January 2007 Newsletter

Greetings and welcome to 2007. I hope you are on a path to a blessed and fruitful year, no matter the obstacles.

If you haven't congratulated the new line officers please take a moment to do so. We welcome newly installed brothers Gary Sankary, Eric Menge and Mike Pierce. They are enthusiastic and capable brothers.

Let us remember to be cognizant of the tremendous character of our lodge through the year. We have a lodge which is respected among our fraternity brothers, for the fellowship so obvious to all who visit. The unity of our brothers, no matter one's age or circumstances is apparent to all. We are admired too, for the fun and activities we enjoy together. We truly experience the Mystic Art, and it is growing and must be protected.

A first event for 2007 happened last Friday, courtesy of our newly formed Social Committee. There were 18 brothers who met at the Chaska American Legion for Game Night. We filled 3 long tables playing Texas-Holdum and cribbage. It was a fun night, well shared.

I think for next year we should individually bring a brother as that would double the number of brothers who enjoy themselves. This year's 2nd Annual Bowling Event and 2nd Annual Golf Outing should be kept in mind. The Social Committee should note these events fall under the Social Committee program and plan them accordingly. The Masonic families group bowling may be anytime now.

I am happy to mention, that we are going to be visited by a Right Worshipful Brother. I have scheduled his visit for the March stated communication.

While I will not discuss the activity program before it can be formally presented, we have an opportunity to benefit our local school(s) while our own Jobs (and DeMolay) will receive the same benefit. Plus, our lodge will gain presence in the local area. It sounds like a winning hand. We are one of a few lodges, the Grand Lodge has chosen to spearhead a new program. It is expected to spread to many areas of the state.

We will have another well attended Table Lodge in February and in April we will have an evening of dedicated revelry for John Loutzenhiser who will receive the Hiram Award. If we get going on fund-raising, I think we will have just about everything going for us that we can desire.

The newly formed Properties Committee, plans to work in unison with Lebanon Lodge, OES and Jobs to better organize our lodge. We have all accumulated much, leaving little storage space. We should see improvements in this quarter. The Building and Properties Committees are beginning, to look at how to create a fresher appearance for our lodge.

Facilities and our future: will be a big topic this year. It will only grow in importance in the next several years. We will get the financial report at the February stated and then begin to look for our ducks and work to get them all in a row on this issue.

Wow, here it is the New Year already. It has been one celebration after another. First there was Thanksgiving where we celebrated the harvest and the bounty of our Lord’s blessing on us. Next it was time for Christmas, where we celebrated the love of our Lord, expressed through the gifts of His only Son and His tears, to help wash away our stains.

Now it is the New Year – emphasis on the word New. It is a new beginning where we can reflect on our actions during the past year, and resolve to do better. Our Creator knows well of all our failings and propensity for failure. For this, He created the means for many new beginnings. We have the beginning of each year, each of the 12 months, the 52 weeks, and all 365 days – all with a new beginning. It is our hope (and that of our Creator) that we can use these new beginnings to learn from past mistakes, leave them in the past, and move forward – for “these things too shall also pass away”.

As we begin yet another year, let us resolve to rededicate ourselves to our Masonic principles of Brotherly love and let us translate into deeds the great moral virtues taught within our Fraternity. Let us:

ú Provide a deeper and broader expression of brotherly love to each other. In our book of Sacred Law, there are many more than just ten commandments. Our Creator has commanded us, through His son, to love one another as He has loved us.

ú Make an effort to demonstrate the virtues of love, honor, and trust to the hearts and minds of our fellowmen. And thereby earn their respect, affection and esteem.

ú Volunteer more. The greatest gift one human being can offer another is the gift of their time. Perhaps our gift of time can’t change the world, but in the eyes of the one or two that we can change for the better, that is the world to them.

ú Make it a constant rule of our lives to think well, speak well and act well, wherever we may be. Remember, Brethren, our conduct and character outside the Lodge may be the only factual Masonic knowledge available to the outside world.

ú Enter the New Year with a firmer resolve to work at the completion of our spiritual temple, that House not built by human hands, eternal in the Heavens.

And let us not forget to put this season in its true light. Our Book of Sacred Law states that the Creator gives us new mercies at the start of every new day. Of these mercies, maybe the best is the glory and beauty of the new day. Once again, and not a minute too soon, the old has passed away and a new beginning is waiting for us.

Please feel free to send me the names of any of our Brothers and/or their family members, who may be in distress as we pray to our creator for their comfort and relief. When we think of our experiences in taking the third degree, we cannot help but remember the words from Ecclesiastes: “Remember now thy creator . . .” and please remember those listed below in your prayers. We name the welfare of our brethren in our petitions because we love them; and knowing our own need of their prayers, we realize their need of ours.

For Healing and Support	For Thanksgiving	For Comfort
Bro. Buddy Schesso, now residing in Friendship Manor.	For Brigit’s recovery, Mike and Jennifer Sullivan’s Daughter.	Bobbie Wiggins (Bro. Schesso’s Sister)
For our Brother Ed Efferts whose cancer has returned. He is receiving home hospice care.	For Elizabeth Efforts for the care she is able to provide for her father.	For the family and friends of Bro. Kenneth Stanley Engdahl who completed his journey on earth, October 3, 2006.
		For the family of Bro. William Tarbell, who completed his journey on earth November 14, 2006.
		For the family of Bro. Don Bloedow, who completed his journey on earth October 21, 2006.
		For Bro. Fred Carr on the loss of his wife Mary, on December 17, 2006.

