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June 27, 2025, Newsletter #104

Dear Brethren and Friends,

Important Announcements:

July 8 (Tuesday) - Education: “Esoteric Application of the Blue Lodge Working Tools” by W:. Randy Sanders

July 12 (Saturday) - Widow's Luncheon. 11 am. We need volunteers to greet and serve. Volunteers please be there by 10:30 am. It would be nice, at a minimum, if all elected and appointed officers attended to pay tribute to our widows.

Disharmony!

The Grand Master had a very good article in the Oklahoma Mason June 2025 newsletter. It is a frank and hones discussion of lodges that are “at risk”. I hope you will download a copy and read it. You should have received a link in an email. If not, here is a link to our Blog and his article. https://ba-mason.org/blog/f/mw-roderick-june-2025-message

The three characteristics of an “at risk” lodge are: Disharmony, failing attendance and operating outside of the Constitution and Code. But MW Roderick points out that the common denominator is disharmony.

Disharmony can take several forms, but the most basic issue is how do we get a group of men together and “get along”. I especially like this quote from his article:

“You can create a brotherly environment. A place where everyone can have a common goal, agree to disagree, and, most of all, find sanctuary from that cold and conflicted world outside the lodge doors where we can let our guard down and just relax with our brothers.

Or you can make that power play, disrespect your brothers, be the guy(s) who say, “It’s my way or the highway,” be the stud duck of an all-volunteer organization and boss everyone around like they are beneath you…… and after that…start planning a funeral for your dying lodge.”

I believe our Lodge is pretty good at maintaining a brotherly environment. I believe we do a good job of welcoming people and respecting others’ opinions. But I have heard in the past that “bad blood” keeps some brothers from attending.

If you haven’t attended recently because of a perceived slight or a disagreement, please consider coming back. If you have been gone a long time, chances are the person you have been trying to avoid is no longer attending either.

For those of us who do attend regularly, we need to model what MW Roderick says: “a brotherly environment…. sanctuary from the cold and conflicted world outside…..where we can let our guard down and just relax with our brothers”.

Will you work with me to make sure our lodge is the best in the State? Will you work with me to make our lodge a sanctuary?

Lord, give us the insight into our personalities to become more like you. Understanding, forgiving and joyful. Amen.

Lodge Calendar

July 1 (Tuesday) – Stated communication. Dinner at 6 pm, lodge at 7 pm.

July 8 (Tuesday) - Education: “Esoteric Application of the Blue Lodge Working Tools” by W:. Randy Sanders

July 15 (Tuesday) - Stated communication. Dinner at 6 pm, lodge at 7 pm.

July 22 (Tuesday) - Indian Taco Fundraiser night for Rainbow Assembly #74. Dinner at 6 pm. Ritual practice to follow.

July 26 (Saturday) - Rainbow Installation.

July 29 (Tuesday) - 5th Tuesday, Family Night + Masonic Birthdays.

August 2 (Saturday) – Child ID program at Back to School Bash. Location is The Assembly Church 3500 W. New Orleans St. (101ST & 129TH EAST AVE ). We need volunteers. OES and Rainbow are welcome to volunteer as well.

August 12 (Tuesday) – Presentation by MW Robert Davis.

Sept 9 (Tuesday) – District 12 – Delta 425 – 1630 S 101st E. Ave, Tulsa 74128. Dinner at 6 pm program to follow.

Sept 23 (Tuesday) – Presentation by MW Brad Rickelman

October 14 (Tuesday) – Presentation by MW John Carter.

Oct 30 (Thursday) – District 12 – Tulsa 71 - 5925 E. 9th St., Tulsa 74112. Dinner at 6 pm program to follow.

September 27 (Saturday) - Fish Fry at the Lodge. 5 pm to 8 pm or whenever we run out of fish. We need volunteers to help work this fundraiser for the Lodge.

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. Due date is Dec. 31.

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