First let me thank everyone for electing me as Worshipful Masters of Scouters Lodge #236 for 2020. Second, let me say that I will do my best to not make repeated puns about “2020” and “vision” this year (with one exception that I’ll get to in a bit). I have a number of ideas for Scouters Lodge this year, but I know that I can’t do it alone. I’ve already been at work with the 2020 officers to prepare a calendar of events for the year, which you should see in this trestleboard. Hopefully you will be able to block out many of these dates on your calendar early, so we will be able to enjoy your company. Here are some of the highlights I hope to accomplish this year;
• Handing out our first camperships in 2020. Our rifle raffle did well in 2019, so we should be able to provide 4 camperships of up to $450 in 2020. We are still working on the applications and process, so if you’d like to be involved, please let me know.
• Since that raffle was successful, I’d like to try it again, starting around the April/May timeframe (no later than the semi-annual meeting of Grand Lodge).
• Having a lodge meeting in Western Maryland over the summer. As a traveling lodge, we haven’t really traveled too far out of the Baltimore/Washington area. If this goes well, look for a visit to the eastern shore for 2021.
• A past master’s night/dinner in June.
• I’m also looking into having one or more presentations during our meetings (in a called off state), via teleconference. This is an attempt to reach out to those that can’t physically be at a meeting and also to provide a presentation by a remote presenter. Details and technology are still being worked out for this.
• I’d also like to look into the possibility of constructing a number (10?) portable flag poles, similar to what my son’s pack created, that we could donate to local units.
• Working with the Grand Lodge to have a flag retirement ceremony at Grand Lodge around flag day.
• Having another Open Table Lodge.
• Having a spring and fall “Brotherhood Night”, were we can meet and hang out at a local bar/restaurant and make so others interested in the lodge can attend and get to know us.
In short beyond doing the “regular” activities of a lodge, I’d like to raise the visibility of Scouters Lodge #236 both with Scouting and Freemasonry. (Ok that’s my only “2020-like” reference)
Also, don’t be surprised ifou receive a phone call from me in the upcoming months. I’d like to make sure that I reach out and talk to each of you at least once this year, if not more.
I hope to see each of you at one of our meeting or events this year.
From The East
I want to thank everyone for their efforts and support during my exemplification and installation as Worshipful Master.
2016 is off to a flying start for Scouters Lodge! I am happy to announce that our lodge apron design has been finalized and they have been ordered. They are scheduled to arrive by mid-March. They will then be sent out to Geri’s Screen Printing for final processing. We should receive the completed aprons before the end of April.
On Monday, March 28 at 7:30pm we will be visited by PGM Stephen J. Ponzillo, III, who will speak to us on the George Washington National Masonic Memorial. Then on April 9th, we will Visit the George Washington National Masonic Memorial, in Alexandria VA. (you can see more at http://www.gwmemorial.org/). This is a multi-lodge event with Ionic Lodge# 145 and Sharon Lodge# 182. We will be leaving from the Ionic Lodge Temple located at 85 Main Street, Reisterstown, MD 21136. Please see Brother Treasurer, Stephen A. Mintz for additional information.
On another note, we have been contacted by Bill Soucy who is asking for some help with a special needs unit. Bill is the Unit Commissioner for Troop 337 in the Milford Mill area of the Arrowhead District. They are a small special needs unit, of maybe 5 or 6 Boy Scouts, and one Cub Scout. Because of the special problems associated with special needs, most of the parents are unable to afford dues. All of the parents are having problems with funds and the troop is unable to engage in any fundraising at this time. Remember that we are admonished to have “Faith in God, Hope in immortality, and Charity to all mankind. The greatest of these is Charity”. I am asking the lodge to make a financial donation to the unit and ask each of you to suggest other ways we can support them in the future.
We pray for a happy and healthy New Year to all Lodge Members, brother Masons, their families, first responders, and all service men both here and abroad.
