August 23th, 2008

Brethren,
Time certainly flies; we are finishing our summer work and entering onto a busy fall.  I hope everyone enjoyed their summer.  For a time in which we typically go dark much has happened since last letter.  We have continued to see good attendance in our meetings and degree work. 
Further we have added Bruce Hauswirth, Chuck Walsh, Dave Nystrom, and Mark Licht to our rolls.  We are in the middle of bringing in Bob Theulen and will be starting Greg Banks next week.  Why this flurry of activity you may ask?  I believe this is a combination of an uncultivated group of prospects in Carroll interested in Masonry, a desire in young adults to join a group with depth, and  our Lodge’s focus to the tenets of Masonry.  
In previously letters, I challenged those of you who have not attended in a while to come to one meeting  and one degree.  We have changed the structure of meetings offering education as the bulk of the agenda.  Moreover by attending the degrees, you may rekindle some passion to challenge yourself towards improvement in your endeavors.
Regarding our degree work, we have made some nice strides towards getting depth to parts.  However, we really need some Brothers to come forward and learn the charges.  They are written in English in the King Solomon book and simply require time. 
In June we honored our scholarship winners with a nice meal and fellowship time.  From June through August, a time we are generally dark, we have met nine times in our endeavors to confer degrees as well as hosting Manning for two 3rd degrees.  We had many visiting Brethren both from Laurens and Sioux City aid in some of the degree work, giving us quite a show.  On two very hot and sweaty weekends in July, many of us gathered at the lodge to replace the shingles.  Their earnest efforts help in keeping the cost down and created camaraderie that will not soon be forgotten . . .not to mention enjoying Iva’s brownies.  
I have received feedback from many explaining their reasons for less frequent attending.  All of those I accept.  In summation we either bored them or failed to give them significance in Masonry.  However, there is also a reason that these Brothers continue to pay dues:   A belief that there is more to Masonry.  At Signet, we have attempted to address those issues as well.  In June, we had a brainstorming night to come up with ideas to improve our Lodge.  One in particular merits special mention.  Brother Lehman, presented the concept that without some formal education, no one is able to unfold the mysteries of Masonry.  He has found  the book Freemasonry for Dummies by Christopher Hodapp just the solution.  In concise format, it expounds on the history, symbolism and over-arching themes which are so very difficult to conceptualize without this framework.  Brother Tom proposed that we give one to each new member.  Such was the excitement;  that nearly everyone present also wanted a book ordered.  We ordered fifty books and have less than twenty left.  They are ten dollars . . . just come to Lodge and get it. 
Also from this meeting, Brother Pryor presented and has subsequently organized a travelling contigent of our members to outside Lodges.  They hope to spread goodwill and excitement about Masonry as well as picking up some ideas.  They have been to Manning’s Lodge and are planning trips to Spirit Lake,Coon Rapids,  Laurens, and Atlantic.  If interested please contact Brother Pryor. 
We have updated our Lodge web site:  http://www.iowamasons.com/264.html.  This site has our current schedule, interesting links to good Masonic websites and other information about the lodge.  We also put these letters on the site for your reference. 
I would like to continue our officer introduction with our Deacons.   Hopefully this entices someone either to strike up a conversation or attend lodge to meet these fantastic individuals. 
Signet  Lodge’s Junior Deacon is Brother Joe Daniels born June 28, 1982 and raised in 2006.  Brother Joe was born in Carroll and has resided in multiple towns throughout Iowa.   He graduated from Carroll and  attended ICCC (Fort Dodge) and DMAAC (Carroll).  While at ICCC he wrestled and was part of their national championship team in 2005.  Brother Daniels has two children Rose (5) and Emma (4 weeks).   He works for Drees as a plumber.   His hobbies include sports, participating in flag football, dart league, and slow pitch softball.  He also enjoys spending time with his family, camping and movies.   Brother Joe’s Masonic connections are legion.  His father Jack is our Junior Warden, and both his brothers, Trevor and Jake, are Signet members.  His grandfather Don Prior is a Past Master of Signet Lodge.  His great uncle, two of his Great Grandfathers (one being a Past Master), a Great Great Grandfather, and a Great Great Great Grandfather are all masons.  He is a 6th generation Mason!  Brother Joe’s goals in Masonry are to go through the chairs becoming Worshipful Master, learning all the parts of the 3rd degree, and possibly becoming a district lecture like his Great Grandfather William Prior.  From an objective view point, Brother Joe has been a boost of energy into our lodge.  To have someone of youth with the gumption to tackle the 3rd Ruffian was inspiring.  I’m looking forward to watching him progress. 
