May 22nd, 2009
Brethren,
I hope this finds everyone doing well. Our Lodge has continued the pace we set in 2008. I would like to welcome our newest members: Joe Celluci (Gerry Frank’s and Gene Vincent’s nephew and Harry Frank’s grandson), Darin Baack, and Steve Hodges. It is exciting to continue adding quality to our organization.
Our last three stated meetings have been real gems. In March, Larry Perkins gave his poetry recitation. He had about 45 minutes from memory of a litany of work ranging from “Hamlet” to” Casey at Bat” to some more contemporary work by Baxter Black. I hope we get to see this again as he adds to his repertoire. April had Ryan Broderson giving a multimedia presentation on King Solomon’s Temple. This was by all accounts fantastic: A genuine lesson on the history of the temple, why we use it for a metaphor and how it relates to us. He has had many requests to repeat this for other Lodges. We eagerly await his next presentation. Earlier this month, Terry Augustus gave his funeral service, which was a treat. We also had a Kevin Dubbert from Laurens help interpret this as it relates to the 3rd degree. Our meetings have never been better.
We have added a part to our meetings referred to as Pearls and Ponderables. Pearls referring to reducible truths: those snippets of facts that we all should know and easily stated in a phrase. Ponderables implying questions which must be weighed mentally, without obvious truth or answer. The first we did was: What is the origin of Signet in our Lodge name? Our collective answer concluded that it refers to a vestige of the middle-ages when signet rings were used as means of making a seal to authenticate orders worn by men of import such as the Master Builder of a cathedral. Our next will be pearls regarding our Masonic Presidents.
Two other areas of our Lodge have continue to blossom. Terry and Tom have instituted the Freemasonry for Dummies review each monthly. They lead a discussion on a chapter or two of the book. It has been well received and attended. We will have them be the highlight of our June stated meeting by leading the discussion in open lodge on Chapters 8 & 9. Also the visitations arranged by Don have been going well, attending Gowrie, Fort Dodge, and Manning since February. They often help with degree work and have proven a success.
On the service side of our Fraternity, we have given scholarships to Naomi Fergusen daughter of Brother Ken and granddaughter of Brother Ray and Kyle Bennett son of Brother Mark. These are highly driven individuals. Kyle is going to pursue a career in the fine arts at Millikin in Decator, IL. He aspires to work in theater in Chicago. Naomi is going to attend Simpson and study biology. She hopes to use her degree to work with animals—possibly in a zoo.
Secondly we are approaching Memorial Day when we co-manage the Memorial Sunday breakfast with the American Legion. We need as many helpers as possible to come to the American Legion building (by Sears) Sunday the 24th. We start at630am at the Lodge and start serving at 800am. We should be done with clean up by 230pm. Please let Glenn or I know when you can help. We had a very poor turnout last year leading to some discussion of dropping this altogether. If this occurs our dues will be correspondingly increased to pay our expenses.
In total, our excitement grows, we now always have mid 20’s for our stated meetings, often 30. We set a recent record with 41 at Steve Hodge’s 1st degree. With our planned activities, this level of participation is bound to continue.
In keeping our tradition, we will introduce our stewards—Chuck Walsh our Senior Steward and Mark Licht our Junior. Chuck Walsh was raised to a Master Mason in July of 2008. Chuck was born September 14th 1969 in Carbondale, IL. He moved to Carroll when he was 6 and graduated from high school in 1988. After high school he attended Westmar in LeMars on a wrestling scholarship and Hawkeye Community College with a political science degree. His military service includes four years in the US Army and 2 years in the Iowa National Guard. He was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division and served in Operation Desert Storm. Through the Army he has travelled the world. He and his wife of 16 years, Sonia, have four children: Louis, Zachary, Samantha, and Emersyn. They all live with their dog Molly in the home Chuck grew up. Chuck is general manager of Walsh Motors. Chuck grandfather was Mason in Michigan. Chuck enjoys spending time with his family, collecting antique Daisy BB guns, pocket knives and GI Joes from the 60’s and 70’s, target shooting, and reading. One of the many reasons Chuck became a Mason was a strong desire to be a member of a group that offered more than just social niceties. He hopes to grow intellectually, spiritually, and philosophically through Masonry. Since becoming a Mason, Chuck has jumped at all opportunities to learn ritual. As Senior Steward he has learned all three degrees as well as Sea Captain/Way Farer and two ruffians.
Mark Licht was born in Humboldt, IA on Nov 6, 1977. He was raised to a Master Mason in August of 2008. He grew up on a farm near Clare, IA and graduated from Manson Northwest Webster High-School, attended Iowa Central Community College then transferred to Iowa State University earning degrees in Agronomy and Agricultural Extension Education. He completed a Master’s program in Soil Science in 2003. He works for Iowa State University Extension providing educational programming, and technical consultations for farmers and agricultural retailers in the areas of crop production, pest and nutrient management, and soil and water conservation. Mark and his wife Malea have three children: William (3), Elizabeth (deceased) and their 3rd soon to arrive next week. He enjoys woodworking, farming and spending time outside with his family. Brother Mark is a first generation Mason energetic to learn. He most enjoys the ritual and philanthropic aspects of Masonry. For those who have not met Mark, he is a genuinely nice person and always has been eager to help out those in need.
Our upcoming schedule is slated to slow down a bit for the summer, with more degrees in the fall.
Thursday, June 4th 630pm: Stated meeting, meal to be determined followed by the Dummies Review group led by Terry and Tom discussing Chapters 8 & 9 of Freemasonry for Dummies by Chris Hodapp.
Thursday, July 2nd 630pm: Stated meeting. Our program will be put on by Brother Frank Osdoba called “A Point within a Circle”. This will offer old and new Masons an opportunity to delve deeper into the meaning of Masonry’s philosophy and understand it origin. Those who have heard this say it is fantastic. We will add a twist to this meeting as discussed below.
Thursday, August 6th 630pm: Stated meeting with discussion to highlight a discussion on Biodiesel by Joe Reed. We will also have a “Pearls and Ponderables” section this meeting.
The rest of the year’s highlights are on our Website: http://www.iowamasons.com/264.html. We are planning an Adopt-a-Mason evening, for July’s meeting with Brother Osdoba talk. The format will be for regular attendees to our meetings to choose a Brother we rarely see. At stake will be a free meal for both if they attend and paying double if his choice fails to attend. Regulars will choose or be assigned at June’s stated meeting. Hope to see you all! Send me you email addresses if you have them.
Fraternally,
Greg L. Perkins WM
perkinsgreg@hotmail.com
(712) 792-8917