Mid-Century Lodge News

At the stated meeting last night, several members and their guests joined us to receive their Grand Lodge years-of-service awards. There are now awards available for 25, 35, 40, and 50 years of service, and we are glad to have awarded many of these service pins. Thankfully, several of the recipients were able to join us in person. It was great to catch up with some of the “old faces” and also for them to meet our newest members and the current line of officers (one of whom wasn’t even alive when our 25-year recipients were Raised!).

Years-of-Service Award recipients with our WM and DDGM (left to right):

• Michael Hathaway - WM
• Thomas Teaman - 40 years
• Donald Claycomb - 35 years
• Harry Flint - 40 years
• Marshall Hayslett - 50 years
• John Bonar - 40 years
• David McClenahan - 40 years
• Ken Killinger - 35 years
• Andrew Sunyak - 25 years
• Joseph Stockstill - 35 years
• RWB Phillip Smith - DDGM

Please contact the webmaster for a high-res copy of this picture.

The following brothers recently passed to the Grand Lodge Above:

• Housten O. Anderson (August 13, 2009)
• Louis M. Kasten (August 18, 2009)
• William E. Sargent (September 20, 2009)
• David F. Nieding, Jr. (October 29, 2009)

At a special meeting on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, RWB Behm was installed as a District Deputy Grand Master of the 22nd Masonic district. Here are some pictures taken at the event.

RWB Behm was presented by his father and installed by RWB Goebel, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. Mid-Century Lodge is proud to list RWB Behm as a member and Past Master on its rolls. The Lodge presented him with a gift of an apron/jewel case and several gas cards. Congratulations, RWB Behm!

It is our honor to report that WB Stephen Behm (PM 2001-2002) is now Right Worshipful Brother Stephen Behm. At the 200th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, held in Toledo on October 17, RWB Behm was appointed to represent Most Worshipful Brother Terry Posey in the 22nd Masonic district of Ohio.

Please join us on Tuesday, October 27th at 7pm at Avon Lake Masonic Center, to see RWB Behm installed as a District Deputy Grand Master. The installation is open to Masons and their guests.

After much hard work and fundraising, the Mid-Century Lodge kitchen was officially re-opened for business in September. The fundraising project was undertaken by WB Carl Behm in early 2008. Unfortunately, WB Behm passed to the Grand Lodge Above before he could see the project to completion, but his lady, Jeannette Conant, took up the reins.

Jeannette organized and helped prepare several pot luck dinners and chili cook-offs over the next year and, together with the matching gift program of the Russells (Anson Sr. and Jr., both PMs), managed to raise enough money to have the kitchen stove remodeled and an updated fire suppression system installed.

Finally, in September 2009, Jeannette performed the ribbon cutting to officially re-open the kitchen with an inaugural spaghetti dinner. Stay tuned for an impressive menu of monthly dinners for the coming year!

“The hour glass ran swiftly this summer…” Please remember the following Brothers who were recently called to service in the Grand Lodge above:

• John R. Easterday (August 13, 2009)
• John A. Pappas (July 13, 2009)
• Richard L. Pearson, PM (June 7, 2009)
• Ernie K. Sidlo (April 3, 2009)
• Lester J. Urig (July 28, 2009)

At the last stated meeting of the Masonic year, on June 16, two literal and Masonic brothers from Acre Lodge in Israel were made honorary members of Mid-Century Lodge: Nadim Mansour and Souhail Mansour.

RWB Nadim Mansour is the Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, State of Israel and a 33° Mason. He is also the Grand Representative for the Grand Lodge of Ohio Near the Grand Lodge of Israel and an Active Member, Supreme Council, State of Israel, holding the office of Grand Orator.

WB Souhail Mansour is a Past Master of Acre #36, Acre, Israel and a Past Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge, State of Israel.

The Mansours were introduced to us by our own RWB David McClenahan, who is also the Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Israel Near the Grand Lodge of Ohio. The brothers have visited Ohio and the Cleveland area many times over the years, and always find time to join us for a meeting at Mid-Century Lodge. Their stories are always entertaining and not to be missed. It is a great honor for Mid-Century Lodge to call them members.

Here is a story that appeared in the Grand Lodge’s Beacon publication, from when the Mansours visited Grand Lodge:

Over the weekend of May 1-3, 2009, Mid-Century Lodge once again visited Havelock Lodge. This time, Mid-Century Lodge portrayed the Entered Apprentice degree to the delight of our brothers to the north. And as always, it was a weekend full of Masonry, friendship, and memories–as you can tell by the slide show below!

What: A Public Open House

When: Saturday, March 21st from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm – drop in at any time

Where: Mid-Century Masonic Lodge No. 725, located at 127 Lear Road, Avon Lake

Who: Everyone in the community is welcome to drop in!

Why: To provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the world’s oldest and largest fraternity. The first Masonic Lodge began meeting in the Ohio Territory in 1780, and our statewide organization, the Grand Lodge of Ohio, celebrated its bicentennial in 2008. Today, there are 518 Masonic Lodges in Ohio with a statewide membership of 110,000 members. We are glad to have this opportunity to share our Lodge with you.

The annual inspection of Mid-Century Lodge on February 24, 2009 went extremely well. We were inspected in the MM degree, so the evening also saw a new Brother raised, in very good form. RWB Behner summarized that the officers should be proud of their work, and our membership proud of its Lodge. Thanks to the officers, members, and visitors who performed the degree work–you did make us proud, and justly impressed our newly raised Brother!

