Greetings Brethren,
I would like to have you ask yourself, have you been living your Masonry, having fun, and enjoying it? If so, congratulations! If not, why not? Since I started following that simple phrase, my life has changed for the better. Ever since being raised, I have met some great people, introduced new people to Masonry, and new pleasures have opened
to my view.

Do you proudly display a square & compass on your vehicle, or clothing? In the past, I have worn a Masonic shirt or pin and been recognized by brethren at cigar socials in other states. I met about a dozen Brothers’ at Hog’s Breath Saloon in Key West Florida. In addition to meeting existing brothers of the craft, what have you done to introduce a
prospective member of the fraternity to our teachings and principals? Our symbols have been in the news quite a bit recently. Someone may meet you, see how you conduct yourself in your daily life, and be prompted to ask the question or questions that may lead him on the path to make himself a better man, and this world a better
place.

I would like to thank the members of the lodge who have been traveling with me, and supporting our Lodge. January was a busy month. In the first week, we had an entertaining program at our business meeting. The following week, fifteen members of Mozart Lodge successfully removed the 18th District Traveling Gavel from the clutches of Collingswood-Cloud Lodge #101. I’m sure we will lose it at our Official Visit, but it was  a great night of fellowship! Next was our first conferral of the Entered Apprentice degree of the year, on three candidates. On January 22, there were two full tables of Mozart members and spouses at the Scottish Rite dinner in Collingswood, and finally we had eleven visitors to the Masonic HOME to help the Brethren arrive at the Chapel Services.

While I began this message about wearing our emblems so that people know we are Freemasons, ultimately, it is what we say and do that will convince the world of the good effects of Masonry. Mozart Lodge is living Freemasonry day by day. Come live it with us.

Fraternally,
Michael F Ohr Jr. – Worshipful Master

I hate to be clichéd and say something like: “Since my election, it has been a whirlwind”, but it honestly has. December has been such a busy month, that I was actually glad to get back to work after the holidays. Going back to work provided me with a brief chance to catch my breath, Of course, I‟m of the mindset that busy is good, and that being busy keeps us from getting ourselves into trouble. With that thought in mind, Mozart Lodge is going to have a busy year!

I am focused on working hard, and playing harder. Between degrees and social events, we already have a full schedule for the first half of the year. We have a young officer line, men with fresh, young ideas. As a result, there is a little something for everyone. If you can‟t find something you like, then contact me and tell me what you think we are missing.

We are also going to be bringing back a few things that we have strayed away from over the years. One will be that, at the conclusion of each meeting, we will be place a hat outside the door of the lodge room for donations, for either the Charity Fund, or our designated charity of the month. Brethren, I know these are tough times, but please do what you can. Of course, if you are unable to make a financial donation, we will always appreciate your time and support of our degree work and social activities. With many committees being formed and events upcoming, I challenge you to get involved. Even a few hours a month can go a long way, many hands make little work!

My brothers, I have the utmost confidence in our officers, our member‟s participation, and that overall, Mozart Lodge is moving forward in every way.

Fraternally,
Michael F Ohr Jr.
Worshipful Master

The day’s labors done
My journey’s end has come.
A new guide, now lead us on.
The path may be the same,
But the style is his own.
A new post, will soon pass,
Another mark, will be reached.
Let us all pray, he will lead us,
To an even brighter day.

My Brother, I thank you for honoring me, by letting me serve as your  Worshipful Master for the year of 2009. It has been a wonderful year of Masonic Labor, Brotherhood and friendship. Through everyone’s support we accomplished many things and did a log of thins as a group. Now it will be up to our next worshipful Master to continue improving our lodge. I hope we will have many more great years as a lodge. May God Bless and Keep you and your families safe this coming religious holiday season and may you have a wonderful 2010.

See you in lodge my friends and brothers
Fraternally,
Roger D. Bohn Sr.
Worshipful Master

How many of us actually apply what we are taught? Especially, when we leave our Lodge room and, “mix again with the world”. How many of us are patient enough to really listen and learn more about our craft? I’m afraid there are fe among us who could recall more than a couple of the “furthermore” paragraphs of the ceremonies through which we have passed. (Taken from the October 1998 Trestleboard written by WB Gary E
Dorworth)

We still want and need Brethern to attend our lodge more regularly to fill the sidelines. The candidates would appreciate it even though they don’t know it at this time. I know this has been said before and we are still waiting for you to be here with us.

Fraternally,
Roger D. Bohn Sr.
Worshipful Master

THE ROLE of Freemasonry and individual Masons prior to and through the American Revolution was that of the destruction of the traditional social and political order based on an authoritarian philosophy and characterized by inequality and privilege. Speaking generally, in the ancient regime the church and state mutually supported each other in maintaining their respective places of predominance and privilege. Liberalism and liberals, which included Freemasonry and Masons, were declared to be traitorous by the state, and heretical and atheistic by the church.
With the victorious end of the American Revolution, Masonic philosophy had, for the first time in history, an opportunity to play a constructive role in the erection of a political and social order. The experience of Masonic organizations before the Modern Age had taught Masons that liberty for the individual has never been handed down by the government that liberty is gained through the limitation of powers of government, not the increase of them. Masons had also discovered that freedoms are learned—the individual has freedom of thought only as he learns to move within the limits established by a rational intelligence; he has freedom to form opinions only after he has learned to distinguish the true from the false; he has social freedom only after he has learned to live according to accepted standards of social intercourse; he has political freedom to the extent to which the law protects his political rights; and he has freedom to extend his liberties only when he has learned to fulfill obligations and conditions of those liberties. Masons have long recognized that; “the discovery of power to aim at ideals ends freely chosen by his own will and intelligence is the supreme achievement of man, and in that, more than any other in any other single fact, lies hope of the future”.

