I trust that you all enjoyed a happy and healthy Holiday season spent with family and friends. It is hard to believe that January is here once again and we are ready to begin another new year at Howard Lodge #101. I would like to thank you for electing me as your Worshipful Master for the year 2012. I am both humbled and honored by this unique responsibility and I look forward to serving all of you in this capacity in the coming year.
This year we are planning what we hope will be another exciting year at Howard Lodge filled with events and activities both new and established. January will kick off with the initiation of several Entered Apprentices followed by probable labor in the Fellowcraft Degree in the weeks thereafter. As always Linda Hammil will continue to provide the fine meals we all enjoy, however this year there will be one slight change. Unless otherwise specified all meals will now be served prior to lodge at 6:30 p.m. with desert provided after lodge. Our continued thanks to both Dan and Linda for all of their hard work in the kitchen!
On February 11th, we are planning a trip to Philadelphia to visit the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and Museum. This guided tour will be followed by lunch at one of the local restaurants. Please let me know by January 31st if you plan to participate so we can arrange adequate transportation. We will depart from Howard Lodge at 7:30 a.m. and we will plan to return by 4:00 p.m.
On March 4th at 3:00 p.m. we will continue a Howard Lodge tradition by sponsoring the church service at the Bonnie Blink Masonic Homes chapel at the Grand Lodge of Maryland in Cockeysville. Please plan to attend and bring your families as well. This year as part of the service the special music will be provided by a vocal group from Towson University. Afterwards please join Teresa and I for dinner at Carrabba's Italian Grill a short distance from the chapel.
With the success of the last years statewide Masonic Open House the Grand Master has decided to hold another one this year. The open house will be held on Saturday, May 5th and will be preceded by a new radio and television advertising campaign produced by the Grand Lodge of Maryland. The television segments feature the hands of our own Past Master Ed Poarch as well as a few faces you may recognize. As was the case last year the radio and television segments will air repeatedly on several local stations from now until the day of the open house. We have no doubt that last years success will be repeated with the result being even more men knocking on our doors seeking light in Masonry.
Finally, in the coming year please join me and let us recommit ourselves to those three most excellent tenets of our profession: Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. In this busy world that we live in, too often we get caught up in the negative aspects of everyday life. As a result we sometimes forget that the Supreme Architect of the Universe put us here in part to aid, support and protect each other. We as Masons should not only ensure that we are taking care of each other, but as a result of the teachings of Freemasonry, that we are truly becoming better men making a difference in our country, our communities and most importantly in our families. If we accomplish nothing else this year let us truly be able to say that in 2012 we became better men. If this is the case, our time with each other and at Howard Lodge will have been time well spent.
