The Midnight Freemasons: A West Coast Raising

A West Coast Raising

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Robert Johnson 32°

Bro. Lewis was Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master
Mason on July 9. Pictured above are the officers,
members and visitors with Bro. Lewis.

It was a big secret, not to the world, but for just one person. In this age of Facebook, checking in at locations, and sharing photographs, I couldn't do any of these things because if I had the person I was trying to surprise may have seen any of the updates. This was really hard for me, I'm a digital guy, I embrace the ability to share what I'm doing with my friends, brothers and family.

So there I was flying at 36,041 feet, writing this blog entry. The reason for the flight and the surprise? Well, a good friends of mine, who listens to my podcast, had become a Freemason, and he was about to get is third degree. Every Freemason knows this is a big deal. Sure the coronation of a 32nd degree AASR, or the Holy Royal Arch or even the Knight Templar degrees are big, but the Master Mason degree is THE degree.

Worshipful Master
André D. Harrell, P.M., with Bro. Lewis.

I had alluded at some point that I might be able to come out for his 3rd degree, but as time got closer, I was more elusive about it when he would ask. I didn't do this to be a jerk, I did it to surprise him. In today's culture, what weight does a mans word have? How important is it that friends (who are Brothers), lodge officers and members actually attend the lodge for a Brother's raising? My answer? It is of the most importance. What example do we set when we do not visit? A Master is to travel in foreign countries, work and receive those Masters wages.

When I started planing this trip, I hesitated about going, and for what reason? My wife, said "What would you do if you were home?". The answer was nothing unusual. You know that saying "Life begins a little outside your comfort zone."? Well, not that I was uncomfortable visiting another lodge, after all, I had done this many times, but I hadn't gone this far. This trip is kind of a personal reminder to how long the cable tow is. In the age of electronic communication, we need to reevaluate how long it is. In my case it was about 2,000 miles.

A good friend and brother of Bro. Lewis, Robert Johnson
(left), Junior Warden of Waukegan Lodge #78,
Waukegan, Illinois, made a surprise visit to
attend Bro. Lewis’s raising.

Who was this Brother? Well perhaps you listened to an interview with Todd E. Creason on the Far From Centered Podcast hosted by Brother Robert P. Lewis. It was in fact Robert P. Lewis' 3rd degree. When Rob Lewis walked into the dining room at the L.A. Masonic Center I heard a familiar chuckle as he walked up behind me and greeted me. It was a great moment.

Energy was so positive, the Brothers were so friendly and they made me feel like I was part of the family. I can't thank the Brothers of L.A. Lodge 42 enough, including the Worshipful Master Bro. Andre` Harrell. The night of course hit its high point when Bro. Robert Lewis was Raised. The whole lodge was proud. Afterword we all went out for a sandwich at Izzy's, a deli in Santa Monica which was 24 hours.

The table was filled with smiles, good conversation, Masonry and good will. I reflected for a moment while siting there in front of my "Super Hamburger" on what this trip really did. It set an example for younger Brothers, and it helped me understand a great deal more about a Masters ability to travel and visit other Lodges. This trip was just amazing. I thank everyone who was involved.

~RHJ

Bro. Robert Johnson, 32° is the editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the First North-East District of Illinois. He belongs to Waukegan Lodge No. 78. He is also a member of the York Rite bodies Royal Arch, Cryptic Council and Knights Templar, and a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts a weekly Podcast (internet radio program) Whence Came You? which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. In addition, he produces video shorts focusing on driving interest in the Fraternity and writes original Masonic papers from time to time. He is a husband and father of three. He works full time in the safety industry and is also a photographer on the side as well as an avid home brewer. He is also working on two books, one is of a Masonic nature.

2 comments:

Bill Hosler, PMJuly 17, 2013 at 9:59 AM
That was really cool you were able to do that for a Brother. When I was raised I had a friend travel to see it (It was only 100 miles but I still felt honored he did it) He was the Grand Lecturer at the time and scared the members of my lodge to death! (I never told them he was coming..lol) It will be something he never forget.

I love the regalia of their lodge. Really cool!
ReplyDelete
Replies
Todd E. CreasonJuly 17, 2013 at 12:51 PM
Glad you got to attend! I think a lot of Bro. Robert Lewis--he's got a great podcast, and I enjoyed our conversation a great deal. But he's also a very gifted writer, and seems to have boundless energy and endless ideas. I think he'll make a fine addition to our fraternity.

