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Welcome to Mount Tom Lodge E-mail

Photo Courtesy of Senior Warden Robert O'Neill
 
Come Join Us for Dinner E-mail
Mount Tom Lodge would enjoy having you come by and join us for dinner.  We have a dinner the first Friday of every month except July and August.  Please check the Up Comin Events to right to see what is on the menu for next month.  If you are planning on coming to the next dinner, we ask that you make a reservation; this is to ensure that we plan for enough people as well as to greet you and introduce you to some of our members while you are there.

We do ask for an $8.00 donation for dinner.

Also, we collect non-perishable food donations for Kate's Kitchen and Margret's Pantry; if you can, we ask that you bring a can or two to help those in need.

Reservation Link.
 
For a map and directions, please go to our Directions page.
 
Mount Tom Lodge
A Name and What it Suggests PDF Print E-mail
Public - Stories
Written by JMG From Masonic Vibes on Facebook   
Friday, 21 May 2010 08:48
We read of the death of a man, and there among the other details of his life is found the statement; "He was a Mason." When reading this detail of a man's life there comes to the Mason a feeling of understanding, a happy reflection, a knowledge that one lived who had courageously sought in life Truth and Light. That a person was a Mason does not create the thought that the departed had some special virtue that would easily admit him into Heaven, or that by some mysterious word or token he would have the power to brush aside natural and spiritual laws. An honest evaluation of Masonry by Masons is the keynote to an understanding of why the Institution has existed for centuries and centuries, and why it always will be the Great Teacher. Masonry is devoid of fanaticism. It teaches a system of progressive improvement, being content to see man's noble effort to become a better man, while wisely declaring that perfection on earth has never yet been attained.

That Masons fail at times to represent to the world the high ideals of Masonry is another key to the greatness of the Institution. There is the true test of the influence of a system of morality that when a man has lived well, and is called to his reward, there is written "He was a Mason"; and when one loves, but not so wisely or well, the world is quick to note the excellence of a system, for in condemning an individual, it pays honor to the Institution by saying; "He was a Mason."
 
 
The Little Lodge Long Ago PDF Print E-mail
Public - Stories
Written by unknown Submitted by: JMG   
Thursday, 06 May 2010 11:47
 
The little Lodge of long ago—
It wasn’t very much for show;
Men met above the village store,
And cotton more than satin wore,
And sometimes stumbled on a word,
But no one cared, or no one heard.
Then tin reflectors threw the light
Of Kerosene across the night
And down the highway served to call
The faithful to Masonic Hall.
It wasn’t very much, I know,
The little Lodge of long ago.

But, men who meet in finer halls,
Forgive me if the mind recalls
With love, not laughter, doors of pine,
And smoky lamps that dimly shine,
Regalia tarnished, garments frayed,
Or cheaply bought or simply made,
And floors uncarpeted, and men
Whose grammar falters now and then—
For Craft, or Creed, or God Himself,
Is not a book upon a shelf:
They have a splendour that will touch
A Lodge that isn’t very much.

It wasn’t very much - and yet
This made it great: there Masons met—
And, if a handful or a host,
That always matters, matters most.
The beauty of the meeting hour
Is not a thing of robe or flow’r,
However beautiful they seem:
The greatest beauty is the gleam
Of sympathy in honest eyes.
A Lodge is not a thing of size,
It is a thing of Brotherhood,
And that alone can make it good.
 
Rosslyn Chapel Haven for Bees PDF Print E-mail
Public - Stories
Written by Kobo   
Saturday, 03 April 2010 05:25

Rosslyn Chapel was haven for bees
The pinnacle concealing a hidden hive being removed
The bees entered the hive through a carved flower

An ancient chapel has revealed a new mystery with the discovery of a 600-year-old hive built into the stones.

Builders renovating Rosslyn Chapel, which was made famous in The Da Vinci Code, found the "unprecedented" hive while dismantling a rooftop pinnacle.

The bees entered the hive through a hole in a carved flower crafted by the chapel's master stone masons.

The 15th Century Midlothian building is undergoing a £13m conservation and site improvement project.

The discovery was made when two pinnacles, which had been made unstable by nesting jackdaws, had to be taken down stone by stone and rebuilt.

Malcolm Mitchell, of Page Park Architects, said: "It was a big hollow about the size of a gas cylinder and the hive had obviously been abandoned."

