The mission of the Freemasons of Minnesota is to engage and inspire The Minnesota good men, who believe in a Supreme Being, to live according to Masonic tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. MASON November–December 2020 VOL. 68, No. 4 Grand Master issues new COVID-19 edict On Thursday, November 19, 2020, MW Brother Ethan A. Seaberg, Grand Master of Masons of Minnesota, issued the following edict: Grand Master Aeneas Grand Lodge News pages 1–3, 8 Minnesota Masonic Charities pages 4–5 Lodge News & Views page 6 Masonic Family News page 7 To read the Grand Lodge of Minnesota COVID-10 Preparedness Policy, please go to the Grand Lodge web site at www.mn-masons.org. The 2020 Installation of Officers Guidelines are on page 7. Winter Texans to gather in South Texas For over 40 years, Minnesota Masons and featured speaker. The program will also have been spending their winters in South include an update on the work of Minnesota Texas and gathering with their fellow Masonic Charities and special recognition Masons from all over the country. to our Masonic Widows who are able to Aeneas The Annual Winter Texan Masonic attend. Reunion is sponsored this year by Minnesota Masons and their ladies M.W.B. Ethan A. Seaberg Minnesota Masonic Charities and the who are Winter Texans, as well as those Grand Master Grand Lodge of Minnesota. from other jurisdictions, are invited. The Reunion is scheduled for PGM Roger Taylor will chair the Saturday, January 23, 2021, at Victoria Reunion Committee assisted by WB Pat Palm’s Resort, 602 N Victoria Road in Norrie, WB Tim Davison and their ladies. After the Interrogatories of our like that, the State pulled organizations like Donna, Texas. The social hour will begin For information about the reunion or Entered Apprentice Degree, one of the ours back to smaller capacities. And just like at noon, followed by lunch. questions about traveling to South Texas, first things a candidate is told to do is to that, we’re back to a sort of stasis . again . Grand Master of Minnesota, M.W.B. contact PGM Roger Taylor at 320-980- wait with patience. In this time and at this . until the time we learn once more we’re not . Ethan Seaberg, will be the honored guest 5240 or email at taylfi[email protected]. hour, that’s easier said than done. again. As I write this message I’m waiting like Over the last six months, at a point like so many of you to hear of updated COVID this, it’s become my habit to insert some restrictions from the State of Minnesota. folksy, warm blanket turn-of-phrase meant Our Board of Custodians is also about to to show that we’re all in this together. That A Master’s Guide to Mentoring meet, and on their agenda is determining despite not a single one of us being happy When thinking of a guide for the research they did make it all work. Within how to safely perform Second and Third about restrictions or masking or delays, the Master for Mentoring, you hear or see their work, I met others in the Lodge when Degrees as viral infection rates rise quote would remind us that if we just stick words such as Duties, Tasked, Job, they were challenged with ritual. I learned statewide. Lodges around the state, many of together we’ll emerge together on the other Responsibility, and Expected. No doubt, what a custodian of the work was. Every which derive their operating income from in- side. And by way of example, like Aeneas those probably all ring true. The problem challenge they faced would bring me fur- person fundraising, are watching reserves attempting to lift the spirits of the dejected though it just doesn’t sound very appeal- ther within the folds of the Lodge. Yet it shrink as they’re forced to brainstorm new Trojans, the quote might be “perhaps some- ing. Thinking along those same lines was full of laughter and friendship. The approaches to generate revenue. Newly day it will bring pleasure to remember even starts making it a very difficult role. desire to help another without regard to the admitted Entered Apprentices, along with these things.” But it’s becoming more Without question, it just adds another task, the effort, responsibility, or the sacri- furloughed Fellowcrafts, feel their frustration difficult for folksy phrases to work. More large bullet point to the Master’s list. fice of time was unbelievable, I soon fully levels rise as our Sublime Degree remains difficult to simply nod at some Masonic What it doesn’t address though is the understood it was simply Brotherhood. I out of reach while they hear tell of other teaching or tenet and pretend it’s some heart of Masonry—Brotherhood. Taking recall them both telling after several years Grand Jurisdictions raising Master Masons magic wand that will fix all. Or is it? from my own experience, my mentors com- that it was hard but how rewarding it was with few restrictions. And when several of “Thou, O God! knowest our down-sitting ing through consisted of a crusty retired for them, and they still laughed about it our appendant and concordant Bodies, and our uprising, and understandest our Navy Master Chief and a newly introduced occasionally. ungoverned in this Jurisdiction by the Grand thought afar off. Shield and defend us from to me, Past Master. The Navy Chief was my Why did that all work? Collaboration Lodge, step very gingerly down their own the evil intentions of our enemies, and sup- top line signer and someone I had known of the effort, which should be the considered COVID path, whispers go up port us under the trials and afflictions we are for 20 plus years. When he became my Master’s guide in Mentoring. The Master when the Grand Master doesn’t slap them destined to endure, while traveling through topline signer, he wasn’t thrilled about the needs the best of resources, and that’s down for non-compliance. And the list of this vale of tears. Man that is born of a challenge I created when I asked to be a where we come in to help. As your Grand anxieties goes on and on and on and on . woman, is of few days and full of trouble. He Mason. Little did I know the amount of Lodge Mentoring Committee., we are put- Thank goodness we grew up in the cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down; he “work” that lay ahead for him. Being a man ting the final touches on that helpful age of commercials and know how to spell fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. who earned leadership, he was experienced guide. Our recommendation is to start R-O-L-A-I-D-S. Seeing his days are determined, the number enough to know that he needed help, and he with the resources currently available. Unfortunately I am not here to bring you of his months are with Thee; Thou hast brought in a ringer, a Past Master, to assist Our team would strongly urge that each news of anything that looks like certainty— appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; him in the task ahead. There was nothing Lodge order and have a copy of the Grand neither a certain path forward nor a certain turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall crusty about this Past Master; he was friendly, Lodge Presentation Binder. Study it, date when all will return to normal. Why accomplish his day. For there is hope of a knowledgeable, interesting, and had an ease know its contents at the very least. Most not? Well, here’s one example, and it stands tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout about him that was in direct opposition to of the tools, checklists, and guides that we as an excellent representative for all. again, and that the tender branch thereof will my top line signer. The problem for him will direct you to will all be found within Saturday, January 16th, was slated to be the not cease. But man dieth and wasteth away; was he was a Past Master of Lodge in Saudi its pages. 2021 One-Day-to-Masonry. However, when yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is Arabia. The ritual was different, the process You may order one of the Leather COVID infection rates started to limit the he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the was different, and he had been back in the Presentation Binder from the Grand amount of time we should be spending flood decayeth and drieth up: so man lieth US for a short time. The Navy guy who Lodge website under Mentoring. The together, a nine hour event was no longer pos- down, and riseth not up till the heavens shall went through in Japan, a Past Master from Collaborative Guide for the Master in Saudi and a candidate with zero capacity or Mentoring will be available this sible. Even two-hour First & Second Degrees be no more. Yet, O Lord! have compassion desire for memory work sounds like a fail- December within the Mentoring Tab on are problematic, but with aggressive use of on the children of Thy creation, administer ure before it even began, but this article the Grand Lodge web site; keep your eyes PPE and spacing, they seemed an acceptable them comfort in time of trouble, and save alone can attest it wasn’t.