Printed Every Month 130th Anniversary
MAY 2020
Due to issue with the coronavirus, coupled with the Arizona Governor’s Stay at Home Order, and information received from the Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino stating that the facility will not be fully open for business in time to accommodate the 2020 Arizona Grand Lodge Communication I am hereby cancelling this year’s Grand Communication. All officers will remain in place until further notice. Fraternally, MW Great Vasquez Grand Master 2019-2020
1 Ticket $10 - CLICK HERE 3 Ticket $20 - CLICK HERE Gila Valley is raffling a one of a kind American Flag Feldman Custom knife to benefit their building fund! Brother John Delavan was many things to many people. To one individual, he was a teacher that gave him the skills to provide for his family and to create beautiful works of art. Many years ago Loren Feldman went to our Brother John and asked him to teach him to make knives as he had seen John working on many knives over the years. John jumped at the chance and worked with him for many hours teaching him the finer points of knife making. Delevan went so far as to give Loren his knife making equipment so that he could continue to hone his craft. Loren took the equipment home and started a new career which would take him places he would have never dreamt. Fast forward to know and Loren Feldman produces some of the finest knives in the world. Not only are they beautiful works of art, but they are made from some of the rarest items on earth. Museum quality dinosaur bones, rare gems, and even meteorites have been used in the making of some of his creations. Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 reached out to Feldman Custom knives and obtained one of his finest works, an American Flag themed knife that will surely be the jewel of your collection. He started with a Carbon Damascus Steel blade, known for its strength and beauty and used for the finest of knives. The blade has an American Flag done with mosaic Damascus by famous artist Doug Ponizo from Wisconsin. Doug Ponzio has been Making Damascus Steel in his signature style for well over 20 years. He does not just make Damascus steel, he makes amazing Mosaic Damascus steel also known as Pattern Damascus Steel. Doug is an early riser and in his shop every day, creating one of a kind works of amazing art. Doug Ponzio Mosaic pattern welded Steel is mostly sought after for knife making. Knife makers from all over the globe use his steel to make their knives. Quite simply because he can produce it with exceptional quality and unique patterns. The Hilt is made from Stainless Steel and Chromium for strength and beauty. Making up the Red is giraffe leg bone, dye red. The Blue is Lapis sourced from the mountains of Afghanistan and the White is Marble from Marble, Colorado. From the same mine that the marble used in the Abraham Lincoln Monument in Washington DC was sourced. This is a one of a kind knife that will never be replicated. The retail price of the knife is $3595.
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Brethren! I hope you’re all doing well. This month I’m going to do my best to stay away from covid19 talk. I am happy to report that I’ve had the chance to speak with many of our members during this time and by and large, everyone I’ve spoken with has remained safe and mostly unaffected by the craziness. Though I’m very encouraged by those I have spoken to, as an “essential worker" I havent been able to call everyone yet. So if you or a brother you know of needs help in any way, please make sure to let us know so we can be there to assist however we can. Sadly it does appear that we aren’t able to avoid any Ill effects from corona, the odds of us being g able to gather in person for our next stated meeting is very low. We will still be having our meeting as scheduled though , it’ll just be done virtually over zoom. Please look forward to an email Invitation a few hours prior to the meeting. Our next stated was a meeting I’ve been looking forward to since it was pointed out to me that it was May 4th. Better known in geeky circles as Star Wars day. Which hits me right in the heart as both a lover of sci-fi and terrible(ly awesome) puns. The pun I’m referring
amount of fantastic toys my parents gave me (and a lot that they didn’t) than it was the movies but my love was true nonetheless! I’ve spent countless hours exploring those galaxies over a dozen movies, a handful of shows and games and dozens of novels and have taken away more than a few life lessons that pair really well with some of our Masonic teachings. First and foremost is in the way the Jedi approach to life. The code that the Jedi live by could very nearly be something pulled directly from our own ritual. It reads:
There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force. As an order that values keeping our passions within due bounds, the search for knowledge, and the belief of an afterlife, teaching this mantra to candidates would be perfectly fitting. It seems almost too perfect that we each also each have 3 principle tenets. Our own Brotherly love, relief and truth are met with their focus, knowledge, and wisdom and are explained thus
Focus is the art of pruning the ir relevant and pouring the best of your mind into what you are doing. Knowledge can be acquired by focusing on the task at hand. Wisdom is the sound application of accrued knowledge and experience through patient, Obviously as a work of fiction that began long long after freemasonry began, the possibility that some of the Jedi teachings were borrowed from masonry exists. As far as I can find George Lucas was not a brother but it sure seems like he would fit right in and I (cont.)
