Greetings from the East!
July is a month when many of our lodges relax decorum and polo shirts with khakis tend to be the popular uniform for many lodges. While the decorum may be relaxed, the business of Masonry continues. This month begins the amnesty program introduced in June. From July 1-December 31, former members suspended for non-payment of dues before December 31, 2019, will be able to petition for reinstatement and only pay $38.50 (one year's per capita) for reinstatement. There are come caveats such as the Blue Lodge must waive the past dues and the suspended member must still go through a new background check, but this is another tool for our Blue Lodges to recoup members who at one point felt so strongly about our organization, they took the obligation of a Master Mason. Please contact me should you have any questions about the amnesty program.

Thank you for all you do for Masonry.

Fraternally,

Alex Straatmann Grand Master

THE STRUCTURE OF THE MASTER MASON’S DEGREE

Daniel Galily, Dean of student's affairs, Los Angeles University, United States.

David Schwartz, Political science department, Bar-Ilan University, Israel.

© International Journal of Advancement in Social Science and Humanity Vol. No. 1, Issue 2 (October 2016)

The third degree or Master Mason’s Degree of the freemason order is the culmination of the Blue Lodge system. The first degree concerning the governing of the passions, the second degree the adoring of the mind. The Master Mason’s Degree is considering thespiritual development and the great truth that there’s life after death.

The real goal of the masonic degree system is a kind of masonic transformation whereby a man is transformed from the inside out, pursuing the right things in life as a matter of habit even Aristotle sought this type of transformation.

This degree is the climax of the teachings of the Blue Lodge. It is the culmination of all that has been taught to candidates in the two proceeding ceremonies. At this point, the candidate has symbolically balanced his inner natures and shaped them into a proper relationship with a higher,more spiritual parts, of himself.

His physical nature has been purified and developed to a higher degree so that he’s ready to take on theseSublime Degree of Master Mason. Being raised to the Sublime Degree is the appropriate terminology. Sublime is defined as being exalted or elevated so as to aspire awe and wonder. The degree portrays the removal of everything that keeps us from rising to that state of improvement from which we are able to absorb the great lessons of this degree.

One of the primary goals of the third degree is to symbolize the great doctrine of immortality which it accomplishes in a very dramatic fashion. One of the greatest lessons to a man from this degree is that having been faithful to his trust, he must at last die in order to obtain the ultimate rewards of this fidelity. His own self must die and a new one reborn as he prepares himself for the future. Each reexamination of this degree by a brother mason yields new meaning concerning yields new meaning concerning these important lessons.

Use the link below to read the rest of the article

Inventing the Future: The 1723 Constitutions

by Bro. Dr. Ric Berman

Ric Berman explains why Enlightenment principles of religious tolerance and constitutional democracy were embedded within the 1723 'Constitutions of Freemasons'. He outlines the political and social context, identifies the main protagonists, and looks at some of the consequences.

THE NEBRASKA FREEMASONS CHILD IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM NEEDS YOU!

This year’s CHIP event at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island will be held will be held Opening Weekend – Saturday, August 27 & Sunday, August 28, 2022, between the hours of 10:00 am 8:00 pm on Saturday and 11:00 am and 7:00 pm on Sunday. The State Fair board is giving us prime space in the 4-H Building. Your help is needed!

We need at least 90 volunteers to fill two days of morning shifts from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm and evening shifts from 2:30 pm to 8:00 pm on Saturday and morning shifts of 11:00 am to 3:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 7:00 pm on Sunday. You will receive a free pass for gate admission if volunteering for a full shift.

Please alert each and every member of your Lodges, Chapters, Shrine Clubs, Scottish Rite and York Rite Bodies, Youth groups, family and friends.

Volunteers can signup using the button below OR contact Stephen Kennedy using the button below or at 402-274-7521.

Please help us make this a huge success. The exposure this event gives Masonry and the CHIP program is HUGE. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Stephen. Thanks for your help!

James R. Cain, Grand Master
June 23, 1881 – June 21, 1882
Reported at the 25th Annual Communication

U.S. President James Garfield, a brother, was assassinated September 19, 1881. The Grand Master commented, “…after a painful and protracted illness, borne with that manly and heroic fortitude and forbearance characteristic of the man, he died from the effects of his wounds. Our country was at once plunged into the deepest sorrow, and the good and true men everywhere shared our grief, and from hearts overflowing with sympathy poured forth their comfort and consolation.”

