Master's Messages for
Worship Brother George D Saronsen
Jan'04 - Dec'04

January '04

Rejoice

Brethren,

Many people no longer celebrate the new year -- they celebrate the survival of the old year. But I say Rejoice! Rejoice that our heavenly Father -- through his grace and mercy -- has designed to give us more time to serve him, more time to serve our fellow man and to appreciate the many wonderful blessings He has given us.

As Masons we should rejoice because we are blessed to belong to an organization where we have brothers who are like minded. Brothers who have taken the same solemn oaths or obligations that we have taken. There is no need to recapitulate the many and inestimable privileges of belonging to this fraternity. For we know that these privileges belong to “worthy men and worthy men only.” So for the new year let us rejoice and resolve with greater assiduity to support our lodge.

This can be and will be a glorious year for Lakewood Lodge with your help. We need your attendance at our meetings and functions. We need your time, your knowledge and your prayers as we seek to serve our Great Creator by serving our fellow man. We also need your financial support so we can be in a better position to purchase a new lodge. Your officers and I look forward to seeing you.



January '04 February '04 March '04 April '04 May '04 June '04 September '04 October '04
November '04 December '04

February '04

Who owns the well?

Brethren,

Much has been written about the differences between an optimist and a pessimist and I think sometimes we fail to realize that we are the ones who are in control as to how we are going to respond to a given situation, optimistically or pessimistically.

This is why I feel it is important for us to surround ourselves with people who have a positive attitude. People, who when misfortune befalls them, look to make the best of it. People who try to build us up when we face adversity. People who count their blessings, not discount them.

Cousin Bob (the Keeper of the Cob, a position of great honor) of the Shrine Hillbilly Clan #9 of Allentown, PA said it best; “It don’t make no difference to me whether my glass is half empty or half full cause I own the well.”

Brethren, as Masons we own the Well! We can fill up our glass anytime we want to! We are the ones who possess the many and inestimable privileges of being a Mason. We are the ones who have been given the most positive lessons and working tools to guide us. We have the advantage of holding Masonic communication with our brethren. Brothers who are always ready to befriend and assist us.

Let us therefore not neglect to keep our glass full. Let us not allow the cares and troubles of this transitory existence keep us from going to the well. Looking forward to seeing you at our next meeting.

January '04 February '04 March '04 April '04 May '04 June '04 September '04 October '04
November '04 December '04

March '04

Wisdom and Intelligence


Brethren,

There are many different thoughts about wisdom and intelligence and I would like to share some of them with you:

Wisdom is the capacity to use intelligence in the right way.
Wisdom is the proper application of intelligence.
Wisdom and intelligence is having the same opinions as I have.
Wisdom is never planting more garden than your wife can hoe.
There is but one way to have wisdom, but with intelligence only, there are thousands of ways of becoming a fool.

One of our ancient Grand Masters – Solomon, King of Israel said “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. Webster’s Dictionary defines fear as “respectful, awe, reverence.” It defines awe as “a mixed feeling of reverence, fear and wonder caused by something majestic, sublime, sacred.”

In other words brethren “Fear of the Lord” has to be the foundation, the corner stone on which you must build on to obtain wisdom.

Our ancient brethren were truly wise. For according to tradition they wrought at the building of King Solomon’s Temple and rested on the 7th day. “Thereby enjoying the frequent opportunities to contemplate the glorious works of creation and to adore their great creator.”

Brethren, as Masons, we know how to become wise… let us all seek to do so.

Please read: Proverbs Chapter 9

January '04 February '04 March '04 April '04 May '04 June '04 September '04 October '04
November '04 December '04

April '04

Give more and receive more


Brethren,

One day in the Garden of Eden God told Adam that he was going to give him a mate. She was going to be beautiful. She was going to bare him children, cook for him and clean his house. Not only that, she would never disagree with him, she would treat him like a king. God had told Adam that everything came with a price so Adam wanted to know what the price was. God told him it would cost him an arm and a leg. Thinking for a moment Adam said “Well God, what can I get for a rib?” ….. The rest is history.

Brethren, everything comes with a price and Masonry is no exception. It will cost you to become active in the lodge. It will cost you your time to attend meeting, to learn ritual, to become officers and cost you your time and talents to serve on committees. And Brethren, it will cost you your money if we are to be in a better position to build or buy our own lodge.

As Adam was only willing to part with a rib, let us, as Masons, not make the same mistake. Let us be willing to part with more than just our dues. The more you are willing to give the more you shall receive.

And Brethren, there is really no need to show your wives my message for this month.

See you at our next communication.

Story of God and Adam was told by Joel Osteen, Pastor of Lakewood Church, Houston Texas.

January '04 February '04 March '04 April '04 May '04 June '04 September '04 October '04
November '04 December '04

May '04

What came you here to do?


Brethren,

In our journey through this world we come face to face with many situations where we have to make a decision on how to respond to them. An old song tells to “accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative and latch on to the affirmative and don’t mess with Mr. Inbetween.” Without a clear understanding of our duty we owe to God, our country, our neighbor and to ourselves, we may have difficulty in selecting the right response, choosing the best road to travel.

Although many situations we encounter offer no clear cut differences between the right and wrong road, we, as Free and Accepted Masons have many guide posts to help us. We belong to an organization that has truth as its center and is founded on the purest principles of Morality, Brotherly Love and Charity. We have the great lessons of our degrees to teach us. We are taught by the symbolism of our working tools how to make use of them symbolically to aid us in the decisions we face in life.

We also have the three Great Lights in Masonry, especially the inestimable gift of God to man, to use as a rule and guide for our faith and practice . We are further told that “He who putith his trust in God shall never be confounded.” And let us not forget that in the lodge we are surrounded by like minded brethren.