to is “may the fourth be with you" which is the sole reason May 4th is Star Wars day. Like many other children of the 80s with a vibrant desire for wonder and imagination, I was born a star wars fan. Sure it was probably fueled more by the large 3
for one would love to call him brother! The similarities don’t end with the teachings. More impressive may be the communal aspect of the jedi order. Much like Masons join together from all varieties of fiscal backgrounds, from all across the world, and any religion or belief, the Jedi are a group of like-minded individuals from all races joined together to better themselves and the galaxy. There is one rule that they do not seem to share but would have been far better off if they had. The rule of not discussing religion or politics because it inevitably causes problems among its members and can also be responsible for making an entire trilogy from a legendary franchise way more boring than it should ever be. Lastly a personal lesson. In life, it’s very easy to take things for granted. Sometimes it’s hard to understand the value of something until some time passes. For instance, those toys that I mentioned I loved that were NOT purchased for me. My mother had a lot of foresight when it came to the collectabillity of star wars toys. She bought two of everything. One for me to play with and one that was stored in a box hidden in a closet in my basement. One day little me stumbled upon that box and saw it for what is was; a box full of toys! I did what came naturally and proceeded to open and play with each and every one of them. I had no idea I was doing anything wrong. Even when I even-
tually got caught and punished the true depth of what I had done eluded me. At least until lots of time passed and I saw what those toys ended up being worth. Which is hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars per figure! The point of this is, even though the concept of collecting a toy was foreign to me and it sure didn’t seem like any fun, there was clearly a long term value in it. Much like some of the early struggles I had with learning some of our Masonic ritual or serving on committees seemed very foreign and no fun to me. Yet many years later the fruits of that labor has become much more clear and those struggles are now a source of pride and accomplishment to me. Like many things in masonry the links between star wars and our craft are vast and the deeper you search the more you’ll find. Many of our brothers have written papers examining their ties and some go far more in depth than I wanted get here but I do love my geeky talk, so I’d love to hear your thoughts when we finally are able to meet in person again. Until then, stay safe and stay healthy Anthony Raimondi 2020 Master Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 4
The days are getting longer and the nights shorter. With these changes the temperatures are getting warmer as well, making the mornings so nice to just sit on the porch and enjoy a cup of coffee before starting the day.
turn to “normal”. What will normal be? Will it be like it was before? Will it be completely different? Will people look at the world, other people, and what we think/ feel is important in a different light?
Many other things are changing as well with the world we live in. Many of the places that we took for granted are no longer open. Soon many of those place will again be open for business, and busy with patrons enjoying their “new found freedom”.
I hope that all the businesses that so many people depend on, whether they are huge corporations or the mom and pop shop on the corner, are able to recover from this situation we are in now. I hope that people from all communities will support all of their local businesses and help our communities and country grow stronger.
These changes that we are experiencing, and hopefully soon to be experiencing as well, make me think, wonder, and hope with regards to where we are now as well as our future. The changes that we are experiencing now make me think about all that we took for granted. They also make me think about how we as a society treated each other.
I hope that the feeling that our neighbors actually care continues and every town in this great country can come together as one and stay that way. I hope we do not go back to exactly how it was before this situation where no one really cared. I hope we can all come together as one and make our lives mean something not only to ourselves, but to and for others.
Most of the little things we took for granted as always being there are closed, for instance all of the neighborhood bars/hangouts. The little bar and grill along the lone road on a motorcycle ride with friends. Other things we took for granted like being able to go to the store in the middle of the night and finding whatever it is you want/need/desire is now not always open and if the store is open, do they have what you are looking for?
I hope that we as a whole, meaning the world, have learned from this, remember the lesson we have been taught and move forward making our world a better place for our children, grandchildren, and beyond. Life is too short to not enjoy every moment and to share the joy of life with others. Fraternally,
Eric Smith
I think and wonder if people realize how much a tiny basically invisible item such as a virus can change everything about the world we live in. I wonder what our world will be like after this pandemic is over and people, businesses, and the government all attempt to re-
2020 Senior Warden Gila Valley Lodge No. 9
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The point within a circle is a common symbol used in Freemasonry. Like many masonic symbols the origin of the point in the circle is unknown. In carvings from Ancient Egypt the Alpha and Omega symbols representing God often as a circle with a point between them. In the case of the Egyptian symbol the two verticallines are replaced with snakes.
the moral ideals behind Freemasonry. It can also be said that the same circle is a dividing line between our internal passions and a mason's duty to God and his fellow man. A mason should never allow his internal passions, prejudices and selfish interests to pass outside the circle. There are many other references to the circle with the point in its center, there are also just as many interpretations of it's meaning through out history and in the masonic fraternity. As an example some say it is in reference to the candidate circumabulating the masonic altar.
