Category Archives: From The East

A Message From The East

From the east
Brethren,
 
I would like to thank you for trusting me with the care of the Lodge for the coming year. I would also like to thank the officers and committees who are serving for the year. As we once again begin the cycle of life the days become longer and each day more light shines upon us. Let us use this light wisely and productively. We have much work planned for the year. The designs upon the trestleboard include degrees as needed, most likely monthly. When we are not making masons I plan to have programs that are educational and, I hope, interesting. The intended program will be published in the trestleboard each month and I hope to see you all frequently. Last summer I had the opportunity to meet with the Mayor of Barnegat, and Mariners Lodge is recognized as the largest charitable institution in the town. Over the last several years Mariners Lodge has been actively contributing to help those in need in the area. We have an active donation program to the Barnegat Food Bank and we run a Christmas gift program that has increased each year since its inception. We have also established a discretionary fund for the Master to donate to a needy family. I hope we can all continue to support these worthy programs.
 
“I ask of each Mason, of each member, of each brother, that he shall remember ever that there is upon him a peculiar obligation to show himself in every respect a good citizen;for after all, the way he can best do his duty by the ancient order to which he belongs is by reflecting credit upon that order by the way in which he performs his duty as a citizen of the United States.”
– Brother Theodore Roosevelt
 
Fraternally and Sincerely,
Doug Harper, WM 2017

A Message From The East

From the east

Brethren,

I would like to thank you all for helping make this a great Masonic year. We had many accomplishments, and made some outstanding new Masons. I would especially like to thank my officers line for their hard work and dedication, and I know that it will continue into the future to keep this Lodge great. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as Worshipful Master in 2016. I encourage everyone to continue to support Freemasonry. And finally, have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.

Fraternally,

Gregory J. Stevens, WM 2016

A Message From The East

From the east
Brethren,
 
In our 20th District, we recently had 4 Master Mason degrees in as any weeks. With all those newly raised brethren, I found this poem very fitting:
 
LAST NIGHT I KNELT WHERE HIRAM KNELT
 
Last night I knelt where Hiram knelt and took
 
an obligation. Today I am closer to God and I
 
am a Master Mason. Tho’ heretofore my fellow
 
men seemed each one like the other, today I
 
search each one apart; I am looking for my
 
Brother. And as I feel his friendly grip it fills
 
my heart with pride, I know that while I am on
 
the square that he is on my side, his footsteps
 
on my errand go if I should require, his prayers
 
will plead on my behalf if I should desire. My
 
words are safe within his breast as though my
 
own, his hand forever at my back to help me
 
safely home. Good council whispers in my ear
 
and warns me of any danger, by square and
 
compass Brother now who calls me stranger.
 
I might have have lived a moral life and risen
 
to distinctions without my brothers helping
 
hands and fellow Masons, but God who knows
 
how hard it is to resist life’s temptations knows
 
why I knelt where Hiram knelt and took the
 
Obligation.
 
Brethren, with the holidays approaching, I would ask everyone to consider helping those less fortunate than ourselves. Mariners Lodge is continuing our food drive to support the Barnegat Food Pantry, as well as our yearly toy drive.
 
Fraternally,
Gregory J. Stevens, WM 2016

A Message From The East

From the east

 

Brethren,

Four Things

Four things a man must learn to do

if he would make his record true:

to think without confusion clearly;

to love his fellow-man sincerely;

to act from honest motives purely;

to trust in God

and Heaven securely.

  • Henry Van Dyke

Surely Freemasons satisfy the four things required by the poet to maintain a true record as evidenced by your progress through the three masonic degrees. On your first entry into the Lodge you professed your trust in God. This trust was further emphasized in the Charge and Reception Address, and you were charged to be true to yourself and exercise the Golden Rule. The Fellowcraft and Master Mason Degrees continued to stress the duties you owe to God, your neighbor, and yourself. If you follow these precepts, you can not materially err.

