Brethren!
As the month of May is now upon us, it is a wonderful time of year. As we say in Masonry, the springtime is now here and the flowers are surely blooming again.
My topic for this month's article is Membership. Obviously without members we wouldn't exist! One of the biggest topics of discussion coming from Grand Lodge these days is concerning the Blue Lodge is the decrease in membership. They predict that if this downward trend does not turn around soon, Masonry as we know it will cease to exist in the very near future.
We in Burbank Lodge are no exception. Although we have a healthy line, we are not packing our events full of non officers. We have a lot of work to do to rectify this situation.
Increasing membership is everybody's responsibility. Encourage your friends, family, and every non-mason to attend events with you. Family night, which is the last Thursday of every month, is a great event to bring these people to. Active participation with our youth groups, like DeMolay for example, is another way to attract members.
When I was in DeMolay, it was active Masonic supporters that made me desire to become a Mason. Currently our Worshipful Master and the two Wardens are all products of The Order Of DeMolay. Actively talk up Masonry in your daily lives. Wear Masonic regalia in your travels to different public places. Be proud of who you are and what you represent. Also, times have changed. We can now approach men one time with an application and encourage them to a participation
in our privileges.
More importantly, it is not focusing on getting new members, but concentrating our efforts on our current members that are not active. As the Most Worshipful David Doan said recently while speaking on this topic, "Our focus should not be on recruitment, but retention." Can you believe that only about 10% of our members are active in Burbank Lodge! We should first try to fill our lodge room with the other 90% of members that we already have! I now make this
my challenge to you.....Can you bring at least one member with you to an event in the month of May! Maybe a young member would be happy to come around if they got a personal friendly reminder. Or maybe an older member would be happy to attend if they were simply offered a ride. Is this too much to ask? Do it for the Lodge, do it for yourself, do it for that non active member, and most importantly, do it for the sake of Freemasonry!
In closing, on behalf of Kelly and myself, I thank everybody for their questions, concerns, and well wishes on our upcoming first child. The due date for this miracle is Thursday, May 5th. If I am not in attendance at our annual Trout Fry and Stated Meeting that evening, please excuse me.
Finally, my condolences to Brother Yates and family for the loss of his father this last month.
"In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure/' -
Bill Cosby
Fraternally,
Kenneth L. Barnes
Senior Warden
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From the South
Brethren:
DO YOU KNOW HOW MASONRY BEGAN?
In the Middle Ages, the terms "mason" and "freemason" were used interchangeably. They were stonemasons who built castles and cathedrals in England and Scotland.
Because of the inherent danger of their work, many stonemasons formed local organizations, called lodges, to take care of sick and injured members as well as the widows and orphans of those who were killed on the job. The masons also used Lodges as places to meet, receive their pay, plan their work, train new apprentices, and socialize.
In 1717, the first Grand Lodge was established in London. Within the next few decades, English Freemasonry spread throughout Europe and eventually made its way to the American colonies. The first lodge organized on American soil appeared in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around 1730. By 1733 a Provincial Grand Lodge was organized in Boston, Massachusetts. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and other founding fathers were among the first Masons in
America. Of the 39 men who signed the U.S. Constitution, 13 were Masons. Our craft is full of history, rituals, and traditions. If you found this article to be interesting, and would like to leam more about masonry, there are many places you can go. I would recommend for you to visit the website www.freemason.org. or read a book on the history of masonry. There is a wealth of information out there, which may help you, increase your knowledge in masonry.
Fraternally,
John T. Brennan,
Junior Warden
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From the Secretary's Desk
Brethren:
There are Brethren whose dues are delinquent for the years 2003 or 2004 or 2005. Your membership in Burbank Lodge is a valued and time honored tradition. It is my duty to inform the brethren that if your dues are not paid by the June Stated Meeting I am by edict of Grand Lodge to prepare the necessary documents to suspend those delinquent brethren. Any brother who cannot pay their dues for financial or health reasons should contact me immediately.
Fraternally,
Norm Furman, Secretary
e-mail: burbanklodge406@att.net
More From the Quarries
GRANDMA'S CURES
Did You Know That?
Achy muscles from a bout of the flu. Mix One Tablespoon of horseradish in one cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles.
Sore throat. Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.
Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly -- even though the product was never been advertised for this use.
OPERATION PHONE HOME
Operation Phone Home is a campaign designed with the goal of providing prepaid international phone calling cards to as many military men and women serving overseas as can be reached. It will be an ongoing effort as long as American Military Personnel serve overseas, particularly in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Balkans.
The Masonic Service Association, on behalf of the Masonic fraternity, has entered into an agreement with the USO to participate in this program. MSA has met all of the requirements necessary to have a web site presence and a link to the USO web page and to have a Masonic Logo on the phone card. The card will include the logo of the USO, the participating phone company (AT&T), and the American Flag. On the left side of the card will appear the Square and
Compasses and the words Compliments of America's Freemasons. (Image below)
Anyone wishing to participate in this program may send a donation marked Operation Phone Home to:
The Masonic Service Association
8120 Fenton Street
Silver Spring, MD 20910-4785.
All of the monies received will go to this program and an accounting will be made by MSA at the end of each calendar year.
Or go to http://freemasonry.org and follow the links.
Thank you very much for your help!
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Burbank Masonic Center
Youth Groups
Job’s Daughters Job’s Daughters
Bethel 97 Bethel 208
Trish Vossper Amanda Price
818 846-3042 818 500-8202
1st Friday & 3rd Saturday 1st Saturday & 3rd Friday
DeMolay
L.C. Kelley Chapter
Steve Jordan
818 729-0913
2nd & 4th Tuesday
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