Regardless of what the origin of the symbol is, Freemasonry has adopted to represent what is, in the opinion of this writer, one of our most important ideas in Freemasonry. In all interpretations of this image, the point in the center represents the individual man or mason.
The two lines on either side of the circle, for Freemasons represent St. John the Baptist on the left and St. John the Evangelist the right. Two prominent Saints in Freemasonry because of their connection with Taking just the circle it is a reminder that we are all cir- what is deemed the Mother lodge in Jerusalem. St. John cumscribed with a circle in our lives and those who enter Lodge of Jerusalem was first believed to be dedicated to St. John the Baptist first and then St. John the Evangethat circle, both in a literal sense (people we see) and list. The Feast of St. John the Baptist falls on the Sumfigurative sense (people who our actions may have impact), have a claim on our kind offices. Our good will to mer Solstice, the Feast of St. John the Evangelist falls on the Winter Solstice so the lines are also often said to our fellow man and our fellow mason is paramount to represent the Summer and Winter Solstice.
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 7
Brothers, In these unprecedented times in which we now find ourselves, it can be an easy to get caught up in the pain
I find myself completing the long overdue projects around my house, likely due to having back time which would have been allocated elsewhere, I have time to get out and take a walk, to ride bikes with my family, or to get in the car and drive to nowhere just because… I mean, what else are we going to do. I have seen so much more of the state and have had an amazing series of mini-road trips with my wife and kids, which I am sure will last long into their memories. Above all else, I find myself appreciating the immense opportunity to be around my kids, to hear them converse, and engage with each other. To be home with them, to work through the day to day problems which I would otherwise miss; and to be able to hug and kiss all of them whenever I want throughout the day. All of this is a rare benefit in my normal everyday routine.
of adjustment and change. Undoubtingly, many of you find yourselves spending a lot of time at home – working from home being just about the norm for everyone. And while I firmly believe that we will get through this, look back on it with a “remember when” nostalgia, it is important for us to take a moment and take inventory of the incredible opportunities this situation has afforded us.
I believe that the key to getting through these times is to make the best of every situation Family is often something we miss out on, time with loved ones, and time to be present and in the moment is missed when we are in the hustle and bustle of our otherwise busy lives.
We are not living in regular times. Take a moment and appreciate the opportunities we seldom get to have. EnPersonally, after the initial week or so of adjusting my joy your family, build memories, and pray that we get daily routine, I came to an incredible realization; I have through this with a newfound appreciation for what we the incredible gift of time. Work-load has increased, hold nearest and dearest to our hearts. and yet I find myself more productive in the hours I am Fraternally, working, likely the absence of office distractions; I have time in the middle of the day to eat lunch with my wife, Daniel Genchi I have time to take a break and play dinosaurs with my Past Master youngest son or to tour the incredible Minecraft world Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 my oldest son created.
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In the Year of Light 6020 Brethren,
their miseries and to restore peace to their troubled minds.
Our Masonic year of 6020 is a time of challenges and opportunities and how we choose to act will reveal strengths and weakness. We must remember to call upon the Great Architect of the Universe, your book of Holy Writings and our Masonic ritual for strength and guidance.
