What to Expect when you’re expecting: Worshipful Master’s Edition: Part Two: Here I go again

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Darin A. Lahners

My first installation at St. Joseph #970, before I became a Grumpy Past Master

The very first article I wrote for the Midnight Freemasons blog was entitled “What to Expect When You’re Expecting: Worshipful Master’s Edition which can be found here: http://www.midnightfreemasons.org/2017/06/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting.html. I talked about my fears and aspirations as I went into the East at St. Joseph Lodge #970 in St. Joseph, Illinois for the first time. I gave myself a mission statement for the year and five steps to follow to prepare myself for the journey. The mission statement was: “I want to make Saint Joseph Lodge a better place. A place for brothers and their families to spend time, and a better asset to the community. A place that men in my community want to join. I want to educate the brethren not only using traditional education, but also teach some of the esoteric meanings of the ritual as well. Lastly, I want to raise some funds by having fun.” Man, I wish I could back to being that naïve. I remember writing a reply to myself and a charge to the lodge members after my year as Worshipful Master at St. Joseph, you can find that here:  http://www.midnightfreemasons.org/2018/07/farewell.html

I am now going through the East a second time at St. Joseph #970. I will be installed as Worshipful Master virtually tomorrow evening (The Grand Lodge of Illinois is allowing for that to occur with slightly modified ritual). I have also between the time I was Worshipful Master at St. Joseph #970, served in the East at Homer Lodge #199 in Homer, Illinois. This is my third time going into the East. I must be a glutton for punishment.

I now understand why Past Masters are so grumpy. It’s not because they were born that way. It’s most likely because they have served multiple time as Master of various lodges they belong to. I think that a certain type of irritability sets in when you’ve done it more than one time. You become irritable because as much as you want your goals to be true, many of us are left wanting. We are left wanting because we are, for lack of a better term, swimming against the current.

You see, I’ve come to realize that Freemasonry means something different to every individual. While I believe that being a Freemason doesn’t end at the door of the lodge room, there are many others that disagree with that idea. While I think that we shouldn’t use social media to voice our political views, it’s mostly because of past personal experience when I have done so it’s almost caused divisions in friendships. I see the same potential for division of us as brethren. While I believe that education should be the cornerstone of one’s lodge experience, many others are perfectly content to argue about roof repairs for an hour and a half. Some want Freemasonry to be a mystery school, others want it to be a social club. I think it can be both.

I’ve also expressed a view that Freemasonry can only be impacted at the local lodge level. I believe this to be wholly true. I also believe that more than yourself must want things to change. The brethren in your lodge must want change as well. This leaves me with a predicament at St. Joseph, because except for a few brothers, I don’t believe that many of the members care enough to want to change. We’ve lost two active members in the past year due to them moving out of the area. They are still on the membership roster; however, I know that they won’t be there to fill the chairs that I need filled this year. We are looking at a roof replacement that will cost somewhere between 30 and 40 thousand dollars, we also have an issue with water coming into the basement every time we get a significant of rain which needs to be addressed. I don’t know when we’ll be able to have our first in person meeting, and more importantly if I’ll have enough of a quorum to hold it. I know that degree work won’t allowed immediately, so it’s quite possible that I won’t be able to replenish the lodge losses. Everything that I wrote about in my "Farewell" article still exists at the lodge. My fear is that my mother lodge is dying.

I jokingly stated to one of my best friends and the secretary of St. Joseph #970, Curt Bolding, that we should just sell the building and merge with Ogden or Homer Lodge which are a few miles down the road. He said that isn’t such a bad idea. I tend to agree. I belong to Ogden and Homer, and they are having similar issues with attendance, but Ogden is at least bringing in new members. I see the writing on the wall. but I’m not going down without a fight.

I am going to implement some ideas I’ve explored in other articles. We’re already handling minutes and the bills/treasure’s report by email. If there are no objections or corrections, we approve them as read. We have been doing education at St. Joe finally after I had pushing for it for a long time. Blaine Pascal famously said: “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” All of St. Joseph Lodge #970’s problems stem from our inability to sit together quietly in a lodge room. Yes, I’m being facetious, but my point is that we spend way too much time focusing on the building and other items and not enough time focusing the members of the lodge.