Fraternally,

Gregory J. Stevens,WM 2016

A Message From The East

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From the east
Brethren,

   The chief architect of Solomon’s Temple was and is often referred to as “The Builder”. The term is also applied generally to the Craft, for every speculative Mason is as much a builder as was his operative predecessor. Masons are also known as moral builders. As the operative Mason spreads the cement to bind the stone, speculative Masons spread Brotherly love, relief, and truth to bind men morally and spiritually. The operative builder builds for a century and the speculative builds for eternity. In this sense, “The Builder” is the most noble title that can be bestowed upon a Mason.

Fraternally,
Gregory J. Stevens, WM 2016

A Message From The East

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From the east
Brethren,
 
Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for there will always be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
 
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
 
Be yourself; especially, do not feign affection. Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
 
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune, but do not stress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
 
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here, and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
 
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors or aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.
Max Ehrmann 1927
 
Gregory J. Stevens, Worshipful Master 2016

From The East

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From the east

Brethren,
 
Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours, or days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you own or what you were owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear.
 
So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire. The wins and losses which once seemed so important will fade away. It won’t matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end. It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.
 
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave. What will matter is not your success, but your significance.
 
What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage, or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example. What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone. What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those that loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.
 
Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters. It really matters!
 
Fraternally,
 
Gregory J. Stevens, Worshipful Master 2016

A Message From The East

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From the east
Brethren,
 
   Are you a source of light or of darkness? We create our own reality. What we expect from life is what we receive. If we expect and look for the trouble, disagreement, and negativity in situations that is what we are sure to find. If, however, we expect and look for the good, cooperative, and positive outcomes in situations, that is what we will experience.
 
   Life cannot, and does not always go smoothly. We cannot appreciate the good times and the joys that life brings without the rough times and the sadness that must cross our path on occasion. It is our response to these times that defines who we are. It is easy to fall into the trap of negativity or darkness, but, with effort on our part, and the assistance of our brothers, we can instead choose to open our eyes to the light. My brothers, that light is brotherly love. Love is being positive and expecting the best life has to offer.
 
   Love is knowing that where there is hope and understanding, there can be peace and harmony to work together toward a common goal.
 
Fraternally,
Gregory J. Stevens,
Worshipful Master 2016

A Message From The East

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From the east
Brethren,
 
Members come to Masonry for many reasons. Because of a relative, because of a friend, because of fellowship, because of curiosity, or maybe because they think they will get ahead. The reason we join is irrelevant. After joining, we found men who treated us with brotherly love. This, in turn, relieved the stress of the day. It also gave us a feeling of self worth and helped us see the true meaning of Freemasonry. The fast movement of everyday life causes a lot of changes in our life styles. We move from one situation to another at such a speed that, most of the time, we seldom see the conclusion of one problem before another one comes. Except if it doesn’t turn out right, then we hear every detail of what went wrong. That is where freemasonry comes in. We come to Lodge to meet new and old friends that demand nothing from us. Thus we demand nothing from our brethren. We teach and are taught a more even way to live and cope with problems. We learn that all that matters is within ourselves. We learn through watching others that a better way to do anything is through Love, Understanding, and Trust. As we speed on through the world, we come to Lodge for a little bit of peace and understanding, we come to slow down, we come because this is: Where the Fast Lane Ends
 
Fraternally,
Gregory J. Stevens, Worshipful Master 2016

A Message From The East

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From the east

Brethren,

I want to start this message with a quote I found from an unknown author – “Good ritualistic work is a beauty to behold, but it can only be good if it is rehearsed many times. A play, a movie, or television has been rehearsed many, many times. Hence, many of our brethren stay home to watch television.” My message is simple. I want to invite every member of the lodge to come back to a meeting. There are lots of reasons to stay home on Monday nights, but come on back, and see what you have been missing.

Fraternally,

Gregory J. Stevens, Worshipful Master 2016