ICYMI: Grand Master Releases Covid-19
Phase 1 Opening Directive for Lodges

Read the Directive Here

Louisiana Brother Inducted into Political Hall of Fame

Brother William Earl Hilton, longtime sheriff of Rapides Parish, was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame in ceremonies held February 15, 2020. Sheriff Hilton is a dedicated Mason and Shriner. Attending the ceremonies on behalf of the Grand Lodge was Judge Jay B. McCallum, Grand Junior Warden.

Pictured above: Bro. William Earl Hilton (Left), and RW Bro. Jay McCallum (Right), Grand Junior Warden

Spotlight: Louisiana Freemasons in Their Communities
Brethren Offer Relief to Medical Workers during CV-19

New Borne Lodge is helping Bayou Shaved Ice donate snow cones to medical staff at Ochsner Hospitials in the New Orleans area. Members are visiting five different sites at shift change to provide Kona Ice snow cones to the oncoming and outgoing staff members. They are giving out approximately 3000 snow cones!

Thirteen Mistakes When Working With Others

From The Armed Forces Officer, 1960

Editor's Note: Below is an excerpt from the 1960 edition of The Armed Forces Officer that I feel applies to Masons as much as a Military Officer, or anyone else. I highly recommend the whole book, especially if when reading it, where it mentions an "officer", read "Master Mason".

"For a fresh start in this study of getting along with people, we could not do better than quote what was published some time ago in the United States Coast Guard magazine. Under the title “Thirteen Mistakes,” the coast guardsmen raised their warning flares above the 13 pitfalls.

It is a mistake:
1.   To attempt to set up your own standard of right and wrong.
2.   To try to measure the enjoyment of others by your own.
3.   To expect uniformity of opinions in the world.
4.   To fail to make allowance for inexperience.
5.   To endeavor to mold all dispositions alike.
6.   Not to yield on unimportant trifles.
7.   To look for perfection in our own actions.
8.   To worry ourselves and others about what can’t be remedied.
9.   Not to help everybody wherever, however, whenever We can.
10.  To consider impossible what we cannot ourselves perform.
11.  To believe only what our finite minds can grasp.
12.  Not to make allowances for the weakness of others.
13.  To estimate by some outside quality, when it is that within which makes the man.

The unobserving officer will no doubt dismiss this list as just so many cliches. The reflective man will accept it as a negative guide to positive conduct, for it engages practically every principle vital to the growth of a strong spiritual life in relation to one’s fellow men."

Read this Edition of The Armed Forces Officer for Free Online

New Masonic Podcast from our friends at
The Rocky Mountain Mason Magazine.

Listen Here

"Courage To Be Superior"

by Grove Patterson, late Editor of the Toledo Blade, Toledo, Ohio
Originally Broadcast during the 1950s

"Peace of mind for which we long in these jittery days does not come through escape. It will not come through withdrawal from a world of contacts. Rather, it is the product of courage and of an inner poise. It is part of my religion to believe that when one reaches the place in his daily thinking where he knows, come what may, he can take it, his worries and fears will drop away."

Through the years I have been asked many, many times: “What do you believe: What is your religion?” My answer is a simple one. My religion is not complicated by theology, dogma, creeds.
I believe in nothing which is not intellectually satisfying. I do not try to force myself to have faith in anything. I could not possibly be an atheist. To believe in the mechanistic theory of the universe; that humankind is here as the result of a fortuitous conjunction of chemicals on the face of the waters countless ages ago, is an affront to my credulity.

I believe the universe was designed and brought into being by a Creative Mind and Power. This Supreme Power operates the universe by means of unvarying natural law. For me, the supreme fact is that I can by thinking, meditation, prayer, come into communion with the Supreme Power.
I call this Power God.

I believe the purpose of God in devising a universe was wholly good, and that man, the highest form of life so far developed, is meant to live in harmony with the Great Power and improve, both in this world and in future manifestations of life. I believe in immortality, because I think it unreasonable to suppose that man can come as far as he does on this earth and be snuffed out with no opportunity to reach greater heights.

Prayer is a self-conditioner. Prayer gives man the courage which enables him to adjust himself to all the circumstances of life. Prayer will not enable man to avoid the results of his own mis-doings nor does it provide an escape from the evil prevalent in the world.

“If God is so good,” my friend asks me, “why does He permit evil in the world which He created?” It is a stupid question. Man, from the day he developed into man, was given freedom of choice. Otherwise he would have been a mere puppet of God. With that freedom of choice, he has gone on through the ages, making bad choices. He is responsible for evil in a universe which God created. Ho has violated- natural law. He has made a mess of things but the more he senses his privilege of contact with the Supreme Power, the better he will do, the less evil he will produce.

Because I believe the universe is governed by natural law, I think it useless to pray that natural law be set aside for anyone’s personal reason. Devout men sometimes pray for rain, but rain will come only when proper atmospheric conditions bring it about. Men seek by prayer to have their loved ones spared from the consequences of the violation of natural law. Such prayer is not the prayer for courage and for strength, in which I believe. The most pious person is as likely to be burned to death with his family in a tragic fire or destroyed at the railroad crossing as is the most worthless tramp.

Peace of mind for which we long in these jittery days does not come through escape. It will not come through withdrawal from a world of contacts. Rather, it is the product of courage and of an inner poise. It is part of my religion to believe that when one reaches the place in his daily thinking where he knows, come what may, he can take it, his worries and fears will drop away. The most profound courage that one needs, as Newton D. Baker said, is “the courage to be a superior person.” It is the courage that comes from prayer.

I know that in trouble I can turn to the Great Power. It is there and it works. I have tried it. That is my religion, and in it I have complete faith. This I believe.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Send us your upcoming lodge events!
If you have an upcoming lodge event you would like
featured here in future issues, please use this submission form .

Online Masonic Speaker Series

May 27, 2020 • Noon–1 p.m.

Dr. Andreas Önnerfors: The Development of Scandinavian Freemasonry

The schedule for June can be found here.

St. Francisville Commemorates
"The Day The War Stopped"
Saturday, June 13, 2020

9:30 AM - Day the War Stopped Play -Grace Episcopal Church Hall

10 AM - Reenactment - Corner of Prosperity St./Ferdinand St.

10:30 AM - Graveside Historical Reenactment

11 AM - 1 PM - 3rd Annual Jambalaya Cook off - Prosperity St.
Noon - 1:30 PM - Vintage Dancing and Music - Grace Episcopal Church Hall

2 - 2:30 PM - Historical Talk - Feliciana Lodge

7 pm to 11 pm - Gala Jackson Hall - 11621 Ferdinand St, St. Francisville, LA 70775

If you have an upcoming lodge event you would like
featured here in future issues, please use this submission form .

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Letters to the Editor

Write us a letter*. Tell us how you're doing during these trying times. What are some ways you’re staying engaged in your Masonic pursuit these days? How are you applying Masonic philosophy to the current struggles in our society? What do you want your lodge experience to be like when we return to our sacred spaces?

Email gar@la-mason.com and "Send a letter to the Editor" just like the old days. We will publish some in the Weekly eEdition so the brethren can see what you're up to.

*The Editor reserves all rights to publish any letter sent to him.