Corinthian Lodge #573 F. & A. M.

Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center

3579 Masonic Way

Pittsburgh PA

Brother,

I would like to take a moment to thank all of you who came to the October Stated meeting to take part in the Past Master presentation. It was encouraging to see more than 110 men attend the Lodge meeting and ceremony. It truly was an emotional moment for all who were there, to witness such a great display of "Brotherly Love and Affection". It was a special occasion since we were celebrating in tandem, our 110th year of existence, and acknowledging the unselfish time and devotion our Past Masters have given to make our Lodge what it is today.

Every month can bring that experience to life again. You have proven that we can gather a large group of men and women together, share a meal, communicate with each other, and enjoy participating in programs that were developed for our own benefit. With your continued support and attendance, we can provide this opportunity EVERY time we meet!

A few weeks ago, I went to the Autumn Days festival in Elizabethtown. I had never been there before, and had absolutely no idea what to expect. I can honestly say that the day proved to be an enlightening experience for me. Walking around the campus, I witnessed what took months of planning come together into a day-long series of events, that continually attracted my attention.

The Classic Car Show, the food, the information booths, the sporting events, the magnificently constructed buildings and their history, the gardens, the hospital, the Lodge room -- All of them were awesome, and left a fantastic first impression. But that was just the beginning...

When you ride a bus for a few hours, you make some new friends. We were discussing what we had seen, and I asked the man sitting next to me what he thought of the trip. He was an older man by the name of Bill. We did not speak much on the way up to Elizabethtown, because we left very early in the morning, and we did not drink enough coffee to carry an intelligible conversation.

Bill told me he had accomplished what he set out to do. He, too, had not seen Elizabethtown, and went on the trip to see what it was like. He told me his wife had become sick in the last few years, and he has been taking care of her. Her ailments were progressing, and he was looking for a suitable place to move them both, so he could provide the care she was going to need. He liked the amenities Elizabethtown provided, and said it was much more than he expected.

Although he looked tired, I asked him what he had seen. He told me he walked around a bit, and finally found the booth that had the information about how he could sign up to live there with his wife. He had met some of the residents, and they had invited him into their homes. He remarked how beautiful the homes were, and said he was amazed how nice the residents treated him. He sat with several of them, and they shared lunch over some good conversation.

Then he said something that amazed me. He told me that he very rarely left the house. He just couldn’t get around like he used to. His specific goal was to get more information so that his wife could live more comfortably, with him by her side. Well, he accomplished that goal, and he did it despite the fact he had two prosthetic legs.

It was then I realized there are people who can change your whole outlook on life in a matter of moments. Bill made me realize there are a lot of us who can share the same experience, and accomplish a totally different set of goals. We can all meet those goals, but we need to channel our energy in the right direction.

November 13 we will have our next Stated meeting. All of you are welcome to join us. We met our goal last month of having more than 110 men attend the meeting. Maybe this month, we can enjoy their company again. Who knows, maybe someone you meet will inspire you as much as Bill has inspired me.

Your Senior Warden,