When Brothers Show Up: Celebrating Masonic Membership Visibility Day 2026
Each August, Illinois Freemasons celebrate Masonic Membership Visibility Day by sharing their Masonic pride, online and in person. This year's theme is “Brotherly Love = Kindness = We Care,” and to celebrate, we asked one simple question: "When did a Brother show up for you in a way you'll never forget?"
Four Brothers from lodges across Illinois are featured in this compilation. Their stories say more about what Freemasonry actually is than any flyer could.
Masonic Membership Visibility Day Flyer
"The Love and Care in Masonic Interaction Defies Understanding"
Brother James Mabey of Normal Lodge No. 0673 was hit hard in 2024. A stroke in January, followed by retirement due to failing eyesight and mobility, left him and his family underwater with medical and relocation costs.
He reached out to the Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. & A.M. for help, unsure what to expect. What he found was a team that treated his situation like it mattered:
"The ladies at the Illinois Masonic Outreach Services (IMOS) were absolutely outstanding beyond words. They were sympathetic to my needs and extremely helpful…The bottom line is, when all was said and done, IMOS fully covered my relocation, lifting a HUGE financial burden at a really challenging time in my life. The love and care in Masonic interaction defies understanding. The Grand Lodge went way above and beyond for me — and this Illinois Brother is eternally grateful!"
A Nephew's Raising, and an Uncle's Front-Row Seat
Mark Carlen and his nephew Marshall Carlen
Brother Mark Carlen of Toledo Lodge No. 834 lives in Oklahoma, hundreds of miles from his hometown. When his nephew, Marshall Carlen, decided to join the fraternity, distance could have meant Mark missed every milestone. Instead, Toledo Lodge No. 834 secretary Jeff Decker made sure he didn't miss a thing.
Brother Decker sent Brother Carlen the dates of his nephew’s Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft degrees, along with photos as his nephew progressed. When it came time for Marshall's Master Mason raising, Brother Decker gave Brother Carlen the date so he could be there in person — and, unbeknownst to Brother Carlen, had already arranged with the Worshipful Master to let him take part in the degree itself.
"It was a moment I will always appreciate and never forget," Brother Carlen said. "A true brotherly love experience."
Learning to Walk Again with A Brother By Your Side
Brother Jim Soules Sr.
Brother John Ritter of Columbia Lodge No. 474 was serving as Deputy Commander of the IL 303rd, a search-and-rescue unit, when a driver plowed through his convoy at over 70 mph during a training mission at Scott Air Force Base. The impact hit right where Brother Ritter was sitting.
"I don't remember much about it, other than I saw it coming and said, ‘God, I put my life in Your hands’," he recalled. He woke to a medic holding his head as crews cut him free with the jaws of life. Doctors weren't sure he'd walk again, and when he first tried to get up, his legs wouldn't hold him.
At the time, Brother Ritter was a member of Macon Lodge No. 8 and often traveled to help with degree work at lodges across central Illinois. Previously, he'd met Past Master Jim Soules Sr., his first Worshipful Master and a close friend.
When Brother Ritter was in the hospital, PM Soules was one of the only people outside his family who made the drive to see him. Over the year it took Brother Ritter to walk again, PM Soules made sure his rent and utilities were paid and that he had food on the table.
"Jim took me in like family," Ritter said. "I have been blessed to meet some truly great men through Masonry. Jim was one of them, and I'd like to honor him since his passing."
Three Brothers, One Hard Night
Brother Rabbi Rob Thomas of Harmony Lodge No. 3 almost skipped lodge one evening. Weeks of intense work had left him drained, and he questioned whether he had the energy to attend. He went anyway.
"It was a blessing," he said. Fellow veterans and Brothers Matt Allen, Justin Hamel, and Mark Lonergan noticed something was off and pulled him aside to ask if they could help. They recognized the look on his face and knew to simply listen while he unburdened his mind.
"As the gavel sounded, I felt free of my cares and inspired," Brother Thomas said. "Brotherhood was exactly what I needed that night, with Brothers Allen, Hamel, and Lonergan giving me the gift of their ears, shoulders, and time. It is a blessing I will forever cherish, and spend the rest of my Masonic career paying forward."
What These Stories Have in Common
A stroke recovery. A nephew's raising. A roadside crash. A hard week at work. Four very different moments, and in each one, Brothers showed up: not because they had to, but because that's what Brotherly Love actually looks like when it's needed.
That's the point of Masonic Membership Visibility Day. If you've experienced a moment like this in your own lodge, share it. Post it, tag it, tell it at your next meeting. Every story adds up to the same message: Brotherly Love = Kindness = We Care.
For more stories of Brothers in action, check out our recent collection featuring mentorship here.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Masonic Membership Visibility Day (MMVD) is an annual August observance during which Illinois Freemasons share their Masonic pride, both online and in person. It's an opportunity for Brothers to make the fraternity more visible in their communities and to reflect on what membership means to them.
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The 2026 theme is "Brotherly Love = Kindness = We Care." It centers on the everyday moments when Brothers show up for one another — during a health crisis, a family milestone, an accident, or a hard week — and frames kindness as a lived expression of Masonic values.
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Illinois Masonic Outreach Services (IMOS) is a charity of the Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. & A.M. that supports Brothers and their families facing hardship. In the case of Brother James Mabey of Normal Lodge No. 673, IMOS fully covered his relocation costs after a stroke ended his career, lifting what he called "a HUGE financial burden."
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Brothers can participate by sharing their own stories of Masonic kindness — posting them on social media, telling them at their next lodge meeting, or simply making the fraternity visible in day-to-day conversation. Every story adds to the same message that Brotherly Love shows up in action.
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Men who are curious about Freemasonry can explore our website to learn what the fraternity stands for, read stories from current members, and find a lodge in their community.