It’s Happening At Waller Lodge

By Corky

The Waller Lodge “Kitchen Remodel Project” got a huge boost last week when the Waller County Shrine Club donated 2 brand new dishwashers to Waller Lodge in appreciation for us allowing them the use of our facilities. A really big thank you to our brothers in the Waller County Shrine Club. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Waller Lodge will be holding a raffle in the near future with a hunting rifle and hunting equipment as prizes to raise funds for Scholarships.

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A $100.00 donation was made to the Pine Island Baptist Church, in lieu of flowers, in memory of Virginia Ann Reynolds, wife of Brother Clem Reynolds and mother of Brother David Reynolds.

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SICKNESS AND DISTRESS
Please say a prayer for,

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Brother Bob Scarborough had a stent installed.

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Brother George Talbert had a heart valve replacement.

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Brother Don Price of Pleasant Hill Lodge had a quadruple heart bypass.

Brother George Washington

A Did U Know? From W. Bro. Dwight D. Seals
Submited By W. Bro. Norm Lincoln

Bro. George Washington was painted wearing a Masonic Apron by Walter Williams in 1794. Many critics claim it is the most accurate likeness of the President as it was a life painting.painting isthe possession of the Masonic Lodge of Alexandria, Virginia.

The U. S. Post Office modeled thisportraitthe nine cent stamp issued by the United States in a 1932 Commemorative Set. The stamp is printed in salmon pink with a white-line border. At the center in a large panel rectangular in shape below, oval and slightly widened in the upper portion. Above the central panel in a double curved white ribbon with scrolled ends are the words "United States postage" in dark Roman. In each lower corner of the stamp is the numeral "9" in white Roman. In a horizontal line at the base between the numerals is the word "Cents" in white Roman. On a white ribbon at the base of the portrait within the central panel is the name "Washington" in dark Roman. In the curved ends of the ribbon above the numerals are the dates "1732" at the left and "1932" at the right. Rising

Graphic for first day covers used by stamp collectors for the day the Washington stamp was issued.

from each ribbon end is a small laurel branch.It is Scots #714 and the government issued 75,709,200 of this stamp.The United States Post Office Department deleted the Masonic Apron from the stamp.

The 1932 Washington Bicentennial are postage stamps issued by the United States government in 1932 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of President George Washington's birth. Twelve stamps were issued as a collection, with each one depicting the President in a different period in his life. The series was designed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) designers Clair Aubrey Huston and Alvin Meissner. The 1/2¢ through 10¢ values depict portraits of Washington which were derived from paintings, engravings or sculptures made during his lifetime. The selections were made based on recommendations made by the Washington Bicentennial Commission, The United States Post Office Department and the BEP. The original concept called for not only picturing Washington but also featuring significant events, locations and iconic images of his life and after death. This was later modified to featuring only portraits.

May We Meet Upon The _|_ Act By The | And Part Upon The |_ W. Bro. Dwight D. Seals
Camden Lodge #159 Camden, Ohio

Two Very Good Questions To Test Your Judgment

Question 1:

If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis; would you recommend that she have an abortion?

Read the next question before going on down to the answer for this one.

Question 2:

It is time to elect a new world leader, and your vote counts. Here are the facts about the three leading candidates:

Candidate A: Associates with crooked politicians, and consults with astrologists. He's had two mistresses. He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day.

Candidate B: He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college and drinks a quart of whisky every evening.

Candidate C: He is a decorated war hero. He's a vegetarian, doesn't smoke, drinks an occasional beer and hasn't had any extramarital affairs.

Which of these candidates would be your choice?

(Decide first, no peeking, then go to the bottom of this section for the answer).

Speculative Masonry In Ancient China

There is often debate as to when speculative Masonry began. Some would say that it was when the Grand Lodges were formed in the early 1700s; but research produces interesting evidence which might well change that opinion. Evidence of Masonic truths has been found in ancient Greece, in India, in Egypt and in China; and it is to China that attention is directed in this Article.

The books of ancient China contain many Masonic expressions. For example, in a book called "The Great Learning", written in 500 BC, it is stated "A man should abstain from doing unto others what he would not they should do unto him, and this is called the principle of acting on the Square".

