Benjamin Franklin Lodge No. 45 F.&A.M

FROM THE EAST

Brethren,
Thank you all for your support during the month of May. I’m hoping everyone had a safe and eventful Memorial Day weekend. Please continue to reach out to brothers that we haven’t seen in lodge for a while. As we are always excited to have them in lodge.

Please come and join us for the Grand Master’s Official Visit at our next stated communication June 1, 2022 @ 7:30 p.m. Most Worshipful Michael R. Giles and his Corps of Grand Officers. Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. hope to see you all there. Please R.S.V.P with the Jr Warden for dinner. This is a formal event please dress accordingly.

I would like to congratulate Brother Ron LaBlue on being raised to Master Mason, May 14, 2022 with big thank you to all the people that supported him and this degree work. Thank you Masters Charles Agulubat (Reno 13), Hipolito Galven (Wadsworth 25) and a big thank you to Brother Bobby Hall for mentoring and coaching Bro Ron.

As we prepare to go dark for July and August, we still have some work to do. I would like to have some degree work accomplished while we are dark. I would like to have an EA degree July 20, 2022 @ 7:00 p.m. with practice July 11, 2022 @ 6:45 p.m., and a FC degree August 24, 2022. With practice August 22, 2022 @ 6:45 p.m.
“What you do today can improve all your tomorrow’s” - Ralph Marston

Upon the Square
Torry Thompson, Worshipful Master

FROM THE WEST

My Brethren, We have 1 meeting before we go dark for July and August, so I truly hope to see all of you June 1st. Let's break Bread and enjoy the official GMOV visit together. I hope you are all doing great and enjoying the latest round of sunshine. As always, I like to send out a positive message every month that hopefully helps set you up everyday with something good to read.

Quote for the month…
“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.” - Marie Curie

On the Level
Gregg Moore, Senior Warden

SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND

The making of a Freemason consists of a continuing course of education, of training, and of character forming. While it may be accepted that it is an innermost desire, followed by obligations that makes one a member of the Craft, yet in a truer form and better sense, a man is naver a Freemason until he truthfully and loyally lives up to his obligations. And he cannot do that until he understands them, and eventually knows their scope and real meaning.

Freemasonry can very well be divided into many phases. Its landmarks, its customs, its constitution and its laws, just to mention a few, if studied and mastered, can provide a more interesting course for the Master Mason seeking Masonic knowledge. Its historical background can provide in interesting program of investigation to the Member attracted to a desire for research.

One peculiarity about Freemasonry is that it will stand invest-igation. The deeper the research, the more extensive the knowledge of its hidden art and mysteries, the more highly it is appreciated. A member of the Craft who merely takes his degrees in a listless, careless sort of manner, and then remains as just a spectator at Lodge meetings, may hold to the opinion that Freemasonry differs little from other societies. The the contrary, the Master Mason who delves deeply into Masonic literature takes a lively interest in every part of the Ritualistic and Lodge Work, and learns the origin, meaning and moral bearing of its symbols, cannot possibly fall into such an error. To him Freemasonry has a refining and elevating influence not to be found in the ordinary run of organizations.

The philosophies of Freemasonry, when discovered and then accepted and practiced, provide that simple but profound solution to the problems of human relationships. May it be accepted that Freemasonry is a way of living to the Master Mason who is interested enough to appraise and value the wealth that is his, and his alone, by virtue of his Masonic Membership.

The best informed Master Mason is the Master Mason who reads and studies. Consequently, if we want Freemasonry to be of practical usefulness and cultural attainment, we, as Freemasons, must not neglect our Masonic reading, our Masonic studying and our research for more Masonic Light.

FROM THE EAST

Hello brothers,
I hope all of you are doing well and are safe. Well it looks like Most Worshipful is allowing us to go back to work. We will be having our stated meeting and hopefully an officers installation on the first Wednesday in March. I am hopeful of a good turnout and expect we will have all officers and appointed officers attend so we can get them all installed so we can begin the work for 2022. Looking forward into the future I find many positive changes ahead of us that I know as a Lodge we will rise to meet those challenges. With Master elect Torry Thompson sitting in the East and a solid core of officers, I know that the lodge is in good hands.

