“The Shade of Trees They’ll Never Sit Under”: Investing for the Lodge and Your Future Brethren - Part 4

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Phillip Welshans

Part 4: Developing an Investment Policy Statement

This material has been prepared for general and educational purposes only. This material does not provide recommendations concerning investments, investment strategies, or account types. It is not individualized to the needs of any specific investor and is not intended to suggest that any particular investment action is appropriate for you, nor is it intended to serve as the primary basis for investment decision-making. Any tax-related discussion contained in this material, including any attachments/links, is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding any tax penalties or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to any other party any transaction or matter addressed herein. Please consult your independent legal counsel and/or tax professional regarding any legal or tax issues raised in this material. All investments involve risk, including possible loss of principal.

OK, so you've got the assets for your lodge. You've got a group of brethren interested in helping to manage those assets. They've even all agreed (incredible! More than two Masons agreed on something?!) that managing the assets like an endowment makes sense. 

So…now what?

As I said in an earlier post in this series, arguably the most important decision you can make for managing a pool of assets is how you allocate them across asset classes. Well, the second most important decision is to create a policy document that governs asset allocation and all other aspects of how you're going to manage your money. You can’t make informed decisions about the portfolio if you don’t have a foundational document guiding you. So, let's talk about that first. 

Investment Policy Statements: A Second Lodge Charter

A lodge is a number of brethren duly assembled, with a charter or warrant empowering them to work. Similarly, we can think of a lodge endowment as a number of brethren duly assembled with an Investment Policy Statement (IPS) empowering them to invest. An IPS is a foundational document that lays out the parameters for the endowment in as much or as little detail as is needed. Anything and everything is on the table here, from how the investment committee should be structured, to what powers it has, to spending policies, portfolio objectives, and of course permitted asset classes. There is no hard and fast rule with creating an IPS; it can be as detailed or as vague as your lodge feels is appropriate. But you should create it with the goal of making it as easy as possible for a future brother, a man who hasn't even contemplated joining Freemasonry yet, to understand how the portfolio should be managed, and who is responsible for managing it. With that in mind, here are some things that could be in your lodge's IPS:

• Spending policy: We spent the majority of the last post talking about this, so you should probably formalize it. Is it a flat dollar amount? A certain percentage of assets in the portfolio? If the latter, lay out in plain language how the calculation is done so a random person reading it could do it, or know how it's done. Again, be as precise as you think is necessary here. 

• Objective of the portfolio: This is basically the overview of the whole endowment. What is the IPS covering? What is the objective of the portfolio? Is it to preserve the capital while also supplementing the operating budget? Is it capital preservation and growth of the principal? 

• Return objective: This can get more technical than a Masonic lodge may need. However, if your investment committee wants to take a firmer hand in monitoring the portfolio to ensure its meeting its objective, than you'll want to lay out some parameters here. The most typical way this is framed is "achieving X% return, with Y% volatility, over any given Z-year period"1although you can get much more technical than this if you like. But again, for a Masonic lodge, where few brethren will have a technical grasp of Modern Portfolio Theory2 and portfolio management principles, you may not even need to be this specific. Something as general as, "The return objective of the portfolio is to generate a total return that exceeds the annual rate of inflation over the trailing 12-month period, as measured by the Core CPI in the United States." 

• Asset allocation parameters: We'll spend the next post briefly walking through asset allocation, because it's one of the most important parts of thinking about managing your lodge's assets. And so, I would argue that at least laying out some ground rules for asset allocation in the IPS is a must. Again, no need to go into excruciating details, unless it's warranted, but I think you do want to say here what types of instruments and securities the portfolio can own and what it should expressly avoid. For the former: equity securities (US and foreign companies), corporate fixed income, Treasuries and/or other government securities, money markets, mutual funds, and ETFs are a fine start and cover the vast majority of what you'll ever need.3 For the latter, the list could be potentially very long because there are countless securities out there that nobody save for the most experienced traders should ever mess with. But for example, if you don't want future brethren with a day trading streak to toy with derivatives, say that! And you can even specify maximum weights in the portfolio. If you don't feel comfortable owning more than 10% in emerging market stocks4, put that in there!

