Arcadia Lodge #249 Newsletter
PO Box 249, Ames, Iowa 50010-0249
www.iowamasons.com
515-233-4299
March, 2008 - Volume 7, No. 3
W.M.: Jeremy Davis 291-7016
jeremyndavis@gmail.com
Sec.: Jay Cole Simser - 232-2580
JaycoleS@aol.com
Greetings from the East
The cold, snowy winter continues in force as I write this month's column. I don't know about you, but I am ready for Spring!
As in any regular and well-governed lodge, it is necessary that the Worshipful Master have a vision for the lodge to progress to the future. At Arcadia, this is no different. During the past few years, our lodge has experienced a great resurgence, in terms of membership numbers. This resurgence has been great; however, are we really enrolling our new members into our lodge as brothers? I am not sure, because in the past four years, we have raised approximately 45 new brothers and few are active with the lodge. Why is that? Well, I believe it has to do with the fact that we as a lodge have not been doing a great job at "enrolling" our new members through building the brotherhood through strong interpersonal communications between the brothers. Electronic communication, albeit simple and convenient, eliminates the humanistic qualities of true interpersonal communication. Is it really that difficult to pick up the telephone and chat with a brother regarding the events and activities of the lodge? I do not believe it is and I hope you do not believe it is either! A part of my vision for this year is to change this; and to make this change, our lodge will experience some "growing pains" and brothers may need to make certain sacrifices. I challenge each of our brothers to accept this realization and work towards building a stronger, more viable brotherhood.
While there may be some disagreement in this vision of change, we need to be ever-mindful that disagreements will occur and while there may be disagreements, it is necessary that we respect the methodology used to reach this vision. I know it will not be easy to enhance our brotherhood, but I ask each of you to support this vision for the future and work to continue to make our lodge better, its members better, and its brotherhood stronger. As we continue to bring younger members into our lodge it is critical that we do a great job at "enrolling" them into our brotherhood.
Two months ago, in my first comments as WM, I announced that we would be having some new and exciting activities. And in-line with my vision of creating more activities for our brothers to interact outside of our meetings and degree work, we will begin Arcadia After Work (AAW). The first AAW will be at Olde Main Brewery on February 20th beginning around 5:15 p.m. Join us for drinks, appetizers, and just a generally good time of fellowship and socializing. AAW will occur on the third Wednesday of each month. And while the location may change from month-to-month, this promises to be a fun and relaxing monthly event.
As we look to the month of March, we have tentatively scheduled a regional leadership school to be hosted at Arcadia. We are looking to host it on Saturday, March 15th. More details will be announced soon, but area lodges will be invited to attend. This leadership conference will focus on more than just "lodge" activities and will provide skills that we can each utilize in our daily lives.
Another exciting event will be a lodge venture to go see the Producers at C.Y. Stephens Auditorium on Thursday, March 13th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $46.50 and $42.50. At the March Stated Meeting we will need a list of people who want to go so we can get the tickets coordinated.
For those that attended the 3rd Degree for Bro. Trevor Owens, I am sure that everyone enjoyed the second section of the degree as it was exemplified by the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine Past Masters. We invite the Past Masters group to be in Ames every now and then, and we greatly appreciate their dedication to masonry.
Finally, this newsletter contains the proposed bylaw changes that were announced at the February Stated Meeting. We will vote on these proposed changes at the March Stated Meeting and we will be voting on a new Treasurer. Bro. Barry Sieh has since resigned the Office of Treasurer and we thank him for his service to Arcadia.
See you at the LodgeŠ
Jeremy Davis, WM
Report of the Bylaws Committee
Presented 2/7/08
To be voted on 3/6/08
It is moved that Section 3 Meetings Subsection 1 Be deleted and the following enacted in lieu thereof:
1. The first Thursday falls on a legal holiday or any legal holiday, and/or caucuses or elections or,
Section 3 would then read:
SECTION 3. MEETINGS
The stated or regular meetings of this Lodge shall be held on the first Thursday of each month at seven thirty p.m. at the Masonic Temple in the city of Ames, Iowa. (10/7/1999)
The stated meeting shall be held on the second Thursday in the event that:
1. The first Thursday falls on a legal holiday and/or caucuses or elections or
2. A weather disturbance or other emergency prevents the holding of a stated communication.
Rationale: This year the date of the caucus and the stated meeting fell on the same day. A Mason should not have to give up his participation in our Lodge in order to participate in his civic responsibility.
Section 5 Fees be deleted and the following enacted in lieu thereof:
SECTION 5. FEES
The initiation fee for the degrees shall be $150.00.
With increasing expenses it is felt that this is a more reasonable fee to charge for the three degrees.
Section 7 BOARD OF TRUSTEES - Subsection 2 be deleted and the following enacted in lieu thereof:
2. The Secretary and Treasurer may, during their term of office, be eligible to the office of Trustee.
Rationale: We have a Trustee who is willing to serve as Treasurer and this would enable him to serve in both capacities.
