News + Public Announcements

Rough Ashlar Lodge Friendship Even through the occasional rough patch here at “Rough Ashlar” Lodge, we have always hung in there because of the great friendships we have made through Freemasonry. As with most lodges, our Brothers have become some of our best friends. We support each other and look forward to getting together on lodge nights and on special occasions. As part of the rebirth of Rough Ashlar Lodge this year we are using Friendship as one of our

“Planning” is one of the important “4-P’s” that we have spoken about often this year. Operating a successful lodge involves solid attention to People, Planning, Programming and Proficiency. Well, our friends here at Rough Ashlar Lodge have cobbled together a calendar of events for the upcoming year. We are also taking the leap and using a “Consent Agenda” so we can move through our stated meetings quickly and not bore the bee-jeebers out of the sideliners. Now comes the work

As we enter a new Masonic year, Rough Ashlar Lodge (and every lodge) should have a calendar in place. In order to have a successful year we need to plan ahead. Every event for the year deserves to be well planned and all of our members deserve to know in advance what is happening. Here is Rough Ashlar Lodge’s simple formula for this year . . . Streamline our business meetings and add some Masonic Education Plan one event (or

  “Here!”          “Present!”     “Yo!” So many times over the years we have been part of a roll call. Typically each of our lodges has a sign-in book to track attendance. The officers in attendance are usually noted in the minutes of the lodge. There is a roll call of Fellowcrafts in the Master Mason Degree. During Masonic Memorials we mention that the roll has been called but a Brother answers not. We hope that when the roll is called “up

During the course of this year we are focusing on Rough Ashlar Lodge. Good old Rough Ashlar isn’t a real lodge, but its real challenges are shared by many lodges. We have discussed using the “4-P’s” to build a well balanced lodge. Once again the 4-P’s are People, Planning, Programming and Proficiency. Proficiency doesn’t just mean memorizing ritual, but it means that we should strive to do things well. This can extend to ritual but also includes running efficient meetings

Hopefully you are becoming more acquainted with my good friends, the Brothers of Rough Ashlar Lodge. Good old Rough Ashlar has been struggling but they are trying to pick themselves up by their bootstraps this year. The Brothers of Rough Ashlar Lodge have been working hard on learning the ritual, they have reached out to their members. The lodge has energized their stated meetings by streamlining the business and having some great and interesting discussions using the Masonic Study Series.

As you know, a rough ashlar is a stone taken from the quarry in its rude and imperfect state. It is made ready by the hands of the builder to be used in construction of the building. The stone is made perfect by removing imperfections. Nothing is added. Each stone becomes an integral and important part of the building. In Wisconsin we have 176 lodges as of this writing. Just as each stone is important to a building, each of

Several years ago, while going through a particularly rough patch in my business, I said a simple prayer at church. The simple prayer was, “Lord, show me the path.”That very day during the pastor’s sermon, he recited the words of Proverbs 3:5, which says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Later that week, I went

The 4 “P’s” People, Planning, Programming and Proficiency The Cornerstones of Successful Lodges Are you a member or officer of stumbling, bumbling old Rough Ashlar Lodge? The lodge continues to struggle with a lack of activity, programs fall flat, degree work is lacking. Membership and attendance are dwindling. We love our old lodge but it can be frustrating and depressing at times when things just don’t seem to ever improve. Maybe you are envious of Perfect Ashlar Lodge. You know

     I write this article with a sense of real optimism. PGM Jack Allord has an article in this issue speaking to the fact that there are different leadership styles. Some are effective, some are efficient, and most work if applied consistently. The one exception is the leader who attempts to micro-manage a large organization. Fortunately, I do not see any of those in our upcoming leadership. So I am optimistic about the future course of our wonderful brotherhood.

Okay, so I am not going to say I can’t believe how fast this May article came due. I am here to tell you, my Brothers, how honored I am to be serving as your Grand Master. We have tried to face up to some long term issues that have faced Grand Lodge for some time and put them behind us. We also faced some challenges and circumstances we had not been able to forecast. We met each issue head

It is now time for an April message. This is almost too easy! Mother Nature gears up to renew herself with the longer days and the refreshment of spring rains. Likewise, our Lodges begin to hit their stride now that the officers have three months under their belts. This should be the start of our Lodges’ most productive quarter. We all need to pitch in to make it so. I used to work for a General Officer named “Red” Fuller.

