From gjohnson65 at gmail.com Sun Dec 4 15:38:07 2011 From: gjohnson65 at gmail.com (Gordon Johnson) Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2011 15:38:07 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] Salem No. 4 Installation (Washington No. 4 sister Lodge) on Sunday, December 11 Message-ID: Greetings, This message is to invite you to join Washington Lodge No. 4 officers and members as we show support to our sister Lodge, Salem Lodge No. 4 at their installation of officers on Sunday, December 11 at 2:00 PM. Address: 625 Brush College Road, Salem 97304 The installation will be open, i.e., non-Masons may attend. If you are interested in carpooling, please contact the officers of Washington Lodge No. 4 at officers at washingtonlodge4.org Hope to see you there! S&F, Bro. Gordon Johnson Sr. Deacon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111204/a5977da1/attachment.html From gjohnson65 at gmail.com Mon Dec 5 14:26:49 2011 From: gjohnson65 at gmail.com (Gordon Johnson) Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2011 14:26:49 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] Washington Lodge No. 4 December 15th Special Meeting - Family Potluck! Message-ID: Greetings, Washington Lodge No. 4 will be having a family *potluck* on December 15th. The dinner will be open to all Masons, their families and friends. Bring a dish and join us for dinner at 6:30 PM. Hope to see you there! S&F, Bro. Gordon Johnson Sr. Deacon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111205/0c59d829/attachment.html From rayzimmerman2 at comcast.net Tue Dec 6 10:03:36 2011 From: rayzimmerman2 at comcast.net (Ray Zimmerman) Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2011 10:03:36 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] 2-week Masonic schedule Message-ID: <003301ccb441$60b7e480$2227ad80$@net> Here is the Masonic schedule for the next 2 weeks. Lots of special events going on. Ray Zimmerman Congrats to our float team for providing the float to District #18 for the Longview Christmas parade on the 3rd. It was a big hit! Tuesday, Dec 6th 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Promise #41 Rainbow Advisory Mtg- VMC 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM: Twin Falls #180 Stated - No. Clark Historical Museum Wednesday, Dec 7th 9:00 AM - Noon: Cards and Coffee - VMC Time?: VMC Temple Board Dinner (no meeting) - VMC 7:30 PM: Washington #4 visit to Salem #4 Stated - Salem, Or Thursday, Dec 8th (6:30 PM dinner) 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Mt. Hood #32 Stated [GM visit] - VMC Saturday, Dec 10th 10:00 AM - Noon: Silver Star #286 Open Installation of Officers - Manor Grange 10:00 AM - Noon: Masonic University - VMC 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Martha Washington OES - VMC 7:00 PM: Vancouver DeMolay Legion of Honor Investiture - [GM presiding] - VMC Sunday, Dec 11th Washington #4 visit to Salem #4 Open Installation of Officers Monday, Dec 12th 9:00 AM - Noon: Cards and Coffee - VMC 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Jobs Daughters - VMC 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: White Salmon #163 Stated - White Salmon Lodge Tuesday, Dec 13th 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Promise #41 Rainbow [GM visit] - VMC 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Silver Star #286 Stated - Manor Grange Wednesday, Dec 14th 9:00 AM - Noon: Cards and Coffee - VMC 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: York Rite - VMC Thursday, Dec 15th 6:30 PM: Washington #4 Family Potluck (open to all) - VMC Friday, Dec 16th (6:30 PM dinner) 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Gateway Shrine Club - VMC Saturday, Dec 17th 10:00 AM - Noon: Masonic University - VMC 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Masonic Awareness Committee - 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Mt. Hood #32 Christmas Charity Dinner - VMC Monday, Dec 19th 9:00 AM - Noon: Cards and Coffee - VMC 6:00 PM (Dinner) 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: North Bank #182 Special - North Bank Lodge Tuesday, Dec 20th 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Scottish Rite Executive Board - VMC Wednesday, Dec 21st 9:00 AM - Noon: Cards and Coffee - VMC 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Henry Wentworth OES - VMC Thursday, Dec 22nd (6:30 PM dinner) 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Mt. Hood #32 Special - VMC Friday, Dec 23rd 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Vancouver #47 Prince Hall Masons Stated - VMC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111206/c6809456/attachment.html From gjohnson65 at gmail.com Fri Dec 9 13:00:25 2011 From: gjohnson65 at gmail.com (Gordon Johnson) Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2011 13:00:25 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] Washington Lodge No. 4 December 15th Special Meeting - Family Potluck! - RSVP requested Message-ID: Greetings, Reminder, request for RSVP, and additional information: Washington Lodge No. 4 will be having a family *potluck* on December 15th. The