As Worshipful Master, I have continued the tradition of handwriting (as best as I can manage with my monster-fingers) Masonic birthday cards for our Brethren. For those of you who have already received such a card, you can attest to this process, the rest of you will just have to wait for your month to roll around! The process has been very rewarding, helping me understand the depth of our membership and the full scope of our geographic “footprint” on the nation. The most gratifying is when I receive communication back, particularly from Brethren I have never had the opportunity to meet personally.
Each exchange has been different. One exchange was entirely by text message, while others have been through mutually missed “phone-tag” voicemail, and the occasional “olde’ tyme” phone call! With the impact that our individual response to the pandemic has had, these interactions have really helped me see beyond the edge of my trestle board and into the membership of our lodge. Each conversation has included a strong invitation to attend our virtual meetings; an opportunity our geographically distant Brethren should have (and have to great success) been taking advantage of while we are authorized to do so.
In spite of the ease with which a virtual meeting can be held, or perhaps because of the omnipresent nature of virtual meetings during our isolation, I am not seeing as many of you as I would hope. So this month’s message is a personal challenge to you all who have read this far: If you have not attended our virtual communications, please reach out to me and make every effort to attend our next Virtual Stated Communication (Friday, September 4th). If you have been attending (and you have my thanks) please reach out to a fellow Brother and make every effort to open a dialogue and invite them to attend.
The length of our individual cable-tow dictates our involvement in the Lodge, and I will always defend that right for each individual. But with our current virtual meeting process it has never been less of a time commitment than it will be right now. So I ask that you reevaluate your own cable-tow and heed to and abide by this call to action. Impress me with your attendance, and I will do everything in my power to reward you with an entertaining and informative meeting!
To this end, I am pleased to inform you all that during this communication, we will be having a presentation by Worshipful Brother Jacob M. Bressman, Past Master of La France Lodge No. 93 and a representative of the Grand Lodge's Committee on Education & Service. W.B. Bressman is active in both the York Rite and Scottish Rite, along with various invitational and honorary Masonic side orders. He focuses his Masonic research efforts on the esoteric philosophies, history, rituals, and mysticism of Freemasonry. He will be presenting his paper, originally published under the Grand Lodge of DC's Pythagoras Lodge of Research I-REAP Awards Program, titled "To Unite in One Union with Oneness: The Path to God as Taught by King Solomon," which promises a deep examination of the Kabbalah and its relationship to the building of King Solomon's Temple. If you have ever wondered how the Holy Temple is connected to the Universe and the Human Body, or what its role is within the Legends behind Masonic Mysticism, then definitely join us for this exciting presentation!
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Jason Lee
Worshipful Master