Mon., Sept. 1 – Labor Day
Thurs., Sept. 11 – Patriot Day
Fri., Sept. 12, 5:00 p.m. – McKinley Observance at the National Memorial
6:00 p.m. – Dinner in the Masonic Temple Ballroom
7:30 p.m. – Stated Meeting, By-laws Change an Adoption Voting
Fri., Sept. 19, 6:00 p.m. – Fellow Craft Team Practice, Time is Tentative
Sat., Sept. 20, 6:00 p.m. – Outdoor Lodge Dinner
7:00 p.m. – Outdoor Lodge, Master Mason Degree
Mon., Sept. 22 – Autumn
Wed., Sept. 24 – Rosh Hashanah begins at Sundown
Fri., Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m. – Stated Meeting
Well Brethren, the summer is almost over and time is clicking by fast. I hope all of you had an enjoyable vacation but, now it’s time to get back to work. We have an exciting September planned. We are going to hit the ground hard right away with our McKinley Observance at the National Memorial at 5:00 p.m., Friday, September 12th followed by a dinner at 6:00 p.m. at the Temple and then lodge. If you have never witnessed this ceremony, please come out and observe as we honor our lodges’ namesake.
Our outdoor lodge this year will be at the same place as always, Greenport Tactical. We will post all the info needed on “Facebook” and all the lodges in the district will receive fliers. This is a very fun event for us so come and watch as we confer the Master Mason Degree by the light of torches and campfires. Bring jackets and chairs, it may get chilly. We will have a Military theme again this year to honor all our veterans throughout all of time; and the food will be great as always. They don’t call us “The Belly Lodge” for no reason, my weight was 185lbs. when I became a member….and look at me now.
We had a lodge trip in the beginning of August to the beautiful town of Marietta, Ohio. We visited American Union Lodge No. 1 and had an awesome lunch prepared by their brethren. Wor. Bro. William Reynolds P.M. and the current L.E.O. gave us a tour of the Temple and enlightened us on the early history of the first lodge in the Northwest Territory and also the formation of: The Grand Lodge of Ohio and the first Grand Master. Then later we boarded a stern wheeler boat for a dinner cruise on the Ohio River after which we retired to the historic Lafayette Hotel. We all had a very good time. A little trivia for you…the name Ohio is a Native American word that means: “Beautiful River.”
Brethren all of you know that we lost an “Icon” in our lodge this summer. It seems summer sometimes isn’t kind to our lodge; just as it wasn’t last summer with the passing of Wor. Bro. Beaver. R. Wor. Bro. William S. Merriman was one of a kind for sure and it will be impossible to replace the void that his passing left behind. His booming voice, his dedication and his mere presence were incredible to say the least. He will be missed however, this is life and we will carry on. We have a great lodge, full of great Masons. We have many “Icons” in our lodge. I just wish I could see more of them on the side lines on Friday evenings. So get your butts back to lodge; that’s an order right from the top. The same goes for the newer Brethren! Don’t worry about anything; just come back and let us show you what this fraternity is all about. You’ve invested your time to join, now reap the rewards of your investment. I have some interesting programs coming up! I’m not done yet!
Remember brethren, we will be voting on the By-laws changes the first stated meeting back on Friday, September 12th after the President and Brother, William McKinley Observance program. See you in lodge.
Mark J. Gold W.M.