October 2022 Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 Trestleboard

OCTOBer 2022

MW MW Jim Baker will official open Grand Lodge in Florence, Arizona in celebration of the Jr. Parada Parade and Rodeo. Grand Lodge will open on the Entered Apprentice Degree at Gila Valley Lodge and then proceed to the parade celebrating the Jr. Parada Rodeo. A limited number of signed posters are still available thru the Historic Florence Foundation.

One of the four cardinal virtues; the practice of which is inculcated in the First Degree. The Freemason who properly appreciates the secrets which he has solemnly promised never to reveal, will not, by yielding to the unrestrained call of appetite, permit reason and judgment to lose their seats and subject himself, by the indulgence in habits of excess, to discover that which should be concealed, and thus merit and receive the scorn and detestation of his Brethren. And lest any Brother should forget the danger to which he is exposed in the unguarded hours of dissipation, the virtue of temperance is wisely impressed upon is memory, lay its reference to one of the most solemn portions of the ceremo-

ny of initiation. Some Freemasons, very properly condemning the vice of intemperance and abhorring its effects, have been unwisely led to confound temperance with total abstinence in a Masonic application, and resolutions have sometimes been proposed in Grand Lodges which declare the use of stimulating liquors in any quantity a Masonic offense. Put the law of Freemasonry authorizes no such regulation. It leaves to every man the indulgence of his own tastes within due limits, and demands not abstinence, but only moderation and temperance, in anything not actually wrongs. ~Mackey

Upon coming out of darkness and back into normal Lodge activity the season starts changing from summer to fall. This means the temperatures start falling, the winter visitors start showing up and the holidays where families get together and celebrate are quickly approaching.

Going from summer to fall is a great time of year in the Phoenix area. The temps start to fall and we are

how thankful I am for them all.

I look forward to this time of year also because of the great food that is always enjoyed during the holidays, from cider and donuts, to the turkey and ham and even green bean casserole, and of course the desserts. But besides the food I look forward to enjoying more rides on my motorcycle with friends as most of them do not ride in the summer due to the heat.

able to enjoy being outside especially at night. The sun starts setting earlier in the evening and rising later in the morning. With this change in time also comes a wonderful sight on the Superstition Mountains just out my back door. There is a shadow of a mountain lion, or cougar as soon call it. This shadow appears only 2 times throughout the year, in the spring and in the fall, for a week or so each time.

As fall approaches and the temps fall the winter visitors to the valley start showing up for the winter. This also lets me know that my 2 favorite holidays are just around the corner, Thanksgiving and Christmas. These holidays are my favorite because I get to spend them with family and friends and am reminded each year just how great they all are, and

As the season changes it lets us know that another year is almost at a close and a new one is about to open. It is almost like we get another try at the year to see if we can make the next one better than the present one. And the holidays ensure that we are aware of those things we did well and those we need to work on (at least that is how it feels to me).

Summer has faded and we have entered into fall. Time to get out and enjoy the weather with family, friends, and neighbors. Enjoy this time and reflect upon how wonderful it is to have those that are close to you in your life for as one season ends and another begins, so too does the circle of life operate.

Halloween is upon us, so enjoy the festivities with the little ones if you have any.Fraternally,

Eric Smith

2022 Master

Gila Valley Lodge No. 9

Brethren,

We are into the second quarter of this Grand Lodge year, and I am pleased to see brothers from around the state working together for the benefit of others and our lodges. There seems to be a renewed vigor in the fraternity since the lifting of the covid restrictions we endured in 2020. We not only want to resume our normal lives but also to re evaluate our priorities and focus on what defines us as a great fraternity of good men striving to be better men.

We say that the Masonic fraternity takes good men and makes them better, but how do we accomplish that goal? In my opinion it is as simple as associating with good men that possess the shared values of moral and ethical behavior. We don’t make good men better. We give them the opportunity and encouragement to improve themselves. One way is by challenging them to pass a proficiency to advance and progress through the degrees of freemasonry. With memorization and repetition should come the understanding and meanings of the lessons taught. Early in my masonic journey I was asked what my interpretation was of the lessons taught in the three degrees. My answer was and still is these are the lessons taught to me in my youth by my parents. We should all remember them and act according to the lessons we try to instill in our own children by leading by example.