dinner will be open to all Masons, their families and friends. The Lodge will be providing a main dish and beverages, so bring a salad, hot side dish, or dessert and join us for dinner at 6:30 PM. Hope to see you there! Please RSVP to WM Dave Coffing nb182mastermason at gmail.com or JW Leigh Cahill cahill98685 at gmail.com. S&F, Bro. Gordon Johnson Sr. Deacon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111210/aa8a82c7/attachment.html From gjohnson65 at gmail.com Sat Dec 10 05:24:19 2011 From: gjohnson65 at gmail.com (Gordon Johnson) Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 05:24:19 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] REMINDER: Salem No. 4 Installation (Washington No. 4 sister Lodge) on Sunday, December 11 Message-ID: Greetings, This message is to invite you to join Washington Lodge No. 4 officers and members as we show support to our sister Lodge, Salem Lodge No. 4 at their installation of officers on Sunday, December 11 at 2:00 PM. Address: 625 Brush College Road, Salem 97304 The installation will be open, i.e., non-Masons may attend. If you are interested in carpooling, please contact the officers of Washington Lodge No. 4 at officers at washingtonlodge4.org Hope to see you there! S&F, Bro. Gordon Johnson Sr. Deacon -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111210/7b995dce/attachment-0001.html From mjbishop50 at hotmail.com Thu Dec 8 18:23:21 2011 From: mjbishop50 at hotmail.com (Mike Bishop) Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2011 18:23:21 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] (no subject) Message-ID: Brethren, Washington Lodge #4 will be hosting an Esoterica Intrest Committee meeting. Any Mason can show up for this, even as a drop in. I would limit it to Masons at first until we know what direction we want to go with this project/committee. It will be structured as a sort of round table at first to see where folks interests lie. I will pick a the date as Fri Jan 13th... (1-13-2012)... around 6PM and we can see how it goes. We will meet at the VMC unless someone else volunteers a better location or has a better idea. The time and dates can be flexible, but at least this is somewhere to start. If things change, an update will be communicated. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111209/0df65eea/attachment.html From john at laws.tc Fri Dec 9 07:53:14 2011 From: john at laws.tc (John Laws) Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2011 15:53:14 +0000 (GMT) Subject: [Gendis] (no subject) References: Message-ID: <964348083.5427.1323445994783.JavaMail.mail@webmail03> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111209/16b82db6/attachment.html From nb182mastermason at gmail.com Sun Dec 11 08:44:53 2011 From: nb182mastermason at gmail.com (David Coffing) Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2011 08:44:53 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] (no subject) In-Reply-To: <964348083.5427.1323445994783.JavaMail.mail@webmail03> References: <964348083.5427.1323445994783.JavaMail.mail@webmail03> Message-ID: Thanks for putting this together WB Mike, see you all there! On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 7:53 AM, John Laws wrote: > I am interested! > > On Dec 8, 2011, *Mike Bishop* wrote: > > Brethren, > > Washington Lodge #4 will be hosting an Esoterica Intrest Committee meeting. > > Any Mason can show up for this, even as a drop in. I would limit it to > Masons at first until we know what direction we want to go with this > project/committee. It will be structured as a sort of round table at first > to see where folks interests lie. I will pick a the date as Fri Jan 13th... > (1-13-2012)... around 6PM and we can see how it goes. We will meet at the > VMC unless someone else volunteers a better location or has a better idea. > > The time and dates can be flexible, but at least this is somewhere to > start. If things change, an update will be communicated. > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111211/b7af6483/attachment.html From john at laws.tc Thu Dec 15 06:00:00 2011 From: john at laws.tc (John Laws) Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 06:00:00 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] Mt Hood Annual Charity Dinner This Saturday from 4-6 PM at the VMC In-Reply-To: <810955503.948442.1320464588030.JavaMail.root@sz0067a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> References: <810955503.948442.1320464588030.JavaMail.root@sz0067a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Message-ID: <4EE9FD60.5060800@laws.tc> Just a reminder, This Saturday from 4-6 PM is the Mt Hood Annual Charity Dinner at the VMC. Our annual Masonic Charity Dinner is fast approaching. Tickets are just $10. 