From the East
The summer heat is definitely upon us, and this year is projected to be quite the scorcher. As we head into the “Dog days of Summer” remember your four-legged friends and be sure they have plenty of water as you venture out to enjoy the day.
The “Dog Days” of summer are from July 3 to August 11 each year. They’re usually the hottest and most unbearable days of the season. We often hear about the “Dog Days” of summer, but few know where the expression originated. Some think it’s a reference to the hot, sultry days that are “not fit for a dog.” Others suggest it’s the time of year when the extreme heat drives dogs mad. But where does the term come from? And what does it have to do with dogs? You may be surprised to see is has to do with the stars!
The phrase is actually a reference to Sirius, the Dog Star. During the “Dog Days” the Sun occupies the same region of the sky as Sirius, the brightest star visible from any part of Earth. Sirius is a part of the constellation Canis Major, the Greater Dog.
In the summer, Sirius rises and sets with the Sun. On July 23rd, specifically, it is in conjunction with the Sun, and because the star is so bright, the ancient Romans believed it actually gave off heat and added to the Sun’s warmth, accounting for the long stretch of sultry weather. They referred to this time as diēs caniculārēs, or “dog days.”
Thus, the term Dog Days of Summer came to mean the 20 days before and 20 days after this alignment of Sirius with the Sun—July 3 to August 11 each year.
Have a wonderful Summer!
Dave Murray, PM - Master
From the West
Welcome to the month of July my Brothers and friends.
The 4th of July is a very important date for Freemasons and our country as a whole. Freemasonry and the fourth of July are interconnected by events from nearly 250 years ago.
The Declaration of Independence was signed and accepted into Congress on the fourth of July 1776, marking the birth of the United States. On June 11, 1776, the Continental Congress established the “Committee of Five” to draft our Declaration of Independence. This committee consisted of Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut and Robert Livingston of New York, all of whom were Freemasons.
Besides these five, ten signing members are verified as Freemasons and historians believe as many as 21 signers were also Brothers:
• William Ellery - 1st Lodge of Boston
• Benjamin Franklin - Grand Master of Pennsylvania
• John Hancock Merchants - Lodge #277
• Joseph Hewes – Verified in Unanimity Lodge #7 – 1776
• William Hooper – Hanover Lodge
• Robert Treat Pain - Massachusetts Grand Lodge
• Richard Stockton – Charter member, St, John’s Lodge Princeton, NJ
• George Walton – Solomon’s Lodge #1, Savannah, GA
• William Whipple – St. John’s Lodge #1 Portsmouth, NH
• George Washington – Masonic Lodge #4 Fredericksburg, VA
Freemasonry could be perceived as the very superstructure upon which the United States was founded. A country which has allowed the union of different religions, races, creeds and ideas.
Freemasonry therefore had a significant role in the making of the nation. The fact that the first president of the United States was a freemason is speaks volumes in itself. The influence of Freemasonry is one thing that has enabled the United States to become a strong, independent model of democracy and a nation that is based on individual and social responsibility.
Chase Murray - Senior Warden
From the South
Greetings Ladies and Brethren, Good news first; I want to wish our Worshipful Master, Dave Murray and His Lady Catherine, A most enjoyable and safe excursion on their summer trip. I hope they take many pictures to share on their return. I have no news as far as the menu for the July stated meeting dinner, sometimes it is more fun to be surprised, don't you think? More good news, Brother Van Reeder is recovering well from his surgery. He is being nursed 24 hours a day by my daughter Libertie and Vicki, my wife. Van is anxious to get his stitches out and return to normal life. This is all the news I have. No bad news... I hope you all have an enjoyable Fourth of July. Let freedom ring.
Don Ruch, PM - Junior Warden
Secretary’s Corner
Happy 4th of July!! Summer seems to be finally arriving, but it is still pleasantly, comparatively cool. As the summer continues enjoy that outdoor time with your family, friends and brothers. Our Entered Apprentices working hard on their Proficiencies’. We should be having several 2nd Degrees in the upcoming months and we miss you and would love to see you!! Now is the time to reconnect with the Lodge and your Masonic family! We are meeting at 0800 on the 2nd and 4th Saturday’s of the month at the Lodge for coffee and then breakfast. Our candidates and new Brothers are often there. Come join us and get to know these fine men that are joining our Fraternity.
Dues payments have dwindled and it has been a long time since I received one. There are still 21 Brothers that are in arrears. Remember, you have an obligation to pay your dues. If you have not made your payment, you are overdue. The dues for 2023 are $121.00. Per our By-Laws, the calculation is $60.00 + per capita rounded up to the nearest dollar. Per capita is $60.25 this year, which gives us our total of $121.00. We will be paying the Per Capita to the Grand Lodge in July and your lack of payment affects the Lodge’s abilities to make its financial commitments.
If you are in arrears for your dues, you need to pay all that is owed to be brought back in to good standing. As an example, if you pay for 2023 only, and owe for 2022, I cannot send you your 2023 dues card. You are still in arrears and will need to bring your dues up to date first. Please contact the Master or myself to discuss this if you have any questions.
Please go to member.freemason.org and check out your personal information. Ensure that your email, mailing address, phone number etc are correct. This is how the Lodge and the Grand Lodge contact you. It is important that this information be up to date. If you have trouble doing this, please contact me and I will assist you. Maintaining your contact information ensures that you will receive all notices that the Lodge and the Grand Lodge sends out in a timely manner. Please go check it out!
If you are financially unable to pay your dues, please contact the Master to discuss.
If you have lost your envelope, you can mail your dues to:
Santa Maria Lodge No. 580,
PO Box 68, Ramona, CA 92065
You can also go to our website, http://www.santamaria580.org, and pay online. If you have paid and have not received your card in a reasonable amount of time, please contact me at 951-970-4294 or secretary@santamaria580.org and I will take care of it.
S/F
Bill Graham, PM - Secretary
Reminder!!
Have you moved? Changed your phone number? Changed your e-mail address? Have you notified the Lodge if you have done any of these things?? In an ongoing effort to ensure that all member get due and timely notice of all Lodge information, it is important that you keep your information updated with us.
I would greatly appreciate it if all of you would log in to member.freemason.org, go to the My Profile section and ensure that all of your address/phone number/e-mail is up to date. This will automatically update the i-member section that I use as the Secretary to for your mailings and other contacts.
Calendar of Events
Lodge Officer Directory
Master - Dave Murray (Catheren)
Senior Warden - Chase Murray
Junior Warden - Don Ruch, PM (Vicki)
Treasurer - Bob Weldon, PM (Brenda)
Secretary - Bill Graham, PM (Teri)
Chaplain - Peter Johnson
Marshal - Bruce Smith, PM (Beverly)
Senior Deacon - Ken Bychak II, PM (Laura)
Junior Deacon - Rex McCray
Senior Steward - Peter Krickhuhn, PM
Junior Steward - Mark Lantz
Tiler - Jack Story, PM (Jeanne)
619-302-1223
619-787-385
858-943-1079
760-789-5254
951-970-4294
8619-607-2935
760-788-9475
707-328-9617
760-788-4957
760-612-1978
858-231-4646
N/A
Santa Maria Masonic Building
Association (SMMBA) Directory
President - Peter Krickhuhn, PM
Vice President - Chase Murray
Treasurer/Secretary - Dave Murray
Member - Ken Bychak II, PM
Member - Bob Weldon, PM
Member - Don Ruch, PM
Member - Bruce Smith, PM
Member - Pete Johnson
760-612-1978
619-607-2935
619-302-1223
707-328-9617
760-789-5254
619-787-3858
760-788-9475
858-843-1079
