Maine Mason-Spring.qxp_Scottish Rite Magazine 3/28/19 10:11 AM Page 1 TThhee MMaaiinnee MMaassoonn A Look Forward Page 5 A Look Back Page 8 Vol. 45, No. 2 SPRING 2019 Maine Mason-Spring.qxp_Scottish Rite Magazine 4/15/19 11:01 AM Page 2 THE line-o-type by George P. Pulkkinen MAINE MAS ON With the coming of Spring, I suspect all brethren find themselves pretty much in the THE MaInE MaSOn is an official publication of the Grand Lodge of Maine, ancient Free and accepted Masons. The same place I am, and that’s facing a long list of material printed herein does not necessarily represent opinions seasonal duties demanding attention. of the Grand Lodge of Maine. For me, the fact that it’s Spring makes the Members of lodges in other Grand Jurisdictions within the chores almost welcome...at least some of them. united States are invited to subscribe to THE MaInE MaSOn at $3.00 per year. Cost for Masons outside the united States is (The boatyard comes immediately to mind.) $5.00 annually. Please send check payable to THE MaInE Even the peeling paint on the garage and the MaSOn , with complete mailing address, to the Grand backyard crabgrass seem like opportunities Secretary at PO Box 430, Holden, ME 04429. rather than tasks, thanks to the warm sunshine ADDRESS CHANGES : Subscribers are advised to notify the and bird songs that cheer up one’s outlook and Grand Secretary’s office of any address change. bring smiles to most faces. All submissions of photos and articles for inclusion in T HE Many of us also have projects to tend to at MaInE MaSOn should be mailed directly to the Editor at either the email or postal addresses below. our lodges. Keeping our buildings in good shape is an important part of projecting Masonic Editor values in our communities. George P. Pulkkinen, PGM One project I’ve noticed in my travels is the 15 Ocean View Road, Scarborough, ME 04074 need to repair lodge road signs damaged by 207-883-5085 email: [email protected] harsh weather and snowplows. Take a look at the sign pictured here. I know this one is sched - Elected Officers of the Grand Lodge of Maine uled for an overhaul. Let’s all check the roads GRanD MaSTER DEPuTy GRanD MaSTER leading in to our communities. If you notice a Mark E. Rustin Richard M. nadeau sign advertising your lodge that resembles this 2087 Carmel Road n. 8 S Lisbon Road one, it would be a worthwhile Spring project to newburgh ME 04444 Lewiston, ME 04240-1409 fix or replace it. Image is important both to us SEnIOR GRanD WaRDEn JunIOR GRanD WaRDEn and to the people who form a first opinion of Kevin Campbell Richard Holman Masonry by what they see along our streets. 317 Calls Hill Road 195 Varney Mill Road Dresden, ME 04342-3605 Windham, ME 04062-5011 GRanD TREaSuRER GRanD SECRETaRy Scott Whytock Daniel E. Bartlett 14 Hidden Creek Drive 267 Belmont avenue Scarborough, ME 04074 Belfast ME 04915 Grand Lodge Contact Information & Hours 207-843-1086 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.mainemason.org Grand Secretary’s Office Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Grand Lodge Library/Museum Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Deadline for the next issue of The Maine Mason will be 25 July, 2019. All materials should be sent directly to the editor. Cover photo by PGM Tom Pulkkinen Page 2 THE MAINE MASON Maine Mason-Spring.qxp_Scottish Rite Magazine 3/23/19 4:11 PM Page 3 From the Grand East Mark E. Rustin Education” which, over time, will provide incentive for Grand Master of Masons in Maine members to attend meetings rather than avoid the “ground hog day” nature of too many of our Lodge meet - The weather we have experienced this year has led to ings. Stated Meetings should provide value to the expe - many discussions about the viability of climate change rience of being a Freemason. (global warming). In my opinion, these discussions all The Joy of Brotherhood: In this world of techno - too often do not distinguish between the day to day expe - logical innovation and instant communication it is easy rience of weather and the longer trends in the climate. As to overlook the desire for relationship inherent in who we long as these two different factors are seen as one, a com - are as human beings. “No man is an island…” is not just prehensive view of what’s happening to the climate of a literary jewel, it’s an insight into the desire everyone our planet will remain elusive. has to be part of something greater than ourselves. To Many of us in our Lodges look at the