Home Joining Officers From the East Links What is Masonry? Trestleboard
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Home Joining Officers From the East Links What is Masonry? Trestleboard |
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Florence
Lodge #281 A.F. & A.M. (402)
455-0106
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From the East Florence Lodge had 138 members as of December 31. When I joined in 2002, we had slightly more than 150 members. Many of you remember the days when our membership was in the hundreds, and we were raising good men almost weekly. In those days, a member might wait six years or longer before being asked to be junior steward! Unfortunately, those days are over. But I am not worried about it. In my 5 years of being a Florence Lodge Mason, I've seen a small transformation on our membership. Of the last dozen men we've raised, all but one have been under the age of 40. This gives me heart because it indicates that young men thirst for involvement in their community, and for whatever reason - their father or grandfather was a Mason, a co-worker or friend recommended the fraternity to them, they believe in our values, or they just want to be an active member of society - they have come to Freemasonry as their outlet for involvement. Our challenge is to channel that thirst for involvement into meaningful relevance in greater Omaha. Our CHIP events engage the membership while providing a valuable service to the community. Our wives & sweethearts dinners will engage the membership in their Lodge. Throughout the year, we will have dinners, and recognize members who have consistently stepped up to support Florence Lodge. And we will have fun while we're doing it! So here's my challenge to you: Get involved in Masonry. It doesn't have to be at Florence Lodge (though we hope you will). Go to a York Rite meeting. Get active in the Shrine. Go to Scottish Rite. Attend a Job's Daughters or DeMolay meeting. Go to Eastern Star. If you have a Masonic ring, wear it proudly. Wear a square and compass on your lapel. Promote our Craft with pride. Believe it or not, you are the best salesman for our fraternity. Whenever you see a young professional craving to get involved in his community and begging to be a part of something that stretches around the world, help sell Masonry. Talk to him. Invite him to a meeting. Call or e-mail me and I'll talk to him. It won't be too long before the "young guys" of Florence Lodge aren't quite so young anymore. Will you be able to say that you helped replace them with a new generation of active Masons? Will you be able to say that you were a mentor to a "worthy and well qualified" man who wanted to get involved in his community? Fraternally, |
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Florence Lodge #281 A.F. & A.M. |
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