Page 32 - Jan 2019 MFM.indd

the Grand Master rr
From the Desk of rrrooommmm thhhhheeeeee DDDDDDDDDDDDDDeeesskk ooofff
F F F F F t thhhheee GGGrrannnnnndddddd MMMMMMMMMMMMMaasstteee

The Holy Saints John Evangelists day.” Traditionally we hold
ours in January.
Brothers all, Happy New Year and best
wishes for the upcoming 2019! The Coaches Handbook does a fantastic
job of the lesson of The Holy Saints
We have an exciting year in front of us to John. And it’s lesson is; “It is stated in
start or initiate a new chapter in our lives, the monitorial lecture that “our ancient
and I am totally excited to be a miniscule brethren dedicated their lodges to King
part of Montana Masonry to endeavor to Solomon, who was our fi rst Most Excellent
persevere to serve and assist every worthy Grand Master, but modern Masons dedicate
Brother, their Widows and Orphans. theirs to St. John the Baptist and St. John
Remember Brothers, you have an awesome the Evangelist, who were two eminent
opportunity to have 365 new chapters in patrons of Masonry.”
your life this year!
Since all lodges are now dedicated to
In order to accurately write an article for the Montana these saints, Masons of today are said to come from “the
Freemason and the Grand Master’s address for the Holy lodge of the Holy Saints John at Jerusalem.”
Saints John Day, one of three required observances, as
well as Americanism and Public Schools, I completed In the third century the church adopted the pagan
the basic research. If you review the Constitution and festival days of the summer and winter solstices and
Code of Statutes, Article V -Requirements; Section made June 24 St. John the Baptists day, and December
25060, Required Observances, “Annually, every lodge 27 St. John the Evangelist’s Day.
shall hold the following observances:
Biblically, John the Baptist was the son of the Jewish
A. Holy Saints John Day, during the month of January, priest, Zacharias, and Elizabeth, cousin of Mary.
excluding Sunday, which shall consist of a tyled table His life, built on the strength of faith sustained to his
lodge and a luncheon or dinner;” martyred death, is an example of unshaken fi rmness in
the right and in his infl exible fi delity to God. John the
The last paragraph also describes specifi cally how Evangelist, author of the Gospel and the Epistles bearing
lodges, “may combine with adjacent lodges in carrying his name, was the son of Zebedee, brother of James and
out any of the required observances.” This is a simple the youngest of the Apostles. His constant admonitions
and basic advisement of when you are hosting your Holy to the cultivation of brotherly love and the mysticism of
Saints John Day to invite your Masonic neighbors, I his vision undoubtedly led to his inclusion with John the
personally know many Brothers, like myself, who will Baptist as the Holy Saints John, who as the patron saints
travel extremely long blizzard-like highways, in all hours of Masonry have become enshrined in the memory of
of the night, to enjoy a delicious hearty meal with good every Mason.”
Brothers, and specifi cally enjoy great Fellowship!
I hope these informative descriptions from the Coaches
The Coaches Handbook, Section 4, Montana Masonic Handbook have been valuable in your Feast of Saints
Manual, defi nes the Holy Saints John, as the “Symbol John Lodge of Instruction. Brothers, as we refl ect on
of Masonry’s veneration of lofty character. Less well the lesson provided on our 2 Saints, I only hope for the
developed is the symbolism which makes Masonry join ongoing empowerment of the “Cultivation of Brotherly
all rites, all religions, in all ages in the celebration of the Love,” as all of us strive for this simple and basic act of
summer and winter solstices—June 24 and December Masonry. As we toast our glasses to dedicate our lives to
27. The Grand Lodge of England was formed on St. the service of our fellow men.
John the Baptist’s day in 1717 and annually meets on
that day. Grand Lodges throughout the world observe the In closing, I am reminded of one of my favorite
festival days of the Holy Saints John, some one, some scriptures from John 1:27, “Though his ministry follows
the other, some both. The Grand Lodge of Montana holds mine, I'm not even worthy to be his slave and untie the
table lodges in the winter in observance of St. John the straps of his sandal."
Page 32 Montana Freemason January 2019