News + Public Announcements

Congratulations to over 125 new Masons who completed their Master Mason Degree in the first four months of this year! Thank you to all the Lodges who are working hard to raise new Brothers within their Lodges and to everyone who worked so hard to make our recent Masonic Day of Light events a resounding success! Let’s all make sure we warmly welcome these new Brothers and their families into our Masonic Family. Being raised to the sublime degree of

As an old sailor, I love a good “sea story”. Eighty-one years ago, a large number of our Masonic Brethren in the Sturgeon Bay area sailed on the Great Lakes. Their families wanted to have a special send-off meal together so, in March, before the sailors left for the upcoming season on the steamboats, the families gathered together for a dinner to bid the sailors farewell. It began quite simply with a free meal in one of the homes, grew

Fall is an amazing time of year that seems to kick our senses into high gear. Fall welcomes our favorite flannel shirt and football jersey back into service as nature treats us to an explosion of fall colors of reds, maroon, shades of orange and yellows that contrast with the rich earth tones of farm fields at harvest time. Some days the air smells crisp and cold, damp and earthy, on other days we enjoy of the smells of leaves;

Thank you for the opportunity to serve Wisconsin Free and Accepted Masons and for your trust and support as we move forward. In the many District meetings that I attended this past year, as well as in many personal conversations with respected Masons, I asked where our priorities should be. It will come as no surprise that I kept hearing the same thing voiced over and over again. At every single district meeting and in so many personal conversations, when

June 4, 2016 Brethren all It is with deep humility and gratitude that I greet you as Grand Master today. I thank you for your confidence and I humbly promise to give my utmost to fulfill your trust. As I deliver my remarks this morning please remember one undeniable truth…sleep is a good thing! If this Annual Communication has begun to tire you out, go ahead and close your eyes, don’t fight it! Serious head bobbing is very distracting. I

Introduction- William Shakespeare, starts his play, As You Like It with this verbiage,   “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts…” It is true. We all do play different roles in life and the practice of Freemasonry influences how a Mason acts out his roles in life. Here are seven short essays to consider how a mason may act

On Friday evening June 1st, 2012 M.W. Brother Dennis Valentine Siewert was installed as the Grand Master of Masons in Wisconsin.  The following are the comments he delivered on June 2nd at the Madison Masonic Center. Past Grand Master, Davey L. White Jr., Past Grand Masters, Brethren All; Some Past Grand Masters have said being a Grand Master is somewhat like owing a Boat.  The two best days of ownership is when you buy it and when you sell it. 

Brethren, I imagine there are plenty of Brothers out there, who like me, enjoyed our early spring and are not enjoying the cool weather we have been receiving lately. I’m sure it won’t be here too much longer, but I’m getting impatient. The last month has been a busy one, starting out with the joint Table Lodge with our Prince Hall Brothers. It was a truly enjoyable evening for everyone involved. I would like to thank Grand Master Earl Thomas

Brethren, As I write this article, the Grand Lodge staff and officers are busy preparing for the upcoming Annual Communication in June. While it may seem a little early, we all know how fast the time flies by. The Lodges should also be preparing and planning for this event, as the Worshipful Masters and Wardens comprise the voting body of the Grand Lodge. We hope to have a little different approach to the Annual Communication this year. We will of

Brethren, I again would like to thank our Great Creator for blessing us with such wonderful weather this winter. I cannot remember in my 48 plus years ever having a winter as warm as this. While some people may enjoy the beautiful snowfalls that our Wisconsin winters normally bring (which I also do), I am thankful for traveling purposes that it has been a mild winter so far. During the past month I have continued battling a nasty virus, but

Brethren, As the month of January approaches, I think that we should feel very fortunate for the great weather that our “supreme architect of the universe” has provided for us so far this year (no offense snowmobilers). It has made travel throughout the state a lot more enjoyable. The month of December has been a particularly rewarding experience for me, as I have had the opportunity to travel to several Lodges that I have not been privileged to visit before.

