THE MASTERS GAVEL

THE NEWSLETTER OF OGDEN LODGE NO. 754 & HOMER LODGE NO. 199

Spring 2011

Thank You, From the East

Id like to thank the members of Ogden Lodge No. 754 for granting me the great privilege of serving as Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 for the past year. The year certainly went quickly, and while Im relieved in some ways Ive gotten through it (its not been easy for me to be on my best behavior for twelve straight months), part of me is sorry its over. One of my favorite hobbies is riding roller coasters. Being Master reminds me of riding a rollercoaster Ive never been on before. You wait in line forever to get on it, and while youre waiting, youre watching other people ride, and it makes you a little nervous about it. Part of you wants to give it a go, but another part of you wants to get out of the line and get a chili dog instead. Before you know it, youre up, and even as youre strapping in, youre wondering if your not about to make a huge mistakeyoure wondering if youre truly prepared for the experience. As quickly as it begins, its over, and youre climbing out of the chair, exhilarated that you have survived intact. And even though your heart is pounding in your ears, and youre legs are a little wobbly, whats the first thing you want to do? Get back in line again and go for another ride. Its been my same experience serving as Master. I hope I get a chance for another ride one day on the Eastern Bullet. Im sure like with roller coasters, the second trip up the three steps to the platform is even more fun, because you know what to expect, and you can take a little more of the experience in. Congratulations to our new Worshipful Master Aaron Ketchum. Youve certainly worked hard, and Im looking forward to the upcoming year. Enjoy the ride Aaron, it goes really fast, but its perfectly safe. Nearly three hundred years, and not one single crash. Thanks again, to the members of Ogden Lodge No. 754. You have made my journey so rich. I dont know what I expected when I joined, but I certainly didnt

Ogden/Homer Lodges Duel Installation

It worked so well last year, we did it again this year. Ogden Lodge No. 754 and Homer Lodge No. 199 installed their new officers at Ogden Lodge on June 26th. We had a fried chicken dinner, and installed officers for both lodges afterwards. The Officers for Ogden Lodge No. 754: Worshipful Master: Aaron Ketchum Senior Warden: WB Greg Knott Junior Warden: Steve Guess Treasurer: WB Stephen Hooper Secretary: WB Todd E. Creason Chaplain: Butch Schreyer Senior Deacon: WB Carl D. Lewis Junior Deacon: RWB Denver Phelps Senior Steward: WB Dave Harry Junior Steward: WB Brandon Lewis Marshall: Brad Edwards Tyler: HWB Carl D. Lewis The Officers for Homer Lodge No. 199: Worshipful Master: Charles Fritz (2nd Year) Senior Warden: Eric Bensken Junior Warden: WB Stephen Hooper Treasurer: WB Carl W. Lewis Secretary: WB Denver Phelps Senior Deacon: WB Todd Creason Junior Deacon: WB Greg Knott Senior Steward: WB Don Hodgson Junior Steward: WB Cecil Harris

to D.C. being a transient city with persons who are working for the federal government. After the meal, we adjourned to the lodge room, which was nothing short of spectacular. It is decorated in an Egyptian motif, with extensive murals painted on the walls. The Masters station in the East is carved out into a nitch in the wall. On the left and right of the Masters chair are 2 large obelisks that reach towards the giant vaulted ceiling.

Visiting Historic Naval Lodge No. 4, Washington, D.C.

By WB Greg Knott While on a recent trip to Washington D.C., I visited Naval Lodge No. 4 of the Grand Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons (F.A.A.M) of the District of Columbia. Naval Lodge is located in the Capitol Hill district of D.C. about 3 blocks from the U.S. capitol building, at 330 Pennsylvania Ave. S.E. The lodge was granted a charter in 1804. According to it's website (www.naval-lodge.org): NAVAL LODGE came into being in the dawn of the nineteenth century, and to the fact of its location in the Navy Yard settlement, or to use a colloquial phrase, on the Navy Yard and likewise, perhaps, to the fact that the war with Tripoli had just ended and the country was ringing with the daring deeds of Decatur and his fleet, may be attributed the selection of its name. This latter assumption seems all the more probable because it was in Washington, D.C., that many of the crew from that fleet were discharged, and as a consequence the citizens of the city were brought into closer touch with the naval heroes and their achievement. Tradition, indeed, holds that from this source the Lodge obtained a large accession of valuable membership. A very elderly man who was the Tyler met me at the door of the building. The Lodge room was on the 4th floor of the building and the Tyler took me up by an elevator that he hand operated. I left the elevator and was greeted by numerous brethren of Naval Lodge who greeted me warmly. A meal was served before the meeting with lots of interesting conversations. Many of the members of Naval Lodge were also members of Lodge's in other states. This is due in large part

The alter in the center of the room has the 3 great lights surrounding it, while sitting on a mosaic pavement. The Senior Wardens station in the West is also equally impressive. Two large columns supporting a large buttress surround the SW chair and are highly decorated. I was able to observe a 2nd degree being put on for a brother. While there are many similarities to Illinois ritual, there was also several noticeable differences. But the same core Masonic values are the same. The Brethren of Naval Lodge No. 4 made me feel very welcome and invited me to come and visit again next time I am in Washington D.C. I plan to do so. Greg Knott is the Senior Warden of Ogden Lodge No. 754, and is a dual member of St. Joseph Lodge, where he was just installed as Worshipful Master, and Homer Lodge No. 199, where hell soon be installed as Junior Deacon. He is also a member of the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, and the Ansar Shrine.

