Masonic Re-Boot 2.0

 

Gideon Ives Auditorium 

On March 24, 2024, the Grand Lodge of Minnesota hosted a symposium called Masonic Re-Boot 2.0, at the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center in Bloomington, Minnesota.  

Today was the kickoff start of a new approach on how we look at Membership, Mentorship and Leadership.  

Sixty Lodge leaders from across the state gathered together in the Gideon Ives Auditorium. Personally, I thought the turnout was quite good considering that the Shrine is hosting its annual Circus, and there is an imminent major snowstorm just hours away. 

The program was opened by the Grand Lodge Director of Membership Engagement Reed Endersbe. Following his opening comments, he gave an excellent overview of the Grand Lodge membership statistics, and a working model for the Lodges to help with recruitment and retention. 

Our second Speaker was Leigh Shaebeck who provided new ways to look at the importance of mentoring new and existing members. 

After lunch our Grand Lodge Education Officer Brad Phelps gave an interpersonal approach to Leadership and Learning. 

The session was completed by questions and answers and closed by comments of our Grand Master Dayton Berg. 

I have been to many of these types of seminars before. I found Masonic Re-Boot 2.0 to be refreshing, the material and content was to the point, the delivery was straight forward, and all was presented in a highly polished manner. I highly recommend all Minnesota Masons to attend if they have the opportunity.  

Happy Birthday Grand Lodge of Minnesota

                                                                             

Today marks the 170th anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. We were chartered on February 24, 1853, five years before Minnesota was a state. 

Oh my...how fast time goes by. I remember the 150th anniversary like it was yesterday!

FACE IT FOUNDATION

Photo by Tom Hendrickson

On September 19, 2022, Red Wing Lodge #8 held its second evening dedicated for the purpose of Lodge Education.

After a nice light lunch put together by our Worshipful Master Gary Thomas, we retired to the Lodge room where Past Grand Master John Gann introduced Mark Meir and Bill Dehkes of the FACE IT Foundation.

The FACE IT Foundation addresses the one in ten men who experience depression. Most men fear the stigma, shame, and the lack of understanding surrounding depression. This fear prevents many men from dealing with or asking for help. Untreated depression in men’s lives leads to ruined lives, and shattered families.

The FACE IT Foundation is the only organization of its kind in Minnesota where all the services that they provide are free. Just some of their services include support groups, retreats, Saturday breakfasts, monthly education classes, help in navigating available resources and social activities. 

One of the very important aspects of the program is friendship and support. A man who can develop relationships and a sense of community will not be so apt to isolate themselves when dealing with life’s problems. When men isolate themselves its easily can lead to alcohol and drug abuse or suicide.

In 2019 47,511 Americans died by suicide. Men die by suicide four times as often as women.

The FACE IT Foundation is a unique organization that works to create an awareness and a support system for men to be able to ask for help. It’s an organization that saves lives.

The Grand Lodge of Minnesota has made contributions to FACE IT for the past ten years. This year Minnesota Masonic Charities has made a three-year financial commitment to help them continue their valuable work.

If you would like help or more information or would like to make a contribution the information is below.

 

 

 

Peace Garden Lodge Annual Meeting

On August 12, 2017  The Annual Meeting for the Peace Garden Lodge will be held. I have been there twice, Its in beautiful surroundings and the only building in the Shape of a Square and Compass in the world Im told. I have taken information from my blog post from a few years ago to provide much more information. Life Membership is only $50.00 you may want to consider it. Its the only Lodge I know that has an American Lodge Treasure  and a Canadian Lodge Treasure. 

The International Peace Garden is 2,339 acres situated on the border between Manitoba and North Dakota, on the longest north-south road in the world and almost at the geographic centre of North America. It was dedicated on July 14, 1932 and has become a living monument symbolizing the two nations living in harmony along the longest unfortified boundary in the world. The Garden is a non-profit organization which is supported by, among others, several fraternal organizations: Freemasons; Order of Eastern Star; Oddfellows; Rebekahs; Daughters of the British Empire (IODE), and Knights of Columbus.

