Brethren,
Right Worshipful J. David Neveitt, Brother Steve Morris SW and your Worshipful Master had the pleasure of representing your interests on behalf of the Lodge at the Grand Lodge Communication in Orlando. Several pieces of legislation were voted on and a general report was made at our Stated Communication of June 9th. You may get more detailed reports from your Worshipful Master and Senior Warden at any meeting or practice night. We will be glad to discuss these issues with you at any of our impromptu discussion groups that go well past midnight on meeting nights.
I would like to congratulate the Right
Worshipful Brother Rick Hoover to his appointment as the District
Deputy Grand Master of the 21st Masonic District. We are looking
forward to working with the new D.D.G.M.
I would like to congratulate one of our own Past Masters and Gold
Card holder, the Most Learned Brother F. Ed Street to his appointment
as the District Instructor of the 21st Masonic District. Most
Learned Brother Street has done an excellent job of instructing
the members in esoteric ritual and developing a greater appreciation
for the lessons learned in good ritual work and the lectures.
Our new District Instructor will remain the Lodge Instructor,
and has set an aggressive schedule for District School of Instruction
to be held at our Lodge on every first and third Friday's. Practice
will continue to be held every Friday night at 7 PM and every
Monday at 7 PM on the days that there is no Stated or Called Communications.
We have put on some great Degrees lately and this was brought
to our attention at Grand Lodge. Elmer O. Smith has a reputation
in this District and elsewhere for good ritual work and is going
to keep it as such only if we continue to maintain steady and
consistent habits in our practices on both the floor and between
individual Brothers.
I would like to congratulate our Lodge Musician, Worshipful Robert Haynes, on his appointment as the Grand Lodge Organist. W.B. Haynes has always done a fine job at all of our Degrees and we appreciate the time he makes for us considering his busy schedule.
The Dedication for the Korean War
Veteran's Memorial will be held July 27, 2003 at 2 PM at Freedom
Lake Park .
Let us remember those people, in our prayers, who continue to
go in harms way in defense of our Liberties and those ideals we
hold sacred.
Jul 4th ..........DARK
Jul 6th.......... NOTE DINNER MOVED BECAUSE OF HOLIDAY WEEKEND
Jul 7th ..........Practice (Catechism Instruction Available) 7:30 PM
Jul 11th........ Practice (Catechism Instruction Available) 7:30 PM
Jul 13th........ BAR-B-QUE NOON TO 2 PM
Jul 14th ........Stated Communication 7:30 PM
Jul 18th ........GRAND MASTER'S VISIT 20TH & 21ST DISTRICTS MASONIC HOME ......................6PM REGISTRATION 6:30PM DINNER 7:30PM MEETING
Jul 21st ........Practice (Catechism Instruction Available) 7:30 PM
Jul 25th ........Practice (Catechism Instruction Available) 7:30 PM
Jul 27th........ Dedication Korean War Memorial 2 PM Freedom Lake Park
Jul 28th ........Stated Communication 7:30 PM
Brothers,
Congratulations to Brothers David Eckstein, Graham Parsons and Thomas Whitehouse who were Initiated as Entered Apprentices June 16th. We now have four E. A. 's (including Brother Dan Gunyan) who are working on their proficiencies for advancement to the F. C. Degree.
We had 21 Brothers (an excellent turnout) for the visit to Dunedin Lodge for their Master Mason Degree. The Brothers all enjoyed themselves and would like to do this again with visits to other Lodges in our Districts.
Plan to attend the Grand Master's Visit to our District Friday July 18th. In addition to the Tyled Meeting at 7:30 PM, there will be a program for the Ladies. To help the D.D.G.M.'s plan for dinner, they are asking you RSVP through the Secretary if you and your Lady plan to attend by July 8, 2003. Our Lodge will be assessed a fee per member if you attend or NOT, so take advantage and ATTEND!
Awhile back, our Lodge purchased a "brick" for the Korean War Memorial to be dedicated Sunday July 27, 2003 at 2 PM in Freedom Lake Park. Our Worshipful Master Jim, asks that all the Brothers and Sisters who are able, participate in this dedication.
NOTE: THE DINNER NORMALLY HELD THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE SECOND SUNDAY BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
Brethren,
Once again I think we had a great E. A. Degree and our three new Brothers seemed to really enjoy it, Brother Dale Thomas did an outstanding job in the East, and it was a very special night for Brother Drew Whitehouse who was Senior Deacon and conducted his dad, Brother Tom Whitehouse, as one of our new Entered Apprentice Masons. Congratulations to you all.
Please keep our troops and sick brethren in your thoughts and prayers hope we can see them come home safely and soon.
Don't forget practice on Friday nights we need all the help we can get.
Brothers,
By the time you are reading this message, we will have initiated another three candidates. I commend the Brothers that are actively improving our membership. It is very pleasing to see all the new faces that have come in this year, and looks like Elmer O will have a full line for years to come. The degree work has been outstanding, the fellowship second to none. I wish to extend my gratitude to all the Brothers that have been taking on my duties in my absence. Brothers pitching in and helping one another is the backbone of our fraternity, and I am pleased to see it in action at our Lodge. I look forward to continued good fellowship and brotherly love!
He was going to be all that a mortal could be - tomorrow.
No one could be kinder and braver than he would be - tomorrow.
A friend who was troubled and weary would be glad for a lift. On him he would call and see what he could do - tomorrow.
Each morning he stacked up the letters he would write - tomorrow.
And thought of the folks he would fill with delight - tomorrow.
More time I will have to give others, he would say - tomorrow.
The greatest of workers this man would have been - tomorrow.
But the fact is he died and faded from view. And all that he left here when he was through he intended to do - tomorrow.
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| Angelica Diaz, daughter of Brother Angel Diaz, read an essay she had written while her Dad was serving over-seas during "Desert Storm". | Bonnie Lewis, wife of Junior Past Master Carl Lewis, presented a poem to Honor those who sacrificed their lives in all of our Wars. | R:. W:. J. Paul Stellrecht D.D.G.M. of the 21st Masonic District presented a program on the meaning of Memorial Day. |
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Worshipful Brother Carl Lewis and Brother Ed Reichert came in very early to set up for the program. WB Carl is getting another batch of Hot Dogs for the serving table. |
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| WM Jim Reedy presented an "Achievement of Light" Award from the MW Grand Lodge of F & A M of Florida to WB Carl Lewis. The award was to recognize WB Lewis' achievements as Worshipful master in 2002 | WB Carl Lewis presented a "Golden Lantern" certificate from Selama Grotto to Elmer O. Smith Lodge for their support of the "Special Needs Dental Program" at the Country in the Park Booth. |
Have you ever wondered what happened
to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
- Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured
before they died.
- Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
- Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another
had two sons captured.
- Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the
Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged:
"For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government!
Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.
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Worshipful Brother Robert L. Haynes was Installed as Grand Organist. WB Haynes is a member of Dunedin Lodge No. 192 and is an Honorary Member of Elmer O. Smith. WB Haynes resides in the Masonic Home and is also Installed as our Lodge's Organist. |
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We had 21 Brothers visit Dunedin Lodge for their Master Mason Degree. Some of the "Old Timers" said it reminded them of the "Old 19th District" when large groups from various Lodges would visit for the Degrees. We hope we can do this more often. |