Union Lodge No. 31

Lodge Trestle Board

February 2nd : Entered Apprentice Degree!!! There will be another EA Degree for our fourth Candidate who was detained in Boston and missed the initiation. There will be a hot meal prepared by the Sr. Steward and served before the degree at 6:30pm. The degree starts promptly at 7:30pm.

February 16th : Fellow Craft Degree. The Submarine Base Degree Team will be returning to their founding lodge to conduct the Fellow Craft Degree. There will be a dinner preceding the degree and the details will be posted here as they become available.

March 1st : Business Meeting. There will be a business meeting at the Bay View Temple. The lodge opens at 6:30pm for visitors and the meeting will begin promptly at 7:30pm. Refreshments will be served from 6:30pm to 7:20pm.

March 15th : Master Mason Degree. There will be a dinner preceding the degree. Details pending.

FROM: RWB Arthur Richards

TO:

ALL ACTIVE DUTY MASONS ALL RETIRED ARMED FORCES MEMBERS and especially all Brothers in Uniform!—If the Uniform no longer fits- a Black or dark Blue with a Medal or two will do ! let’s make it a night of remembrance to those that founded it – WB Joe Hanzel the only original Member still alive!

Silver Dolphin

ACCORDING TO THE BMWIC (that is the Big man what’s in charge) DINNER WILL BE AT 18:30

AT THE BAY VIEW MASONIC CENTER

Prepared by the 8^th District Culinary Arts Specialist of UNION LODGE

The Chief Chef is EX ARMY- Assisted by EX NAVY going to be consumed by the Members of THE ARMED SERVICES and those that never were but enable us Retirees and Active Duty to lead a Life Style much appreciated by all—Hopefully the ones in Uniform will be the Guests of Union Lodge which has been the long established custom but the requirement is in addition to the Dress a stellar performance of the Fellow-Craft Degree in the time honored fashion. We thank the Worshipful Master and the Brethren for this opportunity to work this Degree and welcome our New Brothers top an unforgettable Meeting!!

If you plan on coming along I would appreciate a note so enough food shall be available- no promise of what it shall be but they are renowned for their Melt in your mouth STEAMSHIP ROUND!!!

Tradition has been if we are “In by 8 we shall be out at 10” Usually we can do better than that though so come on out and lend a hand – The Lodge is on the South East end of Society Road in East Lyme (Niantic Ct)

Any questions contact me:

Arthur E Richards 860-848-9810 but E-Mail is best- This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Or Bro Lody Morales 860-572-0849

Remember Brothers, calendar events and times are subject to change. Please check often.

Calendar Search Added to Lodge Websites

A calendar search tool has been installed at the bottom of every lodge website calendar.
Put in a date in the future and all events throughout the state will result. Search for a particular event from sixteen different categories and all the events of that category will appear. Results up to one year in the future are displayed.
For example, looking for a Fellowcraft Degree in the state? Look no further than the website calendar search tool. Want to go to a Table Lodge? Do a search. Have nothing to do tomorrow night? Search for all events on that date.

TAKE DUE NOTICE

The "Take Due Notice" section on the Left menu bar is where you will find important and updated information. Brothers, please check the sub catagories often.

New Master's Message and Trestle Board. Please click "From the East" to view.

A Message From Our Worshipful Master:

My Brothers,

As we close the door on another year let us reflect upon a year that has been successful for the lodge. Our immediate past master has done well and deserves a lot of credit for keeping the lodge on an even keel and keeping us going in a positive direction. We are very fortunate to be looking at a new year with a full line of officers and only the chaplain and myself as retreads. We have been fortunate to have some energetic and enthusiastic new members step forward and take a real interest in the fraternity. Their positive attitude is contagious and has infected some of our older brothers as well.

The lodge seems to be headed in the right direction and appears to be under good leadership. The ritual has been outstanding and the floor work as well. We hope to continue this and make it even better. We are in need of assistance on the sidelines our officers would like to show their brothers how well they know the work but it is disheartening to perform to an empty sidelines. Take the time my brothers to come to lodge and support our new officers and show them their efforts are not in vein.

We have decided this year to break up some of the longer lectures like the middle chamber and are trying to get several persons to participate and break up the lecture so the candidates pay better attention rather than listening to one person drone on. It has worked in other lodges and is certainly worth a try. W.B.Morse has come up with the idea of having a reunion night at the lodge. This will happen the fourth Thursday night of March and will be held down stairs at the lodge building. We will have a dinner and an informal get-together to talk and re-hash the old times at Union lodge as well as brothers who have passed on but are still remembered. This will be a good time for all and again will not be done in open lodge; so that all can join in and just have fun.

