Memorial Day-First Article

I just love editional cartoons, and the cartoons that capture our thought of everyday life. The kind of thought we think but are afraid to say aloud. Some one shared these with me so I dont know where they came from or who the artist is. So I cant give them credit for their work. But if I ever had the chance to find out I would like to shake their hand and tell them that I think they captured the average Americans thoughts.......so thank you!
I hope you have a moment to look at these and take a moment to think about all of those who gave up their tomarrow so we may have a today.
Some of us may not understand so Ill try it this way...The United States was born and maintained in blood.The blood of men and women who died so we may live in freedom today.

Or as I like to say....You can burn your Bra, your Draft Card, and the American Flag in the streets and scream to the heavens in protest of what ever your cause.....because you live in Freedom bought to you by the Americas Soldiers, Sailors, Airman, and the Marines.

"All the Way"

Tom Hendrickson

Once served proudly US ARMY

Memorial Day 2010

Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.


President Harry S Truman

Heres a Great Lodge !

I had the great opportunity to spend some time with the Brothers of Albert Pike Lodge in Hopkins Minnesota this past Saturday to help them celebrate Main Street Days. I love this lodge because its an old fashion Masonic lodge that is constantly using new ideas to gain exposier to the community and gain new members. All the while upholding the traditional Masonic principils and the work.

The white things attached to the fence is a small table or ledge. The crowds of people can belly up to the counter order a Brat or Hot dog and eat in comfort. Or they can walk into the lodge and sit for awhile and rest their sore feet, and get a tour of the lodge.This picture was taken very early but by 2pm there was an expected 500 customers and positive contacts with the members of the city.

Heres a few things about the lodge you may not know. Currently the city of Hopkins is a first ring surburb of the city of Minneapolis. But in 1900 the city was a bustling town of 1600 citzens.There were 34 businesses, one grade schoo with 300 pupils and the cross roads for five rail roads. There were several franternal but not a Masonic lodge. There was 66 men who lived in the town but they traveled to to surronding lodges. I think the thought of traveling the Country roads another Winter mayhave created interest in forming a Masonic Lodge.

The Lodge received their Charter on October 20, 1901. They met like many new lodges at a store in town until they could build a lodge. They completed this building you see on October 15, 1902.Albert Pike lodge has operated non stop in this building ever since. The Brothers have taken great care of it over the years and I can testify that they have done the work themselves.

This Masonic Lodge is very well know in its community. Albert Pike Lodge has won awards from the city, the Histroical Society, and the Council of the Arts.I think that I can say that if there is an event in the City of Hopkins Albert Pike Lodge is involved in some big or small fashion.They are Relevant to their community.

The fat guy on the left is myself( the diet is going well 30 pounds so far) and the Brother on the Right is Lodge Secretery Marty Olazowka. A great man and Brother. Please remember this picture because rarely do you see Marty without a crisp white shirt and a snappy bow tie.

Alittle rain kept the crowds away Im afraid. But it was a nice time with the Brothers

O'Neal Hampton Biggest Loser Update

On April 26, 2010 O'Neal fell below the yellow line with his Daughter Sunshine, putting them both up for elimination. O'Neal stepped forward and asked his fellow contestants to eliminate him, so that Sunshine could stay and continue her journey on the program. O'Neal is now back home.

15 weeks ago O'Neal began his weight loss journey, weighing in at 389 pounds. He stayed on the Biggest Loser for 15 weeks and lost 139 pounds. He now weighs 250 pounds.

Welcome home my Brother. You are our Biggest Winner.

Biggest Loser Finalist Is a Minnesota Freemason

O'Neal Hampton the Junior Warden of Cataract Lodge #2 of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is currently somewhere at a secret location on the famous television show The Biggest Loser. Joining him in this grueling life changing experience is his daughter Sunshine.

The photo on the below left was taken on September 8th, 2010 just before our Junior Warden O'Neal started the Biggest Loser. With O'Neal is the Master of Cataract Lodge Dave Kampf and Senior Warden Lane Guyot.


The photo on the below right is from February 23rd when O'Neal stopped in. He took us all by surprise when he took a break from his work out and exercise program and joined us for a Fellow Craft degree. You can tell he is much smaller in this photo.

Its always a great pleasure to see my Brother O'Neal . Because it means a big hug, a warm smile, and a meaningful conversation. O'Neal is a very busy man. He is a Station Manager for the Post Office. During Football season after work he rushes to one of our local high schools to help coach and mentor the kids. But he will always have time to stop and talk if you need to see him. O'Neal has been a great leader and supporter of our youth and Athletic and Scholarship programs in our community.