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity is the National Motto of France. John Adams, our Second President wrote in one of his many letters that if the new Republic was to survive it would be due to Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. Over the years, I have heard several Masonic speakers draw the conclusion that Adams and the French were of course referring to our Craft. In fact, neither the French, nor Adams were talking about “the Fraternity” they were using the then preferred

  This is a special February! It is of course when we celebrate the birthday of the Father of American Freemasonry and our Country, Br George Washington. The George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association (www.gwmemorial.org) has a great little booklet out titled George Washington’s Rules of Civility. This would make a great program for Lodges. Another milestone is that this month Wisconsin will get the opportunity to host The North American Conference of Grand Masters and Grand Secretaries in Madison.

My Brothers, as we are in our season of change and are installing the last of our new Lodge Officers. May I ask each of you to consider where you want your Lodge to go. I am not asking you look ahead a year or even five years. Today’s Officers need to establish the direction of march for your lodge into the far future. Discuss with each other the direction, objectives, and what is important to your Lodge’s future. Ask

   Many religious Holy Days and celebrations show up on the calendar during these months of November, December, and January. For my wife Wendy, her big event of the year is Christmas. Clark Griswold has nothing on us. The reason we only have two Christmas trees is that there is no room for any more. After all, there is the full sized singing and dancing Santa that delights our Grandchildren. Scattered throughout the house are the fifty some battery driven

My Brothers, the math is simple. Past Grand Master Siewert had it worked out when he was in the Grand East. We need 25 thousand Master Masons in Wisconsin to make us self sufficient and we need to be able to maintain or better that number each year to be healthy as an organization. As he puts it, “We can’t keep living off of dead men’s money.” He is correct.Trying to ignore the fact does not make it go away.

The question will someday come up and a Brother will ask you, “Which degree is the most Important?” The answer is that they all are, for different reasons. Everyone strives to attain full light in Masonry.  For this alone many will answer that The Master Mason Degree is the most significant.  It is, after all, the degree, where we do business, vote, and share all the wisdom of all three degrees.  And once a Master, everything in the lodge is

A Brother can send his wife a dozen red roses.  His wife joyfully may view that as an expression of his never-ending love and affection.   However, the sender of a message cannot always control how it is received.   His spouse may receive that bouquet and think, “What is he up to?” Both cases involve the same message, received differently.  The filters each recipient processes the message through may alter or twist the initial intent of the message.  An environment of openness,

First, congratulations to all of our new Masters, Wardens and Lodge officers. What a great time of the year – new officers, new ideas and plans, new opportunities, excitement! Brothers, I wish all of you the greatest success for the coming year and if there is anything your Grand Lodge Team can do to assist, please do not hesitate to call. A bit of advice – enjoy your year; it will race past far quicker than you realize. One day

Well, the Holiday Season is upon us with all of its joy and excitement. The children are of course anticipating the traditional gifts and festivities of the season and the break from school, and this is how it should be as joys and innocence of childhood last for such a brief time. Their excitement is truly infectious. For families, the holiday time is often a time of reunion and happiness; it is a time of corresponding and the renewal of

This is the time of the year when it is really tough to be a turkey. If they knew their fate, I doubt they would feel there is much to be thankful for. Considering where they shall ultimately end up, it is best they do not know their fate. Nonetheless, I am very thankful for turkeys and all the associated joys they bring at this time of the year. Even though it is not related to Thanksgiving, I must admit

There is a famous quote, actually one of many, from the Illiad, Homer’s book on the Trojan Wars that has stuck with me over the years. It is a simple quote, but speaks volumes, especially if looked at from a Masonic viewpoint. The quote is “Achilles absent is Achilles still”, and it alludes to the fact that even if Achilles was not present, his presence was still felt through his influence on those who are. The Masonic inference here really

   The beauty of our planet never fails to amaze and inspire me. No matter where one travels on this world, there is so much natural beauty to be seen and enjoyed –from the majestic beauty of the mountains, woodlands and deserts to the small, almost unnoticed complexity and beauty of a single woodland flower. Is it possible to stand on ocean shores, witness the crashing of huge waves, while at the same time contemplating upon the separate, hidden world

