August 2020 Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 Trestleboard

Printed Every Month 130th Anniversary

AUGUST 2020

Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 Senior Warden Eric Smith led a group of Masons, Widow Sons and Ladies from the Ladies of the Oriental Shrine that reached out to show our support of the Town of Florence Police Department.

On Saturday, August 1st the group gathered at the Lodge and then proceeded to the Police Station with homemade breakfast burritos, fresh donuts, and packages of Black Rifle Coffee to thank the Officers and Dispatchers that were on duty.

They were incredibly thankful and rewarded everyone with a tour of the new Police Station. Gila Valley Lodge will be looking to do this again soon!

(Contact the Lodge Secretary at 3,9, or 69 for more information)

Welcome to the dog days of summer. I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the break. Ive made a concerted effort to distance myself from all the chaos and controversy plaguing our lives over the last several months, and its been wonderful. However, try as you might theres no real escaping the heavy cloud that permeates everything we do. We tried to have as normal a vacation as you can get these days with a dash for a dip in the ocean out in California. The temperature was

mistake but I did hope this virus would have gone along the lines of so many many that came before. H1n1, swine, bird, sars, and just kind of go away as fast as it appeared so we could all just return to life as we knew it. However that hasn’t been the case and seems that that was little more that hopfeful thinking. So as we wind down the latter half of the much maligned 2020, ill be trying to work with the future leaders of the lodge to try and figure out how we can arrive to the nearest proximity of normal. I know no matter what we do moving forward , it won’t be unanimously loved. We will be attempting some degree work soon and In Accordance with grand lodges decree, masks and gloves will be required. We are also still looking into our options for safe social gatherings and cooler and the beaches were welcoming but that’s were ways to help the community. As we are deep into unthe normalcy ended. Everywhere you turned there charted waters here I would like to remind everyone were masks required, shorter business hours and rethat I welcome all your opinions by call, text, or emails minders to social distance. It was truly depressing to see on what you might like so see the lodge do to move fortheaters with nothing on their marquees besides hope- ward and become an active lodge again or any thoughts full messages of an eventual return. Arcades that are all on safety measures to ease concerns. silent and empty just teasing me with the memories of So my brothers, enjoy your break. Rest your bodies thrills they once provided and rides that all lay still and and minds as best you can and stay tuned for what I ignored until we dare to gather in them again. You hope will be much better second half of this crazy year can’t help but wonder when or even if things will ever be Fraternally, normal again. As it is with life, the same is said for the lodge. We really have no idea when or if there will be a back to normal again, so we really need to work on de2020 Master fining what our new normal will be. It may have been a Gila Valley Lodge No. 9

Anthony Raimondi

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Summer is in full swing. So what have you been doing here. We are all grown adults and we have made it to with your fun in the sun? Have you been out and about that point in our lives where we are where we are and enjoying the heat in the Lake? Maybe even in the salt that is because of our own actions. This is also similar to river while tubing? Or how about spending some of how we are in lodge. your time out on the shooting range? Either way what Some of us grew up around the craft since we were has been the driving force to get you into that ridiculous born so we know nothing different like the native Arizoheat? Some people nans. Some of us saw will say you are crazy it and were curious and I don't care if it and decided to make is a dry heat 110 is Also called time out of mind. time in the distant past beyond it a part of our lives at just outrageous. But memory or record: e.g. Those carvings have been there from time a later date because we manage to find a immemorial. Law. time beyond legal memory, fixed by statute in of the virtues or morway to enjoy ourEngland as prior to the beginning of the reign of Richard I (1189). If als it instills in us selves in the heat you say that something has been happening since time immemorial Like those who anyway. or from time immemorial, you are emphasizing that it has been hap- moved in from the I want you to consid- pening for many centuries. It has remained virtually unchanged since cold to help balance er for a moment why time immemorial. From time immemorial there has been the belief the cold out of their that is, how is that, that there are good and bad places to be lives. And some have and when did you found it for a whole say eh it’s a dry heat? For some of us we moved here different reason whether it be for the fellowship of and we enjoyed the idea that hey at least i don’t have to brethren or the research or the enlightenment that we shovel the snow away and found a replacement for the learn from the lessons of Masonry. cold snow wind and ice for burning scorching sunlight. So again I ask you what have you been doing with your Whereas some have lived here their entire lives and fun in the sunlight? know nothing different and have been a part of this cycle for their entire lives. Whereas others have found the Fraternally, desert the rivers and the elevation a way to enjoy the same weather almost year round.