'Teasing' masons

It is believed that the bees left the hive when a canopy was put over the chapel during renovation works. Another pinnacle had a similar hollow, but no access hole.

"Master masons built these in, whether it was under direction or not. What you find at Rosslyn is there are so many irregularities and nuances in the stone work and it's as if the stone masons are teasing us from the past," Mr Mitchell said.

"These hives were never intended to be a source of honey. They were there purely to protect the bees from our inclement weather."

Rosslyn hive
It is hoped the bees will return to the hive once renovations are complete

"There doesn't seem to be any precedent.

"Bee hives in the past were normally portable. Often they were made of wicker baskets or ceramics, but the intention was that you would have access to them.

"At Rosslyn they are there purely for the bees."

He said there appeared to be a coating to protect the sandstone from the insects, which can damage masonry.

The hive has been sent to local beekeepers in an attempt to identify the type of insect that made them.

It is hoped the bees will return once the renovation works are complete.

Several unusual findings have been made during the project, including two skeletons.
 
What Freemasonry means to me. PDF Print E-mail
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Public - Public Home
Written by JMG   
Sunday, 14 February 2010 06:39
What Freemasonry means to me.

I recently received a letter in which the writer asked: "Why are you a Freemason?" The question caused me to think and reaffirm my feelings about Masonry. At first I thought about my own forebears. My grandfather was a Mason for 50 years, my father for 50 years, and I have been a Mason for 60 years. This means that my tie with Freemasonry extends back to 1869 when my grandfather joined the Masons. My feelings on my first entrance into a Masonic Lodge are very clear in memory. I was a young man and it was a great thrill to kneel before the altar of the Lodge to become a Freemason. This must have been the same feeling my father and grandfather experienced before me.

And it must also have been identical to the one that many great leaders of America and the world felt as they became Masons. Prominent among this select group are George Washington, Harry Truman, and 12 other Presidents as well as countless statesmen and benefactors of humanity. So I found myself thinking: "What does Freemasonry mean to me?"

Of course Masons say that Freemasonry actually begins in each individual Mason's heart. I take this to mean a response to brotherhood and the highest ideals. I recall the story of a man who came to me once and said: "I see that you are a Freemason. So am I."

As we talked, he told me of an experience he had years ago. It seems that he joined the Masonic Fraternity shortly after he became 21 years old. When he was stationed in the military, he decided to attend various Lodge meetings. On his first visit to a Lodge in a strange city, he was a bit nervous. One thought was constantly in his mind; could he pass the examination to show that he was a Mason? As the committee was carefully examining his credentials, one of the members looked him squarely in the eye and said: "Obviously you know the Ritual, so you can enter our Lodge as a Brother Mason. But I have one more question. Where were you made a Mason?" With that he told the young visitor to think about it because when he knew the answer the examiner would not have to hear it. He would see it in his eyes.

My friend told me that after a couple of minutes a big smile came to his face and he looked at the examiner, who said: "That's right, in your heart." "Through Masonic teachings, good men practice love and charity. As a Fraternity they spend millions of dollars..." Freemasonry is not a religion though, in my experience, Masons have predominately been religious men and, for the most part, of the Christian faith.

Through Freemasonry, however, I have had opportunity to break bread with good men of other than my own Christian faith. Freemasonry does not promote any one religious creed. All Masons believe in the Deity without reservation. However, Masonry makes no demands as to how a member thinks of the Great Architect of the Universe. Freemasonry is, for all its members, a supplement to good living which has enhanced the lives of millions who have entered its doors. Though it is not a religion, as such, it supplements faith in God the Creator. It is supporting of morality and virtue.

Freemasonry has no dogma or theology. It offers no sacraments. It teaches that it is important for every man to have a religion of his own choice and to be faithful to it in thought and action. As a result, men of different religions meet in fellowship and brotherhood under the fatherhood of God. I think that a good Mason is made even more faithful to the tenets of his faith by his membership in the Lodge.

