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Did
You Know?
There
is a "Mission Statement", a plan for the continuation and
expansion of Masonry published by the Grand Lodge of Alabama
F.&A.M. since 1999. The Grand Lodge, like any modern business
(yes your Lodge is a business), has had a "Mission
Statement" displayed on its website since 1999. This Mission
Statement has also been read in Lodge. For those of you who may have
heard the Mission Statement read in Lodge and may have forgotten
about it, and those who have not been Lodge for awhile or do not
have access to the internet, here is the Mission Statement of your
Grand Lodge of Alabama.
The
Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State
of Alabama Mission Statement.
To
provide a strong and viable leadership to the Masons of
Alabama. To develop and implement programs to assist the
lodges in becoming more visible and active in the communities and to
promote Friendship, Morality and Brotherly Love throughout the
state. To facilitate the charitable outreach of the Grand
Lodge of Alabama. To promote Honor, Integrity and Truth to all
men..
Objectives
of the Grand
Lodge
1.
Reverse the declining membership in the lodges.
2.
Make the Grand Lodge financially self-sufficient.
3.
Institute Communications/ Leadership Workshops that will aid and
assist the Masters, Wardens and Secretaries of the subordinate
lodges into the next millennium.
4.
To support the Square and Compasses Foundation (Masonic Home) and
other charitable outreach programs of the Grand Lodge.
5.
Revise the Alabama Masonic Code (law) to meet modern day needs,
goals and objectives of the Masonic fraternity in Alabama.
6.
Promote and support our Masonic youth programs in Alabama.
7.
Show leadership and support to all a pendent bodies of Masonry in
Alabama.
8.
Project the Mission of this Grand Lodge to each individual member.
9.
Move the Grand Lodge facilities from downtown Montgomery AL to a
more rural location.
Goals
to meet the Objectives
1.
Educate the lodges through the Committee on Work, District
Lecturers, and the Education and Public Relations Committee on such
programs as the "Friend to "Friend" program, service
to the community and family involvement. To search for and present,
through these committees, programs to reduce the decrease in
membership.
2.
Manage and develop the real and personal property assets of the
Grand Lodge to provide present and future budget funding. Prevent
future requirements/requests for increased Grand Lodge dues. To
coordinate and report such actions at each Grand Lodge Communication
until this goal is realized.
3.
Implement Communications /Leadership workshops throughout the state.
Begin these workshops in calendar year 1999 in different areas of
the state.
4.
To work closely with and support the Square and Compasses Foundation
long-range goals in determining and providing for the needs of our
Masonic family. To provide adequate facilities and funding for
present and future charitable needs.
5.
Establish a committee to review and Constitution and Edicts. This
committee will make the necessary recommendations to the annual
Grand Lodge session for approval of the proposed changes.
6.
Promote the visibility and needs of our Youth programs to all a
pendent bodies. Support our Grand Lodge Youth Committee and
communicate required programs and needs to all Masonic Bodies.
7.
Promote and maintain harmonious relationships with all a pendent
bodies through communication and identification of common goals to
support Masonry. To assist and request assistance to meet mutual
goals. Grand Lodge Officers will meet at least once during the
Masonic year with all a pendent body leaders.
8.
Insure that every lodge receives the "Mission Statement"
and Objectives of the Grand Lodge and understands and supports the
goals set to meet the objectives.
9.
Formulate, and present to the Grand Lodge members, a proposed
relocation plan based on inputs from the Constituent Lodges.
What
do you think of it? Should there more to it?
Come
to Lodge, be active in YOUR Lodge's business. Ensure that you are
part of your Grand Lodge's "Mission Statement" and that
you are the one who makes the decisions as to how your Lodge
prospers and grows.
John
A. Pavlick
WM
Helion Lodge 2001-2002
Up-Coming
Events
On
December 8th at 6:00 pm there will be a traditional holiday dinner
at Helion Lodge. This will be a covered dish dinner with the
lodge supplying all of the meat. Bring your favorite dish and
join the festivities.
YADA
YADA YADA
OK!
By
now you have noticed this is not your same old Helion Lodge
"Newsletter" and I am not going to be your same old
Worshipful Master.
I
accepted the office as your WM only because of the love I have for
you, the brethren of Helion Lodge, and for the betterment of the
fraternity. As I see it I have been elected to run the
"business" of your lodge and that I pledge to do. While
some may enjoy the ritual of the lodge work-which may be what brings
you to lodge-we must all remember that ritual is not what brings
everyone to Masonry.
As
Masons, one of the things we are charged with is to be charitable.