2020 Junior Warden Either way it doesn't matter where or when we started Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 living here it is that fact that we now have chosen to live

What is Time Immemorial ?

John Woode

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GREAT TO BE COOL In the heat of summer, expressing that thought is acknowledging that it is straight out of ancient history. In today's words, cool translates into a description of a dream ender. In Thomas Jefferson's words 'Nothing gives a person much advantage over another as to remain cool, under all circumstances". President Nixon felt the tougher it gets, the cooler he got.

Supplying light without heat defines what being cool is like. Simply put, cool is the absence of heat. That could apply to nature's beauty, to personal behavior, views on what is seen and felt, and appreciation of what is placed before you. Being cool in the sixties, has become a new acceptable behavior today for speech, and described as a personality trait, illustrating with clothing, fashion, and behavior. It is hard to hold conversation with someone, when whose ever third word is cool. Being anti cool in the wrong environment is not a plus. Showing cool presents a person capable of independent thoughts and ideas. Cool is fitting in by imitating style and speech. Cool can stagnate, never going beyond that which group mores dictate. "Cool is the rule". Cool is average, cool is what is trendy, cool is averse to change. The passing of time is not cool.

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The Pinal County Animal Care and Control is once again full of dogs and needs our help again.

Please bring in your old blankets and dog toys for us to donate for our next Stated Meeting!!

There will be a box for collection of the donated items!

Other items that are needed: Cleaning supplies - Blankets and towels – Peanut butter (xylitol-free) – Pet Food Medicine - Office supplies - Grooming tools

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Being Masonic‌What does that really mean? To some it means being a good Christian, others it means just being a good person, and yet others may look at it as being cult like. Everyone has a different take on what being Masonic means to them.

ticed the ring I wear (Masonic) and told me she loves my ring and thanked me for being a Shriner. I laughed inside as I told her I was not yet a Shriner. She then thanked me for what I do for others as she knows about the Shrine. I did not ask how she knew about the Shriners, I just assumed she either saw all the commerI have heard it all from so many people I have come cials or knew someone who was a Shriner. A few across with regards to being a Mason or being Masonic. months later during Thanksgiving dinner at a Brother Most of the time though I just notice the looks I get Mason, Shriner, and close friend of mine's house I when my ring is noticed. These looks cover the specfound out she was renting a place from him. Funny how trum and tell the persons feelings toward me and my ring in an instant, and no matter the look I get it makes me smile.

One person once told me that Masonic Riders (which I am one) are just a group of people who think they are riders, but are not. I listened for a while as this person bashed all riders who were not in his MC (Motorcycle Club). I then asked him why he felt that way toward all these other rider organizations. The ansmall the world is sometimes. swer I received was actually interesting as he assumed that Masons were bad people because they are a cult.

I have learned with the many different experiences to He also said that the Masonic Riders were people who just listen and see if they want to know the truth or are just wanted to wear a vest and weren’t real riders. He just saying what they think is correct with no desire to was so into his answer that I did not even try to talk to learn the truth. More times than not I have found they him about it. All I could do was laugh at his lack of are actually open to hearing about us as they are not knowledge or even being open to learning. sure, but do not really believe the TV/Movies/books, Another instance I had was at work where a woman no- etc.. (cont.)

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Being Masonic to me is being the best man you can be toward all people, especially our fellow brethren and their families. It means waking up and striving to be better than I was yesterday as a human. It means letting things that may upset me roll off my shoulders, especially if I have no control over the situation. It means helping others in need and not judging them for the situation they may be in. It means striving to be like my Grandfather who was a Mason and Shriner as well.

on TV or hear from other people who do not really know. This is the reason we need to be more involved and act Masonic (no matter what that means to you) so the world does not look at us the way they do presently.

