Welcome to the official page for the Eureka Challenge, the Masonic knowledge proficiency competition sponsored by the Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. & A.M. Here you’ll find information about this enjoyable, exciting game which provides an opportunity for long-time Masons to apply their knowledge of the Craft while also giving newer members the chance to learn more about our Fraternity.

Developed in 2002-2003 by the Lodge Education/Programs Committee, the Eureka Challenge is a unique platform for promoting and recognizing Masonic knowledge. Equally important, this powerful education channel can be used to convey virtually any subject matter the Grand Lodge wishes to convey to Blue Lodge members.

The format for the Eureka Challenge was inspired by the account of Pythagoras noted in our Masonic traditions, which reads: The forty-seventh problem of Euclid was an invention of our ancient friend and brother, the great Pythagoras, who, in his travels through Asia, Africa and Europe, was initiated into several orders of priesthood, and is said to have been raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. This wise philosopher enriched his mind abundantly in a general knowledge of things, more especially in geometry, or Masonry. On this subject he drew out many problems and theorems; and among the most distinguished he erected this, which, in the joy of his heart, he exclaimed Eureka! signifying, in the Grecian language, I have found it; and upon the discovery of which he is said to have sacrificed a hecatomb. It teaches Masons to be general lovers of the arts and sciences.

Eureka Challenge 2012 Round #1 Results & Round #2 Overview

Competition was intense this year as we have sought to keep the content fresh and challenging.

Complete Round #1 results are listed below and you will note that some districts had only one entry, and a few had none.  Average score was 70 and average time was 9:14.  District Champion lodges are listed in bold italics.  Lodges sent materials but for whom no entry (completed materials) was received postmarked by March 31, 2012 are listed as “no entry.”

If your lodge is listed as a Round #1 participant whose entry was returned postmarked no later than March 31, 2012, your lodge qualified for one of the criteria in the Grand Master’s Award of Excellence Program.

This year’s competition is based on the topic “Famous Masons” focusing on figures from American and world history.

- Round #1: questions were about brethren whose accomplishments occurred mainly during the 1700s to early 1800s.

- Round #2: If a lodge becomes a District Champion, questions are on brethren whose accomplishments occurred mainly during the mid-1800s to early 1900s.

- Round #3: If a lodge becomes Area Champion and advances to the 3rd round, questions are on brethren whose accomplishments occurred in the 20th century.  Round #3 entries are due postmarked no later than  September 26, 2012.

If your lodge is not advancing to Round #2, feel free to visit the District Champion Lodge in your district to observe or even participate (with permission of their Master).