I think we often forget that a lodge isn’t the building or room that you meet in, it is the membership. So instead of arguing about repairs, I’m going to ask the building committee to put together a report about a week prior to the meeting. If there are any questions, they can be addressed in email prior to the meeting. I plan on doing something similar for old and new business. In my mind, about 90 - 95% of our actual business can be handled prior to the meeting. We should only be reviewing, discussing and voting on items that require a vote. If the members can be informed ahead of time and get their questions answered for items requiring a vote, then I believe that is a win. I’m not reinventing the wheel here. At our Illinois Grand Lodge Communications every year, our Grand Lodge does the same thing. They communicate what items are up for a vote and allow for brief discussion. If it’s working for them, then it can work for us.

My idea is simple. Eliminate the business, and just have a meeting of equal men. We can learn about each other again, or learn from each other’s experiences, or learn about Freemasonry. We can go for a walk together, or go for a meal, or go biking, bowling, or do a million different other activities. We just need do something together as brothers, do something together as a lodge. I really believe that men not only in my lodge, but in my community need this male bonding. I believe this is needed now more than ever. If we can’t show them that we can provide it, then why do we bother meeting? Arguing about building repairs is not Freemasonry. Freemasonry to me is the positive influence it has on the community through our charitable works, the enjoyment and investment in each other and the improvement of ourselves. We’re going to start practicing Freemasonry at St. Joseph Lodge #970. I hope you are doing the same at your lodge. If you’re not, I leave you with a lyric from the song “Guerilla Radio” by Rage Against the Machine. I hope that the words will inspire you to start doing so:
It has to start somewhere
It has to start sometime
What better place than here?

What better time than now?

~DAL

WB Darin A. Lahners is a Past Master of and Worshipful Master of St. Joseph Lodge No.970 in St. Joseph. He is also a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), and of Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL), where he is also a Past Master. He’s a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, a charter member of Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter No. 282 and is the current Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign – Urbana (IL). You can reach him by email at darin.lahners@gmail.com

Anchor Lodge No.980 History Speech at Lodge Dedication July 25, 2015

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Brian L. Pettice, 33˚

*Editors Note* The following speech was originally given by Illustrious Bro. Brian L. Pettice at the lodge dedication for Anchor Lodge No. 980 which occurred on July 25th, 2015. As the reader makes his way through this history, it would serve us to ask ourselves how much of this is familiar to our own lodges? What can we learn? What can we celebrate? Enjoy this wonderful speech!

R.H. Johnson, 

Editor

One Hundred years ago the city of Danville was in the midst of a long term population explosion as it experienced its greatest quarter century growth in its history. Spurred by coal mining, the clay products industry, and the railroads Danville had become a major industrial city. People flocked to the city for the jobs its industries provided. The city, founded in 1827, recorded an official population of 503 in 1840. The city would more than double its turn of the century population of 16,354 souls in 1900 to 33,776 by 1920. The city added over 11,000 people between 1900 and 1910 alone.

It was against this backdrop of economic and population growth that Freemasonry in Danville was also expanding. Olive Branch Lodge No. 38, chartered in 1846, had served the city for nearly 70 years. The city had also enjoyed the addition of the appendant bodies of both the York and Scottish Rites.

According to correspondence retrieved at the lodge, several Brethren would begin meeting late in 1913 for the purpose of petitioning for a new lodge in Danville. You might find this surprising Grand Master, but the process seemed to be plagued by miscommunication and a lack of knowledge of or adherence to procedure. The problems mostly involved the qualifications and dues status of the brethren signing the original petition and the propriety of the recommendation votes and forms submitted by the three area lodges that recommended the petition Olive Branch Lodge No. 38, Catlin Lodge No. 285 and Free Will Lodge No. 872.