Thanks also to our visitors who spent the evening with us–it was fantastic to see the Lodge room so full. We were joined by 38 visitors from other Lodges, including the Past Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Israel, whose home Lodge is in Acre, Israel. After Lodge, the brethren enjoyed a hearty gumbo, courtesy of Bro. Larry Foore.

Please join us for our Annual Fraternal Visit with Havelock Lodge! This year we will be traveling north to visit our Canadian brethren in Peterborough, Ontario.

The bus leaves from the Avon Lake Masonic Center at 9 a.m. sharp, Friday, May 1 and returns around 6 p.m., Sunday, May 3.

PASSPORTS ARE REQUIRED

Your birth certificate and/or driver’s license DO NOT work now! You MUST have a valid passport!

Cost is $250, which includes:

• round-trip bus ticket
• 2 nights at the Quality Inn, Peterborough, Ontario
• dinner at the Annual Banquet on Saturday

Send in your reservation using this form: click here, or right-click and save-as to download the PDF.

At the last stated meeting in January, Bro. Larry Foore (Senior Steward) presented an in-depth and very educational program on the 47th problem of Euclid. He touched on everything from the literal formula and its historic and modern applications in engineering, to the more mystical interpretations of it and the mystical groups to which Euclid belonged.

After the presentation, WM Russell indicated that he would like this to be the first of many such programs at stated meetings, and he challenged the brethren to think of ways they could educate the Lodge. The programs do not have to be Masonic in nature and can be any length. If you are interested in something, there’s a good chance your brethren will be interested, too – so why not share, and add to the “common stock of knowledge and understanding"?

The 2009 elected and appointed officers were installed at a special meeting on Saturday, November 22. WB Anson Russell, Jr. officially assumed the East after sharing the responsibilities of that station with several Past Masters for the last half of 2008. The other officers installed are listed on our officers page.

After the installation, the brethren and guests enjoyed dinner and fellowship in the social hall.

At the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Ohio last weekend, WM-elect Anson Russell had the opportunity to view the George Washington Bible and Trowel. These are precious and important Masonic artifacts, as well as artifacts of great importance to our country.

Fortunately, Bro. Russell had his camera on him, allowing him to share these items with us:

For more information on the Washington Bible and Trowel, visit the website of St. John’s Lodge No. 1 (the Lodge that owns and preserves them).

What: Past Masters’ Night
When: Dinner at 6:30pm, Tuesday, October 21, 2008, followed by Lodge at 7:30pm.
Where: Avon Lake Masonic Temple
Cost: A donation to the Kitchen Repair Fund.

If you’re a Past Master of the Lodge, come out and be honored – and meet the new line of officers, none of which are Past Masters! Share your wisdom, or just enjoy fellowship, food, and a degree in your Lodge. Please RSVP so we have enough food!

What: Crock Pot - Sauerkraut & Sausage Dinner
When: 5-7pm, Saturday, April 26th, 2008
Where: Avon Lake Masonic Temple
Cost: $5.00 donation to the Kitchen Repair Fund.

We have half a dozen crock pots coming full of goodies, plus the spetzels to go with the meal. We will also be having apple pie for dessert. Come and join the fellowship and fun!

Last night, at our April 15th stated meeting, we raised two new Brothers to the degree of Master Mason. A hearty thanks to everyone who came out to help – the candidates each received excellent degrees, and we certainly couldn’t have done it alone.

But that’s not all! Next Tuesday, April 22, and again on April 29, we are having additional special meetings to catch up on degree work. Please come out, if only to sit and watch! Lodge opens at 7pm both evenings (MMs only, please).

This is truly a banner month for Mid-Century – when all is said and done, by May 1 we’ll have 5 newly raised Brothers. This is the future of Mid-Century Lodge in the making. Wouldn’t it be great to meet our newest members and help get them settled in Lodge?

Where: Avon Lake Masonic Center (at Lear and Electric)

Lodge opens at 2 p.m., with a banquet following. This year Havelock Lodge is going to portray the MM for us – this is not an event to be missed!

Cost: The banquet is $10, which includes dinner and hospitality following dinner.

RSVPs are required, so we can make sure to have enough food. Please contact us us with your reservations as soon as possible.

And as always, there is more to the event than just Lodge. Join us on the evening of May 2 to welcome the Canadians to town, and again on the evening of the 3rd for more hospitality. Contact us for details on where the additional hospitality will take place.

Worshipful Master Carl M. Behm passed to the Grand Lodge Above on Friday, March 14, 2008 around 6:00pm. WB Behm had just turned 92. Please contact the Lodge for details.

At the request of his Lady and family, Masonic Services for WB Carl M. Behm will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 2:00pm at the Avon Lake Masonic Temple. A reception will follow.

A hearty, big thanks to WM Behm’s Lady, Jeanette, for a fabulous chili cook-off Saturday night! There were seven varieties of chili served to 60-plus members and guests, not to mention a smattering of kids. Not only was the food great, we also managed to kick-off the fund raising for various building issues (carpet, roof, parking lot) in very good form. Thanks to all who came or contributed!

By popular request, here is the recipe for Hathaway Chili:

15 1/2oz cans of red beans (drain water)
15 1/2oz cans of black beans (drain water)
1 4oz can of green chili peppers
1 28oz can of diced tomatoes
1 can of tomato sauce
2 packages of chili seasoning
2lbs of ground beef
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of sugar
a few shakes of cumin (to taste)