"Freemasonry is a beautiful system of morals, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols. It's Tenets are Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth."

These are a few lines from the degree of Entered Apprentice. They are part of a beautiful explanation of Freemasonry that speaks to the nobler and higher aspirations of man and the fraternity. Many have heard, or even delivered, these lines numerous times, but let's slow down just a little and consider the words contained within the lines.

What is an allegory

All through the degrees of Masonry we are told that its teachings are allegorical, but what is an allegory? The word allegory derives from two Greek words and means story within a story. Basically, it is a story that has a deeper or more general meaning in addition to its surface meaning. Allegory, parable, fable, myth, legend, and tradition are correlative terms. The myth may be founded on fact, but the allegory, parable, and fable are not. Yet they may be “true” in that they contain truths without being fact.

Why does Freemasonry use symbols in its teachings?

Symbols are at once universal and very personal. Through the use of symbols Freemasons all over the world and from very different cultures share a common language. We may not be able to carry on a conversation with a Brother from a distant land, but we share a common experience and we recognize the lessons we've been taught through our symbols.

Symbols are the best manner in which to teach these lessons because once studied and understood, symbols make an indelible impression upon the mind. They are an innate or natural means of conveying wise and serious truths that once learned will become and remain a part of one's soul.

Its Tenets are Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. But, what is a tenet?

The Latin tenere meant more than 'to take hold of'; it meant rather to seize, to grasp, to clutch, to hang on, and if necessary, to struggle to hang on. It passed into English almost unchanged in tense, tendon, tension, tenor (so called because it was the voice that held the lead), tensor, and tenacious. A tenet is a principle, idea, or doctrine which the mind takes hold of tenaciously and will not let go. In Freemasonry the Principal Tenets are Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, and they are so called because in no place or time or under any circumstance will a Freemason let them go.

I hope you've enjoyed this as much as I have and I'll leave you with this quote from Amy Lowell, "Let us be of good cheer, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never come."

Fraternally yours,

Tim Couch

Some source information from Missouri Handbook of Freemasonry 2010

Now, on with the news........................

Tuesday, March 27, 2012: Henderson Lodge No. 477 will meet in Special Communication for work in the 2nd Degree of Freemasonry. Brother Jason Michael Sims will be presented for advancement to the degree of Fellow Craft. Dinner at 6:00 and Lodge will be duly Opened at 6:30 PM.
Henderson Lodge building is located at 127 East Center Street in Rogersville, MO. All Fellow Crafts are invited in.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012: Gate of the Temple Lodge No. 422 will meet in Special Communication for work in the 1st Degree of Freemasonry. Several duly elected candidates will be presented for initiation into the mysteries of Freemasonry. Lodge will be duly Opened at 6:00 PM and there will be nourishment following the work.

Friday, March 30, 2012: Queen City Chapter No. 226 O.E.S. is having a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM at the Gate of the Temple Lodge building located at 1700 North Boonville in Springfield, MO. A $5 donation is requested.
Menu will include Spaghetti and Meat Balls, Cole Slaw, French Bread, Dessert and Drink. There will also be a White Elephant Sale and Bake Sale. Everyone is invited and all are welcome.

Saturday March 31, 2012: The Annual Pancake and Sausage Supper hosted by California Masonic Lodge No. 183 will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.
All you care to eat ... Pancakes, sausage, coffee, milk, tea, and lemonade will be served at the Masonic Hall located at 200 N. East Street in California, Missouri

• Adults - $5.00
• Kids 6-12 years - $3.00
• 5 years and under - Free

Saturday, March 31, 2012: O'Sullivan Lodge No. 7, in Walnut Grove, MO, will host a Concealed Carry Weapons class today. For more information contact Rocky Stehlik at 417-861-3931. Cost is $75 which includes lunch.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012: Friend Lodge No.352 will meet in Special Communication at the lodge hall in Sparta, MO for work in the 2nd Degree of Freemasonry. Brother Rob Turrentine will be presented for advancement to the degree of Fellow Craft. Dinner at 6:30 and Lodge will be duly Opened at 7:00 PM.

