Annual Reports
The Annual Reports of our Worshipful Masters provide an insight into both
the Master and the character of the Lodge during his stewardship. Here are
a collection of reports.
W Brother Harry P.
Fierst, 1916
Great effort should be put forth to bring out the real meaning of our work.
Its purity of expression and lofty ideals need to be carefully studied and
clearly understood, the better enabling us to work impressively.
A candidate must be duly and truly prepared not only emblematically but also
in reality. A lodge to fulfill its true mission must inspire in men good
and wholesome impulses, stimulate men to better thoughts and nobler deeds.
When a man is not a better man when he has received the lessons of the first
degree than he was when his presence was first announced at the inner door,
Masonry for him is a failure. If each successive degree does not add something
good to character, if it fails to arouse loftier ideals and awaken the better
elements of the human heart, then either the work has not been properly rendered,
the lessons have not been impressively taught, or the candidate is not
susceptible to true character building. The fault is not in Masonry. It exists
in the man or in the lodge.
We must therefore be particularly careful and not be in a hurry to open our
doors to newcomers, and when we are satisfied with the one who knocks, and
admit him, we must see that all forms and ceremonies be strictly and earnestly
observed. We should not display our art how quickly we can get through with
the degree, but how well it is done.
I also recommend to the brethren and especially to my successor that members
on investigating committees should make thorough investigations of candidates.
I know personally one who morally and legally is not fit to be a member of
our fraternity. When I saw the Masonic emblem conspicuously displayed on
his lapel, I was shocked and blushed with shame. If his committee had made
the proper investigations, he would never have been admitted into our order.
The committee must not take for granted the proposer's word or somebody else's
remark that "he is all right," but must see the candidate personally and
get satisfactory information.
I begin to realize that to be a Past Master, a constructive Mast Master,
means to be kind, generous, congenial, broad-minded, always willing and ready
to stretch forth a helping hand. And, considering my colleagues of Shakespeare
Lodge as such, I am sure that they want no thanks. I can only say that when
I shall be one of them, I will also put my shoulder to the wheel and work
for the maintenance of the high standard of Shakespeare Lodge, for the upliftment
of the ideals of our fraternity, that together we may spread the cement of
brotherly love among us to inspire the fraternal spirit, to calm the passions
and soothe the prejudices, to enlist the sympathies and destroy the selfishness
of man.
Thus we shall hasten the day long foretold by the profit of Israel when men
everywhere shall acknowledge the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of
Man, and when charity and truth, peace, good will, and justice shall cover
the earth as the waters cover the sea, when nations shall no longer rise
up against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
W Brother A. Ihsan Toksu,
2002-2003
In the leadership of Worshipful Ihsan Toksu, the Shakespeare Lodge
became the leader in the 6th Manhattan District in terms of lodge growth,
by adding 24 new members. Lodge meeting hours and our by-laws were amended.
The lodge was always punctual and organized, culminating in a fluent ritual.
He personally conferred the EA, FC and MM degrees with his officers. Worshipful
Toksu represented Shakespeare in almost every district meeting. The lodge
held 18 lodge meetings (10 regular, 3 special, 4 rehearsal and 1 One Day
Class), hosting 381 attendants in 58 hours.
Worshipful Brother Toksu changed the lodge meeting time from 7:30pm to 6:30
p.m. and arranged bountiful dinners starting at 8:00 p.m., directly following
each meeting and containing very fulfilling programs to initiate the new
tradition of Masonic Evenings throughout his year. Accordingly, our post
meeting dinners became a natural continuation of the lodge meetings. Lodge
brothers faithfully and enthusiastically participated in both meetings and
dinners, augmenting Masonic hours. The Lodge met for longer hours and met
more frequently. Shakespeare lodge hosted an average of 26 brothers per meeting
and met 3.9 hours per meeting. These well received and consistently executed
changes helped to fundamentally revitalize the community and defined the
direction of the Shakespeare Lodge.