In today’s world it is more important than any other time in recent history that we as Masons set the example for all and treat everyone with respect regardless of their sex, race, religion, and/or political stance. If we can all do our part with this maybe, just maybe it will have a profound effect on the people on this planet and help bring things back to a state of stability, respect, and love for our fellow man/woman.

Being Masonic can be a lot of things to many people, and also so little to others. Being Masonic is what we as brothers strive to be every day, or at least I believe we should, and from what I have seen so far in my Masonic career, most are. My journey as a Mason has been a wonderful journey of intrigue, history, and learning about who I am and who I want to be.

Fraternally,

Eric Smith

Many people have no idea what it really means to be a Mason, or to be Masonic, solely because they have never asked a Mason. They instead believe what they see

2020 Senior Warden Gila Valley Lodge No. 9

What is an Obligation?

An Obligation is the solemn promise made by a Freemason on his admission into any Degree is technically called his obligation. In a legal sense, obligation is synonymous with duty. Its derivation shows its true meaning, for the Latin word obligation literally signifies a tying or binding. The obligation is that which binds a man to do some act, the doing of which thus becomes his duty. By his obligation, a Freemason is bound or tied to his Order.

Hence the Romans called the military oath which was taken by the soldier his obligation, and, too, it is said that it is the obligation that makes the Freemason.

Before that ceremony, there is no tie that binds the candidate to the Order so as to make him a part of it; after the ceremony, the tie has been completed, and the candidate becomes at once a Freemason, entitled to all the rights and privileges and subject to all the duties and responsibilities that endure in that character. The jurists have divided obligations into imperfect and perfect, or natural and civil. In Freemasonry there is no such distinction.

The Masonic obligation is that moral one which, although it cannot be enforced by the courts, is binding on the party who makes it, in conscience and according to moral justice.

It varies in each Degree, but in each is perfect. Its various clauses, in which different duties are prescribed, are called its points, which are either affirmative or negative, a division like that of the precepts of the Jewish law. The affirmative points are those which require certain acts to be performed; the negative points are those which forbid certain other acts to be done. The whole of them is preceded by a general point of secrecy, common to all the Degrees, and this point is called the tie. ~ Mackey

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The traitors of the Third Degree are called Assassins in Continental Freemasonry and in the advanced Degrees.

The English and American Freemasons have adopted in their instructions the more homely appellation of Ruffians. The fabricators of the high Degrees adopted a variety of names for these Assassins, but the original names are preserved in the instructions of the York and American Rites.

any congruity and appropriateness between them and any of the divine names. And again, the literary condition of the Craft at the time of the invention of the names equally precludes the probability that any names would have been fabricated of a recondite signification, and which could not have been readily understood and appreciated by the ordinary class of Freemasons who were to use them. The names must naturally have been of a construction that would convey a familiar idea would be suitable to the incidents in which they were to be employed, and would be congruous with the character of the individuals upon whom they were to be bestowed.

There is no question that has so much perplexed Masonic antiquaries as the true derivation and meaning of these three names. In their present form, they are confessedly uncouth and without apparent signification..

Yet it is certain that we can trace them in that form to the earliest appearance of the legend of the Third Degree, and it is equally certain that at the time of their adoption some meaning must have been attached to them. Brother Mackey was convinced that this must have been a very simple one, and one that would have been easily comprehended by the whole of the Craft, who were in the constant use of them.

Now all these requisites meet in a word which was entirely familiar to the Craft at the time when these names were probably invented. The Ghiblim are spoken of by Anderson, meaning Ghiblim, as stonecutters or Masons; and the early amounts show us very clearly that the Fraternity in that day considered Giblim as the name of a Mason; not only of a Mason generally, but especially of that class of Masons who, as Drummond says, "put the finishing hand to King Solomon's Temple" - that is to Attempts, it is true, have been made to find the root of say the Fellow Crafts. Anderson also places the Ghiblim these three names in some recondite reference to the among the Fellow Crafts; and so, very naturally, the earHebrew names of God. But there is in Doctor Mackey's ly Freemasons, not imbued with any amount of Hebrew opinion, no valid authority for any such derivation. In learning, and not making a distinction between the sinthe first place, the character and conduct of the supgular and plural forms of that language, soon got to callposed possessors of these names preclude the idea of ing a Fellow Craft a Giblim. (cont.)

