1. Our Lodge will be dark this Tuesday, Dec 27. The building will be closed. 2. 2012 dues cards are now available. Your early payment will help OUR lodge operation. Thank you for those who have already paid. 3. I am working on the Grand Lodge MORI system where I may update member’s information on my end. [...]]]> Reminders:

1. Our Lodge will be dark this Tuesday, Dec 27. The building will be closed.
2. 2012 dues cards are now available. Your early payment will help OUR lodge operation. Thank you for those who have already paid.
3. I am working on the Grand Lodge MORI system where I may update member’s information on my end. If you need some changes or additions into your profile, please email it to me at berwynlodge839sec@gmail.com
4. If you received a “final notice to pay dues” and you feel I made an error, please don’t hesitate to call my attention.  You may email me or call me at my Cell Phone # 773.941.9929. I will be very happy to make corrections to rectify the problem.

Below are the lists of brethren who have not updated their address and or contact information. Mails came back as “Bad Address” or “No such
address”. I would like to request each and everyone’s assistance that If you happen to know anybody listed below to please inform them of this message.

1) Noel VillaSenor 2) Francisco VillaSenor 3) Hort W. Gieselmann 4)
Michael Milenkovic 5) Anthony J. Marra 6) Anton J. Ruska 7) Steven
Miranda
8) Jad Gandour 9) Christopher P. Veltmann 10) Felix Vasquez 11) Joseph
L. Vavra 12) JUan Ochoa 13) Wayne Oleson 14) Rafael Gonzalez 15) Jose
C. Hernandez
16) Dirk Jarvis 17) Luis Andino 18) Raymond M. King Jr. 19) Warren T.
Lebeck 20) Oscar T. Leon

Happy New Year to all!

Fraternally,
Bro. Luisito P. Fanlo, PM
Lodge Secretary

Upcoming events can always been seen on the lodge website, http://www.berwynlodge.org as well as on the Berwyn Lodge Facebook page maintained by Bro. Alejandro Cabral. Our newest Masonic education event is a two-part showing of Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute” with discussion of the Masonic symbolism. Act 1 will be shown on November 1, and [...]]]> Trestleboard

Upcoming events can always been seen on the lodge website, http://www.berwynlodge.org as well as on the Berwyn Lodge Facebook page maintained by Bro. Alejandro Cabral. Our newest Masonic education event is a two-part showing of Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute” with discussion of the Masonic symbolism. Act 1 will be shown on November 1, and Act 2 on November 15 at Berwyn Lodge. We are likely to have several degrees coming up, and the lodge holiday party on November 29.

If you haven’t been to Berwyn in a while, come back and see us!

Why are you a Mason?

One of the best things about having a lot of people coming to talk about petitioning a lodge is that the lodge members get asked what Masonry is all about, why they joined, and what they get out of it. These are important questions for each of us to ask ourselves.

Masonry has ritual and symbols, but is not a religious society. Masonry promotes fellowship, but is not a social club. Masons give generously of their time and money, but Masonry is not a charity club. Masonry is all of these things – a school for the enhancement of brotherly love, relief, and wise truths – and yet, for each Mason, it is something a little different and unique.

Some men join for one aspect, some for another. Some join because their fathers, or uncles, or grandfathers, or other men they respect are Masons. Some join because they are looking for secrets or a new way to think about what it means to be a man in this place and at this time. Some stay because they find what they joined for; others stay because they find new friends who share their values. And some, of course, choose not to stay at all, often because their lodge did not find out what they sought and help them in the seeking.

What’s Masonry and why did you become a Mason? Have an answer, my brothers, because men are coming, and asking these questions.

Oriental

At our last stated meeting, a potential petitioner asked me where Oriental Lodge got its name. “Oriental” is no longer considered an appropriate term to use to refer to people of Asian descent, and the petitioner didn’t think the brethren were all Asian anyway. I explained, as you probably already know, that the word “oriental” means “from the east” (it comes from the Latin word for “rising”, as in the sun), and that in Masonry, wisdom symbolically is found in the East, where the sun rises. The opposite word, “occidental” (from the west), is no longer such a familiar term.