The International Peace Garden Lodge of Freemasons was formed in 1993 with Warrants granted by the Grand Lodges of Manitoba, North Dakota and Minnesota. The Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan became a chartering Grand Lodge in 2000 by motion of the members. Its purpose is "to promote and enhance fraternal relations among Freemasons of North America and to assist in the expansion and maintenance of the International Peace Garden."

Membership in the International Peace Garden Lodge of Freemasons is open to any Master Mason for a once-in-a-lifetime fee of $50.00, providing the Mason is, and remains, in good standing in any jurisdiction in the world which is recognized by the chartering grand jurisdictions. At the time of this writing, total membership is over 835 with members from Canada, the United States, Great Britain, Norway, Australia and the Bahamas.

Membership fees are placed in trust and may not be used for any purpose other than to generate interest which is used to defer operating expenses of the Lodge and other such expenditures as may be approved at the annual communication.

An annual meeting is held at the Peace Garden, usually in the Burdick Center for the Performing Arts, on the Saturday before the second Sunday in August, with arrangements in charge of the Chartering Grand Lodges on a rotating basis. Officers' titles and positions as well as the customs correspond to those of the Chartering Grand Lodge in charge of the arrangements in any given year.

The meeting deals with regular business and includes an inspirational speaker. Following the meeting, Masons and their ladies, usually enjoy some entertainment and a lunch in the Masonic Auditorium. If the meeting is tyled (for Masons only) there is a program arranged for the ladies.

The $775,000.00 Masonic Auditorium was dedicated in 1981 as a centennial project of the 20,000 Masons of Manitoba and North Dakota. It is built in the shape of the Square and Compasses and has seating for 2,000. It is the only building of its kind in the world.

Happy New Year and to Auld Land Syne

Have you ever been at a New Year's celebration and at the stroke of midnight the party goers break out in singing Auld Lang Syne? Have you notice that many didn't know the words to the song and even fewer people knew what they mean?

Poet/Lyricist Brother Robert Burns modified a traditional Scottish folk song that became an internationally known song in 1788.

The lyrics of Auld Lang Syne consist of five verses. The words literally translate from Old Scottish meaning 'Old Long Ago'. I think its about reminiscing or reflecting about old times. In Minnesota I think it's very fitting that we usually will conclude a Table Lodge with all participants in holding hands and singing a few verses. I'm always touched by the lyrics in the song "We'll take a cup of kindness yet." To me that symbolizes our current friendship.

I am always touched as I gaze into the faces of all my Brothers and friends as we sing that phrase.

So on the New Years Eve I raise my glass and think of you. Happy New Year Brother!

Happy St. John the Evangelist Day

In a few hours here in Minnesota and the Northern Latitudes we are entering the dark days of Winter. December 21st, 2010 is the day with the least amount of daylight. This day is called the Winter Solstice also known as the First Day of Winter.

For us as Free Masons the Winter Solstice is known to us as St.John the Evangelist Day. It is a day that we all celebrate world wide.

Early this morning we also are going to experience an Lunar Eclipse. A Lunar Eclipse is when the Earth passes between the Sun and Moon. When this occurs the Earths shadow covers all or part of the moon.

Tonite is going to be an extreely rare moment. For the last time the Lunar Eclipse occurred on the Winter Solstice was 12-21-1632 or 372 years ago.

Watching the eclipse is perfectly safe . You dont need any special equipment or telescopes.
Here in Minnesota Mother Nature is finishing up with another snow strom so I will not be able to view it, but I encourage you to go out and gaze to the heavens and enjoy the sights.......
and take a moment to remember all those Free Masons where so ever disbursed.

The table of information below comes from the U.S. Naval Observatory the experts in these matters. It is a time table of Lunar Eclipse.

