Greetings to All!

You may recall from your Fellowcraft Degree the following:

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing...And now abideth faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

Charity forms the topmost round of the mystic Masonic ladder. However the word of the apostle was mis-translated [that's what happens when you go from Hebrew or Aramaic to Greek to Latin to English]. Taken in the original, the word is actually "love," and the triad becomes faith, hope and love. That [charitable] love which makes us full of good will and kindly disposition toward others, i.e. to cherish them and desire to help them. What we traditionally conceive as "charity" or "giving," is only one aspect of that loving disposition.

As Masons, one aspect of our love of others, is this desire to help. On Saturday, April 24th, this expression of our kindly regard will take tangible form. Burlingame Bodies of the Scottish Rite and San Mateo Lodge, are jointly sponsoring a Rebuilding Together [formerly Christmas in April] project here in San Mateo, a few blocks from my house -- no, it's not actually my house -- where we will clean up, repair, paint, wire and generally bring the house into a good state of repair for a local widow who needs our help. She has lived in her home since 1955. This is your opportunity to actively express what we, as Masons, practice and profess. Our crew will work under the able direction of [Sergeant Major] Ron Edwards,
P.M. and his cohorts, and we need all the people who are willing to fetch and
carry, paint, scrub, nail, drill, etc.

This is a one day project where we can help transform the home of a person who can really use our help. Over the years, our regular volunteers have been drawn from Burlingame, San Mateo, Peninsula and Three Great Lights Lodges -- and the wives, as well as Peninsula Chapter of DeMolay and other youth groups. It is a truly Masonic Family Event.

We will meet at San Mateo Masonic Lodge about 8:00 a.m. on that Saturday, or at the site. You are cordially invited to participate or become a social pariah. See you there?

Fraternally, John D. Nelson, PM