Congrats, Bro. Lewis!
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Disclaimer and Copyright

Freemasonry is the oldest and the largest fraternal order in the world. It is a universal brotherhood of men dedicated to serving God, family, mankind and country. The focus of The Midnight Freemasons is primarily on subjects relating to Freemasons and Freemasonry.

However, any opinion expressed are those of the contributor alone, and are not meant to reflect in any way, shape, or form, implied or otherwise, the opinions or beliefs of the fraternity of Freemasonry as a whole.

All content, unless othewise attributed, is copyrighted © by The Midnight Freemasons. All rights reserved. We encourage you to share our work, but due to previous abuses, we ask that if you reprint anything you find here, please send us a link so that we can be certain that the piece is posted in its entirity and that the authorship is properly attributed. You'll find our email address in our contact information.

Thank you,
The Midnight Freemasons

WB Darin A. Lahners

WB Darin A. Lahners is our Managing Editor. He is a host and producer of the "Meet, Act and Part" podcast as well as a co-host of an all-things-paranormal podcast, "Beyond the 4th Veil." He is currently serving the Grand Lodge of Illinois Ancient Free and Accepted Masons as a member of the Committee on Masonic Education He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No.970 in St. Joseph. He is also a plural member of Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL), where he is also a Past Master. He’s also a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, a charter member of Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter No. 282, Salt Fork Shrine Club under the Ansar Shrine, and a grade one (Zelator) in the S.C.R.I.F. Prairieland College in Illinois. He is also a Fellow of the Illinois Lodge of Research. He was presented with the Torok Award from the Illinois Lodge of Research in 2021.

RWB Robert H. Johnson

RWB Johnson is an Emeritus managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 2nd N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Spes Novum Lodge No. 1183. He is a Past Master of Waukegan Lodge 78 and a Past District Deputy Grand Master for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. He is the current V:. Sovereign Grand Inspector for AMD in IL. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & Masonic Radio Theatre which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. He is also a co-host of The Masonic Roundtable, a Masonic talk show. He is a husband and father of four, works full time in the executive medical industry. He is the co-author of "It's Business Time - Adapting a Corporate Path for Freemasonry", “The Master’s Word: A Short Treatise on the Word, the Light, and the Self – Annotated Edition” and author of "How to Charter a Lodge: A No-Nonsense, Unsanctioned Guide. More books are on the way

Todd E. Creason, 33°

Todd E. Creason, 33° is the Founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog, and an award-winning author of several books and novels, including the Famous American Freemasons series. Todd started the Midnight Freemason blog in 2006, and in 2012 he opened it up as a contributor blog The Midnight Freemasons (plural). Todd has written more than 1,000 pieces for the blog since it began. He is a Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL) where he currently serves as Secretary. He is a Past Sovereign Master of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. He is a Fellow at the Missouri Lodge of Research (FMLR). He is a charter member of Admiration Chapter No. 282 and is a Past EHP. You can contact him at webmaster@toddcreason.org

Gregory J. Knott, 33°

Greg is a founding member and Senior Contributor of the Midnight Freemasons. He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and Past Master and member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC. He’s a member of the Valley of Danville Scottish Rite, a charter member of Admiration Chapter No. 282, Eastern Star and GAO Grotto. He is also a President of the Salt Fork Shrine Club of ANSAR Shrine (IL), serves as Secretary of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees and a grade one (Zelator) in the S.C.R.I.F. Greg serves as a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society and The Philathes Society. Greg is very involved in Boy Scouts—an Eagle Scout himself, he is a member of the National Association of Masonic Scouters.

Bro. Randy Sanders

Randy and his wife Elyana live near St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Randy earned a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and he works in Telecom IT management. He volunteers as a professional and personal mentor, NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer and enjoys competitive tactical pistol, rifle, and shotgun. He has 30 plus years teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and healing arts. Randy served as a Logistics Section Chief on two different United States federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams over a 12 year span. Randy is a 32nd degree KCCH and Knight Templar. His Masonic bio includes past Lodge Education Officer for two symbolic lodges, Founder of the Wentzville Lodge Book Club, member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri Education Committee, Sovereign Master of the E. F. Coonrod AMD Council No. 493, Co-Librarian of the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis, Clerk for the Academy of Reflection through the Valley of Guthrie, and a Facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society. Randy is a founding administrator for Refracted Light, full contributor to Midnight Freemasons, and an international presenter on esoteric topics. Randy hosts an open ongoing weekly Masonic virtual Happy Hour on Friday evenings. Randy is an accomplished home chef, a certified barbecue judge, raises Great Pyrenees dogs, and enjoys travel and philosophy.