Eureka  Challenge 2012 Round #1 Results
NORTHEASTERN AREA
Lodge No.	District	Score	Time	Days
115	1	no entry
127	1	45	11:00	1
492	1	70	7:01	1
314	2	55	9:00	1
522	2	70	8:07	10
818	2	no entry
890	3	80	15:40	6
931	3	60	7:07	1
1058	3	55	10:04	1
437	4	70	8:30	1
524	4	50	12:27	1
997	4	50	14:00	1
33	5	no entry
271	5	75	8:00	1
411	5	no entry
998	5	100	7:20	1
610	6	70	9:42	1
777	6	90	7:46	2
865	6	no entry
1163	6	no entry
48	7	85	6:00	1
139	7	60	5:43	4
359	7	55	9:23	n/a
404	7	55	6:40	1
824	8	75	8:25	1
941	8	70	8:00	7
950	8	no entry
1098	8	65	8:58	n/a
1113	8	100	7:09	5
141	9	45	13:47	2
478	9	50	9:10	1
839	9	no entry
862	9	85	11:04	1
995	9	no entry
65	10	75	9:01	1
770	10	75	8:00	1
934	10	80	8:45	1
1074	10	90	11:51	1
1133	10	no entry
1136	10	80	7:11	1
1153	10	75	9:21	2
175	11	no entry
422	11	75	7:45	1
810	11	75	4:59	1
919	11	no entry
1171	11	75	7:55	1
270	12	80	7:30	1
716	12	no entry
763	12	65	5:13	1
1169	12	100	6:35	1
NORTHERN AREA
Lodge No.	District	Score	Time	Days
97	1	no entry
170	1	65	10:08	9
174	1	75	12:45	2
273	1	no entry
554	1	55	10:00	2
687	1	75	7:07	4
102	2	90	1:51	3
166	2	40	6:27	1
302	2	65	9:40	1
158	3	70	10:00	1
169	3	90	7:06	2
190	3	75	8:27	33
288	3	80	1:06	1
337	3	no entry
1157	3	no entry
423	4	no entry
7	5	65	11:00	1
146	5	65	17:00	0
178	5	75	8:15	4
244	5	no entry
189	6	55	10:21	1
321	6	70	6:00	1
612	6	85	8:00	1
667	6	60	8:45	1
936	6	85	4:00	1
90	7	50	9:14	7
254	7	90	10:00	1
283	7	no entry
303	7	60	12:30	1
428	7	no entry
471	7	no entry
92	8	80	6:00	11
319	8	50	12:50	1
1014	8	90	12:00	2
61	9	60	10:30	1
103	9	80	9:38	1
119	9	70	8:00	1
344	9	60	8:08	1
13	10	90	5:50	1
40	10	80	7:54	1
587	10	70	12:35	7
722	10	no entry
208	11	no entry
371	11	60	11:00	1
417	11	85	6:27	1
49	12	75	9:13	1
69	12	65	7:00	2
EASTERN AREA
Lodge No.	District	Score	Time	Days
112	1	no entry
126	2	100	14:06	1
132	2	no entry
352	2	no entry
43	3	90	5:05	5
251	3	45	9:23	1
512	3	85	5:30	1
673	3	no entry
429	4	70	5:18	2
1092	4	65	7:01	1
820	5	55	7:00	7
58	6	100	6:19	1
220	6	no entry
812	6	no entry
157	7	65	8:08	2
240	7	60	5:10	1
347	7	75	20:00	1
391	7	65	5:31	1
747	7	75	6:25	1
970	7	65	4:59	1
38	8	100	16:26	1
1130	8	no entry
451	9	55	16:05	1
682	9	85	3:30	n/a
467	10	55	16:15	1
260	11	55	12:35	1
332	11	100	3:05	1
366	11	no entry
764	11	80	11:08	1
825	11	no entry
77	12	55	10:31	13
408	12	80	12:17	1
226	13	no entry
35	14	90	8:56	0
125	14	80	7:33	4
179	14	45	11:37	1
698	14	75	10:00	3
133	15	60	11:00	21
442	15	no entry
1046	15	no entry
SOUTHERN AREA
Lodge No.	District	Score	Time	Days
27	1	no entry
99	1	90	8:55	1
255	2	no entry
809	2	no entry
533	3	55	8:01	1
602	3	75	7:37	1
216	4	60	8:02	1
250	4	65	13:58	1
348	4	55	10:48	8
644	4	75	11:45	2
849	4	75	7:56	2
201	5	75	7:37	n/a
109	6	75	8:36	1
110	6	75	8:14	1
418	6	55	14:00	1
576	6	75	8:06	1
504	7	no entry
852	7	no entry
1030	7	no entry
72	8	65	14:41	1
427	8	75	9:56	1
474	8	75	11:22	1
787	8	65	10:53	2
64	9	60	15:45	1
744	9	90	10:30	n/a
31	10	no entry
55	10	no entry
206	10	no entry
164	11	100	3:00	3
334	11	65	14:16	1
356	11	70	5:57	1
866	11	65	7:51	1
668	12	no entry
677	12	100	7:37	1
718	12	no entry
2	13	no entry
325	13	no entry
434	15	60	11:41	1
466	15	90	9:05	4
520	15	50	6:36	2
581	15	no entry
339	16	50	9:47	14
953	16	no entry
131	17	50	7:29	1
WESTERN AREA
Lodge No.	District	Score	Time	Days
113	1	no entry
123	1	100	7:50	2
252	1	55	7:47	1
577	1	50	7:02	1
66	2	65	7:47	1
93	2	no entry
155	2	40	11:15	1
159	2	100	9:00	1
243	2	65	8:22	1
330	2	75	16:35	1
307	3	60	6:48	1
519	3	50	12:57	1
104	4	no entry
192	4	60	11:37	1
363	4	55	15:00	1
734	4	60	12:07	1
9	6	70	7:08	1
116	6	75	9:57	1
20	7	75	5:30	1
683	7	70	7:04	1
296	8	65	9:25	4
379	8	no entry
449	8	55	11:30	2
529	8	80	9:43	1
3	10	55	12:43	2
23	10	no entry
544	10	75	11:51	9
724	10	70	16:00	1
4	11	90	4:35	1
333	11	70	11:00	1
500	11	90	7:31	1
904	11	no entry
71	12	no entry
341	13	no entry
592	13	60	10:30	2
212	14	no entry
214	14	no entry