Chips from the Quarry

Brethren and ladies,

I hope everyone is staying cool in this summer heat. One of the most amazing perks of living in Southern California is that beautiful beaches are just a quick drive away.

Speaking of heat, the Hollywood Lodge Building Association is currently resolving an issue with our lodge room’s air conditioning system. Additionally, Los Angeles County has ruled that everyone be masked during indoor gatherings, regardless of vaccination status. Being in a hot room while wearing a mask guarantees an unpleasant time. We will, therefore, be having our Stated Meeting via Zoom this month. Please see below for the login information. 

At the July Stated Dinner, I had the pleasure of announcing this years’ Hiram Award recipient, Worshipful James Bayhylle.  Wor. Bayhylle has been an amazing mentor for a lot of our lodge’s Past Masters. One of the humblest people you will ever meet, Wor. James has served this lodge for 20 years, often away from the eyes of the public. He has been steadfast in his service to the lodge and is always quick to render assistance in multiple capacities whenever the need arises. We are very proud of this choice, and I personally look forward to attending his awarding ceremony, which is scheduled sometime in 2022.

Brother Robert Brown completed his Fellowcraft Degree proficiency this month and will be scheduled to receive the Third Degree of Masonry. Please stay tuned for an announcement for the schedule.

If you are a prospective member of this lodge, please join us on August 12 for a Masonic Information Night. That evening, we will talk about what Freemasonry is about and guide you through the process of initiating your Masonic journey. For more information on this event, please feel free to email me at master@hollywoodmasons.org.

Finally, let me share that in my Masonic journey, I have had the privilege to meet and know people of the most diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and views. The diversity of ideas also carries the potential for conflict between humans. Freemasonry seems to have been designed to overcome those differences and induces people to look past their differences, and instead focus on the common virtues that Freemasonry teaches each one of us. These virtues, properly observed and practiced, is the glue that binds us together. May we all continue to strive to be true brothers to each other, despite differences in opinion.
 

Sincerely and fraternally,

T.J. Oliva

Greetings from the South, 

First and foremost, I am super glad to be back at our home where we can attend lodge meetings. It has been quite a while and I am looking forward to building with the brethren. As we celebrate our independence, I am thankful for the brothers that paved the way for us and set the tone. Summer has been nice and many of us are getting ready to get back to school very soon and it can be kind of scary for some.  This has been a different kind of year and we got to keep moving forward and stay positive. One thing that touched me recently was watching the Olympics this year because it showed me the determination and perseverance of all our athletes.

As things are slowly starting to get back to normal as far as masonic activities are concerned for me. I had the pleasure to witness an awesome Entered Apprentice and Fellowcraft proficiency that was delivered by two of our brothers. I also witnessed an impressive Master Mason degree that was put on by Past Masters with the Grand Master of Masons of California sitting in the East. I am excited to say freemasonry is alive and well in California.

We are zooming for our August Stated Meeting on August 5th at 7:30pm.

Please check your email for the link. In the meantime, please stay safe and have an awesome summer.

Fraternally,

Cedric Williamson, Sr.

It with great pleasure that we announce that Worshipful James Bayhylle is this year's Hiram Award recipient.  

Worshipful Bayhylle was the Master of Hollywood Lodge No. 355 in 2008 and has tirelessly served this lodge for almost 20 years, since being initiated into Masonry in December of 2001.  He has been a great resource for education, as well as being a guide for many of Hollywood Lodge's Past Masters.

Wor. James Bayhylle is, no doubt, one of the finest Masons you'll ever meet.