FRATERNAL REVIEW

Editor - Ralph A. Herbold         (2-1-94)                        No. 685

POSTAGE - COMPUSERVE
From the November 1993 Kena Computer Club bulletin:
To eliminate all subsidized rates, as we know them today, each year for six
years non-profit bulk third-class rates will increase 4%.

The Compuserve network was represented at the Grand Lodge of California last
October.  About a dozen brothers who are active on the CIS net set up a booth
to demonstrate the educational advantages of the network.  It should be added
that we receive a number of applications on computer print outs as a result.

CHARITY - PUBLIC RELATIONS
The Grand Lodge of Oklahoma, as related in the October-November Oklahoma 
Mason, and we note several other states doing this, has a matching fund 
program by which the Grand Lodge matches funds of a Lodge for a particular 
project up to $5,000.  This enables a Lodge to do $10,000 of good in its 
community each year. Two Lodges furnished camcorders for local police while 
another gave their town $6,000 to repair the roof on their Senior Citizens 
Center.

And from the September 1993 Montana Masonic News:
A Scottish Rite member receiving treatment at a cancer center noticed that 
many patients waited an hour or more for transportation.  After his calling 
his local Scottish Rite Valley's attention to this they bought a white Dodge 
Caravan and are staffing a patient transportation system for the patients.  
Twenty-five volunteer drivers, all Scottish Rite members, are donating their 
services Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.


LODGE OFFICERS - MASONIC EDUCATION
Two good points in the November 1993 Masonic Light of the Grand Lodge of South
Carolina:

By Grand Master Alfred Allsbrook:

Although there is no true rule of progression regarding Lodge Officers, 
consider the duties performed as Stewards, Deacons and particularly Wardens, 
as the proving grounds for helping to determine suitability for movement to 
the next job.  A marginal Steward might make a suitable Deacon, but, if a 
Brother has not shown the proper leadership qualities as a Warden, we should 
think long and hard before elevating him to the East.  A Master who knows the 
Degree Work may be better equipped to ensure that the work is performed 
properly and correctly in his Lodge.  That adeptness in ritualistic skills, 
however, does not necessarily qualify him to be an adept Master. We must look 
more toward leadership and management skills.

By S.G.W.D. Samuel Tennyson:

In 1978, a Masters and Wardens Club was formed in the 22nd District.  For
fifteen years of its existence, it has become an almost indispensable part of
Masonry for the area.  Besides the usual Fraternal Greetings we enjoy sharing 
at all our Masonic meetings, we also have some meaningful educational 
programs. Each Lodge in the District hosts the meeting one month each year 
and is reponsible for the program.  The host Worshipful Master (or his "cause 
the same to be done" designate) always does an excellent job of researching 
and presenting "More Light" to all who attend.  With eleven Lodges, this 
leaves one month for a Ladies Night Banquet to which our wives look forward 
each year.

PHILALETHES SOCIETY
One of our members in Canada sent along "Freemasonry's Best Kept 'Secret"' 
with "Do you think it possible that you could get SCRL to publish the 
following:"

Freemasons have always proclaimed that they are not a secret society, yet out 
of millions of Freemasons, all over the world, only a select few (approx 4400) 
are aware of The Philalethes Society. (Your editor, as well as many of our 
members are well aware of this "secret" and are members, while one of our 
Past Masters, John R. Nocas, served as President of the Society.)

The Philalethes Society was founded in October 1, 1928 by a group of Masonic
students (several from California). It was designed for Freemasons desirous of
seeking and spreading Masonic light.  In 1946 The Philalethes Magazine was
established to publish articles by and for its members.  For many years it has
been voted the best Masonic publication in the world.

The sole purpose of this Research Society is to act as a clearing house for
Masonic knowledge.  It exchanges ideas, researches problems confronting
Freemasonry, and passes them along to the Masonic world.

To find out more about Freemasonry's Best Kept "Secret" write to P.O. Box 70,
Highland Springs VA 23075-0070."

PHILATELY - JACOB PERKINS
From the 1-2 1993 The Israel Freemason in "Freemasonry on Postage Stamps:"

A quick look back into history tells us that the first postage stamp, as we 
know it now, was issued in England on the 2nd of May 1840.  Curiously enough, 
this first stamp had its origins in the efforts of an American Freemason, 
Jacob Perkins of Newburyport, Massachusetts.  An inventor by trade, Perkins 
improved a method of engraving bank notes and, in 1818, sailed to England to 
engrave plates for the Bank of England.  While there, he also engraved the 
plate for the "Penny Black," as this first postage stamp is called.  Perkins 
was raised in St. Peter's Lodge in his home town in June 1794.

PUBLIC SPEAKING
A column in the local paper on this subject had some interesting points: 
Public speaking is one of the great fears of man, no doubt instilled by Mother 
Nature who recognized the dangers of excessive speech making.  If you are not 
on as good terms with your subject as you are with your good friends you can't 
be comfortable and if not comfortable you can't be on good terms with your
audience.  If you are invited to speak, DO NOT read a book on public speaking.
If you do, you will be thinking about your posture and your breathing, eye
contact and diction, hands and feet. That is, you'll concentrate on everything
but what matters - the subject.


