Berwyn Masonic Lodge #839 AF&AM

February is set to be an exciting month at Berwyn Lodge:

Feb 2       3rd degrees (two of them)
Feb 9       Stated Meeting and reception of the DDGM
Feb 16      Table Lodge at Klas Restaurant (7pm)
Feb 23      Stated Meeting and 2nd degrees (three of them)

About 25 brethren are signed up for the Table Lodge as of Jan 26, 2010, and we can take up to 25 more. Members of other lodges are welcome. $20/person gets you an excellent Bohemian meal and a unique evening of Masonic education.

We also particularly need a Tyler, who must be a Master Mason. The Tyler is outside (by the bar) for most of the
Table Lodge, but gets to give the final traditional toast. We will pay for the Tyler’s meal.

Season’s Greetings to members of Berwyn Lodge and visitors to our web site!

Berwyn Lodge will celebrate St. John’s Day by visiting Christ Lutheran Evangelical Church at 607 Harvard St, Oak Park, IL (at Harvard and East) at 10:30 am on Sunday December 27.

Our next special meeting will be Jan 5, 2010. We will practice for our upcoming third degree in February.

And Bro. Secretary has asked me to let you know that dues cards will be sent out as soon as he’s back in the U.S. after his second foot operation.

This time of the year is one in which we can all celebrate the coming of Light. I wish you all the best of the season and a very happy new year.

- Alan

The Berwyn Life newspaper has run a short announcement of our upcoming Friend’s Night. You can read it here. We’re currently expecting upwards of 30 visitors.

Greetings All, this is you favorite Berwyn newsy, Silence Dogood again. Well October is almost over and I hope everyone has a Spoooooky Costume and ready to Trick and/or Treat.

This has been a busy month at Berwyn, a First Degree and a Second Degree, we are really moving along, as well as the fact that, the Annual Grand Lodge Meeting was this month. As I am sure you all know, the Grand Lodge Meeting is utilized to discuss new Bylaws, the current State of Masonry in Illinois, and this time around to ring in a new Grand Master.
Continue reading October Temple Topics

On the special meeting of September 29, 2009, we had the pleasure of initiating two new Brothers as Entered Apprentices. It was an exciting night, as we hosted not only visitors from Hiram Lodge #14 F&AM PHA, but also brothers from 6 other lodges: Union Park, Azure, La Grange, Integrity, River Forest-Austin, and Clarence P. Schwarz. All told, there were four visiting sitting Masters in attendance, possibly a recent record.

The degree was preceded by lively fellowship over excellent Bohemian food. And as a special bonus, Bro. Joe Tranauskas was presented with his 60-year pin (he’s actually been a Mason now for 61!)

On September 1, I and six other members of Berwyn Lodge had the pleasure of visiting a Stated Meeting of Hiram Lodge #14 PHA F&AM at the Prince Hall Masonic Temple in Chicago. Bro. Milan Gracanin, Berwyn’s Chaplain, provided this report:

Yesterday some of us from Berwyn Lodge were privileged to visit Hiram Lodge of Prince Hall Masonry. For those of you who do not know Prince Hall masonry is primarily African-American membership. The lodge we visited was very impressive. It is located in a very old stone building and is on the third floor with a view of downtown. The temple itself has a large ballroom like black and white finished floor. There is also very ornate ceiling and wall work to view.

What was the difference you may be asking between Prince Hall meetings and ours? Well for one their floorwork is very military like. It is very technical and their is a lot of stomping which I thought was very good. Also when the chaplain prays the Junior and Senior stewards form a Arch over the chaplain while they walk back and forth from the alter. They also sing after the prayer a song similar to our closing tune. Their knocking of the gavels is also very fast vs. ours. Aside from that everything seemed very similar to what we do.

The lodge was very hospitable to us. The meeting itself took over 2 hours! (Very long indeed compared to what we are used to.) However it was worth the wait, we were lucky enough to indulge on their dinner which consisted of chicken wings and potato wedges. The wings were delicious as evident by within a short time all the food was gone.

To end the night we all exchanged info and vowed to keep in touch. Hiram Lodge also presented us with gifts and Worshipful Alan a Prince Hall Masonic video. We invited the Prince Hall brothers to our first degree night coming soon. Hopefully they will be able to attend. All in all a very rewarding experience.

I am also happy to report email from our MW Grand Master Daniel C. Yandel and our RW DDGM Vyts Paukstys commending Berwyn Lodge for its program of lodge visitations and opportunities to expose our members to new vistas of Masonry.

Berwyn Lodge members had the great pleasure of visiting Argo-Summit Lodge No. 1133 for their Stated Meeting of July 21, 2009. Bros. Schwartz, Young, Hrejsa, Pott, Pockrandt, and Capps were in attendance to convey fraternal greetings from Berwyn Lodge to Argo-Summit.