Total Eclipse of the Moon

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
o ' o '
W093 16, N44 58

Central Standard Time

Moon's
Azimuth Altitude
h m o o
Moonrise 2010 Dec 20 16:02 54.9 ----
Moon enters penumbra 2010 Dec 20 23:27.7 157.4 67.3
Moon enters umbra 2010 Dec 21 00:32.3 195.7 67.9
Moon enters totality 2010 Dec 21 01:40.4 228.6 61.5
Middle of eclipse 2010 Dec 21 02:17.0 240.8 56.3
Moon leaves totality 2010 Dec 21 02:53.6 250.5 50.5
Moon leaves umbra 2010 Dec 21 04:01.7 264.6 39.1
Moon leaves penumbra 2010 Dec 21 05:06.1 275.5 28.0
Moonset 2010 Dec 21 08:06 304.0 ----

oh ya dont get Moon burn from all those Moon Beams.........enjoy

Red Wing #8 is a Special Place

Red Wing Lodge#8 is a special place for me especially at their December Stated meeting. There is nothing ordinary about it.
The Grand Master of Minnesota Masons John Cook came personally to install the Officers after a beautiful meal.
It was good to see that the lodge Officers had all the Chairs filled with willing and eager Officers.
There were Awards given out as well. This years Hiriam Award was given to Jr. Past Master Ethan Seaberg.Ethan may have protested, but I couldnt have been happier for him. Ethan is very deserving.

Visitors come from far and wide to spend the evening. Last night Lebanon Lodge of Shakopee, and Montgomery Lodge of St Paul brought many members. It was such a pleasure to have the dining room filled with voices and laughter.

Worshipful Brother Gary Thomas does most of the food preparation.He usually prepares Masonic dishes known to lodges across the world. Last night was his famous Maine Oyster Stew. You can't see all of the oysters because of my love for crackers.It is such a simple dish but the flavor is out of this world. The alternative dish was a out standing vegetation Curry. I had bowls of each. I'm not telling how many bowls either.

Gary always makes his famous Christmas Pudding for this meeting . I have several photos for get a good look at it for those not familiar with the dish.

This is a dish that is very dark in appearance from all the dark sugars used. Its filled with dried fruits, nuts and suet and maybe a touch of Brandy.It was topped off with a hard Sauce.

Since my Masonic Blog is turning into something you would find on the Food Network. I will not go into the complex flavors that this heavenly dish gave me.

We were given a big treat when the lights were turned down and the pudding was aflame with blue and purple flames.

There is nothing ordinary about the Brothers of Red Wing lodge. If you have an opporunity I highly recommend you go and share the experience.

Notes from the Grand Lodge of Minnesota

The Grand Master of Iowa Craig Hummell proposed to Grand Master Tom McCarthy a few months ago that if the Iowa Cyclones lost to the Minnesota Gophers in the Insight Bowl, that MWB McCarthy would have to pose for photos clad in Iowa State Cyclones apparel. And if the Gophers won, then MWB Hummell would have to don Gopher gear. Well, you all know that the Gophers lost to the Cyclones, and here are the photos.

MWB Craig was also so kind to provide a gift to me as well. Thanks Craig! It is a nice hat. I try not to wear it when I am with MWB Tom McCarthy, or MWB Steve Johnson, who also is an avid Gophers fan.

Some of the visiting Dignitaries

The Grand Lodge of Manitoba Canada each year presents to the Grand Lodge of Minnesota the traveling trophy. Then in June the GrandMaster of Minnesota returns the gavel back at the Manitoba Annual Communication.

The Gavel is made by an American with Canadian Maple. A Canadian made the box, of American Oak. It is truly a gift of Brotherly Love.

This gavel has a lot of stories. A few times Border guards believed it was a weapon. So it was explained that it was for Ceremonial use only.

Other times its holders have arrived at the Border only to remember that they forgot the gavel at home. So there have been a lot of late arrivals.

Look out! If that button pops it could kill somebody. My diet starts Monday.

Minnesota Jobs Daughters

This is John Studell of Minnehaha Lodge in Minneapolis.

John is Grand Master Cook's appointee to the Grand Lodge Progressive line. If tradition prevails John will be the Grand Master in 2017.

I couldn't be happier for John to join the Line. John brings a wealth of personal resources to the Craft: he is a Custodian of the work, John has a brilliant mind, a compassionate heart, and lives Freemasonry. The only question was not if John was going to be appointed to the line but when?

I thank my Supreme Architect for friends like John in my life.

Its a great day for John, and the Craft.

This is our new MW Grand Master, John Cook, and his Masonic Father Neil Neddermeyer.

Doesn't he look dapper in his top hat?

If you click on the photo you will see why this is not the Official Portrait.

The Most Worshipful Grand Master Of Minnesota John Cook.