I start by stating the obvious: Masonry has been a light to the world for centuries. It has introduced democracy to what previously was a system of replacing one dictator for another in the form of king or emperor.

Whether one holds to its origins as a protection society for the surviving Knights Templar after the combined deeds of the King of France and the Pope around 1313 or if one holds to the rise of Masonry being an extension of the trade, it has been powerful.

Many things have a start, but few last and fewer last for hundreds of years. How does Masonry remain? What attributes are required for such longevity? What needs are met?

Individuals can stand separately and alone, but it is the organization of individuals that moves things. Did you ever think of a single snowflake as a powerful force? No, of course not. Do you ever doubt the power behind an avalanche? No, of course not. The difference is simply in the organization behind individuals.

I think we are all concerned with the decline of membership numbers in our Masonic bodies. There is a lot of discussion addressing how to draw in new members today. I certainly share the enthusiasm for getting to meet men and have them become our brothers. The more who enter our fraternity with the morals and character we seek, the stronger each of us are and the stronger is our lodge, fraternity and communities. I think we have ample historic evidence that Masonry has made our country what it is: strong and benevolent.

There is a related concern, which reflects a loss of an already achieved result (a case of "two steps forward and three steps back".) I am speaking of those who have become First Degree Masons, Second Degree Masons and even Third Degree Mason, bringing new blood, new friendships, new strengths, attributes and abilities, but are then simply seen no more. We have experienced such reversals.

There are real reasons why brothers stop, do not continue in Masonry and no longer pay dues. These are to be respected. Then, there are the reasons men stop coming, which are nothing more than the blue lodge has failed to hold, excite, involve or acknowledge them and they lose interest. As a consequence, our fraternity; the Scottish Rite, Shriners, York Rite and all appendant bodies which draw members from the blue lodge have lost.

In 1994 the Grand Master of Connecticut surveyed hundreds of Masons dropped from the rolls for nonpayment of dues. The top reasons for leaving Masonry were:

1. A lack of Masonic programs
2. Poor Degree work
3. No Lodge library
4. A lack of communication
5. No Masonic education
6. The Lodge is not a vital part of the community

It is vitally important that new petitioners keep coming in, to enrich our longstanding and exemplary organization. Their strengths and vitality is why it has succeeded for so long. They fill our ranks as we each move closer to the House Not Built By Hands.

Is it not as vital to keep those who have become our Brothers as Entered Apprentices interested and active, so they can get to know us and get to know our fraternity and to develop in Masonry where they say to themselves, "I Belong." Of course it is, I apologize for the question.

Brothers, I ask a favor. If any of you care to comment on what induced you to become a Mason, whether you became one this year or some 50 years ago, and what it gave you, in a specific way, we may begin to reduce our loss. If even one responds it may give to our Worshipful Master and Lodge Officers an idea, a way to hold newly initiated brothers, so the only ones we lose are those who become Entered Apprentices for the wrong reasons.

Brothers, the blue lodge is the foundation of Masonry. From the Blue lodge we get the Shriners, the Scottish Rite and York Rite, the National Sojurners, Damascus and all the others. Without the blue lodge, all ceases to exist. The blue lodge comes first or, like a line of dominoes, all the others fail after the blue lodge fails, for lack of numbers.

I should wrap this up. There are four questions for a mail-in response. I would ask those Brothers kind enough and able to respond with a factual statement to answer-

An anonymous submission is as valid as one with a name.

Please return your answer promptly. I sincerely thank you, my Brothers.

Why do you come to Lodge?

What do you want from Lodge?

How do you think you can better get it from Lodge?

Brothers who don’t come to lodge, why not?

Does Lodge lack fulfillment for you?

How can we get you back?

Add paper for your answer if you choose, just please respond, it is important.

(CadH-Claudy)

Minnesota River Valley Lodge #6

110½ -First St.

Shakopee MN 55379

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A Kid’s View of Retirement

After Christmas, a teacher asked her young pupils how they spent their vacation away from school.

Little Johnny wrote the following :

1. We always used to spend the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa. They used to live in a big brick house but Grandpa got retarded and they moved to Arizona.

Now they live in a tin box and have rocks painted green to look like grass. They ride around on their golf carts and wear name tags because they don’t know who they are any more.

They go to a building called a wrecked center, but they must have got it fixed because it is all okay now.

2. They play games and do exercises there, but they don’t do them very well.

3. They have a swimming pool also, but in it they all jump up and down with hats on, while they talk to each other.

4. I guess they don’t know how to swim.

5. At their gate there is a doll house with a little old man sitting in it. He watches all day so nobody can escape. Sometimes they sneak out anyway.

6. They go cruising in their golf carts. Nobody there cooks, they just eat out-and they eat the same thing every night-early birds.

7. Some people can’t get out past the man in the dollhouse. The ones who do get out, bring food back to the wrecked center and call it pot luck.

July 20, 2005-Lions Park in Shakopee-Eastern Star, Jobs and Masons picnic, starting at 6PM. Bring a dish to pass.

August 17, 2005-KC-Mason chicken dinner at the New Prague KC Hall

He was born on August 7, 1927 in Illinois. He began his career at an early age, singing in public with his brother.

In 1935 they invaded the cafeteria at a California movie studio, where their hillbilly act caught the eye of a producer of comedy shorts. The producer was so impressed with them, he wrote them into the film he was currently making, a comedy called "Beginner’s Luck".

But beginner’s luck often turns sour when child actors are no longer cute. Carl Switzer died on January 21, 1959, killed in an argument over a debt.

On his tombstone is a Masonic symbol.

Did you figure it out? Carl Switzer played "Alfalfa" in the "Little Rascals" series.

KID’S ID VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

There are several opportunities coming up where volunteers are still needed to help with the Kids-ID program:

July 23^rd-Noon-6PM-Kolacky Days, Montgomery

Sept. 1^st-MN State Fair, St. Paul Two Shifts (staffed by MRVL #6)

As many of our brothers know, but some may not, Kids-ID is a program sponsored and funded by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. Many of the Blue Lodges within the state help by organizing, setting up and staffing Kids-ID booths-usually during special events in their local communities.

It is really simple. For each child, we provide prints of their index fingers, their height, weight and a digitized picture on a 3.5 floppy disc, all given to the parents to take home and keep in a safe place. Then if, God forbid, the child is ever missing their parents have this information readily available to give to the law enforcement organizations as quickly as possible.

The Grand Lodge loans out the cameras and provides the supplies. Our own WB George Miller is the state coordinator of this worthwhile endeavor.

If you are interested in working any of these events, please contact either George Miller or Lew Price at the e-mail or phone numbers listed above.

At our June 7^th meeting Mr. Bill Nelson spoke about "Being Rich, Famous and Unstoppable: Character Building from the Inside Out." He introduced some practical growth-promoting habits which will result in successful outcomes. As soon as he provides us with an overview of his talk, it will be added to the newsletter.