Before we were allowed to knock on the door of the preparation room, we were asked a series of questions. One of those questions was, do you have a desire for knowledge, and a sincere wish to be serviceable to your fellow creatures? Your answer was yes and therefore it is our personal responsibility to expand our minds and do good deeds. The entered apprentice degree set you on a path of learning duties, responsibilities, and loyalty. The fellow craft degree expanded that learning by intro-

ducing you and challenging you to study the seven liberal arts and sciences. The master mason degree entrusted you with the tools to share and spread that knowledge and to do good for yourself and others while building your character and maintaining integrity in all you do. At the end of the master mason degree the Master informs you that “The eyes of the fraternity are upon you. Be faithful. Be true. Be just. And convince the whole world that on becoming a Master Mason you have become a better man”.

Our lodges are meant to be a place of learning and sharing of knowledge creating an environment conducive to free thinking and open minded discussion. Does your lodge have a friendly and welcoming atmosphere that makes you feel happy and excited to be among your brothers? The Lodge provides the setting, the tools, and the support. The rest is up to you!

“Celebrating the Diversity of Freemasons in Arizona Together We Build” Fraternally,

Jim Baker

2022-23 Grand Master

Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

Gila Valley Lodge No. 9

Hiram Abiff, we know, was a widow's son. He was the son of a man of Tyre, but his mother was an Israelite, said in one record to have been of the tribe of Napthtal, and in another, of the "daughters of Dan."

His mother was indeed a native of the tribe of Dan, but her first husband was of the tribe of Napthtali, to whom Hiram was probably born. After the death of the first husband, she then married a man of Tyre, and her son was brought up as a Tyrian and fully educated and trained in the arts of that land. Tyre was one of the principal seats of the Dionysiac fraternity of artificers, a Society engaged exclusively in the construction of edifices and united in a secret organization, subsequently imitated by the Operative Masons of the Temple. Hiram Abiff was quite probably a member of this organization, and learned much from this privilege. In assuming his work at Jerusalem, he introduced among the workmen the same exact system of discipline that he had found so advantageous in the Dionysiac Secret Society. From this secret society of operative masons there was evolved the Order of Speculative Masons, of which Hiram Abiff was the first Grand Master.

His mother, being a Daughter of Dan, the fifth son of Jacob, endowed Hiram with characteristics of this tribe. This tribe was said to be bold, courageous, daring and cunning. The banner of Dan was blue. This may be an origin for the choice of blue as a Masonic color. In Chronicles, Chapter 2, verses 13 & 14, Hiram King of Tyre tells Solomon about the man he has sent to oversee the work of the Temple:

"And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's, the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skillful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device in which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father."

Obviously a good man to supervise the construction of a building containing all those materials and to manage all the workers.

It appears that Napthtali was also the fifth son of Jacob. The Lord, in Deuteronomy 33:23, says "0 Napthtali, satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the Lord, Possess thou the west and the south." In the same Chapter, the Lord refers to Dan as "a lion's whelp."

All of this together, shows us that our character Hiram Abiff, is a wrapping of many Masonic symbols and characteristics. He inherits possession of the west and south, descended from the tribe that possessed the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (a symbolic reference to Christ) and possesses skills critical to the mastery of his craft. The mystery of who he is still remains, for while there are references to Hiram in his character as a craftsman, there is no Biblical reference to the name Abiff which is uniquely Masonic.

By Bro. Jim Pullins, Pleasant Valley #531

CALIENTE COFFEE CLUB

SINCE 1985

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

CONVERSATION, FELLOWSHIP, and EDUCATION

Information call Dewey Jefferson at 520-576-2329

We are now into the Month of All Hollows Eve, or October as most of you will refer to it. It is the month of harvest and the month when temperatures are supposed to be at their best...however that is yet to be seen here in Arizona. But as we continue through the year, we see many things coming to a close the as we are only a couple of months away from the end of the year and about ready to see the start of Basketball, hockey and the continuation of baseball and Football. With all of this in mind do we ever stop and wonder how did the year just fly by?

