and Sisters, we have a hot topic in the Midnight Freemason this month. We all have different opinions about this topic. We need to have tolerance for everyone.

Remember when we didn’t recognize the “Prince Hall” lodges? I have been in lodge with their members and they are great people. Great human beings and great men. We have also had problems with admitting men of the Muslim religion. We are all the same in the eyes of the Great Architect.

We will have a BBQ at our stated meeting on July 7^th. If you feel like you are able to get out and mix with people, come out and enjoy some hot dogs and hamburgers. It should be a great time. We look forward to seeing you there.

We have two EA’s working on their proficiencies and will be receiving their Fellow-Craft Degree soon. We may have them at the end of July or into August. Come out and show your support. I will make sure that you have as much notice as I can give you.

“By the exercise of Brotherly Love we are taught to regard the whole human species as one family – the high and the low, the rich and the poor, inhabitants of the same planet, are to aid, support and protect each other. On this principle Masonry unites men of every country, sect and opinion, and causes true friendship to exist among those who might otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance.”

Fraternally,

Dick Tooley, PM

Dick

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TODAY in Masonic History:

Today in Masonic History Walter Millard Fleming was born June, 1838.

Walter Millard Fleming was an American surgeon and one of the founders of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

Fleming was born on June 13th, 1838 in Portland, Maine. He graduated from a medical school in Albany, New York in 1862 before practicing medicine.

Fleming served during the American Civil War as a surgeon. After the war he moved to Rochester, New York where he opened a medical practice. He moved his practice to New York City where he became a prominent physician and surgeon.

Prior to moving to New York City, Fleming joined Rochester Lodge No. 660 in Rochester, New York. It is believed he also took some of the Scottish Rite degrees in Rochester before finishing his Scottish Rite journey in New York City.

Once in New York City, Fleming, along with many other local masons ate lunch regularly at Knickerbocker Cottage. Fleming along with William Florence and other masons became a notable group of jovial masons who often sat on the second floor. The group often spoke about making a new masonic organization which was more focused on fellowship and fun.

Florence, who was an actor, became a star and began touring in Europe, Northern African countries and the middle east. In France he was invited to a party held by an Arabian diplomat. After watching a very festive play, which was something of a comedy, everyone present was admitted into a "secret society." Florence took copious notes about the play after seeing two more times on his journeys. He returned back to New York where he presented Fleming with all of the information he had gathered.

Fleming took the information from Florence and turned it into the ritual which became the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.). There has been much debate over the years as to why Fleming chose the name he did. The most common and possibly the most logical explanation is the initials are an anagram of A MASON, which is a requirement for joining the organization.

Fleming passed away on December 8th, 1913.

Fleming was also a 33° Scottish Rite Mason.

Midnight Freemasons

Is Homosexuality Unmasonic? - Revisit

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro:. Jason Richards

&

Guest Contributor

WB:. Jon Ruark

On Friday, 26 June, 2015, the United States Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision in support of homosexual marriage equality. This nationwide declaration of equality and the changing societal norms it represents necessitates taking a hard look at Freemasonry--long having been recognized as an organization that celebrates all men as equals--and its attitude toward homosexuality in order to ask the question: “If all men are equal, and now have equal rights to marriage across the United States, is the practice of homosexuality in and of itself ‘unmasonic’?”

Before delving into such a discussion, it is necessary to define the term “unmasonic” for the purposes of our discussion here. Unmasonic conduct is often referenced--even by Albert Mackey on numerous occasions--but has seldom been defined. Most often, it is utilized either as a synonym for “immorality” or described as “conduct unbecoming of a Mason.” However, both of these uses are deeply subjective, and interpretation could vary widely depending on a given culture or circumstance as moral laws differ greatly from culture to culture. For the purposes of our discussion here, we would posit a more objective and measurable definition of unmasonic conduct: “an action that causes serious harm within the fraternity or its public image outside of the fraternity.” As a society of good men who strive to make eachother into better men, it is important to retain harmony within the organization so it doesn’t crumble from within, but also just as important to retain a positive public image so that the organization can persist and attract membership.

Masonic laws concerning homosexuality vary widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Many jurisdictions have no stated policy on the matter, but some Grand Jurisdictions (who will remain nameless) list transvestitism, homosexual behavior, or even the sheer promotion of homosexuality as Masonic offenses punishable by suspension or expulsion. Many of Masonry’s rules and Landmarks originated in time immemorial; however, the laws, rules, and edicts of each sovereign Grand Lodge comprise a governing framework established by men in authority at a given period of time, based on personal--and therefore subjective--worldviews influenced by societal norms. We would posit that as societal norms change and evolve, regulations at the Grand Lodge level should be revalidated and updated to reflect the greater society within which Masonry operates. As such, the Supreme Court decision on Friday gives leaders of the Masonic fraternity a distinct opportunity to reevaluate existing policies on homosexuality.