Brethren we all know what we came here to do, so may we all continue to subdue our passions and improve ourselves in Masonry.

See you at our next communication

January '04 February '04 March '04 April '04 May '04 June '04 September '04 October '04
November '04 December '04

June '04

But we, as Free and Accepted Masons....

Brethren,

One of the main things that we have as Masons are opportunities. As Masons we are taught how to build a solid foundation. A foundation that we can build our lives on. We are taught the many opportunities there are to serve God, our neighbor and ourselves, to become the kind of men our Creator wants us to be.

Lets look at some thoughts on opportunity:

The reason a lot of people can’t find opportunity is that it is often disguised as hard work.
Even when opportunity knocks we still have to get off our seat and open the door.
Great opportunities come to those who make the most of small ones.
Many a man creates his own lack of opportunities.
The gates of opportunity swing on the hinges of initiative, insight, industry and integrity.
Between tomorrow’s dream and yesterday’s regret is today’s opportunity.
Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.
The door of opportunity is opened by pushing.
Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.
Temptations unlike opportunities, will always knock more than once.

Brethren, our lodge is a vehicle for us to open the door to many golden opportunities. The more we support our lodge with our time, talents and finances the more opportunities we all shall have not to mention the enjoyment of great fellowship.

January '04 February '04 March '04 April '04 May '04 June '04 September '04 October '04
November '04 December '04

September '04

Our Journey and Our Destination

Brethren,

As Masons we are reminded by the square "that we are traveling upon the level of time to the undiscovered country from whose borne no traveler returns." We all have the same destination. We also have the same working tools and the same great lessons to guide us in our journey to the Lodge on High.

While we should never forget our destination, we too must not forget the opportunities we are given while traveling there. The opportunities our creator gives us each day to serve him and our fellow man should be sought after, not ignored. As Masons our journey is more than a trip down the interstate highway of life.

In early August I decided to ride the Harley out to Sturgis South Dakota (1800 miles) for the big motorcycle rally. I was traveling by myself and would be meeting up with my friends from Canada at the camp site.

As I rode the Harley out of my driveway (in the rain) I had promised myself to stay off the interstate as much as possible and take the secondary roads. The temptation was great to stick to the interstates but I stuck to my plan and instead of just having a good time while there, I had a great time riding out and riding back. I learned an important lesson in life.

Your lodge is a great place to enjoy your journey along with like minded brethren. Looking forward to seeing you at our next communication.

January '04 February '04 March '04 April '04 May '04 June '04 September '04 October '04
November '04 December '04

October '04

The Square teaches us to . . .

Brethren,

In my September message I inadvertently said that we are reminded by the square that we are traveling upon the level of time. As we all know it is the level, not the square that teaches us this great lesson in life.

Operative Masons use the square to square their work, to prove it to be straight and even. As Free and Accepted Masons we are taught to square our actions by the square of virtue and morality.

One of Webster’s definitions of the square is to be “honest, fair and just”. Of virtue: “general moral excellence, right action and thinking”. Of morality: “The character of being in accord with the principles or standards of right conduct”.

As Masons the square reminds us to be fair and honest in all our dealings. “Nobody ever got hurt on the corner of a square deal”. When we see the square it should recall to our minds these most solemn truths even “in the midst of the most innocent social pleasures”.

Is it any wonder that our ancient brethren chose the square to be one of the three great lights of our craft?

See you at our next communication.

January '04 February '04 March '04 April '04 May '04 June '04 September '04 October '04
November '04 December '04

November '04

Our Foundation

Brethren,

As Masons we are taught that the “Holy Bible is the inestimable gift of God to man and is given to us as the rule and guide for our faith and practice.” We need to read it if we are to ‘become all that we can be.”

The Bible is always found in the center of the lodge and is open as long as the lodge is open. It is open because it is the foundation of what Masons believe; of what we believe about our creator and what we believe about how we should live and act.

I have found some interesting thoughts on the Bible that I would like to pass along to you:

     “A Bible falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t”
     “The best time to read the Bible is as often as possible”
     “A Bible in the hand is worth two in the bookcase”
     “The Bible promises no loafs to the loafer”
     “You need not understand all you read in the Bible to obey what you do understand”

Brethren, all our degrees, working tools and lectures are based on the Bible. Remember the symbolism of the common gavel. By it we are taught to divest our hearts and consciences of all the vices and superfluities of life. If we are to fit our minds as living stones for use by the Grand Architect we need to read it on a regular basis.

January '04 February '04 March '04 April '04 May '04 June '04 September '04 October '04
November '04 December '04

December '04

The Trowel

Brethren,

For my last message I feel it only fitting and proper that it should be on one of the tools of a Master Mason. The trowel; it is the trowel that operative masons use to “spread the cement which unites the building into one common mass.”

As Free and Accepted Masons it is the trowel that we are taught to make use of “symbolically.” We are to spread the cement of Brotherly Love and Affection. This is what unites us. It makes us into one “sacred band or society of friends and brothers.” And as someone said “Friendship is the only cement that will hold the world together.”

Brethren, as members of Lakewood Lodge #174 of Free and Accepted Masons we are all a part of this “sacred band.” We are the building blocks and cement that makes us Lakewood Lodge. The more brothers that see themselves as such, as a needed and valued part of our Masonic Edifice, the stronger and more viable our lodge will be.

Let us all ask ourselves; what can I do to make my lodge better? There is no need to “recapitulate” the man ways and opportunities we have to accomplish this. Let us then all resolve with greater “assiduity” - our dedication to the task - of supporting our sacred band of brothers and thereby make Lakewood Lodge #174 F&AM an instrument of great good. Our new Worshipful Master Bob Quinn will be looking forward to learning from you.

January '04 February '04 March '04 April '04 May '04 June '04 September '04 October '04
November '04 December '04