May 18, 2024
Brethren
Special Announcements:
May 30th, (Thursday) – OES Chapter #140 is sponsoring a Jeopardy Family Game Night. Get your seat at 6 pm, Eat at 6:30 pm. Game starts at 7:30 pm.
My Ramblings by W:. Scott A. MacDonald – Why don’t you say you are sorry?
Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Matthew 18:21-22 - Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Colossians 3:13 - Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Seneca - “Let’s be kind to one another. We’re just wicked people living among wicked people. Only one thing can give us peace, and that’s a pact of mutual leniency.”
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 10.30 - “Whenever you take offense at someone’s wrongdoing, immediately turn to your own similar failings, such as seeing money as good, or pleasure, or a little fame — whatever form it takes. By thinking on this, you’ll quickly forget your anger, considering also what compels them — for what else could they do? Or, if you are able, remove their compulsion.”
Marcus Aurelius – “You should leave another’s wrong where it lies.”
Epictetus - “What really frightens and dismays us is not external events themselves, but the way in which we think about them. It is not things that disturb us, but our interpretation of their significance.”
We’ve talked about forgiveness in the past, but because of an experience this week, I thought it would be a good time to examine ourselves again on this subject.
Forgiveness is a process. First, the person who did wrong needs to realize they have hurt someone. Either by the person who was wronged or by someone else, or by self-realization. Second, the person who was in the wrong must ask for forgiveness. Third, the person wronged must decide whether they will forgive.
I made a call to a brother this week as part of our annual calling campaign. I left a message and a day or two later I received a call from the brother’s wife. I asked how they were doing and was in formed that the brother has dementia. I said I was sorry and was there anything I or the lodge could do.
She then proceeded to tell me that she didn’t want or need anything from the lodge, in fact she was very upset with the lodge. Her explanation was that at some point in the past, she and her husband and a friend had come to the lodge for a breakfast that the no one talked to them. I explained that I was sorry that happened.
She wasn’t having any of it. I listened more and asked what I or the lodge could do to make up for this and again apologized profusely. I said that the lodge was here to help and that if she needed anything, to please call us. She said she would never call the lodge for anything, that she would rather go without.
Now, living with someone with dementia is a hard job. Maybe she was overwhelmed and having a really bad day. Maybe she just likes to be mad at people. I don’t know. But I’m still thinking about what I could have done differently. Maybe nothing.
Let’s give each other grace. Let’s let people know when we are hurting. Let’s be brothers who learn to recognize when we have hurt someone and learn to forgive.
Lord, I ask that you help us heal when we are wronged and learn to forgive those who have come to us with real intentions of mending the fences. Amen.
Lodge Calendar
May 21 (Tuesday) - Stated communication. Dinner at 6 pm. Lodge at 7 pm.
May 28 (Tuesday) -Food and fellowship. Dinner starts at 6 pm. We will also be celebrating Masonic Anniversaries for April and May.
June 1 (Saturday) – Claremore Indian Hospital Child ID Event. 9 am to Noon.
June 3 (Monday) – District 12 meeting at Pilgrim Rock #522 – 1630 S. 101st E. Ave, Tulsa. (Freemason Hall)
June 4 – (Tuesday) Stated Business Meeting. Dinner at 6 pm lodge at 7 pm. Special Guest Jim Taylor, candidate for Grand South.
June 8 (Saturday) – Widows’ Luncheon. Details to be determined.
Jun 11 – Food and fellowship. 6 pm dinner.
June 14 (Friday) – Flag Day Celebration at the Claremore Veterans Center, 3001 W Blue Starr Dr., Claremore, OK 74017. 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Come out to Honor our Veterans and Masonic Brethren. Family and friends welcome. If you have any questions please call Ron Shoaf at 918.500.5618 or email him at show-me-mo@sbcglobal.net.
June 18 (Tuesday) – Stated Business Meeting. Dinner 6 pm, lodge at 7 pm.
June 22 (Saturday) – Masonic Jamboree in Collinsville, OK. Save the date. More details to some.
June 25 (Tuesday) – Food and fellowship. 6 pm dinner.
July 30 (Tuesday) -5th Tuesday Family Dinner. We will be learning how to make Native American Fans. So, if you are a crafty person, you won’t want to miss this event.
August 28 (Wednesday) – District 12 meeting at Akdar #555 – 5925 E 9th St., Tulsa
December 12 (Thursday) – District 12 meeting at Tulsa #71 - 5925 E. 9th St., Tulsa
Other Business
Please remember to pay your dues. They were due by January 1, 2024. You can pay dues or at https://balodge243.square.site/ . Or mail in your dues to 117 W. Commercial St., Broken Arrow, OK, 74012.
Another quick note, to sit in lodge you technically must be “in good standing” which means being up to date on your dues.
If you are having trouble paying your dues, we will be happy to work with you. Please contact the lodge office at 918.251.9282 to make arrangements or email us at brokenarrowmasons@gmail.com . You may also call me at 316.209.7400.
As most of you know, our BA Member RW:. Don Stanton is Senior Grand Warden this year. So, in November 2025 we would expect him to be Grand Master. There are significant costs associated with his endeavor, including a reception the Sunday after he is installed. That reception will no doubt be in the Tulsa area. We have set up a way for you to contribute to help defray these expenses at https://balodge243.square.site/ . Any contribution would be appreciated.
Please note we are making every attempt to keep our meetings to one hour. However, if you attend and the meeting is going long, you can certainly excuse yourself from the meeting at any time.
As always, if you need a ride to/from any of these activities, please call or text me at 316.209.7400, or email me at scott@alphamac.com .
Sincerely,
W:. Scott A. MacDonald, Treasurer and Membership Calling Chairman
Copyright © 2024 Broken Arrow Masonic Lodge #243 AF&AM - All Rights Reserved.
117 W. Commercial St.
Broken Arrow, OK 74012
918.251.9282. After Hours: 539.204.4547