• Other considerations: Do you want to permit using a financial adviser to manage this for you, or will you keep it all in-house? How often do you want the investment committee or adviser to rebalance the portfolio?5 What is the basic reporting structure? Do you have an investment committee? Will they review the portfolio quarterly? Do they need to send a report to the Worshipful Master? How often? This sounds mundane, but laying out these structures now will ensure information continues to flow after you're gone. The worst outcome is a portfolio that gets neglected for years because the initial investment committee members have died and nobody knows the reporting requirements. How can the IPS be changed? Probably via recommendations from the investment committee submitted to the Worshipful Master, but who knows? Spell it out!

The IPS is your chance to lay the ground rules and establish the precedent that will guide the lodge for years, and ideally decades, to come. Below I've written up a sample IPS for our brothers at the hypothetical Prudence Lodge #101, who we met in the last post(insert link to previous post here). 

Introduction

The brethren of Prudence Lodge #101 A.F.&A.M.  have established the Prudence Lodge Investment Fund ("the Fund") to fund long-term capital projects for the lodge, provide funds for the Prudence Lodge Annual Scholarship program, and to supplement the lodge's annual operating budget. This Investment Policy Statement has been established to provide guidance for the Investment Committee ("the IC"), the officers, Worshipful Master, and any investment managers that may be engaged in the management of the Fund's assets. This document outlines the objectives, methodologies, asset allocation guidelines, and applicable procedures for administering the Fund and its monies. 

Objectives

The objective of the Prudence Lodge Investment Fund is to provide financial support for the activities of Prudence Lodge. The spending policies are designed to balance the short-term operating needs of the lodge with the long-term desire to maintain the principal of the Fund with appropriate growth. This will help the lodge to meet the needs of the membership today as well as into the future. The return objective of the Fund is to generate a real (after inflation) return that preserves the principal of the Fund while providing an income stream that can help meet these financial obligations. The objective is therefore to generate an average real return of at least 4% per year over the long-term, defined here as the trailing five years, while taking on prudent levels of risk commensurate with capital preservation.

Spending Policy

The Fund's spending policy is designed to also strike this balance between providing for the ongoing immediate short-term operating needs of Prudence Lodge, while also not endangering the principal capital and eroding the Fund's purchasing power over time. The Fund's spending policy is therefore to be held constant at 4% of assets under management, defined as the trailing three-year average ending asset level in the portfolio.

Asset Allocation Guidelines

Given the importance of the asset allocation decision in the investment process, guidelines for permissible asset classes, proposed ranges or restrictions, and general guidelines are provided below, subject to change by the IC. Additionally, it is likely that the Fund will be managed on a day-to-day basis by a third-party financial advisor, in which case these guidelines should be communicated to them.

The primary goal is to ensure the Fund will be invested in a broadly diversified range of asset classes to provide a strategic mix of sources of return, while reducing risk to the overall portfolio. While the asset mix may skew towards higher returning equities, other assets can be added in to enhance returns without adding inappropriately to the risk profile of the overall portfolio. The IC should work closely with the financial advisor, should one be engaged, to determine the appropriate risk profile, although it should be biased towards a conservative approach. The IC should review asset allocations and risk profiles at least annually.

The Fund should be predominantly invested in low-cost mutual funds and other commingled vehicles (e.g., ETFs) as determined as appropriate, in order to minimize expenses to the Fund and Prudence Lodge, and to maximize net of fees returns. 

Ed. Note: Here you might insert proposed ranges to be held in certain asset classes. For example, between 20% and 40% in global (US & international) stocks, between 5% and 15% in cash or fixed income, and so on. Not a requirement, certainly, but if you want to specify maximums in certain areas, this is the time to do it. Ranges can be helpful in determining how often you rebalance your portfolio (see below)

Rebalancing

The portfolio should be rebalanced on a regular basis, with an eye towards minimizing costs for the lodge in doing so. The Fund should be rebalanced at least annually to ensure compliance with the stated asset allocation objectives of the IC. However, portfolio weights should be monitored by the IC and reviewed on a quarterly basis to ensure those weights remain reasonable. Short term fluctuations in asset weights is to be expected, however persistent dislocations should be avoided via intra-year rebalancing as deemed appropriate by the IC in consultation with the financial advisor. 