But back to the original question of this article. If we look at unmasonic conduct from the objective lens postulated earlier, we find it difficult to reconcile calling homosexuality “unmasonic.” Homosexuality causes no inherent harm within the lodge. Regardless of race, age, or sexual orientation, brethren are expected to treat each other with the utmost respect. Furthermore, as societal norms have changed and homosexuality is no longer the social taboo it happened to be several decades ago, the presence of homosexuals in the lodge does not harm the fraternity’s public image. Quite to the contrary--as we have seen in recent times with organizations accused of anti-gay sentiment (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick-fil-A_same-sex_marriage_controversy), even a perceived lack of toleration can do harm to an organization’s public image. If we care about public perception--and we should given the past 50 years’ worth of membership trends--then a reexamination of our rules and perceptions toward homosexuality is prudent.

If homosexuality is now accepted as a societal norm (much like minorities were increasingly accepted as equal members of society after the Civil Rights movement of the 1970’s), and causes no inherent harm within the fraternity or to the fraternity’s public image, then where are these regulations rooted? Arguably, much of the resistance to homosexuality in Masonry has roots in Christianity, the principles and dogma of which have long been interpreted as condemning the practice of homosexuality. But whether or not a given brother or grand officer subscribes to those interpretations is irrelevant where Masonry is concerned as religion has no place inside the walls of the lodge. The fraternity’s most recent addition to the landmarks of Freemasonry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masonic_Landmarks) is that religion and politics (and sometimes nationalities/borders) are not to be discussed in lodge as those topics only serve to divide, rather than unite, brethren. For the sake of the fraternity, brethren are exhorted to celebrate the common belief of a Supreme Being within lodge while, at the same time, respecting each brother’s right to subscribe to his own religious dogma.

As a result, a brother’s religious-inspired belief that homosexuality is immoral (and therefore “unmasonic”) has no place within the confines of the lodge room. Likewise, a man’s sexual orientation should have no bearing on his being accepted or rejected as a candidate to receive the degrees in Freemasonry. After all, candidates are balloted upon within the lodge room during a tiled meeting. As such, religious and political biases should have no bearing on a candidate’s internal qualifications for Masonic membership.

Friday’s Supreme Court decision has presented our brotherhood with a distinct opportunity to move forward in line with the ideals upon which our great fraternity was founded: tolerance, harmony, and unity. By embracing toleration for all men under the fatherhood of God regardless of race or sexual orientation, we can set ourselves above today’s polarized society. That toleration, in turn, will promote harmony and build unity within our lodges. By celebrating our diversity rather than condemning it, our fraternity will grow stronger and attract innovative, exceptional young men to join our ranks as men and Masons for years to come.

~JR & JR

Bro. Jason Richards is the Junior Warden of Acacia Lodge No. 16 in Clifton, Virginia, and a member of both The Patriot Lodge No. 1957 and Fauquier Royal Arch Chapter No. 25 in Fairfax, Virginia. He is also Chaplain of Perfect Ashlar Council No. 349, Allied Masonic Degrees. He is the sole author of the Masonic weblog The 2-Foot Ruler: Masonry in Plain Language, and is a co-host on the weekly YouTube show and podcast The Masonic Roundtable. He lives in Virginia with his wife, cats, and ever-expanding collection of bow ties.

WB. Jon Ruark is a Past Master of The Patriot Lodge No. 1957 in Fairfax, VA. His love of technology and gadgets led him to start The Masonic Roundtable as a Hangout on Air. His Masonic interests lean toward the esoteric and philosophical aspect. He lives in Virginia with his wife, 2.5 children, a dog named Copernicus, and a cat named Tesla who’s a jerk.

Where everybody knows your name

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Darin A. Lahners

Being a Worshipful Master is not without its challenges, but the greatest challenge that you can face as a Worshipful Master is losing a lodge member. Not only have you lost a brother, but You've also lost someone that as a member of your lodge you were probably close to. On top of dealing with that loss, you're also responsible for making sure that the brother is given Masonic Funeral rites, making sure that the slate for the rites is filled, and then comes the worry that it will only be you and a handful of brethren from your lodge attending the funeral.

I had to face this challenge last week. The Masonic funeral services were held on Saturday and my apprehension was at a high upon waking that morning. My apprehension was not well-founded. Because I forgot, as I often do, that our fraternity is made up of men with high standards. Walking into the funeral home, it was so amazing to be greeted by friendly faces, by my brethren who were just as happy to see me as I was to see them. Twenty smiling faces. Twenty brethren who took the time out of their schedules to honor our fallen brother. While only a handful of these were brethren that attend my local lodge, they were nonetheless brethren that I knew. Brethren that drove in some cases more than an hour to come to pay their respects to their fallen brother.

Normally, I'm writing an article to complain about something that I feel Freemasonry is lacking or to address something that I see as an issue with Freemasonry. I know that many of you are worried that coming out of the pandemic, we will find ourselves fighting harder to get men to come back to the lodge. If my limited sample size is any indication, these fears, like my fears this past Saturday were not well-founded. On the contrary, I see an opportunity for growth, Personal growth, and the growth of the Fraternity.

