Minnesota Bloggers: Part 2

In a past article about bloggers in the great state of Minnesota, I had thought that I had found all of them. Let's just say, I was totally wrong. There are two more blogs created by Brothers in the State of Minnesota which deserve a look as they are each of them written by incredibly learned brothers. The best part is that these two blogs are written by Grand Lodge Officers of Minnesota.

The first site I would like to feature is from Right Worshipful Brother Tom Hendrickson, Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. His blog is entitled "All Things Masonic" and seeks to put forth enlightenment. R.W. Bro. Tom is the president of the Minnesota Masonic Historical Society and Museum. R.W. Bro. Tom is incredibly active within Masonry and has been a great leader within Minnesota Masonry. I really agree with what R.W. Bro Tom says about being a Freemason, "Masonry is a way of life." All Things Masonic focuses on Masonic Education and the work of a Grand Lodge officer. I am very appreciative of R.W. Bro. Tom's work for Minnesota Masonry and I would like to thank him for his continued support of my blog.

The second blog that I wish to draw your attention to is that of the Grand Master of Minnesota's website, the MN Grand Master 09 blog by Most Worshipful Brother Tom McCarthy. M.W.B. McCarthy is truly dedicated to the Craft and has made it know that his year is dedicated to the Mentoring program for the Masons in the state of Minnesota. Mentoring is, in my opinion, the way in which Masons come together to form those intimate bonds of brotherhood. These bonds lead to a true devotion to our Gentle Craft. Although we are admonished to fit ourselves into that spiritual building, we cannot do it alone. We need good mentors to help us be prepared as we go about our time before, during and after we are raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. I want to congratulate M.W.B. Tom on his election to that Grand Oriental Chair and I know he will lead our Craft wisely during his year.

As you can tell, Minnesota Freemasonry is truly becoming an interactive experience. Many brothers have begun blogging about the Craft and I want to thank the Grand Lodge of Minnesota for allowing open dialogue among the brothers of this state. I want to thank both R.W. Tom and M.W. Tom for allowing me to feature their sites as I think they are a part of a growing trend of Masonry which I hope will continue for many years into the future.

Day 2 of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota Annual Communication

I would like to open this post with a one word response to describe what happened in Saint Cloud today, whoa!!! Today was one of those days in Masonry that could change the course of the Craft in America. But to start, let's talk about Nick's breakfast.

As is almost always the case, you meet and discuss Masonry the best over a plate of food. It is just natural considering the origins of Speculative Masonry in the taverns and pubs of England. I was fortunate enough to have been joined by the Junior Warden of my Lodge, Steve, and the Junior Deacon of my Lodge, Rick, the entire West Virginia contingent of whom one was MWB Frank Haas and W.B. Bob Davis of Oklahoma. It was a wonderful breakfast and it was again nice to discuss Freemasonry in the modern era.

All throughout Fridays sessions, I would run into M.W.B. Haas and I would discuss the situation of Masons in West Virginia. He told me everything from handicapped brethren not being allowed to be made Masons even if it occurred fighting for our Nation's freedom, the lack of recognition for Prince Hall Masons in West Virginia and the fact that Lodge halls may not be used by groups like OES and Demolay to fundraise. Although he could not discuss the matter of his own expulsion as it is currently in court, I was intimately aware of his plight through sources found online and elsewhere. It is truly shocking what has and is continuing to happen in West Virginia.

I want to congratulate M.W.B. Tom as he starts his year as Grand Master and I have great faith in his leadership as he continues the great tradition of Masonry in the state of Minnesota.

I would also mention that Bro. Rick, the Senior Deacon of my Lodge, was award the Daniel Carter Beard award for his dedication to Scouting. He has shown time and time again his devotion to Scouting. I am an Eagle Scout and I truly feel that Scouting has made me a better man. I think the Scouting movement, as a whole, is so vitally important in giving young men the opportunity to grow and become great men in their communities and I will support it for the rest of my life.

The final event within the Grand Lodge of Minnesota is that two Lodges have been given charters today. The first Lodge is Sir Winston Churchill Lodge #351 UD, which will be working the Emulation Rite and the second is General Douglas MacArthur Lodge #352 UD which will be focused on men in the military. Both Lodges are filled with excited brothers who are emblematic of how the Craft is growing and become more vibrant currently. I want to congratulate the brothers of both Lodges and wish them the best.

