Was It Something We Said, Buckeye Chuck?

As a result of his prognostication last month, we thought we were mere weeks from the sunny warmth of spring. Not so fast my friend! Over a 10-day period at the end of February we experienced two major snow storms, and record-breaking flooding. As one might expect the snow has all but disappeared with the rain, although piles are still present on roadsides and beside driveways. With waters again rising, we’ll keep our fingers crossed, and our boats at the ready.

On March 2^nd we were visited by RWB Paul Robinson, DDGM, and WB Frank Egelsky, DEO, who made it to the village between storms. The purpose was our pre-inspection audit and special presentations. According to their reports, everything was in order, and we were cleared for the next step in the process. WB Egelsky presented the Grand Lodge Education Program, a 20-questions-style questionnaire relating to the Masonic Code, Officer’s Handbook, and degree work. Very enjoyable, and educational. We were also pleased to learn that one of our nominees was selected as the recipient of the Grand Master’s Excellence in Youth Award for the 15^th Masonic District. Ben McKinniss will receive the actual award at the Grand Master’s Reception on March 25^th (see below). Those wishing to be present need to contact the Secretary for reservations.

We would like to share some background details on the recipient of this year’s Grand Master’s Excellence in Youth Award. Ben McKinniss follows in the steps of his older brother Tom, who was selected for this honor in 2007. We were unable to locate a comprehensive history of this award, but believe this is the first time siblings have been honored in this matter. We are also aware that with Ben’s selection, LaRue Lodge has nominated youth selected for this award for the seventh year in a row. As proud as we are of our involvement in the process, we remind the reader that this says less about us than about the quality of youth present in all of our communities. That’s something worthy of celebration!

Below are the new listings for birthdays and Masonic anniversaries.

Birthdays for March:
3-1…..………..Rollie McElheny

3-21..…………Brian Lightfoot

Masonic Anniversaries for March:
3-20-46…………..James Thuma

3-19-52.……….…Gene McMahan

3-2-60..……….….Randall Huffman

3-4-65…………….Cedric Radcliffe

3-16-66……….….Arthur Keirns

3-17-71……….….Dan Hicks

3-29-78………..…Greg Rice

3-18-81…………..Dan Stover

3-15-89…………..Rick Sims

3-29-03…………..Jeff Adkins

We constantly adjust our 2011 Calendar Listings. Make sure to check them out and plan accordingly. If you need a pocket calendar to keep track of important dates, check with the SW.


January 15 through April 2, 2011. Inspection season. Please refer to the 15^th District web site for specific dates, times, and locations.

March 11 & 12, 2011. State Secretary's Association Meeting, Worthington, Ohio.

March 16, 2011 @ 7:30pm. This is a Stated Meeting, and will feature MM practice for both our candidate and Inspection. Come if you can, as we can always use the help.

March 25, 2011 @ 7pm. The 15^th District Grand Master’s Reception. It will again be held at Karen’s Event Center, Marysville.

March 26, 2011 @ 10am. Special meeting for the conferral of the MM degree on our most recent candidate. Come if you can, as we can always use the help! This will be excellent practice for Inspection the following Saturday. See below.

April 2, 2011 @ 10am. Annual Inspection of LaRue Lodge for the pleasure of DDGM Paul Robinson, in the MM degree.

June 12, 2011. Ohio Masonic Home Day.

October 14 & 15, 2011. Grand Lodge Annual Communication, held in Cleveland, Ohio.

That’s all that we know of for now. Since it is again raining, we’ll be spending the rest of the day working on pontoon boats.

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Bless you Buckeye Chuck!

It has already been a long cold winter. Thanks to the celebrated rodent prognosticator, we are assured that spring is a mere 6 weeks away. Using recent experience as a guide, we suppose that means 12 more significant snowfalls, and 6 more chances to lose power along with our footing. We shudder to consider the possibilities without the impact of global warming.

On the 2^nd we attempted to hold our regular stated meeting, but without effect. The five hearty souls who braved the weather shared travel experiences and mishaps, all of which will be more humorous when the bruises heal. When no additional members arrived, we headed back to our warm homes. Observing our progress on the sidewalk brought to mind Paul Simon’s popular tune, Slip Sliding Away, with a slightly erratic pace.

