2004 The Plumb Line
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 http://www.mn-rivervalley.org
Minnesota River Valley Lodge #6
"Issued with the Permission of the M.W. Grand Lodge of Minnesota"
'The Plumb Line'
From the Grand Master
February 2004
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A Very Special Guest Speaker At lake at Lake Harriet Lodge Thomas C. Berg,
Professor of Law
"Constitutional Law & Religious Freedom"
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Professor Berg was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, graduate of the University of
Chicago Law School and co-founder of the St. Thomas University Law School in
St. Paul. He has written more than 20 briefs on issues of religious liberty
and free speech and argued these in front of the U.S. Supreme Court and it's
appellate jurisdictions.
You won't want to miss this presentation at stated meeting on February
16th. This open to the public, and you are encouraged to bring your friends
or family. Be sure to call 612-927-5426 to RSVP for dinner at 6:00 P.M.
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There will be a 3rd Degree School of Instruction on Monday March 8, 2004 at
Albert Pike Masonic Lodge 907 Main Street Hopkins, MN. Dinner is at 6:00
P.M. ($7.00) and the school will start at 7:00 P.M.
Please R.S.V.P. for dinner.
Christopher M. Ronich Worshipful Master Lynnhurst Lodge #317
(612) 961-3051 cronich@mn.rr.com
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Mile Stones
57 new Masons were raised on January 17 in Minneapolis. The degree work was
flawless. The sound, lighting, and costuming were great. The luncheon,
evening banquet and women's program were extremely well done.
Congratulations and thanks to all.
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Brothers,
If you want your name dropped from this list, or if someone wants to be
added just email the Grand Lodge and Doug will take care of it.
Please check with your Lodge Officers and make sure they know about the PLUM
LINE and they get signed up....................Neil
Attention Brothers:
Here are several Resolutions that will be presented at the Grand Lodge
Annual Communication in Saint Cloud, March 26th and March 27th.
They will be proposed on Friday Morning, discussed on Friday afternoon and
voted on Saturday Morning. Please read and discuss these proposed changes.
It's important.
2004 Resolution No. 4
General Regulations Amendment
Ritual Lecture Word Change
Whereas, one of the best and most important aspects of Freemasonry is
religious tolerance. This is exemplified by the Masonic Laws adopted by our
Grand Lodge from the Ancient Constitutions, and which according to Section
C2.03 of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota state: "Have the
force of Ancient Landmarks of the Fraternity, having been generally received
and
acknowledged by Masons as such:"
And Whereas, these Masonic Laws are enumerated in the Constitution of our
Grand Lodge, and Ancient Landmark number 26 of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota
States: "that no subject of sectarian or political character can be
discussed in a Lodge, and any Mason proposing such a subject renders himself
liable to the disciplinary action of the Lodge." And also as the Masonic
custom of not offering sectarian prayers in Lodge, or at a Lodge function,
is generally accepted for the good of the Fraternity, because offering up
something of a sectarian nature tends to be divisive,
And Whereas, the explanation in the third section of the Entered Apprentice
Lecture says about the Ornaments of a Lodge: "The MOSAIC PAVEMENT is a
representation of the ground floor of King Solomon's Temple; the INDENTED
TESSEL, that beautiful tessellated border, or skirting which surrounded it,
and the BLAZING STAR, in the center, is commemorative of the star which
appeared to guide the wise men of the east to the place of our Savior's
nativity."
And Whereas, since the reference to the Indented Tessel and the Blazing
Star, referring to the Star in the East of the Christian religion as; "is
commemorative of the star which appeared to guide the wise men of the east
to the place of our Savior's nativity.
Now Therefore, since the word our is not true for each and every Mason in
Minnesota, or anywhere else, and that it may be offensive to Masons who are
not Christian that the word our be changed to their which will bring that
portion of the lecture more in keeping with the spirit, intent, and
tolerance of Freemasonry, This will change the passage to read: "The MOSAIC
PAVEMENT.to guide the wise men of the east to the place of their Savior's
nativity."