Confucius, the great Chinese moral teacher, born about 550 BC and Mencius, his pupil, arranged an orderly system of moral teaching. From the sixth volume of the work on philosophy, I quote; "A Master Mason in teaching his apprentices, makes use of the compasses and the square. We who are engaged in the pursuit of Wisdom, must also make use of the compasses and the square".

Mencius also wrote; "Men should apply the compass morally to their lives, and the level and marking-line besides, if they would walk in the straight and even path of Wisdom, and keep themselves within the bonds on honor and virtue".

In Peking, in China, there is a place called the temple of Heaven, one of the few ancient relics of the Chinese monotheistic faith. It is constructed in the form of a square, with special seats in the east, the west and the south. There is an altar in the very center. There are three circular platforms of diameters of 90 feet, 150 feet, and 210 feet. Note that these are in the ratio of 3, 5 and 7. The temple was built in 1420, but the altar is considered to be 4000 years old.

There was a society called HUNG, or "The Brotherhood of Heaven and earth". This can be traced back to 386 AD. It had a supreme Grand Master, a Senior and Junior Warden, and many subordinate lodges. In the lodge ceremonies, the initiate knelt at the altar, with the Senior and Junior Wardens kneeling at his right and left, each holding a sword overhead to form a right angle over the candidate. The lecture given by the Worshipful Master taught that all are equal, that they must live uprightly and justly, that they must help a brother in distress, preserve his secrets, respect the chastity of his wife, and that they must obey the Worshipful Master. The three great principles of the Hung lodge were Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.

Brethren, it is interesting to note that there has been no Masonry on mainland China for very many years, but now, in 1988, a new Lodge is being constituted there under the Irish Constitution.

Ref: Lodge of Research No.200 (1993), Grand Lodge of Ireland, and Ashlar Lodge No.247, G.R.C. (May 1993) Editor's Note: While definite historical evidence for the Hung may not go back beyond 1662, Hwui-yin did establish his "White Lotus Society", at Rozan, south of the Yang Tze, c.376 AD. Due to persecutions of worshippers of Amitabha Buddha, the White Lotus went through a quiescent period until Han Shan-tung (1344) revitalised the Society. By the 18th century the Hung and the White Lotus are intermingled until primarily the Hung are only heard of. The White Lotus did rise up after the slaying of Su Hung-u-, and the in the proclamation of 1662. path.

Masonic Anniversaries
Brother	Years
James B. Riley	54
Clem Reynolds	52
Maurice Tucker	51
Eric. Flanagan	35
Kenneth L. Cones	12
Happy Birthday To
Brother	Age
Richard L. James	85
James B. Haney	78
J. Fred Loofs	74
Robert J. Blackman	63
Louis Schiel	55
Michael Risley	53
John C Stalsby	45
Mitchell R. Bosarge	38

"Freemasonry is founded on the immutable laws of Truth and Justice and its grand object is to promote the happiness of the human race. [GEORGE WASHINGTON]",

Inside Asheville’s Masonic Temple

By Alyanna Sezak-Blatt
Mountain Xpress - Asheville NC

The Masonic Alter

For many, the Masonic Temple at 80 Broadway in downtown Asheville is intriguing and mysterious, in part because the temple’s doors have been closed to the general public for years. That’s changed. In an effort to reconnect with Asheville’s artistic community, and to help raise money for building renovations, the temple will be hosting public events and concerts in a 270-seat auditorium/theatre within the building.

The Land of Skt Symphonic Band will perform there tonight, 20 May at 7:30 p.m. ($10 suggested donation). On 5 June, singer/songwriter and folk musician Dave Wendelin and an ensemble of guest musicians take the stage at 8 p.m. (by donation, with partial proceeds benefiting temple restorations). The auditorium may even host the Montfrod Park Players during their winter season.

The Masonic Library:

Ron Lambe, events committee chair and a 5-year Mason with the Asheville Temple, led an informal tour of the historic building, which was designed by Mason and renowned architect Richard Sharp Smith in 1913. The temple opened in 1915 and became headquarters for various branches of the Masonic order. During the tour, Lambe noted that the temple, historically, was more involved in supporting the greater Asheville community:

During the Spanish Influenza epidemic in 1918 the temple functioned as a hospital and emergency ward, and in the 1950s the building was designated as a public bomb shelter. In recent years, however, the stately building has been closed for all public use.