Until we meet again, I wish all brothers and their families to be safe

Upon the Square
Rand Subia, Acting Master

FROM THE SOUTH

Brethren, I am excited about our upcoming stated meeting this Wednesday the 2nd. Travis Duhn will be ready to prove his first so we can start planning for a second degree.

By the Plumb
Joey Rueckl, Junior Warden

FROM THE WEST

My Brethren, I sincerely hope you are all doing great and feeling well. I am looking forward to our meeting and Installation this coming meeting. We will not be having dinner prior to the meeting in March, but hopefully we will come April. I hope you all have had a great couple of months to kick off 2022. As always, I like to send out a positive message every month that hopefully helps set you up everyday with something good to read.

Quote for the month…
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” - John Quincy Adams

On the Level
Gregg Moore, Senior Warden

FROM THE EAST

Hello my brothers, hope all is well with you and your family. With the approach of the holiday season, let us remain ever vigilant in our safety towards our brothers and their families. At our December stated meeting we will be holding elections for the 2022 officers.

I would like to express my gratitude to all the officers for their due diligence throughout these trying times. Navigating the issues brought on by the pandemic and working with me as the Worshipful Master of Benjamin Franklin Lodge for the past 2 years wasn’t always easy but it has been a great honor and pleasure for me to have had your support throughout.

The Lodge and I I've been through some trying times as of late and I am hopeful that some good will eventually come from it. I always keep the light on. I must say I am looking forward to passing the gavel forward to the capable hands of our next master. I have no doubt that with the guidance of our past masters he will successful in leading us into the future.

Looking forward to seeing all your smiling faces at our stated dinner at 6pm and at our stated meeting at 7pm.

God bless and have a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas.

Upon the Square
Randy Subia, WM

FROM THE SOUTH

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family. I look forward to seeing you all at our meeting in December. Show up a little early and enjoy a wonderful Italian style dinner before the meeting and dessert afterwards.

Quote for the month…

“Train your mind to see the good in everything. Being positive is a choice. The happiness and productivity in our lives depend upon the quality of our thoughts.”

By the Plumb
Gregg Moore, JW

FROM THE EAST

Hello my brothers, hope all is well with you and your family. At our November stated meeting it will be step-up night for our officers, so officers be prepared to move to your new station.

Reminder to all our brothers that the 157th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Nevada is being held at the Atlantis Casino in Reno, NV. The Annual Communication will be held on Sunday November 7th - Tuesday 9th. A public opening of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge will begin at 9:00 AM for all Masons, their families, and friends, with the Grand Lodge officially convening at 10:30 AM, November 8th.

The members of Benjamin Franklin Lodge No. 45 have unanimously voted for consolidation. At this moment we are waiting on the consolidation vote from the other Lodges to determine our next steps.

Looking forward to seeing all the Brothers for our Stated meeting starting at 7:00 PM but please join us for dinner starting at 6:00 PM.

Stay well, stay vigilant and be safe.

Upon the Square
Randy Subia, WM

THE MASON ON THE MOON

Buzz Aldrin is famously the second man to set foot on the moon, a few minutes behind Neil Armstrong, on July 20, 1969. He can take solace knowing he was the first Mason on the moon.

During the Apollo 11 mission, Aldrin, of Clear Lake Lodge No. 1417 in Seabrook, Texas, carried a special deputation from then–grand master of Texas J. Guy Smith authorizing him to claim Masonic territorial jurisdiction on the moon on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Texas.

Today, that connection is commemorated through Texas’s Tranquility Lodge No. 2000 (named for the Sea of Tranquility, where the lunar rover landed). According to its website, Tranquility Lodge “is based in Texas under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of Texas until such time as the Lodge may hold its meetings on the Moon.” For now, the group rotates among meeting sites and holds an annual event in Waco. It has pledged $50,000 in support of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, first created by NASA astronauts.

—Ian A. Stewart

FROM THE SOUTH

I hope you are all having an amazing start to the winter months, and able to get out and enjoy the sunshine and the cooler weather. I look forward to seeing you all at our November step up meeting. Look forward to a wonderful dinner before the meeting and dessert afterwards.

Quote for the month...

"It’s all about mindset. From the moment we wake up, to the moment you rest your head at night…everything is up to you. Your emotions, your thoughts, your reactions…every moment is up to you."

By the Plumb
Gregg Moore, Junior Warden