From the East of JC3


	MASTER’S MESSAGE A YEAR OF RENEWAL My brethren, Freemasonry has been in existence since ancient times. Although not in the form or manner with which it is being practiced today, its philosophical and esoteric attributes have descended to us from the times of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, and have influenced significant historical milestones such as the French and American Revolutions the creation of the Charter of Human Rights the United Nations Charter, and others. It was also within the womb of freemasonry that the frail signs of life of the European enlightenment were nursed. In our Lodges, we as freemasons, come together to work. Our labors have a two-fold nature; namely, moral instruction and social association. In our meetings we aim to elucidate the mind, to incite a habit of virtue, and to buttress our understanding of the fundamental principles of our order: Brotherly Love, Relief & Truth. Conversely, when these meetings are harmonized with social merriment and a mutual interchange of fraternal geniality, then the masonic Lodge transforms into a Temple within which freemasonry unveils its bona fide disposition, as an institution which nurtures and seeks to improve the best affections of our nature, and carries into conscious demonstration the practice of cardinal virtues such as: Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence and Justice. All of this unfolds under the watchful eye, the All Seeing Eye, of God, always there to remind us that these principles and virtues are of paramount value only when combined with the theological virtues of Faith to God, Hope for the betterment of ourselves and charitable efforts. It is in this manner that Freemasonry establishes to the world in the main that within the walls of its Lodges lays the true meaning of the three inestimable social treasures: FRATERNITY, LIBERTY, and EQUALITY. It is in such masonic temples that common men, conceived, and availed themselves to undertake tasks that ultimately brought about the historical milestones I referred to earlier. During the ensuing year, we will endeavor to practice THIS kind of Masonry at Justice Columbia. We will empower ourselves by elevating our level of consciousness and by instilling in ourselves virtues that will enable us to become active and constructive participants of our society. Before I conclude, I would like to express a hope in the paraphrased words of one of this country’s most recognized presidents: “Whatever this Lodge’s history may say about me when my time in office has come to an end, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears, to your confidence, rather that your doubts. May the GAOTU light up our steps in the building of the Temple of Virtue. “…some [people] see things that are and ask why; I see things that aren’t and ask why not?” Most fraternally yours, Nicholas V. Papadopoulos Worshipful Master, 2055-2006

MASTER’S MESSAGE

A YEAR OF RENEWAL

My brethren, Freemasonry has been in existence since ancient times. Although not in the form or manner with which it is being practiced today, its philosophical and esoteric attributes have descended to us from the times of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, and have influenced significant historical milestones such as the French and American Revolutions the creation of the Charter of Human Rights the United Nations Charter, and others. It was also within the womb of freemasonry that the frail signs of life of the European enlightenment were nursed.

In our Lodges, we as freemasons, come together to work. Our labors have a two-fold nature; namely, moral instruction and social association. In our meetings we aim to elucidate the mind, to incite a habit of virtue, and to buttress our understanding of the fundamental principles of our order: Brotherly Love, Relief & Truth. Conversely, when these meetings are harmonized with social merriment and a mutual interchange of fraternal geniality, then the masonic Lodge transforms into a Temple within which freemasonry unveils its bona fide disposition, as an institution which nurtures and seeks to improve the best affections of our nature, and carries into conscious demonstration the practice of cardinal virtues such as: Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence and Justice. All of this unfolds under the watchful eye, the All Seeing Eye, of God, always there to remind us that these principles and virtues are of paramount value only when combined with the theological virtues of Faith to God, Hope for the betterment of ourselves and charitable efforts.

It is in this manner that Freemasonry establishes to the world in the main that within the walls of its Lodges lays the true meaning of the three inestimable social treasures: FRATERNITY, LIBERTY, and EQUALITY.

It is in such masonic temples that common men, conceived, and availed themselves to undertake tasks that ultimately brought about the historical milestones I referred to earlier.

During the ensuing year, we will endeavor to practice THIS kind of Masonry at Justice Columbia. We will empower ourselves by elevating our level of consciousness and by instilling in ourselves virtues that will enable us to become active and constructive participants of our society.

Before I conclude, I would like to express a hope in the paraphrased words of one of this country’s most recognized presidents:

“Whatever this Lodge’s history may say about me when my time in office has come to an end, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears, to your confidence, rather that your doubts.

May the GAOTU light up our steps in the building of the Temple of Virtue.

“…some [people] see things that are and ask why; I see things that aren’t and ask why not?”

Most fraternally yours,

Nicholas V. Papadopoulos

Worshipful Master, 2055-2006