We start the year and always go okay I have time I will get started on my project soon to the moment that we are in now which is oh the year is almost over and I may not even have started!! This may or may not happen to you but it does happen on a smaller scale for most of us and I want us to take the time to try and find out where? For me I tend to see this happen a lot when I was in college and when I am expected to do a presentation. Why do I not just start working right away when I am given the assignment or when I know I will be involved with a project? The answer is simple and I don’t like it. It comes down to I think everything is going to be fine and I will have time why stress about it now?

This sometimes happens to us in different ways and by the time we hit crunch time we freak out. So, let’s remember to do our best with starting the planning stages of our projects as soon as we see them. Then when this is accomplished, we can feel more accomplished and more prepared for the time working on said project within the next couple of days. Secondly take the time to find someone that can help you become more accountable, I.e., an Accountability buddy, this way when we are working through our projects, we feel like we are actually making progress rather than throwing it all together at the last minute. Then finally take the time to go over it before presenting or before the final project will be completed for whomever it is being done for.

If we apply this to our day to day lives, we may find more ways to perform our regular mundane tasks with more purpose and have a better outlook on our life. If we have a better outlook then we have a better more productive day, month, and year.

Fraternally,

John Woode

2022 Senior Warden Gila Valley Lodge No. 9

Members of Saguaro Chapter attended Arizona Chapter of DeMolay's Officer Installation, Cross of Honor for Dad Don Lowery and also a Legion of Honor Investiture for an active Senior DeMolay on Sunday.

Great opportunity to experience the success and appreciation of many. Best Wishes to Arizona Chapter on their upcoming term.

The

This article is about two Master Mason friends of mine. To conceal their identity, I will change their names because one of them is in a very high position. I will call him Jim, and the other one I’ve known most of my life, we will call him Ralph, and he is a Game Warden. Now Ralph and I noticed that Jim had taken up a new hobby. He bought a new boat and tackle and had gone fishing. We never knew him to be a fisherman, and so the first couple times he came back empty handed was to be expected. However, the next time he came home with a bucket full of fish.

So, my friend Ralph, (the Game Warden) said to him, “Jim where are you catching all those fish? Jim feeling good about himself said “Well, if you want to go with me next Saturday, I’ll show you how and where”. Ralph said alright that’s a deal, we will go.

Next Saturday they hooked up the boat and of to the lake they went. They anchored the boat in deep water and Jim said now you’re going to learn how and where to catch fish. Jim reached into his duffle bag, pulled out two sticks of dynamite. He lit one and threw it to the left and lit the other and threw it to the right.

Well, you know what happened. There was a big explosion on the left and right and after things settled down, Ralph’s mouth was still open in shock, they moved around and filled the boat with floating fish.

Now Ralph being a Game Warden said, “Jim old buddy, if you were using hooks or something like that, I could overlook this. But this is a heinous crime, I’m going to have to write you up for this “.

Whereupon Jim reached into his duffle bag, pulled out another stick of dynamite, lit it, let the fuse burn very short, handed it to Ralph and said, “Now Ralph, are you going to sit there and talk all day or are you going to fish?”

Now, my Brethren, that is positive procurement. Freemasonry is dynamite! And you and I can sit around and talk about it all day, or we can get out there and fish! But let us remember that nothing happens with dynamite until someone provides a spark!!

In closing: What is the length of my cable tow, a newly raised Mason wanted to know. An aged Mason with snow white hair, pointed and said, “From here to there. From the first bright rays of the rising son ‘till the last rays signal the day is done. Your cable tow reaches from morn ‘till night, and from night until morn, if I’ve learned it right. A time for refreshment and a time for sleep, a time for God and man’s service to keep. And the one you can help along the

way, sets the cable tow’s length and the hour of day. If you can reach him without injury to you, your length “Just how much good can I do! Those who depend on you always come first, and neglect of them your cable will burst. If you remember this and adjust it so, you’ll soon learn the length of your cable tow”

These writings came from the book (Masonic Thoughts) by Alphonse Cerza

Fraternally, Dewey Jefferson

2022 Junior Warden Gila Valley Lodge No. 9

The popularity of these secret clubs peaked in the 18th and 19th centuries

Jackie Mansky

By their very name, secret societies inspire curiosity, fascination and distrust. When the Washington Post broke the story last month that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia spent his final hours in the company of members of a secret society for elite hunters, people instantly wanted to know more about the group.