The issues were eventually resolved and Anchor Lodge was issued a dispensation on August 10, 1914 by Bro. Henry T. Burnap, Grand Master. The lodge was instituted on August 14, 1914 by Bro. Clinton L. Sandusky, D.D.G.M. for the Twenty-seventh District. The lodge received its warrant at the annual communication of the Grand Lodge on October 13, 1915 and was constituted Anchor Lodge No. 980 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois on November 10, 1915, again, by Bro. Sandusky. There were 42 charter members of the lodge. 28 Master Masons named in the petition on demit and 14 Master Masons raised by the lodge while under dispensation.

The Lodge met in the “quarters of Olive Branch Lodge” at the Temple Building on the Northwest corner of Vermilion and North Streets until 1916 when it moved to the “New” Masonic Temple at 109 W. North Street. The lodge voted in July of 2014 to move to this site and held its first stated meeting here on October 28, 2014 and its first work, a first degree, on November 25, 2014.

The first Master of Anchor Lodge was Bro. Henry Peter Blose. Brother Blose was obviously an active mason, as presiding over a lodge under dispensation at that time was no small task. He was commissioned a Grand Lecturer by the Grand Lodge. He was a member of all of the Danville York Rite Bodies and presided over all of the Danville Scottish Rite Bodies. He was coroneted a 33° Mason. Brother Blose was married to the former Minnie Elizabeth Fisher. They had a daughter Josephine.

All of the information given here about Brother Blose was found in the records of the organizations to which he belonged and a cursory internet search of his personal history. What was not found about the Brother, whose picture used to hang directly above the Senior Warden’s chair in the West for all Masters of Anchor Lodge to look at as they presided in the East, were any personal anecdotes- anything about him that might have been passed down through the years, brother to brother, mouth to ear that might have given a brief glimpse into what kind of a man he was.

So, given the opportunity to speak on the history of the lodge, I thought it would be nice to relate some of the personal things that I remember or have been told about a few of the Brethren of this lodge. Most of what will be shared will not be long stories, but brief snippets that might be remembered and passed down. Hopefully, these snippets will give a small glimpse into the lives of some of these men who have impacted this lodge, its members, and in many cases this community.

There is another brother whose picture hangs on the wall here as it has hung on the wall of Anchor‘s lodge room for over 40 years. Brother John Ross Elliott. Brother Elliott was secretary of Anchor lodge for 42 years from 1930 until his death in 1972. That is a remarkable feat- Secretary for nearly half of the lodge’s existence. Brother Gene Quick once said that, in addition to handling the administration of the lodge, Brother Elliott was very good at ritual because he took a lengthy walk every evening and would recite lodge ritual to himself during the entire walk. What dedication to Freemasonry and this lodge that brother had.

Brother Quick is another Brother that has served and impacted this lodge. He is twice a Past Master of the lodge and for many years served as Tyler. Brother Quick is, as many men of his generation are, a no non-sense kind of guy. But what many may not know is the dedication he had to visiting sick and shut-in brethren. He reported at every meeting on his visits to our distressed brethren.

Brother Bob Jones, Past Master in 1977, businessman, mayor of Danville for 16 years, the City Hall in town is named for him. He was the leader of the group that made the Children’s Dyslexia Center here in town a reality. Involved in community events for what seems like forever. For one brother though Bob will be remembered for the meals the lodge enjoyed when Bob was Junior Warden of the lodge and chef and owner of his own restaurant. The brother said the lodge never ate so well, as when Bob was making the meals.

Brother Sam Page, Marine Corps veteran, Past Master, for many years lodge secretary, another no non-sense guy. Brother S. Brent Morris, noted Masonic historian and author, once joked on a history channel presentation that all of the conspiracy theories regarding Freemasons taking over the world were false because Masons could not even agree on what pie to serve after their meetings. Brother Morris was mistaken, at least in this assertion, because when Brother Sam Page was Secretary, Anchor lodge agreed that Banana Cream pie would be served after the meetings.

