From the East

     Our first meeting this past month with Right Worshipful David Silver was most interesting, learning about the Masonic symbols on the dollar bill met with a most warm appreciation. Receiving the Grand Master on May 17th was a memory I’m sure we will all treasure.

     Brother Gilberto Rosado along with our stewards are stepping up to the plate and will be cooking our meal prior to our next meeting.

     Looking forward to June, Brother Kevin Davidson will be speaking on the Holy St. John at the first meeting, and at the second meeting, Unity Eastern Star Chapter will be putting on a short play about Brother Rob Morris, founder of the eastern star. I have included some background information on both regards, for you to consider prior to our June meetings.

The Holy Saints John;
To Whom All Lodges Are Dedicated.

    You will recall that the Lecture states “Lodges were anciently dedicated to King Solomon, as it is said that he was our first, Most Excellent Grand Master. Lodges, at the present time, are dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, and Saint John the Evangelist, who were two eminent patrons of Masonry…” Except in the following passage concerning the two parallel lines, no further reference appears in the Lectures.

     However, in our ceremonies of Dedication and of Constitution, the reference is amplified and, to some degree, explained. In the ceremony of Dedication the Grand Master, dedicating a Masonic Hall, says, “…Sacred things were both consecrated and dedicated, while profane things were only dedicated…” Churches were consecrated to the worship of God, but dedicated to or placed under special patronage of some particular saint.

     “While we consecrate our Lodges to the honor and glory of God, we dedicate them to the memory of the Holy Saints John; and the building itself is dedicated to Freemasonry, Virtue and Universal Benevolence.”

     Biblically, John the Baptist was the son of the Jewish priest Zaccarius, and Elizabeth, cousin of Mary. A zealous judge of morality, his life, built on the strength of faith, sustained to his martyred death, is an example of the unshaken firmness in the right and in his inflexibility to God.

     The festival of St. John the Baptist is held on June 24th, and is widely celebrated by lodges, some of which mark a chain of observance uninterrupted for many years. In England, Scotland and Ireland, there were, in 1717, at the beginning of the first Grand Lodge, a large number of lodges and Masons known as St. Johns Masons. As the first Grand Lodge of England was formed on St. John the Baptist’s Day in 1717, so were subsequent annual meetings held on that day.

     Less widely celebrated, perhaps because its observance falls on December 27th, is the festival of St. John the Evangelist, the author of the Epistles bearing his name. His constant admonitions to the cultivation of brotherly love, and the mysticism of his vision, undoubtedly led to his inclusion and union with John the Baptist as the Holy Saints John. With regularity becoming established, the patron saints of Masonry have become enshrined in the memory of every Mason.

     The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both men and women may belong. Worldwide, there are approximately 1 million members under the General Grand Chapter.

     Eastern Star is a social order comprised of persons with spiritual values but it is not a religion. Its appeal rests in the true beauty of the refreshing and character-building lessons that are so sincerely portrayed in its ritualistic work. A deep fraternal bond exists between its members. It is the wholesome relationship of sisterly and brotherly love brought about through high principles exemplified in our lives, which makes us near and dear to each other.

     While this is an Order composed of people of deep spiritual convictions, it is open to all faiths, except no faith. The personal welfare of our members is vital to all of those in the Eastern Star and it is considered a privilege to help another member whenever we can.

     The stated purposes of the organization are: Charitable, Educational, Fraternal and Scientific; but there is much more to it than that. Dr. Rob Morris, the Poet Laureate of Masonry, founded the Order using beautiful and inspiring biblical examples of heroic conduct and moral values. These portray the noble principles which should adorn the personal lives of Eastern Star members. Eastern Star strives to take good people and through uplifting and elevating associations of love and service, and through precept and example, build an Order which is truly dedicated to charity, truth and loving kindness. Concrete evidence of the charitable nature of the organization as it affects others is the millions of dollars which have been raised within the membership to support national, jurisdictional, and local charities. Many Grand Jurisdictions have homes for their senior members.
June 2nd is the Grand Master’s Quarterly at Luray, where the Most Worshipful Grand Master participates in the Virginia DeMolay state degrees. The DeMolay degree is performed in the caverns and is open to all Master Masons. Mroz Chapter has five candidates to receive degrees, one being the son of our Marshal Jim Norris. Youth installations are on June 16th, both Mroz DeMolay at 2pm, then Bethel #1 at 6:30pm. If within the length of your cable tow your support of our youth is most greatly appreciated.