Much of the discussion on the 2^nd involved the concept of canceling meetings due to ice and snow, declared emergencies, or other exigent conditions. For this reason restating the procedure as it is known to us seems appropriate. Of the four Past Masters present, none recalled ever receiving permission from Grand Lodge to cancel a Stated Meeting. Over the years this issue has been addressed by several Grand Masters, and we know of no change in this position. For that reason, do not expect us to make an announcement canceling a Stated Meeting. That being said, we recognize there are situations where attempting to attend is not recommended. These include declared emergencies, hazardous conditions, and any situation where personal or family safety is an issue. We enjoy gathering for the fellowship on meeting nights, but firmly desire that no one is put at risk to do so. In the grand scheme of things, it is our membership that is important, not the meeting. ‘Nuf said.

Below are the new listings for birthdays and Masonic anniversaries.

Birthdays for February:
2-1…..………..Rod Lightfoot

2-2……………Tom Hafer
2-5….………...Phillip Weist

2-19…..………Don Adams

2-22….……….Jeff Winslow

2-24….……….Richard Spracklen

2-26…………..Randall Huffman
2-26….……….Richard Peterman

2-26….……….Tom Tucker

Masonic Anniversaries for February:
2-3-43……….….Theodore McElheny, Sr.

2-7-62……….….James Weist

2-6-63……….….Phillip McCullough

2-2-71.……….…Terry Hafer

2-6-85………..…Marvin Guider

2-14-87…………Charles Randles

2-26-00………….Jeff Davis

We constantly adjust our 2011 Calendar Listings. Make sure to check them out and plan accordingly. If you need a pocket calendar to keep track of important dates, check with the SW.


January 15 through April 2, 2011. Inspection season. Please refer to the 15^th District web site for specific dates, times, and locations.

March 11 & 12, 2011. State Secretary's Association Meeting, Worthington, Ohio.

March 25, 2011 @ 7pm. The 15^th District Grand Master’s Reception. It will again be held at Karen’s Event Center, Marysville.

March 26, 2011 @ 10am. Special meeting for the conferral of the MM degree on our most recent candidate. Come if you can, as we can always use the help! This will be excellent practice for Inspection the following Saturday. See below.

April 2, 2011 @ 10am. Annual Inspection of LaRue Lodge for the pleasure of DDGM Paul Robinson, in the MM degree.

June 12, 2011. Ohio Masonic Home Day.

October 14 & 15, 2011. Grand Lodge Annual Communication, held in Cleveland, Ohio.

That’s all that we know of for now. Taking a tip from Buckeye Chuck, we’re getting those sunglasses and wide brim hats ready for spring, but we’re going to hold off on the shorts and sandals!

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Where has the time gone?
It seems like just yesterday we were checking attics and basements for that special box of Christmas ornaments, or prowling crowded stores for unique gifts for a special someone. Since then we’ve had innumerable parties, watched hundreds of hours of sports, and attended hundreds (OK, maybe dozens) of family get-togethers. After celebrating the most special of births we watched a crystal ball disappear into a sea of humanity. Now what, you ask?

Specifically, the “what” is a new year. This new beginning is a chance to renew commitments and chart new paths. Customarily it is the start of resolutions, some of which result in life-long change. Think of the New Year as your personal blank canvas. On it you are free to place any object, interest or activity. The possibilities are endless. Enjoy the adventure!


Below are the new listings for birthdays and Masonic anniversaries.

Birthdays for January:
1-5……………Rick Sims
1-9……………O. M. Roux
1-18…………..Ralph Lee
1-18…………..Marvin Guider

Masonic Anniversaries for January:
1-16-60……….Clyde Schertzer
1-20-82……….John Mathew
1-15-97……….Don Kennedy


Our 2011 Calendar has several new listings. Make sure to check them out and plan accordingly. If you need a pocket calendar to keep track of important dates, check with the SW.


January 8, 2011 @ 9am. The 15^th District J.C. Musser Work Day will be hosted by our Lodge. This is an excellent opportunity to see ritual work done properly in preparation for our Annual Inspection. Coffee, juice, and pastries will be available prior to the session.

