August Gauge – 2026 - Brotherhood, Legacy and Masonic Education
- goldenrulelodge
- Aug 11
- 6 min read
A Message From Our Worshipful Master
Brethren,
I want to take a moment to express my deep excitement and pride in the incredible work and dedication shown by all our members and officers of our lodge. The month of July was an absolute blast... from celebrating Brother Jason Girard's Fellow Craft degree and Brother Chris Boyes's outstanding delivery of the carpet lecture to sharing great fellowship at "Music On The Hill". The energy and support across our lodge right now are truly inspiring.
I also want to give a special thank you to Brother Neal for his passion for Masonic education and for providing us with insightful Masonic education for our August Stated Meeting.
Finally, please join me in extending a sincere thank you to Sr. Warden Carl Schreiber and Brother John Lee for revitalizing The Gauge and John’s hard work in editing and putting together this edition of The Gauge. Their efforts keep our lodge connected and informed.
Thank you all for your continued commitment to our lodge and to each other. Lodge News Congratulations Brother Jason Girard
A truly special degree.
Mon, July 27
Brother Jason Girard progressed to the Fellow Craft degree with his father-in-law Worshipful Richard Krill in attendance. This was an amazing event since Jason has moved to Texas and Worshipful Richard came from Orange County showing a deep commitment not only to Masonry in general but to our Lodge in particular. CONGRATULATIONS Brother Jason. We look forward to your next step in the journey to becoming a Master Mason. And thank you Worshipful Richard. Jason is indeed fortunate to have such a caring father-in-law.
Upcoming Events
As we move into a busy late summer and fall, please make sure to mark your calendars and prepare for these key upcoming events: Music On The Hill - Every Thursday 6pm - 9pm. There is nothing more fun than getting together with Brothers and spouses to enjoy a beautiful summer evening of music, fellowship and drink. Come join us. Santa Theresa Golf Club provides a live band, bar and barbecued food every Thursday evening in the summer. 260 Bernal Rd, San Jose, CA 95119 Golden Rose Gala 2026 - Celebrating 10 Years! Mon, Aug 31, SJMC
The Golden Rose Gala is an event in which we honor our widows and spouses. Come join in the fellowship and fun. Put this on your calendar for Monday August 31 and RSVP on the Lodge website
https://www.grl479.org/event-details/golden-rose-gala-2026-celebrating-10-years
Columbia Degree 2026 - Sept 11-13, Degree Sat, Sep 12 @ 12pm.
Join us in our most anticipated event of the year! Add this important and fun event to your calendar on Saturday, September 12. Brother Jason Girard will be receiving his third degree. Come support Brother Jason and enjoy the fellowship of your Brothers. The degree will be held at 12PM with Brothers heading to the lodge at 11AM and
after you can hang out with your Brothers around the pool before an informal dinner.
Details, Hotel contact information and Dinner RSVP on the Lodge website
Don’t forget to order you Columbia T-shirts and show your pride in our tradition.
Constitutional Observance Event: TBD Sept 19th or Sept 21st.
Hosted by the Grotto, celebrating our constitutional heritage. Full event dates, location details, and specifics will be posted on our website.
Dinners for our Stated Meetings
Come break bread with your Brothers and enjoy the Brotherhood!
Dinners for our Stated Meetings can now be paid conveniently via Zelle thanks to Sr. Warden Carl Schreiber and Treasurer Frank Fitzgerald! The easiest way to pay is by sending your payment directly to grlodge479@gmail.com.
Remembering Brother Jim Leggate
Brother Jim devoted more than five decades of his life to the principles of Freemasonry and to the service of his Brethren. He was initiated as an Entered Apprentice on July 10, 1972, passed to the Degree of Fellow Craft on February 12, 1973, and was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on July 8, 1974.
Throughout his Masonic journey, Jim faithfully served Golden Rule Lodge in countless ways. He was an active member of numerous committees, served as our Lodge Secretary from 1992 through 2003, and dedicated many years as Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. His steady leadership, integrity, and commitment helped guide our Lodge through many years of growth and fellowship.
Brother Jim’s service extended well beyond our Lodge. From October 12, 1994, through
September 24, 2011, he served on the Grand Lodge Investment Committee, providing thoughtful stewardship and contributing to the financial well-being of California Freemasonry.