Brother Bob Pickett, Past Master of Anchor Lodge, still serves as Junior Deacon, sometimes referred to by lodge members as Grandpa. Now that he has his hearing aids, he rarely needs prompting anymore. You may not know that if you travel to Star Lodge in Hoopeston, you will find his picture hanging on their wall as one of the last Masters of Rossville Lodge No. 527.

Brother William”Bunkey” Wright- Past Master of Anchor Lodge. Bunkey got active in Olive Branch Lodge in the 1990’s and served that lodge as Master. He was active in degree work throughout the district at that time. He made it a personal goal to be the first Brother to preside over all three Danville lodges as Master. He served Anchor as Master in 2002-2003, but passed before being able to pursue his goal with Further Light Lodge.

Brother Charlie Luton- Past Master of Anchor Lodge, WWII era Navy veteran. Charlie was more soft spoken and circumspect than some of the other lodge brethren of his generation. Charlie enjoyed wood working and created the three lesser lights used by the Lodge today. He also authored a poem dedicated to Past Master Dale Potter entitled, “There stood Dale” that hung in the anteroom of the lodge for many years. The things I remember about Charlie are his kindness and his recognition that all Brothers are worthy of consideration and respect.

There are many brethren of this lodge of whom I have fond memories and I could go on a lot longer than the time allotted me here, but I truly must mention another brother before I close.

Brother Carl L. Pettice Past Master of this Lodge and Potomac Lodge No. 782, Secretary of Anchor in 2002-2003. Without this Brother, I would not be standing before you today. A little over 19 years ago, I thought I was doing this brother a favor when I petitioned to join Masonry. He was still of the generation that did not talk much about what went on at the lodge and I had no idea what I was joining, but I thought that it would make him happy and that would be my gift to him. I had no idea the gift he had given to me- the gift that Freemasonry would and continues to give to me. It was because of the lodge that I began to work on improving myself, working on my own rough ashlar. It was because of the lodge that I got to know my father as a brother. It was because of the lodge that we spent time as equals. It was because of the lodge that we got to remake our relationship into one of two friends who enjoyed each other’s company.

So I thank Freemasonry and Anchor Lodge for these gifts and for the lives and actions of these and all our brethren and I thank Brother Jack Land, Past Master of Anchor Lodge, for giving me the opportunity to share with all of you today.

~BLP

Brian L. Pettice, 33° is a Past Master of Anchor Lodge No. 980 and plural member of Olive Branch Lodge No. 38 in Danville, IL and an Honorary Member of a couple of others. He is also an active member of both the York and Scottish Rites.He cherishes the Brothers that have become Friends over the years and is thankful for the opportunities Freemasonry gives and has given him to examine and improve himself, to meet people he might not otherwise have had chance to meet, and to do things he might not otherwise have had chance to do. He is employed as an electrician at the University of Illinois and lives near Alvin, IL with his wife Janet and their son Aidan. He looks forward to sharing the joy the fraternity brings him with others.His email address is aasrmason@gmail.com.

Farewell…

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Darin A. Lahners

I had my last meeting as Master of St. Joseph #970 on June 7, 2018. I’ve made no secret about my struggles as Master if you’re a regular reader of The Midnight Freemasons. As a Farewell address, I said the following to the Lodge members there. We actually had all of the chairs filled for my last meeting, which was due to having a dinner and ceremony honoring the Veterans and First Responders in the Lodge. The names have been expunged for privacy reasons. I present it below, in edited format:

     "People talk about how the seat in the East is a hot seat, but you really don’t grasp it until you sit here. As a Mason, you have to remember to act in a certain way while in public in order to not give the Fraternity a bad name. As the Master of the Lodge, this is doubly so. You are the public face of the Lodge to the Community. You’re expected at every Grand Lodge school, every local event.

     We’ve had successes this year. We’ve brought in two amazing Brothers. "Brother K" and "Brother C". We raised a lot of items for the food bank with our "trunk or treat". We should look to try to expand that this year. I think it is still a great idea. We are still having an adult pinewood derby and most of that money is going to another worthy cause. The multi lodge chili dinner was a success also. I think tonight is a success. We are blessed to have Bro. S and C. They are amazing cooks. Let’s give them a round of applause to thank them.

