Thunderbird Lodge No. 15 Free and Accepted Masons
Temple
Talk
552 North 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85008-6441
Vol. 17, No. 1 www.thunderbird15.org JAN. - FEB. 2010
From The East:
Jeff Grayson
Worshipful Master
From The South:
From the West:
The
Landmarks of Freemasonry, as compiled by Albert Mackey in 1858, are not
universally accepted; they are not really landmarks at all. For example, the
system of "three" degrees of Craft Freemasonry isn't a landmark. The
Third Degree didn't exist at the time of the formation of the first Grand Lodge
in England. Landmark 8 is also a controversial item in some jurisdictions.
Landmark 14 is noteworthy since in some jurisdictions, visiting is considered a
privilege. Landmark 20, regarding resurrection, raises theological questions
which some jurisdictions feel unqualified to address. I will bring these 25
Landmarks to you over the next 5 Trestle Boards editions.
This enumeration of Landmarks has not been
accepted or authorized by this Grand Lodge and is
only presented as an historical document.
LANDMARK FIRST: The
modes of RECOGNITION are, of all the Landmarks, the most legitimate and
unquestioned. They admit of no variation; and if ever they have suffered
alteration or addition, the evil of such a violation of the ancient law has
always made itself subsequently manifest. [An admission of this is to be found
in the proceedings of the Masonic Congress at Paris, where a proposition was
presented to render these modes of recognition once more universal - a proposition
which never would have been necessary, if the integrity of this important
Landmark had been rigorously preserved.]
LANDMARK SECOND: THE DIVISION
OF SYMBOLIC MASONRY INTO THREE DEGREES is a Landmark that has been better
preserved than almost any other, although even here the mischievous spirit of
innovation has left its traces, and by the disruption of its concluding portion
from the Third Degree, a want of uniformity has been created in respect to the
final teaching of the Master’s order, and the Royal Arch of England, Scotland,
Ireland, and America, and the "high degrees" of France and Germany,
are all made to differ in the mode in which they lead the neophyte to the great
consummation of all symbolic masonry. In 1813, the Grand Lodge of England
vindicated the ancient Landmark, by solemnly enacting that ancient craft
Masonry consisted of the three degrees: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and
Master Mason, including the Holy Royal Arch; but the disruption has never been
healed, and the Landmark, although acknowledged in its integrity by all, still
continues to be violated.
LANDMARK THIRD: The Legend of the THIRD DEGREE is an important Landmark,
the integrity of which has been well preserved. There is no rite of Masonry,
practiced in any country or language, in which the essential elements of this
legend are not taught. The lectures may vary, and indeed are constantly
changing, but the legend has ever remained substantially the same; and it is
necessary that it should be so, for the legend of the Temple Builder
constitutes the very essence and identity of Masonry; any rite which should
exclude it, or materially alter it, would at once, by that exclusion or
alteration, cease to be a Masonic rite.
LANDMARK FOURTH: THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE FRATERNITY BY A PRESIDING OFFICER called a Grand Master, who
is elected from the body of the craft, is a Fourth Landmark of the Order. Many
persons [ignorantly] suppose that the election of the Grand Master is held in
consequence of a law or regulation of the Grand Lodge. Such, however, is not
the case. The office is indebted for its existence to a Landmark of the Order.
Grand Masters |, or persons performing the functions under a different but
equeivalent title,|* are
to be found in the records of the institution long before Grand Lodges were
established; and if the present system of legislative government by Grand
Lodges were to be abolished, a Grand Master would be necessary. [In fact,
although there has been a period within the records of history, and indeed of
very recent date, when a Grand Lodge was unknown, there never has been a time
when the craft did not have their Grand Master.]
LANDMARK
FIFTH: The prerogative of
the Grand Master to preside over every assembly of the craft, wheresoever and
whensoever held, is a fifth Landmark. It is in consequence of this law, derived
from ancient usage, and not from any special enactment, that the Grand Master
assumes the chair, or as it is called in England, "the throne," at
every communication of the Grand Lodge; and that he is also entitled to preside
at the communication of every Subordinate Lodge, where he may happen to be
present.
Jon Logan, Senior Warden
From the Secretary:
Wow,
the lodge room is changing again! Last year we had the repaint and
redecorating, some of which is not yet finished. Now with the efforts of Bros.
Mike Gattorna,, Gus Rodriguez, Dave Beacco and Denny Eisholtz we have a sound
and projection system. When we were doing the redecoration we thought “get a
cheap video projector, a retractable screen and bring in a PC and we can have
DVD presentations of the degree lectures instead of the scratchy old slides”. Now,
a year later we are about to have an incredible audio-visual system that will
be able to do almost anything except the dishes. Can’t wait to see the first
movie.
