I pray this letter will find you well. You may find it interesting to hear that the average number of days in November where the sun shines through the clouds is nine. A sure sign the calendar year is coming to an end and autumn’s arrival is no longer in doubt

Another year in the life of a Mason is also closing, making November a good time to tell you how very much I have enjoyed being your Senior Warden.

We continued to serve others in need this year, locally and we did what we could for our Brothers who found themselves victims of Hurricane Katrina.

I see many reasons MRV #6 can be proud, and I for one am very proud to be a member of this lodge.

Mike Sullivan-Senior Warden

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CALENDAR ITEMS

ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS:

MRV #6 will have its annual election of officers at the December 6 Stated Communication.

The installation of those officers will follow on December 11 at 3:30PM at the Lodge. This will be open to all Brothers, family and friends who wish to come. Please plan to attend this important event.

The 2^nd Degree work for Shawn Wigfield, Gary Sankary and Joshua Box is set for Friday, December 2, at 6:30PM. Please be sure to attend, if you are able to make it. The more support our new brothers have, the better and more lasting is the impression upon them.

NEXT ISSUE

Please have your stories in by  Wednesday, December 14, for the issue to go out on Wednesday, December 21.

Thanks! 

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CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

The Most Worshipful Grand Master, Andrew J. Rice is compiling a list of brothers from each lodge who can be called upon to preside over Masonic memorial services. This service has been provided by George Miller for our lodge. Who would like to have their name added to the list for this most important of acknowledgements, along with our Brother Miller?

Please think strongly about this duty, if you are able.

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Submitted by Daryl R. Bren

            You are never too old to learn something new.  At the current rate of changing technology, it can be necessary to read the operators manual to just turn on modern devices.  I am not a computer genius.  I can not provide technical support.  In fact I just learned how to use a computer a couple of years ago.  In each of the three degrees it mentions helping our brother.  This may be well known to some of you, but this is something I just learned and I would like to pass on to others. 

            For those with an internet connection, the libraries of the world are just a click away.  Regular library catalog search only tells what that county library system or metro county library’s owns.  Using Google, type in your county public library and locate online library.  In the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area one website to check is

http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/library/quicklinks/results.asp?searchterm=libraries&searchtype=Subject. 

Two services that libraries provide are WorldCat and MNlink (or a comparable state link in other states).  WorldCat, sometimes listed as a database, is a search engine to find which libraries around the world have a particular book.  For popular novels this service isn’t necessary, but for research it comes in handy.  It is also handy for developing a bibliography, as you can just look up the bibliography information on WorldCat.  MNLink will order a book to be available at your local library.  Due to the expense of mailing books, different counties impose different distance restrictions. 

            When doing genealogical research, one source of information is from US Census reports which may be accessed when you are inside a Hennepin County library building.  Unfortunately they don’t allow online access from outside the library building and smaller county libraries don’t offer this service.  The Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormon) Family History Centers offers the service of ordering archival microfilms for $3.25, view them there, and pay 20 cents per photocopy.  At certain county libraries, such as Southdale, it is possible to order microfilms at no charge and photocopies are 10 cents each.  Microfilms are listed online or in the AGLL Genealogical Services Catalog, Dewey #929.373A, which is available at the Southdale library.

I hope you find this information helpful. 

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Did You Know He Was A Mason?

Born in Britain, he lived most of his life in America. A contemporary of Robert Service, he wrote in a similar style, one of optimism and sentiment. During his lifetime he wrote over 15,000 poems, one of the most popular includes the line “It takes a heap of living to make a house a home.”

Some of his lesser-known poems referred to Freemasonry or invoked Masonic sentiments.

Edgar A. Guest

Ashler Lodge #91-Detroit

Initiated: April 9, 1908

Passed: April 23, 1908

Raised: May 21, 1908

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