Reporting

The IC should meet quarterly to review the latest statements and reports from the financial advisor (should one be engaged), or to review the portfolio weights, performance, and other appropriate metrics. The IC should also meet annually to review the asset allocation ranges in the portfolio to make any changes for the coming year. The IC should provide regular reports to the Worshipful Master, Treasurer, and brethren as deemed appropriate and at a minimum via:

• Written report from the IC to the Worshipful Master detailing the performance of the Fund, beginning and ending market values, asset weights, and any notable issues discussed at the IC meeting such as additions or eliminations from the portfolio, etc. This could be provided to the Treasurer as well for his records.

• A semi-annual summary report provided to the brethren, either in open lodge or via writing, detailing performance and beginning and ending market values. 

1 We haven't talked about this to a great deal, but volatility is almost as important as return in measuring success in investing. Volatility is the amount an asset's return will vary over any given time period. All else equal, the greater the volatility, the more risk you're taking on that the asset will at some point go to zero. There are a lot of ways to measure volatility, but one common proxy is standard deviation. Standard deviation is a statistical measurement that can tell you how often a stock's return is within a certain range over a time period. Stocks tend to have higher volatility than bonds, and bonds have higher volatility than cash. Generally, for higher volatility assets, you want to be compensated with higher expected

returns. 

2 MPT is a body of financial theory developed in the mid-20th century and pioneered by Harry Markowitz, a professor of finance and Nobel Laureate. Very simplistically, MPT says an investor should try to always maximize their return (minimize the risk) for any given level of risk (return), as determined by their risk tolerance. MPT also posits that the best way to do this is through a broadly diversified portfolio that also reflects an investor's assumptions for expected returns, because forecasting asset returns is hard and a portfolio must be viewed as a whole, not as a group of isolated and uncorrelated assets.

3 We will talk about some other asset classes you might be tempted to invest in, and why you may want to think twice about that, in the next post.

4 "Emerging Markets" is a vague term and means different things to different people at any given time. Generally, emerging markets are outside the developed economies (North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia/New Zealand) where growth rates tend to be higher, economies are less developed, and volatility is higher due to political and financial risks being higher. This is not always the case though. For example, South Korea and Taiwan are still considered emerging markets, but in reality, excellent cases can be made that both should be considered developed economies. There are also "frontier markets" as well, which are countries where financial and political institutions are even less well developed, making them riskier areas in which to invest. Pakistan is a good example of a frontier market. For more on these definitions and which markets fall into which bucket, check out: www.msci.com. MSCI maintains the definitive market benchmarks for emerging and frontier markets.

5 Portfolios become unbalanced over time as market movements cause asset weights to deviate from their intended ranges. Rebalancing is simply buying and selling on a regular basis (typically annually or semi-annually is fine, so as to minimize trading costs, which reduce portfolio returns) to maintain proper ranges. For example, let's say Prudence Lodge's portfolio was $1,000 with 60% in stocks and 40% in bonds. That year, stocks returned +15% while bonds returned -15%. At the end of the year, the portfolio weights would have shifted to 67% stocks, 33% bonds. That's a very different portfolio, and far riskier, than what the lodge said it wants to maintain. In that case, Prudence's investment committee might seek to rebalance the portfolio by selling enough stocks and buying enough bonds to get back to the original 60/40 allocation it's comfortable with. 

~PW

Phillip Welshans is Senior Warden of Palestine Lodge #189 in Catonsville, MD under the Grand Lodge of Maryland A.F. & A.M. He is also a member of the Maryland Masonic Lodge of Research #239, and the Hiram Guild of the Maryland Masonic Academy. As a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, S.J. in the Valley of Baltimore, he has completed the Master Craftsman programs and is a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society. His interests are primarily in Masonic education, particularly the history of the Craft, esotericism, and the philosophy of Masonry.

Open-Source Freemasonry

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Ken JP Stuczynski

Technology and techniques are trade secrets, at first slow to spread and evolve. With the advent of printing, knowledge was spread far and wide. Craftsmen in one place were aware of better practices and tools in distant lands and added them to their knowledge and toolbox.
Then came the invention of “intellectual property”. Patents hindered the copying of an idea or invention (in principle to ensure the exclusive benefit of its creator). But ideas also became publicly known. People could build their own ideas based on it. I don't think it is a coincidence that such things coincided with the Industrial Revolution and the rise of Capital. Universal knowledge is still possible, but for the consumer, we entered an Age of the Proprietary. The average person and company are beholden to certain suppliers and licenses.

