As we continue to build together in 2018, we take time to pause and reflect on what we hold so dear, our Brotherhood. The 3rd quarter of this year has brought us further light and an opportunity to share that light with Brothers from across the 27th Masonic District of Florida and beyond. The summer time usually allows us to spend more quality time with our loved ones. Brothers are no exception. A group of Brothers took time to spread the cement of brotherly love with our Brethren from Oleeta West Dade Lodge No. 145 during their annual 4th of July Barbecue. The month of August proved to be one of the busiest months, thus far, this year. In the beginning of the month, we had the distinguished pleasure of hosting a district-wide Masonic education lecture to learn more about the esoteric and philosophical lessons taught to us during the Entered Apprentice Degree. This first-of-its-kind lecture titled "The Entered Apprentice Degree DISSECTED" was hosted by R:. W:. Joseph Fleites and R:. W:. Albert Claycomb, both Past District Deputy Grand Masters of the former 34th Masonic District of Florida. The attendance of 50 Brothers from 13 different lodges in three different jurisdictions throughout the state made it a tremendous success. The event proved to be a source of inspiration for many of the Brothers of Hialeah-Opa-Locka Lodge with the whole of the lodge gaining a renewed fervor for Masonic education as a result. A tremendous amount of emphasis has since been put in the Masonic education of Brothers throughout the three degrees and after becoming a Master Mason. Our lodge instructors have been hard at work teaching our ritual to other Brothers while searching for new and innovative ways to fine-tune our work. R:. W:. District Deputy Grand Master Armando Mitat, of the 27th Masonic District, made his official visit to our lodge
a week later. This marked the 2nd official visit by a DDGM in 2018.
The Building Committee also got to work with several building improvements including the installation of security cameras around the building to better safeguard our property and the clearing of some of the foliage in the parking lot to improve the building's aesthetics.
We finished strong in August by giving back to our local community. The Brothers, in conjunction with The Grand Lodge of Florida, participated in the Adopt-A-Classroom charity to help a teacher in the City of Hialeah by donating school supplies to her and her students. The teacher, Mrs. Matilde Silva, teaches at Hialeah Elementary School and was very happy to receive so many supplies for her and her students, with everything from pencils and paper to notebooks and disinfectant wipes. There are plans in the works to invite her to the lodge at a future date and present her with a certificate of participation in this program.
The end of the Summer also brought Brothers together outside the lodge to celebrate Senior Warden, James Lazaro's, birthday at the recently opened Top Golf in Doral, FL. A good time and a few laughs were had by all as most of us realized that golf was not our strong suit. Despite the memorable moments had by all during the past few months, the end of the 3rd quarter for this year brought with it some sad news. On August 30, 2018 R:. W:. Harry B. Futch, a beloved Brother to all at Hialeah-Opa-Locka Lodge, passed away at the Masonic Home of Florida just weeks after the passing of his beloved wife. Brother Futch was the very definition of what a Freemason is and was not only a friend and mentor to many, but a true and lawful Brother to all who knew him. He will leave behind a lasting legacy that is so very evident by the length of his Masonic record. He will be missed dearly and we pray that his family finds comfort in the promise of the afterlife, in the presence of the Grand Architect of The Universe.
As we look forward to the end of the year, our progress and growth continue to move along with every endeavor we undertake and every event we plan. We recently voted to accept the petitions of two young men and continue to have steady stream of men interested in the craft, visit our lodge. In addition to initiating the newly accepted petitioners we have plans to host a community blood drive in the coming months, and we will be hosting a white apron ceremony at the end of November. We hope to see new faces and old faces at both of these events, and hope that Brothers who used to come to lodge and still live in the area will come back to share with us, their stories of the past. Our Stated Communications are held on the first and third Thursday of every month, with the second and fourth Thursday reserved for work and instruction. Dinner is always served at 6:30 PM and our meetings begin at 7:30 PM. I pray that this message find you and your families in good health and prosperity, and I look forward to hearing from you, and perhaps seeing you at Hialeah-Opa-Locka Lodge No. 391 again soon. Visit our website at www.hol391.com and follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hol391/ and let us know how you're doing. Thank you for your time and we look forward to what the future has to bring!