Greetings from the East    As our year progresses, we pass the autumnal equinox and out of the month of October, and into the time of our traditional weight gaining festivals of the fall leading to Halloween, then to Thanksgiving in November on to the winter solstice, Christmas and New Years.    On October ninth we have a double Fellowcraft degree to look forward too. Our next event will have been our Octoberfest on Saturday the eleventh. delicious hope you all were there. Then next to the stated meeting, of the month of November --the sixth to be exact. Happy PreThanksgiving--- we will be serving Turkey and all the fixings--lovingly prepared by both Ruth and Don Nelson with able assistance from Johnny and Gina Sanchez    If our candidates learn their Fellowcraft proficiencies as fast as they learned their Entered Apprentice work, we may have a couple of Third Degrees this month. My hearty congratulations to our brothers Juelch and Sudmeyer. The same may be true for brother Wade from Half Moon Bay. Dates to be announced when finalized.  Then we proceed to the month of December-- the fourth will be our stated meeting -- followed by our annual Christmas party on December sixth with a visit from Santa for kids of all ages. The month of December then begins annual round of Installations , of the Lodges in the 165th Masonic District.    Now for a little Masonic education concerning the Symbolism found on the almighty American Dollar... This courtesy of David Ovason in his recent publication--- "The Secret Symbols Of The Dollar Bill." On the back of the bill we see depiction of both sides of The Great Seal of The United States . We will consider the reverse side because it is the confusing and frequently misinterpreted. Above the Pyramid-- the Motto "Annuit Coeptis" and over the All seeing Eye of Divine Providence.    It came from words written by the Roman Poet and Author Virgil--in his epic "The Aeneid-- a seemingly pagan prayer made to the Roman Deity Jupiter imploring aid in the daring enterprise ahead. (of course this could be to the non-denominational Deity of Masonry). The exact original words read--- "Audacibus annue coeptis-- which means "Favor our daring undertaking."    In another of Virgil's works--The Georgics--- A prayer beseeching the Gods for help.    "Da facilem cursum, atque audacibus annue coeptis," translated thus --- "Give a smooth path, look kindly on my daring enterprise." Below the Pyramid the adapted Latin "Novus Ordo Seclorum" translated --- A new order of the ages".    Latin scholars would prefer the spelling "Novus Ordo Saeclorum". The reason for this discrepancy was in 1780 Charles Thomson who initially suggested that the motto be used was the party responsible for the difference--- his reason was if the word was spelled the longer way it would no longer contain the requisite 13 characters, representing the 13 colonies which became the United States Of America.    The truncated pyramid resembles the two letters A in the word America. It consists of a total of thirteen courses--- the final course having the Roman Numerals 1776--MDCCLXXVI These allude to the year both the Declaration Of Independence was signed and the traditional founding of our great nation.    Another rather comical anecdote concerning the Motto "Novus Ordo Seclorum" accounted by both Manly P. Hall and Robert Hieronimus in their respective works --- was both President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Vice President Henry Wallis both freemasons and New Dealers--- considered it as The New Deal of the ages rather than "A New Order of The Ages . Well That’s it for now. Fraternally, Richard H. Segel, Master

Brethren,
   Fall is now fully upon us and another year is rapidly approaching. Although planning for the coming year is well underway, there is always room for more and better ideas. It’s never too late to contribute! I am open to and welcome ideas that you may have for the betterment of Masonry in general or San Mateo Lodge in particular and would like to hear from you. There is always another spot on a committee and always a helping hand needed at social events.

Speaking of social events…
   Although it is the Junior Warden’s place to talk about it, I would  like to thank all of those who helped out making our first Oktoberfest a great success. This had been something I wanted to put together as a lodge social event for some time, so I was very grateful for all the help. In particular I would like to thank Jan Price and Ruth Nelson for working all day the Friday before making magnificent homemade apple strudel, John Sanchez for helping prepare the meal but also his expertise in planning (thanks to John we didn’t lose our shirt!) and the setup and cleanup crew – my wife Christiane for organizing decorations, Don Nelson for being our go-fer, Steve and Lisa Higgins for helping where needed on both ends and Bill Price for helping with cleanup. But a big thanks to all the other folks who pitched in doing little things that made it so much easier for the main crew.
   With this kind of participation and effort, the coming years at San Mateo will be great!

Fraternally,
Tom Barth, P.M., Sr. Warden

From The South
Don Nelson

Hello again Brothers:
   Well we had a busy time the last several weeks. I had such a wonderful time at the outdoor degree. The weather was great and the food was good. We all ate our fill and talked about the lodge and had a few laughs. I took pictures of area before we started the degree. I was able to take a panorama picture of the view toward the ocean.
   The last stated meeting we all ate great as well. My wife Ruth and Jan Price cooked lemonade chicken which everyone seemed to enjoy. I  have noted when the lodge hears that Ruth or Jan are cooking we have a great turnout. There also was a great turnout at Oktoberfest.  Tom Barth our Senior Warden and John Sanchez our Senior Deacon along with Jan Price and Ruth cooked. The women spent the day before making apple strudel all day. Shh they also made a test one for Bill and me.  Well it disappeared before morning.  The Oktoberfest was first class.
   For the stated meeting in November we are going to have Turkey and all the trimmings. My wife Ruth and Jan Price are going to cook.  I hope you join us, I’m hungry now. If I keep this up Weight Watchers is going to kick me out.
   Jan, Ruth and Mary Hendricks are planning the children’s Christmas party which will be held the first Saturday in December. I’m sure they will cook up some tasty treats for all of us to enjoy.  Jan will also be preparing the December stated dinner.  From what I hear she will be preparing meat loaf.  If you’ve ever been to one of our dinners when Jan has made her meat loaf you know how wonderful it is.

God Bless
Don Nelson, Junior Warden