For those of you who are busy going to Masonic events all week and don't get a chance to watch the show, here is a quick review of what it is about. The Biggest Loser is a two hour reality television show that is on NBC. The show recruits extremely overweight people to participate in a competition. The contestants are brought to a secret location to live for several months. The object is whoever loses the largest percentage of their body weight is awarded a $250,000 cash prize.

To make it even more exciting each week, one contestant is voted off the show. The contestant is sent home, but still has a chance to win $100,000 by following a weight loss program at home.


I have watched more television in the past 14 weeks than I have in the past 15 years. Every week I make sure to see O'Neal and Sunshine. I can't believe that every week, I'm yelling words of encouragement to television as those two are involved in some weekly physical activity. Or how I had tears of joy when I saw O'Neal completing a series of push ups the week his brother died. Or I gasped when Sunshine fell below the yellow line and was almost eliminated.

Every week I watch my Brother who is subduing his passions and making himself a better man.

We at Cataract are very proud of O'Neal, but then again we always were. The biggest loser is our biggest winner.

This is week 14 and Oneal has lost 119 pounds so far, and Sunshine has lost 84 pounds.

ME?......................................I'm down 12 pounds in 8 weeks. For as huge of an effort that this weight loss has been for me, it pales in comparison to their accomplishments.

The British are Coming! The British are Coming!

April 18th/19th I am celebrating the famous midnight ride of Paul Revere: Master Mason and later the Second Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.

Paul Revere and William Dawes were instructed by Joseph Warren (another great Freemason) in 1775 to ride from Boston to Lexington to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British Army was coming to arrest them, and to seize the Patriot's weapon stores in Concord.

Paul Revere was sent across the Charles River to begin his journey from Charleston to Lexington. William Dawes was sent a on different path the long way via the Boston neck to Lexington.

Both men sounded the alarm and helped the colonists prepare for the advancement of the British Army. Hours after the alarm was sounded the "shot that rang out around the world" was heard. America was born in blood.

This American story is one of my favorites and is rich in details and lore. One man became famous, while the other died in obscurity. I have had many books read to me as a child, and I now have read the stories to my children. It's a tale that's based in history, and one which I never grow tired of.

Here are a few facts you may not know about Paul Revere. He was a Mason in St. Andrews Lodge in 1760 in Boston. Paul Revere was active in his lodge and worked his way through the chairs. He served nine terms as Worshipful Master. At 60 years old he was elected as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts December 8, 1794 to 1797.

These are just a few facts and I hope it encourages you to find out more about Grand Master Revere and his life .

I can't help it but I would like to post the poem by Longfellow. It may be filled with inaccuracies but it is one of my favorites. Here is the link:
//http//www.paulreverehouse.org/ride/poem.shtml

Maybe next year we should take a trip together and see the route of the famous ride! Would you like to come? Think about it ... won't you?

National Treasure #3

Attention National Treasure fans! I have good news. It was announced earlier this week that the Disney Corporation is planning for the third installment of National Treasure and the film is in the making and speeding ahead.

The film will have a very established production staff. The Director is Jon Turtelbaub and the screen writers are Carlo Bernard and Doug Miro. They have just finsihed up the Disney movie with Nicolas Cage in "The Sorcers Apprentice"

It is my understanding that Nicolas Cage will return to play the adventurous archaelogist and historian Benjamin Gates. Actors Justin Bartha, Dian Krugerand, Jon Voight are also expected to return.

The movie is expected to be released sometime in 2011.

I am going to go out on a limb very early even before the movie is even written and predict the plot of National Treasure Three. My prediction is based on a clue that was given to us in "National Treasure Book of Secrets."

If you recall from the plot line of the movie, there was a book kept by the President of the United States for the eyes only of the Presidents following him. This book was passed from President to President. This book contained all the answers to the biggest secrets in American History.

In the movie, Benjamin Gates (Nicolas Cage) convinced the President to tell him where the book was kept, and the President told him that the book was in the Library of Congress. The President then directed Ben Gates to read Page 47.

At the end of the movie the President asks Ben about what he read on Page 47 of the Book of Secrets, Ben replied, "It's life altering, sir." Of course we dont know what that information is, but that might be the starting point to the new movie.

I am anxious to learn more about National Treasure #3. I hope that film director Jerry Bruckheimer and actor Nicolas Cage will bring incredible surprises from Page 47 of the Book of Secrets. Whatever it is I'm sure it's going to be another cliffhanger.

PS at this stage there has been no mentions of Freemasons in the Movie. But its very early to tell.