Perhaps because our secrets are symbolic, Freemasonry seems unaffected by these social and economic changes. Sure, there are printed volumes from Masonic writers far and wide, but few consider them integral to cultivating our Art. Perhaps it's because we each have our own Constitutions and interpretation of Landmarks. Masons can travel and experience variations in Ritual and tradition, but most of us live and work in the confines of local quarries.
Then came the Internet and social media. Without going through Grand Secretaries or district associations, we have prolific Masonic intercourse with Brothers around the world. We share ideas and experiences. And vive la différence! Our differences give us a much deeper understanding of Freemasonry as a whole. It gives us new ideas, new programs, new inspiration of all kinds.

But we can take this further. For a generation now, there’s been a new paradigm -- open-source software. People freely contribute and build upon code, design, and functionality. We don't need a specialized platform to have a Masonic website -- tons of software is out there, mostly free. If I build you a website, for example, you can take it somewhere else and add or remove whatever you like, either yourself or a million other people who know the software. You’re not beholden to me.

Imagine membership software anyone could use and customize to fit their exact needs. Imagine jurisdictions controlling their own data in-house. Some already do this to some extent. But imagine if anyone could contribute functionality that others could use, instead of being beholden to one company to develop and roll out as a feature. There’s little expense in building and maintaining their own system using this model.

But let’s apply this to more than zeroes and ones -- to programs, flyers and graphics, budgets, bylaws, and management processes. In New York, we have the 24-Inch-Guage, which is a start, but how about a repository across jurisdictions? Imagine Masons everywhere freely sharing and contributing ideas and resources.

This isn’t a pie in the sky. Someone, somewhere, will build a digital Library of Alexandria for our Craft and perhaps fraternal organizations in general. We only need to find and support artificers for this grand purpose.

~JP

 

Bro. Ken JP Stuczynski is a member of West Seneca Lodge No.1111 and recently served as Master of Ken-Ton Lodge No.1186. As webmaster for NYMasons.Org he is on the Communications and Technology Committees for the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. He is also a Royal Arch Mason and 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, serving his second term as Sovereign Prince of Palmoni Council in the Valley of Buffalo, NMJ. He also coordinates a Downtown Square Club monthly lunch in Buffalo, NY. He and his wife served as Patron and Matron of Pond Chapter No.853 Order of the Eastern Star and considered himself a “Masonic Feminist”.

Kung Fu Principles to Masonic Esoteric Philosophy – Part 2

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Randy Sanders

This continues a 5-part series applying Masonic principles and esoteric concepts to Eastern martial arts, specifically Wing Chun Kung Fu.  We will only touch on the fighting theory but then focus on applied philosophy.

Wing Chun Kung Fu simplifies as a fighting system derived from Snake and White Crane systems as its base.  It was originally based on Buddhist Shaolin systems and was refined in the Taoist Wu Tang temple.  This well-documented lineage history makes my brief description an injustice to the beautiful history of the Shaolin temple, the Wu-Tang temple, the Snake, White Crane, and Wing Chun systems.  This series of papers narrows the focus to the core Wing Chun principles of Centerline, Facing, Immoveable Elbow, Economy of Motion, and Simultaneous Attack and Defense, and we will match this Eastern theory to Western Philosophy.

With this second installment, let’s look at the Facing principle.  If we face an opponent’s centerline, then both our arms can strike an opponent’s centerline equally.  We maximize the weapons we can bring to bear on an opponent simultaneously with two arms and one leg for kicking.  If we use footwork to change angles or vector during confrontations, then we use a complimentary vector change to return to a facing structure.

This same facing concept applies to philosophy and many Western traditions again explained using the Middle Pillar of the Cabbalistic Tree of Life.  The core of your body relates to the core of your being and connects you to your true self.  We see the parallel lines overlaid on the shoulders/arms, hips/legs as the two outer pillars.  We want to face situations or people with an equal balance of severity and mercy. Meaning, our reach with severity must equal our reach with mercy in all our thoughts and actions.  Should we need to be more direct in our dealings by way of being more severe in a situation, then the return to a balanced facing is critical to our moral and mental structures.  How we perceive the world and how others perceive us will be reflected by how quickly we return to a balanced interaction after we choose to respond in an out-of-balance manner.

Again, holding true to a moral structure of thoughts and actions relates to the alignment of our core being.  The theory of Facing gives us a means to measure and balance any Masonic moral structure based upon the Virtues, Pillars, and Principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.  Continual testing and measurement by way of contemplating and refocusing keep us sharp and aligned. Facing with equality and balanced amounts of severity and mercy gives Masons a means to be tested by the square of virtue and to make use of the other working tools.

