Fraternal Review

Ralph A. Herbold

(7-1-94)

No. 695

BOOK
Have had a number of calls as to the availability of "101+ Ways To Improve
Interest & Attendance in Your Masonic Lodge."  Our Grand Lodge will have them
later at work shops but if you want one now send $10 plus $4 shipping and
handling to Masonic Renewal Committee of North America, Professional Building,
6115 Fails Road, Baltimore Maryland 21209.

The Masonic Renewal Committee has produced this book that can help any lodge
having problems attracting members to meetings and holding their interest.
Might be a good idea for a lodge to order copies for their Master, Senior and
Junior Wardens.

Albert O. Arnold Jr., Grand Secretary Emeritus of Kansas, has published a soft
cover book of 101 pages, "My Thoughts On Freemasonry,"a collection of articles
for general reading, a collection of articles written for the Kansas Mason, 
the Conference of Grand Secretaries and speeches given for various functions.  
Your lodge Secretary would particularly appreciate "The Lodge Secretary in 
Today's World."  Order from the author at P.O. Box 1184, Topeka KS 66601-1184, 
$9.00 postpaid.

SAMOA - NEW ZEALAND - GUADALCANAL
From the August 1993 United Masters Lodge No. 167, New Zealand, transactions,
under Discussion on a previous paper, Masonry in the Pacific, by Bro. F.K.
Betham, comment by Bro. Adams:

I agree with Bro. Betham that it is not generafly known that the Grand Lodge 
of New Zealand administers two lodges 1650 miles out in the Pacific Ocean, and
that one of them is on American soil.  Neither is it well known that Officers
of Grand Lodge in their active year are expected to support the Provincial
Grand Master, or his representative, when he visits these islands to conduct 
the ceremony of Installation.

As Bro. Betham pointed out, August was especially chosen for the Consecration 
of these lodges, that being the coolest month of the year, even then it is 
still very hot as these islands lie only about twelve degrees south of the 
equator. It is so hot in fact that the need to replace body fluid is of 
paramount importance. When I attended the Installation of these lodges in 1979 
there was a large polystyrene container with cans of ice cold soft drink 
inside the lodge room for any brother who needed it. He simply left his chair, 
selected a drink and returned to his seat. The mesh screen protecting the open 
windows were covered with a great variety of insects attracted by the light; a 
large lizard made its way nonchalantly across the Mosaic Pavement; pausing for 
a moment to glare at all the assembled brethren; it reminded me of some of our 
old Past Masters. A huge moth got in somehow and banged its way around the 
lodge room. On one occasion it hit the lodge room door with such a force it 
was answered by the Tyler. Among the jobs to be done before the brethren go 
home is to remove the outside light bulbs or they would disappear and remove 
the valve wheel from the rain water tank, or there would be no water for the 
next meeting. Lodge Benjamin Kneubuhl No. 441 consists mostly of itinerant 
Americans who work in the huge fish canneries there and in the administration 
of American Samoa and is therefore quite buoyant regarding candidates and 
Officers.

As to American support Bro. P.M. Kershaw's remarks included:

If they refer to the establishment of our Grand Lodge in New Zealand one can 
say that America did contribute significantly in our region. It was the 
support of the Grand Lodges of the various States in America (together, of 
course, with those in Australia) that got us off to a good start.

Bro. G. Duddin added:

The Guadalcanal Square and Compass Club was organised in the latter part of
November 1943 for the purpose of continuing the fellowship of Freemasonry as
started by the 46th C.B.  Square and Compass Club which disbanded in the same
month.  Meetings were held every Tuesday around 1900 hrs in whatever building
was available or appropriate and each meeting had a speaker or some form of
entertainment.  Refreshments were dependent on the goodwill of the members 
which numbered over 1100.  Membership was not free but the dues were equally 
divided between the Shriners Crippled Childrens Hospitals in the United States 
and like institutions in New Zealand.

APPENDANT BODIES - YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS
Bob Catalano, (then SW) in the Consuelo Lodge No. 325, Escondido, California,
October 1993 Trestleboard:

Consuelo Masonic Lodge is unique in San Diego County.  It is an active and
healthy lodge with Eastern Star, Amaranth, White Shrine, all three Youth 
Orders, Daylight Lodge and many Masonic Clubs.  I wonder if it has occurred to 
many of the adult groups that a major part of the secret to our success at 
Consuelo is our Youth Orders.

From the DeMolay, Job's Daughters and Rainbows somes a steady source of new
young members.  Many of the kids go on to college and choose to enter the
Fraternity or Concordant organizations later, but surveys have shown that a
substantial number do petition for membership as adults.  In addition to the
kids entering the Youth Orders, their parents and other relatives are 
constantly exposed to the Masonic organizations and are candidates for 
membership too.

DEGREE TEAM
One of our members in Massachusetts sent along notice of a 33rd Degree Master
Mason Degree Team conferring a Master Mason Degree in his lodge. Three members
of the team show M.W. and eleven R.W. in their titles.  In a letter confirming
the date mention was made that the team included two Grand Lecturers which
should satisfy the requirements of the Grand Master.


Reading something like this always causes me to smile: "Even the most spirited
efforts of the Koreans will take some years to yield significant results.  
South Korea, among other things, needs to revamp an educational system that
concentrates on filling beads with memorized facts rather than developing
creative and analytical skills."


