 http://www.mn-rivervalley.org
Minnesota River Valley Lodge #6
"Issued with the Permission of the M.W. Grand Lodge of Minnesota"
'
Plumbline for April 2006
Greetings my Brothers,
This will be my final opportunity to address you all
in the format of the Plume line. This has been a wonderful year for the
craft in Minnesota. I am looking forward to having the honor of presiding at
our 153rd Annual Communication. The last few weeks have been like planning a
three day weeding for 500 people; it is most defiantly a time for a Grand
Master to truly appreciate his Grand Secretary. Speaking of the Grand
Secretary, he tells me that the Grand Lodge Banquet is sold out on Friday
evening, but all other meal events still have some tickets available. If you
have not yet ordered your tickets contact the Grand Lodge office right away,
grandlodge@qwest.net. We have also made arrangements for some overflow
seating for Friday evening's Grand Lodge banquet in a room directly across
the hall. Tickets are still available for the overflow seating.
There are many plans to make this event a truly
educational experience and I would encourage you attend. Of particular
interest to most Brothers should be the Breakout sessions planned for Friday
Afternoon:
Tier One Breakouts 1:15 2:00
All Masons from each of the six Grand Lodge Areas of
the state are encouraged to attend the Breakout session for their
particular Area. The Grand Lodge Area Deputy for that Area of the state
will conduct each of the sessions. The topics and agenda for each of the
Tier One sessions will include:
Coordinating dates for the lodges of instruction for
the coming year with the Area Custodian and the Lodge Certification Program;
Expectations that the Grand Master has set for the Lodges; Requirements for
the Master of the Lodge; District Representative and Grand Lodge Area Deputy
requirements; Announcement of the Area-wide Conference and other important
dates; The new Lodge of the Year Program
Metrowest Area, led by Area Deputy Lee Dorholt, will
meet on the left side of the Park Ballroom, as you face the Grand Lodge
East.
Metroeast Area, led by Area Deputy Kenneth White, will
meet on the right side of the Park Ballroom, as you face the Grand Lodge
East.
Northeast Area, led by Area Deputy James Christensen,
will meet in Terrace Room 1 Northwest Area, led by Area Deputy Darrel
Richter, will meet in Terrace Room 2
Southeast Area will, led by Area Deputy William
Callister, will meet in Terrace Room 3 Southwest Area will, led by Area
Deputy Grant Lillevold, will meet in Terrace Room 4
Tier Two Breakouts 2:15 3:00
Terrace Room 1: Coats for Character ‹This session
will discuss the success that Winona Lodge No. 18 has had in partnering
with the Winona School District to provide winter jackets for children who
would otherwise do without. The presentation will highlight how the
program came about, working with the school district, the process of
identification of recipients and how the Lodge has been involved with
Minnesota Masonic Charities to support the
financial cost of the program. W. B. Clarence Russell, District
Representative for District 21 and Brother Paul Durand, Superintendent of
Winona Schools, will make the presentation.
Terrace Room 2: Freemasonry in England ‹We are
fortunate to have with us this year six Master Masons from Martello Lodge
No. 7121, United Grand Lodge of England. The group includes Past Masters and
Brothers who have been active members at the Grand Lodge level. They will
share some of their Masonry as well as answer questions from the floor.
Terrace Room 3: Lodge Education for all of us ‹What
should a Lodge Education Officer be doing? What resources are available to
assist the LEO in his duties? Grand Lodge Education Officer Ed Halpaus will
answer these and many more questions in this informative session for LEOs
and all others who are interested in the topic of lodge education.
Tier Two Breakouts 2:15 3:00 Continued
Terrace Room 4: Leadership for all of us ‹Our Director
of Fraternal Operations has visited 110 lodges over the last twelve months.
While this session will be geared for the Master and Wardens of the lodge,
M.W.B. Neill Neddermeyer¹s observations and insight into lodge leadership
issues will make this session worthy of every Brother¹s time.
Orchard Suite (the Grand Lodge office): Secretaries
‹How many times have you called the Grand Lodge office to get a question
answered. Now is your chance to visit with Grand Secretary Douglas Campbell
and pick his brain in person as he presents a session for the benefit of our
lodge secretaries. Come and find out everything you always wanted to know
about being a lodge secretary.
Well, all that can fit in a forty-five minute session.
Tier Three Breakouts 3:15 4:00
Terrace Room 1: Domestic Abuse Prevention ‹This
session will describe the epidemic of domestic abuse. The presentation will
focus on the situation at present based on reports of professionals in the
field as well as what can be done to prevent violence in our homes. The
presentation will also discuss ways that Minnesota Masons through Minnesota
Masonic Charities can be in the forefront of condemning the violence and
finding solutions to this severe societal problem. M.W.B. Roger Taylor, Past
Grand Master, will make the presentation.
Terrace Room 2: Freemasons for Dummies ‹W. B.
Christopher Hodapp, author and recipient of the Duane E. Anderson Excellence
in Education Award, will lead this session. He is the Master of one Indiana
lodge and a Past Master of another. His research into modern Freemasonry and
his ability the share that research in an informative and entertaining way
should make this session a good one. Christopher will be willing to sign
copies of his book, so if you don¹t have one with you, stop by the Grand
Lodge bookstore downstairs in the Summer Room before the session.
Terrace Room 3: Masonic Youth Groups: DeMolay and
Job¹s Daughters ‹This session ran way over their time limit last year due to
the high level of interest and the questions that kept on coming. It is
often said that the future of our fraternity is in the hands of our youth.
W.B. Mark Hailer, State Executive office from the DeMolay and Jena
Shepersky, Grand Guardian for Minnesota Jobs Daughters, as well as some of
the young leaders, will be on hand to acquaint you with these our prominent
youth organizations and offer you a chance to contribute your talents to
these great young people.