100% of ticket sales will benefit the Clark County YWCA SafeChoice Program to advocate for, educate, and support those affected by domestic violence. http://ywcaclarkcounty.com/help/safechoice Our theme is Arabian Nights, and we will feature a Middle Eastern-themed menu (no alcohol). Dinner will be from 4pm to 5pm. Entertainment includes: 'Brothers of the Baladi band' http://www.baladi.com/ Brothers of the Baladi, a Portland, Oregon-based band have been performing for over 30 years by adapting traditional Middle Eastern music and American sensibilities to create a new hybrid of World Music. The quartet combines traditional acoustic Middle Eastern instruments and songs with western instrumentation, exotic rhythms with familiar grooves and vocals in seven languages (Arabic, Turkish, Farsi, French, Spanish, Armenian and English) to create a unique and highly rhythmic dance music. The Brothers have been blazing World Music trails around the globe through their recordings and live shows for over three decades. The entertainment will run from about 5pm and ending at 6pm. Also will be family friendly belly dancing, http://jewelsdances.com/index.php?cID=67 Belly dancer Jewels wrote: "During the show, there will be family friendly performances by myself and Amy. All of our performances are family friendly and our dress will be similar to what we wore at the West Linn Arts Festival performance." ALSO We will be hosting a booth with the Childhood Identification Program (CHIP) BEFORE the dinner from 3pm to 4pm. Make sure to come early with your kids or grandkids to have their picture taken, fingerprints, DNA, teeth impressions, ID cards and a short DVD filmed. Once created, these kits are given to the child's family and are INVALUABLE to police if your child should be abducted or go missing! http://www.wamasonic.org/chips.html Brother John L. PS You can buy tickets from one of the MT Hood #32 officers, or at the door. If you are buying at the door, please RSVP or at this Facebook event page as we are trying to establish a head count. Thanks Brothers! http://www.facebook.com/events/325050220856759/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111215/e0bc4b93/attachment.html From kegazow at comcast.net Fri Dec 16 11:44:33 2011 From: kegazow at comcast.net (kegazow@comcast.net) Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:44:33 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [Gendis] Fwd: [acpe-membership] Bend Position Posting In-Reply-To: <91D3B29E8478FD44B2CFEEDF1F2578A710315822D6@EPS-MBX-VS2.evergreenps.local> Message-ID: <328267468.1244942.1324064673176.JavaMail.root@sz0093a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Brothers, A friend in the Bend-La Pine area is posting for a technical position with their school district.? If you know of anyone who might be interested, please pass this along to them. Thanks, Kurt Gazow North Bank Lodge #182 From: Steve Carlson Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 9:11 AM Cc: Ben Hansen; Becky Rehwalt Subject: [acpe-membership] Bend Position Posting ? Bend - LaPine Schools is seeking a systems support specialist to work with a team to select, deploy, and manage enterprise software systems and servicesfor use by school district staff. ?This position works with and advocates for end users to assure that software systems meet requirements for efficiency, effectiveness, and that staff are adequately trained and supported. ?Additional information about the position, the working conditions and the community are? posted online at:? www.bend.k12.or.us/tsc/systemsupport . ?This position is open until filled and consideration of candidates will not occur until after the holidays. ? Steve ? Steven A Carlson Ph.D Executive Director, Information Technology Bend - La Pine Schools -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111216/b4596f30/attachment-0001.html From rayzimmerman2 at comcast.net Fri Dec 16 14:07:57 2011 From: rayzimmerman2 at comcast.net (Ray Zimmerman) Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:07:57 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] Masonic 2-week calendar Message-ID: <008a01ccbc3f$2b4649d0$81d2dd70$@net> Brothers, Here is your 2-week calendar. Ray Friday, Dec 16th (6:30 PM dinner) 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Gateway Shrine Club - VMC Saturday, Dec 17th 10:00 AM - Noon: Masonic University - VMC 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Masonic Awareness Committee and CHIPS booth training - VMC 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Mt. Hood #32 - Christmas Charity Dinner (with musical entertainment)- VMC Monday, Dec 19th 9:00 AM - Noon: Cards and Coffee - VMC 6:00 PM (Dinner) 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: North Bank #182 Special - North Bank Lodge Tuesday, Dec 20th 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Scottish Rite Executive Board - VMC Wednesday, Dec 21st 9:00 AM - Noon: Cards and Coffee - VMC 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Henry Wentworth OES - VMC Thursday, Dec 22nd (6:30 PM dinner) 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Mt. Hood #32 Special - VMC Friday, Dec 23rd 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Vancouver #47 Prince Hall Masons Stated - VMC Saturday, Dec 24th 10:00 AM - Noon: Masonic University - VMC Sunday, Dec 25th - Christmas Monday, Dec 26th 9:00 AM - Noon: Cards and Coffee - VMC 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Jobs Daughters - VMC Tuesday, Dec 27th - Feast Day of St. John