Eastern use of Facing to bring all weapons to bear also relates to our contemplative efforts.  We are told to reflect upon our situation, to consider deeply any implications, and to contemplate upon the symbols of our degrees and lectures.  Masons bring these tools to bear in dealing with philosophical or moral dilemmas whether personal or with others.  We must face with equal severity and mercy our own failings and forgive ourselves so that we may move on and make progress in our lives.  We must find our own balance.  

Notice that some might refer to this concept as equal regularity.  We know there are cyclical events in Nature.  We know we interact regularly and often cyclically, and we have our own patterns we repeat.  Facing allows us to examine these interactions and adjust ourselves as needed to bring balance into any situation.  Notice also some parallels in guided imagery where Western traditions might use an exercise called Kabbalistic Cross to visualize bringing light into the body.  The Kabbalistic Cross demonstrates the theory of Facing by the two-dimensional visualization of the Sephirot, and also by the balance between the left and right sides of the body with the balance focused on the core centerline.  

Let us put this into practice:  The Facing principle is explained as two lines, one intersecting and connected at 90 degrees, thereby forming a two-sided square.  We face our opponent’s central vertical line (aka middle pillar) no matter what direction the opponent might turn or face.  If they turn sideways as to maybe throw a sidekick, we still face squarely so that we may bring all our weapons to bear.  If someone tests our morality or virtue, and mentally we stand squarely opposed to them, we’ve demonstrated the theory of facing in an esoteric means.  We bring mercy and severity to bear on both the test and the person who’s testing us or trying to push our limits.

Our work isn’t limited to opposing actions or viewpoints.  The theory of Facing applies to good and bad issues equally.  We feel good when we are completely honest with ourselves and others.  Sometimes the news we want to share may not be received well, and that nuance means maybe we adjust our pillar of mercy to be a touch stronger.  The lesson of balance comes back as the option of severity remains, but perhaps severity would have been out of balance to ruin someone’s day.  In other words, there’s no reason to hurt someone with fully facing and bringing all your intensity when a simple whisper in the ear tempers suffering or a heavy emotional response.  When we relate good news, maybe the pillar of severity gives us an edge to push for celebration?  Maybe you know that celebration will cause jealousy?  We don’t control how others respond, but by carefully applying the balance of the pillars we can use this concept to our advantage in maximizing good and finding nuance for the bad.  

In closing, our connectivity to each other isn’t imaginary, rather, we feel good when we sit in lodge together.  We raise our feeling of brotherhood, our mystic tie that binds, spreading the cement, whatever we call it.  This tangible feeling brings us together while keeping our individuality, and we celebrate that connectedness with fellowship events and festive boards.  The concept of balance and facing others should drive us to continue our efforts toward The Great Work.

~RS

Randy and his wife Elyana live near St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Randy earned a bachelor's Degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and he works in Telecom IT management. He volunteers as a professional and personal mentor, NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer, and enjoys competitive tactical pistol, rifle, and shotgun. He has 30-plus years of teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and healing arts. Randy served as a Logistics Section Chief on two different United States federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams over a 12-year span. Randy is a 32nd-degree KCCH and Knight Templar. His Masonic bio includes past Lodge Education Officer for two symbolic lodges, Founder of the Wentzville Lodge Book Club, member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri Education Committee, Sovereign Master of the E. F. Coonrod AMD Council No. 493, Co-Librarian of the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis, Clerk for the Academy of Reflection through the Valley of Guthrie, and a Facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society. Randy is a founding administrator for Refracted Light, a full contributor to Midnight Freemasons, and an international presenter on esoteric topics. Randy hosts an open ongoing weekly Masonic virtual Happy Hour on Friday evenings. Randy is an accomplished home chef, a certified barbecue judge, raises Great Pyrenees dogs, and enjoys travel and philosophy.

The Crucial Role of Family

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Erik Geehern

Last night was our Installation of Officers.  After conducting the essential business of the evening, we adjourned downstairs to a reception graciously hosted and organized by the wives of our three primary officers. I felt immense gratitude towards my extraordinary wife of nearly twenty years, whose tireless efforts made this event truly exceptional. I was equally appreciative of the hard work and involvement of the other two spouses. While my wife has always been a pillar of support in everything I pursue, last night held a unique significance. It symbolized the culmination of my journey to the East, and having her by my side last night filled my heart with an overwhelming sense of joy that words cannot adequately capture.

