GROUP A
This group believes that we are a social club and a support group. They believe that the Craft exists for bonding through events that are both member and family oriented. They support our concordant and appendant bodies and are very much in favor of public relations and new member initiatives. They may feel that the lessons learned from the ritual and the public charities that we support are valid but the main reason for us to exist is for fun and fellowship.

GROUP B
This group feels that our sole function should be to support our philanthropies and our community service programs. It may be apparent to them that Masonic fellowship and teachings are compelling, but they are necessary in order to have an organization in place for the continuation of public giving.

GROUP C
These members of the Craft are involved primarily to receive Masonic light. They believe that the histories and philosophies of Masonry are the principal reasons for our existence. They may feel that the best way to increase our membership is through word of mouth and that the mystery of the Craft is what sets us apart from other organizations. They seek introspection and edification.

These three groups represent the reasons that many of us give for Masonry to exist, namely Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. These three groups are often at odds with each other as to how the Craft should be managed and lead. This becomes apparent when new ideas are explored and old customs are challenged. Of course the lines of definition that separate the three groups are sometimes vague and we may individually change our thoughts as to who we are over time. Many true Masons, however, feel that we can equally serve all three beliefs. This is not, however, as easy as it seems.

Non-members who examine the Craft may feel that these three concepts do not dispel rumors or false accusations that have been directed towards Masonry. They may feel that our purposes are not clear and that more explanation is needed. We have adopted a more definitive slogan that the public can more easily understand and can identify with. This motto comes from hundreds of years of Masonic tradition and explains much as to who we are and what we stand for. The motto is simply “Religious Tolerance, Political Freedom, and Personal Integrity.” There is a need for each one of us to have a working definition of what Masonry is, not only as an explanation to others but also to ourselves. Each of us needs to decide what we personally feel the Craft is and how we fit in to it. We need to respect the opinions of other Masons who may not see the Craft in the same light. The fundamental nature of the Craft may be as simple as Tolerance, Freedom and Integrity. You decide.

There isn’t any such thing as a Grand Lodge of American, is there?

Well, the answer is yes and no. There is one now. However, it is not associated with any of the AF & AM Lodges, or F & AM Lodges, or PHA Lodges, or recognized by any U.S. Grand Lodge.

The United Grand Lodge of America was founded in December of 2005. The stated purpose was “A return to the principles of the Grand Lodge of 1717 and the true spirit of Speculative Free-Masonry.” They claim Freemasons in the U.S. have allowed Grand Lodge petty politics to separate and divide them.

From the paragraphs quoted below, from the web site, it appears that the organization is composed of Masons who have either been expelled or suspended from, or otherwise have a bitter dispute against established Freemasonry.

“. . . Since the time of the declaration on December 27th, 2005 the United Grand Lodge of America has received hundreds of complaints from Freemasons and expelled or suspended Freemasons concerning various forms of corruption and irregular activity by the state Grand Lodges and the Supreme Council of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite – Southern Jurisdiction. Due to the sheer number of these complaints it has become impossible to continue to ignore the mounting allegations against these Masonic bodies without the benefit of objective investigations into the allegations. . .”

“. . . We have also been made aware of the same or similar injustices in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, and Texas, and have received petitions from these brethren seeking asylum from the actions of their imperious Grand Masters.” 

  (Editor's Note; I must quickly add that the Grand Lodge Of Texas would consider any Texas Mason who joined the UGLA a clandestine Mason and act accordingly.

Worshipful Master “Wes” suggested that the newsletter may better serve the membership by coming out sometime after the monthly stated meeting instead of just before. That way, members who were unable to attend the meetings would be kept up to date regarding decisions and new ideas brought out during the meetings.
                                                                            Treasurer "Corky" & P.M. Ventrca

We will be trying it this way for awhile. So DO NOT go to a Lodge meeting next Tuesday, because it will be a couple of weeks from now, on the second Tuesday of the month.

W.M. “Wes” Mersiovsky opened his first official stated meeting in years on this past eleventh of July. I would have to give him an B+ for a grade on his performance . I would have given him a big A, but I have to get even with him for a remark after my first opening a stated meeting a year ago.

One day, an atheist bought the house next door to her, and he became very irritated with the spiritual lady. So after a month or so of her yelling, "Praise the Lord" from her porch, he went outside on his porch and yelled back, "There is no Lord."

Yet, the little old lady continued.

One cold, wintry day, when the little old lady couldn't get to the store, she went out on her porch, raised her hands up to the sky and said, "Help me Lord, I have no more money, it's cold, and I have no more food."

The next morning, she went outside, and there were three bags of food on the porch, enough to last her a week." Praise the Lord," she yelled.

The Atheist stepped out from the bushes and said, "There is no Lord ha ha ha, I bought those groceries!" The little old lady raised her arms to the sky and said, "Praise the Lord, you sent me groceries and you made the Devil pay for them!"

What Goes Around, Comes Around

The church gossip and self-appointed arbiter of the church's morals kept sticking her nose into other people's business. Several church members were unappreciative of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence.

She made a mistake, however, when she accused Bubba, a new member, of being a drunk after she saw his pickup truck parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon. She commented to Bubba and others that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing.

George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny; he said nothing. Later that evening, Bubba quietly parked his pickup in front of her house . . . and left it there all night.

     When the war broke out the Entered Apprentice and the Fellowcraft degrees had been conferred on him in New York. He went out in defense of his country without having been raised to the degree of Master Mason. it was his misfortune to be taken a prisoner of war while at or near Savannah, Ga. while he lay in the southern prison. He communicated through letters with some of his friends in the north. His lodge in New York, through proper officials, got in touch with Zerubbabel Lodge in Savannah, and made the request that the Savannah Lodge, as a favor to the Brethren of the north, confer the Master Masons degree on the Fellowcraft Brother, L.J. Williams.

     One night my father was taken from his prison and conducted to the Savannah Lodge room. it was a remarkable occasion. he wore his bedraggled blue uniform, a token of his sympathy with the cause of the north. all of the chairs were occupied by Confederate Officers. he was surrounded by men who wore the Gray. they were on opposite sides of a struggle to the death, but they were brethren. then and there he was raised a master mason and acclaimed a friend and brother by his enemies.

     But the more significant feature of the story was yet to follow. For on the same night my father escaped from his prison and joined his companions of the north. I have visited  Savannah since then and looked up the record of his Raising. in red ink, on the same page that records the fact that the degree was there conferred, is the brief annotation: " On this night brother Williams escaped from prison ".

     I have talked with my father about the matter a number of times. when asked about his ' escape ' he always smiles peculiarly. you may put it down as an escape, he told me, but it wasn't an escape, strictly speaking. for on that night some men came to my prison. they put me in a boat and carried me off some distance. then they deposited me on some neutral soil between the lines. from there I found my way back to my friends.

     Who my rescuers were, I have never learned. it is their own secret, and it has never been disclosed. but in my mind I know exactly to whom I may attribute the 'escape' in question. his name is Hiram.