Page 7 - 2017 Summer

and Lodg
Gr
e of W
ashingt
on
Grand Lodge of Washington ing and serving the repast their only duty? Was
Masonic Tribune that always the case? There is no better time to
Masonic Tribune
Volume XCVIII No. 4 - Summer 2017 Issue - Page 7 begin your own Masonic Journey from ignorance
to information to wisdom, and then share.
The path of information, knowledge,
understanding and wisdom. MWB Sam Roberts, PGM
Grand Secretary
he source of information today is virtually (no
Tpun intended) limitless. If you don’t think so, Attention all 2018 JGW Wannabes
ask Siri, Cortana or if you don’t recognize these
names, type in your query to the fountain of ALL
knowledge, Wikipedia. Information is readily and There will be an information and orientation for
immediately available, especially if you are not all Master Masons that are considering submit-
too particular about it being factual or absolutely ting a Statement of Availability for the Office of
accurate. With that knowledge and the Masonic Junior Grand Warden. Your Lady is welcome
application of reason and logic, one can develop and encouraged to attend the session with you.
the ability to distinguish facts from fiction. Apply a Please take some time to write your questions
bit more Masonic light and the individual becomes to ensure that you leave without all the informa-
a Brother. Increase the wattage, (metaphorically tion you want. The gathering will be held at the
Grand Lodge office on Sunday, August 6th, 2017
speaking) and the individual can become the em-
Sam Roberts Sometimes, information arrives and is delivered questions.
bodiment of a Wise and Honored FreeMason.
at Noon. Call the Grand Lodge Office if you have
Attire is casual. You and your lady (and guests)
when least expected and in an unlikely setting. At
are invited (encouraged) to join the Grand Lodge
a recent District Meeting, a 13-year-old girl, Akira
Elected Officers who will be attending the Uni-
A. confidently shared her research into Masonry.
ty March in DuPont immediately following the
RIGHT WORSHIPFUL Brother
What motivated her research, for this article, is
Grand SECRETARY
immaterial. She presented some basic history of
Just a reminder that Section 2.04 B.L. of the
our Fraternity… that some of the Brothers did not Meeting.
know. She told us about the other ‘Masonic’ or- Washington Masonic Code specifies that all
ganizations that comprise the Masonic Family… Statements of Availability will be in the hands of
that some us were unaware that existed. She list- the Grand Secretary ‘On or before the first day of
ed out many of our devices, furniture and imple- September…”
ments, which (I am glad to report) most of us knew
about, and then proceeded to share the meaning MWB Sam Roberts, PGM
and origins of some of those symbols… that too Grand Secretary
many of us were unaware of. She quoted select-
ed passages from our ritual {{Oh, don’t get too Grand Standard Bearer
wrapped up in this. Remember- it’s the Internet}}
giving the moral lesson and concept behind the Brethren,
words…. much to the amazement and surprise As we approach the 160th Annual Communica-
(and consternation of some) of those assembled. tion of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, Free
Her efforts and presentation earned her the stand- and Accepted Masons of Washington, I trust we
ing ovation she deserved. will each reflect on the Masonic year and consid-
Written on the face of everyone there, was the er how we, as Masons, have served the Craft, our
statement of, “I didn’t know that”. Then after a respective Lodges, and our local communities to
few moments reflection, practically every Brother “Be the Difference”.
followed up with, “Why didn’t I get that in Lodge?!” Shortly after becoming Master Mason just a short
Some Brethren, I hope, will be motivated by the number of years ago, the Master-Elect of Wash-
idea that if a young girl can find out all this infor- ington Lodge, No. 4 gave me the opportunity to
mation, so can I. serve the Lodge as an Appointed Officer. I imag-
Brethren, don’t be disappointed that you may ined at that time developing through the Officers
not have gotten all the ‘secrets’ as a candidate; line, ultimately serving the Lodge from the East.
that you were not handed an everything you ever What I didn’t imagine is that I would be given an
wanted to know about Masonry book; that your opportunity to serve our Grand Lodge as an Ap-
hunger for Masonic Light has not been sated. Like pointed Grand Lodge Officer. I give my sincere
Akira A. go to the repository of all information; gratitude to our Most Worshipful Grand Master,
search the thousands of Masonic books, articles Jim Mendoza, for providing that opportunity to
and papers, seek out and talk to Masonic Schol- me.
ars and historians. There is enough material relat- As Grand Standard Bearer, I participated in sev-
ing to Masonry to keep you going for many, many eral Grand Lodge events, including Lodge Con-
lifetimes. Why are the Stewards’ Rods white? stitutions, Cornerstone Ceremonies, and the an-
Why is it called a ‘rod’ and not a staff? Why is the nual Unity March. I was also able to attend a few
symbol a cornucopia? What does it represent in District Meetings beyond my own – which provid-
a Masonic Lodge? When did it become the Stew- ed insight to the good works occurring elsewhere
ards’ emblem? Where did it come from? Is prepar-
(Article is continued in page 8)
7