18/03: From the East, March 2008
Brethren,
The cold winds of winter are subsiding as the warm winds of spring arrive. Spring's rebirth will soon be upon us. It is my hope that during this time you will experience a personal Masonic rebirth in your heart. Recently, the Lodge was presented with a tragic situation involving the death of a Brother's best friend. The Lodges of the district came to the widow's aid and assisted her and the two surviving children with charity. Our Brother could not believe the tremendous response from his Brother Masons. The Brother's heart has experienced a personal rebirth in his Masonic beliefs. We should all take joy in assisting this family in need.
Fraternally,
Rich Crosby
Worshipful Master
Sunrise Lodge #288
The cold winds of winter are subsiding as the warm winds of spring arrive. Spring's rebirth will soon be upon us. It is my hope that during this time you will experience a personal Masonic rebirth in your heart. Recently, the Lodge was presented with a tragic situation involving the death of a Brother's best friend. The Lodges of the district came to the widow's aid and assisted her and the two surviving children with charity. Our Brother could not believe the tremendous response from his Brother Masons. The Brother's heart has experienced a personal rebirth in his Masonic beliefs. We should all take joy in assisting this family in need.
Fraternally,
Rich Crosby
Worshipful Master
Sunrise Lodge #288
19/02: From the East, February 2008
Brethren,
My first experience with Masonry was a WW2 POW telling me how a German guard, who was a Mason, risked his life to smuggle food into the camp for a POW Mason whom he never spoke a word with. Right then I knew that I wanted to belong to that kind of an organization. Being too young the desire to join left my mind for many years. As time passed, I heard stories that Catholics were not allowed to become Masons. The day that story was corrected I asked for an application & was subsequently made a Brother. Today, we are experiencing some changes in Masonry. But Masonry lives in the hearts of men not in rules or regulations. As our letter “G “
informs us: “The mysteries of Freemasonry are safely lodged in the repository of faithful breasts”. An addition to that story is that 40 years later I found out that 30 out of 35 thousand Masons in Germany had their names listed on Masonic registries. Hitler had all 30 thousand killed!! The remaining 5 thousand communicated with each other by wearing a blue Forget-Me-Not flower in their lapels. This tradition is carried on by many Masons in memory of those lost Brethren. Today, I still wonder which group that German guard was in?
Rich Crosby
W.M. Sunrise Lodge # 288
My first experience with Masonry was a WW2 POW telling me how a German guard, who was a Mason, risked his life to smuggle food into the camp for a POW Mason whom he never spoke a word with. Right then I knew that I wanted to belong to that kind of an organization. Being too young the desire to join left my mind for many years. As time passed, I heard stories that Catholics were not allowed to become Masons. The day that story was corrected I asked for an application & was subsequently made a Brother. Today, we are experiencing some changes in Masonry. But Masonry lives in the hearts of men not in rules or regulations. As our letter “G “
informs us: “The mysteries of Freemasonry are safely lodged in the repository of faithful breasts”. An addition to that story is that 40 years later I found out that 30 out of 35 thousand Masons in Germany had their names listed on Masonic registries. Hitler had all 30 thousand killed!! The remaining 5 thousand communicated with each other by wearing a blue Forget-Me-Not flower in their lapels. This tradition is carried on by many Masons in memory of those lost Brethren. Today, I still wonder which group that German guard was in?
Rich Crosby
W.M. Sunrise Lodge # 288
Brethren.
The beginning of a year for me; the beginning of another year for FREEMASONARY.
If I can fill the shoes of those that have gone before me it will be a successful year for everyone.
Everything has to stay in perspective. The attentive ear listens to the instructive tongue & the mysteries of FREEMASONRY are safely lodged in the depository of faithful breasts. We have had good men in this position & better men also. With the help of the lodge members coupled with industry & zeal we can make this a great year. The line of Officers can’t be beat. The new men coming into the fraternity is an encouraging scene and as officers of the Lodge it is our duty to educate them and make them feel welcome. What I have to concentrate on is learning all the new names and putting them to the proper faces. Nothing makes a person feel more welcome than a friendly grip calling that man by his name. That is something that I have to work on and hope the officers will follow suit.
Rich Crosby
W.M. Sunrise Lodge # 288
The beginning of a year for me; the beginning of another year for FREEMASONARY.
If I can fill the shoes of those that have gone before me it will be a successful year for everyone.
Everything has to stay in perspective. The attentive ear listens to the instructive tongue & the mysteries of FREEMASONRY are safely lodged in the depository of faithful breasts. We have had good men in this position & better men also. With the help of the lodge members coupled with industry & zeal we can make this a great year. The line of Officers can’t be beat. The new men coming into the fraternity is an encouraging scene and as officers of the Lodge it is our duty to educate them and make them feel welcome. What I have to concentrate on is learning all the new names and putting them to the proper faces. Nothing makes a person feel more welcome than a friendly grip calling that man by his name. That is something that I have to work on and hope the officers will follow suit.
Rich Crosby
W.M. Sunrise Lodge # 288
03/12: From the East, December 2007
Brethren.