Freemasonry is much more than a social organization. Through Masonic teachings, good men practice love and charity. As a Fraternity they spend millions of dollars to support hospitals, childhood language disorders clinics, and research into problems that plague man's physical and mental being. Whenever I visit a Masonic hospital, of which there are many, my eyes fill with tears. As I see a youngster, who could not walk, now able to get from one end of the corridor to the other with the aid of an artificial leg, I am thrilled. For a young person to have the opportunity to become whole and productive is to me exciting and wonderful. And this opportunity is given at no cost to his or her family or the state. Living is beautiful but sometimes life can be harsh and cruel.

Whenever or wherever people are in need Masons are there to help. From large undertakings to the smallest of needs, Masons are always there, caring and serving. I have always been interested as to why Masons devote so much time to their Fraternity. A good answer to this question came from a Grand Master who once told me that he enjoys his involvement because it gives him another dimension to living.

The same answer is echoed by Brethren as they meet in Lodge rooms from one end of our Country to the other and around the world. Many of my best friends, associates, and fellow Christians are Freemasons and good churchmen as well. In my travels at home and abroad a goodly number of Freemasons notice my Masonic ring, which I always wear. With pride they say: "I, too, am a Freemason." To me, Freemasonry is one form of dedication to God and service to humanity. I too was a Freemason in my heart and so I will remain. I am proud of my involvement. I am proud to walk in fraternal fellowship with my Brethren.

By The Reverend Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, 33*
 
A date etched into memory PDF Print E-mail
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The Lodge - Latest
Written by Lear   
Monday, 23 November 2009 13:17
November 20, 2009 has now been etched into my memory as one of the proudest days of my life. I can not say it is the most proud; however there are only three events in my life, that I hold above my being raised to a Master Mason.
 
First was March 29, 2000, the birth of my daughter, Shelby. Which taught me, that no matter how unprepared you may be, the divine, often throws you into the fire. When this happens, you can either flourish or you can turn your head and evade what is usually a life changing event. Thankfully I had the fortitude to make the correct choices.
 
Second was October 3, 2004, my marriage to my wife, Tracey. I never thought a woman would ever want to marry me. She changed me from the second I met her. Not because she wanted me to change or that I felt that I had to change. Just from her presence in my life I became a better person. I still have a long way to go, but with God’s help, I will live long enough to see that path to its end.
 
Third was August 15, 2006, the birth of my son Jerel Jr. I have now been blessed with a loving wife, who puts up with all of my shortcomings, a beautiful daughter, and now a son to carry on the family name. I have been very lucky.
 
Fourth is now November 20, 2009, the day I was raised to a Master Mason. I have always wanted to be a Mason. I just never knew how, or felt that even if I did, I just was not ready. When the opportunity arose and I met with R.W. John Gauger and Brother Michael Weeks for the first time, I felt at ease, I felt ready. Since that day, I have met many new friends. And I use the word friends in the highest regard, because that is one thing that I can honestly say has been lacking in my life up to this point. Much like my wife, the meeting of who would soon become my brothers here at Mt. Tom Lodge, instantly made me a better person.
 
It is now my most sincere pledge, to do right by my new friends, my Brothers. I would also like to thank everyone at Mt. Tom Lodge, who has helped me to feel welcome. It is also my promise to help all others, who walk into this lodge, under their own free will and accord, are accepted as well as I was.
 
In closing, there is little more that I can say, except how proud I am to be a Brother in what is, no doubt, the greatest organization of men ever formed.
 
Fraternally Yours;
Jerel Richard Lear Sr.
 
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RESTORED TO LIGHT E-mail

A faint light shining for a space;
A breath of wind upon the face;
A stirring in the mist; a sigh;
A sense of distance, height and sky;
A little wave of melody !
O but how beautiful to see
The light leaf dance upon the tree,
The bloom upon the hedgerow stirr'd
By the transport of a singing bird,
And - after darkness and eclipse-
The sun upon the sails of ships,
All up and down the dancing sea !
O but how beautiful to hear
A little whisper in the ear,
A smaller voice than note of bird,
A still small voice, a mighty word,
A whisper in the heart to say
That God is not so far away !

- A. E. Waite.
 
What Freemasonry means to me. E-mail
What Freemasonry means to me.

I recently received a letter in which the writer asked: "Why are you a Freemason?" The question caused me to think and reaffirm my feelings about Masonry. At first I thought about my own forebears. My grandfather was a Mason for 50 years, my father for 50 years, and I have been a Mason for 60 years. This means that my tie with Freemasonry extends back to 1869 when my grandfather joined the Masons. My feelings on my first entrance into a Masonic Lodge are very clear in memory. I was a young man and it was a great thrill to kneel before the altar of the Lodge to become a Freemason. This must have been the same feeling my father and grandfather experienced before me.