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The steps of corruption between Giblim arid Jilbelum were not very gradual; nor can anyone doubt that such corruptions of spelling and pronunciation were common among these illiterate Freemasons, when he reads the Old Manuscripts, and finds such verbal distortions as Nembroch for Nimrod, Eaglet for Euclid, and Aymon for Hiram. Thus, the first corruption was from Giblim to Gibalim, which brought the word to three syllables, making it thus nearer to its eventual change.

Tyler’s Salary

A long Masonic custom has been for the Tyler (or whomever guards the outer door at a Masonic meeting) to earn a salary. Some think this is because they are missing the meeting, or providThen we find in the early works another transformation ing clerical service into Chibbelum. The French Freemasons also took the related to counting work of corruption in hand, and from Giblim they man- attendance. The traufactured Jiblime and Jibulum and Habmlum. Some of dition of the Tyler's salary is said to actually originate these French corruptions came back to English Freema- with the Tyler's duty to deliver summonses to meetsonry about the time of the fabrication of the advanced ings. In days when the post office was not speedy enough (or didn't exist), it was the Tyler's job to carry a degrees, and even the French words were distorted. meeting summons to every member.

Thus in the Iceland Manuscript, the English Freema(Source: Masonic Trivia by Peter Champion.) sons made out of Pytagore, the French for Pythagoras, the unknown name Peter Gower, which is said so much to have puzzled John Locke. were readily constructed out of that of the greatest one So we may through these mingled English and French by a simple change of the termination of the word from am to a in one, and from uoz to o in the other, thus precorruptions trace the genealogy of the word Jubelum; serving, by a similarity of names, the idea of their relathus, Ghiblim, Giblim, Gibalim, Chibbelum, Jiblime, Jibelum, Jabelum, rind, finally, Jubelum. It meant simp- tionship, for the old works said that they were Brothers ly a Fellow Craft, and was appropriately given as a com- who had come together out of Tyre. This derivation to Doctor Mackey seems to be easy, natural, and compremon name to a particular Fellow Craft who was distinguished for his treachery. In other words, he was desig- hensible. The change from Giblim, or rather from nated, not by a special and distinctive name, but by the Gibalim to Jubelum, is one that is far less extraordinary than that which one half of the Masonic words have untitle of his condition and rank at the Temple. dergone in their transformation from their original to He was the Fellow Craft, who was at the head of a con- their present form. ~Mackey spiracy. As for the names of the other two Ruffians, they

www.azmasoniclibrary.org

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I have been procrastinating and occasionally pondering about what to write an article about this month and picked up the "Emessay Notes" from the June and July editions published by the Masonic Service Association of North America. There were two short articles that stood out that I would like to share with you.

The first is a message from Virginia Grand Master Douglas Vernon Jones to the craft. He wrote that part of life is looking for answers surrounding the human condition and the good and really tough things that can and most assuredly do happen in life.

Some answers will never come. That is the way life is.

Success and failure, experience and hard knocks are among our greatest teachers. It is in the simple and profound moments of everyday life that so often offer up the answers for which we are looking, sometimes even before we have the question in the first place.

brother Mason of New York Lodge No. 130 and was raised September 23, 1857. He was also a famous theater actor and because of that vast knowledge and experience he understood the essence of the tragedy.

Here is how Brother Booth evaluated the Hiramic tragedy.

"In all my research and study; in all my close analysis of the masterpiece of Shakespeare, in my earnest determination to make those plays appear real on the mimic stage, I have never, and nowhere, met a tragedy so real, so sublime, so magnificent as the legend of Hiram. It is substance without shadow-the manifest destiny of life which requires no picture and scarcely a word to make a lasting impression upon all who understand.

