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Greetings from the Grand Master

October’s issue of our our members and non-members alike. Our St’s John Day
the Montana Freemason Observance is celebrated in January, this presents another
magazine, contains a Survey excellent opportunity for the Lodge for education and
Form about the Annual celebrating with the members of your Lodge, remember
Communication,I encourage your District Officer works for you and is available to
you to complete the survey assist.
and return it to the Grand
Lodge Office as soon as As I have traveled throughout Montana visiting lodges
possible. The survey is also and the district meetings of instruction, or visiting other
available at the Grand Lodge Grand Jurisdictions in the U.S. and Canada, or England
Website and in GrandView for the Tercentenary Celebration. I am reminded when
in the Forms section. we meet we meet on the level what a powerful reminder
Our new membership that is of our Masonic heritage and teachings. To meet
program “GrandView” has on the level means more than just the common physical
been updated and has available for download the various plane upon which we stand. Though it represents equality
Grand Lodge of Montana Forms and Documents. The among the brothers, it does not mean that we are all of the
various forms and documents used to be available at the same heritage, color, creed, religion or political persuasion.
Gand Lodge Website have been migrated to the “Forms” With Masonic equality, we each retain our individual
section of GrandView for greater ease of access and greater characteristics and religious beliefs while sharing with
online security. our brothers a unifying belief in a Grand Architect of the
Universe.
Masonic Education continues to be our focus, remember From the beginning of the Grand Lodge era of Masonry
when we bring a new man into Masonry, we owe it to him to in 1717, we have practiced religious tolerance as a principle
educate him about the lessons contained in our ritual and that has had a profound influence on our society and its
the principles and teachings of our Fraternity. This can be formation. The strength of our organization is that men
accomplished one-on-one by assigning a mentor to each with diverse faiths can meet and enjoy brotherhood with
new candidate. The mentor’s responsibility is to make the other men and not have a diversity of beliefs divide them.
new brother welcome in the lodge, to sit with him in the Meeting on the level mandates us to look for the shared
lodge, and to teach him the protocol and courtesies used values that unite us with our brothers. Meeting on the
in the lodge that has become second nature to most of us. level with men from diverse religious beliefs is the product
The mentor also must keep the new Mason informed of of practicing religious tolerance. Religious tolerance
lodge activities for both him and his family, and determine is and has been for years the hallmark of Masonry. As
his interests and capabilities so the Worshipful Master can we approach this Christmas season, remember that Jesus
be advised on how best to involve the new brother in lodge taught that the love of God was inclusive and not exclusive.
activities and utilize his talents. If you believe that you He ministered to Jews and Gentiles alike. Masonry likewise
can do this, please tell your Worshipful Master that you includes men of many religious beliefs - whether Jewish,
would volunteer to be a mentor. The mentor should not be Muslim, Buddhist, or Christian. As Freemasons we unite
confused with the coach. The coach’s responsibility is to as brothers, regardless of religious differences, this is our
teach the new Mason his proficiency, either one-on-one or fraternity’s strength and should continue to be an example
in a class setting. While some Masons are capable of being for the rest of the world. Brothers, the 25th of December
both mentor and coach, there is no objection to having is an important date for Christianity but remember with
two Masons fill these responsibilities to the new Mason. equal sincerity and respect a Mason can offer Merry
An excellent resource available is the Masonic Mentoring Christmas, Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, Happy
brochure published by the Masonic Service Association Hanukkah, Happy Eid Milad un Nabi, Happy Bodhi Day!
that, in simple, understandable words, establishes a sound
mentoring program for any Lodge. Masonic Mentoring This Masonic year started at the close to the summer
explains: Who should be a mentor, What a mentor does, solstice and the approaching winter solstice signals that
What new members expect, and Tips for being successful. we are halfway through our journey for this year. This
It is perfect to assist any Lodge candidate-counseling annual cyclic event has many meanings. For me, it marks
program, or any new member orientation effort. the opportunity to meet with many more of you before
the next summer solstice.
Also, we must give the new Masons reasons to continue
attending lodge meetings. Does your lodge have a program I cannot express how humbled and honored I am to have
for every meeting, or at least every other meeting? This received the DeMolay Legion of Honor. I encourage every
program can consist of Masonic education, such as a Mason to participate with or attend DeMolay, Rainbow
discussion of the meaning of our obligations. Lodge or Job’s Daughters events; you will have the time of your
officers must make it worthwhile for their members to life, and you can receive just as much light from our
attend the meetings. The Lodge Instructor and your Masonic Youth groups as the concordant bodies. Finally,
District Officer are available to assist and should be called please make plans to meet me in Sidney for our nd
upon for Masonic Education. Education is a fundamental Annual Communication.
component of improving ourselves and our lodges and
allows us to communicate the values of Freemasonry to Jerry Anderson, Grand Master
3DJH “Leadership is about submission to duty, Not elevation to power.”