From the Worshipful Master

In January of 2012 I started my Masonic journey by first attending our Lodge’s education night taught by Brother Ron Watkins and Brother Gene Huttloff. Ten months later I petitioned for membership in the Lodge and finally initiated in January of 2013. I was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason and subsequently pass my proficiency in June of that same year. Later that year in December I accepted position of Junior Deacon and the journey continued until my current station. I look back on my journey and I have noticed some good things I have done and some mistakes (or rather learning experiences). I would like to talk about a few things I would tell my younger self that would assist me on my Masonic journey.

I would tell myself take the ritual book and study each part more in depth than that which I did at the time. I would also tell myself to read the back of the ritual book in the “s” section. Sometimes I like to say that the “S” section in the back of the ritual book contains the real secrets of Masonry (since very few Masons actually read it). I would also highly encourage myself to get started on studying a lecture. I found myself procrastinating until October or November before I got it passed off in 2016. I would also tell myself to get a copy of the Az Constitution and AMC and learn how it would assist me in learning about the Craft and it’s function. I would tell myself to get the updated 2015 copy back in 2015 and become more acquainted with the updated version. I would tell myself to travel to more Lodges and meet more brothers. I would tell myself attend all the open functions that I could afford such as the Leadership Conference and outdoor degrees and dedications.

Meeting new people is a huge part of the Craft. As Brother Haywood would argue, “we are social creatures by nature.” This past year I found that if I had know more people they would be able to assist in leading this Lodge.

Time spent in the pursuit of Masonic endeavors is time well spent. I have learned and grown by leaps and bounds. I would highly encourage myself to put off some of my other lighthearted endeavors and focus more on things that would help me learn, grow, and function better as a Freemason in and out of the Craft.

My Brothers, thank you all for you time and service to the Craft. I hope that you all know what a difference you make. I hope that you all continue to grow Masonically, and thus, grow and better men.

Chris Huson
Worshipful Master

From the Senior Warden

The advice I would give myself as a Mason now, would be to study more of the ritual for one. But the biggest thing is to promote more harmony amongst the Brothers to help and advise them in any manner possible. We as Brothers can get things accomplished if everyone works together for a common purpose. Sometimes I believe people allow their pride to get in the way of allowing constructive criticism. I for one will work hard to let myself take criticism to allow myself to grow as a Mason and to make the Brotherhood stronger.

Ken Olsen
Senior Warden

From the Junior Warden

This month we write on the advice we would give ourselves as brand new Master Masons. Mine would be simple. Don’t take on too much too fast. For those that become Master Masons, it is the natural inclination to want to be as involved as possible. Do be involved. Do get your hands dirty cleaning in the kitchen, or cooking for an event. Do learn the ritual as much and as quickly as you can. But make sure you do not cheat the learning.

Many people know that not six months after I was Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Masons, I was already appointed the Senior Deacon. I was asked to serve, and I agreed. But perhaps a wiser man might have said, “but what about Junior Steward, or Senior Steward, or Junior Deacon…” and I did not. And in hindsight, I wish I had. It would have given me much more of an understanding of how lodges operate from the inside before being thrust in the mantle of running a lodge outright.

Looking back, I wasn’t ready to be Master of this lodge. I made plenty of mistake, made a few people angry, and probably burned a bridge or two. But none of that was intentional. It was born of a lack of experience both as a Mason, and as a Masonic leader. I wish I had gone to the leadership conference before becoming a Pedestal Officer. This would have given me a lot more insight as to the right ways to approach Masonic Leadership.

So my message to all of the young Master Masons out there is simple: Don’t take on too much too fast. And don’t cheat the learning.

Jason Michlowitz, PM
Junior Warden