The fraternity in question, International Order of St. Hubertus, was incorporated by Count Anton von Sporck in 1695 and was originally intended to gather “the greatest noble hunters of the 17th Century, particularly in Bohemia, Austria and countries of the Austro Hungarian Empire, ruled by the Habsburgs,” according to its official website. After the organization denied membership to Nazis, notably military leader Hermann Goering, Hitler dissolved it, but the order reemerged after World War II, and an American chapter was founded in the late 1960s.

The order is just one of many clandestine organizations that exist today, though the popularity of these secret clubs peaked in the 18th and 19th centuries, writes Noah Shachtman for Wired. Back then, many of these societies served as safe spaces for open dialogue about everything from academia to religious discourse, removed from the restrictive eye of the church and state. As Schatman writes: These societies were the incubators of democracy, modern science, and ecumenical religion. They elected their own leaders and drew up constitutions to gov-

ern their operations. It wasn’t an accident that Voltaire, George Washington, and Ben Franklin were all active members. And just like today’s networked radicals, much of their power was wrapped up in their ability to stay anonymous and keep their communications secret.

The emphasis on secret was what inspired so much

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

distrust in the exclusive clubs. No less than the New York Times weighed in on secret societies in 1880, not wholly dismissing the theory that “Freemasonry brought about the civil war and acquitted President Johnson and… has committed or concealed crimes without number.” The Times comments, “This able theory of Freemasonry is not so readily believed as the theory that the European secret societies are the ruling power in Europe, but there are still many people as yet outside the lunatic asylum who firmly believe it.”

Many religious leaders felt at the very least conflicted about secret orders. In 1887, Reverend T. De Witt Talmage wrote his sermon on “the moral effect of Free Masonry, Odd Fellowship, Knights of Labor, Greek Alphabet and other Societies.” The reverend, who said he had “hundreds of personal friends who belonged to orders” used Proverbs 25: 9 "discover not a secret to another” to ask his audience to question whether or not being a member of a secret society would be a positive or negative decision for them. Meanwhile, that same week, Cardinal James Gibbons took a more definitive stand on secret orders, saying that they had “no excuse for existence.”

In the United States in the late-19th century, there was enough of a national uproar against secret societies that one concerned group created an annual “AntiSecret Society Convention.” In 1869, at the national

convention in Chicago, the attendees went after the “secular press.” The organization’s secretary said that the press "either approved or ignored secret societies” while “few religious papers have spunk enough to come out for Christ in opposition to Masonry.” But by 1892, the group, which deemed the societies an "evil to society and a menace to our civil institutions," had failed to “secure them anything but strong denunciation,” as the Pittsburgh Dispatch commented.

While The Da Vinci Code novelist Dan Brown and his contemporaries have shined a light upon some of the bigger secret fraternal organizations like the Order of Skull and Bones, Freemasons, Rosicrucians and the Illuminati, there are still other, lesser known groups that have compelling stories of their own. Here are just a few:

The Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World

In 1907, the Seattle Republican reported on the Order of Elks, writing that "it is claimed by members and officers that it is one of the most thriving secret societies among Afro Americans of this city." According to the non profit African American Registry, the fraternal order was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1899 after two black men were denied admission to the Benelovent and Protective Order of Elks of the

World, which is still popular today and, despite questions raised on discriminative practices, now allows any American citizen, 21 years or older, who believes in God to be invited to join its ranks.

The two men decided to take the order’s name and make their own club around it. Formally called the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, the order was once considered to be at the center of the black community. During the era of segregation, the lodge was one of the few places where black men and women could socialize, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette wrote. In recent years, however, the Post Gazette commented that the secret organization has struggled to retain its relevance. Still, the secret society continues to sponsor educational scholarship programs, youth summer computer literacy camps, parades as well as community service activities throughout the world.