From the East
Dear Bretheren,
As we make our approach to the beautiful season of fall leaves we have much to be thankful for. What a terrific second half of the year we have had so far, and there is so much more to look forward to.
On July 27th, we balloted on Theodore Earl Severe, and he was elected to receive the three degrees of Masonry. Strawberry Night refreshments followed the meeting. Thank you Bro. Bob Frey for preparing and cutting up all of those strawberries, they were delicious!
August was a very busy month filled with degree work, which is a good thing. The officers rehearsed several days for Bro. Bob Frey’s Fellow Craft degree exemplification, and the entered apprentice degree.
Congratulations! To Senior Warden Bro. Bob Frey, and your line of officers for exemplification. On August 27th our Deputy Grand Lecturer, Bro. Michael Rashad P.M., found Brother Frey and his line proficient in the Fellow Craft degree. Look well on your travels to the East!
Welcome to our newest member, Brother Ted Severe. Brother Severe was initiated as an Entered Apprentice on August 31st. Your Catechism Instructor, Brother Charlie Hazard, P.M. will be contacting you to start classes to stand proficiency in the first degree, which is currently scheduled for September 28th. If found proficient, you will be passed to the degree of Fellow Craft.
Our Festive Board will be held on Monday November 23rd, it will be open to all men who are masons and non-masons. This is one of my most favorite things I enjoy participating in as a Mason. The boys from Demolay GFM Chapter will be serving dinner for us, and afterwards the SoJourners will do their flag presentations for us. This will be an evening of enjoyment for all of us. This will be a wonderful opportunity to invite friends, family, and fellow Masons to join us and find out more about our Scouter’s Lodge.
On behalf of all of my Officers and myself, we are honored by the priviledge to serve our lodge, Scouter’s Lodge #236.
Please remember to keep our country, our leaders, and our service men and women in your prayers.
“Great wealth makes us neither more wise nor more healthy”
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Sincerely and Fraternally
Ronald Jay Jacobson, P.M.
Worshipful Master
From The East
My Brethren,
There is no greater reward or grander honor for a Mason than to be deemed worthy by his brethren to assume the East. We have reached the halfway point in my term as
Worshipful Master, and I can only say that time has flown by.
We must identify good men with a Scouting background and bring them to light.
So, when you find a good man with a Scouting background, who should be offered a
petition…offer it…and when he asks, “what is Freemasonry?”…Tell him…Freemasonry
is a brotherhood, an organization of men from all walks of life who meet as equals, and to
enjoy each other’s company. Then comes the desire for self-improvement, then
community outreach as the brother’s work together to meet the needs of others. If he asks
you, “why should I become a Freemason?” Your answer should be, “I don’t know”. Tell
him only he can ultimately answer that question, and he will only be able to truly answer
after he is a fellow brother. You can tell him why you are a Freemason, and each of us
has our own answer for that!
We recently received another petition for membership! And, will be voting on him
during our July communication, and if elected to receive the 3 degrees of Masonry, we’ll
be initiating him at our communication in August.
We conferred the Knife and Fork Degree in April to Bro. Chris Vetters and W.
Bro. Stuart Cordish. Thanks very much to Bro. Bob Frey who prepared a delicious
chicken dinner, which was enjoyed by all.
The Low Vale on June 4th was performed in the Roman Room due to adverse
weather conditions. We raised three brothers for Amicable-St. John’s Lodge #25, two in
short and one in long form. All of our officers did superb degree work, which was
admired by all in attendance. We received many compliments from the brethren and past
masters who observed the excellent work we do in Scouter’s Lodge #236. I am proud of
the work we do. For a lodge, which was chartered less than two years ago, we do ritual
work better than many lodges, which have been in existence for over 100 years. Thanks
very much to W. Bro. John Ertel for preparing the delicious Chili dinner that evening. It
fed over sixty brothers, and many came back for seconds!
On behalf of all my Officers and myself, we are honored by the privilege to serve
our Lodge, Scouter’s Lodge #236.