It was a great night for a visit, and the hospitality was terrific. We weren’t the only ones who thought so – in addition to Berwyn members, the lodge was visited by a Brother from Oak Lawn, IL, from Carey, NC, and from Mexico (who brought delicious tamales to add to the excellent tacos served for dinner!). All were warmly welcomed, and after an efficient business meeting, adjourned to a nearby establishment for additional refreshments.

Argo-Summit Lodge has had an incredible influx of candidates, with 28 men raised last year and 16 so far this year (their Masonic year ends just after Grand Lodge). The lodge is energetic and brotherly in every sense. We look forward to hosting visitors from Argo-Summit in the future!

Another eventful month has passed and let me start by sincerely saying thank you Brethren.

On Friday the 13th in March, I hosted a Masonic Fellowship Discussion at my home. It was a very nice time allowing Brethren to get to know each other a little better outside of Lodge while partaking in Masonic Discussion concerning such topics as… Lodge Finance, Masonic Funeral Services and methods of improving contributions and outreach to the families of Brethren who have passed away, Membership Retention, Divestiture and more Ritual Discussion and interpretation, along with personal perspective and input on Masonry in general. Thank you to the Brethren who attended and contributed to the event. Those of you who missed it …I hope to see you at our next gathering.

In March, Berwyn Masonic Lodge also competed in the Eureka Challenge. With combining our Masonic Minds we were able to answer 100% of the questions correctly in 6 minutes and 26 seconds. Great Job Brethren!!

A 1st degree was conferred in March and I am proud to say that we now have a new Entered Apprentice. Congratulations Brother! Thank you, Once again to the Brethren who participated, the work was great and a strong impression was made on our new Brother.

On April 5th, with the help of Life Source and the efforts of our Charity Committee Chairman Bro. Jim Hrejza, Berwyn Lodge held a blood drive. Fellowship was enjoyed and Charity accomplished. 14 pints of blood were donated, it would’ve been nice to have more.. but nevertheless we were blessed with support that we were given and the volunteers that came out. Also, thank you to Josalyn, my little girl who put up fliers for the blood drive in the neighborhood..Thank you! Good Job! Remember Brethren your involvement is what makes Masonry successful…. please contact us to get involved in any event or just to join us in Fellowship.

Berwyn Masonic Lodge will have our Past Masters’ Night at our Lodge on Tuesday, April 28, 2009. Dinner will be served at 6pm. Any and all Brethren are welcomed. We hope to see you there.

A 3rd Degree will be conducted on Tuesday, May 5th at our lodge. Please contact Brother Secretary or Myself if you would like to volunteer for this night, any future degree work or if you are interested in joining the 3rd degree team that we are organizing.

I will complete by requesting prayers for Worshipful Brother Galo Lopez, Worshipful Brother Eddie Worazek and the Family members’ of Brethren who are ill. Our prayers are with you.

Thank you Brethren,
Hope to see you soon,

Sincerely & Fraternally,
W.Bro. David Cruz

Greetings Brethren,

Another month has passed and my year in the East is quickly speeding by. I’d like to sincerely thank our Brethren for all the support and for making our accomplishments thus far possible.

On 2/24/09 we had the Honor of receiving our District Deputy Grand Master Vyts for our official visit of the year. R.W.Bro. Vyts caught us up with Grand Lodge news and later joined us for fellowship and refreshments. Thank you for joining us Brother.

On 2/17/09 Berwyn Masonic Lodge enjoyed a Valentines Day Dinner. The Brethren provided Dinner, music and roses for our better halves. It was a great time and a nice opportunity to put a smile on the face of our ladies while enjoying Brotherhood at the same time.

Our Lodge will be conducting a 1st degree on 3/31/09. The candidate is very motivated. Please contact me ASAP to let me know what part of the degreework you can assist with. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Remember..Not only, ritual or floorwork is needed in assisting with our candidates and new Brethren. If you would like to mentor, investigate or simply join us for dinner and have a good conversation with a candidate or Brother…it would be a great help to our lodge.

I will be hosting a Fellowship Masonic Discussion Night at my home on Friday the 13th in March. Its sure to be a good time, contact myself or Bro. Secretary if you would like to join us.

Berwyn Masonic Lodge will be hosting a Blood Drive on Sunday 4/5/09 between 12pm-4pm. We hope that you can join us in this charitable event. Feel free to bring your friends and family. Light refreshments will be provided by Life Source.

Our Eureka Challenge will be held on 2/24/09 after our stated meeting. It will be very nice if we can get a good turnout for this to better our odds of doing well in the challenge.

We are in the process of organizing a 3rd degree conferral, our Annual Past Masters’ Night and Lodge Visitations. If you have any input, would like to get involved or would like to attend any of the above mentioned events please feel free to contact your Worshipful Master Bro. David Cruz or W. Bro. Secretary Luisito P. Fanlo.

Thank you
Sincerely and Fraternally,
W. Bro. David Cruz