The Grand Orange Lodge

The Grand Orange Lodge, known more commonly as the “Orange Order” got its name from Prince William III, the Prince of Orange, and was founded after the Battle of the Diamond outside a small village in modern day Northern Ireland called Loughgall. Its purpose was to "protect Protestants" and that’s why, in 1849, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, George William Frederick Villiers, captured the ire of Dublin’s Waterford News for supporting the society. The paper wrote, "Lord Clarendon has been holding communication with an illegal society in Dublin for upwards of ten days. The Grand Orange Lodge, with its secret signs and pass words, has been plotting with his Excellency during the whole of that period. This may seem strange, but it is a fact…”

At the time, secret societies were banned from Ireland as they were said to have acted in “antagonism to the “Land League,” an Irish political organization, according to Ireland’s official records on statistics of eviction and crime.

The Grand Orange Lodge is still around today with

clubs in Ireland, as well as others around the world. Prospective members of the Protestant fraternity don’t take a pledge, they just have to affirm their acceptance of the Principles of Reformation, as well as loyalty to their country. As to the question of whether they are “anti Roman Catholic”, the official website states, “Orangeism is a positive rather than a negative force. It wishes to promote the Reformed Faith based on the Infallible Word of God the Bible. Orangeism does not foster resentment or intolerance. Condemnation of religious ideology is directed against church doctrine and not against individual adherents or members.”

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows

Perhaps one needs to be a member of the altruistic and friendly society known as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows to know for sure when the club first started, but the first written record of the order comes in 1812, however, and it references George IV.

Even before he was named Prince Regent of the United Kingdom, George IV, had been a member of the Freemasons, but as the story goes, when he wanted a relative of his to be admitted to the society without having to to endure the lengthy initiation process, the request was emphatically denied. George IV left the order, declaring he would establish a rival club, according to a history of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows published by the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph in 1867. The official website of the order, however, traces the clubs origins all the way back to 1066.

Regardless of how it first started, it’s fair to say the king got his wish. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is still around today, and the club counted British prime ministers Winston Churchill and Stanley Baldwin among its ranks. The Odd Fellows, as they call themselves, are grounded in the ideals of friendship, love and truth. There are real skeletons in the order’s lodges; they are used during initiation to remind its members of their mortality, the Washington Post reported in 2001.

The Knights of Pythias

The Knights of Pythias was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, a government employee in Washington, D.C., in 1864. He felt there was a moral need for an organization that practiced “brotherly love,” which would make sense, seeing as the country was in the midst of the Civil War. The name is a reference to the Greek legend of Damon and Pythias, the Pythagorean ideal of friendship. All of its founding members worked for the government in some capacity, and it was the first fraternal order to be chartered by an act of Congress, the order’s official website writes. The Knights of Pythias’ colors are blue, yellow and red. Blue signifies friendship, yellow charity and red benevolence, the North Carolina Evening Chronicle wrote in a special edition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the club in 1914.

The Knights of Pythias is still active and is a partner of the Boy Scouts of America, the second organization to receive its charter from the United States Congress.

The Ancient Order of the Foresters

Known today as “Foresters Friendly Society,” the Ancient Order of the Foresters was initially established in 1834, according to the society’s website, albeit under a slightly different name. The Ancient Order was created before state health insurance began in England, so the club offered sick benefits to its working class members.

In 1874, the American and Canadian branches left the Ancient Order and set up the Independent Order of the Foresters. Candidates looking to be admitted to the club had to “pass an examination by a competent physician, who is himself bound by his connection with the order,” the Boston Weekly Globe wrote in 1879. The society still provides insurance policies

today for its members, who also engage in a variety of community service activities.

The Ancient Order of United Workmen

John Jordan Upchurch and 13 others in Meadville, Pennsylvania, founded the Ancient Order of United Workmen in 1868 with the goal of bettering conditions for the working class. Like the Foresters, it set up protections for its members. Initially, should a mem-

ber die, all brothers of the order contributed a dollar to a member’s family. That number would eventually be capped at $2,000.

