Des Moines York Rite Meeting

The Des Moines York Rite met January 20 to install its officers for the 2016 year. Eminent Commander Stevin Dahl will lead the group and he announced several upcoming events.

The Des Moines York Rite Festival will be on Saturday, March 12; three of my Blue Lodge brothers petitioned to join so that will make the Festival especially exciting for me. When a Mason joins the York Rite, at least here in Central Iowa, they go through a series of degrees and typically join three groups: the Royal Arch Masons, the Royal and Select Masters, and the Knights Templar. Brothers who join the Royal Arch and Royal and Select Masters are called "companions," and those who become Knights Templar are called "Sir Knights." All of the new Companions and Sir Knights will have an immediate opportunity to learn more about the degrees on Saturday, March 19 when the Des Moines York Rite Bodies host a York Rite school.

Check out the Des Moines York Rite website for more information.

Lodge night at Operative Lodge #308 in Polk City

Operative Lodge #308 in Polk City, Iowa held it's first stated meeting of 2016 on Jan. 11, 2016. A highlight of the meeting was the educational presentation by Sir Knight David Dryer. Dryer spoke on seeking further light in Masonry through the York Rite. His presentation was inspiring, informative, and delivered in the usual style of this dynamic speaker. Several brothers responded after the meeting by filling out petitions to join the York Rite! Sir Knight Dryer is pictured at left.

Officer Installation at Operative Lodge #308 in Polk City, Iowa

Operative Lodge #308 in Polk City installed its 2016 officers on Sunday, Jan. 10. Twenty-seven braved the cold weather for the public installation. Outgoing Worshipful Master Scott Nemmers welcomed guests and Masons. 

Installing officers were MW Brother Dean Johnson, PM, PGM, RW Brother Darrell Fremont, PM, DGM, Brother John Whitaker, PM, and Brother Jim Trotter, PM. 

Those installed included Worshipful Master Mike Miller, Senior Warden Keith Gordon, Junior Warden Bryan Bever, Senior Deacon Jason Salts and Tyler Asa Moeckly. 

Pictured at left is the new Worshipful Master Mike Miller (that's me by the way) and outgoing Master Scott Nemmers.

Officer Installation at Star Lodge in Madrid

The installation of officers for Star Lodge #115 in Madrid, Iowa occurred on Saturday, January 9. Joseph Clark was installed as Worshipful Master. Operative Lodge #308 and Star Lodge #115 have an especially close relationship which I wrote about in a previous post. Operative Lodge was formed by several brothers from Star Lodge #115. In 1857, Star Lodge held its first meeting in what was then known as the town of Swedes Point, now Madrid. In 1871, brothers from Madrid, with the permission and encouragement of Star Lodge, applied to the Grand Lodge of Iowa for a charter to begin a Lodge in Polk City. In 1872, Operative Lodge #308 received its permanent charter from the Grand Lodge of Iowa.

Congratulations Worshipful Master and the rest of the Star Lodge #115 officers!

Two Degrees at Operative Lodge #308 in Polk City, Iowa

Operative Lodge #308 in Polk City, Iowa conducted degrees for Varney Sackey and Joseph Mozena on Wednesday, August 26. Varney was a candidate for the Entered Apprentice degree and Joseph was passed to the Fellow Craft degree. 

The night was one I'll always remember. I was in the East for the first time conferring the Second Section of the Fellow Craft degree.

Congratulations to Brothers Varney and Joseph. Welcome to Operative Lodge #308!

Fellowcraft Exam passed

I passed the Fellowcraft degree exam this past Monday (Aug.24) thanks to the help of my mentor Darrell Fremont. The exam consists of reciting from memory the 2nd degree men pass through to become a Freemason. Next up- the Master Mason degree!

Entered Apprentice exam passed!

It’s been a long road, but I finally passed my Entered Apprentice examination yesterday at the South Central Iowa MI-DL Club. The exam required me to memorize the entire Entered Apprentice degree which is about an hour long. Thanks to the help of Brother Darrell Fremont I was able to do it!