We just finished with a Masonic conference held at Helion Lodge
where all the intricacies of the ritual were exemplified. I have
been told by some brothers that say they have no plans to join the a
pendent bodies of Masonry, i.e., York or Scottish Rites and the
Shrine, until they've gone through all the chairs of the blue lodge.
Are they truly being honest with themselves? Aren't they really just
avoiding avenues of charity because they refuse to become further
involved in charitable works?
By
membership alone in these a pendent bodies, they can contribute
daily to the charities of the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, and the
world's greatest philanthropy, the Shrine of North America and not
have to do anything further than paying their membership dues. |
A
small portion of your membership dues contributes to these
worthwhile charities. And everyday, without having to do anything
else, you are being charitable. You would be helping children with
learning and language disorders through the Scottish Rite.
Children with eye problems are helped by the York Rite. And
children suffering from burns, spinal cord injuries, or
afflictions of the bones, muscles, and joints are helped by the
Shrine. Look how much you can help with lifting a finger other
than to pay dues to these organizations.
Think
also how much you could receive in return if you got more active
than just paying dues! I can't tell you how much gratification I
see from those members who participate by donating their time and
energies to the different activities offered.
Every
one of us should be progressing through all that is available from
all the Masonic bodies. If, in your heart, you've always wanted to
go further but, for one reason or another, haven't done so yet,
use me as an avenue to that light in Masonry you may be looking
for. Ask me for more information or for applications to those a
pendent bodies. If I can't answer your questions or give you the
information you need, I'll direct you to someone who can. That's
why you elected me. I'm here for you
John
From
the Senior Deacon
Brethren,
I
wanted to take just a couple of minutes of your time to express some
personal thoughts. First, I want to thank each of you who attend
lodge on a regular basis. I fully understand that there are some who
cannot attend for various reasons, but brother, if you can make it
to lodge, I would greatly enjoy sitting in lodge with you. Second, I
want to express my thanks to the Past Masters of Helion Lodge. I
consider an important part of Masonry to be the traditions and
heritage of the craft and these dedicated brothers are forever a
part of our heritage. Thank you for your leadership. Third, I would
like to thank the select few brothers who have received a Grand
Lodge Certificate and he assistance that they lend to our degree
work. This too is a part of our heritage.
I
had the great fortune on August 4 to represent our lodge at the
District 2 conference by presiding in the East for the EA degree.
Brothers, it was an exhilarating experience! I hope to, one day,
occupy that station to initiate a new brother. I would not have been
there if it were not for all the help that I got from my brothers to
help me learn the work, and to them I am grateful.
The
Worshipful Master has appointed me as chairman of the Fundraising
Committee for this year. Brothers, if you have any thoughts on
projects that we can undertake to raise money for Helion, please let
me know and I will present them to the committee. No idea will be
rejected until we can investigate the feasibility of doing it.
Let
me close by saying that a few, short years ago I submitted a
petition to Helion Lodge and did not fully understand the importance
of being a Mason. Since that time, I have received a great deal of
knowledge and understanding. Although I didn't know what I was
getting into at the time, I would not trade it for anything now.
Fraternally,
Dan
Brown
Congratulations
The
following Brothers were recently raised to the sublime degree of
Master Mason to become true and faithful brothers among us. All of
Helion Lodge congratulates them on their preferment.
Richard
M. Kitchens
Ronald
A. Marsico
James
A. Thomas
Chad
E. Rodriguez
Lewis
C. Aycock
William
G. Higdon
Thomas
J. Herold
In
Memoriam
The
following brethren have dropped forever the working tools of life
and now reside with the Supreme Grand Master. We shall forever hold
them in our memories and will truly miss them at our gatherings.
Joseph
D'Agostino
William
K. Haisten
D.
M. Burkett
Maurice
J. Weinstein
John
R. Deputy
John
H. Locke Jr.
Carl
M. Johnson
William
A. Reynolds
Leo
C. Sanderson
Luther
C. Carroll
John
H. Worthington
Jack
F. Given
Dallas
P. Brown
Donald
Hipsher
Howard
A. Barfield
Armon
Vickers
Ralph
Hanvey
Jack
H. McIntyre
J.D.
Pettie
Evie
Shaneyfelt
Collie
M. Hasting
James
A. King
Raymond
G. Straits
From
the Editor
For
information concerning this publication contact Garry Smith,
Secretary Helion Lodge at the address on the top of this page, or by
phone at (256)837-5277 or by email at J_GSmith@bellsouth.net
or E.J. Wadsworth, Editor at (256)851-8039 or by email at ewadswo@bellouth.net. |