We
have The
Man Who Would Be King scheduled for February. This movie is about
British soldiers in Afghanistan in the 1800’s and has many references to
Masonry. If you have seen this movie in the past, you will probably never see
it like you will on our new system. And Julie And Julia, scheduled
for March, is not for the ladies only. I know what you are thinking guys, but
my wife drug me to this kicking and screaming when it was in the theaters and I
thoroughly enjoyed it, and it is great for the entire family.
We
really appreciate your continued membership in Thunderbird #15. If you have any problems or issues that I can
help resolve, please give me a call at 480-495-2108.
James Drake PM, Secretary
2010
Poinsettia delivery crew: WM Jeff Grayson, Vanessa Drake, Jon Logan, Don Wilcox, David Beacco, Shelley Beacco. We
delivered 18 poinsettias to Widows on December 12. Thank-you to the Poinsettia
team!
Welcome to the Lodge
At the stated meeting of January 7,
2010, two brothers were elected to affiliate with Thunderbird #15. WB Scott
Thomas is the sitting Master at Scottsdale lodge #43. Scott has desired to
affiliate with Thunderbird for some time because his Grandfather was a charter member
of Tempe #15. Cliff Batchelder was raised in Tempe #15 and has come back to his
“home” lodge after living in Florida for some years. Welcome to Thunderbird
Lodge. We are glad to have you seated amongst the brethren!
Masonic Birthdays for: January and
February:
Milford Dorsett 2/22/1956 Richard
Edwards 2/14/1957
Kent Fults PM 1/31/1985 - 25 Years! Robert
Hill Sr. 1/21/1999
Belton Hodges 2/10/1954 John
Leverette 2/19/1964
Nicky Lowery 1/26/1978 Charles
Lufkin PM 2/25/1988
Kenneth Lufkin PM 2/11/1988 Edwin Mitchell 2/20/1957
Clinton Molodow 1/18/1999 Bob Meyers 2/7/1977
Ron Randleman PM 2/20/1957 Michael Reed 2/24/1972
Bill Robertson PM 1/17/1969 Irvine Schmidt 1/17/1969
Howard Swinton 2/24/1999 Amos
Terrell Sr. 2/28/1955
Kenneth Webster 1/19/1989 William Wynd 2/25/1965
Calendar:
Feb. 4:
Stated Meeting, 7:00
PM, dinner in Red Fez at 6:00. Dinner is on the Lodge.
Feb. 11: Fellowship, practice and education,
7:00 PM, dinner in Red Fez at 6:00.
Feb. 18: Dinner and a movie, The Man Who Would be King.
Feb. 25: Fellowship, practice and education,
7:00 PM, dinner in Red Fez at 6:00.
March 4: Stated Meeting, 7:00 PM, dinner in Red Fez at 6:00. Dinner is on the Lodge.
March 11: Fellowship, practice and
education, 7:00 PM, dinner in Red Fez at 6:00.
March 18: Dinner and a movie, Julie and Julia.
May 12 –
15: Scottish Rite Reunion, Scottsdale.
June 4-6:
128th Grand Communication, Tucson. Registration forms are in Arizona Masonry or from the
Secretary.
For more information on any of these events, please
feel free to contact the Secretary. Information and flyers are also available
in the lodge room. Or check out the web site.
Temple Talk is Published by
Thunderbird Lodge No. 15, F.&A.M.
Submit
information for the next publication by the 15th of each month to:
Jim Drake, Editor
552
N. 40th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008-6441
Or
by E-Mail to: jandvdrake@aol.com
Direct questions or comments to me at 480-756-1105
Contact List
Master:
Jeff Grayson, H C 520-979-7003 jdg323@msn.com
Secretary: Jim Drake, H 480-756-1105, C
480-495-2108 jandvdrake@aol.com
El Zaribah Shrine
Center: 602-231-0300
Website: www.thunderbird15.org
Thunderbird
Lodge No. 15, F.&A.M.
W.M. * Jeff Grayson PM Trustee 2010 Reza Farrokh PM
S.W. * Jon Logan Trustee 2011
VW George Stablein PM
J.W. * Gustavo Rodriguez Trustee 2012 Don Wilcox
Treasurer $ Bob Bell PM
Trustee 2013 Jay David
Secretary # Jim Drake PM
Chaplain Don Wilcox * Also Trustees Ex-Officio
Marshal Jay David $ Also Treasurer of Trustees
S.D. Vacant #
Also Secretary of Trustees
J.D. Michael Gattorna
S.S. Vacant
J.S. Bryan Campbell
Tyler Clint Molodow
Thunderbird Lodge No. 15 F&AM
552 North 40th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85008-6441