There are a few photographs of the temple’s auditorium, meeting/ceremony room, library, game room and various rooms used for reading and studying in the original article and on the web version of this newsletter.

Views from the fourth-floor balcony:

Seating 270 people, the auditorium is located on the third floor of the building, with a horseshoe-shaped balcony overlooking the stage from the fourth floor. This section of the Temple was occupied by the Scottish Rite, and the auditorium was once referred to as the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Painted landscapes and backdrops are stacked in the eaves of the cathedral, hung in the fly loft above the stage. These elaborate paintings, which are being stored for future use, were once used for Masonic lessons, Lambe says, where biblical stories and teachings were dramatically enacted for educational purposes.

A blonde driving down the interstate noticed a woman furiously rowing a boat at the edge of a cornfield.

She stopped and called to the woman, “Hey! What are you doing?”

The woman replied, “I’m trying to row this boat, but it isn’t going anywhere!”

The motorist called back, “You know, it’s blondes like you that give us a bad name. If I could swim, I’d come over there and beat you up!”

The Small Town Texas Masons E-Magazine Don’t miss reading the monthly Small Town Texas Masons E-Magazine at, http://www.mastermason.com/STTM-Emag/ This Month features the Myra Lodge Number 878 A. F. & A. M. and Brother Sam Houston Is Gone.

The Golden Trowel Award

By Corky

I was wandering through some of my old Hempstead Masonic Lodge newsletters last week and found the following column. I remembered hearing Carolyn's speech that day and felt that her words deserved to be repeated.

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Past Master Mike Risley

Brother Mike Risley of Waller Masonic Lodge #808 AF & AM received the Golden Trowel award on Saturday May 17, 2003. I would like to quickly add that Brother Mike is one Brother who truly deserves it.

Brother Mike's wife, Carolyn gave such a speech at the award, that I had to include part of it here.

"A Brothers deeds are bricks that form the structure (i.e. giving gallons of blood, changing dozens of flat tires, Driving hundreds of miles to visit sick family and friends and sitting with grieving family and friends)

Mike and Carolyn Risley

His Spirit of Humility and Compassion are the mortar's sand and cement. (never does a good deed to get a reward - only to ease other's burden; attitude always conveys feelings of respect and empathy)

His perspiration from hard work wets the sand and cement to form the mortar (never quits until the job is done.) Together the deeds, humility, compassion and perspiration form a structure that all can see is worthy of honor."

Carolyn's words are not really a part of our Masonic work, but they sure fit in well enough that they could be.

"Masonry was not made to divide men, but to unite them, leaving each man free to think his own thoughts and fashion his own system of ultimate truth. All its emphasis rests upon two extremely simple and profound principles, love of God and love of man. [J. F. NEWTON]",

This Month's Humor

A photographer from a well-known national magazine was assigned to cover the recent Southern California fires. The magazine wanted to show some of the heroic work of the firefighters as they battled the blazes.

When the photographer arrived, he realized that the smoke was so thick that it would seriously impede or make it impossible for him to photograph anything from ground-level.

So he requested permission to rent a plane and take photos from the air. His request was approved, and arrangements were made. He was told to report to a nearby airport, where a single-engine plane would be waiting for him.

He arrived at the airport and saw the plane warming up near the gate. He jumped in with his bag and shouted, "Let's go!" The pilot swung the plane into the wind, and within minutes they were in the air.

The photographer said, "Fly over the park and make two or three low passes so I can take some pictures."

"Why?" asked the pilot.

"Because I am a photographer for a national magazine," he responded, "and I need some close-up shots."

The pilot was silent for a moment; finally he stammered, "So, you're telling me you're not the flight instructor?"

Answers To "Two Good Questons"

Candidate A is Franklin Roosevelt,

Candidate B is Winston Churchill.

Candidate C is Adolph Hitler.

And by the way: The answer to the abortion question. If you said yes to the abortion, you just killed Beethoven.

Makes you wonder dosn't it? Makes a person think before judging someone...

And remember, amateurs built the ark but professionals built the Titanic.