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Chaplain's Chatter - August 2010 |
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 The Hiram Award
Every year Blue Lodges across the state of California bestow an honor known as the Hiram award upon a single member of their individual Lodge. The award is generally described as the 'highest honor" which can be presented by a Lodge. This can be somewhat confusing, as being Master of the Lodge is also described as being the 'highest honor" that a Mason can achieve. Technically, both statements are true.
To understand the differences, it is necessary to know the history of the Hiram Award, how it is awarded, what it is, and who is eligible to receive it.
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Shawn Bell, Chaplain of our Lodge, was incorrectly credited as the writer in the January Trestleboard of an article titled "Knock, Knock, Knock" and in the February Trestleboard for an article titled "How To Dance In The Rain." Shawn Bell was not the writer of either of these articles, and we sincerely regret any confusion, inconvenience or harm publication of these articles may have caused. |
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World War II Masonic Veteran |
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 This is just a quick note regarding a couple of things that happened to me during the years I spent with the Marine Corps.
One that I am proud to remember was the pleasure I had getting to know Captain Jimmy Roosevelt, who was the son of the President of the United States. He was a member of the Raiders, of which I was, and I found him to be a really fine person and a great person to serve with. I remember one time when we were taking heavy fire, he was as dug in and protected as the rest of us, but made the comment that if the nips will stop acting naughty he would take a nap, not at all nervous by the gunfire. Just as calm as though he were setting in his living room at home. Always showed that courage no matter what the circumstance was, always out in front.
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 Ancient Qualifications
The qualifications of the Operative Mason from 1410 back to 1200 A.D. The following list of qualifications is copied from a pamphlet supposedly copied from the ancient papers in the London museum. There is no author’s name.
1. The youth shall be an apprentice without pay for a period of 7 years.
2. A bond-servant was not eligible (The youth must be a free man because if he were owned by another, the owner might claim his servant at any time thereby wasting all those years of training.)
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World War II Masonic Veteran |
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W. Br. Horace Zimmerman, PM, HA
I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, Oct. 15, 1942, and was sent to the Presidio in San Francisco for a short period. Then I was sent to Williams Field in Chandler Arizona. I spent 20 days in the hospital with pneumonia.
Being 20 years old and because my mother would not sign, I could not go into pilot training. When I turned 21, I put in for pilot training, and was sent to Dos Palos ( Eagle Field ) in the San Joaquin Valley. Completed 65 hours of pilot training and was sent to Lemoore for basic training.
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My Ballot
by Thomas Q. Ellis, Grand Master of Masons for Mississippi, 1925 I stand at the same altar where,
Prompted by brotherly love,
I vowed solemn vows without falter,
Witnessed by him above.
As once I knelt there in reverence
I now stand reverently there
My thoughts have suffered no severance as I vowed,
So I'll vote upon the square. |
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World War II Masonic Veteran - Part IV |
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 Our soiree was a great success. We continued to make the trip to the other side of the Island every week for the remainder of our stay on Guadalcanal. But soon the weekly meetings of the warrior brethren would come to an end.
Sometime between March and April 1942, the Japanese began constructing airfields across the island of Bougainville, an Island to the Northwest of our current location. These airfields served the Japanese with bases to support their attacks of the supply lines between the United States, Australia and the other friendly's of the Southwest Pacific Area.
On November 1st 1943, we invaded Bougainville. Bougainville was secured, and turned over to the Army dog faces on January 15, 1944. We returned to Guadalcanal to lick our wounds. While we were away taking care of business on Bougainville, several things happened. War in the Pacific was moving quickly to the north fast. The leadership decided there was no longer a need for four Raider battalions or the Special Weapons battalions on the Island.
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World War II Masonic Veteran |
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Inactive Duty, 1943 to 1945
I was sworn in as a Cadet, U.S. Maritime Service, Reserve, Inactive and midshipman, U.S. Navy, Reserve, Inactive in early March, 1943 at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
My training was in engineering and various Navy courses. Life at the Academy was strictly military, including getting up at 5:45 A. M. for exercises and in bed at 10:00 P.M.
Classes were from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P. M., Monday through Friday, with compulsory study 7:00 to 9:45 P.M. six nights a week. I left the Academy in June, 1943 for assignment to a ship for six months of sea training.
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The Origin Of The Collar
Q. Where did the Masters' (and Officers') Collars originate, and why?
A. By a resolution of Grand Lodge on 24 June 1727, the Master and Wardens of all private lodges were ordered to wear . . . 'the jewels of Masonry hanging to a white ribbon'. This may be taken as the first regulation relating to what afterwards became the Master's, Wardens' and Officers' Collars. On 17 March 1731, white leather aprons lined with white silk were also specified for the Worshipful Master and Wardens.
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Br. Binces Garcia, Music Director, Yorba Linda High School |
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Br. Bincins Garcia, who is our Organist this year in the lodge, was spirited away from a highly successful Jazz music program at Esperanza High School to create the Music Department at the brand new Yorba Linda High School. Bincins is enjoying his position as Music Director of the new High School and especially the Jazz ensemble. He showcased their achievements with the first annual Music Festival held last month.
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