Masonic Relief from South Carolina to Haiti

See: http://www.scgrandlodgeafm.org/

Appeal for Relief

You've seen the destruction vividly portrayed by TV coverage. Much of Haiti is in ruins. All Haitians need assistance. Our Brothers in the Grand Orient D'Hati desperately need assistance as they work with their communities in trying to rebuild their shattered lives.

Please forward such funds as you feel appropriate to help our devastated Brethren and their families in this stricken jurisdiction. Please make checks payable to the Grand Lodge of SC and put Haiti Relief on the For line. Mail to the Grand Lodge of SC, P.O. Box 2185, Lexington, SC 29071.

District Instructional Meeting Accomplished

I have gotten through my first District Instructional Meeting as a District Deputy Grand Master. Yesterday’s event was rather well attended and, in fact, we were close to having to eat in shifts for want of table space.

In South Carolina – these meetings are actually under the direction of the Masonic Education Committeeman, who covers three districts. I am fortunate to have a committeeman, a Past District Deputy Grand Master, who gently walked me through the whole affair. The chairman of the Masonic Education Committee, who is the Senior Grand Warden, was also in attendance along with another Masonic Education Committeeman from another trio of districts.

The host lodge is to be commended for all its hard work in preparing the fine breakfast and otherwise accommodating the officers of the other lodges along with the “purple people.”

The instructors reportedly did a good job during the breakout sessions. Of course, I was unable to observe all of these sessions since I was the instructor for the Masters. The sitting District Deputy Grand Master always instructs the Masters.

Did everything go perfect? Of course it did not. I imagine if everything was perfect, then we would not need these types of meetings. All in all, however, it was a good event.

Changes and Controversy in Pennsylvania

On the Palmetto Mason, I try to avoid broadcasting this type of news from other Grand Jurisdictions. However, this one is rather publicly available elsewhere on the Internet and in at least one newspaper. It may be of some interest to South Carolina Masons in that the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania is very much responsible for putting the “Ancient” in the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina. Pennsylvania and South Carolina are also – to the best of my knowledge – the only Ahiman Rezon Grand Lodges.

I will not attempt to summarize what is going on in Pennsylvania here but will, instead, direct you to the following links.

21st Century Masonic Renaissance on the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania web site.

One Day Masonic Journey on the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania web site.

Big Changes at the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania at the Freemasons for Dummies blog.

Pennsylvania Masonic Restoration: a site dedicated to resisting many of the Masonic Renaissance changes.

The Not-So-Secrets of the Temple: an op-ed piece from The New York Times dated 7 January 2010.

Word of the Moment - Dispensation

We see this word on occasion.

–noun

1. an act or instance of dispensing; distribution.

2. something that is distributed or given out.

3. a certain order, system, or arrangement; administration or management.

4. Theology.

a. the divine ordering of the affairs of the world.

b. an appointment, arrangement, or favor, as by God.

c. a divinely appointed order or age: the old Mosaic, or Jewish, dispensation; the new gospel, or Christian, dispensation.

5. a dispensing with, doing away with, or doing without something.

6. Roman Catholic Church.

a. a relaxation of law in a particular case granted by a competent superior or the superior's delegate in laws that the superior has the power to make and enforce: a dispensation regarding the Lenten fast.

b. an official document authorizing such a relaxation of law.

Source: Dictionary.com Unabridged. Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009