Arcadia Lodge #249 Newsletter
PO Box 249, Ames, Iowa 50010-0249
www.iowamasons.com
515-233-4299
January, 2008 - Volume 7, No. 1
W.M.: Jeremy Davis 291-7016
jeremyndavis@gmail.com
Sec.: Jay Cole Simser - 232-2580
JaycoleS@aol.com
Greetings from the East
First, I would like to offer a sincere thanks to the brothers of Arcadia Lodge for electing me as Worshipful Master for 2008. The 2008 officer team has a number of exciting events planned and I hope that many of you will be able to attend.
On December 8, 2007, Arcadia Lodge hosted its Holiday Dinner. Approximately 55 people were in attendance and we literally packed the lodge! Everyone in attendance had a great time and enjoyed the fellowship. During the dinner, we also honored our "Teacher of the Year" and the scholarship recipient. Each seemed to be very appreciative of the honor and we as a Lodge hope to continue to recognize future recipients in the same manner. Additionally, a big thanks goes to Brothers Paul Miller, and Peter Holmes for helping me prepare the dinner and the Lodge on Saturday night.
On December 9, 2007, the installation of officers was held at the Lodge. We had a great attendance and even a few distinguished masons, including a few past Grand Lodge officers. Additionally, Brother Rollen Phillips presided over the installation as Installing Worshipful Master. His efforts are to be commended as he did a great job. We are very fortunate to have Brother Rollen with us, as he is always willing to help with ritual and provide wisdom and guidance as necessary. For the Installing Marshal, Brother Jack Butler from Dubuque filled that role. He is currently the chairman of the Grand Lodge of Iowa Committee on Division and Reference. It was a great honor to have Brother Jack join us for our installation. I hope that we will be able to see more of Brother Jack in the future.
In looking to the future, 2008 will start off with a fun activity for the brothers of Arcadia and their families. As many of you are aware, National Treasure 2 opens in theaters on December 21, 2007. From all accounts thus far, it appears it will be just as successful, if not more successful, than the first installment. As a result, we are planning to have an "Arcadia at the Movies" event to watch this great film. Tentatively, we are looking at either January 5th or 6th, 2008 (Saturday or Sunday). More information will be distributed in the future and will also be announced at the January Stated Meeting on January 3, 2008. Please plan on attending as this will be a great event for everyone to attend!
As always, we are continuing to have degree work. At the December Stated Meeting, we voted on Kyle Loftin's petition. He is the son of Mike Loftin. Because of his military deployment (and scheduled leave), we will be having his first and second degrees on Thursday, December 20, 2007 and his third degree will be on Friday, December 21, 2007. We will be coordinating the casts for the degrees soon and will need as many brothers as possible for this. If you can assist us with Kyle's degrees, please e-mail me at jeremyndavis@gmail.com.
Additionally, we read two petitions at the December meeting and they will be voted on in January as well. As we start their Masonic degree process, let's be sure to show these incoming brothers a great experience by having the sidelines filled. There is nothing better than having large attendance to support a new brother as he begins his Masonic journey.
Finally, you will notice the Newsletter has a new educational section. Throughout the coming year, each officer will submit an educational article. I think you will find these pieces to be not only educational, but interesting as well.
Well, that about wraps it up for my comments for this month's newsletter.
We'll see you at the lodge.
Jeremy Davis, WM
Birthdays
Happy Birthday to the brothers having birthdays in January:
Greg Seaton - 1st,
Larry Wirth - 4th,
Andy Christensen - 10th,
Bob Shearer - 11th,
Art Taylor - 12th,
Bob Harvey - 20th,
Dean Flummerfelt and Charles Hammerberg - 21st,
Jeremy Davis - 25th,
Michael Loftin - 26th,
Matthew Hargrafen - 27th,
Bob Van Doren and Kurtiss Ness - 29th,
Nathan Johnson - 30th,
Mitchel Caltrider and Randy Mortimer - 31st.
Educational
A Masonic Influence in Agriculture?
Most of us have seen those high school students wearing that blue corduroy jacket at one point or another. And, some of us have even worn that jacket at one point in our lives. So, what organization utilizes a blue corduroy jacket that is a nationally-known symbol representing youth and agriculture? That organization is the FFA. Although many commonly refer to it by its original name, Future Farmers of America, its official name today is the National FFA Organization. Although its name has changed, its ideals and foundations have remained the same since its founding.
The year was 1925 and in the State of Virginia, a group of men convened on a September night with the goal of forming an organization for Virginia farmboys. From that initial meeting, the Future Farmers of Virginia (FFV) was established. To formalize the role of the organization, a constitution was written as well as ceremonies established to symbolize a young man's membership in the FFV. The ceremonies, of particular note, have credited the DeMolay for much influence because both have established officer locations, statements on the parts of officers, and the unique use of the sentinel.
Additionally, when the FFV was founded, three degrees of membership were established: Greenhand, Virginia Farmer, and Virginia Planter. These degrees are symbolic of the three degrees associated with masonry: the Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason. The individual responsible for developing the ceremonies and degrees, Henry Gloseclose, was presumed to be a mason. Although in today's FFA, the degrees have been renamed to reflect a national organization, governed through state associations. The degrees today are known as the Greenhand Degree, Chapter FFA Degree, and the State FFA Degree. Additionally, when the FFA became a national organization in 1927, the American FFA Degree was established. While there is now a 4th degree found within the organization, the primary degrees remain the first three.
With the FFA, having a membership of nearly 500,000 high-school youth today, still embracing a ceremonial opening and closing of its meetings along with a degree ceremony to symbolically progress a member through the stages of the FFA, it is no surprise to see the influence that masonry had on the FFA. As many former FFA members who are also masons will reference, their first time in the lodge reminded them greatly of their time in the FFA.
Calendar
Jan 2 - 9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour. Lincoln Center HyVee.
Jan 3 - 6:30 p.m. All Masonic Dinner - $5.00.
7:30 p.m. Arcadia Lodge Stated Meeting.
Jan 7 - 7:00 p.m. DeMolay Stated Meeting.
Jan 8 - 7:00 p.m. Eastern Star Stated Meeting.
Jan 9 - 9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour. Lincoln Center HyVee.
Jan 10 - Arcadia Lodge Boards and Committees.
Arcadia Lodge Newsletter Deadline.
Jan 11 - 7:30 p.m. Amaranth Stated Meeting.
Jan 12 - 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Private Party.
Jan 14- 7:00 p.m. DeMolay.
Jan 15 - 7:30 p.m. White Shrine Stated Meeting.
Jan 16 - 9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour. Lincoln Center HyVee.
Jan 17 - Arcadia Lodge.
Jan 19 - 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Eastern Star District School.
Jan 21 - 7:00 p.m. DeMolay Stated Meeting.
Jan 23 - 9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour. Lincoln Center HyVee.
7:30 p.m. York Rite Stated Meeting.
Jan 24 - Arcadia Lodge
Jan 27 - 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Church.
Jan 28 - 7:00 p.m. DeMolay.
Jan 30 - 9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour. Lincoln Center HyVee.
Jan 31 - Arcadia Lodge.
To schedule an event at the Masonic Temple call Jay Cole Simser - 232-2580
E-Mail Address Changes
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