Saturday, April 14, 2012: Friend Lodge No. 352 will meet in Special Communication at the lodge hall in Sparta, MO for work in the 1st Degree of Freemasonry. Dean Jenks, who has been duly elected, will be presented for initiation into the mysteries of Freemasonry. Lunch at 12:30 and Lodge will be duly Opened at 1:00 PM.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012: The Buckeye Ritual Club will meet at Central Crossing Lodge No. 674 located in Bridgeview Plaza in Shell Knob, MO, at 6:30 PM for fun, fellowship and education on our beautiful Missouri Masonic Ritual. This month's education will focus on Opening on the 2nd Degree, lost password, late arrival, Brother who leaves early, and Closing the Lodge. The Buckeye Ritual Club is centered in the 44th Masonic District of Missouri, but of course all Master Masons are welcome. The club will meet on the 3rd Tuesday of each month and will travel to differing lodges within the 44th District. Click here to see the 2012 schedule. Mark your calendar and plan on coming out to have some fun with your Brethren. The Buckeye Ritual Club is also on Facebook. Click here for the Buckeye Ritual Club Facebook page.

Saturday, April 21, 2012: Solomon Lodge No. 271, in Springfield, MO, will host a Concealed Carry Firearms class beginning at 9:00 AM at the lodge building, 1930 West Catalpa Street in Springfield, MO.

• Cost for the class is a minimal donation of $75.
• Participants must be 21 years of age
• A Missouri resident
• And, a U.S. citizen.
• Each class member will need a minimum of seventy each of revolver and semi-automatic rounds.
• You do not need to qualify using the weapon that you intend to carry concealed.
• A limited number of weapons will be available to rent.
• Class size is limited so a reservation is recommended.

Saturday, April 28th, 2012: An Evening with The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE)
Saint Louis Missouri Lodge No. 1 is honored to present The Degree Team of The United Grand Lodge of England. All Master Masons are invited to attend this Special Communication. The event will be held at Tuscan Masonic Temple located at 5015 Westminster Place, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108. There is a $40 per person registration fee which includes a catered dinner. Dinner will be at 7:00 and the program will commence at 8:00 PM. A suit and tie is requested. Some additional notes:

• This is an electronically ticketed event with very limited seating, and is open only to Master Masons.
• Each reservation must be listed separately to allow for verification of membership.
• Please note that Tuscan Masonic Temple has several flights of exterior and interior steps, which are not serviced by elevators or other lifting devices, and might limit accessibility.
• When you have completed your on-line registration you will receive an electronic confirmation.
• Your credentialing packet will be mailed to you on or before April 15th.
• Parking for this event is outstanding, and directions with additional information will be included with your credentialing packet.
• For more information and to purchase tickets visit STLMasons.org

Saturday, April 28, 2012: Solomon Lodge No. 271 will host a MoCHIP (Missouri Child Identification & Protection) Event from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Masonic York Rite Temple, 1930 West Catalpa Street in Springfield, MO. At least 30 volunteers are needed to work this event.
For more information you may call the Lodge Secretary at (417) 425-0083. All volunteers must be signed up at least 12 days prior to the event.
For more information about MoCHIP please visit www.MoCHIP.org.

Saturday, May 5, 2012: Friend Lodge No. 352 will host a MOCHIP (Missouri Child Identification & Protection) Event from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the OTC Richwood Valley Campus located on Missouri State Highway 14 between Ozark and Nixa. This event will be in conjunction with the Christian County Optimist Safetypalooza. For more information on the Safetypalooza click here to visit the Christian County Optimist Web site.
To learn more about the MOCHIP Program click here to visit the Missouri Child Identification Program Web site.

Saturday, May 12, 2012: Gate of the Temple Lodge No. 422 will host a C2A (Chance to Advance) one day class to confer the 2nd and 3rd Degrees of Freemasonry on duly and truly prepared candidates for those degrees.
The day will begin with breakfast at 6:30, Registration beginning at 7:00 AM, Lodge will be duly Opened at 8:00 AM. The 2nd Degree and the first section of the 3rd Degree will be conferred before lunch, and the second section of the 3rd Degree will follow. The day will wrap up around 3:30 PM.

As you can see there's lots of Masonry going on in Missouri. See the links below to keep up with the latest or to submit information for your upcoming meeting.

For more news of upcoming events and special communications visit the Upcoming Masonic Events page on Masonsmart.com

For a calendar of Stated meetings for many of the Lodges and Masonic bodies visit the Masonic Calendar page on Masonsmart.com

For help locating a lodge building visit the Missouri Masonic Lodge Map page on Masonsmart.com

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