The Grand Master urged Masters to consult the Proceedings instead of submitting questions to him to reduce the time involved in researching and making decisions. With 80 chartered lodges, he said, every year sees an increase in requests for decisions.

The Grand Secretary suggested the Masonic year for lodges begin on the Festival of St. John the Baptist (June 24) instead of the Festival of St. John the Evangelist (Dec. 27). He said that under the system in place, office holders took office in mid-winter thus dividing the working season and creating a lack of continuity. The new officers were barely in office when spring arrived and recess was taken until cool weather in about October. With the election of officers a few weeks later, he added there was a tendency to let matters go until new officers were installed. “The year is cut in two and the reins are twice taken up, much to the detriment of the lodges and the Grand Lodge.” He urged lodge elections be held just before Annual Communication with installation afterwards. Officers would then have an unbroken term of up to eight months and would be better prepared to help the Grand Lodge in its work based on their experience.

Four brothers of Ashland Lodge No. 18 asked for a dispensation to start Palmyra Lodge No. 45 in Palmyra after the Grand Master arrested the lodge’s Charter. The Grand Master made the granting of the dispensation contingent on payment of a claim to a brother. The lodge had, according to Masonic law, illegally disposed of lodge property.

Albert G. Mackey died June 21, 1881, at Fortress Monroe, Virginia. He was the author of several books recognized as standard authority in America as well as Europe. The Grand Master said his “memory will long be cherished as one of the pillars in the temple of Masonry.”

Phtographic Printing Plate / Copper

Early 20th century

Mount Calvary Commandary No. 1 KT waiting for orders to move out.

More pictures of this artifact and other museum pieces can be found by clicking on the button below.

Adjust, Adapt, Overcome

The year is almost half-way done and it’s time for your lodge leadership to sit down and discuss how things have gone so far, and where you all are heading for 2023. Things might have gone exactly as planned, but if your lodge is like everyone else’s, they probably didn’t. That’s not to say that you have a problem either if things have changed, all that means is that your lodge just needs to “adjust, adapt, and overcome” the obstacles that you’ve encountered so far. This is why having a Strategic Planning Meeting for the lodge back in January is beneficial. It helps you as leaders plan an agenda for what you all would like to accomplish throughout the year. Now is the time though to sit down with your lodge leadership and readjust that agenda accordingly, so you can continue to meet the needs of your lodge this year.

The first thing that should be addressed at this time by your lodge leadership is the line of lodge officers for the upcoming year. People’s lives change each and every day, and sometimes those changes can affect the time commitments that people are able to provide. What started out as a good idea in January, such as being a lodge officer, can change throughout the year. This is where the lodge leadership has a responsibility to its lodge members to “groom” the upcoming line of officers for the following year. Nothing is more important to the survival of a lodge than that of selecting the best leaders it has to sit in the East, West, and South, for the following year. The other subordinate chairs, though important, can be adjusted accordingly if need be. The secretary’s chair should obviously be filled with someone that can handle the position in the fist place, and can ensure that there is a smooth transition in the East each and every year. This person should be the “grease” that keeps the “cogs” of the lodge machine running smoothly. So, ensuring that the top five billets are filled correctly should be the top priority of discussion.

Once that task has been accomplished, you as leaders can now sit down and determine the tasks that your lodge needs to accomplish for the remainder of the year. In general, people like to know where things are going in their lives and don’t like surprises. So, sitting down with your lodge leadership and planning out the remainder of the year is a great way to ensure that you all are looking out for the welfare of your lodge members, and their families as well. This is also a great time to start planning out your remaining annual events too, such as Lodge BBQs, Table Lodges, holiday celebrations, etc. Keeping your members informed is key to keeping them involved in the lodge, which in turn ensures that your lodge stay vibrant. So, take advantage of the summer and sit down as lodge leaders and determine where the lodge is heading for the remainder of the year, and what needs to be done to ensure that it stays on track at accomplishing its goals for the year.