Hello brothers;

In this edition I am including the phone numbers of our principle officers, that they may be more easily contacted for your comments.  Also, if there are any brothers that would like to attend Lodge or Lodge activities and need a ride, please contact one of us for assistance.
(Phone numbers omitted on web page version of newsletter.)

Worshipful Master.....................................J. D. Richards
Senior Warden.............................................Tom Ashley
Junior Warden.......................................Robert Torrance
Treasurer.........................................Eddy O. Smith, P.M.
Secretary.......................................Noble T. Spicer, P.M.
Senior Deacon.........................................Scott Parkhurst
Junior Deacon.......................................R. Bruce Oldham
Chaplain.......................................................Earl Eldridge
Senior Steward.................................................Cliff Beck
Junior Steward..........................................Duane Burgess
Tyler........................................................Robert Murphy

Important Dates;

Breakfast:  The second Saturday of each month, 7:00am to 10:00am.  Great food and fellowship.  Don't miss it.
Stated Meeting:  September 11, October 9, November 13, December 11 at  7:30 pm.
Push Wheelchairs:  October 19, December 7, January 25
Degree work:  Entered Apprentice (two candidates each date) - September 25, October 30 7:00pm
Giant garage sale at lodge hall; September 12 & 13
 

Page Two:

News from the East;

With Brotherly Love and Respect to all Brethren of Lodge 545.

It will be so good to see all of you in September.  I trust the summer and its activities was to your satisfaction.

Coming from dark to light this 11th of September brings us into a very busy year.  During this past summer the brothers have collected six petitions to be processed, investigated, voted on and scheduled for degree work.

We are going to have to dig into the rituals and present the candidates with the initiatory rites they deserve.  This is becoming one of the busiest years we have had in several years.  Even so, this is very healthy for our lodge.

The dates for upcoming degree work will be forthcoming.

Notes from the Grand Lodge Annual Communication
 

  1. 1. Official directive: August 20, 2003.  The Grand Master sent a letter to the Lodge secretaries regarding an organization within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Indiana calling itself "Masonic" styled the Rite of Memphis or at times the "Modern Rite of Memphis", declaring the organization spurious, schismatic, irregular and therefore, Masonicly clandestine.
  2. 2. October 24, 2002 a letter to the officers and members of the Bartimaeus Lodge U.D. are to meet with the Grand Master on November 18, 2002.  The purpose of the meeting was to a consistent policy regarding the standards for membership in this special purpose Lodge.
  3. 3. Resolution No. 3-03.  Change wording in the "Blue Book" to allow organizations to serve alcoholic beverages when renting rooms at lodges, and to allow businesses to carry package liquors but not for consumption was soundly defeated.
Free Stuff

I have some very interesting articles contained in the "Short Talk Bulletin",

Subjects:

Islam and Freemasonry
Winston Churchill
Mystery Religions and Freemasonry
Symbolism of the Winding Staircase
Also;
Let There Be Light, a Study in Anti-Masonry and Six Hundred Years of Craft Ritual
Supplies are limited so it is a first come first served basis.

Did You Know?

That as of December 31, 2002 there were 80, 047 Masons living in the state of Indiana

Page Three:
 

Huge Garage Sale

We are having a garage sale at the lodge September 12th and 13th, in conjunction with the Masons Breakfast on Saturday the 13th.  We are going to need a lot of help, especially from the officers and Brothers of this lodge.  The ladies of the O.E.S. have entered into this venture with us.  A good time will be had by all plus you may find some really good bargains.  Proceeds are to benefit the building fund.

Rusty Nail Degree:   Because of the number of candidates this fall, I have cancelled the "Rusty Nail" and "Fork and Spoon" degrees.  We are going to have plenty to do and I don't want to burn the brothers out.

Need a ride to Lodge?  If anyone needs a ride to Lodge, Please call Noble T. Spicer at (Phone number omitted on web page version of newsletter.).  He will call a brother close to you to pick you up.
 

See you in September

Fraternally Yours
Dave Richards, W.M.
 

The Book of Ruth, Chapter 2

12.  The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
15.  And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her gleanamong the sheaves, and reproach her not.
16.  And let fall also some of the handfuls on purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.
17.  So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned and it was about an ephod of barley.
19.  And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned today? and where wroughtest thou?  Blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee.  And she showed her mother in law with whom she has wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought today is Boaz.