January 15 through April 2, 2011. Inspection season. Please refer to the 15^th District web site for specific dates, times, and locations.

March 11 & 12, 2011. State Secretary's Association Meeting, Worthington, Ohio.

March 25, 2011 @ 7pm. The 15^th District Grand Master’s Reception. It will again be held at Karen’s Event Center, Marysville.

April 2, 2011 @ 10am. Annual Inspection of LaRue Lodge for the pleasure of DDGM Paul Robinson, in the MM degree.

June 12, 2011. Ohio Masonic Home Day.

October 14 & 15, 2011. Grand Lodge Annual Communication, held in Cleveland, Ohio.

Good luck with your canvas!

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We are now officially in the Holiday Season! All the usual milestones have been passed: Thanksgiving, along with the leftover turkey, is history; Black Friday and Cyber Monday passed without major incident – locally; the first day of December featured the first measurable snow fall of the year. What better time of the year could there be?

As you might suspect, we have a new slate of calendar additions, as well as new listings for birthdays and Masonic anniversaries.

Birthdays for December:

12-9…….Pearl Gamble

12-13..…Charles McConnell

12-22…..Wayne Schaber

Masonic Anniversaries for December:

12-27-55……..Donald Adams

12-4-68………Harvey Doss

Our 2010-2011 Calendar has several new listings. Make sure to check them out and plan accordingly. For those needing a pocket calendar to write them down, our SW can fix you up.

December 4, 2010, @ 9am. 15th District Past Master's Convocation, held at Indian Lake #722.

December 8, 2010. Our friends at Latham Lodge #154 will be having an Open Installation of Officers. Dinner is at 6pm, with Installation scheduled for 7:30pm.

December 14, 2010. Our friends at Senate Lodge #378 will be having an Open Installation of Officers. Installation is scheduled for 7:30pm. Dinner arrangements were not clear at the time of this posting.

December 15, 2010 @ 7:30pm. This is our regular meeting, but will also feature a MM practice.

December 16, 2010 @ 5-8pm. This is the annual Christmas in the Village celebration in downtown La Rue. This is certainly a family-friendly event. Previous years have featured choirs caroling, free refreshments, carriage rides, and the Big Guy (Santa) making a special appearance. And did we mention free food?

December 18, 2010 @ 9am. Special Meeting for the purpose of conferring the FC degree.

December 29, 2010 @ 7:30pm. Special meeting for the purpose of conferring the MM degree. If you are able to attend, you know we could use the assistance.

January 8, 2011 @ 9am. The 15^th District J.C. Musser Work Day will be hosted by our Lodge. This is an excellent opportunity to see ritual work done properly in preparation for our Annual Inspection.

March 11 & 12, 2011. State Secretary's Association Meeting, Worthington, Ohio.

April 2, 2011 @ 10am. Annual Inspection for the pleasure of DDGM Paul Robinson, in the MM degree.

June 12, 2011. Ohio Masonic Home Day.

October 14 & 15, 2011. Grand Lodge Annual Communication, held in Cleveland, Ohio.

That’s all we’re aware of for now. As additional events and activities are scheduled, they will be posted.

See you in Lodge!

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Breaking News!

Our meeting on November 17th featured many things. The most exciting was voting on our most recent petition. After a unanimous verdict our WM announced a Special Meeting for Saturday, November 27, 2010. That morning at 9am we will convene for presentation of the EA degree on our candidate. If you're in the area, come on down.

As noted below our installation of officers was held on the 17th. WB Mark Wamack was the installing officer, heading up a team from Latham Lodge. Over the years our Lodges have assisted each other numerous times, this being the most recent. They demonstrate a true example of Masonic fraternity.

Update!

Below you may have read our post about LaRue's Christmas in the Village celebration, scheduled for Thursday, December 16th. Originally we planned to have a Lodge Open House that same evening, and had posted to that effect. After reflecting on the scope of the celebration, we decided to schedule our Open House on a different date.

For other important dates, please check the remainder of the posts.

We had a busy night at our last meeting. A petition was read, Grand Lodge stories were told, and we had our annual election of officers. Without further ado, here is the list of officers elected and appointed for 2010-2011.

