Trestle Board

Corned Beef & Cabbage

Rescheduled Date: Dip & Dance Night  7-10 PM  A night of dance lessons, fun & fellowship. Light refreshments will be served. Couples $15.00, under 18 free, all are welcome.

Dear Brethren,
We must not seek, we are sought. This is the practice and how our brethren are embedded into the foundations of our institution. We must therefore uphold this requirement and be sure that every candidate comes to us of their own free will and accord. In this life of expression, quantity versus quality takes on different meanings. We may be small in number, but the quality of the brethren that we have in our lodge and supporting lodges far outweigh the numbers. Think back to the day each of you made the commitment to become a member of the lodge and what a sense of excitement and anticipation you felt.
There are many other institutions out there that concentrate only on the numbers of the membership. We are not them, nor will we ever be! We will continue to accept into our brotherhood only those of true heart, who seek us out and ask to become one of us. We need never fear that our institution will suffer from a deficiency of members. What we should fear is that we let down our guard and select candidates that are not true of heart, and who lack the will to be truly part of us and take on the responsibility to build our fraternity.
As seasoned brothers, you all know the dedication and involvement needed to keep the order functioning. We need to continue our works and tap into the excitement and anticipation we all felt. When others see this in us, they too will feel the call and come to us of their own free will. This is how we will continue to grow as a lodge and as a fraternity.
Fraternally,
Donald Baldino, WM

One of the pillars of Harmony 18 has cracked with the passing of  RW George Allan .  George has always been my mentor my greatest supporter and most of all, a trusted friend.

When awaiting to be installed as Master  of Harmony I sat in the Senior Wardens chair nervous when looking over at George he sat smiling and gave me the a thumbs up. This gave me a sense of knowing that he and other past Masters would be there in my times of need.  And  though he is not here with us in body, a look around the lodge says he is always with us, most if not all of the officers line were mentored by George  and there is no one in the lodge he has not touched as a friend.

So though a pillar has a crack because of George’s passing, the lodge remains on a solid foundation be cause of George and all our departed brothers who lived the life as a mason should.

 

WM Kevin M Albora

So George Allan Veteran , Kiltie and Brother Mason thank you for always being there  and look over us while we try to emulate you as a mason.

 

My Brothers,

There is a universal Masonic requirement of a belief in a deity,  which is followed by all regular grand lodges in the world. Freemasonry accepts the idea of God as the Supreme Being, and in fact bars anyone who is an irreligious libertine and denies his existence.

When an interest is expressed to join Masonry, the very first questions that must be answered is “Do you believe in the existence of a Supreme Being?”  Without a positive response, the moral code of Masonry cannot be shared and will not be shared because we as Masons believe that the Supreme Architect is who guides us to be better men and Masons.

Why is it so important has many reasons, the most important of which is; as with all degree work in masonry we swear on the holy books of faith. There we promise and swear to the Grand Artificer  of the Universe that we will keep our word to him as a man and e give ourselves a moral obligation to do so.

To the atheist those sacred books are worth no more than the paper they are printed on. So what moral obligation would an theist have? He does not have that reverential awe and admiration is necessary when taking our sacred vows. So though the man may be a good person he cannot and must not become a Mason.

So, my Brothers, remember that while we are a charitable organization we are an organization that  acknowledges that belief in the Supreme Architect of the Universe.

Fraternally,

Kevin M. Albora, WM

 

My Brothers,

 

April is now upon us, time when the cold of winter begins to lose its grip. It’s time for pancake breakfasts and Peter Cottontail to hide eggs and candy for children to find.

But, for Masons, April means the election of the new Grand Lodge Officers, there are five people running for the Grand South. It is also a time for new Grand Lodge legislation. These elections and changes should not be taken lightly, for they represent the future of Freemasonry in New Jersey.  With the large number of candidates running and legislation proposed, voting this year, will only be in person, not be electronic balloting at home as in former years.

Voting members are all Current and Past Masters, and current sitting Wardens of the Lodge. This is a privilege that you have earned and you are expected to vote.  This vote should not be taken lightly, the future of Harmony as well as in Masonry is at stake.

