This vernal term has been wondrous for the brothers of Friendship Masonic Lodge!It began with Worshipful Brother Erik Arneson’s talk on Freemasonry and the Art of Memory in March. Thankfully he has shared both an audio recording of his delivery and his typical slide deck – made more precious by the fact that our hardware didn’t mesh with WB Erik’s, so this is our first chance to see the supporting materials Erik prepared. Technical difficulties were a non-issue for Brother Hunter Bronson, who earned his challenge coin in April with a talk on the various appendant bodies (Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shriners, Widow’s Sons, and more) supported by a variety of rich and storied props.
The brethren were pretty busy outside of Friendship too. Worshipful Brother Rick Schleining ventured out to Sherwood Lodge to assist with an Entered Apprentice degree, reminding us all of the value of both our newest and most established members. Our Worshipful Master, Walter Lee visited with Tigard-Orenomah Lodge this April to give his talk on how Freemasonry teaches how to foster harmony in society and relationships. During the evening Tigard-Orenomah’s Junior Warden presented Friendship with another artifact from our past – one Brother’s original hard-bound ritual study materials, dated 1956. The following night a traveling party headed up by our Senior Warden, Brother Chris Chase, visited with Kenton Lodge and presented the Master of Kenton with a gift from the Brethren of Friendship Masonic Lodge – a fine, brass ship’s bell for “ringing the brothers to attention” and call them to supper and back to work.
Though we’ve met on Wednesdays for more than 100 years, Fridays have now become a staple of Friendship Masons’ lives. What had been an intermittent affair has become a regular lunch at Via Chicago, where several Brothers meet up to hang out and enjoy some high minded conversation over beers and slices. So stop on by if you’re hungry and itching for great Chicago-style pizza on Fridays and meet a few Masons while you’re at it!
We closed out April with a (more or less) typical officers’ meeting at the home of our beloved Junior Warden. Brother Kent joyfully opened his home and his grill to us all; and prepared for the event lamb kebabs, potato-mint-breadcube skewers and Greek wine. Well fed and refreshed, and filled with the hope and joy of brotherly love, Friendship Masonic Lodge looks to May with broad smiles.