Setting a WM precedence, in addition to submitting his annual program, he
also personally presented in advance for the lodge members' review his upcoming
term's specific goals thus formally outlining his vision for the lodge: "Remember
the Past, Enjoy the Present, Build the Future", subsequently published in
the October of 2003 communication. In order to achieve these goals, he invited
W Bill Thomas to be JW and W Michael Daniels to be SD, neither
of whom were in the line at that time, to his officer team. These goals were
efficiently and timely put in place by the skillful team, which also included
Bro Richard Seid as SW. His 9 years experience in this fraternity here and
overseas and being in this officers' line since he was SD helped him carefully
use his Power & Wisdom in Beauty. That year there were no conflicts or
unmasonic conduct in the lodge. The outcome was that of quality, productivity
and enjoyment. Every single attending member of the lodge also admiringly
stretched their cable tow and contributed to this accomplishment and increased
the momentum. The lodge worked as a team, and the plans put into place have
helped us to follow the light to such a fruitful growth in this beloved Lodge.
That phenomenon was beyond a sole person's capability. That was a direct
result of the teamwork, harmony and synergy of the lodge.
By raising 18 and affiliating 6, totaling 24 new members, not only did the
Shakespeare Lodge become the leader in the 6th Manhattan District, which
gained over 50 new members, but also our Lodge had not seen such rejuvenation
for the last 30 years. Another achievement of this year included the Master
and his officers successfully conferring the First, Second and Third degrees
in the same year without changing the degree team, which was the first time
in decades. He personally brought 4 candidates to our lodge and the rest
of the 24 new brothers were referred by the present lodge members as well
as through our Internet website.
Some of the important events of his term are the Grand Master's One-Day Class,
in which 10 Shakespeare brothers participated and received three degrees
on March 29, 03, our annual Table Lodge honoring our veterans, including
a special tribute to RW Sheldon B. Richman, who celebrated 35 years of work
in the quarries of the Lodge and a special education meeting with over 90
brethren from Shakespeare, Allied Lodge N.1170, and Boyer Lodge No.1 (MW
Prince Hall GL of NY).
In his term the lodge voted for the amendments of the By-laws in the May-03
meeting, the first amendment since 1981, which Worshipful Toksu worked on
for five months. The amendments became effective upon the adoption in the
following stated communication on June 5th, 2003.
Worshipful Brother Toksu founded a Publishing Committee. The Committee will
be responsible for our website,
www.shakespeare750.com,
and the monthly communications. Our website became a very important asset
to our lodge since we received a substantial number of the new members this
way. He hopes that with the involvement of the new brothers, the Publishing
Committee will create further opportunities for our lodge.
In order to add a special feature to the lodge it was also Worshipful Toksu's
belief that without having any legal or membership commitment, based only
on the exchange of information and providing ties overseas, having international
connections such as sister lodges will add another dimension to our lodge.
Worshipful Toksu found this idea feasible after he researched and contacted
lodge leaders and members for the new project.
W Brother William J. Thomas, 2003-2004
To my dear Brothers:
When I first sat in the Oriental Chair, it was a surprise. I had been elected
as Junior Warden only two months previously, and now here was a meeting at
which neither the Master nor Senior Warden could attend. It was up to me.
I was very nervous.
But once I was seated, I was astounded at the view! It was the same Colonial
Room and the same brethren. But it was inspiration to work hard as I continued
my path to the East.
Now I approach the end of my second term in the Oriental Chair. And I must
tell you this: There may be easier jobs in the Lodge, but there is none better
than that of Worshipful Master.
We put together a very ambitious trestleboard in June 2003. We didn't complete
everything, but we did accomplish quite a bit. Your Officers raised seven
new Master Masons this year and affiliated Brothers from other lodges. When
considered with the 18 raised and 6 affiliated by my predecessor, W?Ihsan
Toksu, you can see firsthand the strong rebuilding process in Shakespeare
Lodge.
The Deputy Grand Master, R?W?Edward Trosin, last September sat next to me
in the East as I conferred the Fellowcraft Degree. He was impressed by our
Officers' work - especially by the work of W?Walter Schraeter, D.S.A., who
came out of retirement to deliver an inspirational and elegant Middle Chamber
Lecture.