To be Worshipful Master, and to throw my whole soul into that work, with the candidate for my audience and the Lodge for my stage, would be a greater personal distinction than to receive the plaudits of people in the theaters of the world.

To me, it comes down to this: listen patiently and soak in those simple and profound things that happen around you every day, immerse yourself in good books, especially the Bible, Do not neglect art, music, conversation with smart people or those who posses Brothers, look for those profound moments and words of wisdom that surround us in our everyday wisdom; do this and the answers will come. life. Share those moments with your Brethren and From my perspective, the message is this: as Masons encourage them to seek them out in their everyday we have the tools to transform the ordinary into the lives. Remember to embrace the lessons taught conextraordinary. The values we embrace, such as loyal- cerning the seven liberal arts and sciences in the Felty, kindness, love and faithfulness are values which lowcraft degree. In the ritual work of the fraternity, we resonate with American men. If we want to see our owe it to our candidates to throw our soul into delivlodges survive and thrive for the long-term, we need ering a meaningful and profound degree, a degree to understand there is nothing wrong with our prod- that leaves a lasting impression on the candidate. The uct, but instead, it is the method of our delivery that degree work is not only for the candidate, it is for all needs work. who confer the degree as well as all in attendance.

The second article is a short evaluation of the Hiram- Fraternally, ic tragedy from Edwin Booth the brother of John Wilkes Booth who shot President Abraham Lincoln.

2020 Senior Grand Warden Edwin Booth was not close with his brother and their Grand Lodge of Arizona political points of view differed greatly. Edwin was a

Jim Baker

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Gila Valley is playing poker for Charity! Bring an item to help a baby and cash for chips and descend upon Bro. Joe Guinn’s house on July 11th at 7pm for another great night of Poker with your Brothers! We are asking that you bring something to donate to Compassion Connect that will help fill their Care Closet. Bring Diapers and or baby wipes! Anything that a baby might need, we want to fill it up!

The poker is Texas Hold ‘em and the Cigars are Cuban… or from other tobacco growing counties! There is a pool and hot tub for those so inclined. We will be enjoying pulled pork sandwiches for dinner. $20 initial buy in, rebuys unlimited, cash game.

For information, Contact the Poker Commission Bro. Joe Guinn at guinnjoe@gmail.com.

CALIENTE COFFEE CLUB SINCE 1985

First and third Tuesday at 9:00 am Caliente Club House, Florence Arizona

MASONIC CONVERSATION, FELLOWSHIP, and EDUCATION For Information call Dewey at 520.576.2329

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Erected in the 1920s and 30s, it soars 333 feet as a beacon of Light and knowledge, educating and inspiring all who visit it. Recognized in 2015 as a National Historic Landmark, the Memorial is one of the most impressive and iconic buildings in the area around our nation’s capital. Our new fundraising endeavor, The Landmark Century Campaign, aims to support a thorough restoration of the Memorial.

And we can help!

Today, the Memorial is a museum like no other in the world. Everything we do revolves around our vision: “to inspire humanity through education to emulate and promote the virtues, character and vision of George Washington, the Man, the Mason, and Father of our Country.”

Open seven days a week, the Memorial offers

Masonic temple, housing two Craft lodges and regularly hosting visiting lodges from around the country. The Memorial is a central hub connecting Masons to one another, and connecting the Craft to the public, our nation, and our world For the past decade, the Memorial Association has devoted tremendous energy and resources to the renovation of the Memorial.

Major exhibits have been added. Interiors have been repaired and repainted. Lighting has been updated. But the most considerable work is the top-to-bottom restoration of the building itself—the first such renovation since the Memorial was completed nearly a century ago.

Beginning at the Memorial’s pyramid level, we have bedetailed exhibits and guided tours that teach the general gun a multi-year project to perform all needed structural repairs. Stone by stone, are repointing the mortar and public about George Washington, his life and virtues, protecting the building from water penetration. When and the role that Freemasonry played throughout his life. Further, the Memorial is an important space for the completed, the building will be in better than new performing arts, social gatherings, public events, and condition. educational seminars. And, of course, it is an active

Having a tree planted on the grounds of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial is an excellent way to honor an important individual in your life. And also a great way to express thanks to an organization, such as a Lodge or Chapter. For a donation of $750, the tree will be cared for in perpetuity, and a handsome stone marker placed near the tree will communicate your dedication.

