​MASTERS MESSAGE
 
Wardens & Brethren,
 
AGGRESSIVE ENTHUSIASM
 
When asked what his theme for the Masonic Year will be, he summed it up in two words that you see above.
 
He selected the following passage for his first communication:
 
The next time you feel a rush of enthusiasm about doing something, carefully formulate your intention. So as not to slide into unrealistic over-enthusiasm, limit the scope of your goal. Either commit to a certain amount of time on your project (without a preconceived notion how much will get done or commit to a quality task of getting a project finished (without a time limit)."
 
The February meeting will be a kick-off for what will be a busy Masonic year. We have one Entered Apprentice and 2 and possibly 3 candidates for the degrees in the wings.
Attendance at practices on Tuesday evenings will be essential to providing these fine men with the ritual experiences they deserve.
 
There will need to be 3 investigating committees needed to facilitate the entry of the candidates. If you haven't done one, it is a gratifying experience to share your feelings about Freemasonry and the Franklin Lodge experience with someone who is knocking at our door.
 
The Washington County Fair is Aug 16-20 this year. Plan time in your vacation schedules now to work at our booth, either in preparation for the Fair or during the Fair itself. It is one of the principal fund raisers in support of the Westerly Masonic Foundation and our other charitable activities.
 
Fraternally yours,
 
Wor. Robert E. Caron

​As I write this message, we are experiencing a classical winter Nor'easter with blowing snow and cold temperatures. It gives all of our members time to spend with family and those who mean the most to us.  Would you consider reflecting on those brothers in Franklin who mean a lot to you and call, email or text them to find out how they're doing, or perhaps make plans with them to come out to Lodge this month?  Remember that Worshipful Joe Giancaspro will be deploying overseas; please consider reaching out to him.  There will be a program at our February meeting on Brother Edward Leon Duhamel and the Franklin Lodge scholarship that bears his name.  We're also looking forward to March when your new officers will be performing the Master Mason degree.  
 
Fraternally, 
Bro. Edw. Lowe 
Master

​Greetings Warden's and Brethren,
 
At our next communication we will be welcoming
a reprehensive from the Westerly Ambulance Service 
who will give instruction on how to use the
AED machines that we have in the temple.
 
Regarding Ritual, we still hope to have our
EA get passed to FC through a "Courtesy
Degree".  That would mean we
would be raising our FC to the Sublime Degree of
Master Mason in February. This would be
"Step Down” degree, meaning after our
Annual meeting in January we would step
back to the chairs we are currently in for the 
Master Mason Degree.  We will be
rehearsing for the Master Mason degree
between now & February.
 
Brett Marggraff
Master
Franklin Lodge #20

​Greetings Warden's and Brethren,
 
Well, it looks like our FC will be ready to do
their proficiency in October. We have also
been told that Mt. Vernon Lodge will be doing
their FC degree on Thursday, October 21. They
have generously offered to do a curtesy degree
for our FC. This will allow us to hopefully raise
our Fellowcraft to the Master Mason degree in
December or January.
 
We will also be starting something new in
October which I hope will continue with every
Franklin Lodge meeting going forward. I do
not feel we get any assistance regarding
"Masonic Education" or specific education or
how we "Make Good Men Better".  Therefore,
we will start doing it ourselves. During
Collation after ever meeting we will be doing
"Masonic Jeopardy". 20 Questions, 10
Masonic and 10 General Questions to help
educate us in everything we do on a dally,
seasonal, business and social basis. "We make
Good Men Better” can't just be a tag Line. We
actually, have to do the work to make us all
better Men.
 
Brett Marggraff
Master

​Greetings Warderns and Brethren,
 
I hope your refreshment break for
summer was both restful and enjoyable.
September starts labor and with it we
will be taking our new brethren through
Trestle Board readings. We also have a
memorial service for late W. Brother
Bill Penhallow. The service will be
Saturday, September 18th. I am asking
as many brethren that can make it to
please attend. W. Brother Penhallow did
a lot for both Franklin Lodge as well as
the Craft over the man decades he was
active. I'm asking all brethren to meet
at the lodge at 1:00 pm. Service will
start at 1:30. There will also be a
collation after the service. The meal for
our September meeting will shaved
steak.
 
Brett Marggraff
Master
Franklin Lodge #20

Greetings Warden’s and Brethren,
It was great finally getting back to actual in person meetings.   June’s meeting will include a dinner, which is now legal again.  And YES!!!, collation after the meeting to include some dessert items along with your choice of Beer, wine or after dinner spirits.  I will also bring a few cigars, to be enjoyed outside.
June will give us the opportunity to initiate 2 candidates to the degree of Entered Apprentice.  I am also talking with two other men who have told me they are interested in becoming Masons.  July and August we go to recess as normal, so I expect all Franklin Brethren, including myself, to be ready to do a Fellow Craft degree by October, with our EA’s being able to do EA proficiency in September.  Our District Deputy Grand Master, Right Worshipful Mazen Alsabe will be joining us for our June meeting.  I would like to do a “Casual” Dinner Table come fall.  Having it an “Open Table” so non-Masons, including our wives can come.  I’m thinking a Sunday brunch starting off with a raw bar and Champagne on the front porch followed by 4 courses served table-side then dessert and cordials back on the main level and front porch.  I will bring this up at June’s meeting.


