My Priorities in Life and Commitment to Union City Lodge

My Priorities in Life,

and

Commitment to Union City Lodge.

I have been asked by several friends and brothers: “How can I be involved to the extent that I am in Free Masonry?” This is an attempt to draw an arc of that circle of understanding by explaining my priorities and commitment:

FIRST: To God, the All, the Deity, the Great Architect Of the Universe, the Light, He that cannot be named, the Tetragramaton.

SECOND: To Myself, and self improvement.

THIRD: My Family: primarily my Wife Kimberly, and my three grown children Michael-21, Heather-24, Dustin-25, and my in-laws: George and Roberta Schmidt (Snow birds) and our extended family.

FOURTH: My Country.

FIFTH: Union City Masonic Lodge, my “Blue Lodge” that I have labored for and love. This past five year progression in the chairs has taught me so much and has led me with compassion to lead with love. My commitment could not be stronger as I travel to the East. I dedicate not only my evenings to Masonic fellowship but over forty hours a week during the daytime hours to researching, memorizing and learning more to make me a better person and leader. It is my day job and my magnificent hobby. Planning our next Lodge year is exciting and energizing. The tools provided me at the Wardens Conferences, my wife and I have attended, inspires me to action and motivates achieving a great year for our Lodge together. Being twice retired and the “Man of the House” consists of just taking care of my wife with the cooking, shopping and cleaning it is my only other commitment. My wife is comfortably in the workforce and we have an “empty nest.” She supports my Masonic quest, and attends events with me, encouraging my advancement. Kimberly has seen the change in me brought about by my participation, making this man a better one.

I believe in the promotion of the Craft to make good men better. The works we do today, and have done in the past, is the legacy of charity that is our heritage and foundation for our investment for the future. This indissoluble chain of Fraternalism must not be broken or tarnished, so those following after us will recognize what I have seen in Free Masonry. We stand on the brink of the greatest rise in membership since the end of World War two. The need to belong is so great in young people and the coinciding angles of public recognition focus them on this gentle Craft through movies, television and popular culture. The secrets of the ages have become a secret no longer in this Mystery school called Free Masonry. It is exactly what they are yearning for. Our more visible presence and preeminence in self improvement is the cause and effect necessary to catapult us in this information age and social networking that will bring more growth that we must be ready to embrace. I have positioned myself in this place in this time to do just that. Let us work together to embrace the throngs of young men aching to become better men wanting the rite of initiation to speak to them that “they are one of us, the oldest self improvement society of friends and brothers in the world”. Let us be prepared for the future.

“To be one ask one”. This little known fact kept me from joining the fraternity for over thirty years. “You must petition (ask) of your own initiative, you will not be asked to petition... Enlightening Masonic literature is available, and will be furnished upon request.” Washington Monitor circa 1976.

SIXTH: The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington –Credentials Committeeman. Early in my Masonic journey, I was blessed to have been called to service to the Grand Lodge, and on such a fine Committee. We work to check credentials at check-in at the Annual Grand Lodge Communication and to oversee the ballot. This committee works two or three days a year approximately sixteen hours with no other committee meetings or duties at the Grand Lodge Communication something I have attended since I became a Master Mason. We do help with check-in at the Deputy Grand Master’s orientation in April for two hours, and that four hour meeting is mandatory for all Grand Lodge appointees. What a great appointment, I am so grateful.

SEVENTH: The further continuance of my Masonic journey, for more light, laying the groundwork for lifelong learning. Free Masonry is a progressive science and taught by degrees only. I have told each and everyone of these Concordant Bodies that only after I fully serve my “Blue Lodge” will I become an active participant in their several opportunities for service. I have attended some meetings, dinners and fundraisers, but never to the detraction of my commitment to Union City and my “Mother Lodge.” By building personal relationships with brethren with different focuses from all over this Jurisdiction, I have and will be able to count on them as brothers in the Craft to help our Lodge. Information and information management can support visitations and fundraisers and to this end we can build the finest Lodge possible. My priority in Masonry is unwavering it is to my Lodge. It always will be. There is no greater Degree or distinction than to be a “Master Mason”.       

To this further continuance toward Light I have added each and every Degree up to and including: The Scottish Rite - 32 degree. The York Rite - Knight Templar. The Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine- Noble in the Nile Shrine, or “Shriner”. All these Degrees are taken, received or communicated too, nothing to memorize or perform, only to remember the modes of recognition. The real work I do is in our Lodge, helping make new Masons, learning our rituals, doing our fundraisers and communicating to you.

EIGHTH: The Rhythm-Aires. I play Wash-Tub Bass in a harmonica band fronted by harmonica virtuoso Vern Morgus. We play for seniors at retirement centers and nursing homes during the day, at least four Tuesdays a month. The band ebbs and flows with four to ten players usually: three to five harmonicas, piano, trombone, and me bringing up the bottom. I have played the gut bucket for over thirty years, making me a “bucketeer.” We donate our stipends to charities for seniors.

Thank you for your support.

Fred