Brothers,
It's June, the last month before we go dark for two months. So maybe I should write three months worth of letter. Better yet: one letter about the number three.
Three is the magic number and comes up quite a bit in ritual. In the Fellowcraft degree alone there are many sightings of three. The three steps allude to the three degrees in Freemasonry and the three principal officers. Three are the original Greek columns: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Three are the most revered of the five senses: hearing, seeing, and feeling. A solid is a figure of three dimensions, namely: length, breadth, and thickness. There are the three wages of the Fellowcraft: the corn of nourishment, the wine of refreshment, and the oil of joy--which denote plenty, happiness, and peace.
But the three most meaningful to me are the jewels of a Fellowcraft:
"...which are an attentive ear, an instructive tongue and a faithful breast, because the attentive ear receives the sound from the instructive tongue and the mysteries of Masonry are safely lodged in the repository of faithful breasts."
The attentive ear is important because there is so much to learn. You may have heard me say I'll be tired of living when I'm tired of learning. Though my ADD can make the attentive part difficult ... I lost my train of thought. Listening is a valuable skill that doesn't always come easily. Wisdom can be in knowing when to listen and to whom you listen. It's something I'm constantly working on, suppressing that urge to interject half cocked into any conversation.
Listening isn't the only way to learn though. Some even say to master something you have to teach it. Every Regular Communication we try to have an education coordinated by our excellent LEO Paul Uslan (that's Lodge Education Officer, not his zodiac symbol). That's an example of the instructive tongue expanding your horizons. We all accumulate knowledge along our journeys, Masonic or not, and that knowledge is valuable and should be shared. Passing on our knowledge can help us solidify our own understanding, and in explaining we can find new insight. I highly encourage you to reach out to Brother Paul and sign up to do a Lodge Education on any subject you find interesting.
Lastly the faithful breast, where we symbolically lodge and literally hold dear the mysteries of Masonry. Determining what knowledge is worth keeping, sharing, or even disregarding is another example of wisdom. Being faithful to the truth is one of the highest ideals of civilization and as Freemasons we are taught to cherish this as much as our secrets and obligations.
INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE: Don't forget, this Wednesday at 9:00am we're meeting by State Street just south of Williams to march in the Ann Arbor 4th of July Parade! Stay tuned for exact details, all Masons from all over are welcome to march with us!
Have a great summer! We'll see you at the July 15 picnic and then in the fall, and don't forget to grow your chili peppers all summer for the great chili cook off 3rd Wednesday of September!
Sincerely And Fraternally,
Steven Moazami
Worshipful Master
UPCOMING EVENTS - See our Calendar for details
July 4 - Ann Arbor 4th of July Parade | On State, just south of William 9:00am
July 5 - Brotherhood of Literature | WB Pal Bunten's house
July 15 - Masonic Family Picnic | Gallup Park
July 25 - Master's Table Dinner | Smokehouse 52 BBQ, Saline
Aug 2 - Brotherhood of Literature | TBA
Aug 22 - Grotto Master Mason Night and Master's Table Dinner | Zal Gaz Grotto
