Below is a link to the November/December edition of the Barkley Light. Enjoy and we look forward to seeing you at the Lodge!
Barkley Light: November/December 2017
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Sunday, November 5, 2017
A View From The East
Greetings, or rather farewell. It’s strange to think that
this will be my final article as a part of the progressive line. I can hardly
recognize the young man that I was four years ago when I wrote my first article
as Senior Deacon. In that time I’ve learned so much about myself and our
beloved fraternity, among which is the fact that I have so much left to learn. Upon reflection, I realize this was perhaps
the point for me, that it is easy enough to say that you understand that you
don’t have all the answers, but to actually accept that you still have a long
way to go is a hard pill to swallow sometimes. So I won’t be writing any educational material
this time, instead a simple letter of gratitude.
I learned as a Steward that the best leaders must first
learn to follow, as well as the value of selfless service. As a Deacon, I
learned about the importance of hospitality and fellowship, and that our bonds
of brotherly love are strengthened through time spent, and sincere fraternal
relations. As Junior Warden, I began to grasp the idea that charity and relief
grant rewards that cannot be bought with money, and the chair also provided the
foundations of planning and leadership. In the West, I learned the importance
of prudence and tact in our daily dealings with others, and it solidified the
idea that it is easier to dangle a carrot, than to try to push a mule.
But the lessons I’ve learned as Master of the Lodge did not
come to me right away. I’ve been struggling with putting this to paper for some
time, not sure what it was that I had left to say. In fact, it is in the
writing of this article that I realized my greatest take away from this year
was forecast in my thank you speech upon assuming the East. I stated that I did
not see this as my year, but rather our year, and that I was honored to have
been entrusted at the helm of such a great lodge. I still see Barkley as a
large ship slow to turn, and near impossible to stop once moving. Thinking on
this, my realization is one of humility and gratitude. This year was not
possible because of me or anything that I had done alone, at times, it was
probably in spite of me. There is a not a single week that would have happened
without a concentrated effort from a strong support system, not only from the
progressive line, but also from the Brothers sitting on the sidelines. Every
single brother has a role to play in this lodge and fraternity.
I am reminded of words that were shared with me shortly
after my installation. “Remember to give them roses.” There is no way that I
could possibly mention every Brother that has made an impact on me or played an
important role in this Journey we have taken together, so please suffice it to
say that you are all appreciated and that I will always endeavor to be at your
service with humility and gratitude for the simple honor of being able to call
you all Brothers. My greatest hope for all of you is that John W Barkley
continues to be a beacon of Light, guiding new Brothers to a deeper
understanding of themselves and the potential they have to affect change around
them.
Fraternally,
Scott D Clark - Worshipful Master
Monday, September 4, 2017
A View from the East
Welcome back! I bet you thought we were taking a little
break during the summer months! Not John W. Barkley Lodge, we’ve only been
slightly less busy than during our normal operating months. It started with a
really, fantastic outdoor raising on July 1st. The officers have been meeting
almost weekly in some way or another to improve as officers and sure up the
future leadership of the lodge. We had a wonderful evening out with the North
Olmsted Rainbow Girls for Putt-Putt and Ice Cream at B. A. Sweeties. Later in
July, we also heard a stellar Master Mason Exam. In August, we began the first
steps of a long-term project to renovate and update our Kitchen. Most recently,
we held our Autos 4 Autism Classic Car Show, which was well received and stands
to become a regular family friendly summer event.
Inevitably, the sun continues to rise and lodges return to
labor. We still have many events planned for the brethren and our families. One
that I’m very excited about is our Harvest Fest.
Pot Luck Dinner on Oct. 11th. I hope to see many of you
there as it will be a great opportunity to enjoy the company of our families
and some great food. For a full list of the upcoming events, be sure to check
out the Trestle board.
Ask, Seek, Knock
“Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock,
and it shall be opened unto you.”
I’ve been contemplating this passage lately and I took
something a little different away this time. The three words ask, seek, knock
all share something in common. These words are all verbs, and even more
importantly they are calls to action.
Ask: I
have a friend who tells his children that “Closed mouths don’t get fed.” Perhaps a nicer way to think of this in
relation to the craft is that if there is something missing from your
experience at lodge; let someone know who has the power to affect change. Don’t
be afraid to ask the hard questions, or to request the counsel of those who
have already forged the path that you are on.
Seek: This
word is particularly interesting, and requires a certain amount of self-motivation.
Seek, and ye shall find, this is the only part of the verse that is not two
sided. When you ask, someone answers, and when you knock the same is true. But there
is no one who responds to the “seeking”. The significance of this is enormous.
The act of seeking is a very personal experience and the only one who can
assist or hinder your progress is yourself. Whether you are seeking for the
deeper mysteries of Freemasonry or just learning to be an effective leader for
your lodge, you cannot rely on an individual or even a group of individuals to
provide the answers. They are found through steadily persevering and constantly
searching. The most important thing to remember is that you are required to act
and if you never find what you are looking for, then there is no one to blame
but yourself.
Knock:
Only after asking and seeking, are you permitted entrance. Knocking provides a
certain amount of closure to this verse. By this point you have asked and made
your intentions known, you have sought and proven yourself, and your
willingness to put in the work and necessary effort. The open door is a reward
for the actions being taken in earnest.
So, make your intentions known, put in the work that is
needed to succeed in your goals, and receive the rights and benefits fitting of
such a worthwhile endeavor.
Scott D Clark - Worshipful Master
Barkley Light: September/October 2017
Below is a link to the September/October edition of the Barkley Light. Enjoy and we look forward to seeing you at the Lodge!
Barkley Light: September/October 2017
Barkley Light: September/October 2017
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Dining to Donate Fundraiser
Join us on June 24, 2017 @ Applebee's North Olmsted for Dining to Donate. Simply come out for dinner between 11 am - 9 pm and present the below flyer when you get your bill.
