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November 15, 2024

Brethren,

Special Announcements:

We have had the carpet and tile in the Lodge Room professionally cleaned. Please try and keep the floors clean. We would ask that everyone stay off of the tile as much as possible and especially if you have shoe soles that make a mark.

Nov 17 (Sunday) – Grand Cross of Color Dinner. 3 pm at the Lodge. This is the annual dinner honoring Grand Cross of Color recipients. 

Nov 20, 2024 (Wednesday) – OES fundraiser at Smitty’s Garage, 801 E. Hillside, Broken Arrow. 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. A portion of the proceeds goes to OES.

Nov 26 (Tuesday) – Past Masters Recognition. We invite all past masters to come join us as we celebrate and recognize their contribution to the lodge. We have 27 living PMs and several PMs from other lodges that are members. Dinner at 6 pm, short program to follow. 

Dec 3  (Tuesday) – Officer Elections. All Master Masons should attend. This is your lodge, and you have a duty to participate in the elections. Dinner at 6 pm, lodge at 7 pm. 

Dec 7 (Saturday) – Christmas Parade in Broken Arrow. OES and Rainbow are invited to ride the float as well. Be at the lodge by 8:30 am.

Dec 8 (Sunday) – 2 pm. Officer Installation at the Lodge. Families, OES and Rainbow are invited to attend. Light refreshments to be served after.

Hurricane Relief – We are Passing the Hat for Hurricane Relief. We will be donating the money, plus match, to the Masonic Service Association of North America https://msana.com/. If you were thinking of donating, this is a great way to increase your giving, as we will be applying for matching funds. Donate at https://balodge243.square.site/or you can mail a check to the Lodge.

My Ramblings. By W:. Scott A. MacDonald © 2024

A Plumbline in His hand.

Amos 7: 7 Thus he shewed (showed) me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. 8 And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, a plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them anymore.  (Editor’s Note: That last phrase can be translated as “I will spare them no longer”. )

These verses are from Amos’ third vision where he sees the Lord standing by a wall with a plumbline. A plumbline is a cord with a lead weight used to check if walls are vertically straight (e.g. perpendicular). As any good operative mason knows, if a wall is found to be tilted to far, it must be destroyed and rebuilt as it a danger to all who pass by it.  

Verse 9 gives additional context. 9 The high places of Isaac will be desolated, And the sanctuaries of Israel laid waste. Then I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”

The “wall” the Lord is examining are the jewish people of Israel. Many of the “sanctuaries and high places” had been defiled by idolatry.  

If we look for a hidden meaning, we need to examine our own lives and how we would be measured by God’s plumbline. Do we stand uprightly in his sight? Are we plumb with his idea of how men should act? Would our earthly form withstand scrutiny? Of course we are talking about sin.

In the Hindu and Buddhism tradition, there is no true equivalent to sin, but there is the idea of karma. Karma predicts that if we do “bad”, bad things will happen. 

Stoics (who are non-religious) also understand the concept of evil, where Marcus Aurelius reminds us that the world is filled with wickedness. They believed vice or corruption of reason causes misery and was evil. Stoics looked within for guidance, which is counter intuitive to me.

A question that I find fascinating is: Are humans basically good?  I used to believe in the inherent goodness of people, but a few years ago I ran across a video by Dennis Prager where he challenges whether “People are basically good?” Here is the video for those interested. https://www.prageru.com/video/are-people-born-good  Please go view the video.

If man was inherently good, then we would never need any correction. Even as a toddler, we would know how to be “good”. But as we know, toddlers are self-centered and only think of themselves. If man were inherently good, there would be no evil in the world, no wars, no crime, in other words, no sin. It follows that man must learn to be good which in turn demonstrates man is not inherently good. He seeks self-satisfaction and fulfillment, often at the expense of others.

We Masons believe that one day we will stand in the presence of God. It is up to your religious beliefs to determine what that encounter will be like. 

Lord, grant us the wisdom to live our lives according to your expectations so that on entering Heaven we will hear those words “Well done, good and faithful servant? You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come share you master’s happiness.”. (Matthew 25:21). Amen. 

Lodge Calendar

Nov 17 (Sunday) – Grand Cross of Color Meal (Rainbow). 3 pm at the Lodge.

Nov 19 (Tuesday) – Stated Meeting. Dinner at 6 pm, lodge 7 pm. 

Nov 20 (Wednesday) – OES fundraiser at Smitty’s Garage, 801 E. Hillside, Broken Arrow. 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. A portion of the proceeds goes to OES.

Nov 23 (Saturday) – OES Installation. 2 pm at the Lodge.

Nov 26 (Tuesday) – Past Masters Night – Dinner at 6 pm with a program to follow.

Dec 3 (Tuesday) - Stated Meeting and Officer Elections. Dinner at 6 pm, lodge at 7 pm.

Dec 8 (Sunday) – 2 pm. Officer Installation at the Lodge. Families, OES and Rainbow are invited to attend.

Dec 12 (Thursday) – District 12 meeting at Tulsa #71 - 5925 E. 9th St., Tulsa

Other Business

Please remember to pay your dues. 2025 Dues Notices are out. You can pay dues at https://balodge243.square.site/ . Or mail in your dues to 117 W. Commercial St., Broken Arrow, OK, 74012.

For those who are behind in your dues, we do not want to be a financial hardship for you. We will work with you on staying in good standing, but you have to reach out to us. Please contact the lodge office at 918.251.9282 to make arrangements or email us at brokenarrowmasons@gmail.com .

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 contact the lodge office at 918.251.9282.

Sincerely, 

W:. Scott A. MacDonald, Treasurer and Membership Calling Chairman