February, 2014

Well, the year is off to a pretty good start, in spite of the weather for our last two meetings.  We were able to exemplify an Entered Apprentice and Fellowcraft degree at the special and stated meetings we had on Feb. 15.  This makes four candidates we have active at the moment.  The new officers passed our inspection with flying colors and are bringing a new enthusiasm to the lodge that it has needed for some time.  The lodge is in good hands.  There are no special meetings planned for the period between the Feb. and March meetings but we will be scheduling at least one Master Mason degree at the next meeting.  As I reported last post we reinstated a brother.  He currently resides in Wasilla, Alaska, and is now able to attend lodge there, thus the reinstatement.  If you have not been to lodge for a while you might consider attending, especially with the great lodge education programs out LEO is presenting.  After the Fellowcraft degree at our inspection he took the candidate on a "Walk About" the lodge, explaining the duties of each of the officers.  This is just an example of programs the LEO is presenting.  I hope to see you at lodge.

January, 2014

The stated meeting in January almost didn't happen.  The snow started falling about 4:30 and by the time 6:30 came around the roads were getting slick.  We were able to have the pre-inspection at 7:00 and all went well.  RWBro. Wagoner stayed with us afterward and that helped us to be able to open lodge.  The Worshipful Master decided to just take care of the most pressing business so the brethren could go home as it was still snowing pretty heavily.  We had scheduled a Fellowcraft degree but postponed it.  We did vote on a new petition and a reinstatement.  Both passed.  We also paid some bills and closed the lodge.  We still have a candidate ready for our inspection on Jan. 22.  Dinner will be at 6:00 and the work will start at 7:00.  Come out if you can.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate.  We will be doing a Fellowcraft degree at 6:00 PM beofre our February stated meeting and an Entered Apprentice degree during the meeting.  I'll post some more after the inspection.

December, 2013

This month marks the end of 2013 but also the beginning of the 2014 Masonic year.  The new officers were installed on the 11th with a dinner before the ceremony.  The Worshipful Master has a lot of plans and would like to see as many of the brethren who can come out to some of our meetings.  The lodge hosted a Christmas party on Dec. 7 which was well attended with over 60 there.  Santa even showed up with presents for the children.  I have some photos posted below.

 

 

With the success of the family picnic and the Christmas party we will most likely have them again in 2014.  Also, please remember our inspection coming up on the 22nd of January.  We will be conferring the Fellowcraft degree on one of our candidates we have going through now.  On April 5 there will be another Grand Master's one day class, so if you know of a man you think would be interested in becoming a Freemason contact the secretary or have them go to www.freemason.com for further information.  I hope you had a good Christmas and have a happy new year.

 



Election, 2013

Our stated meeting in November was our election of officers.  WM Pat Cloke agreed to serve as Master again to allow the officers behind him to serve in the chairs next up due to the Senior Warden dropping out of the line.  The entire list of officers is listed in the page Officers 2014 at right.  The spaghetti dinner for the family of Brother Doug Brummett was a success and along with donations from some of the other lodges in the district we can help them put a pretty big dent in the debt they have from Doug's funeral.  The lodge will also be contacting Grand Lodge to see if they can help as well.
The lodge had a visit from a couple of ladies that are descendents of Andrew and Granville Jackson, charter members of our lodge.  They are doing some reserch on their family and asked to take a picture of the charter member pictures hanging on the wall outside the lodge room.  One of them said that the picture of Granville may be the only one of him in existence.  I am glad we could help them in their research.
The planning for our Christmas party on December 7 at 6:00 PM is about complete.  The lodge will supply the main course and the brethren are asked to bring a covered dish and dessert, though that is not necessary to attend.  We will have gifts for the children under 12 and other activities for everyone.  Santa is scheduled to visit with us as well.  If you have any questions and to RSVP please call or text Brother Gene Bell at (513) 310-1969.  We hope you can attend.
The Worshipful Master has scheduled the installation of officers for December 11 at 6:30 PM.  We'll have dinner and have the ceremony after.  It is open so bring your family and friends.
We have the good fortune of having the Journeymen Motorcycle Club as our neighbor in Edenton.  Right now they are raising funds to help a child named Ryder McGriff.  He was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor the size of a softball at 5 weeks old.  He has and will continue to face a lot of surgeries and treatment for this condition for quite some time.  The lodge has donated to this cause and would like to encourage anyone who would like to help to attend a fundraiser sponsored by the Journeymen on December 14 at Roberts Arena, 3991 St. Rt. 730, just outside of Wilmington.  It runs fromm 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM.  The cost is $10.00 a person for food, refreshments, raffles, auctions and entertainment.  Donations can also be made to the Wright-Patterson Credit Union in Wilmington to the Ryder McGriff Fund.  Call Haskel Combs Jr. at 937-402-0454 if you want more information.
Our inspection has been set for January 22nd in the Fellowcraft degree.  Dinner will be at 6:00 PM and the degree will start at 7:00 PM.  We have two candidates that have had the EA degree so we have one we can confer the degree on to help us practice for the inspection.

