There is a spam email claiming to be from either the Grand Secretary or the Grand Master seeking donations to "assist Covid-19 affected Veterans". See Below.
Though he is confident no one has fallen for it, out of an abundance of caution, Grand Master Terry Fowler would like bring this to your attention.
If you received a similar email, please disregard it and do not engage with the sender.
"This week’s Fraternal Places video takes us to Farmerville, Louisiana to visit the historic Union Fraternal Lodge No. 53, F. & A.M. The lodge was chartered in 1845 and is the home of the Deputy Grand Master. I think you’ll find their unique brick furnishings very interesting."
Bro. Brad Reel, Fraternal Places
CLICK IMAGE TO WATCH VIDEO
Is Forgiveness Manly?
WHY LETTING GO OF GRUDGES IS
THE STRONGEST MOVE OF ALL
By Bro. Brett McKay of Veritas No. 556 in Oklahoma, and Kate McKay This article first appeared on Bro. McKay's "The Art of Manliness" blog. Read more at ArtofManliness.com.
“No answer still. I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let it fall within. There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells. My heart grew sick—on account of the dampness of the catacombs. I hastened to make an end of my labour. I forced the last stone into its position; I plastered it up. Against the new masonry I re-erected the old rampart of bones. For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them. In pace requiescat!”
In the Cask of Amontillado, Edgar Allen Poe paints a haunting picture of one man’s mission of revenge. After bearing a “thousand injuries” and a grievous insult, Montresor decides he must punish his antagonist, Fortunato, “with impunity.” “A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser,” says Montresor. “It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.”
And so, under the guise of seeking his opinion on some amontillado, Montresor lures Fortunato deep into the cold, damp catacombs. When they arrive at a niche in the walls, Montresor chains Fortunato to a rock and slowly begins to wall up the enclave brick by brick, leaving the stunned and confused nobleman inside to die a slow and agonizing death. Montresor’s revenge is complete.
The idea of justified revenge is one of the most common themes in literature, movies, comic books, and even video games. From the Count of Monte Cristo to The Punisher to Red Dead Revolver, revenge is often the driving force behind our most popular stories. For thousands of years, we have cheered the manly and heroic character who personally sought to avenge the wrong done to him or to his loved ones. The more perfect and complete his plot for revenge, the colder the dish served, the more delicious and admirable we find it. When the evildoers finally get their comeuppance, we are filled with vicarious satisfaction.
The great satisfaction we derive from stories of revenge is understandable. Revenge played a healthy role for much of our evolutionary history. Within tribes, revenge ensured that misdeeds were punished and deterred would-be wrongdoers from committing egregious acts in the first place. Eye for an eye. It was a rudimentary but effective way to mete out justice. And since it was men carrying out this basic form of law enforcement, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that our brains appear to be hard-wired toward justice.
So if the desire to seek revenge comes so naturally, why should we attempt forgiveness? Is forgiveness manly?
Gardner Lodge No. 482 would like to invite all to their Veterans Appreciation Night to be held on November 22, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. Location of this event will be at Wilda Baptist Church located at 75 St. Clair Road, Boyce, LA. The Lodge asks that you bring a dessert if attending as all other food will be provided. There will be a guest speaker also.
Thank you to all Veterans and their families.
Masons in Their Communities
Members of Urim Lodge No. 111, in Calhoun, had a table at the local community Halloween gathering and gave out candy to trick or treaters.
Bro. Shawn Smith handing out candy to a Transformer
Left to Right: W∴B∴ Billy Taylor, W∴B∴ Wade Weems, Bro. Kevin Tyson
The Transformer hits W∴B∴ Wade Weems (right) up for some candy after moving on from Bro. Smith.
Letters to The Editor
Write us a letter*. Tell us how you're doing as lodges begin to meet once again. Tell us what is is like to be meeting again. Send us a photo or two, or anything else you'd like to submit to The Louisiana Freemason!
Email gar@la-mason.com and "Send a letter to the Editor" just like the old days. Submissions will be considered for an issue of 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.