The opportunity I see for growth is this. We have men that have been locked up for the most part for over the past year, who have had time for some introspection. These men are looking for an opportunity to be something greater than themselves. They're looking to get out of the house, to reconnect with friends. Some of them might want to meet new friends. Yet they might not even realize that they have a place that is like the place mentioned in the theme from the television show Cheers. A place where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came. It's up to each of us to seize upon this opportunity and to promote our local lodge. If this means advertising (gasp) that we're still around, then I see no harm in doing that. Ultimately, if you're doing your job in guarding the West Gate, then you're going to only let in men that meet our high standards. I see no harm in letting the men of your community know that there is a place where everybody knows your name. If this means yard signs, Facebook ads, whatever it takes to get your lodge's name into the community again, I say do it. Let's use this time as we transition back to normal as an opportunity to get some new members.

From a personal level, I need to remember that Freemasonry, when practiced in its purest form by brethren meeting on the level, acting by the plumb, and parting upon the square; is the greatest strength of our fraternity. Our active membership, who are those members that you can count on to show up when you need them. I also need to remember that regardless of our differences, it is our common bond of brotherhood that is the glue that binds us. I need to remember not to care so much about how others are practicing Freemasonry, because, at the end of the day, I can only control how I practice it. If brethren want to have a social club, I need to let them have their social club. If they don't want to prioritize education, I need to stop trying to get them to prioritize it. Basically, I need to stop worrying about what other members are doing and worry about what I'm doing. I won't be able to change Freemasonry, and after seeing those 20 faces on Saturday, I'm not sure I really need to. The men that practice Freemasonry in its purest form are going to continue to practice it.

So the next time I have those doubts enter my mind about Freemasonry, I need to remember the things I have laid out above. While I will probably still try to change Freemasonry, I will do so more out of a love of the Craft, and less out of trying to get my brethren to practice it a certain way. At the end of the day, if they've established a lodge where everybody knows their name, and people are glad they came. Isn't that what Freemasonry is all about? Does it really matter if they're having education or festive boards? If what they are doing is working for them, then they should continue to do it. The beauty of Freemasonry is that it can be everything to everyone, it's just a matter of finding the brethren who want to practice it the same way that you do.

~DAL

WB Darin A. Lahners is our co-managing Editor. He is a Past Master of and Worshipful Master of St. Joseph Lodge No.970 in St. Joseph. He is also a plural member of Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL), where he is also a Past Master. He’s a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, a charter member of Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter No. 282 and is the current Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign – Urbana (IL). You can reach him by email at darin.lahners@gmail.com.

Ecclesiastes XII

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the window be darkened, And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fear shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. –Ecclesiastes 12:1-7--

Dates to Remember in July

July 6^th. 6:30 PM BBQ Dinner to celebrate July 4th

7:30pm Stated Meeting

June1 3^rd. 4pm Practice and Truetees Meeting

June 20th. 4pm Practice and Trustees Meeting

June 27^th. 4pm Practice and Trustees Meeting

August 3^rd. 6:30 PM Dinner

7:30pm Stated Meeting

Officers: 2021

Jon Reeves Worshipful Master

ljjreeves@gmail.com

541-991-6337

MWB Tom Velvin Senior Warden

tvelvin2@verizon.net

541-991-9659 - Home
301-502-4934 - Cell

Duane Howard Junior Warden

Dwayne98765@Hotmail.com

541-999-9666

David Chester, PM Treasurer

dlchester@gmail.com

Hunt Ramsey, PM Secretary

ramsehulinda@msn.com

Brian Siebert Senior Deacon

Butch Goodwin Junior Deacon

Chaplain

Dick Tooley, PM Marshal

Vacant Senior Steward

Vacant Junior Steward

Robin Sullivan Historian

Dean Hirst Tyler

Trustees:

David Chester, PM Treasurer

Hunt Ramsey, PM Secretary

Dick Tooley, PM 2-year term

Tom Velvin, MWPGM-MD 3-year term

Butch Goodwin 1-year term

Trestleboard Editor:

Dick Tooley, PM

Richard candy@msn.com

EDICT

GREGORY A. JENKINS PHONE: 503-357-3 15B

TO BE READ IN OPEN LODGE

June 30, 2021

Brethren,

As you are aware, Oregon's Governor, Kate Brown, signed Executive Order No. 21-15 on June 25, 2021 which

takes effect today. Executive Order No. 21-15, issued pursuant to ORS 401.165 to 401.236 and with the force of law according to ORS 401-192, provides among things that there will no longer be a statewide mask mandate, any capacity limits, or physical distancing requirements for gatherings, businesses and other sectors. It also rescinds Executive Order No, 20-66 and subsequent orders, as well as Executive Order Nos. 20-22, 21-06, 2028, and 20-19.

Given the State's executive action that takes effect today, I am hereby lifting all statewide pandemic restrictions for all Constituent Lodges, as well as all Appendant and Concordant bodies, within this Grand Jurisdiction effective immediately. All previous Edicts concerning the restrictions are hereby rescinded.

Sincerely and fraternally,

M.W.B. Gregory A. Jenkins, Grand Master

Grand Master, Grand Lodge of A.F.&A.M. of Oregon

We hope to see you at lodge. Our lodge has had a face lift and you will be very surprised when you see it. Brothers we look forward to seeing you there.

Need a ride? Call an officer………do our widows need a ride? Let us know.