District 15-A of the Grand Lodge of Virginia

 
 

 

 

 

 

   

February 2012 Bulletin



STATED COMMUNICATION - Thursday, February 9, 2012 - 7:00 pm

Assemble Scottish Rite Lodge Room #2, 4204 Hermitage Road at 5:45 pm



     Dinner – 6:00 PM

OPEN LODGE – 7:00 PM

     Regular Business
                      Petitions (1)

    Program - George Washington’s Son - Brother William G. "Greg" Burkett,
                                  Junior Warden of Westmoreland Lodge No. 212


CLOSE LODGE

OFFICERS: – Please wear Tuxedos with Black Accessories
Members and Guests: Business Attire (Coat and Tie)

The No. 11 Class of Instruction meets in the Scottish Rite Temple
4204 Hermitage Road, Richmond, VA on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 6:30 pm
(If there are NO Called Communications or other meetings Scheduled for that week!)

Any case of illness or distress of any member that may come to your attention should be promptly reported to the
Junior Warden (click to e-mail), Secretary (click to e-mail) or other Officer of the Lodge.



PAST MASTER HONOR ROLL - January 2012 STATED

        W. L. Olphin Jr.- B. B. McLaughlin - C. S. Sarbaugh - W. V. Evans Jr. - G. H. Cooke, III
        W. S. Richardson - C. A. Bass Jr. - R. E. Pagani - D. P. Norman - B. L. Absher
        B. K. McLaughlin - D. V. Jones - C. T. Sykes - V. S. Cook - J. T. Wadkins III
        F. P. Wagner - L. G. Deligan - C. C. Grotz, Jr. - A. A. Dranoff - D. L. Carter
        C. M. Richardson - L. A. Bernhard Sr. - S. C. Anaya



ATTENDANCE - January 2012 STATED

        Past Masters - 23         Members - 30         Visitors - 26         Total - 79

    Yearly Averages:   2005 – 76,   2006 – 77,   2007 – 74,   2008 – 72,   2009 – 69,   2010 – 60,   2011 – 61



CALLED COMMUNICATIONS

    Thursday, February 16, 2012 @ 6:00 PM – Work in Fellow Crafts’ Degree (2)

    Thursday, February 23, 2012 @ 6:00 PM – Work in Entered Apprentices’ Degree (2)

    Thursday, March 15, 2012 @ 6:00 PM – Work in Master Masons’ Degree (2)
        Sandwiches at 5:15PM for these Called Communications

    Thursday, March 22, 2012 @ 6:00 PM – Work in Fellow Crafts’ Degree (2)
        No Sandwiches for this Called Communication

    Thursday, April 19, 2012 @ 6:00 PM – Work in Master Masons’ Degree (2)
        Sandwiches at 5:15PM for this Called Communication


SPECIAL EVENTS

        Robert Lewis Gibbs Saturday Night Class meets every Saturday Night except the Saturday
                                                                 when Masters and Wardens Association meets.

        Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 9:00 AM – Masters & Wardens Ass’n at Westhampton
                                                                                  Lodge #302, 9290 Three Chopt Road,
                                                                                  Breakfast at 8:00AM, Meeting at 9:00AM



FROM THE EAST


January 24, 2012

Greetings Brethren,

      It was great to "see and be seen" at our January Stated communication as you turned out in fine fashion to welcome Right Worshipful David P. Clifton, our District Deputy Grand Master. Right Worshipful Clifton met with myself and our Secretary and reviewed our Lodge's minutes and overall structure for 2012 and found them satisfactory. Our usual time of fellowship was enjoyed by members, visitors and guests prior to our meal. After opening Lodge, we were pleased to receive Right Worshipful Clifton, who would later bring us the Grand Master's message. Formal introductions of distinguished guest and visitors were made. Several Worshipful Masters of 2012, who came up through the ranks of their respective lodges with me, assisted us by filling chairs of No. 11's officers who were ill that evening. I wish to extend my personal thanks to the many Rt. Worshipfuls who served as escort and introduction committees for our distinguished guests and the fine remarks by the various spokespersons of each group. When these official introductions were concluded, we received another important "delegation". Right Worshipful (our own) Barrye Absher, Worshipful Master of Manchester "Possum" Lodge No. 14 and several of his representatives made an offering of possums, both cooked, canned and extra-large and live, as well as poetry and a custom made gavel in return for Metropolitan's St. John's Day visit and offering of Cornish game hen "doves" last December 27, 2011. I wish to thank the officers and members who, during the busy holiday season, were able to travel and make up the fine committee that continued the traditional exchange of gifts with our fellow lodge.

      Along with our regular Lodge business, we were pleased to award an LMIP to Matthew Scott Bernhard, from his grandfather and father. Petitions were read, voted upon and called work scheduled from which we have three new Entered Apprentices. One additional prospective member is in the works for the Entered Apprentice degree. An acknowledgment by Melissa Ponce, Activities Director, of our gift to the Masonic Home was received on the day of our January stated.

      Once regular business was concluded, Right Worshipful Clifton brought the message of Grand Master William Talbott "Terry" Ellison, Jr. to our Lodge. The Grand Master's theme of 'Spreading Masonic Light" and his points of emphasis for his year which included Mentoring , Membership and supporting many of our existing Masonic activities - MAHOA, Child ID, Scholarships, Grand Lodge Library and Museum and Masonic Relief were "forcefully recommended" and brought to our attention.

      The Lodge was closed in fine fashion by Right Worshipful Clifton.

      Courtesy of Right Worshipful Barrye Absher, at our January 19th called work, by way of Manchester No. 14, we have received the Traveling Gavel, which I plan to present to another lodge in our district at the earliest opportunity!

      Our February Stated program in keeping with the recognition of Presidents' Day related material will be brought to us by Brother William G. "Greg" Burkett, Junior Warden of Westmoreland Lodge No. 212, who will speak about George Washington's "son" (yes, you read that correctly - be at February's meeting to learn more!)

    Come out and support YOUR lodge! Let's continue "To See and be Seen" in 2012!

     Sincerely and Fraternally,
     Brother Chris Loftus W.M.



SPECIAL NOTE:

      Our Lodge Committee Assignments are published in this bulletin. Please retain it for reference as it is published one time a year. An up-to-date list of Committee Assignments is always maintained on our website at www.metroplitanlodge.com where you will also find the current bulletin, Membership Roster, Masonic Birthdays, meeting schedules and a host of other important information. If you find any errors in the printed version or on the website, please advise the Secretary of the same and corrections will be made. Thank you.


LODGE OF SORROW

Brethren, Since our last Stated Communication, The Supreme Architect of the Universe has seen fit to take from our midst one of our Brothers:


  ZOLLIE HARRISON SHIELDS
Born:

December 29, 1916
Initiated: April 28, 1961
Passed: May 26, 1961
Raised: June 9, 1961
50 Year Veteran: June 9, 2011
Died: November 30, 2011

We Offer Our Most Sincere Condolences to his Family!

 

FROM THE TREASURER & SECRETARY

Brethren,

Your dues card for the year 2012 should be in YOUR hands. While the response to this new practice of sending the dues cards out ahead of receivng your money has been fantastic, the Treasurer anxiously awaits receiving your dues in the sum of $138.00. for your 2012 card if it has not already been sent.

Fraternally,

Douglas V. Jones, P.M. & Tom Wadkins, P.M.