The Society of Washington Lodges is for regular Lodges (recognized by the Grand Lodges of the United States) who are committed to supporting the Memorial.

There is a one-time donation of $2,500.00, which can be applied toward Patronage.

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WB Mike Smolenack Curtis Johnson WB John O’Hara PM WB Delbert Lewis PM WB Ray Osbourn PM WB Billy Bayless Family of Robert E. Turley WB Forest Hammer Family of Ken Holland

Baby Rylee Ringer Baby Miguel Martinez Baby Angeliya Celeste Holt MW Grand Master of Arizona First Responders The Armed Forces Our Veterans Our dearly departed Brethren Brethren Gila Valley Lodge No. 9

August Birthdays Wilbur Lawerence J.R. Henderson Delbert Lewis Roger Biede II Joe Puchacz

August Anniversaries Ryan Kann Sonny Bollig

6-3 6-9 6-9 6-19 6-27

Sept Anniversaries

Sept Birthdays Spencer Sego Nic Genchi James Heard M.E. Nelson

6-13-2009 6-20-1985

Boyd Johnson Richard Platt Richard Amma

7-4 7-7 7-22 7-24

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7-15-1983 7-23-1985 7-28-1992

Aug 10, Gila Valley Lodge No. 9

Aug 15, Gila Valley Lodge No. 9

7:00 pm Education and Friend to Friend

Masonic Charities Check Presentation to Compassion Connect

Sept 3 Pinal Lodge No. 30 7:00 pm Stated Meeting

Sept 8, Ocotillo Chapter No. 21 OES

Sept 5, 2020 Gila Valley Poker Night Bro Joe Guinn’s house 7:00 pm Charity Poker Night

7:00 pm Stated Meeting

Sept 10, Apache Lodge No. 69 7:300 pm Stated Meeting

Sept 12, White Mountain No. 3 10:00 am Stated Meeting

Sept 12, Globe Chapter No. 7 R.A.M 2:00 pm Stated Meeting

Sept 27, Eloy Lodge No. 46 7:00 pm Stated Meeting

Sept 28, Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 5:00 pm Dinner at Mount Athos 7:00 pm Stated Meeting 9:00 pm Post meeting discussion at Mount Athos

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WB Jim Baker is the current High Priest The “Capitular” or Chapter Degrees of Freemasonry refers the four degrees of the York Rite system that follow the “blue lodge” or “Craft” degrees. The Holy Royal Arch is the final degree and the culmination of the Chapter experience for a candidate. The Chapter is the second body of the York Rite of Freemasonry (following the Symbolic or 'Blue' Lodge), though in some Jurisdictions it is considered the completion of the initial three degrees and is part of the regular Craft experience. All Master Masons are eligible for membership. Contact WB Jim Baker, High Priest, or Paul Dore at pauldoresr@cox.net for more information

Do you have a son 12-21 years Old? Saguaro Order of the DeMolay is the premier youth leadership organization building young men of character and dedicated to making young men better people and leaders and sponsored by Gila Valley Lodge 9, Pinal Lodge No. 30, and Eloy Lodge No. 46 Meetings are held twice monthly on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month starting at 6:00 pm. All parents are welcome and are encouraged to attend and get involved in this great organization. They meet at Pinal Lodge #30 located at 1140 E. Florence Blvd., Casa Grande, Arizona 85122.

Great Men wear a Fez! We're counting on you… Who do you know that would make a good Mason and Shriner? A friend? A family member? A coworker? Commit to making a difference!

The future of our fraternity relies on your commitment.

CLICK HERE TO REFER A GOOD MAN The individual you refer will receive a series of communications, the first of which will identity you as the referral source.