Ogden and Homer Lodges Both Have New Websites

Be sure and check out Ogden Lodge No. 754s new and improved website at ogdenlodge754.blogspot.com. And Homer Lodge No. 199 has a website now too at homerlodge199.blogspot.com. Youll find news and information there about upcoming events, stated meetings, and well be posting an electronic version of the newsletter on both sites each month (and youll be able to see what this newsletter looks like in color). Both Ogden Lodge No. 754 and Homer Lodge No. 199 are on Facebook as well. So if you Facebook, be sure and look us up and become our friend.

CALENDAR

OF

EVENTS

Masonry a Way of Life

Many have asked for a definition of Masonry, but few have received a satisfactory answer. The explanation most frequently given is that it is a science veiled in Allegory and explained by Symbols. Concealed in Symbols might better explain the real situation. This explanation really means little to most of us. Inasmuch as anyone may interpret our Symbols, and Masonry itself, according to his own light, here is my definition. Masonry, in the final analysis, is a way of life, a theory of life, a philosophy of life. It manifests itself in our daily contacts with our fellows. It is not what the tongue proclaims, but what the heart contains. The true Mason, then, is the one who interpret the symbols in which Masonry is concealed (or by which it is explained) through exemplification in his daily life of what was put into such Symbols long before Solomon started construction of the Great White Temple which crowned Moriahs Mount. Masonry should be a brotherhood of man, and this need not be an idle dream, even though it may require long and patient effort to overcome error and prejudice. I believe the time yet will come, possibly within the lives of some here tonight, when battleflags will be forever furled, when battle tanks will become the tractors of the husbandman, and the Eternal Truths which are Freemasonry, will be universally recognized by a world forever at peace through practice of what our Symbols contain. That will be Masonry Dully developed. Submitted by WB Stephen Hooper, excerpted from a book of short Masonic lectures 3-5-7 Minutes Talks on Freemasonry

JULY JOINT STATED MEETING

HOMER LODGE NO. 199 & OGDEN LODGE NO 754 SECOND WEDNESDAY (JULY 13) @ 7 PM

Joint meeting at Ogden Lodge .

AUGUST JOINT STATED MEETING

HOMER LODGE NO. 199 & OGDEN LODGE NO. 754 SECOND TUESDAY (AUGUST 9TH) @ 7:30 PM

Joint meeting at Ogden Lodge.

SEPTEMBER JOINT STATED MEETING

HOMER LODGE NO. 199 & OGDEN LODGE NO. 754 SECOND WEDNESDAY (SEPTEMBER14) @ 7 PM JOINT MEETING
AT

OGDEN LODGE

OGDEN COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE

OGDEN LODGE NO. 754 SATURDAY JULY 16
TH

FROM

9 AM 1PM

Come and give the gift of life and support the Ogden Community Blood Drive

Special Thanks To Our Semi-Retired Secretary

For the past fourteen years, the RWB Denver Phelps has served with distinction as Ogden Lodges Secretary. And last year, he became the Secretary of Homer Lodge as well. As most Masons know, the job of the Secretary isnt an easy one, and its not a job a lot of Masons want to take on. Thats the reason when youre elected as Secretary, we jokingly say its a life term (plus ten years). But Ogden Lodge paroled Denver for good behavior, and he gladly traded his pen and minutes book for a rod, and he seems pretty happy about taking that Junior

Ogden/Homer To Hold Joint Summer Meetings

Last year at this time Ogden Lodge and Homer Lodge held a series of joint meetings all of us together in one place each month. Part of the reason we did this last year is it gets so hot upstairs at Homer Lodge in the summertime. The Master of Homer last year asked if he could use Ogden Lodge for their meetings during the summer months, but we

The Blue Ghost Serves as Blue Lodge

The name and history of the USS Lexington is legendary. She was the only aircraft carrier in World War II that wasn't painted in camouflage. She was instead painted deep blue, and this was an enticement to the Japanese to sink her. The Japanese repeatedly tried to sink the USS Lexington, and so sure were the Japanese of her destruction on several occasions that no less than four times, the Japanese reported the USS Lexington sunk. And yet, they would later learn to their dismay that the USS Lexington had miraculously survived the assaultsand was still very much in the fight. It led Tokyo Rose, the infamous Japanese radio propagandist, to begin calling the Lexington "The Blue Ghost." Throughout the war in the Pacific, the Japanese never stopping trying, but they never got it done, despite their best efforts. They tried at the Kwajalein Raid, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and again at the Marianas Turkey Shoot, to no avail. The Lexington persevered, and continued to inflict damage on the Japanese until the end of the Second World War. Shes now permanently anchored at Corpus Christi, Texas as a floating museum. On Saturday, April 30th, Oso Naval Lodge No. 1282 in Corpus Christi, Texas conferred the Master Mason degree

Ogden Lodge No. 754 PO Box 74 Ogden, IL 61859

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED