My Brothers all:

I hope this edition of the eNews finds you and your families doing well!  After attending a recent lodge meeting, it was exciting to get together with brothers who I have not seen in several months, learn they are all doing well and enjoy the brotherly love our fraternity provides.

As was decided by the Executive Committee, we will resume monthly meetings on the fourth Friday of July, which is the 24th.  In following guidelines for social distancing, hand washing, etc. we will have a hamburger meal with all the trimmings prepared and served in a to-go container to reduce the handling of utensils.  After dinner please enjoy a program celebrating Flag Day and the Fourth of July, both of which were missed due to the COVID-19 limitations.  Following a special program by the National Sojourner’s, a guest speaker will share a message on the current financial state of affairs and markets in the USA.  In that, this will be our first meeting in over four months, and to ensure we have enough food prepared and seating for all in attendance, please send an eMail to Ill. Keith at (GenSecOrl@gmail.com) and let him know you will be attending the dinner and meeting.

Unless the current situation should change, we will be meeting monthly in moving forward so please add the 28th of August to your calendar.  Dinner will be provided at 6:30 pm followed by the “Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal” where we reflect and remember those Brothers who have passed to the Celestial Lodge above during the 2019 year.

This is an election year, and as we all know, politics and religion should be kept out of the Lodge room.   However, of late everything seems to have a political overtone.  As a reminder, I suggest you read The Masonic Service Association of North America Short Talk Bulletin dated June 2020 titled “Politics and Freemasonry.”

Several Brothers have commented on the disappointment they felt with the statue of Past Grand Commander Albert Pike being toppled from its well-established location in Washington D.C. on June 19th.  Please know that our current Grand Commander has responded to the appropriate parties with an Official Statement Concerning the Pike Statue.

Until next time, remember the many things for which you are thankful!  Be safe in your travels; “whisper wise counsel in the ear of an erring brother;” and respect the dignity of all, as it makes you and our fraternity stronger one action at a time.  We want to ensure that what we are enjoying today will be reliable for those who will follow. Simply stated – “We lead the way today, so those who follow us can lead the way tomorrow!”  Thanks for your continued support and participation, and may the “Spirit of Fraternity” reign supreme within our “Valley of Orlando!”

Fraternally,

Ill. Chester A. “Chet” King, 33°
Personal Representative

“People forget what you say, and forget what you do, but forever remember how you make them feel!”