Wilmette Park Lodge No. 931


Before the once a year “Lodge in Shorts”, Stated Meeting on July 3rd, there was a great turnout of Brothers, Friends and Family at the BBQ on the side lawn of our Temple. What made this event even more special was the fact that Brother John Nye also there to celebrate his 85th Birthday with us !
Next month Brother Nye will celebrate his 50th Masonic Birthday.

After the Meeting and BBQ we headed further East to see the Wilmette Independence Day Fireworks.

At the annual Wilmette Street Fest on Saturday July 12th, our Lodge showed its presence in the community again by having an information booth on the sidewalk in the village center. On the same day there was also an open house at our majestic Masonic Temple.

On July 17th Brother Liam C., a third generation Mason, did the long form Catechism before being passed to the Second Degree that same evening.

The 3rd NE District Meeting organized by RW. Br. Hardesty was held at the Wilmette Masonic Temple on July 19th, there was a good turnout for this interesting Meeting. The tasty lunch afterwards was catered by the company of one of our newest Fellow Crafts.

Picnic August 3rd.
Our annual beach picnic will take place on August 3rd at the Glencoe Beach, located at 160 Hazel Avenue, Glencoe, IL 60022. There is a golf cart available to help people with reduced mobility to get from the parking area to the beach, and back. We have rented beach space 5, from 9:30 am till 8:00 pm. Brother Chaplain who has organized this year’s event, will be there at 10 am, all Brothers, family and friends from the area are invited, if possible bring one item of food, you can come and go at any time you like. There is a $ 5 per person admission charge to get access to the beach.

From the West:

A traveling man travels

Change is a part of life, both in regular everyday life and in masonic life. A few months ago I put into play activities that would change both aspects of my life in a big way, and on June 15 they came to fruition; I moved my family to Charlotte, North Carolina. We moved for many reasons, and having been here for a month I know it was the right move for us in many ways, but in doing so I left my Masonic home.

Wilmette Park Lodge #931 was to be my Masonic home before I was even born, the day my Grandfather was raised a MM in that same lodge in the same room, that many years later, I was raised with his hand on mine. My passion for my home lodge runs very deep, deep enough to work my way up the line, step aside for the betterment of a brother, work around the building to help preserve our history and to become a Life Member of; it is my home.

But now it is the time to expand my Masonic horizons. As I’ve learned from my fellow lodge brother, and our JW, Marcus McE. , the Masonic path is meant to be traveled, learned from, and improved upon...so off I go to discover new lodges, new brothers, differences in ritual and beliefs, all in hopes of improving myself in Masonry. I am looking forward to these travels, but will be sad that many familiar faces won’t be next to me: Patrick, Marcus, Ed, Mike, Mickey, Jason, Mark, Bob and the list goes on; those are my “ First Brothers”, my Home Brothers, and I will miss them greatly.

The irony in all this is that my closest friend and brother, Patrick, our current WM is also moving away from Wilmette. I have cried many a tear over this separation, it will be very hard to sit in another lodge and not see him sitting across from me, but I know that I will travel to The UK to visit him and his new lodge as often as possible.

I intend to return to Wilmette Park Lodge as often as I can (as I have a huge benefit of flying essentially for free as my Wife is an airline pilot) to visit my friends and brothers and continue my relationship with my home lodge, because as they say “you can always go home.”

With much sadness in leaving, and much excitement in my future Masonic path, I say thank you, and If I never see you face to face again, know that we will meet in the grandest of lodges when the time is right.

Fraternally,

Christiaan P. van Deur, Jr,
Senior Warden
Wilmette Park Lodge #931


From the South:

Ritual as Meditation

Potential Masons are motivated by a variety of reasons to join our Fraternity. Whatever these motivations, the catechisms, lectures and ritual detail specific tasks for every Mason. These tasks are designed to propel the mind into a higher level of consciousness in which decisions are made free from the negative influence of our unsubdued passions. The higher consciousness is constantly receiving more light so that it can more clearly see truth.

Lodge meetings are intended as s time to facilitate this process. The opening ritual is a form of content driven group meditation. The ritual creates a safe place , clears the mind from outside influences and facilitates a group Masonic consciousness. The group consciousness is now better equipped to learn the vital lessons taught in a Lodge and handle Lodge business in an atmosphere of friendship and fraternal love.

This is why ritual needs to be consistent, precise and of the highest quality. Also the brothers must conduct themselves with the proper attitude, dress and solemnity. Ego and self-centered thought need to be reduced. The meditative effects of the ritual are diluted by poor execution.

The use of ritual to establish a mindset for receiving light is is old as man. Almost every culture has forms of disciplined ritual designed to teach spiritual traditions. Our minds need discipline to receive more light. It is through disciplined ritual that we establish our spiritual base for higher consciousness. We should not allow our narcissistic need for individual external expression blind us. True freedom comes from higher consciousness that disciplines and subsidies it passions.

We can also be found on the internet:
www.mastermason.com/wilmettepark
On Facebook, by searching for ‘Wilmette Park Lodge 931’


The Officers and Brethren of Wilmette Park Lodge No.931 look forward seeing you in Lodge and or at any of the events.

Wilmette Park Lodge No.931
Meets, First & Third Thursday of the month.
Dinner 6:30 pm, Meeting 7:30 pm
Next Meeting: August 7th ,2014
September 4th, 2014


Wilmette Masonic Temple
1010 Central Avenue
Wilmette, IL 60091


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