As many of you may know, one of my great loves is woodworking, and it is a hobby that I have enjoyed for years. Because of this addiction, I am constantly working on our house ––building, rebuilding or replacing something. Some time back I decided that the stairs in our basement needed replacing, so as I usually do, I set out to make the needed improvements. Normally, because of their use, stairs are built from a fairly hard, durable wood,

Brethren; As boys we built tree houses, club houses and forts, they were our special places.  That special place was just for a select few of a special group of friends.  They were also others who wanted to be part of the group but were never invited.  As men, if you think we out grew the concept of a club house you’re wrong, the name and place has changed but the concept remains.  As men we have cottages, boats, deer

As I travel the State of Wisconsin and visit other Jurisdictions, I start wondering about some of the people I meet. Are they on an ego trip, are they full of themselves, do they need to be in control and the list goes on. Putting the shoe on the other foot, how do I conduct myself?  The conclusion is it’s really none of the above, “It’s about the Passion”. Regardless of the Organization, there are those members who attend its

My Brothers; Now that I have your attention! There was a personal reason you joined this great fraternity.  Some of you had Fathers who gave you a petition and took you to Lodge. While others may have had male role models who did the same. Most of the Baby Boomers, my generation, were not joiners, divorce became socially acceptable, two income households, lack of time for family, the list is endless, thus membership in Churches, Fraternal and Volunteer Organizations has

Brethren; The Deputy Grand Master, Senior and Junior Grand Wardens, the Grand Secretary and myself have just returned from the Conference of Grand Masters and Grand Secretaries in Kansas City.  There were over sixty different Grand Jurisdictions represented.  The attendees were able to exchange ideas, compare membership trends and join in proactive seminars.  The Seminars were very informative they dealt with everything from membership retention, working with new members and social media concepts. I have asked, in past articles, why

My Brothers: I had the opportunity to see Freemasonry is action by attending the Secretaries Training Seminar in Madison on Sunday, January 20. I want to thank PGM Michael A. DeWolf, our Grand Secretary, for making it a worth while event. It was interactive, so speakers could field questions and comments from the floor. I spoke with many of the Brothers who found it to very informative and helpful in providing leadership to their Lodges. I have also traveled to

My Brothers: I enjoy reading about our great fraternity and it seems the information read deserves time for reflection, analysis and action. Our Grand Secretary forwarded an article to me that was found on the International Royal Arch Masons website. I have read the article and felt it worthwhile to share along with some personal observations. “Seven Blunders of the Masonic World” Ritual without Meaning Our Ritual is what makes us different from other Fraternal or Service Organizations. We should

Brethren; When you were young remember those birthday and holiday gifts? Which one got your attention? It was probably the biggest box and or the best wrapped. As you advanced in life, you bought a car, your pride and joy, you maintained it or wrapped it to the best of your ability.  Many of us bought a house and made it a home. The way you maintain something or the way you wrap it becomes a reflection of your personality

Brethren; I want to tell of an instance that goes to prove the “Diversity” of our Brothers in our Great Fraternity. Last month I received an e-mail from our Editor, Rich Rygh, of our Wisconsin Masonic Journal. “I have the attached photo which would make a nice cover photo for the WMJ. I have never taken a photo during the conferral of a degree. What is your opinion? Do you think we are showing more than we should? I don’t

My Brothers; It is a pleasure to be serving you as your Grand Master. There seems to be something different to do each day.  I had written a number of articles for the Masonic Journal but after reading them; they didn’t seem to be relevant as to what’s happening in Wisconsin Freemasonry. One of the Programs that your Grand Lodge, through the Masonic Charities Office, has been doing is to recognize our Brothers for their years of Masonic Service. We

Brethren, As I write this article, it is evident that winter in Wisconsin has arrived. The snow and ice are upon us once again. While it is beautiful in its own way, it offers a lot of concerns for our Brothers as they travel around our state practicing our Masonic Principles. Please take every precaution when out and about traveling to other lodges and state functions. Your health and safety are our main concerns. I hope everyone has been enjoying

Twas the Night before Christmas, And down at the lodge Not a gavel was stirring, And in the hodge podge of aprons and jewels And chairs East and West You could savour the silence, Most gladly divest all metal and mineral, It mattered not, Since Christmas was nigh And the coals were still hot In the hearth of your home place, all Masons abed, As visions of trestleboards Danced in their head; When up on the roof there arose such a clatter Our Tyler jumped up to see what was the