Taken in part from: Masonry in US History – through 1846, BACKGROUND, HISTORY, AND INFLUENCE TO 1846–By James Davis Carter

Fraternally,
Roger D. Bohn Sr.
Worshipful Master

Summer vacation is coming to an end. I hope everyone’s summer was a safe one and you and your family are doing well. Along with the start of the last half of the Masonic year I hope we will see some more old friends coming out or new friends to our youngest members.

Just being dark for the summer didn’t mean our lodge was inactive. We have had group events, like going to the Riversharks game, a fishing trip out of Ocean City, both were a good time. We also had rehearsals to get ready to open in advance stations when we meet again. There are more events planned for Mozart and other lodges which we have been invited to participate in. To all the members and officers who supported Mozart during the summer and to everyone who accepted petitions on behalf of Mozart Lodge thank you.

As one of our new petitioners reminded me our fraternity is not suppose to be used to advance oneself, but to make a good man better. These seem to be words that are now looked at as just words. They don’t seem to hold the same meaning anymore. Take a minute, reflect on what you have been taught in masonry and see if you are still living your life up to Masonic standards. Our for fathers or brothers had a good grasp on things, live up to the principles you have been taught.

I would like to thank Frank Dominiano for his relentless work he has done in catching our records up to date and to all the brethren who got caught up on paste dues. With the loss of so many brethren in our fraternity nonpayment of dues is not a good reason for losing even a couple of members. If you are having hard times contact either myself or our secretary and let us know your situation.

With Mike moving up to Worshipful Master we have an opening for someone to help with the dinners before the meetings, should anyone want to volunteer, please let Mike or myself know.

Fraternally,
Roger D. Bohn Sr.
Worshipful Master

Consider that “indissoluble chain of sincere affection” said to link Masons together. How is it formed? Will it continue? How do we come to make such strong friendships in our own lodges, and why are we ready to offer friendship and extend our trust to one who can introduce himself as a Mason?

Our experiences of working together, using the opportunities for “the exercise of brotherly love,” is what holds our own lodges together. We welcome and trust the traveling mason not due to his certificate and a few tokens, but because they indicate a man who was accepted by another lodge that (presumably) shares our ideals, and who (again we assume) has had his own Masonic education: learning to act upon the square, circumscribe his desires, and all the other lessons in our school of harmony.

Yes, it would be better to be able to treat all people with such ready trust and regard, expecting that they all had benefited from such lessons. Perhaps that day will come: I choose to think that Freemasonry, by cultivating the habit and the desire, is one template and example bringing the day closer.

Wor. Gary L Dryfoos

Fraternally,
Roger D. Bohn Sr.
Worshipful Master

Every active Mason has within himself the ability to improve his Lodge-to move it forward.
Our Fraternity is a society of Friends and Brothers. Our ritual and ceremonies are intended to provide a shared, common experience that is the beginning of a lifetime of Friendship.

Too often, Freemasons focus on the “problems” of Freemasonry rather than on the true glory of it-the making and keeping of friends among those who otherwise would have remained at a perpetual distance.
Our rules, like our ritual, are fairly straightforward. However, like our ritual, our rules often become an unfortunate stumbling block for those who are not willing to familiarize themselves with them.

Yet within the basic framework established by our ritual and rules, there is much work left to be done to make a Lodge complete. Its adornments, be they successful or failures, are left to the Brethren of a Lodge to create.
Like our operative forefathers who actively sought the skills and new techniques developed at other successful building sites, so should the Masons of today look to successful Lodges to learn how to do things a little differently or a little better.

The desire to get back to the basics of the good old days is a classic desire of mankind. Whenever the road becomes difficult, mankind looks back to what it believes was the Utopia of a bygone day.

Freemasonry has been able to pass on its gift of friendship from one generation to the next.

Not because it has held onto a ridged orthodoxy, but because the symbology of Freemasonry is such that each generation is able to adapt it to its own needs.

Freemasonry of the post Second World War era was not the Freemasonry of the Civil War. Freemasonry of the Westward Migration was not the Freemasonry of the American Revolution. No, every generation has found in Freemasonry and made of it that which it needed to continue on the rough road of life.
It is important that today‟s generation do the same.

By Chad Simpson, PM, York Lodge No. 563

Fraternally,
Roger D. Bohn Sr.
Worshipful Master

I AM FREEMASONRY

I was born in antiquity, in the ancient days when man first dreamed of God. I have been tried through the ages, and found true. The crossroads of the world bear the imprint of my feet, and the cathedrals of all nations mark the skill of my hands. I strive for beauty and symmetry. In my heart is wisdom, strength and courage for those who ask. Upon my alter is the book of Holy Writ and my prayers are to the one Omnipotent God. My sons work and pray together, without rank or discord, in the public mart and in the inter chamber. By signs and symbols I teach the lessons of life and death and the relationship of man with God and of man with man.

My arms are widespread to receive those of lawful age and good report who seek me of their own free will. I will accept them and teach them to use my tools in the building of men, and thereafter, find direction in their own quest for perfection so much desired and so difficult to attain. I lift up the fallen and shelter the sick. I hark to the orphans cry, the widows tears, the path of the old and destitute. I am not church, nor party, nor school, yet my sons bear a full share of responsibility to God, bear liberties, and alert to lurking danger. At the end I commit them as each one undertakes the journey beyond the vale into the glory of everlasting life.

I ponder the sand within the glass and think how small a single life in the eternal universe is. Always have I taught immortality, and even as I raise men from the darkness into the light, I am a way of life.

I AM FREEMASONRY

Fraternally,
Roger D. Bohn Sr.
Worshipful Master