Brett Marggraff
Master 
Franklin Lodge #20
​

Greetings Warden’s and Brethren,
Hats, some people wear them often and others never seem to wear them.  Some only wear them occasionally, depending on their environment or the season. Some have a number of different ones that they wear depending on the occasion.  Most only wear one at a time and others seem to wear multiple ones all at once.  Here is an interesting story I recently heard.  A distinguished Quaker is said to have once kept his hat on in the presence of Charles II.  The king observed it, and took his own off.  “Friend Charles,” said the Quaker, “put thy hat on.”  The king replied, that it was usual for only one person to wear his hat in that room.


If you are wearing a hat, wear it well.  Take pride in your hat.  Some people will recognize you depending on the type of hat you are wearing.  That means that you may be representing whatever that hat signifies.  Choose your hats wisely.  Make sure that you are comfortable in the hat that you are wearing.  Sometimes a hat may be too big for you to wear.  Sometimes it may be too small and you should be looking elsewhere for a bigger hat.  Sometimes you just can’t seem to find the right hat for you to feel comfortable in.  It is important and no small thing to make sure that you have just the right hat on for just the right occasion and it fits properly.


Please join us for the our joint DDGM visitation to Franklin Lodge and our Grand Masters visitation to his Southern District.  Please note the time change.  We have a wonderful program planned and we all look forward to the fellowship of our Brothers.


Daniel Rzewuski
Secretary 
Franklin Lodge #20
​

Greetings Warden’s and Brethren,
Well, I personally am getting pretty optimistic about the future.  Today 4/5/21 both Lady Elaine & I received our Covid vaccine.  I was able to go to Wood River in RI and was lucky to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, so in two weeks I’m immune, or so they say.  My darling wife had to go to the Westerly Senior Center where she could only get the Pfizer dose, so 4 more weeks till immunity kicks in for her.  But, definitely a very positive outcome.  I have gone over Grand Lodge protocol for voting and want to bring up some points at our next practice and meeting.  We do this ritual O.K, but we need to start doing it “Spot On” and that starts with me.  Only some detail work needs to be done by myself and 1 – 2 brethren, and nothing major, but will make it look sharp.  Aprils meeting will have more from Br. Juan Sepulveda regarding his last video we saw when we were in “Virtual” lodge.  I think these are great and want to include them in our teaching of new brethren.  Mays meeting I hope to have a presentation on sharks, done by a local who has a shark museum downtown.  I think this will be interesting, after all, I don’t think there is anyone who saw “JAWS” for the first time in a theatre and doesn’t think twice before going to the shore (Jersey term) and going into the water.  Personally, I only do “chlorine oceans”.  Hopefully we’ll have a meal in May.  Hope both you and family are doing well.


Brett Marggraff
Master 
Franklin Lodge #20
​

Greetings Warden’s and Brethren,
First things first, our March meeting, Tuesday, March 9th, will be live at Franklin Lodge.  No meal, but meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.  Masks to be worn by all and 6’ spacing will be marked off for all.  Now, as I write this I have just returned from Charity Lodge’s first live meeting since the pandemic.  It was a very exciting and enjoyable meeting for a number of reasons.  As I entered their lodge room W.M. Christopher Tavares asks if he can speak to me for a second, sure I say.  He then asks if I could sit in the South.  Sure I reply, as any Mason would, to help another brother and lodge.  So I sit in the South and ritual goes fine.  Then a knock on the door, 2 visitors from Harmony Lodge enter, always very nice to see Brethren visiting other lodges.  The secretary starts his report then some loud knocks and “BAHM” the door blasts open and in comes, Brother Gary S. Kaufman, the Grand Master for the State of Rhode Island along with his escort, our District Deputy Grand Master for the Southern District MW Stephan Saraidarian.  Well, now things are a bit different, doing opening or closing is fine, no problem, but now…things have changed.  I have to tell you though, our Grand Master made for an extremely relaxed meeting.  Everyone had a lot of fun and WM Christopher handed the gavel over to our MWGM and he closed the meeting.  A “GREAT” night, and great to start for live meetings, and to see fellow Brethren again.  We will be starting ritual work in the next couple months and will go over in more detail at our March meeting, which will be live, so please try to attend.
Brett Marggraff
Master 
Franklin Lodge #20
​