The Scottish Rite is a Masonic organization that continues a Master Mason's education of the first three degrees. The Scottish Rite is one of several appendant groups of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry. Each Valley has up to four Scottish Rite bodies, and each body confers a set of degrees. In the Southern Jurisdiction these are the Lodge of Perfection (4°-14°). Chapter Rose Croix (15°-18°), Council of Knights Kadosh (19°-30°), and the Consistory (31°-32°). The 33rd Degree is an honorary degree awarded for exceptional service. Have a question? Ask a Personal Rep! 17

Brethren, Friends, and Family, This year the Masonic Charities of Arizona approved 18 grants totaling $30,000 to organizations throughout Arizona. These 501c3 charitable organizations provide much needed services to their communities. Those services include assistance to our Veterans at the three VA Hospitals in Arizona, Domestic abuse shelters, child learning disabilities, training and assistance for people with special needs, support for soldiers abroad, Adult literacy programs and Personal hygiene kits for the working poor and homeless.

We are able to award these Grants from the income of our investment fund, Lodge and Personal donations and support from Grand Lodge. In order to keep up with the desire to expand our Grant distribution to more organizations and communities around the State we ask for your help.

We have registered with the Amazon Smile Foundation. Amazon Smile will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization selected by their customers. For Amazon customers to select the Masonic Charities of Arizona to receive these donations go to http://smile.amazon.com/ch/942746389 to automatically select us. Or you can go to www.smile.amazon.com and you will be prompted to select a charity. Now you are ready to shop and support the Masonic Charities of Arizona.

The Board of Directors of the Masonic Charities of Arizona extends our appreciation to all of you for your support.

Fraternally, Roger Biede III Secretary, Masonic Charities of Arizona rcbthree@hotmail.com www.masoniccharitiesaz.com 18

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Anthony Raimondi Email: Raimondi_57@msn.com

Eric Smith Email: jiminys@yahoo.com

Email: jwoode591@gmail.com

MWGM Boyd Robertson 2020-21 Grand Master F. & A.M of Arizona

Dewey Jefferson Email: djndjedderson48@yahoo.com

Chairman: WB Anthony Raimondi Email: Raimondi_57@msn.com

Lee Apger

Chairman: WB Daniel Genchi PM

Email: lkapger@gmail.com

Email: dmgenchi@gmail.com

Chairman: Eric Smith Email: jiminys@yahoo.com

Robert Holt

Chairman: WB Roger Biede III PM

Email: r.holt0129@gmail.com

Email: roger.biede@gmail.com

Chairman: Dewey Jefferson Email: djndjedderson48@yahoo.com

David Jones Email: dejones2063@gmail.com

Chairman: WB Roger Biede III PM Email: roger.biede@gmail.com

Chairman: Gale MacDougall HPM Email: bearinbox@con.net

Daniel Genchi PM Email: dmgenchi@gmail.com

Daniel Genchi PM Chairman Roger Biede III PM Ryan Kann PM

Gale MacDougal Email: bearinbox@con.net

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The first mention of Moon Lodges can be found in the Cooke Manuscript of 1410, one of the oldest documents belonging to the Masonic Craft. In the U.S., Moon Lodges were first noted in colonial times around 1717 to be operating in Philadelphia, Boston and Tennessee.

There appears to have been approximately 3000 moon lodges in the U.S. at the turn of the last century but by the 1950’s that number had decreased to 500. Today, by last count, there are roughly 129 moon lodges in the U.S. A moon lodge was born out of necessity due to the lack of natural or artificial illumination by which one could travel to and from meetings. During the 18th century, transportation was limited to horseback, horse & buggy, walking and even in some circumstances by boat. There were no paved roads and very few gravel but merely two dirt ruts that would meander through bush and fields rarely in a straight line.

With only a candle or coal oil lamp to light the way, a full moon provided welcome companionship for a long and lonely trek. Individuals would travel 8-10 miles or more and were unable to make the long trip home at night and would be supplied lodging by a fellow brother, leaving after breakfast to return home the next morning.

Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 continues to follow this tradition and is honored to be still one of the remaining “Moon Lodges” in the United States. Our Stated Meetings are the Monday On or Before the Full Moon of the Month, The Lodge also goes “Dark” during the summer months of July and August, where no Stated Meetings are held.

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