Ken JP Stuczynski

Bro. Ken JP Stuczynski is a member of West Seneca Lodge No.1111 and Master of the Western New York Lodge of Research No.9007. Hew currently serves his district as Assistant Grand Lecturer. As webmaster for NYMasons.Org, he is on the Communications and Technology Committees for the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. He is also a Past High Priest in Royal Arch Masonry, Past Sovereign Prince of the Scottish Rite, and a Cryptic Mason. He and his wife are serving again as Patron and Matron of Pond Chapter No.853 Order of the Eastern Star and considers himself a “Masonic Feminist”. As a masonic speaker throughout New York State, he primarily speaks regarding the use of technology in the Craft. Some of his numerous Empire State Mason articles have been republished in Arizona and New Jersey. To aid in his outreach on these topics, he authored “Webmastering the Craft: Fraternity in a Digital World”, available worldwide in softcover and eBook. He also regularly gives his "Astronomical Tour of the Lodge" at various Lodges. Having lifelong interests in world religions, science, and other fields, his degree is in Philosophy with a concentration in Ethics and a minor In Psychology. He has written articles and essays on the topics of science and religion, culture and politics, business and economics, technology and futurism, as well as various aspects of social psychology. Usually, with interdisciplinary contexts, many of these focus on the ideals of intellectual honesty and tolerance in all forms. Having edited and contributed to Books of Transactions as a member of the Western New York Lodge of Research, he is writing a book on Masonic research bodies. Slowly transitioning to writing and publishing, he continues working on his primary business, Kentropolis Web Development, and Design. He works from home, living in Buffalo, New York with his wife and numerous pets. In addition to various community service projects, he is also an independent interfaith minister with hospital chaplain credentials which aid him in visiting Brethren at health facilities. He also enjoys carpentry, martial arts, and beekeeping.

Patrick Dey

Patrick M. Dey is a Past Master of Nevada Lodge No. 4 in the ghost town of Nevadaville, Colorado, and currently serves as their Secretary, and is also a Past Master of Research Lodge of Colorado. He is a Past High Priest of Keystone Chapter No. 8, Past Illustrious Master of Hiram Council No. 7, Past Commander of Flatirons Commandery No. 7. He currently serves as the Exponent (Suffragan) of Colorado College, SRICF of which he is VIII Grade (Magister). He is the Editor of the Rocky Mountain Mason magazine, serves on the Board of Directors of the Grand Lodge of Colorado’s Library and Museum Association, and is the Deputy Grand Bartender of the Grand Lodge of Colorado (an ad hoc, joke position he is very proud to hold). He holds a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Colorado, Denver, and works in the field of architecture in Denver, where he resides with wife and son.

Phillip Welshans

Phillip Welshans is Senior Warden of Palestine Lodge #189 in Catonsville, MD under the Grand Lodge of Maryland A.F. & A.M. He is also a member of the Maryland Masonic Lodge of Research #239, and the Hiram Guild of the Maryland Masonic Academy. As a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, S.J. in the Valley of Baltimore, he has completed the Master Craftsman programs and is a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society. His interests are primarily in Masonic education, particularly the history of the Craft, esotericism, and the philosophy of Masonry.

Erik M. Geehern

Bro. Erik M. Geehern is currently Master of Goshen Masonic Lodge #365 in Goshen, NY under the Grand Lodge of New York. He was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in October of 2019 and since then has served in various progressive chairs along the road to the east. He writes and curates a newsletter for his Lodge quarterly which disseminates education, history, and esoterics. He is also a member of the Grand College of Rites, the American Lodge of Research and the Kansas Lodge of Research. He works in restaurant operations; consulting, and when not engaged in his usual vocation, or laboring in the Craft, he loves spending time with his wife and two children.

Pages

A West Coast Raising

2 comments: