By Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Wisconsin Brother Jeff Schoenfeldt
It’s been another incredible month in Wisconsin Freemasonry!
Since my last writing, I have been to Burlington Lodge twice: once for their really fun “Gentlemen’s Night” which was an incredible amount of Brotherhood with some delicious beers to sip on, thanks to Brothers Jan Talaga and Shawn Noble. I was back a couple days later for their scholarship pancake breakfast and got to sit with some of the Brothers and their families to share some laughs along with the maple syrup.
We had a very successful Masonic Day of Light in Eau Claire, where beautiful degree work brought in 15 new Brother Master Masons that day. Our total for the year so far is 79, but what I am more proud of is that holding them more frequently and across the state helped to keep the class sizes smaller. I believe classes of around a dozen or so guys helps to keep the degrees more personal, meaningful and impactful.
I was honored to be a part of the Tom Tourville Table Lodge in Tomah. This annual celebration of Tom’s incredible legacy of compassion is always a fun event of both remembrance and laughs. I never met Tom –– but through their commitment to bettering their communities and this fraternity, his sons and our Brothers, Paul and Peter, continue to build on Tom’s solid foundation. I’m very appreciative of the Tourville family and all they have given for Wisconsin Freemasonry!
I was also in Mondovi for Buffalo River Lodge’s Past Master and length of service awards dinner. Great group of guys there, including Brother Jason Hayden, a former Shrine patient with an incredible story. The Leadership Team also joined me in Neenah twice this month for Appleton Lodge functions: the first for their Past Master’s Dinner and the other for a Ladies at the Table Lodge. This is a great Lodge of pure Brotherhood – and getting to sit next to PGM Roger Magoon (2005-06) is always a fun time!
Shawano Freemasons held their 6th Annual Easter Egg Hunt where about 500 kids from the community collected 35,000 plastic eggs. Yeah, you read that right: thirty-five thousand. Inside each egg was candy or a ticket for a larger stuffed animal. Watching those kids storm over the hill to collect the eggs was like the FREEDOM! scene in Braveheart! Freemasons also handed out free hot dogs and Sundrop soda – and the NEW Zoo was there to give kids some experiences to interact with and learn more about animals.
I had the pleasure to travel to the Spring District Meetings of Districts 4, 8, and 11 to thank those Brothers personally for being Freemasons and talk about some of the successes we have had in Freemasonry these last few years. I visited our Brothers of Beja Shrine a couple of times and attended the first ever Queen Christina Table Lodge of the Order of the Amaranth, a wonderful event complete with a delicious Brother Nic Schuh-prepared meal!
I also had the honor to travel to Guttenberg, Iowa to offer a eulogy on behalf of Wisconsin Freemasons for Bro. Ross Pollock. Ross served as D8 District Lecturer and did the historical lectures of all three of my degrees when I became a Mason 19 years ago. We also had a Celebration of the Brothers of Barneveld Lodge – without the forces of Don and Scott Komplin, Larry Meyers, Dave Grinder and my other Barneveld Brothers, I certainly would not be the Mason (or the man) I am today.
On Good Friday, I drove to Milton for their World Famous Fish Fry for lunch — and to see my Brothers and friends, the Hubers. Then, I headed over to Brookfield for the McKinley Lodge fish fry for dinner . . . and stopped in Port Washington at the Ozaukee County Lodge and Eastern Star fish fry on the way home! Delicious food all around the state!
West Bend Lodge held their second annual Master’s Feast, which was a huge success! Lots of fun, great raffle prizes, amazing food thanks to Brother Dave Tainter, and they raised money to support the Grand Master’s Appeal, which is the Acts of Kindness Fund within the Wisconsin Masonic Foundation. Every penny raised goes right back to supporting our Lodges, our Brothers and our communities!
Additionally, on a personal note, I was able to earn my Scottish Rite Golden Passport this month by viewing my final degree, the 29th Degree, online via the Thursday Night at the Rite. I also had a great time at the 173rd Minnesota Annual Communication representing Wisconsin and had the honor of addressing the Brothers assembled on the importance of our cross-Mississippi River relations. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Brothers in the North Star state!
I tell you all of this not to impress you. I tell you all of this because there are AMAZING events going on in Freemasonry all across Wisconsin! I have seen firsthand the Brotherhood these events provide in all corners of the state and encourage you to travel more! Get out there, see your Brothers, and enjoy the true benefits of this incredible fraternity!
However, reality has set in recently: I’ve only got about a month left as GM. My wife reminded me the other day that it’s only forty-some days until Annual Communication. How did that go so quickly?
But I’m not easing up off the gas pedal. I’m not walking through that finish line of AC – rather, with your strength and support, I’m running through it! Full force. I’ve got about 25 events yet on my calendar for this year and I’m looking forward to every single one of them as opportunities to thank Brothers for all that they do for Masons and Masonry in Wisconsin.
And then I look forward to seeing my Brothers at Annual Communication. To enjoy each other’s friendship, to share laughs, and to dwell together in unity and harmony.
Keep being the good in the world, my Brothers!