And it must also have been identical to the one that many great leaders of America and the world felt as they became Masons. Prominent among this select group are George Washington, Harry Truman, and 12 other Presidents as well as countless statesmen and benefactors of humanity. So I found myself thinking: "What does Freemasonry mean to me?"

Of course Masons say that Freemasonry actually begins in each individual Mason's heart. I take this to mean a response to brotherhood and the highest ideals. I recall the story of a man who came to me once and said: "I see that you are a Freemason. So am I."

As we talked, he told me of an experience he had years ago. It seems that he joined the Masonic Fraternity shortly after he became 21 years old. When he was stationed in the military, he decided to attend various Lodge meetings. On his first visit to a Lodge in a strange city, he was a bit nervous. One thought was constantly in his mind; could he pass the examination to show that he was a Mason? As the committee was carefully examining his credentials, one of the members looked him squarely in the eye and said: "Obviously you know the Ritual, so you can enter our Lodge as a Brother Mason. But I have one more question. Where were you made a Mason?" With that he told the young visitor to think about it because when he knew the answer the examiner would not have to hear it. He would see it in his eyes.

My friend told me that after a couple of minutes a big smile came to his face and he looked at the examiner, who said: "That's right, in your heart." "Through Masonic teachings, good men practice love and charity. As a Fraternity they spend millions of dollars..." Freemasonry is not a religion though, in my experience, Masons have predominately been religious men and, for the most part, of the Christian faith.

Through Freemasonry, however, I have had opportunity to break bread with good men of other than my own Christian faith. Freemasonry does not promote any one religious creed. All Masons believe in the Deity without reservation. However, Masonry makes no demands as to how a member thinks of the Great Architect of the Universe. Freemasonry is, for all its members, a supplement to good living which has enhanced the lives of millions who have entered its doors. Though it is not a religion, as such, it supplements faith in God the Creator. It is supporting of morality and virtue.

Freemasonry has no dogma or theology. It offers no sacraments. It teaches that it is important for every man to have a religion of his own choice and to be faithful to it in thought and action. As a result, men of different religions meet in fellowship and brotherhood under the fatherhood of God. I think that a good Mason is made even more faithful to the tenets of his faith by his membership in the Lodge.

Freemasonry is much more than a social organization. Through Masonic teachings, good men practice love and charity. As a Fraternity they spend millions of dollars to support hospitals, childhood language disorders clinics, and research into problems that plague man's physical and mental being. Whenever I visit a Masonic hospital, of which there are many, my eyes fill with tears. As I see a youngster, who could not walk, now able to get from one end of the corridor to the other with the aid of an artificial leg, I am thrilled. For a young person to have the opportunity to become whole and productive is to me exciting and wonderful. And this opportunity is given at no cost to his or her family or the state. Living is beautiful but sometimes life can be harsh and cruel.

Whenever or wherever people are in need Masons are there to help. From large undertakings to the smallest of needs, Masons are always there, caring and serving. I have always been interested as to why Masons devote so much time to their Fraternity. A good answer to this question came from a Grand Master who once told me that he enjoys his involvement because it gives him another dimension to living.

The same answer is echoed by Brethren as they meet in Lodge rooms from one end of our Country to the other and around the world. Many of my best friends, associates, and fellow Christians are Freemasons and good churchmen as well. In my travels at home and abroad a goodly number of Freemasons notice my Masonic ring, which I always wear. With pride they say: "I, too, am a Freemason." To me, Freemasonry is one form of dedication to God and service to humanity. I too was a Freemason in my heart and so I will remain. I am proud of my involvement. I am proud to walk in fraternal fellowship with my Brethren.

By The Reverend Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, 33*
 
About Us E-mail

This is the website of Mount Tom Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons located in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Mount Tom Lodge was established on March 14th, 1850 (the same date the city of Holyoke was incorporated as a town) when it was granted a Warrant from the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts.

The building seen in the photo above was begun in 1920 and completed the following year.  Our museum has many photos of the conerstone laying ceremony (which we will soon have online).