Please remember to keep our Country, our Leaders, and our Service Men and
Women in your prayers.
“ A man only learns in two ways, one by reading, and the other by association with smarter people.”
~Will Rodgers, American Humorist and Freemason
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Sincerely and Fraternally
Ronald Jay Jacobson, P.M.
Worshipful Master
From The East
Greetings My Brothers,
Sitting before the keyboard as often as I do, cursor blinking coldly before me as if to say: “Well, don’t just sit there…WRITE SOMETHING. I often withdraw within myself for guidance and inspiration.
Our Secretary read out in lodge a petition for membership! We voted on Bro. Michael DeVeau and he is now our 22nd member! Congratulations Brother DeVeau, and welcome to our brotherhood of scouters at Scouter’s Lodge #236. As our newest mber, you will be honored with the Knife and Fork Degree conferred upon you at our April 27th Special Communication.
Thank you to Brother Bob Frey for all of your help with preparing and making sure we had everything for our dinner at our March Communication. You could not attend the meeting or enjoy the dinner with us because of another obligation, but made sure the food came. Thanks again, Brother.
We will be doing a third degree Low Vale on June 4th for two candidates of Amicable-St. John’s Lodge #25. Everyone in the lodge is excited and looking forward to having our second Low Vale. I am sure we will have members of other lodges as visitors, to witness a lodge under the stars.
Thanks so much Brother Chris Vetters, for all your help designing and publishing on the Internet our website we are all proud to say is ours. And, our logo is a masterpiece. Thank you for all of your help with the bulletin. Chris designed the bulletin and is making changes each quarter as they are given to him.
As part of our ongoing effort to grow our lodge membership, we are going to present Citations to Eagle Scouts at their Eagle Court of Honor. Thank you Brother Chris Vetters, he designed for us an Official Scouters Lodge Certificate of Recognition.
On behalf of all of my officers and myself, we are honored by the privilege to serve our lodge, Scouter’s Lodge #236.
Please remember to keep our country, our leaders, and our service men and women in your prayers.
“The underlying principle of Masonry is the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.
In this war we are engaging in upholding these principles and our enemies are attacking them.”
~ Brother William Howard Taft
GOD BLESS AMERICA
From The East
Dear Brethren,
We had a full house, requiring extra chairs to be set up for guests, at our Open Installation of Officers. And, thanks to the many people who helped we were prepared for the huge turnout we had, everything went beautifully.
I want to thank everyone who helped. Thanks very much to all my brothers that participated and served me with honors on the honor guard. Without you, the installation would never have been as nice as it was. I can’t thank enough our ritual director, W. Bro. Stuart Cordish, for filling in at the last minute as Marshal and delivering the charges to the Wardens, in addition to the charge to the lodge. I truly appreciate it, my brother. Thanks very much to my dear wife, Kay, for helping me with everything. I am grateful for all your encouragement and support. Thanks very much to my son, Ben, for coming early with me to bring in the refreshments and set up. Thanks very much to all of my Officers; you have been wonderful. You came early, helped wherever needed without question, and stayed after to help clean up. I am blessed to have such a great line of officers. Thanks very much to Bro. Dore’ Glazer for wonderful job you did as photographer, professionally setting up the officers the way you do. The pictures look fantastic. I am grateful for the wonderful turnout consisting of Past Masters, brethren, family, and guests. If you were not able to attend, you missed a great moment in time where Scouter’s Lodge #236 was at it’s best. Our founding members are the backbone of our lodge, and what makes us proud to be a part of this great lodge. Finally, thanks to everyone I have forgotten to thank who helped make our installation the memorable evening it was.
On behalf of all my officers and myself; we are honored by the privilege to serve our lodge, Scouter’s Lodge #236.
Please remember to keep our country, our leaders, and our service men and women in your prayers.
“Peace forever dwells where harmony prevails”
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Sincerely and Fraternally
Ronald Jay Jacobson, P.M.
Worshipful Master