My Brothers,     I hope you all are well and attending lodge.  In the past week I attended a couple of lodges that conferred degrees with multiple candidates. It is really great to see lodges growing. Some seem to be growing at an alarming rate while some are needing to have past masters go back through the line out of necessity. I think it is great that there are past masters still involved in there lodges. It has been pointed out to me that the lodges with lack of past master participation seem to always have some sort of troubles down the road. I have heard some brothers state that their goal is to make it to the east. Which is a great goal, but the problem is that was the end for them. I believe past masters are an important part of blue lodges functionality. They should be given responsibilities in the lodge which coincide with there interests. If they enjoyed helping new brothers, they could help with the Intender Program or maybe help newly elected officers with their chair work. Doing something you like to do makes it less tedious. ...

Please let us know what has been successful at your Lodge for Fundraising.  Allot of different Lodges are looking for ideas.

Jeff Henson
Secretary of Western Springs Lodge #1136
Junior Deacon of Evergreen Park Lodge #1171

My Brothers,

Tidings from a traveling brother. My name is John L. Scardina Jr. and I live in the Northeastern part of Illinois. Romeoville to be exact. I am somewhat new to Masonry as I was raised to MM on March 30, 2010. I was 42 years old when I was raised. I really feel like I have a lot of ground to make up. I don’t know how Masonry hid from me for all those years. I could have easily obtained a double digit membership pin by now! However it seems the Grand Architect had other plans for me. The last 12 months in Masonry have been fast and furious for me. Those of you who have come to know me, already know that I am in lodge more nights than I am not. (I am disabled and not working.) You see, I am not one of those brothers who can memorize something written very easily. Because of this I set out to see as many opening, closings and degrees as I possibly can. My progress in ritual is coming around, slowly.

Enough about me! Let’s get to the meat of Masonry! I go to a few lodges in my area and I...

What are other Lodges doing to Bring in New Members and keep them coming back?


Jeff Henson
Secretary of Western Springs Lodge #1136
Junior Deacon of Evergreen park Lodge #1171

Two major Messages from The Grand Master's Town Hall Meeting on 4/8/2011 in Weschester.