Truth is a divine attribute and the foundation of every virtue. To be good and true is the first lesson we are taught and by it we endeavor to regulate our conduct. During the Masonic year I have turned to our ritual By adhering to this princito reinforce Grand Master Greg’s theme of Back to pal, hypocrisy and deceit Basics on my Official Visits to Lodges. We are a di- should be unknown among verse group of men with different interests, profesus, sincerity and plain dealing distinguish us and with sions, cultures and customs but the one thing we a compassionate heart and a gentle tongue and an share in common is our Masonic ritual. Therefore, attentive ear we join in promoting each other’s wellet us turn to the 1st degree lecture and the reference fare and rejoice in each other’s prosperity. to the three principal tenets of Masonry, Brotherly I hope all of you are doing well and supporting each Love, Relief and Truth. other. I am sure that some of you have lost loved We are taught that by the exercise of Brotherly Love ones or personal friends and acquaintances to this to regard the whole human species as one family, cre- pandemic and my condolences and Brotherly Love ated by one Almighty parent and inhabitants of the go out to you. We all can help our fellow man in same planet, are to aid, support and protect each oth- some way, so go forth in an appropriate manner and er. This Masonic principal unites men of every coun- do good deeds. try, sect and opinion and causes true friendship to exist among those who might have remained at a per- Fraternally, petual distance. Jim Baker, 2019 High Priest Globe Chapter No. 7 RAM
To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent on all men especially Masons. To soothe the unhappy, to sympathize with their misfortunes, to compassionate
www.azmasoniclibrary.org 9
Authors in the Middles Ages often used allegories to explain and teach biblical and classical traditions to the general public. The population in the Middle Ages intentionally drew from this new understanding of the cultural legacies of the ancient world in shaping their institutions and ideas, suggesting that allegories in medieval literature and medieval art was a prime reason for the transformation between the ancient world and the "new" Christian world. This new learning would have the greatest impact on shaping what would later be widely recognized as medieval culture. Freemasonry is often described in ritual as a beautiful or peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. It was written to help us grow our inner selves, or Rough Ashlars into something better, truer. Striving to be get closer to that Perfect Ashlar if you will. It is hoped that taking the time to read the ritual for those hidden lessons helps transform an individual to a better ideal. From that ritual we learn that the cornerstone is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure. Masonic ritual teaches that it usually is placed in the northeast corner and is the basis on which the superstructure of Freemasonry is based. It is also alludes to the fact that it is the superstructure of our inner-selves and building the foundation to the better ego, or I.
job is to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did what they were accused of by building a wall. This proceeds brick by brick until their wall, or case, is insurmountable. Some bricks are more important than other bricks, and those more important brick being the cornerstones. We as Freemasons are well aware of cornerstones and their meanings.
As a Mason, are you building upon your inner founding cornerstone? Are you making those walls so insurmountable that the world has no other opCurrently streaming on Netflix is an entertaining Brit- tion but to be convinced that upon you becoming a ish series call “Broadchurch�. A particularly tense Master Mason, you have become a better Man? moment in the show has one of the attorneys workIt is hoped that you are, for you and the entire Fraing a case describing how a prosecutor goes about ternity will be better for it. building a case in court using an analogy. (An analogy being similar to an allegory in a narrower sense, anal- Fraternally, ogy is an inference or an argument from one particuRoger Biede PM lar to another particular, as opposed to an allegory 2019-2020 Junior Grand Steward which uses deduction.) She explains that it is their
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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 May 2nd 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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Dear Brothers,
posed myself to new menus and new tastes. So Here we are and we may have found ourselves with far it has helped me to take tons of time to do extra house chores or extra reading. care of the issue of time and beSo, I hope that you all are safe and healthy this month. coming uneasy at home. This experience of working with food has taught me One thing I have been taking a lot of time getting better that when you take the time to try new at has been cooking. As I have been trying to find other things and learn new processes it can help you things that I have been neglecting in my life I figured I to relate to things you already do in your everyday would try and get better and develop some skills. The life. For example, when we are in lodge, we learn things for the first time and are excited and nervous. Then after a while we become familiar and try to move through the chairs or fill in occasionally. So, this is how I felt when going through cooking new recipes.
main one that I will talk about is cooking and how it relates to some of the things we do in lodge.
With this it has helped me to clear my mind and allow me to think about how I need to handle my life both in lodge and in person. While cooking you are required to have to be patient think and apply new skills that you may not use on a regular basis if you aren’t used to cooking different styles of foods. So, I hope that everyone gets a chance to try something new this next month and hope that everyone is doing well.
Fraternally,
Last month I started a program called hello fresh. The premise of this program is for people who know how to cook but don’t want to make meals for 4-6 people every time they cook. So, when doing this I have ex-
John Woode 2020 Junior Warden Gila Valley Lodge No. 9
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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. 13
This past couple of months has been an exciting time in human history without a doubt. “Safety� measures meant to keep the general public have certainly pushed the boundaries of the constitution, and some politicians seem to have simply disregarded it entirely. Thankfully the Supreme Court and the Attorney General will work out all that, but what about when we sell out our own beliefs and convictions?