It was an honor and a pleasure to serve a Worshipful Master this year and I would like to thank this year’s officers for an outstanding job. As my term comes to an end, I think that we may enjoy the happy reflection consequent upon a well spent year. We had a lot of fun while conferring degrees on many new candidates. Great effort was put forth by the officers and it showed in their degree work. Tom Topoleski and Jim Lesko, Junior Steward and Steward Proxy, put on one phenomenal collation after another all year.
I would like to congratulate the incoming officers of 2008 and wish them great success in their year. I know this to be a very talented line and Worshipful Master elect Crosby should have a productive term with their support.
Vincent E. Etzel,
W.M. Sunrise #288
It was an honor and a pleasure to serve a Worshipful Master this year and I would like to thank this year’s officers for an outstanding job. As my term comes to an end, I think that we may enjoy the happy reflection consequent upon a well spent year. We had a lot of fun while conferring degrees on many new candidates. Great effort was put forth by the officers and it showed in their degree work. Tom Topoleski and Jim Lesko, Junior Steward and Steward Proxy, put on one phenomenal collation after another all year.
I would like to congratulate the incoming officers of 2008 and wish them great success in their year. I know this to be a very talented line and Worshipful Master elect Crosby should have a productive term with their support.
Vincent E. Etzel,
W.M. Sunrise #288
02/10: From the East October 2007
Brothern.
October has arrived. This is the time of harvesting and preparing for the upcoming holiday feasts.
Healthy and plentiful harvests are a result of planning and hard work. Along with my recent predecessors, the work invested by the officers this year has yielded a great harvest. We have a young and active line and our attendance has been up and the members are enjoying fellowship and camaraderie during collations after the meetings, often swapping stories until midnight. We raised seven new members with nine more in various phases of degree work.
It’s not too late to come out and enjoy the bountiful treasures that abound in our renewed spirit of friendship and brotherly love. If you need transportation, contact any of the officers and we will work to arrange a carpool.
Vincent E. Etzel,
W.M. Sunrise #288
October has arrived. This is the time of harvesting and preparing for the upcoming holiday feasts.
Healthy and plentiful harvests are a result of planning and hard work. Along with my recent predecessors, the work invested by the officers this year has yielded a great harvest. We have a young and active line and our attendance has been up and the members are enjoying fellowship and camaraderie during collations after the meetings, often swapping stories until midnight. We raised seven new members with nine more in various phases of degree work.
It’s not too late to come out and enjoy the bountiful treasures that abound in our renewed spirit of friendship and brotherly love. If you need transportation, contact any of the officers and we will work to arrange a carpool.
Vincent E. Etzel,
W.M. Sunrise #288
Brothern.
Hopefully everyone has arrived at the
end of summer in good health.
Remember your Masonic obligations,
particularly to “go on a brother Master Masons
errands, stretch forth your hand to support a
falling brother and whisper friendly counsel in
his ear.”
We have the unfortunate duty of
attending to the NPD (non payment of dues)
members. Please come out for the reading of
the list, make it a “brother’s errand” to ensure
that no one on the list is familiar to you. Should
there be someone you know, help us to help us
to contact them, to “whisper friendly counsel in
their ear”, to ensure that they are aware of
their status and “stretch forth” our collective
hand in assisting them to remaining current.
The greatness of our fraternity is it’s
universal benevolence. We will be voting on
the NPD’s in the first meeting in October.
Charity begins at home, so make every effort
possible to be at the September 5th meeting so
that we can try to assist our brothers before we
have to set them out to travel alone on a rough
and rugged road.
Vincent E. Etzel,
W.M. Sunrise #288
Hopefully everyone has arrived at the
end of summer in good health.
Remember your Masonic obligations,
particularly to “go on a brother Master Masons
errands, stretch forth your hand to support a
falling brother and whisper friendly counsel in
his ear.”
We have the unfortunate duty of
attending to the NPD (non payment of dues)
members. Please come out for the reading of
the list, make it a “brother’s errand” to ensure
that no one on the list is familiar to you. Should
there be someone you know, help us to help us
to contact them, to “whisper friendly counsel in
their ear”, to ensure that they are aware of
their status and “stretch forth” our collective
hand in assisting them to remaining current.
The greatness of our fraternity is it’s
universal benevolence. We will be voting on
the NPD’s in the first meeting in October.
Charity begins at home, so make every effort
possible to be at the September 5th meeting so
that we can try to assist our brothers before we
have to set them out to travel alone on a rough
and rugged road.
Vincent E. Etzel,
W.M. Sunrise #288
04/06: From the East, June 2007
As we approach the summer refreshment, I congratulate the officers of Sunrise Lodge. You have put forth an exemplary effort during the first half of the year. Your cable tows have definitely been stretched and you have responded admirably. We will be finishing out the first half of the year with our second Fellow Craft and our third Entered Apprentice degree. We also hosted a Blue and Gold (trooper) degree. While this bodes well for the life of the lodge, it takes a toll on the members doing the work.
We also have been having fun along the way. The Comedy Night was a great success and everyone had fun. We are in the middle of a fund raising campaign selling coolers and thermoses. Come out and see them, they’re a great bargain!