On a sad note, Shakespeare Lodge lost three brothers, as they knocked on
the Inner Door of the Celestial Lodge. Bro. Murray Braverman died on Feb.
20, 2004, and Bro. Louis Alhonote passed away on Aug. 12, 2003. Finally,
only this past week, our beloved Brother Bernard Daniels, DSA, is sitting
with the Great Architect of the Universe. I will ask the Master to raise
the Lodge for a moment of silence, as we recall these Brothers and reflect
on our own travels on the Level of Time to that undiscovered country from
whose bourne no traveler returns.
We enjoyed limited success with my pilot project for our Lodge - participation
in the Livingston Library Memorial Project. I asked that Brothers volunteer
their time in the Library, when they could, to relieve the significant burdens
of the library staff. We were very well received by the Library; and those
Brothers who participated came away with a special insight into Masonry and
those who have gone this way before us.
We did more than just Masonry this past year, as we developed some solid
bonds with our Brothers in social gatherings. In addition to collations,
we went to a baseball game, a theater production, W?Walter Schraeter's perennial
BBQ, our Summer Reunion, and a number of just plain Friday night good times.
Finally, will the Colonial Room ever recover from the December visit of the
Worshipful Master's Philadelphia Jug Band?
As I commence a list of Brothers to whom I am indebted, I find it quickly
becoming a directory of every Brother in Shakespeare Lodge! The Brothers
of our Lodge did the work done over the past year; I was merely the one sketching
designs on the Lodge's Trestleboard. I thank my Officers for all their hard
work - especially Bro. Robert Anthony, with whom I spent many lunch hours
working on our respective ritual work. Special commendation goes to Bro.
Christopher Winnicki, who jumped in at the last minute to pick up the work
in the South when our Junior Warden's educational pursuits stretched his
Cabletow.
I have several Brothers - Masonic mentors - who are patient and always willing
to whisper wise counsel into my always-attentive ear. R?W?Daniel M. Semel,
R?W?Sheldon B. Richman, and R?W?David Rosenthal conferred my Degrees. These
three Masons continue to inspire and guide me.
One of my best friends continues to be the Brother who sat in the same Oriental
Chair exactly 50 years before me. I first met R?W?Abraham J. Berk at our
Florida breakfast when I was Junior Warden. I am proud to call him my Brother.
Does any Brother doubt it when I express my love and friendship for my wife,
Susan? She continues to support my work in the Quarries and frequently reminds
me when my Working Tools need to be shined or sharpened. If you appreciate
my own work, my Brothers, then you must also express appreciation to Susan.
For the first time since 1976, a Brother of Shakespeare Lodge has been recognized
to serve the Grand Master as his deputy in the Sixth Manhattan District.
I pledge to honor the confidence that our Lodge and District Leadership place
in me, as we engage new challenges in the new millennium. I will not likely
be as visible in Shakespeare for the next two years, as my work for the Grand
Master takes me around this District, the Metropolitan Region, and our Grand
Jurisdiction. I trust that any seeds I may have sown and planted will grow
and multiply in my absence. I invite each of you to join with me in my travels
and to be an inspiration for those around us. Remember to travel, my Brothers.
Shakespeare Lodge does not have a monopoly on good ideas and good Masonry.
Travel and bring your experiences back to your brethren.
I close with advice for the new Brothers, with a charge to the more senior
Brothers to encourage them: The craft of Freemasonry is an "art" - it is
not a science. Each of us practices it differently. The objective is twofold:
make something good of yourself as a man; and encourage other men to do the
same. Do you have a petition close at hand right now? Suppose you met a man
after our Lodge's monthly communication who is a good man and who asked for
a petition; where could you get one? You are brought into the Craft as a
Builder. You are Master Masons; you have your tools. Now get out there and
Build.
Respectfully submitted,
RW William J. Thomas
Worshipful Master
May 6, 2004
.Home
