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STATED COMMUNICATIONS
Masonic Temple
105 King Street
St. Augustine, FL
1ST & 3RD Thursdays
Meal – 6:30 p.m.
DEGREE WORK AND PRACTICE
2nd & 4th Thursdays
CHARITY OF THE QUARTER
MASONIC HOME
Ashlar Lodge No. 98 Free and Accepted Masons St. Augustine, FL
Chartered January 18, A.D. 1888, A.L. 5888
904 826-4086
March 2017
at the photographs of Past Masters lining the walls of
the Lodge Room noting those who were husbands or
sons.
The support of all Brothers for this worthy
endeavor is encouraged. I would like to thank W.
Dominick Perez for again providing loving escort to
our Widows. Bro. Bo set the bar high for all future
Senior Wardens.
On Thursday, February 16, we recognized two
Explorer Scouts and an adult leader from Explorer Post
No. 911 sponsored by the St. Johns County Sheriff's
Office. During the year we will also recognize teach-
ers, first responder, and other public servants as well as
our Rainbow Girls and our Veterans. Your attendance
at these (and all) Stated Communications indicates your
support for the Craft as well as for those honored.
We will have an Entered Apprentice Degree
on Thursday, March 23 at which we will initiate sever-
al new Brothers. Mark that date on your calendar.
There will also be a Town Hall Meeting on
Wednesday, March 8, at Pineland Lodge in Palatka to
learn about the Membership Development under direc-
tion of the Junior Grand Warden, R.W. John Wester-
man. The meal will be served at 6:00 pm. Don’t be
late.
Grand Lodge is scheduled for May 29-31 in
Orlando. This year there will be major changes this
year with a reduction in the number of Zones and Dis-
tricts. We will become District 11 (again).
Finally, we are having great Masonic Educa-
tion at each Stated Communication. Bro. Bozard had
told us about how Masons were “made” in the 17th
century and given us the Legend of Noah. Bro. Swen-
ey has informed us about our petition process and why
we conduct Masonic Funerals. There will be Masonic
Education at each Stated Communication.
Oscar Patterson III Worshipful Master
FROM THE EAST
Brethren:
We have begun the year with a combination of
lows and highs. We will deeply miss W. James Davis,
Past Master and Chaplain, and Bro. Bill Tatel, World
War II veteran. The Brothers of Ashlar No. 98 dis-
played true Masonic Love and respect through their
attendance at the services for these two beloved Ma-
sons. Let us remember that we assure all our Freema-
sons three things: fellowship, charity, and a Masonic
Funeral.
If you Cable Tow permits, please attend ser-
vices for our Departed Brethren. Proper attire for a
Masonic Funeral is dark suit, white shirt, plain dark or
black tie, and no pins or other emblems on the coat.
Plain white aprons and white gloves are provided by
our Tyler.
On the positive side, we had an outstanding
Sweetheart’s Luncheon on Saturday, February 18, host-
ed by our Senior Warden, Bro. Bo Bozard with enter-
tainment provided by Ms. Marianna Lerbs. This lunch-
eon is our Lodge’s opportunity to remind our Masonic
Widows of how much their husbands meant to us. I
noted after the lunch that a number of the ladies looked
March 2017
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 District In-
struction Has-
tings, 6 pm
RAINBOW
2 Stated Com-
munication
6:30 pm
4 MLT Mid-
dleburg Lodge
8:00 am. Sect
8-15
5 6
OES
7 8 Town Hall
meeting
Pineland 6
9 EA Degree
Practice 6 pm
pm
10 11
12 Daylight Sav-
ings Time
Ends
13 14 15
RAINBOW
16 Stated Com-
munication
6:30 pm
17 St. Patrick’s
Day
18
19 20
OES
21 York Rite
Chapter/
Council
22 District
Association
Ashlar, 6:30
pm
23
EA Degree
6:30 pm
24 George Wash-
ington Gavel
Dist. 15, Ocala
25 George Wash-
ington Gavel
Dist. 15, Ocala
26 27 28 York Rite
Commandery
29 30 31
Masonic Ethics
When making an ethical decision, one must avoid the obvious traps: everyone else
does it; nobody will care; no one will know; that's close enough; and some rules are made
to be broken. Ethical decision making is the realization that knowing what is right is doing
what is
a
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
2 3 OES 4 5 District
Instruction
Lake
Rainbow
6 Stated
Communica-
tion
7 8
9 10 11 12 Open
Book Pine-
land 6-9 pm
13 EA De-
gree
14 15
MM I, II, III
Ashlar
8:30 am
16 17 OES 18 York
Rite
Chapter/
Council
19 Rainbow 20 Stated
Communica-
tion
21 22
23/30 24/31 25 York
Rite
Command-
ery
26 District
Association
Middleburg
27 Lodge
Practice
MM Degreee
28 29
April 2017
Ethics (continued)
to “never forget these requirements, these ethics. Rather cherish them keep them close to
your heart. And hold them in reverence . . . For as long as you live. They will never fail
you. We would do very well to follow our distinguished Brothe4r’s advice.
