The Plumb Line 04-05-04

MN River Valley Lodge #6

2004 The Plumb Line

Minnesota River Valley Lodge #6

"Issued with the Permission of the M.W. Grand Lodge of Minnesota"

'The Plumb Line'
From the Grand Master
April 2004

GREETINGS:

It is my intention as the new Grand Master to continue to communicate with you through this Plumb line. Please feel free to contact me (RhoadsJer@aol.com) with items that you think should be in this communication. I am honored to be serving the Grand Lodge and its members as Grand Master for the coming year- a little overwhelmed with all this- but looking forward to having fun with all of you in the coming year.

There is an Spring Conference for the Master Masons of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge on April 24, 2004, from 8 AM to 11:30. There will be breakout sessions and we have been invited to participate as spectators. Grand Lodge Education Officer Ed Halpaus will be leading one of the sessions. All are invited and can reserve a spot by contacting Brother Robert Huggar, 612-521-5275, or rwhuggar@earthlink.net. It would be nice to see some of our brethren meeting with the Prince Hall brethren that morning.

The One-Day-to-Masonry event to be held in Fergus Falls on Friday, May 21st is now in the final planning stages. Your lodge is welcome to bring candidates for the degrees to the event, but the time to act on the petitions will soon be drawing to a close. The petition and the fee of $150 will be due in the Grand Lodge office by May 10th so that the final plans may be made. While the new Master Mason is then welcome to participate in the Shrine Ceremonial to be held the following day, there is no requirement that he do so. The Brothers in Fergus Falls and the surrounding lodges have done a nice job in putting this event together and they will welcome you as a sideliner or with a participating candidate. But now "walk-ins" can be accepted for the degrees, they must have been previously registered with the Grand Lodge office.
For further details, contact the Grand Lodge office, 651-222-6051 or 800-245-6050 or by e-mail, mn-mason@spacestar.com.

In your visits to our lodges please remember to talk up the Masonic breakfasts to be held in October. WE want to see a maximum attendance of members and non-members for this event. Further details will be in the Minnesota Mason and in the Plumb Line as arrangements are made and dates set. This is an important event and needs to be publicized as much as possible.

An outdoor Master Mason's Degree is planned for June 5 at the Leon Meger farm. The East Metro Masters and Wardens Association will be raising new members that morning. This event has been well attended in the past and always offers a nice morning and a nice lunch. The degree will start around 8 AM following coffee and donuts. Lunch is served after the degree. Tell your friends and bring a brother along to enjoy this event. For additional details, contact W. Brother Don Bauman, Metro East Area Deputy at avcmdon@aol.com.

It is with sadness that we report to you that our Most Worshipful Brother Joe Seltzer, Past Grand Master of Masons in Minnesota in 1967, died March 25, 2004 just 23 days shy of his 100th Birthday. Brother Joe had been looking forward to his 100th Birthday celebration and had been planning it for over a year. The funeral service for Brother Seltzer took place at Temple Israel in Minneapolis, and while it is sad to see such a man leave us, the service was a celebration of Joe’s life, and those that knew him celebrate that Joe was a part of their life, that’s for sure. Joe was the kind of man anyone would be proud to call a friend.

SEE YOU IN LODGE, My Brother,

Rhoads