The Ancient Order of United Workmen is no longer around, but its legacy continues, as the order unintentionally created a new kind of insurance that would influence other fraternal groups to add an insurance provision in their constitutions.

The Patriotic Order Sons of America

The Patriotic Order Sons of America dates back to the early days of the American Republic, according to its official website. Following in the footsteps of The Sons of Liberty, the Order of United Americans and Guards of Liberty, the Patriotic Sons of America, which later added the word “Order” to its name,

became one of the “most progressive, most popular, most influential as well as strongest patriotic organizations” in the United States in the early 20th century, the Allentown Leader wrote in 1911.

How progressive the order actually was is up to interpretation. In 1891, the Sons of America refused to delete the word “white” in its constitution, defeating a proposition that would allow black men to apply. Today, the order opens its membership up to “all native born or naturalized American male citizens, 16 years and older, who believe in their country and its institutions, who desire to perpetuate free government, and who wish to encourage a brotherly feeling among Americans, to the end that we may exalt our country, to join with us in our work of fellowship and love.”

The Molly Maguires

In the 1870s, 24 foreman and supervisors in the coal mines of Pennsylvania were assassinated. The suspected culprit? Members of the secret society the Molly Maguires, an organization with Irish origins brought to the United States by Irish immigrants. The Maguires likely got its name because members used women’s clothing as a disguise while allegedly carrying out its illegal acts, which also included arson and death threats. The group was finally undone by a mole planted by the famed Pinkerton Detective Agency, which was hired by the mining companies to investigate the group. In a series of criminal trials, 20 Maguires were sentenced to death by hanging. The Order of the Sons of St. George, another secret organization, which was founded in 1871 to oppose the Maguires also appears to have vanished.

Grand Care (GCARE) is designed to support Arizonans by funding one time medical care payments or by reimbursing co payments for Arizona citizens who receive medical care because they suffer from a "chronic disease" constituting a chronic health condition. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control defines "chronic diseases" as those conditions that exist for at least, but no less than, one calendar year and require ongoing medical attention or limited activities of daily living or both, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer's Disease, Arthritis, Asthma, Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Diabetes, and Stroke.

We are committed to helping those with chronic illness deal with the high cost of medical care, prescriptions and co pays. We understand hardships are caused for basic living needs when one is living with a chronic illness. Our organization is committed to operating with excellence while providing ser-

vice.

Grand Care is an Arizona non profit corporation and gratefully accepts IRS 501(C) (3) tax deductible contributions from individuals, business and groups

Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our mission. You can mail donations to P.O. Box 64251, Tucson, Arizona 85728 4251 or send them securely through our certified PayPal account.

The George Washington Memorial Society comprises a select group of members who are dedicated to supporting the Memorial and its Mission. The purpose of the Society is to raise support for the George Washington Masonic National Memorial’s operations and to increase awareness of the Memorial’s mission among Freemasons and the wider community.

The emblem of the Society is a special version of the official crest of The George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association. An image of the Memorial building in the center of the emblem serves as an important reminder of the commitment that each member of the George Washington Memorial Society has made.

Please note that GWMS membership is for individuals only. Lodges are encouraged to consider the Society of Washington Lodges, and other opportunities for support are available for lodges and other organizations as well.

Charter Membership is conferred for contributions of $1,000 or more to the Memorial with the membership application, and $250 or more per year thereafter.

Your Memorial Society dues benefit our annual fund, and are put to use to support the daily operations of the Memorial. To support the restoration work, consider an additional contribution to the Landmark Century Campaign.

Before tiles and shingles were used on roofs, they used thatch straw. This is straw woven together and held in place with rope. Because of this London just about burnt to the ground, several times.

An ordinance was issued that roofs were to be covered with tiles, lead, shingles, or plastered straw. This was the first fire law ever imposed by any government.

The occupation of Tiler became quite lucrative because of this new law. Tilers became the highest paid profession of that time. They demanded so high a wage, that the government had to step in and set their fees.

Tilers were entered into Masonry around 1738 and was responsible for the drawing of the Lodge, delivery of the summonses (for which they were paid) and various assets. Until this time the Tilers guarded the door of the Lodge but were not members.

