A Tragedy in Florida Freemasonry

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At about 2:30 a.m., 21 AUG, South Seminole Lodge No. 364 (Casselberry, FL)--120 Triplet Lake Drive--was almost totally destroyed by fire. Firefighters were on the scene within minutes. Cause of the fire and damage is expected to be officially reported by the Casselberry Fire Department within a week.

Roof and rafters including all electrical wiring was damaged beyond imagination. Channel 9 TV reported the high blazes. Past WM Frank Ellis was contacted and on the scene during the blazes. The SW Bill Dieringer was subsequently informed and on the scene around 3 a.m., for 2-3 hours.

best of luck to the brothers of South Seminole Lodge

A bit of a wandering ramble about my day today

I ended up going to a funeral today and I made a bit of a struggle in my internal angels of my better nature about going to it.

The funeral was for the Wife of a DeMolay advisor who.... as best I can say it advisably was a nemesis. One of two people I almost struggled reflexively with as a young man.

Years down the road as a young man I watched this woman come into his life and watched the change in his character and personality. I watched much of what I struggled with mellow in him as a person.

In the end it came down that a brother was in need, and I felt I should go to comfort him and honor the better angels in my nature and in his own.

One thing about being a younger Mason and looking at some of my more “Seasoned” brothers I tend to see far to many funerals of brothers in my future then I see weddings and positive things... not good for the craft.

I also got a bit of a vicarious thrill to. My religious beliefs cast me as a outsider. I do not find a comfort of a hearth on my road to the eternal, but it is places and moments like this I find myself enjoying community of faith.... something I am normally without.

Worse my friend Mark whose car I went in was forced to use “Florida Air Conditioning” for the trip. Knowing what I know I wish I had driven my own car.

An intresting bit of Masonic blogging popped up on NPR

Some Romantic Masonic History on NPR

All Things Considered, May 25, 2006 · The society of Masons is a fraternity that evokes images of mysterious symbols, grand legends of King Solomon's Temple, hidden treasure and the founding fathers. It also fits right in with America's current Da Vinci Code fascination. Recently, commentator Holly Rossi got an assignment to write a newspaper story about the Masons. And she rediscovered her personal connection to Masons. Holly Rossi lives in Arlington, Mass.

Though I do have to say that when I listen to people with Masonic history in some one's family tree I find a lot of common familial ties as the lodge lessons pass into family lessons.

Ms. Holly Rossi I think would be very surprised at how those things carried over.