The Trowel June 2015

Waukegan Lodge #78 AF&AM June 2015

The Masters Message The weather is changing and it has been

most welcome, brethren. New growth is abundant this time of year and your lodge is no exception! This last

month has been crazy! I am so proud to announce that since last month we have brought two of our Entered Apprentices to the degree of Fellowcraft and before the month is out, you will have another. In addition, we will have a new Entered Apprentice. July is sure to be just as busy with degree work. We will have four Fellowcrafts and one Entered Apprentice and make no mistake, they will all be Master Masons before the end of the Masonic Year (November). As we move forward we have several items for you to look forward to in the coming months. We will hopefully be having a "Blue Lightning" event in August. We have about twenty Brothers who have not progressed for whatever reason and I believe we should be helping these brothers along. Details will be forthcoming and you can count on it being on a Saturday. In addition, the August meeting will likely be the month we vote on changes to our bylaws. Hopefully many of you are receiving the letter we sent out to all, informing them of the proposed changes. The reason for the long time between is to assure the

www.waukegan78.com 1

THE TROWEL News | Education | Schedule

Did you know?

A MASONIC INCIDENT DURING U.S. CIVIL WAR A little incident, containing some mystical interest, transpired in Wayne County, South Carolina, late in the war. It is as follows:-It was late at night, the husband was absent, and the wife, alone with her children, had retired. Three or four soldiers rudely knocked at the door of the house, and demanded entrance and something to eat. The good lady told them that it was too late, that she had nothing cooked, but fearing they would break the door, she got out of bed, and opened it to expostulate with them. Continued on pg.2


members both local and afar have ample time to look through, consider, ask the questions and raise issue with anything they may see. In September we will have our annual Past Masters Dinner and before you know it, it's time for an annual meeting and elections. Time flies brethren, but we have been so hard at work this last year and I hope you all see the positivity in what we are accomplishing. If you have questions or concerns, as always, you can reach me via email at [email protected] or by phone at 714-615-7809.

God Bless,

~Robert Johnson - Worshipful Master

From The West

Brothers,

I had a great time at the Lake County Courthouse Comer Stone Rededication. There were masons from all around the county as well as the grand lodge officers performing the ceremony. It was a great time for Waukegan Lodge to reflect on what we mean to the community and how long we have been an integral part of it.

We have begun summer with a lot of excitement at the lodge! It feels so good to be a part of the growth of so many good men. It is great to see all the activity at our lodge. I look forward to seeing more of us out to welcome the new Brothers into the fraternity and our lodge in particular!

All clear in the west,Senior Warden - Erik Solomon


Did you know?

A MASONIC INCIDENT DURING U.S. CIVIL WAR Continued from pg. 1

They insisted that she should cook something for them, and while she was getting ready, and they were roaming about the house, one of the party, who seemed to be the leader, happened to find a copy of Mackey's "Masonic Jurisprudence.Turning over he found the name of the poor, frightened woman's husband written on the fly-leaf."Is this your husband's?" he inquired of the lady. "Yes sir," was the timid reply."Is he a Mason?""Yes Sir.""Come, boys, right about-march!" and immediately the house was cleared and quickly closed.

Published at THE CRAFTSMAN - 1866


A Cornerstone Rededicated

Sunday, May 31st was an amazing event. The Cornerstone of the Lake County Courthouse was rededicated. Its hard to imagine that something as big as this had only been in planning for two weeks. When Grand Master Weer approached us and told us about the event, we were a little shocked. Two weeks to prepare for this kind of event was certainly a challenge. Luckily, with the help of our DDGM RWB Dirk S. Stevens,

WB Kirk Preston (Master of Anchor and Ark 1027) and the Brothers of Waukegan Lodge 78, we got the word out and the event was well attended by the gentlemen of our district. The cornerstone had been sitting in the garden of the Waukegan Historical Society for more than a decade but with the new additions going into the current Lake County Courthouse, it was an apropos moment.

The brothers of the Waukegan Temple hosted the Grand Lodge Ocials and their ladies. A good time was had by all. I think on a personal note, the event was a great opportunity for Masons to be seen within the community. I was especially proud to see some of our youngest Masons attending the event. Among the crowd that day were brothers from around the area a great showing of support from the Widows Sons Riders Association and slew of community ocials. Many thanks to all who helped, especially WB Kirk Preston who handled the food for the event.

I look forward to future events and all that we can accomplish together.

Behold how good and how pleasant it is


Light Education

BONE BOX by William R. Fischer

In the early lectures of the last century, now obsolete, these questions were used as a test:

Q - Have you any keys to the secrets of a Mason?

A - Yes

Q - Where do you keep them?

A - In a bone box, that neither opens nor shuts but with Ivory Keys.

The bone box is the mouth, the Ivory Keys the teeth. The key to the secrets is the tongue.

Source: MSA Short Talk Bulletin


Lodge Happenings

Waukegan #78 June 22nd -1st Degree

June 29th -2nd Degree

July 1st - 2nd Degree

July 4th - Pending a vote - 4th of July celebration hosted by Waukegan York Rite Bodies. Pot luck, a reading of the Declaration. Bring your own chair.

July 6th - 2nd Degree or 3rd degree practice

July 8th - Fraternal Luncheon at the InLaws Restaurant in Gurnee, IL. In at noon, out by one. Cost is $10.

July 13th. - Possible 3rd Degree or 2nd Degree

July 20th - Stated with a presentation of education (4th of July)

July 27th - 2nd or 3rd degree

*Just a note, the above schedule is dependent on the return of catechisms. We will post updates to the schedule as needed on

our website as well as weekly announcements through our call em all phone system.

www.waukegan78.com - Waukegan Lodge #78

www.1stneil.com - 1st NE District Calendar


Reminders

We are hoping to put on a Blue Lightning in August.

September is the month of our annual Past Masters Dinner.

September we need volunteers for the Masonic Booth at the Waukegan Air show.

October is Grand Lodge sessions. Any Mason can go!

November is installation for the new elected ocers of Waukegan 78.

December is our annual Childrens Christmas Party!

Documents

The Trowel June 2015