Brethren, ladies, and friends of Myrtle Lodge,
This year has been hard. There’s no shame in saying it. Pandemics are hard. Lockdowns are hard. Economic crises are hard. I set clarity as my theme for 2020, with the hope that a calendar full of clearly laid out events would guide us through a year of renewed vitality and enthusiasm, and what I got was a trestleboard wiped clean by a global pandemic. However, as hard as things have been, I find myself hesitant to describe my year in the East as “bad.”
It’s true that we didn’t get to do much of what I had planned. Early in the year we did manage to take part in a public ceremony honoring Worshipful Brother George Washington, carry out a memorial service for a dear brother, and host a successful LAN party, but even after the pandemic took hold of the world we didn’t stop, we kept moving forward. We served our community by delivering food as part of The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) despite the risks. We met online and shared fellowship with our brothers, including some that distance had kept from us for a long time. We upgraded our security. We cleaned up our lakefront and parking lot. We welcomed our new police chief. We restored our historic lights to the front of the building. We investigated and initiated Entered Apprentices, while doing our best to navigate the appropriate guidelines. We supported a vaccine with promising results. We said goodbye to those we’ve lost in a ceremony as uniquely poignant as it was needed in this year so marred with loss. I bring this up in a Thanksgiving letter of all places to say that despite this year being a hard one, I remain thankful for it.
Some suggested early on that I take another year to make up for one in which I missed out on many of the things that come with the office of Worshipful Master, but I have to admit, I’m thankful for the unique opportunity to lead our lodge through this pandemic and I take a bit of pride in leaving the East with a distinction few others had the opportunity carry.
Similarly, I think it would do us all some good to take a moment and truly be thankful for what we have. We’re not out of the woods yet, as new cases of COVID-19 surging across the country readily indicate, but none the less, if you’re reading this letter you’ve survived a harrowing experience. In ancient Israel it was common for the Jewish people to offer a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving or “Korban Todah” when they found themselves delivered from peril. I talk about this concept in detail in my Illustrious Grand Chaplain’s Thanksgiving letter found here. But none the less, we would all do well to follow their example, looking at our troubles with a thankful heart, acknowledging God’s hand in keeping us from danger, and finding the blessing in being tasked to serve in a trying time.
I am reminded of Worshipful Brother George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation found here where on a Thanksgiving taking place on the 26th like this one, he reminded us that it is the “duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor.”
I now wake to a Thanksgiving where, due to a fever, I’m forgoing the usual festivities in favor of a quiet dinner at home, but none the less I’m thankful for the technology which will allow me to contact family across the border, and across town, and wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving, however impacted by the pandemic it may be.
Similarly, in light of the Grand Master’s order our December meeting will be held via Teams where we will discuss, among other things, plans for installation and the year to come.
Stay safe, stay healthy and Godspeed.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Brandon Mullins
Worshipful Master
Myrtle Lodge No. 89, F&AM