Our Senior Deacon is Brother  Mark Bennett.  Brother Bennett was raised in 2007.  He was born  October 16, 1958 in Des Moines.  He grew up and graduated from high school in Cherokee, IA and attended Iowa State University.  He lived in Worthington, MN before moving to Carroll.  He works in purchasing at Farner-Bocken.  With his wife Joan they have  daughters, Rachel and Cindy, and son Kyle.  We have Norm England to thank for Brother Bennett joining as prior to Norm’s discussion he had never heard of Masonry.  Mark likes to hunt, fish, camp, boat and bicycle.  He enjoys the comradery of our meetings and wishes to progress through the chairs.  Brother Bennett has been a pleasure to have as an officer.  He embodies so many of the virtues of Masonry, we are lucky to have him as a Brother.  His progress in the Senior Deacon ritual has been nothing short of phenomenal. 
The next four months will be busy with much activity.  September’s meeting on the 4th will discuss the how the application of the Masonic principles has affected members.  We will also have Brothers Walsh, Nystrom and Licht being examined.  The next few months will likely have a many petitions being read and voted upon.  If you have a candidate in mind, get him a petition.
September 7th we will have our largest fund raiser of the year with the Flight Breakfast at the airport.  We need everyone able to help given the workload this incurs.  Please call Glenn or I for information.
October’s stated meeting we will be having a guest lecturer from Sioux City, George Harrison, to discuss the mechanics of approaching individuals to become Masons.  He has a wonderful flip-book aid that he has promised to share.  After our meal, he will discuss the appendant bodies of Scottish and York Rites.  This will give many of us an opportunity to review these bodies significance as well as giving our younger members a background on how they fit into the grand scheme of Masonry.  Hopefully it will also entice some  members to join them.  Brother Harrison will be bringing the Grand Commander of the York Rite to augment his discussion.  These are fantastic speakers and great topics.  I would highly suggest marking your calendars:  October 2nd. 
November will bring our elections.   Given Brother Jack Daniels move to Spirit Lake, there is an opportunity for rapid advancement.  If interested in jumping to a Warden let us know.  Lastly, December’s stated meeting I am planning a talk on the Anti-Mason movement in America. 
Our up-coming schedule is as follows:
Tuesday,  August 26th 630pm--Greg Banks’ 1st degree                                                         Thursday, Sept. 4th 630pm--Stated meeting with discussion of Masonic tenets                            Sunday, Sept. 7th 700am--Flight Breakfast                                                                    Tuesday, Sept. 9th 630pm--Greg Banks’ 2nd degree                                                                          Tuesday Sept. 16th 630pm--Greg Banks’ 3rd degree                                                       Thursday October 4th 630pm--State meeting with George Harrison discussing approaching candidates                                                 and the appendant bodies
I would also like to thank those who helped replace the roof both in kind and with money.  I realize that often those requests take time to process off our desks.  As the bills are now arriving, we need to ask that if you have not already contributed; now is the time.   Remember excess funds will be put toward the building fund and a donation to those Brethren affected by the floods this year.  You can mail the checks to the following address. 
          Signet Lodge #264                                                                                          PO Box 251                                                                                                   Carroll, IA 51401. 
Lastly, if you have received this in the mail and not via email, I do not have your email address.  You are missing the frequent reminders I send each week.  Please send me your email address if you have one:  perkinsgreg@hotmail.com.  Hope to see you all at our next Lodge meeting. 

Fraternally,

Greg L. Perkins