Articles

Continuing the Family Legacy

Posted in: Articles, From the East by Junior Deacon on February 17, 2012 | No Comments

One of the first questions I am typically asked when someone finds out I’m a Freemason is “why did you become one”? For most Masons the ultimate goal of being part of the fraternity is to seek Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, of course. But what triggers someone to take those initial steps to seek membership? Is it a curiosity of what the “secrets” of being a Mason are? Maybe a love of history, the desire to be involved in the community, or perhaps the revival in Masonry featured in popular tv, movies and books? For many of us it was a combination of everything just mentioned. For me, however, there was one predominant reason for my interest in Masonry: my father.

For as long as I can remember Masonry has played a part in my life. I was born in 1976, twenty years after my dad was raised. By that time he was well established in the various bodies of Masonry, which even included becoming a High Priest in the Royal Arch Masons. As a young kid I knew about his involvement, but obviously didn’t understand, or really even care to understand. Occasionally my older brother and I had the opportunity to participate over at the lodge, such as at the annual New Year’s Day lunch. After watching my dad slurp back oysters out of a Styrofoam cup (we still tell stories of this) he would take us upstairs to play a few games of pool, and then walk us down the hallway to show us his High Priest picture on the wall.

Simple as this may seem, I look back at my childhood, and this was one of my best memories of being with my dad. I may not have understood everything that happened in that building, but it was easy to see the sense of pride he had walking the halls with his sons and in being a Freemason. One main reason for his pride is most certainly the fact that his father, my grandfather, was also a Mason. My grandfather passed away in 1945, just two years after being raised. My dad was only fifteen at the time, but, much like I did, he clearly recognized not only the joy the fraternity brought to his dad, but the sense of pleasure he had in being a Mason even for such a short period of time.

It was this type of connection, and a sense of history and family, that led me to start asking my dad more about the fraternity a few years ago. My older brother had become a Mason, and I could see the gratification that my dad had in seeing his son became a third-generation Mason. I decided that the timing in life was right to seek membership – I wanted my dad to have the opportunity to see me raised, as well. My brother and dad traveled nearly 500 miles back in May of 2009 to see me become a Master Mason. I didn’t know what to expect that night, but I knew it was special to have them there.

For me, though, my journey in Masonry has become more than just having my dad see me become a fellow Mason. While technically I did become a Master Mason that evening, it’s only through participation with my lodge that I am learning to understand what becoming a Mason really means. After being raised I joined the line, and became an officer, and even had the opportunity to have my dad join me in lodge to see me sit in the South. Shortly after he presented me with his dad’s Masonic ring, which is something I will always treasure. As I stated earlier I never had the chance to meet my grandfather, but I now know the significance of that ring, and feel a connection with him that I never had the chance to experience.

The past few years have been particularly difficult for my dad and my family. After a long battle with cancer my mom passed away in 2009. My dad has been battling cancer for the better part of the last five years, as well. There have been difficult times for all of us, and I know there will be more difficult times ahead. Throughout everything, though, Masonry and faith have helped my dad and my family get through.

New Year’s Day still remains special to me, and I even had the opportunity recently to return home and go to the lunch, once again, with my Dad and brother. The lodge is a little older, the tv in the game room is a little outdated, and they changed the Styrofoam cups to plastic, but the biggest difference was the fact that both my brother and I are now fellow Masons. Instead of walking around and showing off the lodge and his picture to us, my dad was showing us off to his lodge. Fifty-five years after joining the Freemasons the organization is still providing my dad a sense of brotherhood and pride, and now more than ever is proving an opportunity for the two of us to bond on a level that I have never had before.

-Bro. Jim Jolley
Raised May 19, 2009

Reflections of being a Master Mason

Posted in: Articles, From the East by Junior Deacon on December 9, 2011 | No Comments

Our Famous Brothers…

Posted in: Articles, From the East by Junior Deacon on December 8, 2011 | No Comments

The Grand Lodge of Maryland has created another marketing campaign and feature two of Mt. Moriah’s brothers!

Worshipful Master-elect George Hoffman:

Senior Warden-elect Cory Wright:

Becoming a Master Mason

Posted in: Articles, From the East by Junior Deacon on October 24, 2011 | No Comments

There are few times a man can be a part of something great. On October 15, 2011 I became a part of something great when I was raised to the Third Degree of Master Mason with 6 of my brothers in Mt. Moriah #116. In order to reach that step of the journey, we had continuously studied the Masonic catechism in order to better ourselves as men and improve ourselves as Freemasons. During that time, the bonds we shared with each other and the other members of the lodge began to take shape and grow stronger.

On the day of our raising to the sublime degree of Master Mason, those bonds that had taken shape in the previous months had solidified. From that point on, it was reassuring to know I had joined a fraternity that includes so many great men bound together in the greater service of improving one another. Joining Mt. Moriah #116 as a Freemason has truly been something I will remember for the rest of my life.

-Bro. Todd Sautters
Raised Oct. 15, 2011

Harvest Home Day

Posted in: Articles, From the East by Junior Deacon on | No Comments

The plan was to arrive early for Harvest Home Day so I could volunteer a little time; but contrary to the fact there were many Brothers already on the hill when I arrived at 5:50am. Most men already on the hill that early were also looking for a way to contribute some time from parking cars, cooking, handing out the days wages and collecting money.

This being my first Harvest Home Day I really didn’t know what to expect even though I’ve heard a lot of stories from other Brothers who make it a yearly Pilgrimage. In case you have never been able to attend or you’re new to Masonry I’ll tell you a little from what my eyes were able to behold.

There were many tents set up by individual lodges to display their contribution to the fraternity not to mention a way for Brothers from that lodge to have a meeting point. There was a car show which had a flavor for just about every car lover from the historical restorations to new Corvettes and motorcycles. The Boumi band helped add to the festive atmosphere with their music, the air was filled with the aroma of sausage, pancakes and coffee not to mention the feel of Brotherly love thick in the air.

Since this was my first time attending I figured it would be great to commemorate the morning by inviting my father in law to attend as my guest. Although I asked him to go as a guest I had a dilemma of how to handle my prior obligation of volunteering to collect money and my obligation to him as a guest so I prequalified my volunteer obligation with him and informed him that it would only be for one hour and then I would meet back up with him and we could enjoy the festivities together. When I got back from meeting my obligation I asked him what he had been doing during this hour at which time he informed me with overwhelming joy in his voice that he grabbed a chair at the corner of the main entrance and the sausage tent where he was greeted and greeted many of the brothers as they came in. He said “they thought I was one of the Masons and would stop and talk with me as if they had known me forever”. Since becoming a Mason I’ve been proud of my association but at this moment his comment really helped to reinforce that pride.

Just when I was thinking “this morning couldn’t get any better” the call for the corn husking contest came. The entire group of participating Brother gathered as well as the spectator Brothers; the rules for the contest were read, the bell was rung and the Brothers at Mount Moriah shucked corn with lightning speed making our lodge the winner of the first husking contest.

We finished the morning with a quick tour of the Grand lodge and museum, my only regret is there wasn’t enough time to spend at the museum which will require a solo trip in the future but I was able to see George Washington’s desk. Hard to believe after all these years the desk still looks like it was purchased directly from IKEA (just kidding).

Looking forward to next year’s Harvest Home Day I have to thank all who made this year’s event such a memorable one.

-Bro. Michael Bland
Raised: May 21, 2011