THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF WIDOW’S SONS’ LODGE NO. 60

A. F. & A. M., CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, U.S.A.

CHARTERED DECEMBER 10TH, AD 1799, AL 5799

HIRAM’S JOURNAL

Stated Communication February 17, 2014

Widow’s Sons’ Lodge No. 60 Website Widow’s Sons’ Lodge No. 60 Facebook Page

Grand Master’s

From

Widow’s Sons’

No. 60

Leitch 1855-56

Coles 1880-81

Duke 1898-99

Wood 1915

Forbes 1959

Hodges 2009

Brethren, I would first like to thank everyone who attended Janu-

ary’s Stated Communication and were present for the official visit of

the District Deputy Grand Master, RW Philip Harding Nelson, Jr.

RW Nelson brought us greetings from our Grand Master, MW

Wayne Sawyer Flora, 169th Grand Master of Masons in Virginia. He

gave a brief summary of MW Sawyer’s plans and charities for the

year as well as some thoughts of his own.

Along with several of our officers, I recently attended our Division

Leadership Conference as always the discussion in each of the ses-

sions turns to the decline in membership of the Craft and what we as

brethren can do to turn this decline of freemasonry around. I contend that the best way we as

Freemasons and brothers can turn things around is to always act upon the square and keep the

tongue of good report as we have been taught in each of our Masonic degrees. If we set an ex-

ample by our honesty and how we act then surely men will see this and want to be a part of our

fraternity. If we debate for hours on what we can do to be sure that Freemasonry survives, we

can emerge with no better plan or answer than is contained in these words Friendship, Moral-

ity, Brotherly Love, Relief, Truth and Charity. They were relevant from the beginning of time.

They were relevant at the building of King Solomon’s Temple; they were relevant through

wars and peace. They are relevant now, and they will be relevant as long as mankind exists.

Our job is made easy when we understand that. Those of us who attend lodge regularly know

we have a beautiful lodge not only ascetically, but also symbolically as shown by who we are

and how we act toward one another. We brethren of this lodge meet on the Level act by the

Plumb and part upon the Square. Everyone is made welcome who enters our lodge room. We

each practice what we hear at the closing charge. We are a society of friends and brothers

among whom no contention exists. When we close lodge and go to refreshment the good

friendship and laughter are genuine. I am proud to be a member and brother of this lodge. A

good friend and brother of whom I highly respected once said, “ The doctrines of Masonry are

the most beautiful that it is possible to conceive. Love one another, teach one another, help one

another. These are the essence and heart of the doctrine of Masonry, all our science, all our

law. It is impossible to be a good Mason without being a good man.” This was said by Wor.

Goldie W. Tomlin Sr, father of a present Worshipful Master in our district. Wor. Bro. Goldie

summed it up better than I ever could. Live by these things, my brethren and Freemasonry will

again thrive.

At our Stated Communication on February 17th, I am pleased to have as our speakers RW

Robert E. Simpson and our Senior Deacon, Brother Mark Chapman who will do a presentation

on some beautiful lodge artwork Bro. Chapman has created.

If your cable tow allows (and I hope it does) please try to be with us, I know you will go away

feeling richer for being with your brothers.

Sincerely & Fraternally,

William R. Bond, III

Worshipful Master, Widow’s Sons’ Lodge No. 60 A.F. & A.M.

Important Dates

February 8th, Division Leadership Confer-

ence, Scottish Rite Temple in Richmond, reg-

istration 8:00 a.m.

February 10th, DDGM Official Visit to

Alberene Lodge

February 11th, DDGM Official Visit to

King Solomon’s Lodge

March 15, C. A. Whitted Area Ritual School for Districts 18

and 19, Scottsville, 9:00 a.m.

April 11th and 12th, R. R. Kennedy Area Ritual School for

Districts 18 and 19, Waynesboro, 7:00 p.m. on the 11th and

9:00 a.m. on the 12th.

May 1st, Grand Master’s Official Visit to the lodges of the

18th District, Charlottesville.

June 19th, Grand Master’s Official Visit to the lodges of the

19th District, Waynesboro.

July 31st thru August 2nd, Reid James Simmons Academy,

Best Western Hotel, Waynesboro. Please note the change in

location.

February Masonic Birthdays!

Call a Brother and wish him a

Happy Masonic Birthday.

Samuel D. Caughron, 2/24/1992

William H. Dorsey, 2/10/1961

Michael A. Haas, 2/12/1979

George G. Hocker, 2/3/1999

Nathan M. Hoffman, 2/26/1964

John T. Lawson, 2/19/1958

Lewis A. Martin, III, 2/21/1979

Donald H. Misner, 2/26/1957

Timothy P. O’Brien, 2/24/1994

Hollis T. Proffitt, 2/23/1954

William F. Reinhold, 2/23/1973

Edgar S. Robb, 2/8/1966

Kirk D. Soderlund, 2/15/2011

Oakley C. Straley, 2/4/1966

Thomas F. Wilson, 2/15/2011

Proposed Changes to Lodge

By-Laws Presented at the January

20th stated communication. Action

on the proposed changes will take

place at the February 17th stated

communication.

Article IV, which reads: The Treas-

urer shall receive an annual compensa-

tion of -- Not Applicable.