Word puzzle

Hidden in each sentence below are words related to Freemasonry. These words may appear within other words, or across two or more words. How many can you find? The first sentence is solved for you.

1. ThoMAS ONly eats fish. (MASON)
2. The soup was inedible due to a broth error.
3. I have Chanukkah fears, Christmas terrors and Kwanzaa nightmares.
4. He won the award entirely through his own work.
5. The official target is only 3 inches.

Reminder

The lodge is seeking someone to take over the position of Temple Topics editor. Please give the W.M. a call or email if you’re interested.

Upcoming events can always been seen on the lodge website, http://www.berwynlodge.org as well as on the Berwyn Lodge Facebook page maintained by Bro. Alejandro Cabral. By the time you read this, we will have held our lodge picnic (thanks especially to Bros. Gadi Levi and Ed Powell), participated in Berwyn’s Oktoberfest, held a Friend’s Night [...]]]> Trestleboard

Upcoming events can always been seen on the lodge website, http://www.berwynlodge.org as well as on the Berwyn Lodge Facebook page maintained by Bro. Alejandro Cabral. By the time you read this, we will have held our lodge picnic (thanks especially to Bros. Gadi Levi and Ed Powell), participated in Berwyn’s Oktoberfest, held a Friend’s Night / Open House at the lodge, and conferred two more Third Degrees (congratulations to new Master Masons Josue Nunez and Juan Merced Jr., as well as to Bro. Ed who received his MM degree since our last article)! Those degrees were my debut performance as King Solomon, and I want to thank the Brethren for their support and confidence.

A shout out goes to W.B. Pat Coletta with congratulations on getting out the hospital and wishes for a rapid recovery.

Haven’t been to Berwyn in a while? Come on back – we have lots of great things brewing. And you can enjoy “DJ Berwyn” spinning tracks Masonic and otherwise.

Relief

A recent discussion at the lodge highlighted our commitment to relief of our distressed members. If you are a Berwyn member and are having difficulty attending lodge due to financial issues or need some other kind of help, please contact the Secretary and/or Master. We miss you.

Reflection

Last week, I woke up with a strange uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. It wouldn’t go away, and I went to the emergency room, where I was diagnosed with appendicitis and quickly had laparoscopic surgery to remove my appendix. I am pleased to say that the surgery went great, the nurses were terrific, and I was out the next day and walking around.

Sudden illness and emergency surgery is scary. The older I get, the more aware I become of the level of time on which I travel and of the potential pitfalls which might await me. For example, I don’t like pain, and I don’t relish having a hard time moving around. But as I lay there in the hospital bed, I was reminded of the difference between pain, a physical sensation, and suffering, the state in which pain, fear, exhaustion, loneliness, or anxiety combine to create the true ruffians that threaten our lives and labors. I have been lucky to feel only some pain and no suffering, thanks to the support of my family, friends, and Brothers. As it happens, I spent some time there practicing King Solomon’s part in the second section of the third degree, and fully partaking of some of the symbolism of that drama.

Brethren, if you go into the hospital, please contact the lodge (and the Secretary and the Master). We will want to send our good wishes, visit as much as possible, and otherwise let you know that you are not alone.

Reminder

The lodge is seeking someone to take over the position of Temple Topics editor. Please give the W.M. a call or email if you’re interested.

Upcoming events can always been seen on the lodge website, http://www.berwynlodge.org as well as on the Berwyn Lodge Facebook page maintained by Bro. Alejandro Cabral.

New officers

On July 10, Berwyn Lodge installed most of its new officers for the upcoming year. Here’s the list:

Worshipful Master James Hrejsa

Senior Warden Kenmond Eng

Junior Warden Alejandro Cabral

Treasurer Juan Morado Jr.