October, 2013

At our stated meeting we had a Master Mason proficiency returned, giving our old lodge a new member.  We also had one of our recent Entered Apprentices in attendance.  It is great to see new candidates with such enthusiasm.  I would like to remind everyont that dues are due at the stated meeting in November, as well as it being election night.  Also, we need to do a couple of degrees yet this year so we have scheduled a Fellowcraft and a Master Mason degree on November 2 starting at 6:00 PM.  Please come out and be with us.  I would also like to remind the brethren of a couple of dates that are coming up.  There will be a spaghetti dinner to benefit the family of Brother Doug Brummett.  This will be on November 9 from 5-8 PM.  There is no charge but a donation will be greatly appreciated.  Spread the word.  We are also going to have a familyChristmas party on December 7 from 5-8 PM.  This will be a potluck dinner with activities for the children.  I hope to see you there.

September, 2013

The weather did not cooperate and we were forced to have our degree indoors this year. We opened lodge at 10:00 AM and conferred the MM degree on one candidate. We broke for lunch after the lecture and enjoyed a lunch of fried crappie and hot dogs, potato salad, green beans and ham and desserts. We had coffee and donuts left over from before the meeting began. We had our stated meeting after lunch. Some things of note: The benefit spaghetti dinner for WBro. Doug Brummett has been moved to Nov. 9 from 5 to 8 PM at the lodge. The WM also scheduled a Christmas party at the lodge on Dec. 7 from 5 to 8 PM. We will also be conferring 2 EA degrees on Oct.12 starting at 7:00 PM.

August, 2013

I apologize for not updating this blog in July.  Time got away from me.  There are several new items to report from last month and our meeting last night.  Even though it is normal for attendance to be down during the summer we still had 14 at our August meeting.  First of all, the pancake breakfast at Stonelick Lake was our best one yet.  As soon as the bills are sorted out we will be making a donation of some of the proceeds to the Friends of Stonelick to thank them for allowing our lodge to do these breakfasts and help support their efforts to maintain the campground.  Next, the lodge picnic on August 10 was well attended and should become, hopefully, an annual event.  Thanks go out to Bro. Gene Bell for organizing it and Bro. Jeff Stevens for his assistance and to those who helped and attended.  I have attached a few pictures to give an idea of the good time we had.  There were activities for the children, fellowship for the adults and plenty of good food.

 

Based on the success of the picnic the lodge is going to host a Christmas party at the lodge on December 7.  More details will be forthcoming as the date gets closer.  We voted on two petitions and both were accepted.  Since we have our outdoor raising at our stated meeting in September we have decided to confer the Entered Apprentice degrees on both candidates on October 12th at 7:00 PM.  The night before, on October 11 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM there will be a spaghetti supper at the lodge to raise some money to help pay the funeral costs of WBro. Doug Brummett, who was killed in a car accident recently.  Please spread the word. 

That's all I have for now.  Don't forget that the next stated meeting will be at 10:00 AM with a Master Mason degree and the regular business to follow.  If it rains we will meet at the lodge.  I hope to see you there.