Birthdays
Happy Birthday to the brothers having birthdays in March:
Ken Hanson - 2nd,
Brian Coree - 5th,
John Joiner - 6th,
Donald Davidson III - 10th,
Neil Van Slyke - 13th,
Lawrence Cronin - 14th,
Jim Clemens - 15th,
Stacey Rhoades - 15th,
Robins Jackson - 23rd,
Don Gear - 24th,
Thomas Lawless - 25th,
Donald Lesan - 25th, and
David Baker - 31st,
Educational
The Founding of the Order of DeMolay
By Marty Jacobs
DeMolay combines the serious mission with a fun approach that builds important bonds of friendship among members in more than 1,000 chapters worldwide.
Cyclone Chapter is based at Arcadia Lodge #249.
DeMolay was founded in 1919 in Kansas City by Frank S. Land, a successful businessman and active mason. As the end of World War I approached, Land had become concerned about the problems facing young men who had lost their fathers in the war.
Land was introduced to Lewis Lower, the son of a deceased brother mason, with the hope that Land could find him a part-time job. The two formed an immediate friendship. Their discussions led the idea of forming a club among Lower and his friends that would meet at the Temple. The original group consisted of Lewis Lower and eight of his friends from school.
You may have heard the title "Dad" used to address a DeMolay advisor. Because many of the original members had lost their fathers, they took to calling Frank Land "Dad Land" or simply "Dad". In honor of Dad Land, "Dad" is used as the honorary title for DeMolay advisors.
Dad Land and the original nine DeMolays had many discussions about what they should name their new organization. They reportedly discussed several ideas including college fraternity style Greek letters and characters from the King Arthur stories. Finally Dad Land told them about Jacques DeMolay, the last Grand Master of the Order of the Temple. The boys liked the example he set of courage, heroism, and loyalty.
The DeMolay ritual was written by Frank A. Marshall at the request of Dad Land.
The DeMolay ritual consists of two degrees. The centerpiece of the Initiatory Degree consists of seven preceptor lectures that describe seven cardinal virtues of a DeMolay, filial love, reverence for sacred things, courtesy, comradeship, fidelity, cleanness and patriotism. The DeMolay degree features a play that illustrates the loyalty and fidelity of Jacques DeMolay. Both degrees include an obligation.
A special characteristic of DeMolay is that the organization's activities are planned and executed by the members themselves. Even from the beginning, Dad Land acted more in an advisory capacity. A story from the early days of the organization involves a vote to limit membership. A committee was appointed that recommended that membership be limited to 75. During the next meeting the limitation was introduced and passed. It was then that Dad Land rose from the back of the room and delivered what has been described as a "stern lecture" about their attempts to deny others the opportunity they had been given. The vote was rescinded and the organization was allowed to grow.
DeMolay alumni include Walt Disney, John Wayne, Walter Cronkite, football Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton, legendary Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne and many others. Each has spoken eloquently of the life-changing benefit gained from their involvement in DeMolay.
Calendar
Mar 1 - Grand Commandery School
Mar 3 - 7:00 p.m. DeMolay Stated Meeting.
Mar 4 - 7:00 p.m. Eastern Star Stated Meeting.
Mar 5 - 9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour. Lincoln Center HyVee.
Mar 6 - 6:30 p.m. All Masonic Dinner - $5.00.
7:30 p.m. Arcadia Lodge Stated Meeting.
Mar 8 - Past Masters
Mar 10 - 7:00 p.m. DeMolay.
Arcadia Lodge Newsletter Deadline.
Mar 12 - 9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour. Lincoln Center HyVee.
Mar 13 - Producers. CY Stevens.
Mar 14 - 7:30 p.m. Amaranth Stated Meeting.
Mar 15 - 9:00 a.m. Leadership School.
Mar 17 - 7:00 p.m. DeMolay Stated Meeting.
Mar 18 - 7:30 p.m. White Shrine Stated Meeting.
Mar 19 - 9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour. Lincoln Center HyVee.
5:15 p.m. Arcadia After Work.
Mar 20 - 7:00 p.m. Arcadia Lodge. 3rd Degree.
Mar 23 - 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Church.
Mar 24 - 7:00 p.m. DeMolay.
Mar 26 - 9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour. Lincoln Center HyVee.
7:30 p.m. York Rite Stated Meeting.
Mar 27 - Arcadia Lodge.
Mar 29 - Acacia Fraternity.
Mar 31 - 7:00 p.m. DeMolay.
To schedule an event at the Masonic Temple call Jay Cole Simser - 232-2580
E-Mail Address Changes
If you change your e-mail address for any reason, please send your new e-mail address to David Countryman, Newsletter Editor at davidc@iastate.edu, so there will be no interruption in the arrival of your Arcadia Lodge #249 Newsletter.