Early the next morning there was a new video from the pastor of the church expressing his apology and called off the event. In the latest video and subsequent interviews in the media, the pastor expressed that his intent was only to show love for the community and that he never meant to spread fear and hate that had come from his actions.
On Good Friday, I stumbled upon a story that was quickly going viral. It was a local pastor who posted a video of himself explaining that he, as well as his staff, had spent weeks in prayer about whether or not they should hold an Easter Service. The pastor said that the team and he not only felt it was the right thing to do but felt that God wanted them to move forward on this the holiest of days in the Christian faith. Regardless of my personal feelings, I applauded their willingness to stand up for their convictions. The pastor stated that they had devised a plan to assure that people would not be in close proximity to anyone other than their immediate families, they consulted with local law enforcement that gave them the green light stating that they were within all government orders, as well as being within their constitutional rights. The sheriff's office went so far as offering to be on property to help if they were needed.
This pastor gave up his conviction and his belief that God wanted him to do something only because it went against the seemingly popular opinion of people in the area and around the globe. Having studied theology, and the sacred text that this church uses as their instructions from God, I found this reversal surprising. The Bible tells believers that there will be times when the world hates them for following God. Had this pastor never read those parts of the Bible? Had this pastor even ever understood what he preached? This makes me question what else are people willing to surrender to not have people mad at us? EA Masons are taught many valuable lessons during their initiation. One of those lessons is that of the four cardinal virtues. Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice. Not a lot of explanation is given during the EA degree, but we see them played out when an FC is raised to the sublime degree of MM. These 4 virtues are the framework that is used to build a strong and courageous man who does not waiver in his convictions or obligations.
Over the next few hours and into the next day, this video and news stories about this church spread all over the globe. People were mad and weren’t about to keep their feelings to themselves. Comments went Are you willing to fold your convictions when they so far as expressing the opinion that this was an atare not popular? tack on this community, and if this went on, all of the Fraternally, people that attended and the church itself would be responsible for all the death that was for sure to folJoe Guinn low such a careless act. The pastor and church even Master Mason received threats if they continued with their plan.
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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
April Birthdays
April Anniversaries
Brian Gay Brad Johnson James Kasburg Michael Britt Dave Jones Bert Pampanin
J.R. Henderson Frank Musil James P. Kirk Nic Genchi Ray Osborn Jim Baker
4-2 4-16 4-19 4-23 4/28 4/29
May Anniversaries
May Birthdays Ronald LeDuc Ken Hollard John Woode Eric Smith John Grubbs Jose Martinez
4-10-2004 4-14-1991 4-16-2005 4-11-2015 4-22-1965 4-24-1999
5-1 5-20 5-21 5-23 5-28 5-29
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Daryl Neil M.E. Nelson Billy Bailiff Larry B. Hayes John B. Grubbs Wilbur D. Lawrenc3 Steve M. Johnson Roger Biede III
3-2-2013 5-6-2000 5-18-1977 5-24-1993 5-24-1973 5-27-2006 5-27-2006 5-31-2014
May 4, 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
May 7, Pinal Lodge No. 30 7:00 pm Stated Meeting
May 9, White Mountain No. 3 10:00 am Stated Meeting
May 9, Globe Chapter No. 7 R.A.M 2:00 pm Stated Meeting
May 11, Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 7:00 pm Monday’s at the Lodge
May 12, Ocotillo Chapter No. 21 OES 7:00 pm Stated Meeting
April 29, Castle Island Virtual Lodge No. 190 Email NLaine@civLodge190.ca for visitation permission
4:45 pm Stated Meeting
May 2, 2020 Gila Valley Poker Night Bro Joe Guinn’s house 7:00 pm Charity Poker Night
June 4-6, 2020 Grand Communication Grand Lodge of Arizona Wild Horse Pass Resort and Casino Chandler, Arizona
July 29, Castle Island Virtual Lodge No. 190 Email NLaine@civLodge190.ca for visitation permission
4:45 pm Stated Meeting
May 14, Apache Lodge No. 69 7:300 pm Stated Meeting
May 21, Eloy Lodge No. 46 7:00 pm Stated Meeting
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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/94-2746389 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, Craig Hutchison Secretary, Masonic Charities of Arizona www.masoniccharitiesaz.com crghutch@gmail.com
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Anthony Raimondi Email: Raimondi_57@msn.com
Eric Smith Email: jiminys@yahoo.com
Email: jwoode591@gmail.com
MWGM Gregory A. Vasquez 2019-20 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 810 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. 22