the Evangelist 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Promise #41 Rainbow - VMC (potluck at 7:00 PM) 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Silver Star #286 Special (no formal opening - dress casual) - Manor Grange Wednesday, Dec 28th 9:00 AM - Noon: Cards and Coffee - VMC 6:30 PM (Dinner) 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM: Scottish Rite Stated- VMC Saturday, Dec 31st 10:00 AM - Noon: Masonic University - VMC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111216/c5e60a47/attachment.html From brinks54 at gmail.com Sun Dec 18 05:12:25 2011 From: brinks54 at gmail.com (Steven Herling) Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2011 05:12:25 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] Annual Polar bear Run Message-ID: Brothers The annual Polar Bear Run is fast approaching and is scheduled as always - January 1st, 2012. This annual motorcycle run (event) is sponsored by Trinity Road Riders and is a hell of a blast to ride in. Everyone meets at Cycle gear on Stark St in Portland and then decides which level individually you want to ride at Baby, Mama or Papa. Most decide based on weather first followed by ego.lol I would love to see some of my brothers and their families ride with me in this years run. If interested - please let me know and we can coordinate where and what time to meet up. 360-910-0411 or use my personal email address on this gendis. You can sign up for the run and see more about it by googling Polar Bear Run 2012, Portland Oregon. I'm not very computer savvy so please accept my apologies for not providing a proper link. I don't know how to do that. If you have any questions about event fees or this payment please contact the event organizer trinityroadriders at gmail.com Lastly, I wish all my brothers and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. Fraternally Steve Herling -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111218/9b3badc9/attachment.html From kegazow at comcast.net Sun Dec 18 06:28:50 2011 From: kegazow at comcast.net (Kurt Gazow) Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2011 06:28:50 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] Annual Polar bear Run In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <37A5E6D2-950D-4EBF-83AB-8AA30FFD74FD@comcast.net> The website for this year's event is http://www.pdxpolarbearrun.com/polarbearrun.html Thanks, Kurt On Dec 18, 2011, at 5:12, Steven Herling wrote: > Brothers > > The annual Polar Bear Run is fast approaching and is scheduled as always - January 1st, 2012. This annual motorcycle run (event) is sponsored by Trinity Road Riders and is a hell of a blast to ride in. Everyone meets at Cycle gear on Stark St in Portland and then decides which level individually you want to ride at Baby, Mama or Papa. Most decide based on weather first followed by ego.lol > > I would love to see some of my brothers and their families ride with me in this years run. If interested - please let me know and we can coordinate where and what time to meet up. 360-910-0411 or use my personal email address on this gendis. > > You can sign up for the run and see more about it by googling Polar Bear Run 2012, Portland Oregon. I'm not very computer savvy so please accept my apologies for not providing a proper link. I don't know how to do that. > > > If you have any questions about event fees or this payment please contact the event organizer trinityroadriders at gmail.com > > Lastly, I wish all my brothers and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. > > Fraternally > > Steve Herling > _______________________________________________ > Gendis mailing list > Gendis at wamasonic.org > http://lists.wamasonic.org/mailman/listinfo/gendis -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111218/67307e1b/attachment.html From rayzimmerman2 at comcast.net Sun Dec 18 16:26:57 2011 From: rayzimmerman2 at comcast.net (Ray Zimmerman) Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:26:57 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] Masonic Awareness Committee report Message-ID: <004d01ccbde4$eb1ab150$c15013f0$@net> Brothers, Owing to the holidays and possibly the weather, turnout for the MAC meeting yesterday was light (4 brothers). Brother Masouka gave us a demonstration of the very impressive new CHIPS equipment. We think we can get the cost down to about $2 per child. The float team provided the float to Longview Lodge to use in the Longview Evening Christmas parade on the 3rd. As usual, it was a big hit and the team said the parade route was packed with people. MAC purchased four walkie-talkies for the team to use in the future. We also added hooks to the storage container so we can drape a VERY large tarp between the container and float trailer to work on the floats "undercover". No other business was discussed. However, Jimmy Johnson and I were trying to find ways to encourage more brothers to come to the VMC on Saturday mornings. I mentioned that my other lodge in Issaquah initiated Saturday morning breakfasts at Denny's about 3 years ago. I was skeptical that brothers would show up EVERY Saturday. They