Brethren:
As we reach the summer months, we once more approach the hottest time of the year. As in years past, dress for the June, July and August stated meetings will be “Business Casual”. Appropriate dress for degrees will remain a coat and tie for members and tuxedos for officers.

At our May stated meeting we discussed the problem of poor turnout at our degree work. This is an issue that I feel very strongly about and an area where our lodge must improve. Over the past 4 years we have raised an average of 12 Master Masons per year. In 4 groups of 3, that works out to 1 degree per month. In an effort to increase degree work attendance, there will be a called communication scheduled regularly on the 3rd Monday of every month specifically to confer degrees. In July we will be raising two Master Masons on Thursday, July 1st and initiating two Entered Apprentices on Monday July 19th in this lodge. Please be there to support your brethren. We all took upon ourselves on oath to obey the rules of our order. One of those rules states that you attend meetings if within the length of your cable tow.

Here is the excerpt from the Constitution of Masonry on attendance at lodge:
“Every Brother ought to belong to some regular Lodge, and should always appear therein properly clothed, and in clean and decent apparel, truly subjecting himself to all its by-laws and general regulations. He must attend all meetings, whether stated or emergent, when duly summoned unless he can offer to the Master and Wardens such plea of necessity for his absence as the said laws and regulations admit. By the ancient rules and usages of Masonry (which are generally adopted among the by-laws of every Lodge), no plea was judged sufficient to excuse any absentee, unless he could satisfy the Lodge that he was sick, lame, in confinement, upwards of three miles from the places of meeting, or detained by some extraordinary and unforeseen necessity.”

Here is a further excerpt from The Methodical Digest of the Grand Lodge of Virginia:
“Sec. 3.02. Must Attend all Meetings When Duly Summoned, etc. — He must attend all meetings, whether stated or emergent, when duly summoned, unless he can offer such plea of necessity for his absence as the by-laws and general regulations admit; and to all these laws and regulations he must render a willing and cheerful obedience.”

Please make an attempt to attend these degree nights to support these new Master Masons as they are raised on the Thursday, July 1st at 7:30pm and welcome these new Entered Apprentices as they are initiated on Monday, July 19th at 7:30pm.

Sincerely and Fraternally,
Edwin D Morman
Master ACGLNo.81