I’d like to say a word about friendship this month. The Rev. J.R. Miller, a popular Christian author and pastor of the 19th Century (and I’m sure WB Jim Gilbert will be quick to point out, a Presbyterian one), once wrote: “Our best friends are not those who make life easy for us; our best friends are those who put courage, energy, and resolution into our hearts.” Among the members of the Roman Catholic Church’s Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, it is said that one is defeated, and should know it, if one meets any human being from whom one is unable to learn anything. From our friends, most of all, we should learn. Masonry is, above all else, about friendship. In the Master Mason ritual we are reminded that our fraternity is a sacred band of brothers and friends among whom no contention should ever exist. We may have differences of opinion about matters both inside and outside of the Lodge, but those differences do not separate us one from another. Each year we elect brethren into and from among our line of officers, as well as Trustees and our administrative officers (the Secretary and the Treasurer) from among our brothers and friends and we entrust them with our leadership and the management of the Lodge’s business. We do so because they are our friends from whom we have learned and we know that we can have confidence in their abilities, their discretion, and their judgment. It is a great privilege to me to serve as Master of the Lodge this year. It is an even greater privilege to serve with this fine group of officers. It is the greatest of privileges to be one of this sacred band of brothers and friends. You give me courage, energy, and resolution, and I learn something from many of you each time we meet. Thank you, again, for the privilege. I wish I had something to report about our on-going efforts to sell the temple building and find another location for Medina Lodge #58 and the append-ant organizations that use our temple. Unfortunately, the parties with whom we are negotiating are not moving with the speed either or our real estate agents would like to see. We have lost to another buyer the possibility of purchasing
one building many of us thought would be an excellent home for Masonry in Medina, but we are sure that there will be others. All we need to do is dispose of the current building in a fair and equitable way. We will continue our efforts.
Fraternal greetings to you all.
C. Eric Funston, WM
Link to March 2011 Trestleboard