Secretary [...]]]> Trestleboard

Upcoming events can always been seen on the lodge website, http://www.berwynlodge.org as well as on the Berwyn Lodge Facebook page maintained by Bro. Alejandro Cabral.

New officers

On July 10, Berwyn Lodge installed most of its new officers for the upcoming year. Here’s the list:

Worshipful Master James Hrejsa

Senior Warden Kenmond Eng

Junior Warden Alejandro Cabral

Treasurer Juan Morado Jr.

Secretary W.B. Luisito Fanlo

Chaplain Jose Padilla

Senior Deacon Antonio Castro

Junior Deacon Brigido Tan

Senior Steward Antonio Vicera

Junior Steward Charles Raymond

Marshal Gadi Levi

Tyler W.B. Terry Young II

Assisting in the installation were W.B. Alan Schwartz (Installing Master), R.W.B. Craig Short (Installing Marshal), W.B. Jerry Filippi (Installing Chaplain), W.B. Joseph Consolo (Installing Secretary), W.B. David Sedivy (Installing Senior Deacon), and Bro. Omar Ali (Paul Revere Charges). W.B. Fanlo’s wife Helen assisted with flowers, and W.B. Hrejsa’s wife Mary covered the new Master with the hat during the ceremony. Photos of the installation by Bro. Helius Deguevara are on the website; see if you can spot the clown noses!

And, in honor of a new Master and officers, and a new Masonic year, a little except from Bro. Carl Claudy’s “The Master’s Book” follows:

SERVICE

Masons are not “men with pins on their coats.” Masonry is a vital force in the lives of many; one touch on the right key and Masonic enthusiasm simply pours out of members.

A brother was injured and a blood transfusion necessary. The Master of his Lodge learned it on the night of a third degree. It was his custom to make a little talk before each ceremony on one of its significances.             An opportunist, the Master junked his prepared speech and spoke for five minutes on the Five Points–then called for volunteers for the blood transfusion.

Fifteen brethren rose to clamor for the chance to show their Five Points meant something to them.

The Master of a small midwestern Lodge, poor in finances, had a pressing relief case; a brother had lost his home by storm. He had told the Lodge about it. The Treasurer arose to say: “But we have no money, Worshipful.”

“Who said anything about money?” retorted the Master. “I want volunteers with tools, who will give each a day’s work, two days, whatever you can spare. We can’t buy Brother Jones a new home, but we are sorry sons of pioneers if we can ‘t build one !”

Thirty-four men rebuilt Brother Jones’s home for him, and then pleaded with the Master for “another happy time and good day’s outing like that!”

In other news, we have 2 second degrees coming up on May 24, and a Masonic fellowship night at Olive or Twist restaurant on May [...]]]> Three Berwyn lodge brethren recently attended the reunion of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Milwaukee, and sent these photos:

Humphrey Scottish Rite Center

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Picture 1 of 5

In other news, we have 2 second degrees coming up on May 24, and a Masonic fellowship night at Olive or Twist restaurant on May 31. Congratulations also to new Brother Mario, who received his first degree on May 17.

Upcoming events can always been seen on the lodge website, http://www.berwynlodge.org as well as on the Berwyn Lodge Facebook page maintained by Bro. Alejandro Cabral. Some notable upcoming events in the next month include:

May 17 – 1st degree

May 24 – Stated meeting and 2nd degrees

May 31 – Masonic fellowship night at Olive or Twist restaurant [...]]]> Trestleboard

Upcoming events can always been seen on the lodge website, http://www.berwynlodge.org as well as on the Berwyn Lodge Facebook page maintained by Bro. Alejandro Cabral. Some notable upcoming events in the next month include:

May 17 – 1^st degree

May 24 – Stated meeting and 2^nd degrees

May 31 – Masonic fellowship night at Olive or Twist restaurant in Berwyn

June 14 – Annual meeting and election of officers

June 28 – Stated meeting

July 10 – Installation of officers

As I will be out of town from June 4-14, there may not be a June article in Temple Topics, unless I scare up a replacement.