Be Changed to read: Article IV, The

Treasurer shall receive an annual com-

pensation of $120.00 paid annually.

Article V, which reads: The Secretary

shall receive an annual compensation

of Six-Hundred Dollars, payable in

semi-annual installments.

Be Changed to read: Article V, The

Secretary shall receive an annual com-

pensation of Twelve-Hundred Dollars,

payable in semi-annual installments.

This amendment will become effective

January 1, 2014 following the approval

of the Grand Master.

Respectively Submitted By:

RW Mike D. Griffin

RW William R. Bond, III

Bro. Jason A. Pattison

For the Golfer, this is for you. Get a team, have a great day, and support the

Scholarship Fund.

The Scholarship Fund of the Grand Lodge, AF&AM, of Virginia presents the

17th Annual Ian McLaurin Shipley, Jr., Memorial Golf Tournament on April

15, 2014. The location will be the Cahoon Plantation Golf Club, 1501 Cahoon

Parkway, Chesapeake, VA. The format is 4 man Florida Best Ball, Captain’s

choice. Proceeds support the Grand Lodge Scholarship Fund. Entry Fee is

$100 per player ($50.00 per person is tax deductible. Contact Wayne Golden at

757-319-0705.

Book Review: “FREEMASONRY Its Hidden Meaning” by Bro. George H.

Steinmetz, P.M., 32⁰

Bro. Hans Steiner’s widow recently donated this book to our Lodge library and

I just finished reading it. As a matter of fact, I’ve read parts of it twice because

the book contains a wealth of enLIGHTenment on Masonic symbolism … re-

vealing something new with each reading. The symbols associated with each

Masonic degree and lecture are discussed and carefully interpreted by the au-

thor. Without revealing many of the books’ “hidden meanings,” here are a few

questions to which Bro. Steinmetz will give you his thoughts: What is the astro-

logical symbolism of the Saints’ John ? Why are the rough ashlar and the per-

fect ashlar often depicted as two separate stones when they are the same stone?

Does the Blazing Star in the Entered Apprentice degree have 5 or 6 points …

and why? What are the spiritual lessons taught by the complex lesson of the

bee hive in the Master Mason lecture? What ancient truth is symbolized by the

2 columns: Jachin and Boaz? Does a Master Mason ever receive the true word

unless he travels in a spiritual realm?

Stop by your Lodge’s 3rd floor Library the next time you’re at Lodge and check

out this book or any other. Your time will be well spent. And if you’ve read a

good Masonic themed book recently, then consider sharing some remarks about

the book with our Hiram’s Journal editor, Bro. Bob Simpson.

Bro. Mark S. Chapman, SD

Chairman Library Committee

Robert R. Kennedy, Jr., Area Masonic School

18th & 19th Masonic Districts

Lee Lodge No. 209, Waynesboro

April 13th, 7:00 p.m. Entered Apprentice Degree, Team from the 19th Masonic District. April 14 th, 9:00 a.m.,

Fellow Craft Degree, Team from the 18th Masonic District. Master Mason Degree, Team from the 18th and

19th Masonic Districts

The Eastern Star will be serving breakfast at Lee Lodge beginning from 7:00 am to 9:00 am

The Masonic Altar

The presence of an altar in a Masonic lodge is difficult to account for, especially for those who have been ac-

customed to see one. There were no altars in lodges of the early eighteenth century, and it is particularly to be

noted that Preston, in his Lectures about 1772 describes all of the furniture, ornaments, lights, and jewels of the

lodge, its shape, floor, and ceiling, but mentions no altar. If there was a Bible or other V. S. L. in lodges of the

early 18th century, it was not required. It probably came in around the middle of that century simply by the

individual choice of Masters or lodges, but when it did, it rested on the Master’s pedestal in the East, where it

remains to this day in United Kingdom lodges. The altar appears to have been an American innovation, and it

is doubtful whether it became a fixture in the lodges before the time of Thomas Smith Webb, after the Revolu-

tion.

Pictured clockwise starting at the upper left: The WM presents Tom Hill with a Past Master’s Certificate; The WM presents a

Certificate of Appreciation to Mark Chapman; MW Jeff Hodges is received in the East; Steve Fetcho won the Master’s Hat

drawing, a Masonic Watch. Wow was he surprised; The WM welcomes the DDGM, Philip Nelson; The WM presents the

DDGM with a Masonic Diploma; The WM receives the worshipful master of Piedmont Stella Lodge, Mike Skeens.

Widow’s Sons’ Lodge No. 60

A.F.&A.M.

P. O. Box 6262

Charlottesville, VA 22906

Non Profit Organization

U. S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 5

Charlottesville, Virginia

Return Service Requested

1799—2014

The 215th Year of Service to the

Charlottesville Community and beyond.

“Freemasonry, a way of life”

Hiram’s Journal

Dated material

Please Process

2014 Officers, First Row, L-R: Mark Chapman, Senior Deacon; Jason Pattison, Senior Warden; Bill Bond,

Worshipful Master; Tim O’Brien, Junior Warden; Peter-John Leone, Junior Deacon. Second Row, L-R: Bill

Baskerville, Treasurer; Paul Vereshchetin, Steward; Nick Bragg, Steward; Bobby Cameron, Tyler; Philip

Nelson, Chaplain, and Bob Simpson, Secretary