     It’s been a rough year for me. I faced a lot of challenges. Stairs, juggling officers, falling attendance at meetings and lodge events. I’ve been super critical of myself as Master this year. I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as I wanted to. I blame myself for a lot of things that were out of my control, but because they happened on my watch they feels like they are my legacy."

(Note to the reader: We spent over 5k on stair repairs. My Junior Warden had an opportunity to go to school, so he discussed it with me and we both agreed that he couldn’t pass it up. However it put me in a position where I had to elevate my Senior Deacon to Junior Warden for a majority of the meetings.)

     "I don’t think we maintained the level of excellence that we should have. There were a lot of events that we needed numbers for officer wise, and we weren’t able to do it. Now these are just accolades, but I still think that we need to have some standard set. We will become sloppy without instruction. Hopefully we can start having schools of instruction again, even if they are before meetings. I’d also like to see us try to reach out to brothers who haven’t come to lodge to check us out. I know that my hope was that would happen tonight."

(Note to the reader: The Grand Lodge of Illinois awards a Grand Master’s Award of Excellence. Last year we were second in the state for lodges under 80 members. This year we will not receive the award. This is the level of excellence to which I’m referring. My hopefulness regarding getting brothers to lodge was due to having a dinner to recognize members of the lodge that were Veterans or First Responders before my last meeting as Master. My hope was that we’d have a decent turnout of some members of the lodge that hadn’t been to lodge in a while. It seems my optimism was not well founded. However we had every chair filled in the lodge and two of our Fellowcrafts were present, so it was better than the average attendance.)

     "I also think we lack in the area of education. As the District Education Officer, I’d like to see the incoming Master appoint a lodge education officer for me to work with. I’d like to see education be a part of the meetings going forward. I know there are groans and sighs, but if you make it short, it can work. Even if it’s just showing some short YouTube video, something is better than nothing. Education doesn’t need to just be Masonic. There are many folks here that have a wealth of experience in life that you might not know about. Bro. W for example is a WWII vet. And if he’s willing to share some of those stories, that can be your education. Or Bro. Secretary B… B was on Hillary Clinton’s security detail when she came to give the commencement speech at the U of I in 1994. My point is, there are opportunities for education within this room, which can be utilized with little or no effort.

     We need to challenge ourselves to show up for events. If we discuss an event in lodge, and everyone agrees to it, then I see that as a de facto confirmation that you’re going to be able to participate. There is nothing more frustrating as a Master than to try to do things as a lodge, fun things like a movie night, and only have one or two brother’s show up. So if you can’t make it, don’t vote for it. Tell the lodge that you can’t make it. Make sure the Master is aware. Don’t be afraid to communicate, or think that other brothers will think less of you. Honestly I would have thanked you for your honesty and been able to schedule or reschedule based upon the input of the lodge. So I’d encourage the lodge to try get more exposure doing things together. Involve the newer members, get them active. They are the key to our future growth. If we give Bros. K, C, W, and C a good experience in Lodge, then they will get other men like them to join.

     To Bro. F, our incoming Master. Rely on your officers. Don’t try to do everything yourself. Use our secretary B. He’ll move heaven and hell for you. Just make sure you communicate everything with him. The issues I had this year were mainly due to me trying to do a lot of stuff myself, and not using him or communicating with him.

     Good Luck, try not to let the chair get to you. If you need anything from any of the Past Masters, they’ll be willing to give you advice. Good Luck and may the Great Architect bless your endeavors for the coming year.

     And since I’m a glutton for punishment, I’m going to be Master at Homer 199. Try to come visit us on the 3rd Monday at 6 for Dinner and the meeting is at 7. We’ve made education our focus there and I think we’ve got a formula that works. I’d like to see more lodges adopt it. So come out and see what all the fuss is about.

    Thanks again for the opportunity to serve you and the lodge as Master.

