From the Worshipful Master

Masonic Advice to My Past Self

Brothers:

What Masonic advice would I give myself if I were to start over again? While hindsight is 20/20, I’m not sure I’d change too much.

I would re-emphasize how important each station is on your journey up the line. Each position, from the Stewards to the Deacons to the Wardens all the way up to Worshipful Master is important to learn.

Each step builds on the next. Make sure you go to all your practices, and make sure you find something in each position that helps you with your next. If you do skip stations along the way, learn the parts anyway. It helps you when you know all the parts so you can fill in anywhere needed.

I would tell myself to learn at least one lecture right away.

To move into the East, you need to present one of the three lectures. Take it slow, but learn it as soon as you can. The learning and memorization doesn’t get easier as you get older, but once you know it, you know it. It only takes a short time to review it when you need to present it again. After you learn one, learn a second. There’s nothing wrong with being able to be counted on for multiple lectures when needed.

Most importantly, make sure your family is on board. Freemasonry takes time. It’s a challenge sometimes. And while Freemasonry will never interfere with any duty owed to your family, having your family involved will help you immensely, especially if you need help somewhere.

I know that if I need a Stated Meeting dinner, one of kids’ Masonic youth groups would be available for Masonic service and dinners. I know that if I am in need of fundraising ideas, my family is great to bounce ideas off of.

I think it is important for any Mason to have his family willing and able to help when needed

Fraternally,
Stephen A. Liguori
Worshipful Master

From the Senior Warden

Masonic Advice to My Past Self

Brothers:

My foremost piece of advice to myself would have to be one, simple word: Travel.

Travel to other lodges is an extremely important tenant of being a Master Mason. Without traveling to other lodges, we aren’t exposed to the width and breadth of Freemasonry. Our craft was not meant to survive in a vacuum; insular lodges, whether they lack incoming or outgoing visits, have a much harder time, and generally don’t last.

Unfortunate in of itself, as when a lodge shuts its doors, that history is lost.

On an individual level, travelling introduces us to brothers who we might never have met otherwise, men from whom we can learn and see different perspectives. Slight differences in ritual, tradition, and of course, the unique histories of each are all reasons to visit other lodges near and far.

In the past, I had hardly travelled at all. Certainly not for lack of invitation, I was simply always ‘too busy’; there was always something, some other task or event grabbing my attention.

My advice? Make the time.

Fraternally,
Cameron Smith
Senior Warden

From the Junior Warden

Masonic Advice to My Past Self

Brothers:

Hein site is often 20-20, so what would I tell my current self if I could give my past self some advice?

First off, knowing some of the history of my family is important.

My father was the ultimate Mason, he belong to everything, York Rite, Scottish Rite (KCCH), Shrine and OES (PGP) and is still to this day the only person to be the Master of Wayfarers Lodge #50 three times, he was a Lion and an Elk.

He excelled at everything he did, he was a great ritualist, good public speaker and a problem solver, he took charge and was a natural leader.

My mother was equally involved in the Masonic family, and together they spent a lot of time serving the Masonic family. My Dad was also somewhat of a purist, which is probably where I get some of those same traits. He would never ask me to join the fraternity, he encouraged me to join DeMolay and I did attend a couple of events, but I wasn’t interested in it at that time. Along with my mother, the only bad thing I can say about my parents is that they spoiled me and my brothers.

When I became 21, I decided that I would ask my Dad about joining the Lodge, he had so much for me, I wanted to give something back that I thought would make him happy. Needless to say, I didn’t know that he set me up with a Past Master named Bill Roberts to be my coach, and Bill was a staunch ritualist and expected perfection from me in my catechism.

I had to study every night after work with Bill, and then my Dad would test me when I got home. Everything was mouth to ear at that time, and I found myself learning the work fairly easy, there was a real advantage to being young.

So what would I do differently? I would of taken the time to learn the lectures when I was young and could absorb it quickly. I would of taken steps to go through the officer line sooner, as my father past away when I was the Jr. Warden, he never got to see me as the Master of the Lodge.

These things I regret, and wish I could change, but I wouldn’t do much else differently. I have made mistakes, but for most part I think I have honored my family in Masonry, and try to exemplify the lessons taught, charity, tolerance and service to the craft.

We don’t have the luxury of looking back, so I just focus on looking forward.

Fraternally,
Doug Steel, PM
Junior Warden

Master Councilor of Valley of the Sun Chapter – DeMolay

Greetings!

I’m Christian Liguori, the newly installed Master Councilor of Valley of the Sun Chapter located at the Sun City Lodge, 18810 N. 107th Avenue Sun City AZ 85373-9742.

We have some neat events coming up, which I would like to share with you:

Saturday, September 21st – End of Summer Party! The part is from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. All are invited to join us in our celebration!

Saturday, October 5th, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM Valley of the Sun Pancake Breakfast fundraiser $7.00 per person! Featured for breakfast: pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausages. Show your support for the VoTS as they raise money for their trip to Great Adventure! Location: Sun City Lodge #72 18810 N. 107th Avenue Sun City AZ 85373-9742

Saturday, October 5th – Archery Event for fun and accuracy! Starting at 1:00 PM, we will be begin our tournament.

Saturday, November 30th a Detective Pikachu Movie night on November 30th. Time to be determined.

We meet every first and third Sunday of every month with a 3:00 PM Social Time and our meeting starts sharply at 4:00 PM. If you can swing by, say hello and attend our meetings. We would be honored for you to attend. If your Lodge needs any help, just give us a holler as we are always there to support Freemasonry!

Fraternally,
Christian Liguori,
Master Councilor of Valley of the Sun