I hope the holiday season is good for all and finds you all well. We this year have taken on two words to remind us to keep our eyes upon the task they are #1 To keep a positive attitude; #2 To have fun. I would hope this will serve the entire body of Union Lodge as a reminder that we need to keep a positive attitude towards the lodge and to deal with the lodge in a fun way and to make it as fun as possible. (WE DO IT BECAUSE WE LOVE IT)

Respectfully,

William M. Perkins

Worshipful Master 2012

Union Lodge No. 31

From the West

My Brothers,

It is with permission of our Worship Master, RWB William M.Perkins that I am forming a committee and volunteer network of Union Lodge No. 31 and 8^th District Brothers to help and assist with any and all fundraisers for the Waterford / East Lyme Animal Control Shelter. This is a good opportunity to give back to our community and also make those aware of the “good works” of masons. We have sat on the sidelines for a while making our regular contributions, but evolving times call for a more public display of compassion and charity. Your time and effort to an all volunteer organization is one of the most charitable and valuable donations you can give. There are several events slated to raise funds for the Animal Shelter this year, and one of the biggest is August 11^thduring Waterford Week. This event is already established as “Pup-stravaganza” and we are looking for as many brothers possible to assist the existing fundraising committee with whatever they need to make this event a success. The Animal Shelter, besides requiring basic maintenance needs such as food and paper towels, needs to raise 40,000 more dollars to build a more modern and efficient facility. The fundraising committee, headed by Melissa Yuchniuck, the wife of the Animal Control Officer, has managed to raise $60,000 out of a $100,000 in two years. Join me in helping her in this worthy cause. Most of us have some type of pet and I am sure they want for nothing. It is the abandoned, lost and abused who want for a good home and a little love. Brothers, look to your hearts an schedules and contribute whatever you can to make 2012 the year the Waterford / East Lyme Animal Shelter reached its goal, with the assistance of the Freemasons in Southeastern Connecticut. Thank you Brothers, and if you would like to contribute I can be reached via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 860-234-9958.

Fraternally yours,

Craig Pedro

SW Union Lodge No. 31

Blue Lodge Council Meetings

February 27th: @ Wooster No. 10

April 20th : @ Union No. 31

June 25th : @ Sommerset St. James No. 34

Sept 24th : @ Coastal No. 57

Nov 26th : @ Brainard No. 102

Online Masonic Discussion Group

Any brother Master Mason who would like to participate in a Masonic Discussion Group administered by Bro. Pat Trainor can do so by signing up via the link below. There is a wealth of archived material to view, but to access the archives you need to create a free gmail account. There are some lively discussions and subjects to test and improve your Masonic knowledge. Your opinions and comments are welcome and encouraged. If you have any trouble accessing the link you can email Bro. Pat at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

http://groups.google.com/group/MasonicResearch/sub?s=9aBGxQwAAADvK0_dx12l9caOEvCduhyn&hl=en

Welcome Brothers and Guests

Photo is from the dining hall at the "Old Union Lodge"

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The Bridge Builder is a poem written by Will Allen Dromgoole around the turn of the 20th Century. This poem is used by many fraternal societies to teach the importance of building for future generations.

Please take a moment to read this humble poem and reflect. What bridges have you built in your life?

The Bridge Builder

"An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fear for him;
But he turned, when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim, near,
"You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again will pass this way;
You've crossed the chasm, deep and wide-
Why build you this bridge at the evening tide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head:
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today,
A youth, whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm, that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building this bridge for him.

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Union Lodge No. 31 meets on the first and third Thursdays of every month at 7:30pm. July and August meetings are the first Thursday only.

freemasonry

DIRECTIONS

From I-95 North or South, Take EXIT 74. At end of ramp take a RIGHT onto Rt.161 Flander's Road.

Proceed South on Flander's Road approximately 1 mile. At traffic signal turn RIGHT onto Society Road.

Proceed approximately 1/4 mile on Society Rd. Bay View Masonic Temple is on LEFT across from Middle School and Town Library

What is Freemasonry?

Freemasonry is the oldest fraternal organization in the world. It is dedicated to promoting improvement in the character of its members. A Mason is taught to be a good citizen. To be of good character. To care for those less fortunate, and to give back to his community.

Freemasonry is not a religion. This is not to say that Masons do not have religious beliefs. One of the tenets of the Masonic Fraternity is that its members are free to express their beliefs in the religion of their choice. However, it is also a condition of membership that each recognize that the wonders of the universe are not here as a result of our doing. But rather as a result of a Supreme Being, who brings order and purpose to our existence.

Membership in the Masonic Fraternity is an act of free will. A man must ask for the opportunity. The potential member must be at least eighteen years of age, of sound moral character, and able to express his belief in a Supreme Being.

The Masonic Fraternity believes that its members have an obligation to give back to their communities, and to benefit others. It is an important point to emphasize that Masons are taught to go about these tasks in a quiet, unassuming fashion. This is meant to impress upon our members that it is the work, and not the individual, that is of importance. It is also to preserve the dignity of those for whom the work is performed.

Feel free to email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for any questions, comments or requests for further information about membership.

Connecticut Freemasons: Making a difference here and around the world.

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