now average 15-20 brothers every weekend. Perhaps we might want to consider having the MAC provide breakfast every Saturday. Lots to discuss next month. Thanks again, Jason, for the CHIPS demo. Ray -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111219/93e24f41/attachment.html From jimmy986611 at msn.com Tue Dec 20 14:57:34 2011 From: jimmy986611 at msn.com (JIMMY JOHNSON) Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:57:34 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] FW: Vote for the Shriners Hospitals In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Definitely worth the effort... Please go to the link below and vote for The Shriners Hospitals?...... Vote daily to help them win more miles and forward this e-mail to spread the word to everyone you know or share it on facebook after voting!!! Click: http://10millioncharitymiles.com , click on the Shriners Fez, and then click vote.... Help The Shriners Hospitals win their share of 10 million airline miles to use for flying kids to their hospitals for surgeries and treatments!! The 10 Million Charity Miles Giveaway program begins at midnight, December 14, 2011 and ends at 11:59 p.m., December 31, 2011. During this time frame, you may vote for one of the listed charities to increase the percentage of the miles that they receive. You may vote once per day. (per e-mail address) Membership in MileagePlus or OnePass programs is not required to vote for your charity. Each charity is guaranteed to receive a minimum of 25,000 miles. The donated miles will be deposited by January 31, 2012. Thanks for supporting Shriners Hospitals!! P.S.: I am sending this to everyone on my mailing list. If you will do the same, perhaps we can win this thing FOR THE KIDS ! If you know of a child that can benefit from the services provided at no cost to the patient from the Shriners Hospitals for Children, call 800-237-5055 in the US, or 800-361-7256 in Canada, or your local Shriners. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111220/edbd2895/attachment-0001.html From thoesing at gmail.com Tue Dec 20 19:55:52 2011 From: thoesing at gmail.com (Tom Hoesing) Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:55:52 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] Mt. Hood #32 Special - Travel to Kenton #145 Installation! Message-ID: Brethren and friends, While we only got as far as *talking *about an "official" combined event with Kenton #145 during WB Richard Chase's year in the East there, we do have one last chance to visit before his term officially ends--their Installation of Officers is this Thu, 12/22 at 6:30 pm. As we have no degree work scheduled this month, the officers agreed to attend the open installation as a group and further our friendly fraternal relations with our brethren from the southern part of our jurisdiction. ;-) Anyone interested in a carpool should reply to this message or better yet, chime in on the Facebook post on the same topic: http://www.facebook.com/groups/390805498335/ Happy Holidays to All! -Tom -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111221/326993ec/attachment.html From jimmy986611 at msn.com Fri Dec 23 08:17:08 2011 From: jimmy986611 at msn.com (JIMMY JOHNSON) Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:17:08 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] FW: Freemason Network Digest - December 2011 In-Reply-To: <4ad76e1afa6d6876068f960847b9779c15e.20111222230715@mail126.us2.rsgsv.net> References: <4ad76e1afa6d6876068f960847b9779c15e.20111222230715@mail126.us2.rsgsv.net> Message-ID: Good Works... Subject: Freemason Network Digest - December 2011 From: dalban at scottishrite.org To: Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:07:24 -0500 Freemason Network Digest - December 2011 Having trouble reading this email? View it in your browser. December 2011 Issue | Forward to a Brother Freemason Network Digest Brethren All, We write wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season! During this season we are paying special tribute to our Members in the Military for their service and dedication to protecting our freedoms. Login Now. December Features Featured Discussion: What is or was your experience with Freemasonry in the military? Make sure to stop by the Introduce Yourself forum to say hello, and meet and greet other Brothers from around the world. Featured Blog: Past Grand Commander Ill. C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33? Feb. 14, 1924 - Dec. 1, 2011 DEAR BRETHREN: A great affliction has fallen upon us?the sharp blow of an expected and grievous calamity. Our venerable and beloved Brother CHRISTIAN FREDERICK KLEINKNECHT, JR., 33? of Maryland, our Past Grand Commander, will be seen by us no more in this world. It was not so long ago, when our Supreme Council closed, that he stood in the circle of the brethren around the altar and repeated with them the solemn words of parting: "It may be that we shall not all again assemble together in Council." Featured Photo: Brazilian Stamp Celebrating Freemasonry This stamp from 2004 is another great example of Freemasonry permeating throughout the world. The Freemason Network site is hosted by the Supreme Council, 33?, A.