Terrace Room 4: Leadership for all of us ‹Our Director
of Fraternal Operations has visited 110 lodges over the last twelve months.
While this session will be geared for the Master and Wardens of the lodge,
M.W.B. Neill Neddermeyer¹s observations and insight into lodge leadership
issues will make this session worthy of every Brother¹s time.
Here is an abbreviated agenda of the 153rd Annual
Communication events and sessions as they are currently scheduled:
Friday, April 7
7:00 a.m. Buffet Breakfast
7:30 a.m. Registration tables open
8:30 a.m. Tyled Opening of Grand Lodge ‹Park Ballroom
(no public opening)
Reports, first reading of resolutions, introductions
and
presentations, Grand Oration
12:00 p.m. Lunch ‹Terrace 1-3
1:15 p.m. Breakouts 1st Sessions ‹Park Ballroom &
Terrace Rooms 1-4
2:15 p.m. Breakouts 2nd Sessions ‹Terrace Rooms 1-4
3:15 p.m. Breakouts 3rd Sessions ‹Terrace Rooms 1-4
6:00 p.m. Social Hour ‹Park Ballroom Foyer
7:15 p.m. Grand Lodge Banquet ‹Park Ballroom
Duane E. Anderson Excellence in Masonic Education and
other
Award Presentations
Saturday, April 8
7:00 a.m. Incoming Grand Master¹s Breakfast
8:15 a.m. Seating for Tyled Meeting ‹Park Ballroom
8:30 a.m. Resume Labor ‹Park Ballroom
Additional committee and other reports, Grand Lodge
annual
budget adoption, election results, voting on
resolutions,
introductions, Daniel Carter Bear Scout Awards
11:45 a.m. Lunch ‹Terrace 1-2
2:00 p.m. Public Installation of Officers ‹Park
Ballroom
3:00 p.m. Reception for new Grand Master ‹Park
Ballroom
3:30 p.m. Second Section Master Mason Degree
Minneapolis Scottish Rite Temple (shuttle bus
available)
St. Johns Day Offering Envelopes
(offered by Grand Lodge Education Officer Ed Halpaus)
In the March-April issue of the Minnesota Mason you
found an offering envelopes that can be used to make a donation to your
house of worship. They were intended to go into the May-June Issue, but as
we all know interesting things happen when you least expect them. These
envelopes went in early and they will go in again, but you may want to hang
onto these early ones just in case another interesting thing happens with
the May-June issue.
Our Deputy Grand Master, R.W. Brother Steven R.
Johnson, plans on reinstating an old tradition in Minnesota Masonry where
Minnesota Masons attend their houses of worship and use these envelopes for
their offering for St Johns Day weekend, Saturday June 24th and Sunday, June
25th. That¹s why our Grand Lodge asked the printer to include these
envelopes in the May-June issue of the Minnesota Mason Newspaper.
Also, as it has been done in the past, our Grand
Master will have something in the May-June issue of the Minnesota Mason, and
maybe in the Plumb Line, inviting the Masons of Minnesota to worship with
him, or another Grand Lodge officer if he is attending a house of worship
somewhere near you. Right Worshipful Brother Steve will have the information
published about where each of the Grand Lodge officers will be for their St.
Johns Day weekend religious observance.
Whether you worship with a Grand Lodge officer or at
your own house of worship, Steve Johnson hopes you will use these offering
envelopes to make your contribution on St. John¹s Day. With over 17,000
Masons using these envelopes and being visible by wearing a Masonic lapel
pin or ring, Minnesota Masonry will be favorably represented in houses of
worship throughout Minnesota and beyond. Freemasonry should be seen as the
positive influence and the friend of religion that it is. This year we will
be continuing a tradition that has existed in Minnesota since the first
Lodge of Masons was formed in Minnesota Territory.
In Minnesota, as in all the Grand Lodge jurisdictions
in the United States, our Lodges are erected to God and Dedicated to the
Holy Saints John. So Freemasons observe the days and festivals of the Holy
Saints John as our patron saints.
Whatever religious faith a Mason may hold and observe
the symbolism of the two St. Johns, as our patron saints, represents the
covenant every Mason has with his Lodge and with his brother. St. John the
Baptist represents that type of moral purity we should all strive to attain,
and St. John the Evangelist represents the brotherly love and affection we
should all entertain toward each other. Together they symbolize the belief
and faith that is necessary in every Mason¹s life.
Mesaba Lodge No. 255 in Hibbing, in conjunction with
the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, will host a One-Day-to-Masonry on Saturday,
May 6th 2006 at the Hibbing Masonic Center (1939 East 4th Street, Hibbing
Minnesota). The fee
($250.00) and advance registration is due in the Grand
Lodge office no later than April 27th. Advance registration requires a copy
of the petition that has been regularly processed and balloted on (or all of
the information from the petition) and the fee. Check-in, with coffee and
rolls starts at 8:00 a.m. on May 6th. The Entered Apprentice Degree starts
at 9:00 a.m. and the day's activities should be concluded by shortly after
5:00 p.m.
As your Grand Master, I would like to take this final
opportunity to sincerely thank each and every one reading this message, for
living Masonry every day and for making this last year's journey such a
positive, singular life experience for me.
Finally, let me say that I have done all in my power
to maintain the integrity of the Fraternity. I believe we should always seek
positive change, improvement, and modernization but we must strive never to
compromise our tenets or principles.
Thank you for the courtesy you have shown throughout
this past year to my wife, Christine, and myself and to the office that I am
so privileged to hold. I hope to see many of you at our Grand Lodge Annual
Communication.
May God Bless the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.
And May God bless each and every one of you.
Fraternally
Andrew J. Rice
Grand Master of Minnesota
 |