  What two things do we not talk about in our Masonic Lodges? The answer is Religion and Politics. However, United States Freemasons helped form and maintain this great country of ours and have always answered the call to arms. Recently I got a call from Brother Bob Roth, a retired Army Colonel, who serves us on a number Grand Lodge Committees. He asked me if I would like to represent my company and the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin on

Brethren, Again I thank you for the opportunity to serve our great craft as your Grand  Master.   It truly is an extraordinary feeling. I would also like to thank Bro. Rich Rygh for his outstanding coverage of our Annual Communication. The picture on the cover of our summer issue says it all. I don’t believe there is anyone happier than my Father at that particular moment. Thanks Brother Rich for capturing the moment. As the lodges that were dark for

My Brothers, I am deeply honored and humbled by your vote of confidence.  And while I have been elevated for a short time to the position of Grand Master, I assure you that I will always keep in mind that I am nothing more than a representative on your behalf.  I further assure you that every decision made this year will be made with your best interests as well as those of our craft in mind. I would like to

Grand Master’s Report M .W. Joseph B. Harker My brothers, last June I was deeply humbled but honored to be elected and installed as your Grand Master, I remain equally humbled and honored   today.  It has been a privilege to serve OUR Grand Lodge these past twelve months as your Grand Master.  Additionally, it was a joy to serve with these fine 2010-11 Grand Lodge Officers.   To your Lodges we pledged our support, additionally; we pledged our support to York

The Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Wisconsin will convene at the Madison Masonic Center on Friday, June 10, 2011. All Wisconsin Lodges are expected to have their representatives (Master, Senior and Junior Wardens or Proxies) present for the entire communication. Any Lodge unable to attend must receive prior written permission from the Grand Master well in advance of the start of the Communication. My Brothers and friends we all owe a great deal to

Grand Secretary Michael A. DeWolf, PGM, will host a MORI training seminar on May 21 from 9:30 a.m. thru 4:00 p.m. at the Weston Lanes, 5902 Schofield Ave, Weston, Wis. There will be a break for lunch at noon and each participant will be on his own for lunch. There are plenty of lunch choices available at the center. The class is designed to accommodate the new user as well as the power user. Some basic secretarial functions will be

By now all Lodges have installed their officers for the 2011 Masonic year. It is always encouraging to see our new officers grow their skills to fulfill their new responsibilities. I am sure you have hopes and goals set for what you plan to accomplish this Masonic year. Share those ideas with your fellow officers and members. Engage them–it is a lot more fun if you can work together to plan and complete a project. Your Grand Lodge officers were

Article by Don Hensiak, Senior Grand Steward The Grand Lodge of Wisconsin has enjoyed a growing relationship with the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Wisconsin. The two Grand Lodges remain separate and distinct, but have enjoyed mutual recognition since 1990. This allows the two jurisdictions to enjoy camaraderie and visitations. The Grand Lodge of Wisconsin currently recognizes 31 Prince Hall Grand Lodges throughout America. Many Masons have labored under the mistaken idea that Prince Hall is a “black” lodge and

Past Grand Master Robert Edward Billings passed away on January 21, 2011 at the age of 93, at Greentree Health and Rehabilitation Center, Clintonville.  He served the Masons of Wisconsin as Grand Master in 1975. He was born in  Clintonville, Wisconsin, September 14, 1917 the son of Guy and Jennie (Carr) Billings. He married Jane Elizabeth Kelly his wife of 63 years in October 1941. She preceded him in death in 2004. Bro. Billings graduated from the Clintonville public school

Your Grand Lodge officers met in Madison the weekend of October 8-10 as reported elsewhere in this issue of our Wisconsin Masonic Journal. The highlight of the weekend was the Unity dinner where many of the Wisconsin Masonic bodies’ Grand Officers came together to socialize and learn more about each other’s organizations. There were members from Eastern Star, Amaranth, Job’s Daughters, Rainbow for Girls, DeMolay, Commandery, and the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin.  All appendant bodies were invited and I hope

Video address by Lee Sherman Dreyfus – former Governor of Wisconsin.  Hosted by Freemasons Lodge #363, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and recorded in 2003 at the Humphrey Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Milwaukee. [cincopa AQCAtTKt2397]