Prince Hall Degrees

Last night, several of the brethren attended a the Monarch Lodge Prince Hall Masons, in Oakland. They passed three Fellow Crafts to Master Mason, and had seven Monarch Lodge brothers go through their 3rd degree ceremonies. Brothers from Sebastapol to San Jose were present (the Sebastapol contingent came down in their own full time bus!) and numbered about 100.

The degrees were very much like our own, yet different--more floor work, some group singing (besides Playel's Theme for the 3rd degree work) and a bit more formal. For example, when the brothers are called to order and it is determined that all the brothers are Master Masons, as a group we donned our aprons ("attire yourselves") and those with gloves (the protocol for the lodge) wore them.

After the degrees (at about 11 PM!) we all went to their social room and had a scrumptious dinner of fried chicken with all the fixins' and cameraderie. It was a wonderful evening which we all enjoyed tremendously. We learned a lot and hopefully will incorporate some in our own work. I know I look forward to visiting other lodges and learning more about our craft!

Josh Cohen

Crab Feed News

The 2009 Island City Masonic Lodge Crab feed is looking good! We've got some surprises and, of course, the best shrimp and crab! We will be holding a raffle for a hand-held, digital video recorder.

A few things you need to know: Tickets are $35 this year (Still the best deal in town!!) and any excess proceeds go towards scholarships for Masonic Youth (we're getting the DVRs donated!). Also we are limiting attendance to 200 this year so as not to overload our hall or the Crab Feed Committee. This being the case, get your tickets early. Do not wait until the last minute!! After the 200 tickets that are being printed are sold, we WILL turn people away!

Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts are especially encouraged to help on the day of the Feed. Contact our Senior Warden (Dennis Wallace) if you can help out.

For tickets, call the lodge. 510-864-9545.

Officer line for 2009

The new officers of Island City Lodge have been seated. The installation on December 13th was impressive and the dinner afterwords scrumptious! the new officers are:

Master: Richard Anderson, PM
Senior Warden: Dennis Wallace, PM
Junior Warden: Scott Colcord, PM
Secretary: Jerry Journeay, PM
Assistant Secretary: Kevin Stroud, PM
Treasurer: Charles Bos
Senior Deacon: Steven Merritt
Junior Deacon: Michael Richards
Marshall: Josh Cohen
Senior Steward: Jeffrey Heyman
Junior Steward: Rob Rezak
Chaplain: Harold MacKenzie
Organist: Manuel Jasso
Tiler: Walter McQuesten

Come to the next stated meeting and congratulate them!

Da Crab be Comin'

Preparations have started for the 2009 Island City Masonic Lodge Crab Feed. The date this year is February 21st, so be sure to put it in your calendar NOW. Tickets are going up a bit--to $35 per person, but the additional money is going to a great cause: scholarships for Masonic Youth. The Entered Apprentices and the Fellowcrafts of the Lodge are getting together and hammering out the details for awarding two scholarships. There will also be a couple of other nice surprises during the Feed, but you'll have to show up to enjoy them.

You will be able to get tickets from any of the officers, as well as online (a link will be posted on this blog) and elsewhere. We expect this year to be a sellout, so get your tickets early.

Festival of St. John the Baptist

If you haven't gotten your tickets yet for this incredible event, DO SO NOW! $25 per person (such a deal!). The date is Saturday June 21st (coming up fast!), 4PM for Hors D'ouvres, 5PM dinner (Rack of Lamb for starters. Wear your tuxedo (not tails!) or dark jacket and tie, and come for great camaraderie with your lodge brothers, some very interesting Masonic education, a wonderful dinner and an evening that will be talked about the entire year!

Call now and reserve: 510-538-5841

Family Masonry

I've had some interesting thoughts recently as my nephews--both of them-- have gotten interested in Masonry. We've had several lodge brothers who have come through our doors whose families have been Masons for generations. Of course they would be interested; having known or found out that a father, or grandfather, or even great-great grandfather, or cousin or other relative was a Mason. If I found out that my grandfather was a Mason, I'd absolutely be curious about the craft. I've found that having these Masonic brothers "with history" makes me a little jealous.

I am the first in my family, that I know of who has become a Mason. Zachary, my nephew is doing his first degree proficiency tomorrow, and Gabriel, his brother, is also interested in the craft. It is not something I have hidden, nor did I solicit their participation; it was their own experience in their interaction with me as as an uncle, as well as meeting other Masons in their lives (Gabby's girlfriend is a Jobs Daughter, and her father is a Mason). They have found their own way here and have found that these Masonic folk have something about them that is valuable: Integrity perhaps. Perhaps a deep respect for one's fellow creatures and brother Masons. For Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.

I suppose they have many of the same reasons that caused me to became a Mason: because those men I knew to be Masons were good and honest men. So I am now about to become the root of a long line of Masons-to-be. I am honored beyond words at the thought of my nephews interest in, and respect of the Craft. And in me.

From the East - September, 2007

Greetings Brethren and Masonic families.

Thanks for coming to the Luau and stated meeting. Very well attended and fun for all. It would be nice if we could keep all the brothers who attend the dinners to walk down one floor to the Stated Meeting. And I know how.

With the help of Brothers Steve Merritt and Past Masters; Kevin Stroud and Richard Anderson, we are attempting to maintain classes for Entered Apprentices and Fellow Craft Masons who need their proficiencies to advance to Master Masons and thus attend the Stated meetings.

Believe me. When their proficiencies are completed they will advance at the scheduled degrees. What concerns me is the continued support from all Master Masons. The first half of the year we had a deluge of new members, proficiencies, degrees for advancement in Masonry, and attendance at the degrees. Lately, the lodge room at the degrees has the appearance of a ghost town.

Brethren, it's simple, it's "roots". You start at Entered Apprentice, you go to proficiency school, you advance to Fellow Craft, and then to Master Mason. Something we all want as Masons.

The officers of this lodge practice for just that! And in the interim, as Master Masons, you attend the degrees and you root these brothers on. You want them to advance, you need them to advance. And when you finish your fun and entertaining stated dinner, you walk down with them one floor, side by side, as Master Masons.

Bring that same spirit at the dinners to the scheduled degrees and then share with me the thrill of watching someone walk the same path as you have.

Fraternally,

Dennis Wallace, Worshipful Master.