The Ladies' Auxiliary Webpage

2011-09-12T12:01:00.000-02:30

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Saint John's Lodge No.1, Ladies' Auxiliary

Over the past 30 years, the Members of the Ladies' Auxiliary of Saint John's Lodge No.1 , have been a Pillar of support for the Brethren of Saint John's Lodge. It was often stated, in open Lodge, that "As far as the Brethren of our Lodge were concerned,

Every Night was a Ladies' Night."

Note: To the Ladies of Saint John's Lodge in General and the newest Member's Ladies in Particular.
A man in your family has received his First Degree in the Masonic Fraternity. He is now an Entered Apprentice and you are now a Mason's Lady. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our first greeting to you. While you personally have not joined our organization, there are certain things that may be helpful for you to know in the future. At the same time, there are matters of general interest about your Mason and his new Fraternity that we think you would like to know.
When and where did it begin?
The Fraternity of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (A.F.& A.M.) is the oldest, largest, and most widely known fraternal organization in the world. It has its roots in antiquity and is directly descended from the association of "operative masons," the cathedral builders of the Middle Ages, who traveled through Europe employing the skills of their craft. The organization, as we know it today, began in 1717 in England when cathedral building was on the decline and the "operative masons," or "free masons" as they were known, started to accept members who were not members of the mason's craft, calling them "speculative masons" or "accepted masons."
Freemasonry was brought to Canada by our early settlers. Today, there are over 40 varying Masonic Lodges operating in Newfoundland and Labrador with a combined membership totaling of over 3,300 Brethren. Throughout the world, there are approximately five million Masons.
What is the purpose of Freemasonry?
The basic purpose is to "make good men, better." Better men in terms of making them better fathers, better husbands, better brothers, better sons, and better contributors to a organized society in general, universal. We try to place emphasis on the individual man by strengthening his character, improving his moral and spiritual outlook, and by broadening his mental horizons. We try to build a foundation for a better world, tomorrow, by building better men to work in their own communities, today. At Saint John's Lodge No.1, "We are Building Character." Membership in the Fraternity, itself, is limited to adult males, over the age of nineteen years, who can meet the recognized qualifications and standards of character and reputation, as determined by the Members of the Fraterity.
Is Freemasonry a secret organization or a religion?
The answer to both of these inquires is, "No." A secret organization, or society, by definition is one which conceals its membership, has secret meeting places, and which the public has little or no knowledge regarding its organization or principles. This definition does not at all fit with the activities of the Brethren of Saint John's Lodge No.1, in particular, nor the overall Fraternity in general. It is a common saying or sentiment amongst the Brethren of Saint John's Lodge No.1, that "We are not a secrety fraternity, but rather a fraternity with secrets." Our actual Fraternal Secrets are few in number and deal with methods of personal recognition, some details of our degrees and the privacy of each Member's voting ballot.
Freemasonry is not a religion, although it is religious in character. Every applicant for Membership, in Saint John's Lodge No.1, must express a belief and trust in a Supreme Being. For Christians this Supreme Being is God. Masonry does not attempt, nor want, to take the place of religion in a Members daily life, but rather stresses the personal commitment and involvement in the individual faith of each Member. That being said open discussion or referrences to topics involving religion or politics are forbidden during any officially sanctioned Lodge meeting or event with the simple aim of maintaining the expected Fraternal peace and harmony amongst all Brethren.
What are "Degrees?"
The fundamental "Lessons of Freemasonry" are taught to the new Members of Saint John's Lodge No.1 over the course of three separate stages or "Degrees." Other Masonic Lodge's activities may differ from District to District. The three "Degrees" are taught to the new Member in the following order: First Degree - Entered Apprentice Degree: Second Degree - Fellowcraft Degree: Third Degree - Master Mason Degree. Each "Degree," or lesson, is a blend of Masonic moral philosophy presented to each Member in a unique lesson format which is intended to have a serious impact and influence on the man who receives the degree.
What are "Masonic Aprons?"
The numerous visible symbolic aprons that are associated with Freemasonry as we know it today originated from the practical leather aprons that were worn by the previously referrenced operative masons so as to protect themselves from the effects of working with heavy rough stones as they applied their level of trade. Presently, it is worn as a badge of Fraternal Distinction. Today's Masonic Apron is adorned with white lambskin, a symbol of innocence. Some decorations may appear on Masonic Aprons and often designate a Lodge Officer or some other special recognition. All are, however, a meant to symbolize Membership in this worldwide Fraternity.
What do Masonic Symbols mean?
The most widely recognized symbol of the Masonic Fraternity is the Square and Compasses with the letter "G" in the center. Members wear this symbol, and others, to remind themselves of their own obligation to the lessons learned during their progressive Degree work in our Lodge, and to identify their Membership to other Masons and all people. Masonic Symbolizm and the Symbols themselves have world wide meanings. Some of those meanings are directly related to the tools used by actual operative masons and some, represent the need for order and direction in life. The letter "G" displayed in Masonic Reference is meant to represent "God," the Supreme Architect of the Universe.
When are meetings held?
Saint John's Lodge No.1, holds its regularly scheduled meetings on the second Wednesday of each month, emergencies accepted, for which every Member will be given due and timely notice, except for the months of July and August. Regular meetings are held at Freemasons Hall, in Mount Pearl, to conduct the business and ritualisitc work of the Lodge. Every Member's attendence is earnestly solicited, yet it is not intended that the activities of the Lodge should interfere with one's regular vocation, or duty to their family, their God, or their Country. Your Masons has invested time and money in joining our Fraternity. He can best receive all that he should by frequently participating in its deliberations and events. We hope that you will approve and encourage him to attend regularly, and we hope that you will join us whenever possible for the guest activities held by our Lodge. In the recent past our Lodge did have its own active Lady's Auxillary, and you along with any other female member of your family would be made more than welcome if you were to express interest in participating in a revitalizing of such a worthy undertaking and service to this Lodge, once more.
Should I contact anyone when my Mason is ill or hospitalized?
In the event that any Member becomes ill, we would appreciate knowing. You may call upon the Master or Secretary of this Lodge whenever a Member or a member of his immediate Family finds themselves in distress. Your Mason has joined an organization which wants to assist him and his Family when/if they find themselves in need, and we as an organization, need your help to do it. In the event that a Member or their Family wishes to seek assistance on their behalf, from the Fraternity, all you would have to do is to contact any Member of the Lodge familiar to you, or failing that, contact any of the listed Officers of this Lodge and they will be sure to pass the message on to the Brethren best equipped to assist you in your time of need. When a Freemason or hospitalized member(s) of his immediate Family are well enough to receive visitors we encourage you to have their name(s) passed on to the Lodge's sick visiting committee so that visiting Brethren will become aware of their presence and drop by to say hello and to provide any required assistance.
What can your involvement be?
As a Lady of the Lodge you are encouraged to share in the many social activies, parties, dinners, dances, tours, civic events, and charitable efforts of the Lodge, itself. Many full Family activies are regularly scheduled throughout the Lodge year. Non-Masonic Friends and Families may also take part in many of the Masonically supported community programs. We hope that you will join us and be proud that your Family Member has chosen to become a Family Member of this Province's and indeed the World's oldest and best Fraternity.