Said change to the lecture will be incorporated into future printings of the
Grand Lodge of Minnesota ritual cipher and Masonic Manual.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer
David Olson, Chairman, Board of Custodians
Neil Neddermeyer, Grand Master
Resolution Number 5, 2004
General Regulations Amendment
Change Concerning the Presentation of Degree Lectures
Whereas: A special commission on membership issues, appointed at the last
Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge by the Grand Master, has met and
considered several ways of improving the experience of joining a lodge under
the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota;
Whereas: The first section of the lecture of each of the three degrees does
not present a significant amount of new information to the candidate, but
rather is a simple recap of much of the degree, and;
Whereas: While the second section of the lecture of the Master Mason Degree
does not present much new information and for the most part is again, a
simple recap of what was presented in the second section of the Master Mason
Degree;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the first section of the lectures of the
Entered Apprentice Degree, the Fellowcraft Degree and the Master Mason
Degree, as well as the second section of the lecture of the Master Mason
Degree shall be presented at the option and discretion of the Master of the
Lodge. Lodges desiring to maintain the established tradition of presented
all lectures in full may continue to do so. The remaining lectures, namely
the second and third lectures of the Entered Apprentice Degree and the third
section of the lecture of the Master Mason Degree, shall still be given in
their entirety, as part of the the presentation of the degrees to all
candidates taking the degrees. Any constituent lodge not able to present
these lecture presentations in either the dialog format or in the monolog
format is reminded that they are part of the degrees and arrangements must
be made for the candidate to receive these lecture presentations. Future
printings of the Minnesota Masonic Manual will be changed to note that this
is now the manner of presenting the lectures to the candidates for the
degrees.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT SECTION G5.01, paragraph (a), which now
reads "The Grand Lodge having in 1869 formally adopted the work and lectures
of the degrees as then exemplified by its District Deputies in its presence,
and as then amended, as the work and lectures of the Grand Lodge of
Minnesota, said work and lectures are confirmed and re-adopted; and all
Lodges of this Jurisdiction are required to conform thereto, save as to
modifications which were then orally communicated and allowed and as since
taught and exemplified by the Custodians of the work, and except as to the
modification of the language of any charge or lecture thereof, to correspond
with these regulations. The second section of the Second Degree lecture may
be given at the discretion of the respective Lodge." be changed by
substituting the following sentence for the final sentence of paragraph (a):
"The first section of the lecture for each degree, the second section of the
lecture of the Fellowcraft Degree and the second section of the lecture of
the Master Mason Degree may be given at the discretion of the Master of the
Lodge."
Respectively submitted,
John Loutzenhiser, District Representative No. 19
and Chairman of the ad hoc Membership Commission
Resolution Number 6, 2004
Constitutional Amendment
Change Concerning the Proficiency Demonstration of Candidates
Whereas: A special commission on membership issues, appointed at the last
Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge by the Grand Master, has met and
considered several ways of improving the experience of joining a lodge under
the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota;
Whereas: Masonic education is a key element of Masonry, but memorization
alone does not equate to education; and
Whereas: Many men have difficulty with the present memorized degree
proficiency, therefore not performing it well and not learning much about
Masonry in the process; and
Whereas: The current degree education program, consisting of the proficiency
demonstration, the written questions and answers after each degree and the
mentor program is being used effectively only in a small number of
constituent lodges;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT a comprehensive Masonic education program
will be an alternative to the current proficiency examination and quiz. A
candidate, at the discretion of the Master of the Lodge, may either memorize
the proficiency examination (and complete the current written series of
questions and answers) or take a prescribed comprehensive course of Masonic
study, including a questionnaire pertaining to the previous degree. The
candidate's questionnaire must be completed and turned in to the lodge
secretary prior to progressing to the next degree. The Grand Lodge Education
Committee will provide the course of study. A mentor will still be required
to assist the candidate with his education; and
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT SECTION C9.16, which now reads "No
candidate shall be advanced without first proving his proficiency in the
preceding degree by a satisfactory examination in open Lodge." be amended to
read "No candidate shall be advanced without first proving his proficiency
in the preceding degree by a satisfactory examination in open Lodge or by
completing the prescribed educational course." and that
SECTION C9.17, which now reads "In posting and in passing an examination,
the obligation must not be omitted." be deleted in its entirety; and that
SECTION G5.02 which now reads "It is the duty of the Master, when a
candidate is initiated or passed, to require that he be instructed
immediately in the required proficiency of the Degree, that he pass a
satisfactory examination of the same in open Lodge, and that he complete the
educational program for each Degree before he proceeds to the next Degree.
It is the duty of the Master, when a candidate has been raised that he be
instructed in the proficiency of the Degree, that he pass a satisfactory
examination of the same in open Lodge, and that he complete the educational
program as soon as possible." be amended by adding one additional sentence:
"In the alternative to the traditional memorized proficiency, the
comprehensive course of Masonic study, prescribed by the Grand Lodge
Education Committee, including the questionnaire pertaining to the previous
degree, must be completed prior to taking the next degree and as soon as
possible following the Master Mason Degree."
Respectively submitted,
John Loutzenhiser, District Representative No. 19
and Chairman of the ad hoc Membership Commission
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