October, 2016

Our October meeting saw the return of a Master Mason proficiency and a new petition voted on.  The petition was accepted and we will have an entered apprentice degree at 6:00 PM before our stated meeting on November 19.  Remember, this is also our annual meeting, which means dues are due and it is the election of officers.  Since there was not much business to cover, it was a short meeting.  The Grand Lodge session legislative results were gone over.  The biggest surprise to me is they voted to allow lodges to rent out their banquet rooms to groups that serve alcohol.  There are restrictions, however.  Learn more at lodge.  Also, we just learned that the Grand Master can be at our November meeting to give out service awards.  There will be a dinner and ceremony between our Entered Apprentice degree and the stated meeting.  John McCollum will receive his 75 year award, Fred Kuhnhenn will receive his 65 year award and Charles Gregory will receive his 60 year award.  It will be an open ceremony so spouses and guests are invited.  Other service award recipients are also invited.  See you at lodge.

September, 2016

The weather did not cooperate with us for the outdoor raising so we performed the degree at the lodge.  We now have a new Master Mason among us.  We also received a new petition at our stated meeting and we should vote on him in October.  It is also coming up on dues collection season.  Look for your dues invoice in the mail in the coming couple of weeks.  The dues are still $55 and are due November 19.  Please pay them promptly and save the lodge excess postage.  In with the invoice will be your permanent dues card.  An explanation will be enclosed with it.  it will be activated as soon as your dues are paid.  As far as any other business there wasn't much.  Come out to lodge and welcome our newer members and visit with the rest of your brethren.

August, 2016

We had a Fellowcraft degree before our August stated meeting with the officers moving up a station.  For their first time they did a good job.
There was not a lot of business discussed at our stated meeting but there were some interesting items.  The awards and widows night went well with over 30 members and family present.  Our outdoor degree was discussed and this year's Grand Master will not let us have our stated meeting in the morning so we will have the morning degree at Charlotte Back's and our stated meeting that evening at our regular time.  Lunch will be served between the first and second sections of the degree.  the LEO gave a program on how people learn.  That's about it.  I hope to see you in September.

July, 2016

We initiated another new candidate just before our July stated meeting and examined a brother in the EA degree and another in the MM degree.  We have some fine men joining our lodge, as usual.  At 6:30 before our August meeting we will have a FC degree.  We are definitely staying busy this summer.  Our awards and ladies night is coming up on July 23, with dinner at 6:00 PM.  Our District Deputy Grand Master, RWB John Cooper will be with us.  We will also have a Master Mason degree on August 27 at 6:00 PM.  Come on out and help if you can.  The lodge is again planning to hold its September stated meeting at 10:00 AM at Charlotte Back's place.  We should have a Master Mason candidate ready.  The degree will be exemplified by as many Past Masters as can be there.  The rest of the meeting was mostly regular business.  We do have a number of brethren in need of prayers, so remember them.  Hope to see you at lodge. 

June, 2016

Our meeting was well attended for the beginning of summer with six Past Masters in attendance.  We examined a candidate in the EA degree and he did a fine job.  We will exemplify the FC degree on him June 25 at 7:00 PM.  We also elected another man to receive the degrees and will exemplify the EA degree on him at 6:00 PM before our July 16 stated meeting.  Another date to keep in mind is July 23 at 6:00 PM for our annual awards and ladies night.  We will have the awards after the dinner.  The lodge also was gifted with officers chairs from Gerard Lodge in the First District.  They are merging with Yeatman lodge and no longer need them.  I feel they add some character to our old lodge hall.  Thanks go out to Bro's. Conn and Brewer for getting them into the lodge and cleaning them up.  Thanks to Al and Adam for also helping.  The next time you drive by the lodge you will notice that the lodge sign is once again hanging out by the road, thanks to a couple of our trustees.  So, as you can see, we have been and continue to be busy.  Come on up to lodge when you can.

May, 2016

Brethren, the lodge continues to be busy with candidates going through the degrees and more petitions coming in.  Any meeting may see a degree or a proficiency.  Our new members are showing interest in the work and are being encouraged to learn so they can participate.  At our June meeting we will be setting the date for our annual awards and widows night so stay tuned.  We made our annual donation to the Special Olympics and we also donated some money to the 4H group that served the meal at our inspection.  We also found out there will be a Grand Master's class next year.  So, that's it for now.  I hope to see you at lodge.

Inspection, etc.

Our inspection on the 27th of April went very well.  We had around 70 in attendance and our newest member got a good Entered Apprentice degree.  The officers performed well and the inspecting officer, RWB Cooper, commended them on their work.  Then, on the 30th, we raised two brethren in the Master Mason degree.  The officers and brethren gave them each a good degree, even though this was their first effort with it.  We have some good new brethren.  Come out and visit with us at the next meeting.