From the Secretaries Desk

Brethren, my column this month tells a true story that best demonstrates the spirit of Fraternalism and Brotherly Love which we enjoy as Masons.

“The Travels of a Lambskin Apron”

This story begins in 1940 when Captain John Cleaveland Miller petitioned Foothill Lodge Number 564 for the Degrees of Masonry. Brother Miller was born on July 13th 1885 at Myrtle Point, Coos County, Oregon. He was Initiated, Passed and Raised in 1941 by Worshipful Brother Ludolph Foulkers. At the time, Brother Miller, age 55, was a qualified Captain, Master and Pilot of the San Francisco Bay and Tributaries, and worked for the Tidewater Associated Oil Company in San Francisco.

In 1942, at age 56, he registered for the draft, but there is no substantive evidence that he ever served on active duty in any of the armed services of the United States. Yet, sometime after he was raised, evidence suggests that he traveled to, and about York, England, and while there may have visited Lodge Harmony Number 156, where he left his inscribed apron, “for safe keeping”. It is possible that, being a “seafaring man” he may have been there with the Merchant Marine, or other maritime support service.

In early June this year, I received a forwarded email from W. Brother Chic Lewis, P.M. of Lodge Harmony No. 156, Yealmpton, Devon England expressing an interest in returning Brother Millers apron to his “Mother Lodge”. After some emails, and a phone call from Brother Lewis, the apron was returned to us in beautiful condition, and at our July Stated Meeting was laid in the archives of the Lodge. This is not only appropriate, but timely, as this year marks the 122nd anniversary of his birth.

Brother Lewis was concerned if Brother Miller had survived the war years, in whatever he was doing in Europe, and after doing some research, I found that he had indeed survived, returned to the United States, and passed away in June of 1969 at Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County, California at 83 years, 11 months. He had never married.

My Brothers, the moral of this story is that as a Mason, you can always expect to be looked after and receive the love of your Brethren whithersoever dispersed but, if you do not live up to your obligations as a Mason, you will sever that bond of fraternalism. For those of you who have still not paid your 2007 dues, do you really wish to lose your fraternal ties?

Have a great month and hope to see you in Lodge

Fraternally
Jerry