The emblem of the Tilers office is the sword, originally it was the trowel. It was sharp, pointed, and about three feet long. You can see how a man of that profession could swing something like that with quite a bit of power.

The term "drawing of the lodge" was done by the Tiler and was exactly what it implies. In those days they did not have the furnishings that we have today. The Lodge would meet in homes of brothers, pubs, churches or where ever they could find a place. Before the meeting would start the Tiler would take a piece of chalk and draw the different steps, stations, and places for the officers. The better artist the Tiler was the more elaborate the drawings and the more prestige the Lodge received.

By William Fischer

Oct 3, Gila Valley Lodge No. 9

5:00pm DinneratLodge

7:00pmStatedMeeting

9:00pmPostmeetingdiscussionatMountAthos

Oct 6, Pinal Lodge No. 30

7:00pmStatedMeeting

Oct 8, White Mountain No. 3

10:00amStatedMeeting

Oct 8, Globe Chapter No. 7 R.A.M

2:00pmStatedMeeting

Oct 11, Ocotillo Chapter No. 21 OES

Callfortime

Oct 13, Apache Lodge No. 69

7:30pmStatedMeeting

Oct 15, Memento Mori Widow Sons

Location TBD: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WSMMChapter 11:00amStatedMeeting

Oct 20, Eloy Lodge No. 46

7:00pmStatedMeeting

Oct 3 Gila Valley Lodge No. 9

5:30pmTrusteeMeeting

Oct 10, Sabbar Shrine

7:00pmStatedMeeting

Oct 10, Gila Valley Lodge No. 9 BookClub 5:30pmMeeting

Nov 26, Gila Valley Lodge No. 9

Grand Lodge of Arizona

Jr.ParadaParade

8:30amGrandLodgeOpens

9:00amStage 10:00amStepoff

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 RW Jim Baker, or WB 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. Theindividualyoureferwillreceiveaseriesofcommunications,thefirstofwhichwill identityyouasthereferralsource.

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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!

The Widows Sons, Masonic Riders Association is a group of Master Masons who have gathered together to promote Freemasonry within the motorcycling community and help introduce motorcycling to our non riding Masonic brethren. As Freemasons we are committed to "Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth" tenets of our lives, as Widows Sons we are devoted to supporting Widows and Orphans of our Masonic brethren. We hold events and rides as fundraisers for this noble cause, and other charitable causes. The chapters in Arizona are very diverse with members from various areas, lodges, and a variety of motorcycles.

The goal of the Ladies’ Oriental Shrine, as set forth at the organizational meeting in 1903, is to promote sociability, good fellowship and the betterment of all Ladies connected with the organization. Our Ladies participate in parades, mini-clinics, Shrine Circuses, and much more. Ladies may choose to be active in a variety of special interest Units within each local Court such as Oriental Bands, Patrols, Clown or Dance Units. Our Ladies are always ready to display their pageantry and glamour in order to show the public how much they enjoy their activities.

Today, LOSNA has nearly 8,000 members in 64 Courts across North America and even members in Japan and Taiwan.

High Twelve is an association of Master Masons who desire an hour of Masonic fellowship independent of the formal ritual of Lodge but dedicated to the service to the fraternity. High Twelve was founded by E. C. Wolcott in Sioux City, Iowa on May 17, 1921.

We practice the great lessons of Freemasonry and encourage members to attend and participate in their Blue Lodge activities. High Twelve unifies Master Masons from many Lodges in an association where fellowship grows into lasting friendships. As High Twelve Masons, we support the Public School System and encourage participation in constructive community activities. There are over 300 active High Twelve Clubs with 25,000 members in the United States, Canada and Foreign Countries.

Brethren, Friends, and Family,

This year the Masonic Charities of Arizona approved 33 grants totaling $70,000 to worthy organizations throughout Arizona. These 501c3 charitable organizations provide much needed services to their communities all over Arizona Those services include Veteran assistance, 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, Roger Biede III

Secretary, Masonic Charities of Arizona rcbthree@hotmail.com

www.masoniccharitiesaz.com

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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.