September Master's Letter: “Gone the Summer's pomp and show,
Autumn is waiting for the Winter's snow.”
Calendar:
September
09/03/25 (Wed) Regular Communication
09/17/25 (Wed) Special: FC Degrees
09/27/25 (Fri) PM Roasting……>>>
October
10/01/25 (Wed) Regular Communication
10/15/25 (Wed) Special: EA Degree
10/29/25 (Wed) Special: MM Degree
Brothers!
Holy Moly Guacamole - it is September already!
What does September bring? What does it mean to you? Religiously, it is a true interfaith month as it offers abundant worshipping opportunities to (almost) all - from the Islam Mawlid through Nayrouz and Michaelmas for (some) Christians, Navratri for the Hindus to the Jewish Rosh HaShana. Even Pagans, whose connection to Freemasonry has been much discussed in both Masonic and non-Masonic literature, have their day in September - Mabon.
Incidentally (or not…), this Mabon holiday is a celebration of something that is deeply connected to Masonic symbolism - the Autumn Equinox. In terms of our Masonic symbol — the circle and the two parallel lines — we are smack dab in the middle where the dot is between the two St. Johns; equilibrium between night and day, dark and light. We are getting deeper into the quiet season and stillness. Earth is in perfect balance between weaving light and dark together. Equilibrium, we need to remember, is always the point where things can, and often do change. It’s our time to meditate on what we have worked on in our Masonic journey, and make sure that such a change will be a change for the better.
We are here to make the world a better place; by the virtue of our tenet — Masonry is about "making good men better.” In the words of Brother Dr. Rudolf Steiner:
Transform yourself for the sake of the world.
Learn to practice thinking, feeling, sensing, and willing without egoism.
Let your work be the shadow that your I casts when it is shone upon by the flame of your higher self.
The other important Masonic date in September is Michaelmas (Feast of St. Michael). St. Michael is the archangel of the sun – overseeing earthly evolution. At Michaelmas we are to be reminded that the evolutionary task depends on the free and independent collaboration of human co-workers. It is not surprising that in the Waldorf schools, an anthroposophical educational system developed by Bro. Steiner which incorporates spiritual activity and intuitive thinking, Michaelmas is still celebrated as the second most important festival after Easter.
And our Lodge? How are we doing on tipping the balance towards the light? Well, here’s our year-so-far stats: we brought to light 6 new Brothers, we passed 4 Fellowcrafts, and raised 4 to the sublime degree of Master Mason. That should be considered pretty good work in anybody’s book.
And we have more work to do. Degrees coming up, roasting of our much-appreciated, rare JPM — let’s make him well-done!
Finally, what’s up with the KFC thing?
So, as some of you know, we helped my older son move to Tallahassee to start his PhD at FSU. We arbitrarily picked an overnight stop at Corbin KY. In my search for wholesome nutritious dinner I found this larger-than-usual KFC store. Yum. Apparently, I landed right on the very first store where the Colonel started concocting his delicious recipe. In addition to the store, the place houses an impressive museum of KFC’s history. I then found out that Mr. Sanders was actually Brother Sanders, raised in Lodge No. 651 in Henryville, Indiana. “Colonel Harland David Sanders demonstrated the values of the fraternity throughout his life. He was relentlessly committed to perfecting his craft, a philanthropist who used his hard-earned success to create and fund charities.”
Can you guess when he was born? That’s right - September 9, 1890… A September Mason! My Rosh HaShana festive meal this month will surely include some of Bro. Sanders legendary pieces.
I hope each and every one of you had a joyful and relaxing summer. I am really excited to get back to Lodge, and hopefully see many of you joining us in the spirit of Friendship, Morality, and Brotherly love
With the same,
Zevi Bareket
Worshipful Master