Arcadia Lodge #249 Newsletter
PO Box 249, Ames, Iowa 50010-0249
www.IowaMasons.com
515-233-4299
February, 2008 - Volume 7, No. 2
W.M.: Jeremy Davis 291-7016
jeremyndavis@gmail.com
Sec.: Jay Cole Simser - 232-2580
JaycoleS@aol.com
Greetings from the East
Although it may be the shortest month, it seems that February always takes a long time to get through. My guess, it is because of the winter; and our eager anticipation for Spring.
As far as Lodge activities go, we are looking to have an extremely busy month. In addition to the stated meeting, we will plan on having degrees each of the other Thursday nights as well. Bros. Paul, Dave, and Marty would each appreciate your support by volunteering to participate in a degree. So feel free to contact each of them, or our lodge secretary, to volunteer and help give our new brothers a great degree experience!
At the January stated meeting, the lodge voted to instruct the Property Management Committee to enclose the kitchen with a serving window enclosure and a door on the entrance to it. This will help to limit the amount of noise from the kitchen circulating through the dining area. Additionally, the lodge also voted to instruct the Committee to pursue an estimate for the creation of an office in the back storage room. This would allow the lodge to maintain its records on-site.
Although this is the "February" newsletter, most of our brothers will receive it prior to the end of January. On Thursday, January 31st, we have a third degree scheduled for Trevor Owens. The second section of the degree will be conducted by the Za-GA-Zig Shrine Past Masters group in full regalia. Please plan to attend and watch this degree, as it is always a great experience to see it in full-form and to welcome and support our visiting brothers as they exemplify the 3rd degree for our lodge.
I also want to take a moment and thank everyone who attended National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets showing on January 5th. We had a great attendance and everyone enjoyed the movie.
For the month of February, we have scheduled a visit to the Grand Lodge of Iowa Library and Museum in Cedar Rapids for Saturday, February 16th. As Iowa Masons, we are extremely fortunate to have one of the most impressive collections of Masonic books and historical items in the World! For those that have never visited the Grand Lodge, this would be a great opportunity to view some of our rich history up close and personal! If you are interested in traveling to Cedar Rapids that day, please e-mail me at jeremyndavis@gmail.com. We will plan on car-pooling and leave from the lodge at 7:30 a.m. that morning. After our visit, we will go to a local restaurant, have lunch, and should be back in Ames around 5 p.m.
Finally, be sure to e-mail our lodge secretary at jaycoles@aol.com if you want to sign up for the February $5 dinner.
That's all for nowŠ
Jeremy Davis, WM
Birthdays
Happy Birthday to the brothers having birthdays in February:
Charles Schmidt - 1st,
Dave McGlothlen - 2nd,
Thomas Meskan,- 2nd
Lee Bauer - 6th,
Rian Short - 11th,
Rene Niese - 12th,
Jim Dickson- 15th,
William Pyle - 16th,
Corwin Stephan - 19th,
Tom Earl - 25th,
Educational
Thayendanegea the Terrible
This mighty chief of the Six Nations was a leader of the Indians under the British in the American Revolution. He was also a Freemason. Known to us as Chief Joseph Brant he was the first Indian (Native American) Freemason.
Born on the banks or the Ohio River in 1742 his home was it Canajoharie Castle in the Mohawk Valley of New York. His Indian name means "he who sets or places together two bets." He became the protégée of Sir William Johnson, superintendent of Indian Affairs for the British who sent him to school where he learned to speak and write English and acquired a general knowledge of literature and history.
He was not a Mason when he lived in New York but he had many friends who were Masons and this may have caused him to petition the Hiram's Cliftonian Lodge #417 while he was in England. He was in London in 1776 as the chief sachem (king, leader head) of his tribe and the British wanted to woo him to remain on their side during the Revolutionary War.
He received his degrees in the Lodge mentioned above which met at "The Falcon" tavern on Princes Street in London. Hiram's Cliftonian Lodge #417 was chartered by the Moderns, and Brant received his degrees in 1776. He returned to the Colonies and eventually settled in Canada following the Revolutionary war (as did my Simser ancestors who were United Empire loyalists). Brant was active Masonically until his death. He was a member of Barton Lodge No. 10 and served as the first Master of Lodge No. 11 in "Mohawk Village" in 1798.
Brant died on November 24, 1807, at the age of nearly sixty-five years, at his own house on Grand River, Ontario, and was buried by the side of the Episcopal church he had built there. There are many stories about Brant and his Masonry. A Colonel McKinstry was taken captive after being twice wounded. He was doomed to die at the stake. "In the agony of his despair and scarcely conscious of a hope, the captive made the great mystic appeal to a Mason in the hour of danger. It was seen and understood by the Chieftain Brant who was present on the occasion. Brant at once interfered in his behalf, and succeeded by the influence of his position, in rescuing his American brother from his impending fate. Having freed him from his bonds, he conducted and guarded him in safety to Quebec." From there he eventually was allowed to return home on parole. Brant and McKinstry became lifelong friends.
Jay Cole Simser
Calendar
Feb 4 - 7:00 p.m. DeMolay Stated Meeting.
Feb 5 - 7:00 p.m. Eastern Star Stated Meeting.
Feb 6 - 9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour. Lincoln Center HyVee.
Feb 7 - 6:30 p.m. All Masonic Dinner - $5.00.
7:30 p.m. Arcadia Lodge Stated Meeting.
Feb 8 - 7:00 p.m. Amaranth Stated Meeting.
Feb 10 - 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Church.
Arcadia Lodge Newsletter Deadline.
Feb 11 - 7:00 p.m. DeMolay.
Feb 13 - 9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour. Lincoln Center HyVee.
Feb 14 - Arcadia Lodge Boards and Committees.
7:00 p.m. First Degree
Feb 16 - 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tour of Grand Lodge Library.
Feb 18 - 7:00 p.m. DeMolay Stated Meeting.
Feb 19 - 7:00 p.m. White Shrine Stated Meeting.
Feb 20 - 9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour. Lincoln Center HyVee.
Feb 21 - 7:00 p.m. Second Degree.
Feb 24 - 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Church.
Feb 25 - 7:00 p.m. DeMolay.
Feb 27 - 9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour. Lincoln Center HyVee.
7:30 p.m. York Rite Stated Meeting.
Feb 28 - 7:00 p.m. Third Degree
E-Mail Address Changes
If you change your e-mail address for any reason, please send your new e-mail address to David Countryman, Newsletter Editor at davidc@iastate.edu, so there will be no interruption in the arrival of your Arcadia Lodge #249 Newsletter.