&A.S.R. of Freemasonry, S.J., USA. Join the site now! Help Grow the Freemason Network! Share this email with your Brothers and grow the Masonic community! Forward this email to a fellow Freemason. Not a member yet? JOIN NOW! Share across the Web: Freemasons in the Military During this Holiday Season we would like to thank all of our Military Members for their continued dedication and service. If deployed, may the GAOTU look over your safety and hasten your return home to family, friends, and Brothers. Russell Spencer Russell serves in the US Army with the 101st Airborne Division and is an Aviation Operations NCO. He currently resides in Louisville, KY. John Gilbert John returned home to Michigan this past month. He serves as a military analyst with the US Army Reserve. Denton Poe Denton hails from the state of Virginia. He is a former US Marine, currently serving with the US Army National Guard and is deployed in Afghanistan. Jeremy Reynolds Jeremy is suited up in his humvee near Afghanistan. Godspeed brother Reynolds! Texas awaits your safe return! Upcoming Event March 9th-10th 2012: Supreme Council Leadership Workshop Don't forget to go to the Events section to check current listings and schedule events in your area. As the year 2011 draws to a close, we want you to know that your Membership and efforts with the Freemason Network have helped it grow to almost 14,000 Members worldwide. If you know a Brother, not yet a Member, which would enjoy sharing fraternity with us at the Freemason Network please forward this email to him so that we can count him amongst us for the ensuing Masonic year, 2012! Forward to a Brother Find us across the web: To ensure you receive emails from Freemason Network, please add admin at freemasonnetwork.net to your address book. Update your email address | Unsubscribe jimmy986611 at msn.com from this list. Membership in the Freemason Network Community. Sent by: The Supreme Council, 33?, A.&A.S.R. of Freemasonry, S.J., U.S.A. 1733 16th Street N.W. Washington, DC 20009 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111223/88d9eae6/attachment-0001.html From jimmy986611 at msn.com Thu Dec 29 08:13:16 2011 From: jimmy986611 at msn.com (JIMMY JOHNSON) Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:13:16 -0800 Subject: [Gendis] FW: Christmas Eve, 1881 In-Reply-To: <875f.53f65a6d.3c2cb41f@aol.com> References: <875f.53f65a6d.3c2cb41f@aol.com> Message-ID: Forgotten gifts. Christmas Eve, 1881 I wonder if folks today really understand the blessings we all have?? This has been around for years, but I think we all could learn and live with the help of others and Our God. Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving. It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible. After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight." I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what.. Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high side boards on. After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood - the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?" You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what? Yeah," I said, "Why?" "I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt." That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. "What's in the little sack?" I asked. Shoes, they're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy." We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been our concern. We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?" "Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?" Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp. "We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children - sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out. "We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak. My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before, filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people. I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us." In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it. Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes. Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine. At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away. Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will." Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday, a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand." I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children. For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life. Author Unknown Please pass it on... NOTICE: This email and any attachments are for the exclusive and confidential use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not an intended recipient, please do not read, distribute, or take action in reliance upon this message. If you have received this in error, please notify me immediately by return email and promptly delete this message and its attachments from your computer. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.wamasonic.org/pipermail/gendis/attachments/20111229/5cc6fefd/attachment-0001.html