As you can imagine, I have seen huge changes within Masonry in my own state and possibly throughout the world, met many influential and humbling brothers and experienced a Masonic rebirth in a mere two days. As I drove home from Saint Cloud, I looked into the sky and watch the sun pierce the clouds as if Deity sought to cast light on our state just as we have cast Masonic light upon the world of Freemasonry.

Day 1 of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota Annual Communication

I am writing today to you from the very beautiful city of Saint Cloud in the great state of Minnesota. It has been an incredible day of fellowship and brotherhood that has truly opened my eyes to the path for a better Fraternity. It is always a wonderful time to get reacquainted with old friends and meet new friends throughout these two days.

This year, we were fortunate to hear from four very important brothers to our Craft. The first brother is, of course, Most Worshipful Brother Frank Haas. If you don’t know the story of the raw deal that M.W.B. Haas has received from the Grand Lodge of West Virginia, I will point to you the blog dedicated to vindicating the rights of M.W.B. Haas, Masonic Crusade. I had a nice short chat with M.W.B. Haas during lunch about the nasty business down in West Virginia and I gave hi9m my support in his efforts to regain his rightful place in this Fraternity. I am of the belief that the old ways of West Virginia are not the best and I hope that more enlightened men will once again lead that Grand Lodge back to its honored place. Now, it sits, like an old, dilapidated abandon home, waiting for the strong willed hands to fix her rough exterior. Sadly, as is Masonic courtesy,  MWB Haas was not present at our tyled meeting but I know that in spirit, he was in our hearts.

The next two brothers that were able to speak with us were W. Bro. Curtin Winsor, Jr. and Bro. Marc Wachenheim, who were kind enough to explain to us the situation of Freemasonry in the country of Cuba and its role in transforming the country from a totalitarian dictatorship into a democratic country. I was truly impressed by the work that my Grand Lodge has done in continuing to grow the ties between my Grand Lodge and its sister Grand Lodge in Cuba. I have heard Freemasonry the shock troops of the Enlightenment and with this example of generosity and moral fortitude, these brothers are transforming their island nation into a stronger and better nation. I want to applaud their efforts and my own Grand Lodges efforts in bring light to another corner of the globe.

The final brother that graced our annual communication and was, in fact, our keynote speaker, was Robert Davis, 33°, of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. He is a preeminent scholar on the subject of Freemasonry and my Grand Lodge has awarded him the Duane E. Anderson National Excellence in Masonic Education Award. As I listened to his speech on the properties of each generation and the ways in which they are joined, I really got a sense by which I joined Masonry. I was able to talk to him about issues affecting Lodges and I really appreciated him taking the time to discuss with me the quintessential quality within Masonry by which men join, to enjoy the company of other men. I think this is truly key in all Lodges, that men seek out other men because they are seen as good, upright men in the community. If you want to read more from W.B. Davis, visit his website here.  I want to congratulate W.B. Davis on being awarded this prestigious honor.

Also, while I was here at the Annual Communication, I was able to see two Minnesota bloggers and great leaders of the Craft, W. Bro. James at the SE Area Travels blog and R.W. Bro. Tom, Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota who writes the All Things Masonic blog. Both of these brothers are active Masons and I hope for them only good fortunes. I would like to add that the Grand Master of Iowa was in Minnesota as a result of RWB Tom’s incredibly work in organizing our Minnesota brothers into a driving force to clean up after the state of Iowa was ravaged by flood waters. I want to congratulate RWB Tom for extending our collective hand for brotherly love and relief. Now, I promised to have video up but sadly, because of something in my steak, I had an allergic reaction. Not to worry, I caught it but now I have lost my voice. Hopefully, by tomorrow after a few hours of sleep, I will return to half strength. Stay tuned for more coverage tomorrow.

24 Lodges receive the 2008 Mark Twain Awards

MSANA's Masonic Information Center has awarded 24 Lodges the Mark Twain Award for Excellence in Masonic Awareness. They are listed here. One notable Lodge (although I have to admit that all of them are notable just from receiving this award) is the Maine Lodge of Research. If none of you are familiar with this particular Research Lodge, it is one of the premier Lodges in the world. Maine Lodge of Research, because it allows Master Masons of all recognized jurisdiction of Maine to join, boasts an impressive list of members and fellows including John J. Robinson, Tom Jackson, Paul Bessel and Ed King. I really want to congratulate all the Lodges that have been honored with this important distinction in Masonry.

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