FIN"

And with that, my time in the East at Saint Joseph was done. I had a week’s respite before being installed at as Worshipful Master of Homer Lodge #199. I know that some of what I said fell on deaf ears. I’ve always been a believer in actions speaking louder than words. I hope that the energy I poured into St. Joseph #970 will pay dividends. As for me, I’m solely going to be focused on bringing Brothers to Homer #199 for education and fellowship. We meet the 3rd Monday of each month, with dinner at 6 PM, and the meeting at 7pm. One thing unique that we do at Homer is that we have education first. We also allow any visiting brethren to leave if they don’t want to stay for our business. We realize that you’ve come a ways to visit us. If you’re ever in the East Central Illinois area, you can meet not only myself, but also Midnight Freemasons Founder Todd E. Creason and Senior Contributor Gregory J. Knott. We’d love to have you.

~DAL

WB Darin A. Lahners is the Worshipful Master of St. Joseph Lodge No.970 in St. Joseph and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), and Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL). He’s a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, a charter member of the new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter No. 282, and is the current Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign – Urbana (IL). He is also a member of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. You can reach him by email at darin.lahners@gmail.com.

Rededication of the 1778 Trinity Lodge Charter

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Travis Simpkins

The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts dates back to 1733 and Masons in the Bay State are rightfully proud of their nearly-300-year history. Historical interests played a large part in me submitting a petition to Morning Star Lodge in 2015, and it was evident from the beginning that history was very important to others there as well. Just after being initiated, I was proudly told by a Brother that our Lodge, chartered in 1793, was the oldest of the seven Lodges in the 23rdDistrict. I had heard that statement before and I had noted that some of the other local Lodges had been chartered in the 19thCentury, so I just accepted the fact at face value.

That same week, I acquired a very old book pertaining to the history of Morning Star Lodge. I was surprised to see within the first few pages that Morning Star Lodge had actually been formed out of another pre-existing one, Trinity Lodge, which is still operating in the district today. The book listed Trinity Lodge as dating to 1778, yet their website displayed the year 1858. I casually mentioned the discrepancy to the District Deputy Grand Master at the time (and Past Master of Trinity Lodge), R.W. Gregory Stahl. He was well aware of the earlier 1778 date and it was something he had long been battling to restore.

Like most other stories of a Lodge with two charters, the crux of the Trinity Lodge saga was the period of darkness in the wake of the Anti-Masonic sentiments in the 1820's. Trinity Lodge had indeed been formed on January 30, 1778 under the authority of M.W. Joseph Webb and their original charter even bore the signature of Paul Revere, who was Junior Grand Warden at the time. The Lodge flourished for over four decades. Then, like so many others, they went dark in 1826 following the fervor of the Morgan Affair. 32 years later, Trinity Lodge re-formed and was granted a new charter on September 8, 1858. Morning Star Lodge, which had resumed in 1842, could produce their original 18th Century charter and was later re-granted their original 1793 date. The Trinity Lodge charter however, could not be located and the 1858 date stuck.

Fast forward 150 years... In 2008, the Grand Master visited Trinity Lodge for the Sesquicentennial anniversary of the 1858 charter. R.W. Gregory Stahl pointed out a Master's Carpet dating to 1784, evidencing the true age of the Lodge. The Grand Master stated that if the original charter could be located, then Grand Lodge would be supportive of restoring the 1778 date. The hopeful search for the document continued. In 2016, with the diligent help of the Grand Historian, R.W. Walter Hunt, the original 18th Century Trinity Lodge charter (damaged, but still very legible) was located in the Grand Secretary's vault in Boston.

Of all the Masonic events I have attended, the Trinity Lodge rededication ceremony held on January 30, 2018 was one of the most unique and memorable. It's something that doesn't happen often, and I'm not likely to witness anything quite like it ever again. The direct connection with history was palpable. The highly anticipated event was scheduled on the 240th Anniversary of the 1778 charter. The original fragile document, still clearly showing the signature of Paul Revere, was placed on display for all to see. A crowd of a hundred or so came out to the event, organized by Wor. Micheal Leonard, Past Master of Trinity Lodge, and the local news media took note. I personally enjoy attending the “public” events because I can bring my wife along, and she took the photo of the ceremony shown above, which was widely shared all over social media the following day. 

