Brethren,

Greetings from the East of your Lodge, Brethren!
For the last several months, I have had the special opportunity to sit in the East of our Lodge. From The Oriental Chair, I have been able to look out and see members of our Lodge working together the grow and strengthen our Lodge. Members stepping up and making commitments. Members who help setup the Lodge Room before meetings; work with the Candidates to ensure they are duly and truly prepared; attend Lodge of Instruction (...and helped us with the Attendance Trophy at January’s meeting!)

I would like to take a moment and thank the Brethren who are making my job in the East much easier than it probably should be!
Especially the Officers of our Lodge. They are working multiple days a week to make sure the ritual performed in our Lodge is the best it can be ; attending business meetings; Fraternal and Official Visits of the District Deputy Grand Master (in and out of our own District!) ; planning and executing events. It’s an awful lot and they are doing it with style and an enthusiasm of which you should be proud!

During those same months, I have personally relearned a vital lesson of Masonry. One that, whether your last time at Lodge was 30 days or 30 years ago, I hope you will exercise in your life every time you need it.
I have had a project in my professional life that has been almost all-consuming since July of last year. Truthfully, Brethren, to say this project has had more than it’s share of challenges would be an understatement. For a long while, I tried to burden my work project, Lodge, time at home (yes, contrary to popular opinion, I do spend time at home, as well!), and my other personal obligations by myself. Simply put: it wasn’t working. I started reaching out to the Brethren of our Lodge, and, without hesitation, they responded! Offering to help with whatever Lodge business they could do, checking in to make sure I was OK, and sometimes, even if they don’t understand the details of the project, just lending an ear.
This is the point of Masonry, my Brothers.
Sure, the meals are great, the ritual is meaningful and the laughs we share are priceless, but it is the times when things are not going quite as well as we hope, times when burdens are heavier than others, times when we look around and feel it is just us against the world, when Masonry counts the most. The time we spend “spreading the cement of Brotherly Love and Affection - that unites us into one sacred band or society of Friends and Brothers…” that realized in times like this.
Knowing no matter how much your life may throw at you, you have Friends and Brothers that are willing to help bear your burden. They may not be able to solve the problem for you...but they will help you deal with it in any way they possibly can.
That is the “secret” of Masonry. One that does not need to be guarded. Share it loudly and often. Just don’t forget about it yourself.

I hope to greet you in the East of your Lodge very soon.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

---Worshipful Adam E. Mitchell

~And from the West~

Greetings from the West

As Masons we are taught that we should attend lodge regularly, if it is within the length of our Cable Tow.

Later we become obligated to assist a worthy fellow brother Mason, if it be within the length of our Cable Tow, meaning we should help, give aid and assist a worthy brother if we are able to do without injury to myself or family.

For many months our notice has offered words of encouragement for our brothers to come to lodge and attend our events.
However, we must all remember our commitment to one another that to come to the relief of a brother master mason, his widow and orphans is not just alluding to extending relief to a brother financially or when he is in emotional distress but also when his obligations outside the craft limit the length of his cable tow.
The Cable Tow is thus a symbol of a cord representing the bond of brotherly love, which should unite the whole fraternity. The length of your Cable Tow is the commitment you are “able” to make on behalf of your brethren, your lodge and your craft. It is not a physical object but its intent lies within your heart.

In Masonry we have many symbols representing a few grand principles upon which it is founded, Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.
It is not just another Masonic cliche, it's the secret ingredient to life altering rituals, and the simple secret to our craft.
As we get away from the letter of these words and discern the spirit, which lies behind, we have unfolded an interesting science. As we mould our lives upon our renewed understanding of Masonry, we become better Masons, and as a consequence better men.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Bro. Michael J. Weydt,
Senior Warden