Recent content by Skogie

Bro. Tony: Yes, that is quite a sum for someone to come up with. Several Arizona Lodges have struggled with the problem of dues, some quoting the inflation factor and that Dues should be adjusted upward yearly and tied to the rate of inflation or CPI. (Consumer Price Index) Others argue that...

It's been a while since I have posted (July 09) on this thread. Been busy at lodge & OES, keeping all the lectures and Ritual fresh in the "grey" areas. It can get confusing at times such as knocking on the door as a pro tem Warder in OES or pro tem Junior Deacon in Lodge. Egads! Back to...

All too often the Brother who has passed on is a Widower. Whomever is in charge of his Estate all too often is not a Mason and knows nothing about that Apron rolled up in a corner of a closet. I recently had a call from a person who was handling the Estate of a Brother who had moved to...

I wear mine with White Gloves when presenting the Bible to a newly raised Master Mason. The Bible Presentation is not part of the Arizona Ritual and is done after the completion of the degree and he has signed the bylaws. The same for the Ballot Box Lecture and American Flag Presentation...

I am the Secretary of a small Lodge with 94 members. The peak membership in 31 years has been 105 with the average staying at 95, the lowest point being 86. We have raised as many that have passed on. We have broke pretty even with those that demit to other lodges after moving away, both in...

My first time as WM was a real headache and trial of wills and authority. A group of PM's who refused to change in any way, shape or form the way things were done or had been done in the past. Something as simple as having a 1st degree in July when the lodge is offically "dark" (July &...

So, what was the purpose of the meeting other than Fellowship? Kinda curious.

I looked up the numbers on the chart for Arizona, since that's where I live. Accurate numbers, no imitation of Gov't statistics. Excellent and accurate chart. The average of $50 dues per lodge is quite accurate and the $16 "per capita" tax from Grand Lodge is correct for 2009. HOWEVER...

Degree Practice and the accompanying fellowship are central to the survival of a lodge. Out of 91 members on the rolls, we have a "core" or active group of 25. The balance on the roster being those who live out of the area, state or are on Life-Support equipment. We practice Degree Work...

We held a "Rusty Nail" degree in February of this year in Payson #70, Payson, Arizona. We held it on a Saturday Morning starting at 10 AM, finishing at noon. We then served a lunch consisting of meat trays from Safeway and a cake plus soft drinks, coffee and lemonade. Prior to the degree I...

We have had quite a few Brothers right here in small town USA (Payson, AZ. Pop. 15,000) who have been told that, as a member of the Masonic Lodge, they were not welcome to worship in their "church." This is quite common in many so-called "Christian" denominations. My wife and experienced...

Don and Jack had been close Lodge Brothers and freinds for many years. They were Best Man at each others weddings, Godfather to the children, etc, etc. They also, after Lodge Meeting, went to one or the other's home for a nighcap. One evening Don, being in a reflective mood asked Jack how...

Arizona faced this same problem over 15 years ago. It was resolved with the Grand Master at that time hitting it with a large Setting Maul, squashing it, stomping on it and burying it in a hole facing East to West and 6 ft. in depth. Then pouring wet cement on it.:):) AZ now recognizes...

The Masonic law or Masonic Rules and Regulations Manual which, in Arizona we call the Arizona Masonic Code (AMC for short) is actually quite easy to read. Comprehension however, is something else. I recommend reading it through from Page 1 every year. Every once in a while a question is...

The amount charged for the degrees varies with each Lodge. Each Lodge is allowed to set the amount they wish to charge plus there are mandatory charges from Grand Lodge. Payson Lodge No. 70 charges a flat $90 for all three degrees. Added are the following: Grand Lodge Fee...