Apology:  here comes the number one most popular cliché from the East, but it’s so true I can’t help repeating it.

The year is more than half over, and it seems like yesterday I took upon myself the Master’s obligations.

Where has the time gone? What have we accomplished this year?

Eight Master Masons raised, three Apprentices initiated, and all of them show signs of being active.  That’s the best news I could share, and I am truly grateful to be able to do so—grateful to all the coaches and Directors of Work who gave so unstintingly of their time and care to enable the new Brethren to become enlightened, but grateful most of all for the persuasive spirit which more and more abundantly shines in our Lodge. At one communication in July we had almost fifty Masons attend! I am humbled.

We enjoy new Lodge furniture, well mostly. They are dark red, and look very handsome, come on out and see them if you haven’t been by in a while. Br. Canup has devised a procedure for cutting a Masonic coin into every other armrest, and will be staining them—they are going to look really good, a credit to our Lodge and a reflection on all the hard work of those who made these chairs shine as they do, y’all know who you are!

Building Fund

Our Building Fund off is and running! The building committee has made plans for the new Lodge room, Secretary’s Office, preparation room and library, though I’m sure they will evolve.  If anyone reading this has a departed family member or Brother whom they would like to memorialize, now is the time to include them in the plans.  It doesn’t need to be an large investment—we could personalize a single chair, put a plaque on a Warden’s podium; even an inscribed brick could remind us of those on whose shoulders we stand, those who gave, to quote Lincoln, “their last full measure of devotion” to us and to Masonry. And while I’m on the subject of contributions:

CHALLENGE:

One of our Most Worshipful Brothers has offered to help with our building fund, and we need your support.  For each ten contributions of $100, up to three thousand dollars, he will match us.  Brethren, this is an opportunity which must not be passed over.  Yonah Lodge has their new building, but they also have a large mortgage, the size of which I wouldn’t want to take on for Mount Airy, especially in these times.  So I ask you all to exercise your charity and “make some hay” while this Brother’s sun is shining upon us, as we will not have him forever.  To those of you who have already contributed, I give sincere thanks and a promise that your gift will grow.

Celebration

While prying information out of a seldom-seen Brother last month, I happened to ask why more of the old-timers haven’t been around much.  “They think you’ve forgotten about them,” he replied.  “Not on MY watch,”  I answered.  So last meeting we formed a Committee to plan a “Celebration of Service” for those dedicated Brethren upon whose shoulders we stand—you should be getting an invitation in the mail soon if you’ve been a member for 25 years or more.  But of course all are welcome.  I hope to gather lots of information to write and preserve the History of our Lodge for web site publication, and I’m sure we all have stories to share, so come on down for some breakfast on Saturday, October 24th from 8 to 11 AM, I guarantee some surprises!

Fraternally,

Peter Moncure WM, Mount Airy #141 F&AM

EMAIL, 706.754.2725 (W) 706.754.6777 (H)

Check out the new Mount Airy #141 web site: www.MtAiry141.org, updated frequently.

May the blessings of Heaven rest upon us and all Brother Masons; may brotherly love prevail and every moral and social virtue cement us.

As advertised, Most Worshipful Grand Master J. Edwards Jennings, Jr. in January visited our “Little Country Lodge” (or so it was described to him). Despite the short notice, we gave a creditable performance, though I was certainly glad he didn’t get to see our opening, as we opened before the dinner so as not to keep him waiting. His program included several pet projects—there are only two Lodges in Georgia which are not fully endowed for our Masonic Children’s Home, a program which has been slowly progressing for decades, and one which our Grand Master hopes to retire during his Year. The Children’s Home endowment has suffered just like everyone else’s, and the annual budget is over $200,000 short as a result. Not only did the endowment’s value shrink from $21 million to $16, but the rate of return on what is left also dropped almost 40%, a dual disaster. As a result, our Most Worshipful Grand Master has been offering “Grand Master’s Pocket Knives” for $30, with his name and our Masonic Symbols etched into the blades in Gold, they are very nice! If you would like one, write to our Secretary (Joel Ayers) or our DDGM (Kevin Lomax) and they will make it happen for you.

