From the East

Greetings from the East,

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable summer so far and surviving the heat.

Last month, I covered the topic of the Hall Board, the Hall Board Directors, and the need for Brother Master Masons to serve their lodge in this capacity.

This month, I want to talk about Degree Charges. As we are aware, for each degree we have a specific “Charge” which is delivered to the candidate. The charge is very important for the candidate. Here, he is congratulated on his advancement and is provided insight to his new degree. The charges cover his conduct in and out of the lodge, his relationship with God and his brethren, community, what is expected of him as an individual and as a citizen, his character, and much more.

Charges are also guides or road maps for the Mason to navigate his internal and external worlds. These charges are of great importance. They are the last set of instructions given to the candidate as he leaves his ceremony and goes out into the world as a newly initiated Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft or Master Mason. To deliver a Charge to a candidate should be regarded as a honor and should not be taken lightly. Who can deliver these charges? Answer, a Master Mason, you do not have to be a Past Master, an Officer, but a Master Mason.

Our lodge needs brothers to accept this responsibility. Charges are delivered by memory, so there is some work to put in, but the rewards are well worth it. Delivering a charge will bring you closer to the degree ceremony, the candidate, and the lodge. You do not need to know all three charges. Revisit them and see which one appeals to you. Please let me know if you would be willing to step up to a Charge. If you have delivered charges in the past, please consider assisting the lodge again. We will provide the assistance needed to deliver a Charge. Please contact me if this interests you or you would like further information.

In July, we had Brothers Juriaan Chompff and Greg Lane give their Entered Apprentice Degree proficiencies and both were Passed to the degree of Fellowcraft. Congratulations to both brothers, job well done! Thank you to the Officers for their excellent degree work.

We should be having a couple of 3^rd Degrees in August. Master Masons please attend. Further information will be forthcoming. Speaking of 3rd degrees in August, do you know who was raised to the 3rd degree Master Mason on August 4, 1753? None other than George Washington, the Father of our Country.

Please have a great August (stay cool), and feel free to contact me, 916-990-1469 with any questions, concerns, or ideas.

From the West

Why did you join Freemasonry?

Did you come to the craft because of family legacy? Were you seeking the brotherhood and fellowship you found in a previous part of your life? Did you read about us in a book or see us in a movie? Did a friend invite you to see what the fraternity that means so much to him is all about? All of these and more are good reasons that bring us to the craft.

One of the reasons why we join freemasonry is to form bonds of friendship and fellowship. Our fraternity is a global network of millions of men who share the same values and ideals, regardless of our race, religion, nationality, or social status. We support each other in times of need and celebrate each other's achievements. We meet regularly to conduct rituals and hold social activities that foster a sense of brotherhood and mutual support. We participate in various charitable causes and community projects that benefit our community and humanity in general.

Another reason why we join freemasonry is to seek personal growth and development. Freemasonry is a lifelong journey of self-discovery and self-improvement that challenges us to become better versions of ourselves. We are encouraged to practice the virtues of temperance, fortitude, prudence, and justice, as well as faith, hope, and charity. This all takes patience. By following the moral teachings and ethical standards of freemasonry, men can achieve a higher level of moral character and spiritual awareness.

There are many more, and each mason has his own personal story and motivation.

All of these are reasons for us to participate in our lodge. We each want to get something out of our participation. What do you want from your lodge? There are many ways to participate. Would you like to help in some small way in making our lodge stronger? To help us grow and get the fulfillment you want from your participation? Would you be interested in helping our new brothers with their coaching? Would you like to learn one of the charges and make an important impression on our brothers as they advance? Are you more interested in the social aspects of the lodge and want to help with planning and implementing fun events. Can you see yourself as a member of our scholarship committee? Are you available one extra night a month to serve on the Hall Board? Would you like us to hold an annual blood drive? Should we continue to do the things we have always done, or should we give some of them a rest? These are important questions about your lodge.

We need you to participate and give us the feedback that will make you a regular participant and fulfilled by our fraternity. We would love to hear your ideas! Please reach out! Come to a degree or a dinner or the best breakfast west of Reno. We want you! We need you!

Fraternally and on the Level,

Stuart Stackhouse

Senior Warden

From the South

Hello Brethren and Ladies,

We survived the heat of July and hopefully August will be a little forgiving because Lord knows, I am not a fan of my PG&E bill. We did get to enjoy the lodge AC for a few fun meetings and a very well done double second degree for our Brothers Juriaan Chompff and Greg Lane. Please join me in congratulating them.

As we all continue to enjoy this summertime, at least we have a few things to look forward to. We get to start off the month with our Stated Dinner. This one will be provided by Dominick’s Italian Restaurant. So, yes, that means we'll have cannoli’s coming your way! Keep an eye on your emails with more details to follow on our upcoming meals.

What is better than a delicious cannoli? Some would argue, BACON. So, please come join us for our monthly breakfast where your Breakfast Club will be bringing to you another great meal set up and served for a measly $5 donation. I mean come on, you tell me where you are going to feed a family of four this much good food for $5. EARLY BIRDS, PLEASE NOTE, going forward, breakfast starts at 8:00 a.m. Our new hours are 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

It sounds like there is a very good chance we will be performing a third degree this month, so do what you can do free up your schedule and be ready to help raise a brother up. This is always a very special degree, made all the more memorable by brothers filling those seats, and as you know, there will be a good, well I hope its good, meal to follow.

Since so many families are running around enjoying the last bit of summer vacation, we don’t currently have any other events set up this month but watch for future emails because you never know what might just pop up. 

Until next month, fraternally and By the Plumb,

Noel Lukas

Junior Warden

From the Northeast Corner

Greetings Brethren,

Lots of activity in with our candidates this month. Bros. Shahin Mogharab, Melvin Manalo, and Donald Hampton are all making great progress in EA degree. 

Bros. Juriaan Chompff, Greg Lane and Jerry Hayes have all been passed to Fellowcraft and we should be seeing some 3^rd degrees soon.

As always, coaches are needed. We have sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or call me @ (916) 203-3656.

Fraternally Yours,

Joe Freidson P.M.

Head Candidates Coach

From Natoma Rainbow Assembly #90

Hello Masons of Natoma Lodge! Here’s a little about what Natoma Assembly has been up to.

We have been moving into our new term in our new offices and preparing for our upcoming Disneyland Takeover in September. Also, we have been spending a lot of our time helping out our sister assemblies to make sure that they can also have successful events! Our girls have gone to both Camellia and Roseville De Riemer assemblies to help and support them for their installation of officers, where their girls get installed into their new offices.

Other than helping out other assemblies, Natoma has also been busy with our own events as well! On July 17th we had our first meeting of the term, which was a business meeting, meaning we could show up in our business casual attire instead of dresses! Along with that, we also held a formal dinner at Leatherby's on the 27th, where we got all dressed up in our formal dresses. It was so much fun! Thank you again for your constant support, and we look forward to seeing you all soon!