sidelines be known, accepted, and valued is a true joy in our at our Stated Meetings and lament about the lives. Our Lodges are uniquely designed to rec - lack of representation by our members at ognize this human trait and to enhance the joy these meetings. All too often our reaction is it brings to our members. Breaking bread to express the need for new members. If before a Lodge meeting, good conversation we don’t have “enough” members at a among the Brothers at table, working on a meeting then we must find some new project together after a meeting, or devel - ones. It seems to me we need to exam - oping personal friendships among our ine all the possibilities which have Brothers outside of the Lodge are “tools” resulted in low attendance to fully we should utilize to help our Brothers understand where our Lodge finds itself recognize the strategic part they play in today. What factors contribute to poor our Lodges. Men who experience that attendance? I suggest to you that there spiritual joy are far more likely to regular - are several categories of Lodge life that ly attend Stated Meetings. should be examined. They may yield The Satisfaction of Helping Others: I insight as to why men do not attend Lodge dare say most of our Brothers joined the Craft on a regular basis. with an altruistic desire to improve the lives of The Value of the Experience: Men who join others. The outreach of these men through their the Craft are generally seekers. They learn from us that Lodges demonstrates the vast majority of our Brothers our goal is to provide men the opportunity to become are Masons not just to boost their ego. Our Lodges ben - better men. This appealed to me and drew me to petition efit when this desire to improve the state of others is a Lodge. In their hearts most men I know want to encouraged as part of the work of the Lodge. Brothers improve themselves. Self-improvement has value for who see the intent and purpose of the Lodge in line with them. The person they shave with each morning gains their goals of community betterment will likely respond value in their eyes when they see improvement. What by being more attentive to the meetings of the Lodge. A they can offer to family, friends and community is Brother who views his Lodge as sharing his goal of enhanced as they try to achieve their life goals of devel - improving the world around us will be there to help and oping a peaceful and harmonious world to live within. assist the Lodge. The lessons we share from our ritual flesh out and give Your role as Lodge leaders and members is to gauge direction to the life journey they have chosen. How do the “climate” of your Lodge. The anecdotal noting of the we follow up this profound teaching? “weather” of a particular meeting does not provide the Too many of our meetings become rote exercises with information you need to guide your Lodge to strength little value added to the members’ journey to full human - and success. If you do your jobs well, your Lodge will ness. Paying the monthly bills, bemoaning the condition attract new members who are there for a reason and will of the hall, or listening to seemingly endless minutes stay to fulfill their vision of Freemasonry. from the previous meeting are hollow substitutes for sharing information and brotherhood. These offer daily Fraternally, opportunities to travel the journey to becoming a better man. There are nearly endless resources for “Masonic Mark the maine mason Page 3 Maine Mason-Spring.qxp_Scottish Rite Magazine 3/23/19 4:11 PM Page 4 Thoughts from our Grand Secretary... By Brother Dan Bartlett around the room, at virtually every table I saw smiling faces and people actively engaged and visiting with one another. A community: plain, simple and comfortable. Community We all have the opportunity to experience that sense The Oxford Dictionary defines “community” as a of community, of belonging, right in our lodges. Going group of people living in the same place or having a par - to a lodge meeting or helping out at a lodge function is ticular characteristic in common. Also, the condition of about as easy as it gets to “belong” and to enjoy that sharing or having certain attitudes or interests in com - sense of community. mon. I chose this topic for a very specific reason. This pub - As many of you know I spent a couple of decades in lication is one of the only methods of communication the U.S. Coast Guard. Like all of my fellow military vets that reaches nearly every single Mason in this state.