“As a man is initiated and becomes an Entered Apprentice, his status within the lodge and among his brothers has changed. He has been accepted for further training.  His coach, like the Master Mason of old, is bound to teach him, by precept and example, what makes a good mason.

His first duty is of course, to be bound by his obligation to the lodge.  The burdens and responsibilities are not yet his but he must be taught that with knowledge comes responsibility and he should prepare himself for it.  As knowledge can only be gained by effort, so he must acquire the patience to persevere and the will to succeed.  Each man who has gone before has trod the same difficult path and, in the learning , made himself a better man.

There are basic virtues explained in this degree and set forth in the Monitor which should have been his practice before his application was made. We consider him doubly bound to observe the uses the twenty-four inch gauge and the common gavel, to act always as though clothed in a lambskin apron, to reverently contemplate on the Great Architect who has blessed him, to bear always in mind the Plumb, Square and Level and to view his own Masonic experience as a symbolic stone or Ashlar being formed to better fit into the structure of Masonry.

The Entered Apprentice is bound to his own lodge.  He can only visit another lodge in the company of a Master Mason from his own lodge and then only for meetings held on the First Degree.  He can only withdraw from the lodge if a change of residence removes him from the jurisdiction. The greatest privilege extended him is that of being taught by one man; his Coach, who can best express Masonry’s man-to-man friendship and brotherhood.

He cannot receive charity, nor can vote in lodge , since he is not yet a member, he may still be rejected, after objection by a member, investigation and report to the lodge and a vote by a lodge to determine the validity of the objection. He may be tried, if charges of un-Masonic conduct are brought against him, and suspended or expelled as a result.

The Candidate is still a Candidate until he has advanced.  His eagerness for advancement should never displace his eagerness for knowledge, and the long and seemingly tedious period of instruction in this Degree will take on new meaning if out of it comes a broader grasp of the fundamental truths of our institution.”

-Source: Handbook for Candidates Coaches

Congratulations to Bros. Crudo, Lau, and Go for being initiated into Freemasonry as an Entered Apprentice Mason.

Bro. Leo Guison Senior Warden

We have had a great summer and now we are back at work with a full plate to complete the year. Most of us have experienced a chance to do our work in all the advanced stations and have done well. Our incoming Sr. Deacon, Bro. Guadalupe Thomas, has had the most work to do; he had to learn 3 stations all at once and has done an excellent job in all three degrees. My hat goes off to him. I don’t know if I could have done it that quickly or efficiently but he has and congratulations are in order. When you see him let him know how proud we are for his commitment to the job at hand. He will make a great Master when his time comes. We had a 3rd degree on the 26 of August and I raised Bro. Douglas Campbell to the sublime degree of master mason and the inspector passed both Bro. Guadalupe and myself to be proficient in our work that evening, so I am now proficient in the work of the Master and can be installed in December. Thank god for the strength to do all the work in that degree; it was a big order but it is behind me now.

We have had a lot of interest in the lodge of late and are getting applications and affiliations almost everyday and I even had a few interested in masonry outside of our area. I’ve got them in contact with a lodge near them. The Brazen Pillars promoted the initial interest and when they ask how to join the unit we told them it was made up of masons, only they then ask the question how do I become a mason…hello, a new brother in the making. The riding association has been a good thing for promoting interest in the fraternity thus far. Now we need to see if we can get some other activities to interest the ones who don’t care to ride on the iron steeds.

If any brother has any input or ideas let the lodge or Master know. The more activities the better the chance of new men joining our fraternity.

Remember if you need a ride call and someone will see that you get to and from lodge.

Barry Hughes, Sr. Warden