The Toms River Founder’s Day was also a great success. R.W. Hees donated numerous items and were given away to an appreciative public. The CHIPS program processed approximately 70 children. The program was funded by our Junior Master of Ceremonies. Joseph Oleske.
Our attendance has been up and everyone has been staying after for some great fellowship and collation. The lodge is definitely healthy and thriving, come on out and see for yourself. If you need transportation, contact any officer and we will arrange a carpool.
Vincent E. Etzel,
W.M. Sunrise #288
We also have been having fun along the way. The Comedy Night was a great success and everyone had fun. We are in the middle of a fund raising campaign selling coolers and thermoses. Come out and see them, they’re a great bargain!
The Toms River Founder’s Day was also a great success. R.W. Hees donated numerous items and were given away to an appreciative public. The CHIPS program processed approximately 70 children. The program was funded by our Junior Master of Ceremonies. Joseph Oleske.
Our attendance has been up and everyone has been staying after for some great fellowship and collation. The lodge is definitely healthy and thriving, come on out and see for yourself. If you need transportation, contact any officer and we will arrange a carpool.
Vincent E. Etzel,
W.M. Sunrise #288
27/04: From the East, May 2007
“Several stories are passed around to show how the month of May was named. The most widely accepted explanation is that it was named for Maia, the Roman goddess of spring and growth. Her name related to a Latin word that means increase or growth.”*
Remember when you went through your degrees? It was like spring, a new world full of exiting wonders blooming before you. We have two degrees this month, an Entered Apprentice and a Master Mason. The second section of the Master Mason degree will be conferred by the State Police Blue & Gold Team. Be a part of the excitement and help the newly raised brothers in “May” of their Masonic lives!
Fraternally,
Vincent E. Etzel,
W.M. Sunrise #288
*http://www.entourages.com/barbs/may.htm
Remember when you went through your degrees? It was like spring, a new world full of exiting wonders blooming before you. We have two degrees this month, an Entered Apprentice and a Master Mason. The second section of the Master Mason degree will be conferred by the State Police Blue & Gold Team. Be a part of the excitement and help the newly raised brothers in “May” of their Masonic lives!
Fraternally,
Vincent E. Etzel,
W.M. Sunrise #288
*http://www.entourages.com/barbs/may.htm
01/04: Master's Message, April 2007
FROM THE EAST –April 2007
“April showers bring May flowers”, a catchy little phase that invokes great images of beauty and renewed life. As the winter fades away, the warmth arrives and the world is reborn.
We can correlate this to our Masonic lives. When we shed the dark “winter” aspects of our lives and bask in the warmth of Morality, Brotherly Love and Charity we fell energized, revitalized and are able to enjoy the renewal of life associated with spring spiritually as well as physically.
Fraternally,
Vincent E. Etzel,
W.M. Sunrise #288
“April showers bring May flowers”, a catchy little phase that invokes great images of beauty and renewed life. As the winter fades away, the warmth arrives and the world is reborn.
We can correlate this to our Masonic lives. When we shed the dark “winter” aspects of our lives and bask in the warmth of Morality, Brotherly Love and Charity we fell energized, revitalized and are able to enjoy the renewal of life associated with spring spiritually as well as physically.
Fraternally,
Vincent E. Etzel,
W.M. Sunrise #288
04/03: Master's Message, March 2007
March is fabled to “come in like a lion and go out like a lamb”. We can associate this with our Masonic lives. We start in a rough, unfinished state. As we proceed through the degrees and “learn to subdue our passions”, we become more polished and patient. We become warm with a renewed purpose much like the season.
We also celebrate the like of Saint Patrick. When we take a look at him, we find a man of great convictions, much like our Hiram Abif. Saint Patrick was sold into slavery at the age of 16. During his captivity, “he became closer to God” and after six years he escaped. He studied for 12 years and finally returned to Ireland where he spent 30 years of service to the church. He was arrested six times, each time escaping and continuing his missionary work.
There were several points in his life where men of lesser faith and convictions would have simply given up, Saint Patrick continued to push forward. Much the same as men of lesser faith and convictions would have surrendered to their attackers, Hiram Abif died for his convictions.
These great men should be inspirations to us all to move forward with our convictions with finesse, patience and a renewed spirit of “brotherly love”.
Fraternally,
Vincent E. Etzel,
W.M. Sunrise #288
We also celebrate the like of Saint Patrick. When we take a look at him, we find a man of great convictions, much like our Hiram Abif. Saint Patrick was sold into slavery at the age of 16. During his captivity, “he became closer to God” and after six years he escaped. He studied for 12 years and finally returned to Ireland where he spent 30 years of service to the church. He was arrested six times, each time escaping and continuing his missionary work.
There were several points in his life where men of lesser faith and convictions would have simply given up, Saint Patrick continued to push forward. Much the same as men of lesser faith and convictions would have surrendered to their attackers, Hiram Abif died for his convictions.
These great men should be inspirations to us all to move forward with our convictions with finesse, patience and a renewed spirit of “brotherly love”.
Fraternally,
Vincent E. Etzel,
W.M. Sunrise #288