Between 1730 and 1732, during colonial times, a warrant was issued by the Grand Lodge of England for the jurisdictions of NJ, NY and PA, making Daniel Coxe Provincial Grand Master for a period of two years.  After the revolution, the provincial lodges were closed, and new Grand Lodges were formed for each state.  In 1786, the NJ Grand Lodge was formed and it’s first Grand Master was MW David Brearley.  Incidentally, he is at rest not for from the Grand Lodge in Trenton in St. Michael’s Church cemetery.

Past Maters, please take the time to vote, the future of Freemasonry in New Jersey depends on your participation.

Fraternally,

Kevin M. Albora, WM

The new sign for the lodge is about to be finalized. There  will soon be a new sign in front of the lodge. It is hoped that will give us a more light in the community.

The next Thing we will take on is to make the Lodge more handicapped accessible. Please feel free to give me any ideas u may have.

April looks to be a busy month in addition to the pancake breakfast on 13th we also have or obligation to the veterans’ home in Menlo park .  At Menlo park we assist  our veterans to church services. These men and women gave a lot please  help them by giving a little of your time. We  meet at the lodge at 8 am  and generally leave  the home by 11:30.

On march 3rd Christopher Lang and Brian Grodski took there Master Mason exam and did an outstanding job.  Please join me in congratulating them.

 

 

The most symbolic signs of a Mason are the square and compass and the science of geometry.

The earliest recorded beginnings of geometry can be traced to ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt in the 2nd millennium BC. GEOMETRY, the first and noblest of the sciences comes from two Greek words, Geo meaning earth and Metron to “measure”, meaning to measure earth.  In those days when man first began to measure, the square was used and the square began to symbolize the Earth.  The square, in times of old, was revered and to the Egyptians, the square was their highest sacred emblem.  To the Chinese, it represented good, and Confucius, in his writings, said it represented a just man.

The second great science in the  progress of man was astronomy. As man marveled at the heavens,  he found that the square was not adaptable and he needed a circular measure. The compass was adopted and in later days the compass came to represent the Heavens.  The celestial heaven then led man to the Grand Architect of the Universe.

The Great Architect of the Universe guides all Masons to live upright and moral lives, emulating those virtues which Masons strive to achieve in their daily lives. Through the lessons we learn in our lodge we are guides In how to conduct ourselves to be that perfect Ashlar,  proving that our hard work in the quarries of Masonry have a purpose on earth as well as in Heaven.

Fraternally,

Kevin M. Albora, WM

My Brothers,

Where is your apron? Nothing else in all of Masonry ties you so closely with all your brothers in  history like the lambskin or white leathern apron,” More ancient then the Golden Fleece, or Roman Eagle, more honorable than the Star and Garter”.

One of the most memorable moments of becoming a Mason is when you are presented with your Masonic Apron. And after our death, when family and brothers bid farewell, it is placed with you for the hereafter.

A few years ago while at the supermarket a woman noticed my masonic ring. She noted that her father, who recently died was a mason. after his death they couldn’t find his apron to bury with him. It was one of his wishes to have a masonic funeral and be dressed as a Mason.

This led me to think, do you know where your apron is? Better yet does your family know where it is? Too many times the family does not know where to find it since it may have been many years since your EA Degree.

Please, let your family know your wishes and tell them where to find your apron. In order that you may to the lodge on high wearing your badge as a Mason.

 

Fraternally,

Kevin M. Albora,  WM

 

 

My Brothers,

Ever since our beginning in 1853 the New Year brings a new Master to the ornamental chair of Harmony Lodge. Much has happened in the past year, and life is finally starting to return to normal. The devastation that was Hurricane Sandy couldn’t keep us down. We have conferred the degrees for many new brethren and we are stronger than ever.

However, the coming years will test our resolve as never before, but I believe that if we all work together there is nothing we can’t overcome.

One of our major concerns is our current financial situation. We as a brotherhood, working together can accomplish anything. We must also extend the hand of brotherly love and work towards bringing our inactive brothers back into the lodge. Remember, our words and grips are meaningless unless you have someone with which to share them.

In closing, let me just say welcome back home to Harmony.

Fraternally,

Kevin M. Albora, WM