Visiting the Sick

To be ill, and especially to be ill in the hospital, among strangers (however well-trained) and subject to uncomfortable restrictions even beyond those of the illness, is one of the more difficult experiences of life. It is not surprising, therefore, that nearly every religion or moral system recognizes visiting the sick as a special responsibility and a worthy deed. Jews, for example, base the commandment to visit the sick on a story in the book of Genesis, when God visits Abraham after his circumcision. Christians may refer to Matthew 25:36 (“I was sick, and ye visited me.”) as their model. John Wesley, the founder of Methodist Christianity, wrote in an 1872 sermon on the practice: “It is equally incumbent on young and old, rich and poor, men and women, according to their ability. None are so young, if they desire to save their own souls, as to be excused from assisting their neighbours. None are so poor, (unless they want the necessaries of life) but they are called to do something, more or less, at whatever time they can spare, for the relief and comfort of their afflicted fellow-sufferers.”

Freemasons too are enjoined to visit the sick, an important expression of the Masonic tenet of Relief, and this tenet is not limited to the Master or Chaplain! To be ill is difficult, but worse is to be ill and alone. Any time a Brother can visit another in the hospital or sick bed, he not only relieves the distress of loneliness for the period of his visit, but reminds the ailing Brother that he is not alone, not forgotten, not ignored by his Lodge. The visit may be brief – the visitor has other responsibilities, and the ailing Brother may also need rest and quiet – but its impact continues long after it is over, and is multiplied by each other lodge Brother who makes a similar stop to offer a smile, a joke, an attentive ear, or a game of cards. If you have time for a longer visit, you can also provide a respite for family members who can take a break while you’re there.

Of course, it is difficult to visit a man when you don’t know he is in the hospital. Brethren, please remember to let your lodge know if you become ill – and tell your loved ones how they can do so if you can’t. A single call to any active Brother should be enough to stir the lodge into action; the Brother contacted should inform the Master and Secretary, and through the officers of the lodge, all the Brethren should be informed about when and where to visit the ailing Brother.

Most people don’t like hospitals, and do their best to stay away from them. Before I became a Mason, I didn’t have much experience with the sick (and I hadn’t attended that many funerals either). One of the great gifts of Masonry to me has been the opportunity to learn to get over the natural awkwardness of being a visitor in a hospital and recognize the chance to give and receive true Brotherhood. It is a practice I recommend highly to all in the Craft.

Masonic Verse

There have been some nice Masonic poems circulating among the Brethren. Here’s one from “The Masonic Ladder, or the Nine Steps to Ancient Freemasonry” by John Sherer (1876), which includes quite a few poems:

Who wears THE SQUARE upon his breast,

Does in the eye of God attest,

And in the face of man,

That all his actions do compare

With the Divine, th’ unerring Square-

That squares great virtue’s plan :

That he erects his Edifice

By this design, and this, and this

Who wears THE LEVEL, says that pride

Does not within his soul abide,

Nor foolish vanity;

That man has but a common doom,

And from the cradle to the tomb,

A common destiny :

That he erects his Edifice

By this design, and this, and this

Who wears THE G; ah, type divine!

Abhors the atmosphere of sin,

And trusts in God alone ;

His Father, Maker, Friend, he knows

He vows, and pays to God his vows,

As by th’ Eternal throne :

And he erects his Edifice

By this design, and this, and this

Who wears THE PLUMB, behold how true

His words, his walk! and could we view

The chambers of his soul,

Each thought enshrined, so pure, so good/

By the stern line of rectitude,

Points truly to the goal :

And he erects his Edifice

By this design, and this, and this

Thus life and beauty come to view,

In each design our fathers drew,

So glorious, so sublime ;

Each breathes an odor from the bloom

Of gardens bright beyond the tomb,

Beyond the flight of time:

And bids us build on this and this,

The walls of God’s own Edifice!