Mason Of The Year (or Me?)

Image found on the Internet

Saturday the 14th was the 159th Installation of Officers for Naval Lodge 87. The new Worshipful Master is part of my "class of 2009", and a good man. It was a fine ceremony, a great reception, and a most excellent dinner. I have much hope not just for this year, but for the next several as the men in line are all of good character and personal friends (being beyond just a brother).

It was also good to be home. Naval 87 has always felt like my home away from home, and being in the company of such upstanding men has always "charged my bat'tries" as my great uncle Bob used to say.

However, the most personal and significant thing to come out of the installation was being awarded Mason of the Year by the new master. For those unaware, Mason of the Year is a special recognition of a brother mason in the lodge who has shown extraordinary devotion to the craft, his brothers, his community, or some other extra effort as a Mason. I was awarded this great honor for for anything specifically in the last year, but for my efforts at editing and designing the Naval 87 Trestleboard for the last 4 years - in fact, before I was even initiated. Not to pat my own back, but my Trestleboards (you can see some of the covers in an earlier post) have garnered recognition and accolades not just from my lodge, but from Masons across the state, nation, and even internationally

I get my name on a plaque in the lodge lobby; and a special dinner where the Grand Master of California will personally present to me some kind of framed letter. So that's cool, but I have always been grateful for the thanks my lodge has given me, because I do it for them, but this honor was especially moving to me, as I also got a standing ovation from my brothers.

That alone is worth far more to me than any other perk that comes with the award.

-Brent

"Masonry is one of the most sublime and perfect institutions that ever was formed for the advancement of happiness, and the general good of mankind, creating, in all its varieties, universal benevolence and brotherly love." - Duke Of Sussex