Although he later made his home at Acacia Creek and affiliated with Siminoff Daylight Lodge No. 850, Golden Rule Lodge always remained an important part of his Masonic family. His quiet wisdom, unwavering dedication, and genuine friendship touched generations of Masons who had the privilege of calling him Brother.
While we mourn the loss of our Brother, we also give thanks for the remarkable example he set before us. His legacy lives on in the strength of our Lodge, in the Brethren he mentored, and in the countless acts of kindness and service he performed throughout his Masonic life.
May the Grand Architect of the Universe grant him eternal rest and comfort all who grieve his passing. Though he has laid aside the working tools of this earthly life, we remain confident that he has been welcomed into that Celestial Lodge above, where peace, light, and fellowship endure forever. Remembering Worshipful Tom Baker
Worshipful Tom was born in California on October 1, 1937, and began his Masonic journey when he was initiated an Entered Apprentice on May 10, 1965. He was passed to the degree of Fellow Craft on August 9, 1965, and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on April 18, 1966.
For sixty years, Worshipful Brother Tom faithfully served Golden Rule Lodge in many
capacities, including as Master in 1982. His commitment reached well beyond our Lodge room. He dedicated countless years to supporting appended Masonic Bodies. He also tirelessly labored at the San Jose Masonic Center, helping run, maintain, and ensuring the Center remained operational for the benefit of all who gathered there.
On April 18, 2016, we celebrated his fifty year anniversary as a Mason, a fitting recognition of a lifetime defined by quiet service, steadfast brotherhood, and dedication to the Craft.
Today (Aug 1) we honored Worshipful Tom with the Masonic Funeral service. I am sure he
would appreciate our large turn out of Brothers all wanting to show our respect and love for such a wonderful Brother. Coming together on these types of occasions reminds us of our strong bond of Brotherly Love. THE LIGHT AND MASONIC EDUCATION IN THE LODGE
The Light is Enlightenment and Wisdom
The Path To Light is proceeding from Ignorance to Enlightenment and Wisdom
The 4 steps along The Path to Enlightenment /Wisdom:
Unconscious/Incompetent
- Unaware of what you do not know
- Awaiting a spark of curiosity or inspiration
Conscious/Incompetent
- Aware of what you do not know
- Taking action to learn
Conscious/Competent
- Becoming Knowledgeable
- Knowledge is acquaintance with facts, truths or principles
- Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much.
Unconscious/Competent
- Achieving Enlightenment /Wisdom
- Enlightenment /Wisdom is the power of discernment, judgement and discretion
- Enlightenment /Wisdom is humble that he knows no more The Path To Enlightenment /Wisdom applies to any subject or action including The Light in Masonry and the path to the Enlightenment and Wisdom of Masonic values, virtues, precepts and lessons.
The Masonic Path To Light
Unconscious/Incompetent
- The future prospect who has no knowledge of Masonry
Conscious/Incompetent
- The prospect (a spark of awareness and curiosity)
Conscious/Competent
- The initiate proceeding through the degrees
Unconscious/Competent
- The enlightened and wise Master Mason built on dedication and Masonic Education
The importance of Masonic Education:
We can not deny the need for Masonic Education in our Lodge without exposing the
hypocrisy of being a Masonic Lodge without it! We present the tools, symbols, allegories,
values and virtues of Masonry to the initiate. Thus we are obligated to also provide the
educational opportunity to allow the initiate to understand, learn and apply those values
and virtues in his life.
Without Masonic Education we depend on the ritual as the basis for Masonic knowledge.
The ritual does not make Masons. It only makes members! The candidate is left hanging at the end of the 3rd Degree, having heard a lot of words and really not knowing what they mean. The candidate has no idea of what he has gone through. It is incorrect to suggest that the explanation is complete with just the lectures and charges of each Degree.
The ritual has an important place in the life of the initiate who is becoming a Master Mason. But it is far easier to memorize and recite the ritual than it is to study the history,
philosophy and meaning of Freemasonry. So we tend to be far more comfortable in working the Degrees than in providing the brother with an opportunity to learn what our beautiful craft is all about through Masonic Education
And finally, Masonic Education will strengthen brotherly bonds and improve attendance
due to the increased brother engagement and appreciation of the basis of that brotherly
bond.
Each month we will present a different Masonic Education topic - subjects from Masonic
philosophy, history, allegories, symbolic tools and more. If you have a specific topic of interest please let me know, John Lee, or talk to one of the officers at Lodge. This is your Gauge and your Lodge so as the advertisement says “… have it your way!”
Comments