The Chaplain of Trinity Lodge conveyed a heartfelt history to the audience, which was further emphasized by R.W. Walter Hunt, who had played the integral role of finding the actual document. R.W. Gregory Stahl, who had since moved to Ohio, returned for the special event and current DDGM R.W. John F. Sullivan presented him with the Robert W. Johnson Service Award for all of his dedicated efforts in making that day possible. It was an inspirational experience all around, and I was happy to see Trinity Lodge given it's proper and long overdue recognition as the Mother Lodge of the 23rd District in Massachusetts. The Grand Master, M.W. Paul F. Gleason, presided over the well-composed ceremony. He made it official and concluded by saying, “To the Brethren of Trinity Lodge, congratulations on finally getting your birthday back.”

-TS

Travis Simpkins is a freelance artist with clients throughout the United States and Europe. He currently works on projects for the Supreme Council, 33°, NMJ in Lexington, Massachusetts. He also serves as a portrait artist for the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, Grand Lodge of New Jersey and other jurisdictions across North America. His artwork is in many esteemed collections, including the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum in Independence, Missouri.

Bro. Simpkins is a member of Morning Star Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is a 32° Mason in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite- Valleys of Worcester and Boston. He is also a member of Eureka Royal Arch Chapter, Hiram Council of Royal & Select Master Masons and Worcester County Commandery No. 5, Knights Templar.

Dedicated to Service

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Greg Knott

One of the great things about Freemasonry are the brothers you meet along the way.  They come from all walks of life and Freemasonry is that common bond that has brought you together.  Many individuals have had a positive influence on my journey in masonry.   RWB Denver Phelps is one of these who stands out in particular.

Denver presided over all three degrees, as I was coming through Ogden Lodge No. 754 a few years ago.  I had never met him before I came into the lodge, but he immediately left a very strong and positive impression on me regarding his ability for ritual and kindness to a new brother.  He was what I thought masonry would be about.

But more than just this initial impression, what I have come to really respect about Denver is his dedicated service to others.  He is a Veteran, having served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam era.  Denver has been extremely involved with veterans’ affairs at the local, state and national levels as a member of Royal (IL) American Legion Post No. 996.

He is one of the best ritualists in our area and frequently travels to other lodges to provide a lecture, serve as a steward or preside as Master over a degree.  Whatever is needed, Denver can be counted on to show up.  He has been made an honorary member of most lodges in our area, because of this service.

Whenever I have needed Denver he has been there.  When I was about to become Worshipful Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970, Denver worked with me on the ritual so that I could get off to a strong start.  It was Denver who told me many years ago, when I was considering becoming a plural member of St. Joseph Lodge, that if I was going to become a plural member, to be more than just someone who paid dues and was on the roster.  

I took this advice seriously and along with others we literally kept St. Joseph Lodge from turning the lights out forever.  This lodge was later recognized with multiple Illinois Grand Masters awards of excellence and the coveted Mark Twain Award in 2011 from the Masonic Service Association.

As a scout leader, we frequently put together events that recognize and honor our local veterans.  Whenever I have needed a speaker or contact within the veterans’ community, Denver is the first person I call.   He has been the guest speaker at our community Memorial Day event and participated in our community 9/11 remembrance event on the tenth anniversary of the attacks on America.

There are countless other examples that I could provide of Denver’s dedicated service.  If you ever needed a reason to consider joining Freemasonry, there is no better reason or example than Denver Phelps.  I am grateful and thankful to call him a friend and brother.

~GJK

WB Gregory J. Knott is the Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural 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 Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star and is the Charter Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign-Urbana. He is also a member of ANSAR Shrine (IL) and the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. Greg serves on the Board of Directors of The Masonic Society and is 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