Marshal the Troops

At Corinthian 67, our bylaws require that the outgoing Master serve as Lodge Education Officer, and that the outgoing Lodge Education Officer serve as the Marshal. That means, if you are Master of the Lodge, you will serve two more years in some lodge leadership role. We designed our officer succession because we wanted to keep the Master in lodge as long as possible. We want his expertise.

As someone who has now been assigned a new role, I have to figure out what the heck I’m supposed to do exactly. I like to do my own thing so I’ve added a bit. Let’s start with the basic framework of a Marshal.

Let’s look at the language of the Minnesota installation ritual:

It is your duty to form and conduct processions of the Lodge on all public occasions, and to attend to such other interests in the practice of our rites, as the Master shall direct.

Okay. So I do some stuff, mostly in public. That's a start but I'm going to need some more information. Let’s go further. 

This is the description from the Minnesota Officers Guide:

The Marshal should:
1. Assist the Tyler to open and close the Lodge and to set up the Lodge.
2. Present the Colors of our country.
3. Assist the Stewards.

Okay, that helps a little bit more. I’m supposed to be a helper. I like to help but again, I’m not sure what aid, other than setup and cleaning, I’m supposed to provide.

I’m writing my own job description for the office of Marshal.

Here goes:

The Marshal should:

1. Serve as the lodge’s Grand Lodge liaison. At a minimum, he will provide the officers of the Grand Lodge with the calendar of dates and invite them to all important lodge functions. 
2. Present the Colors of our country. 
3. Serve as the lodge’s public relations ambassador. These may include: 
1. Inviting distinguished guests from the community to open lodge functions. 
2. Asking community officials if they need assistance from the lodge.
3. Planning and leading any community outreach with the assistance of other brothers. 
4. Other duties as assigned.

I will probably think of some other stuff that the Marshal should do but that’s what I can think of off the top of my head. I hope to serve Corinthian Lodge well and I want to congratulate all the officers as they continue to lead C67 to further glory.

What do you think the Marshal should do? Does your state do something differently? Leave a comment below.

Faribault Installation in Local Paper

The Faribault Daily News has published a story on Faribault Lodge No. 9's officer installation. Worshipful Master Jimmy has been installed as Master for this year and Worshipful Brother David has been installed as LEO. The Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Minnesota, Most Worshipful Brother John Cook, was the installing Master which is a great honor for any Master.

If you have never met Worshipful Master Jimmy, you need to meet him. He is one of the hardest working brothers in the state and his wife and he are extremely involved in Job's Daughters in the state of Minnesota serving on the Grand Guardian Council.

If you have never been to Faribault Lodge No. 9, you need to make a trip down there. The brothers are quite gracious and very knowledgeable on Masonic subjects. I remember my last trip there very well as we came to claim the Faribault sword. It was an honor to have sat in the East with Worshipful Brother David at that communication. These brothers are bringing Masonic light back to Faribault. Faribault No. 9 meets the 2nd Monday of each month, except June, July, and August.

Farmington York Rite Installation

Tonight, my good friend and the Senior Warden of our Lodge, Steve, was installed as High Priest of Corinthian Chapter #33 and Companion Chuck was installed as Illustrious Master of Northfield Council #12. I will post pictures of the nights festivities below.

I can say that Royal Arch, in particular, and York Rite, in general, will feel a new sense of rebirth as Masonry is once again discovered. Royal Arch Masonry offers to the brother something further in his Masonic life, something new. Perhaps a brother doesn't find something he's looking for in his mother Lodge. Although he has a duty to attend Lodge, he may feel that his talents aren't being used to their fullest. That's where the appendant bodies come into play.

I really have enjoyed my time in Chapter, learning new ritual and witnessing degree work for the first time in four years as an actual candidate. I have opened a new area of study in my Masonic education. The best part of York Rite is its closeness in both locality and relationships with the companions in the local Chapter and Council. I hope that my soon-to-be Chapter and Council continues to have great success in the coming year and beyond.

Installation 2009, Wow!

My Lodge, Corinthian #67, had our Annual Installation of Officers for 2009-2010 on December 6th. My Lodge brothers elected me as Worshipful Master. I am truly honored and blessed that the brothers of my Lodge have faith in my abilities especially as I am still a pup of 27 years. I am excited for the upcoming year as I wish to continue the past few years successes in membership, temple restoration and programming.