Milton Lighfoot, Worshipful Master
Brian Lightfoot, Senior Warden
Gene McMahan, Junior Warden
Rick Sigrist, Treasurer
John Mathew, Secretary
Dave Allman, Senior Deacon
Cedric Radcliffe, Junior Deacon
Larry Knapp, Senior Steward
Tim Stapleton, Junior Steward
Charles McConnell, Tyler
O. M. Roux, Chaplain
Rick Sigrist, Lodge Education Officer

For the coming year, the following will serve as trustees:
Pearl Gamble
Cedric Radcliffe
Brian Lightfoot
Rick Sigrist
Richard Spracklen
Elections are followed by installations. In our case that will be at our next meeting, Wednesday, November 17. WB Mark Wamack will be the presiding officer. All eligible are welcome to attend.

For the remainder of our schedule, just check our earlier post below.

Toward Traditional Holidays

We are obviously deep into fall. High school football has entered their playoffs and the Great Pumpkin has come and gone. The last indication that October occurred is the candy still found under sofas and beds, and little ones experiencing that deep valley after an intense sugar high. As we take our tentative steps toward more traditional holidays, it appears it is time to hang the lawn chairs in the garage, cover the grill, and put away the garden hoses. In short, it’s time to return to indoor pursuits.

Congratulations to all those who participated in our LaRue-style Masonic Trivia Contest. To our knowledge, all who correctly answered each of the 11 questions received their certificate from the Secretary. If you did not, it is waiting at the desk, and you can pick it up at our next meeting.


Here are our birthdays for November:
11-3……..Randy Blue
11-5……..Rick Sigrist
11-9……..Jack Hesse
11-17……Harvey Doss
11-19……Michael Dutton
11-22……Ted Williams
11-28……Evan Clark
11-30……Nathan Hampton

And here are our Masonic anniversaries for November:
11-3-99………..Scott Jackson
11-5-69………..Jack Hesse


We have the usual assortment of events, meetings, and observances. Mark your calendar accordingly.

November 2, 2010. Ohio’s general election. They don’t call it participatory government for nothing. Make your vote count!

November 3, 2010, @ 7:30pm. Our Annual Meeting gives you the chance to make your thoughts known on the future leaders of our Lodge. You don’t have to accept an office to enjoy the evening, so we’ll count on seeing you.

November 11, 2010.Veterans Day.This is the day to celebrate those who have placed their lives on the line for the freedoms we love. Don't take the opportunity just to thank a Veteran. Do take the opportunity to thank all the Veterans you encounter, whether in person or via social media. It will mean more to them than words can describe.

November 13, 2010, @ 9am. District Secretary Meeting at Palestine #158.

November 17, 2010, @ 7:30pm. Our second meeting of the month. Usually we hear the arrangements for installation of officers, plan our holiday activities, and learn details of the WM-elect’s program for the coming year.

November 25, 2010. Thanksgiving. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November. Take time to give thanks for what you hold dear.

November 27, 2010. The Game. Since 1897 The Ohio State University has played the University of Michigan.Between them they have won 77 Big Ten Championships, and 18 National Championships. Long considered the country’s best college football rivalry, it is considered “must see TV” in both states. How can shopping possibly compare?

December 4, 2010, @ 9am. 15th District Past Master's Convocation, held at Indian Lake #722.

December 16, 2010 @ 5-8pm. This is the annual Christmas in the Village celebration in downtown La Rue. This is certainly a family-friendly event. Previous years have featured choirs caroling, free refreshments, carriage rides, and the Big Guy (Santa) making a special appearance.

January 8, 2011 @ 9am. The 15^th District J.C. Musser Work Day will be hosted by our Lodge. This is an excellent opportunity to see ritual work done properly in preparation for our Annual Inspection.

March 11 & 12, 2011. State Secretary's Association Meeting, Worthington, Ohio.

April 2, 2011 @ 10am. Annual Inspection for the pleasure of DDGM Paul Robinson, in the MM degree.

June 12, 2011. Ohio Masonic Home Day.

October 14 & 15, 2011. Grand Lodge Annual Communication, held in Cleveland, Ohio.
That’s all we’re aware of for now.As additional events and activities are scheduled, they will be posted.

See you at Lodge!