Freemasonry offers its members and the world sound guidance on the proper way to
make ethical decisions. If a Freemason follows the lessons taught in the various lectures, ob-
ligations, and rituals, he will find himself well prepared to serve as a role model and he will
make good ethical decisions doing so. Freemasons, for example, are taught to keep their
promises, no matter how small. Consider the public attention given to Masonic secrets and
the Craft’s demand that a Brother keep such secrets. In fact, Masonic secrets are few—
recognition and some ritual—and even they are not that secret in the Internet age. At issue in
the obligation to keep secrets is the ability to keep one’s word. If you can’t be trusted with the small things,
how can you be trusted with “big” things? “'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with
a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.”
LAST CALL
Military Veterans of Ashlar Lodge No. 98, F. & A. M.
We have begun a project to recognize all VETERANS who are now or who have been
Members of our Lodge and who are not listed on the World War II memorial hanging on our
West Wall. An appropriate plaque is being constructed to display the names, military affilia-
tion, and service of all Brothers who are Veterans.
If you are a Veteran, please complete the form below and return it to W. Oscar Patterson
III . If you know of a Brother who is deceased or who does not attend regularly and you can
attest to his military service, complete a form for him, as well.
FULL NAME: ________________________ Membership No.: __________________
BRANCH OF SERVICE:______________________ PERIOD: ____________________
MAIL COMPLETED FORM TO: W. Oscar Patterson III, Ashlar Lodge No. 98, P.O. Box 236
St. Augustine, FL 32085-0236
Examples: Alfred W. Adams, U.S. Coast Guard, Korea
James J. Smith, U.S. Army, Vietnam
John Q. Public, U.S. Navy, Gulf War
Four Cardinal Virtues.
The four Cardinal Virtues so familiar to all Entered Apprentices: fortitude (bravery or courage,
forbearance, ability to confront fear uncertainty, and intimidation); prudence or wisdom (the
ability to judge between actions with regard to appropriate actions at a given time; temperance
or restraint (the practice of self-control, abstention and moderation); and justice or fairness, the
most extensive and most important virtue. A fifth virtue, alluded to by Plato and others is piety
which includes religious devotion, spirituality, or a mixture of both, but the most common ele-
ment of piety is humility.
LODGE INITIATIVE
A major initiative over the next several years within the Grand
Lodge of Florida is Membership Development under the direction of
the current Junior Grand Warden, R.W. John Westerman. This initia-
tives focuses on: improving the membership experience; enhancing
Lodge attendance; and diligently investigating the quality of those who
petition for membership.
On Wednesday, March 8th, there will be a Town Hall Meeting
with R. W. Westerman at Pineland Lodge No. 86 in Palatka. Note this
date on your calendar and plan to attend.
At Ashlar Lodge No. 98, we are working to do exactly the same
thing by having sound Masonic Education at each Stated Communica-
tion; good fellowship; and increasing our attendance through the “Ask
an Absent Brother”.
Look about you at Lodge and think about those who were in your
EA , FC, and MM class. Are they attending regularly? If not, give
them a call; let them know that they are missed; and invite them to meet
you at the next Stated Communication. You might even offer them a
ride to and from Lodge.
Regular Lodge attendance like regular church attendance and so
much else in life is a good habit. But one broken, it may be difficult to
reestablish.
And when at Lodge, let us always keep in mind that we are there
for fellowship. Talk with all Brothers. Congeniality goes a long way in
encouraging Brothers to return.
