Waukegan Lodge #78 AF&AM

July 2015

THE TROWEL
News | Education | Schedule
Did you know?
Going Dark
Lodges in the
summertime routinely
go dark for a set period
of time. Within this time
the lodge typically does
not hold business
meetings or perform
degrees. It may meet for
fellowship or other
activities.

The tradition comes from

lodges who met in
farming communities and
needed to tend to crops in
the summer and also
from lodges who went
dark due to the heat of
the season.

This can be a big issue

when we meet in tuxedos
and suits when the
temperatures sore,
especially here in the
midwest.

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The Masters Message

Our Country has celebrated yet another birthday! The year is half
over and we have been busy little bees. Much has happened in
just one month! We passed three new brothers to the degree of
Fellowcraft, we fixed the roof (temporarily, a full repair is
forthcoming) and its time to pass out the scholarships! This is
usually the time of year when many edges go dark for the
summer, yet we at Waukegan remain open for business, a
testament to the good work we are doing. Recently there has
been a new goal of the Area Deputy Grand Master, which is to
get every lodge to participate in the Grand Masters Award of
Excellence. Going forward, Waukegan will need a committee to
keep track of our accomplishments in relation to this. This brings
up another topic, that of Lodge Committees. Bro. Tom Love has
been our chairman for the endowments committee for quite
some time and is looking to retire but remain somewhat active.
Interested parties should see Bro. Carlos Duran (Jr. Warden), Erik
Solomon (Sr. Warden) or Myself to talk about what you may be
able to help with in the lodge. There are many committees which
need able and willing members to make things happen e.g.
Events, Widows, Lodge Improvements and many more. I would
also like to remind you all that the Past Masters Dinner, Blue
1

Waukegan Lodge #78 AF&AM

Happenings
New Fellows Are Among
Us!

Over the last month,

Waukegan Lodge has
passed three new
Brothers to the degree of
Fellowcraft and we
could not be more
proud! We look forward
to making them full
fledged Master Masons
soon! Degree work is
happening almost every
week, so come on out!

(left to right) Bros. Erik,

Ben, Robert, Cory and
Alex

July 2015

Lightning and other events are in development. If you would like

to be added to the lodge email list, or be on the lodges automated
call system (Calls go out on Sunday evenings to inform Bros. of
lodge events.) please let Myself or the Lodge Secretary, WB. Carl
Donahue know. If you have questions or concerns, as always, you
can reach me via email at rjred5@gmail.com or by phone at
714-615-7809.$
$

God Bless,$
~Robert Johnson - Worshipful Master $

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The Exaltation Initiative!

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Brothers, the Local Royal Arch Chapter,
Chapter #41 was chartered in 1852!
Active just a few years after our own
Masonic lodge was formed. It's been
here since the beginning and at one
point, there were more members of this
Chapter of Royal Arch Masons than in our lodge ! $
Many times the question is asked, "Where do I go from here?"
after a Brother is "raised" The obvious answer is to wait a year.
Give yourself time to understand lodge dynamics, procedure and
all the rest. But after that year (if you decide to wait), do you join
the Scottish Rite? The York Rite? The Shrine? Waukegan Royal
Arch Chapter #41 is of course York Rite and I might add, a
wonderful thing for you to consider. $
The Royal Arch is a system of degrees which add on to your Blue
Lodge degrees and fill in many of the holes left in the story you
have been a part of. The degrees are among the most impressive
and beautiful in all of Masonry and at a time, a form of them was
part of the Blue lodge, but due to the length and involvement had
to be removed and made as optional. $
Historically, the York Rite has had a major influence on Masonry

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Waukegan Lodge #78 AF&AM

July 2015

in the United States. Amazing stories abound in stories of the Civil War as outlined in Michael Halleron's
book "The Better Angels of our Nature - Freemasonry in the Civil War" of Royal Arch Masons and
Knight Templars. It truly is remarkable. Even the pseudo "father of the Scottish Rite" Albert Pike was an
avid and active member of the York Rite and in fact, when he rewrote the degrees of the Scottish Rite, he
pulled extensively from the York Rite degrees and this is clearly evident in the Scottish Rite Ritual of the
Southern Jurisdiction today. It's time you shared in the tradition $
Waukegan Royal Arch Chapter #41 has an exciting new initiative. We believe every Master Mason has a
responsibility to search out more light, and to that end, Waukegan Chapter has resolved to oer the
degrees in the Royal Arch to sitting and Past Masters of ALL the 1st NE District FREE. All you have to
pay is the $20 petition fee, the degrees are on the Chapter. In addition they have also made it possible for
the Sr. and Jr. Wardens of lodges in the 1st NE District to receive them and the chapter will pay for the
petition, which means they will get the degrees for $80. This is a huge initiative to spread the "Light" of
Masonry. Normal fees include the following; $20 petition, $20 per degree (4 degrees) and $40 per year
dues. $
I strongly urge you to consider the York Rite and to that, Waukegan Chapter #41.$

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4th of July - A New Waukegan York Rite Tradition

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About four years ago, the Waukegan York
Rite bodies (Royal Arch Chapter #41 and
Lake Chapter Cryptic Council) started a great
tradition of hosting a great 4th of July party.
Hosted front and center o the back porch of
the lodge, and with a view to kill for the hot
dogs, hamburgers and Fellowship are not in
short supply. $
As usual the York Rite members gather early
to set up and set aside space for us to sit and
view the firework show. This year was no
dierent. The current Thrice Illustrious
Master and immediatePast master of Anchor and Ark lodge, Kirk Preston bought a new grill and
broke it in. There were brothers from all over the district who came down with their families.
The fireworks started at 9:30 and were not disappointing. $
The Chapter and Council look forward to another great 4th of July party next year! See you
there!$
www.waukegan78.com

Waukegan Lodge #78 AF&AM

July 2015

Lodge Happenings
Waukegan #78

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July 20th -Stated Meeting
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July 27th -3rd Degree Practice
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August 3rd - 3rd Degree
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August 10th -TBD (3rd Degree is likely)
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August 17th - Stated Meeting
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August 24th -TBD (Degree is likely)
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August 31st. - Lodge Outing Dinner (Possible 17 North Event)
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*Just a note, the above schedule is dependent on the return of catechisms. We will
post updates to the schedule as needed on our website as well as weekly
announcements through our
call em all phone system.

www.waukegan78.com - Waukegan Lodge #78

www.waukegan78.com

www.1stneil.com - 1st NE District Calendar