We welcome you as a "Mason's Lady."

The above content was mostly contributed to this website by the Grand Lodge of Newfoundland and Labrador and we trust that this information has been of enlightenment to you. We sincerely thank you for taking the time to read it. Please feel free to share this content with your Family and Friends and if you should have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to discuss them with your/our Member, other Members of our Lodge or even feel free to contact this site's WebM@ster with any general inquiry at the e-mail address shown at the bottom of this page.

In order to properly pay tribute and to acknowledge the many contributions that our Ladies have provided to our Lodge in particular, and to a certain extent that they are still providing to this day to our Lodge's Membership, it was felt that our Ladies would have their own Website/Information page adjacent to our own.

Welcome to the Saint John's Lodge No.1

"Ladies' Auxiliary Website"

General e-mail address: saint_johns_lodge_no.1@hotmail.com

LADIES' AUXILIARY

The Immediate Past President of our Ladies' Auxiliary would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Ladies of Saint John's Lodge No.1 who continue to show their support for the Lodge, its Membership, and the Craft in General. Our Ladies Auxillary are invited by our Worshipful Master to come and join us once again on our regular meeting nights. Now that the Seniors Resource Centre "Freemasons Hall" is mostly completed any interested Brethren and their Ladies should contact the Worshipful Master or the Junior Warden to advise if they would be interested in re-energizing our Lady's Group meeting times on the second Wednesday of each month so that space within Freemasons Hall can be booked through the Masonic Park Organization in order to accomodate them. Once the dates and meeting times of the Ladies Auxillary becomes restablished we will once again be posting those scheduled events on the Lodges' General information webpage.

Please take note that our Membership will be paying visits and delivering Fruit Baskets to the Homes of our Lodges' Widows in the month of December, as has been the Lodges' Custom.

2007 marked Saint John's Lodge No.1's, Ladies' Auxiliary, 3oth year of continuous operation. It should be noted that during that same time frame our Ladies have contributed over $51,500 to both the Masonic Fraternity in particular and our Community in general.

first photo - Masonic Park Chapel where our Ladies held their meetings during 2007 /2008 years. second photo- the exterior of the newly constructed Freemasons Hall. third photo - the interior of the Pearl Room had been made available for regular meeting nights of the Saint John's Lodge No.1 Ladies' Auxillary Group during the construction phase of "Freemasons Hall," which was slated for completion in January of 2008, but had been postponed until the end of September 2008. fourth photo (below) Masonic Temple, 6 Cathedral Street, St. John's, NL Sold - November 2005, Vacated by St. John's Lodge No.1 - June 2007.

*Click the below link for our "Current Events Page and Notice Paper Information Page" Including all current Lodge related updates.
http://www.eventssaintjohnslodgeno1.blogspot.com/

Contact our Lodge Webm@ster at saint_johns_lodge_no.1@hotmail.com

Saint John's Lodge No.1, The Ladies' Auxiliary

The Ladies' Auxiliary Webpage