Every Mason understands that the foundation of our Fraternity rests upon the principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. This transformative journey embraces personal growth, spiritual development, and a deep commitment to serving humanity. However, we must recognize the indispensable role played by our family, spouses, significant others, friends, and loved ones. It is difficult to fully convey the significance of having such a support system beyond the walls of the Lodge, and the immensely positive impact it has on our Masonic experience defies adequate expression.

Family members' unwavering support and encouragement form the bedrock of a Mason's journey. When our loved ones comprehend, support, and wholeheartedly embrace our pursuit of Freemasonry, it transcends being a mere extracurricular activity and becomes an integral aspect of our existence. Their support and participation can give us a profound sense of belonging and provides a shared platform to exchange our experiences, navigate challenges, and celebrate triumphs. The support of our families fosters an environment of trust and understanding, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the teachings and principles of Freemasonry. Moreover, these invaluable lessons extend beyond the Lodge, positively influencing and enriching our lives on the domestic front.

The importance of family support extends beyond mere participation in Masonic events. Families often play a vital role in the logistical aspects of our Masonic endeavors. From preparing meals for Lodge dinners to assisting with fundraising activities, their involvement brings efficiency, warmth, and a sense of camaraderie. These acts of love and dedication enhance the overall Masonic experience for all, fostering a spirit of unity and cooperation among Brethren.

Embarking on this journey without the unwavering support, insightful perspective, and invaluable assistance of my wife would be simply unimaginable.  A Brother, friend, and mentor to me once told her after an event that she was “a better Mason than most”, a statement she jokingly retells almost any time I ask her to help with some new endeavor for the benefit of the Craft.  There are Brothers in our small Lodge where I have never met a member of their family, where their Masonry is for them and them alone.  Some may use the Fraternity as an escape from their home life, as an excuse to go out a few times a month with the guys.  In my personal opinion, these Brothers may be missing the essence and true purpose of Freemasonry.

As I reflect on the years since I joined Freemasonry, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for my family's unwavering support and active involvement. From the moment I expressed my desire to begin this journey, they have been my rock, my pillars of strength. Their constant encouragement, understanding, and participation have been instrumental in shaping my Masonic path. They have stood by me through every endeavor, offering their love and unwavering belief in the principles we hold dear. My family's devotion has fueled my commitment, inspired me to strive for excellence, and reminded me of the profound impact Freemasonry can have not only on my own life but also on our collective journey. Together, we have built a bond that transcends the Lodge, fostering a legacy of unity, compassion, and service. To my beloved family, words cannot adequately convey the depth of my appreciation. You are the foundation upon which my Masonic journey stands, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

And to my wife, whose presence at barbeques, food drives, toy drives, and even work details has meant so much to me.  Your warmth, love, and dedication have created a supportive environment that has allowed me to fully embrace the Masonic path.  I am in awe of your willingness to lend a helping hand, whether it be in organizing fundraising initiatives or preparing delicious meals for Lodge gatherings. Your participation has not only made these events more enjoyable but I pray has also inspired other Masonic families to actively engage in the pursuit of our shared principles.

Embrace the opportunity to involve your families in your Masonic journey, as much as they are willing and able. Encourage them to form connections and bonds with your Brothers and their families, fostering a sense of camaraderie and unity. Organize family events that celebrate the collective spirit of Freemasonry and provide a platform for genuine appreciation. Let your loved ones know just how deeply grateful you are for their unwavering support and the invaluable contributions they make to your Masonic endeavors. By recognizing and involving our families, we strengthen the fabric of our Masonic community, creating a lasting legacy of togetherness and shared experiences.

~EG

Bro. Erik M. Geehern is currently Master of Goshen Masonic Lodge #365 in Goshen, NY under the Grand Lodge of New York. He was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in October of 2019 and since then has served in various progressive chairs along the road to the east. He writes and curates a newsletter for his Lodge quarterly which disseminates education, history, and esoterics. He is also a member of the Grand College of Rites, the American Lodge of Research, and the Kansas Lodge of Research. He works in restaurant operations & consulting, and when not engaged in his usual vocation, or laboring in the Craft, he loves spending time with his wife and two children.