That is it! Applebee's will donate 15% of your bill to the Lodge. Easiest fundraiser around!
Monday, May 1, 2017
Barkley Light: May/June 2017
Below is a link to the May/June edition of the Barkley Light. Enjoy and we look forward to seeing you at the Lodge!
Barkley Light: May/June 2017
Barkley Light: May/June 2017
Friday, February 24, 2017
A View from the East
First and foremost, I want to take a moment to
thank everyone who helped out with our Inspection. Especially to the Rocky
River Chapter Eastern Stars for serving an excellent dinner. I’m really looking
forward to the upcoming Table Lodge and More Light Night, and the fellowship
that happens at both of these events (see trestle board).
Some changes have been made and I’m grateful to
everyone for supporting these new ideas. Starting with our investigation committee,
we have returned to home visitations and committee chair Derek Widowson has
been doing an excellent job of coordinating this. Our lodge meals have been
broken up, so that four brothers are taking on the responsibility, instead of
one or two. A very big thank you to Bro Briggs, Johnson, Columbro, and WB
Schultz for making this happen. Be sure to congratulate Bro Jason Briggs if you
see him, as he was elected and installed as our new Junior Deacon. Lastly, in
efforts
to bring further light to the lodge, we have guest
speakers lined up for a special talk once per month. I am very grateful to all
of the distinguished brethren who have agreed to speak and spread the light of
Masonry at John W. Barkley.
The
Pendulum
A recurring theme has been in my thoughts recently
and it keeps finding its way into my conversations. I’m talking about the
nature of the pendulum swing and the lesson that is contained in it. The
pendulum always swings back and forth travelling the same distance from center
in either direction. This can be applied to almost anything. Take the craft for
example, after World War II soldiers returning from war were looking for a
place to find the same camaraderie and brotherhood that they had in service.
Masonry and old, well known fraternity provided that, and our numbers swelled
to all-time highs. As the Baby Boomers came of age, the numbers slowly began to
level off and some even suggest that Masonry skipped a generation.
Now almost 75 years after the Anniversary of the
Bombing at Pearl Harbor, our numbers are dwindling quicker than we can keep up.
This troubles quite a few people and understandably so. But, when we apply the
pendulum to this situation, it quickly becomes clear that this is an inevitable
ebb for the fraternity. The question is then raised of what to do with that?
Should we turn into Degree Mill Lodges that open the doors wide in the West to
admit anyone that comes knocking? Should we be accepting questionably adequate
candidates to qualify for an award?
My suggestion is not to shut the doors altogether,
but instead focus your energies on member retention and engagement and
inclusion of the candidates that you already may have. Being in sales I learned
early, it is far less expensive to keep a customer coming back than to acquire
a new one. If you don’t have these elements taken care of, then you won’t have
anything tangible to offer your new candidates when you find them. A smart
brother told me recently that if you focus on one tree you will never be able
to perceive the forest.
I’m not worried about the future of Freemasonry,
because I understand the pendulum. I think our focus should be on finding ways
to strengthen the foundations of our gentle craft, while we allow the pendulum
to swing as it must. That way when it turns again in favor of fast growth there
will be value and substance to offer.
All things are cyclical in nature.
Scott Clark, Worshipful Master
Barkley Light: March/April 2017
Below is a link to the March/April edition of the Barkley Light. Enjoy and we look forward to seeing you at the Lodge!
Barkley Light: March/April 2017
Barkley Light: March/April 2017
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Sunday, January 1, 2017
A View from the East
From The East I greet you. WOW! That’s about all I can say right now. I really owe every brother a great debt of gratitude for selecting me to steer the ship. The year has only just begun and I have an all new appreciation for any brother who has taken on this task. So far we have had an Installation, which I think went pretty well. St. George Lodge from Toronto seemed to enjoy themselves, and the fraternal bonds were strengthened by our time together. We have also remembered Pearl Harbor
Day, and had very nice Awards evening. Our Junior Warden conducted the Yuletide Visitations which always brings a smile to our brothers that can’t be with us throughout the year.We even had a visit from Santa and his friend the Bubble Lady at the Children’s Christmas Party.
All in all it has been a very busy month so far. The minutia of planning can be overwhelming at times; it definitely teaches you clearly that you cannot tend to every single detail yourself. I am humbled by the trust you have placed in me and I take this responsibility very seriously. With that being said I really believe this year is going to be a fun one. Our officer line has been working tirelessly to bring you great family events and I’d really like to hold to our steadfast traditions as well as introducing new ideas into the mix. Be sure to watch your trestle board for upcoming events. But the best way to know what’s happening is to come to lodge as often as you can.
Fraternally: WM Scott D. Clark
Day, and had very nice Awards evening. Our Junior Warden conducted the Yuletide Visitations which always brings a smile to our brothers that can’t be with us throughout the year.We even had a visit from Santa and his friend the Bubble Lady at the Children’s Christmas Party.
All in all it has been a very busy month so far. The minutia of planning can be overwhelming at times; it definitely teaches you clearly that you cannot tend to every single detail yourself. I am humbled by the trust you have placed in me and I take this responsibility very seriously. With that being said I really believe this year is going to be a fun one. Our officer line has been working tirelessly to bring you great family events and I’d really like to hold to our steadfast traditions as well as introducing new ideas into the mix. Be sure to watch your trestle board for upcoming events. But the best way to know what’s happening is to come to lodge as often as you can.
Fraternally: WM Scott D. Clark
Barkley Light: January/February 2017
Below is a link to the January/February edition of the Barkley Light. Enjoy and we look forward to seeing you at the Lodge!
Barkley Light: January/February 2017
Barkley Light: January/February 2017
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