All Freemasons are Brothers who meet on the same level, regard-
less of their social or economic status outside the lodge. Princes, presi-
dents, and captains of business are no better or more important than bus
drivers, plumbers, and paper boys when they sit in the lodge together.
Masonry does not detract from a man’s accomplishments, nor does it
exalt him above his Brothers because of his position outside the lodge.
We meet upon the level, act by the plumb, and part upon the
square.
The Legend of Noah According to Graham 1725
(Spelling taken from the original)
Shem ham and jepheth ffor to go their father
noahs grave for to try if they could find anything about him ffor to lead them
to the valuable secret which this famieous preacher had for I hop all will
allow that all things needful for the new world was in the ark with noah
Now these 3 men had already agreed that if they did not find the very thing
If self that the first thing what they found was to be to them as a secret they not
doubting but did most ffirmly believe than God was able and would also prove
willing through their faith prayer and obedience for to cause what they did
find for to prove as vertuable to them as if they had received the secret at
ffirst from God himself at its head spring so came to the Grave finding
nothing save the dead body all most consumed away takeing a
greip at a ffinger
it came away so from Joynt to Joynt so to the wrest so to the Elbow so they
Reared up the dead body and supported it setting ffoot to ffoot knee to knee
Breast to breast Cheeck to cheeck and hand to back and cryed out
help o ffather as if they had said o ffather of heaven helpo us no Earthly ffather
cannot so Laid down the dead body again and now knowing what
to do – so one said is et marrow in this bone and the second said but a
dry bone and the third said it stinketh so they agreed for to give it a name
as is known to free masonry to this day so went to their undertakings
the virtue did not proceed from what they ffound or how it was called but
ffrom ffaith and prayer o thu it continued the will pass for the deed.
Master Chef Bro. Bo Bozard preparing the salad for the Sweetheart’s
Lunch on February 18.
Rainbow Assembly No. 42
Assisting with registration
Sweetheart’s Luncheon, Feb. 18.
Rainbow Assembly No. 42
Assisting at
Sweetheart’s Luncheon.
Thank you to our Rainbow Assembly
for
supporting
Ashlar Lodge No. 98
Sweetheart’s Lunch
Attendees
February 18, 2017.
Northeast Corner at
Sweetheart’s Luncheon
Explorer Scouts and Leader
Recognized
Left to right:
Explorer Tierney McCann
Explorer Lt. Hannah Stegall
Dep. Wesley Grizzard
Back row:
W. Oscar Patterson III
Dep. Wesley Grizzard
receives Grand Lodge
Certificate from
W. Oscar Patterson
Bro. Ken Schaffner supervises.
Explorer Lt. Hannah Stegall receives
Grand Lodge Certificate and check
from Ashlar No. 98.
Explorer Tierney McCann
receives Grand Lodge
Certificate and check from
Ashlar No. 98.
A FREEMASON
The real Freemason is distinguished from the rest of Mankind by the uniform
Unrestrained rectitude of his conduct. Other men are honest in fear of
Punishment which the law might inflict; they are religious in expectation
Of being rewarded, or in dread of the devil, in the next world. A Freemason
Would be just if there were no laws, human or divine except those written
in his heart by the finger of his Creator. In every climate, under every
system of religion, he is the same. He kneels before the Universal Throne of God
in gratitude for the blessings he has received and humble solicitation for
his future protection. He venerates the good men of all religions. He disturbs
not the religion of others. He restrains his passions, because they cannot be
indulged without injuring his neighbor or himself. He gives no offense, because
he does not choose to be offended. He contracts no debts which he is certain
he cannot discharge, because he is honest upon principal.
A Farmer’s Almanac, 1823
Freemasonry has always existed. . .They allow good men and youths
whom they consider worthy of their company to divine and guess at
their deeds, to see them, in so far as they can be seen. These others
find them to their liking, and perform similar deeds. . . And what
exactly do they boast about? Only such things as one expects of every
good person and every good citizen . . . and deeds speak for themselves. . .
Their true deeds are their secrets. The true deeds of Freemasons are
aimed at making all that are commonly described as good deeds for the most part superflu-
ous. Gotthold Lessing in Ernst and Faulk: Dialogues of Freemasons.
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