Sunday, March 28, 2010

Fraternal Lodge #92 Palm Sunday Breakfast


This morning I attended the 31st annual Palm Sunday Breakfast (Square Biscuit Breakfast)sponsored by Fraternal Lodge #92 in Princeton. There was a steady flow of customers who enjoyed their breakfast which consisted of a square biscuit, sausage, and scrambled eggs.

I sat at a table long enough to have breakfast with MWB Roger Taylor, who later helped with serving the guest, MWB Thomas Hendrickson,Deputy Grand Master, Brian Sjober and his family (Brian is currently the master for Fraternal Lodge #92) and other guest. It was also reported that RWB David Olson, Junior Grand Warden and Dayton Breg, Area Deputy were present earlier in the morning.

They use the profits from the breakfast to help support their Masonic Scholarships. Brian stated that they use to give 3 $500 scholarships or grants and since they have done well the past few years they are now giving four vs three grants.

Picture is RWB Thomas Hendrickson on the left and WB Brian Sjoberg on the right.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Looking Forward to Grand Lodge Annual Communications!

I am really looking forward to Grand lodge Annual Communications this weekend. Tomorrow night starts with a get together and then on Friday the Annual Communications will start with the opening ceremony at 9:00 am.

First, I want to say thank you to our Most Worshipful Brother Thomas G. McCarthy Grand Master of Masons of Minnesota for the excellent job he did this year in leading the craft. He led by example and his true love for the fraternity. I also want to thank him again for appointing me as his Junior Grand Steward.

It was a pleasure to serve the craft this year and I hope I was able to help with making the craft stronger. I was involved with the Mentoring Committee and the new MN Kids ID Program. I also was able to make it to several events such as a corner stone ceremony, lodge celebrations for 100 and 125 years, table lodges, and several meetings with degree work. Thank you to all of the brothers and lodges who invited me to their events. I look forward to another great year of serving the craft.

Tradition prevailing, it will also be another great year when RWB John Cook is installed as Grand Master on Saturday, March 27th at 1:00 pm. Please try and be there if you can. You won't regret it!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Helios Lodge #273 raises a new Brother.



Helios Lodge #273 raised a new brother mason today, 3-20-10. The new brother, Zachary Miller, was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason by his father, WB Brian Miller (who is the Marshal this year)while his grand father, WB Doug Miller of Redfield Lodge #34 of Redfield, South Dakota. WB Roger McNear was the acting master for the degree work. The lodge did the first section, than broke for lunch, and than completed the second section afterwards. As always the the degree work, fellowship,m and food were all great! Nice job brothers.

The top photo shows (l to r) WB Brian Miller, father; Zachery Miller, son; and WB Doug Miller, Grand Father.

The second photo shows all of the brothers who either took part in the degree work or watched from the sidelines except myself.

Monday, March 15, 2010

125 th Anniversary for Plymouth Lodge #160




Plymouth Lodge #160 celebrated their 125Th Anniversary last night at the Scottish Rite Temple. It was a great evening with sing by the Happy Notes, fellowship, dinner and a great program. WB Allen Niederhaus, Master for the lodge this year hosted the even. The Guest speaker was Dr. Phillip McRlave, with the Masonic Cancer Center. Most Worshipful Brother Thomas McCarthy end the event with a short talk and a Irish Blessing.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

WB Ian Bates from England visits Fraternal Lodge #92




WB Ian Bates paid a special visit to Fraternal Lodge #92 in Princeton, Mn on Wednesday, March 10, 2010. WB Ian's first visit to Fraternal Lodge #92 was in 1999 when he was first elected as Master to his Lodge Fraternal Lodge #5212 in London, England. He searched the web and found Fraternal Lodge #92 in Princeton and made contact with WB Al Bornholt back in 1999. He paid a visit that started an a very close friendship with many Brothers who visited with him at that time. He started coming over to the United States on a regular basis attending lodge meetings at Fraternal Lodge #92 and even attended the Grand Lodge Session the year MWB Roger Taylor was installed as Grand Master. He returned to the United States that same year in 2001 to go on a Alaskan Cruise hosted by the MWB Roger Taylor and his wife Nancy Fischer. Approximately seven couples of Masons and Eastern Star Members and WB Ian Bates went on the cruise.

Tomorrow night the we will have our annual night at to talk about the memories from the cruise and our friendship.
The top photo show WB Ian with MWB Roger Taylor, WB Brian Sjoberg (current Master), WB Terry Wade, and WB Ernie Trebesch.
The middle photo show WB Ian and myself. The bottom show WB Ian with his Master's jewel and apron.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Table Lodge at the U of MN



Tonight was the second annual Table Lodge held at the University of Minnesota with representatives from the U of M and the Grand Lodge of MN Masons. It was another great event and it gave the Grand Lodge of MN Masons to show the special guest including Doctors in the Cancer research area a little more insight and education about our fraternity. RWB John Cook, Deputy Grand Master was the MC for the event and did a wonderful shop during the evening.

MWB Thomas G McCarthy is giving his response after the toast to the Grand Master of MN Masons in the top picture. In the bottom picture MWB Thomas G McCarthy is in the center with his son and Brother Mark on the left side and his son-in-law and Brother Richard on the right side.