This year, I am focusing my efforts on three guiding principles: experimentation, excellence, and excitement. I truly believe these three thoughts are the key to getting a more worthwhile lodge experience. As I said in my remarks to the brethren, families and guests, we, at Corinthian Lodge, are going to try lots of new things that we have never done before. We are going to hold more Table Lodges, more schools of instruction, more fundraising activities, more educational programs; in short, we're going to give to our brethren what I believe they deserve, a more meaningful Lodge experience.

Quantity and quality need not be competitors of each other. It is about finding the right balance. As President and Brother Theodore Roosevelt said, "In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing." We must do more to find out what works or what doesn't work. I want to treat my Lodge as a laboritory, testing new ideas in an effort to make good on our promise as a progressive science.

Masonry stands upon a precipice. Unfortunately, as a Craft, many brothers look down the cliffface instead of seeing that there is another side, across the gorge. We need only bridge to the other side to save the Fraternity that we love. I believe my brothers and I have the tools and the talent in to continue building and strengthening our Lodge.

Finally, I want to thank those people that have always helped me. I first want to thank my wife who has allowed me to take part in something I have found I truly love doing. Without her support, I would not be half the Freemason I am today. I would also like to thank my parents for giving me their support as well as my dad for being willing to serve as sky pilot (chaplain) for next year. I also want to thank my Grandpa, a 60 year member for getting me into Masonry, and my Grandmas (maternal and paternal) as well as my brother and his fiancee for attending and giving their support to me. I would also like to thank Karen, my organist, for doing a great job. She has known me since before I was born and has always been there to help me if I needed it.

Of the brothers, I want to thank all of them for giving me the strength to work at making our Lodge a great place to be. I want to thank the officers for their willingness to serve the Lodge and lead it with me. A special thanks goes out to WBro. Paul who's year was filled with success which I will endeavor to match. I want to thank our Secretary Joe for all the painstaking work he goes through without complaint. I would also like to thank Bro. Steve for being when of the best cornermen ever. I would also like to thank my Mentor, WBro. Don, for serving as my installing Marshall. He was the first brother to really push me into focusing on Masonry, and having it become a part of my life. If it wasn't for his willingness to spend the time on learning my catechisms, I probably would have been far less active. I would also like to thank my good friend, WBro. James McNeely, our Area Deputy as my Installing Master. He has been a great friend. A man who always has thoughtful and thought-provoking insights into Masonic good governance. We, in the Southeast, are lucky to have him as our Deputy. There are many more I should thank but I am running long and they know who they are. ;)

I want to thank the brothers of Corinthian Lodge for giving me this opportunity to try new things. We have a great year ahead of us. Brothers, let's get to work.

Here are some photos from the event taken by my wife:

Myrtle Chapter #13 Installation

I was fortunate this weekend to visit the open officers installation of Myrtle Chapter #13, Order of the Eastern Star. I was there as a representative of the brothers of Corinthian Lodge #67. I have never been to a Eastern Star meeting or event and I am not a member so this was a very new experience. The best way to describe it is with an example; I have heard that those who speak Spanish can be somewhat familiar with French but may not understand. As I watched the installation of the sisters and brothers of Myrtle, I could recognize some of the similarities but it was only of the basic structures.

I have heard brothers complain about Eastern Star. "Why do they meet in our Lodge rooms?" However, I am of the belief that Masonry should be a family affair. Certainly, I am not saying that women should be made Masons but do we really need to separate our Masonic life from our family life? RWB Tom, the Senior Grand Warden has a very great saying: "Masonry is a way of life." Our families are a part of our lives.

I noticed also that within the concepts of Eastern Star is an overarching theme, the women are in charge. Masonry, CGMMNA and PHA, is a male dominated organization. It only allows men to join and only men take part in its ritual. Many fraternal organizations have ladies auxiliary but it strictly delineates the roles of the sexes. Eastern Star is designed around both women and men being able to meet together and it is the Worthy Matron that rules over the Chapter.

In my Lodge, even women that are not in Eastern Star are still invited to our Holiday potlucks, our Sweetheart's Night and our family picnics. Why? I think it is to so our ladies know that we do care for their opinion and approval as Masons. I want to congratulate Myrtle Chapter's new Worthy Matron, Kerry, and I hope for her a very good year. I know that she and I will, should tradition prevail, be working very closely together.

Installation Night at Corinthian Lodge #67

I want to thank our new Worshipful Master for a great installation night and hope him a great new year. I hope that I can be of some help in my new office as Junior Warden to facilitate his plans for this year. Thank you again, and congratulations!!!