New Entered Apprentice at Operative Lodge #308 in Polk City, Iowa

Operative Lodge #308 in Polk City, Iowa held a First Degree for Jeremy Whitlatch on Monday evening March 21.Brothers from Star Lodge, Adel Lodge, and Nevada Lodge assisted in the work. In all, twenty-one brothers were present for Jeremy’s initiation. Operative Lodge's Senior and Junior Stewards did an excellent job with the floor work in their very first Entered Apprentice degree.

Special thanks go to visiting Worshipful Master Brain Ahrens for sitting in. Best wishes go out to Operative Lodge’s Worshipful Master Steve Layton who is voiceless due to illness.

Lodge Night

Members of Operative Lodge #308 in Polk City, Iowa gathered for their regular monthly meeting Monday, March 14. Before the meeting began, families met together for dinner courtesy of Dean and Ron Ringgenberg in the Lodge basement. Brothers Dean and Ron (father and son, too!) served chili and oyster stew. Both were delicious; if I had gone back for a third bowl I don’t know which I would have chosen! After dinner, the stated meeting began at 7:30.

Our Lodge meeting featured an educational practice of floor work and ritual in preparation for an upcoming First Degree Monday, March 21. In addition, several brothers commented on the successful reception the Lodge hosted, in cooperation with Star Lodge, for Darrell Fremont, Senior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Iowa A.F. & A.M. Fifty-eight brothers gathered in Operative Lodge last Saturday for Brother Darrell’s reception and over one hundred brothers, friends, and family celebrated at lunch. Brother Keith Gordon did an excellent job grilling the meat for Saturday’s lunch. Operative Lodge’s Pizza Sale also was discussed. The sale is coming up at the end of April and all proceeds go towards two charitable gifts to the North Polk Schools: a scholarship for a graduating North Polk senior and a donation to the North Polk Elementary Instrumental Music Program.

Grand Lodge Reception at Operative Lodge in Polk City

Operative Lodge #308 in Polk City, Iowa hosted the reception for Worshipful Brother Darrell G. Fremont, Senior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Iowa A.F. & A.M., on Saturday, March 12, 2011. He is a member of Operative Lodge in Polk City and Star Lodge in Madrid.

Fifty-eight brothers including past and present Grand Lodge officers and the Grand Master of Masons in Iowa Most Worshipful Craig L. Davis were present at Operative Lodge as Worshipful Master Steve Layton opened the Lodge. The ceremony featured bagpipe music and a brief speech by Worshipful Brother Fremont. Brian Ahrens, Worshipful Master of Star Lodge #115 also served as Master during the ceremony.

I took a few photos and one video from my place in the far West of the Lodge room:

Chief of the Tabernacle

We had our first practice for the Scottish Rite 23rd degree, Chief of the Tabernacle, last night. I have a small part in the degree with just a few lines and it’s been easy to memorize. For our first practice, we focused on placement and movement of the cast members during the degree. There are about nine of us on the degree team.

This is a new degree for the Des Moines Valley: it’s never been performed here. For me, it’s exciting to be a part of the team performing a degree. Memorizing the lines hasn’t been difficult, but I think the opportunity to play a small part in the entire process is what I’ll enjoy the most. And since this degree has never been done here, that makes it even more of a unique opportunity. I know it will be the best performance of the degree Des Moines has ever seen…!