Next is the Fellowcraft and then the Master Mason degree. If I’m able to memorize all three, I’ll then earn my Masonic Instructor certification.

Installation at Operative Lodge #308 Polk City, Iowa

The 2015 officers of Operative Lodge #308 in Polk City, Iowa were installed on Saturday, January 3 at 1:30PM. Most Worshipful D. Dean Johnson PGM performed the installation as Installing Master and Right Worshipful Mike Aves PDGW was Installing Marshall. John Whitaker PM and Jim Trotter PM served as Installing Chaplain and Secretary.

Scott Nemmers is the new Worshipful Master at Operative Lodge #308 for 2015. Scott is pictured below speaking to those present at the ceremony and also presenting the 2014 Master Keith Gordon with his Past Master's pin.

Visitors included the Masters from Auburn-Union Park #592 in Des Moines and King David Lodge #407 in Altoona. In addition, Jean Koss, the Worthy Matron of Polk City's Eastern Star Chapter attended and brought greetings to the new officers.

Iowa Research Lodge #2 Meeting

Iowa Research Lodge #2 held its semiannual meeting Friday, December 6 at Black Hawk Lodge #65 in Cedar Falls, IA. The goal of Iowa Research Lodge #2 is to increase masonic knowledge within the Craft. The Lodge holds two meetings a year which feature speakers on masonic topics. Past speakers have included well-known masonic authors, university professors with academic interests in Freemasonry, and presentations from members. All Masonsare welcome and encouraged to join! The next meeting is May 15, 2015 at West gate Temple in Des Moines.

Friday night’s meeting featured George Harrison and Jeffrey Heimensen’s presentation on Iowa’s new Optional Mentoring Course (OMC). The OMC is an effort to increase Masonic Light and provide additional opportunities for mentorship. Brother Harrison and Heimensen’s presentation provoked much discussion among members present.

This was my first visit to Black Hawk Lodge #65. If you haven’t visited this Lodge you are missing one of the beauties of Iowa Freemasonry. Located on historic Main Street in downtown Cedar Falls, the Lodge is ornately decorated. Two large pillars dominate the west while the north has several rows of theater seats. There are numerous display cases and wall hangings of historic value. I posted a few pictures below.

Iowa Masonic Library: World War I Exhibit

I stopped by the Grand Lodge of Iowa's Masonic Library in Cedar Rapids the other day. There's a new exhibit that Assistant Librarian Bill Krueger told me about: Iowa Masonry and World War I. The exhibit tells about the role of Iowans in the War. The exhibit includes some WW I weapons (including a Big Bertha artillery shell!) but focuses more of masonry and Iowa masons who served. In addition, there is an exhibit of WW I posters.

I took a few pictures of the exhibit below. The exhibit will be open through June 2015 and is located on the 2nd floor.

Mark Master essay question: Companion Adept of the Temple

I'm currently working through the Sovereign York Rite College of North America's Companion Adept of the Temple course (see the post before this for more info). Here is an excerpt from my answer to question seven over the Mark Master degree:

The chisel and mallet are the working tools of the Mark Master degree. Compare and contrast these tools with the working tools from the three Craft degrees. What do they teach us about our journey in life?

All these tools (Mark Master’s chisel and mallet, the Entered Apprentice’s twenty-four inch gauge, the Fellowcraft’s plumb, square, and level, and the Master Mason’s trowel) share a common symbolic teaching as they relate to our journey in life. As creatures created by God, we are made in his image with the ability to reason and apply that reason to our daily lives. We use these stone mason tools figuratively to help us better understand God's purpose for our lives and to improve the lives of others. Our journey in life can be derailed by passion, lack of education, and disputes. The tools in the Mark Master and other degrees are meant to help us follow God's plan for our lives.

By the way, the Iowa York Rite web site has all of the on-line texts needed for the course posted in one convenient place. Click here to go to the list of links for the on-line texts.