Br. Scott Cantrell and I visited the Children’s Home, which is far more impressive than its print hanging on our Lodge wall. We got to meet some of the children, and I can guarantee you that they are all very lucky to benefit from the “tough but loving” atmosphere I observed there. There is room for a few more needy children, so if you know of a good candidate (the Father need not be a Mason), contact Scott (the new Home Ambassador for District 9-C) and he will fly to the child’s relief.

For the present, our golf tournament was a great success on a perfect April Morning at the Apple Ridge course in Hollywood, and earned almost $2500 for our depeleted treasury. For Work and Lectures, we had five Master Masons stand their catechism on 4/7, conferred the EA degree on two initiates on 4/21 (Welcome, Brethren!), and a Fellowcraft degree and EA catechism is coming up on 5/5, so your officers will be very busy practicing floor work to honor your Lodge at its best. Dinners are served for all degree meetings, and otherwise on all third Tuesdays, to much satisfaction.

In future news, there is unprecedented promise for #141. I have been at work on proposed By-Laws for a Masonic Association of Northeast Georgia, and hope that will come to fruition sometime this year. But most exciting is the offer from some of our members to contribute to a building fund to expand our Lodge building. Currently under discussion is a plan to convert the present Lodge room to a Fellowship and dining space, and add to the right rear for a new and larger meeting room, along with a Secretary’s Office/Library and additional storage space. A building fund has been started, and if it is within your means “without material injury” a donation would be welcome! Even our Stewards, who are currently seeking employment, both gave when I passed the hat to kick off the fund.

Our web site is growing every day, and by the time you read this most of the Past Master’s photographs should be available online. Two goals with the online-PM project include

Please send any recollections to our Secretary Joel Ayers, or by snail mail, or even call one of us, we’ll get the information posted.

Fraternally yours,

Peter Moncure WM, Mount Airy #141 F&AM

PMoncure (AT) RadioSoft.com, 706.754.2725 (W) 706.754.6777 (H)

Check out the new Mount Airy #141 web site: www.MtAiry141.org, updated frequently.

Wonderful news! Most Worshipful Brother J. Edward Jennings, Jr., our new Grand Master, will be visiting our own Lodge next Tuesday, January 20^th.

As far as I am aware, no sitting Grand Master (save Brother Tommy Irvin, a member of our Lodge) has ever officially visited Mount Airy #141, and I am sure his visit will be well worth attending. Our new Junior Warden, Brother David Ayers will be bringing fried chicken and all the fixin’s for our Lodge Meal at 6:30. All the officers have been practicing for the Grand Master’s reception. You may wonder, as I did, how this has happened. It seems that decades ago there was a tradition for the Grand Master to visit the home Lodges of each of his Grand Officers, and the current GM has decided to resurrect that tradition. Since Brother Doug McDonald, a member of Mount Airy, is Second Grand Steward this year, we are on the list. These are exciting times for a new Master, and an indication that the new Grand Master has fresh plans to promote Masonry, and a personality to match. Come and meet him if you can—one of our brethren was lucky enough to make his acquaintance at Solomon Lodge (Savannah) two weeks ago and reports that he is very friendly and open to meeting our Brothers, you won’t have another chance!

And that’s not all! We will be having an Open Installation on Sunday afternoon, January 18^th, at 2:00, with a light snack to follow, so come on along and bring family and friends. The Installation will be performed by our District Deputy, Brother Kevin Lomax, and I’m sure he will make a good ceremony.

I’ve taken the message of a Masonic Association of Northeast Georgia to three other nearby Lodges (Clarkesville, Cornelia and Rabun Gap in Clayton) and asked of all three if they wished to participate and if so, in what way. All three indicated they thought it a good idea, would consider and reply. I’m planning to visit all the remaining Lodges in District 9-C by the month’s end, and will have further reports at that time.

A great deal is happening so fast, it’s a wonderful opportunity for us to show what Masonry can really do. If you haven’t been to Lodge in a while, now is the time for you to check out the excitement, greet some old friends and make some new ones. I apologize for the short notice, and I hope to see you all at the Installation, the Grand Master’s Visitation, or any other meeting you can come to.

Fraternally yours,

Peter Moncure WM, Mount Airy #141 F&AM

PMoncure@RadioSoft.com, 706.754.2725 (W) 706.754.6777 (H)

Check out the new Mount Airy web site: www.MtAiry141.org, updated frequently.

May the blessings of Heaven rest upon us and all Brother Masons; may brotherly love prevail and every moral and social virtue cement us.