Our Brother Ed Effertz has laid down his tools and has joined his brothers in our Creator’s Lodge. He completed his journey on January 17^th, 2007

The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

Why do Brethren not pass between the altar and the East when the lodge is at labor?

I received several answers to the question this month and all were on track. Good job Brethren!

Brethren do not pass between the altar and the East in a Masonic Lodge at labor (except during a degree) because the Master is supposed to have the Great Lights constantly in view. In theory, at least, he draws inspiration from the altar to preside over the lodge and must not, therefore, be prevented from seeing it at any time.

The custom is but a pretty courtesy, but it is rooted in a fundamental conception of the Craft - that the altar is the center of Masonry, and that from it and from the Great Lights it bears, flow all that there is of Masonic inspiration and truth and light.

English lodges do not have this problem, since in them a pedestal near the Master is the altar on which lies the Holy Book.

Our best wishes to the following brothers who will celebrate their birthday in February 2007

Articles for the next newsletter will be due by February 13^th. You may send articles to me for the newsletter; by any method you desire (email, fax, regular mail, etc…). Articles that are not received by the due date will be held over for the newsletter.

We would also like to encourage the other organizations that are affiliated with MN River Valley Lodge #6, such as the Jobs Daughters, Eastern Star, Demolay, etc… to feel free to contribute items to our newsletter and to our Lodge’s Web Calendar.

Last month in this column I wrote about discovering Masonic themes in art and literature even though most of the time the Masonic connection was not intended by the artist or author. If you remember I described finding it again recently while attending an art show with my wife Betty.

Well, it happened again just a few days ago while touring the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA as we refer to it)! Betty likes to take us there once or twice a year to enjoy the wondrous collections of art in our own backyard. There are truly wonderful collections of works on display. But, this time the theme was intentional.

We were enjoying the abundant items of Chinese Porcelain, covering many centuries and dynasties, displayed in several rooms. As we moved into one room, Betty came up to me and said “…you have to come over here, I think you’ll want to see this…” as I followed she led me over to a punch bowl and coffee cup, which they called a Tankard. Both of these were covered with Masonic symbols. According to the museum, these dated back to circa 1790 – 1800. “Interesting”, I thought, “I know Masonry is world wide today, but could it have existed in mainland China in that era?” I stayed there and drew in the magnificence of these wonderful pieces of art for several minutes, studying all of the symbols. Most of them I recognized, but several of them were new to me, although I could still tell they were Masonic.

As I continued enjoying, I started to read the placquard next to the two pieces. They came from Jingdezhen, China and the museum speculates that they were specially ordered by someone from Europe, who was either living in China at the time or was traveling through, but were never “picked up.”

Somehow these have ended up in Minnesota. I encourage all of you, if you get the chance, to go to the MIA and view these pieces, as well as the Institute’s numerous other splendid collections.

I’m sure most of you have experienced or encountered similar situations where you too have discovered a Masonic theme, intentional or not. Now it is your turn! I would like to hear about your stories and I will share them here in this column, with your permission, for all to enjoy. I’m hoping that I have just touched a tip of the “iceberg” on this subject and there are some wonderful untold stories about your Masonic experiences in your day to day life.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."

At the time of publishing the newsletter (January 20^th) there are only 20 tickets remaining

The MRVL Chanhassen Dinner Theatre event this year will be held on March 3, 2007 with a World Premiere of a new stage musical based on the 1948 MGM film classic - Irving Berlin's EASTER PARADE, to be co-developed by the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres and the world-renowned Rogers & Hammerstein Organization in New York. Called "the happiest musical ever made," EASTER PARADE is light and airy as a scrumptious soufflé's. This charming romantic comedy begins as snappy dancer, Don Hewes, is dumped by his ungrateful dance partner, Nadine Hale, so she can pursue a solo career.

As in the classic Pygmalion story (My Fair Lady), the lovelorn Don declares that he can turn any chorus girl into a star. The girl he chooses to mould in his new "Nadine" is the randomly selected unassuming insecure, yet beguiling Hannah Brown. He vows within a year to make her the toast of Broadway and New York's famed Easter Parade. Many of Irving Berlin's greatest song are in this show. This is one show that you won't want to miss.

The Lodge only has 80 tickets for this event, so when you received your letter don't wait to long to reply. The cost this year per person has increased to $43.00 dollars. Lunch is at 11:00 AM with the show time of 1:00PM. Any Questions about this event please contact David Scheffert at the following address or call him:

Christmas is usually a time of family celebration, joyful gatherings, good cheer, and “stockings hung by the fire with care”. Usually. It can also be the loneliest time of the year for those who have lost spouses or family, and for those who have lost their independence. Grief for the loss of a loved one never ends, and it is this time, when our remembrances of being in the midst of our joyful family circle, can cause us to be in pain – mental, spiritual, and physical.

At this time of the year, we, the Masonic Brothers of MRVL #6, remember those who are lonely or in distress, by letting them know they are loved and remembered. We do this by delivering to them a Christmas bag of treats (candy, fruit, snacks and toiletries), to fulfill our obligation to those in need of our honor and remembrance.

A number of the Brethren were able to join together this Christmas in gathering the food, bagging it up (with thanks to the Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, for the use of their facilities), and in delivering the Christmas bags to our extended fraternal family. Most were able to also spend some time with each of the recipients to help bring them some cheer and to determine how each were doing (and if further actions might be required).

All in all, this was another marvelous demonstration of the Masonic virtue of Brotherly Love.

Visit the Lodge Website and view the Lodge calendar for our complete list of events.