Brethren, As December approaches and we prepare for Mother Nature to bring us another winter in Wisconsin, it reminds us that it is the time of year for election of officers in our local Lodges. A time for the young men of our Fraternity to move forward and continue their education and journey in Masonry, while the Past Masters and veteran members of the Lodges continue spreading their wisdom to those that wish to learn. It truly is an exciting

Brethren, As we look at the beautiful scenes the supreme architect of the universe has provided for us in the month of October, we must feel an overwhelming sense of joy and gratitude for the opportunity to enjoy his creations. The colors of the trees and watching the animals scurry around preparing for the upcoming winter is my favorite time of year. This is also the busy part of our constituent lodges’ years as the current Masters are busy trying

Brethren, The month of September is drawing to a close and the Lodges are busy planning and implementing programs they have laid out on their trestleboards. You can feel the excitement in the air. There is degree work going on almost everywhere. I believe Freemasonry is alive and moving in the right direction in Wisconsin. We are making great strides not only in the Blue Lodge, but also in our appendant bodies  as well. Our numbers are still declining, but

My Lady Mary and I extend a very Happy Mother’s Day to all. Lodges that are the most successful are those that have made significant accomplishments such as reaching significant years of operation or have made improvements in their building. A few Lodges are planning to celebrate these accomplishments. Frequently these celebrations include an invitation to the Grand Officers to come and perform a rededication of the Lodge. There are several Lodges that have scheduled such events. Lodges with rededication

Is spring finally here? As I write this message the thermometer hovers around 30 degrees. The monthly reports received from your Grand Lodge officers keep me informed of the activities of your Lodge. Please keep your District Deputy informed of the degrees and other events your lodge has planned. Each Deputy is reporting weekly on lodge happenings via an e-mail notice. I again must tell you that the majority of Wisconsin Lodges have been busy. They are conferring degrees, holding

What a joy the last couple of months have been, Lodge officers installed, time spent with family and friends. A great kick off to 2011. While installing Lodge officers I have witnessed a number of occasions where the lodge is including their ladies and family members by having them place the officer’s jewel on their loved one or by using a candle ceremony. A few lodges have made some minor modifications to the installation ceremony to meet their needs and

Happy New Year! By now most Lodges have installed their officers for the 2011 Masonic year. There are just a few lodges that have scheduled installation for early January. As of this writing I have attended the installation of officers for 25 lodges with more scheduled over the next couple of weeks. Your Grand Lodge Officers have all been very busy working in the lodges to install the 2011 officers. Many lodges have officers occupying a office that they have

Past Grand Master Perry A. Risberg, 93, of Hayward, Wis, passed to the Lodge Eternal on Tuesday, November 23, 2010, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota. Bro. Perry was born on August 21, 1917, in Whitehall, Wis., to Walter and Dora (Brandon) Risberg. His family moved to Hayward when he was in high school and he graduated from Hayward High School. He then attended and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison, with accounting and law degrees. After receiving

My Lady Mary and I hope you and your family have a very Happy and Joyous Holiday season. As you gather with family and friends enjoy all the blessings that you have received and remember those who are less fortunate. All of our Masonic related organizations are a gift that we must all be thankful to be a part of. It extends an opportunity to each and everyone of us to share and unite in the common good. By now

Bro. Donald E. Krueger, PGM, of Tampa, Florida, passed away Sept. 12, 2010 at the age of 94. He was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on May 26, 1916, to Arnold A. and Lorraine (nee Pfieffer) Krueger. He graduated from Burlington High School and Carroll College.  Bro. Krueger was employed by the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company in Milwaukee until his retirement in 1976. He served a President of the Board of Trustees of Racine County Hospital and as President of

We are deeply saddened at the passing of Brother Donald E. Krueger, who served our Grand Jurisdiction as Grand Master in 1969-70. We extend our sympathy to his family. I have recently travelled out of state representing the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin to the Midwest Conference of Grand Lodges in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; the Supreme Council Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Northern Jurisdiction in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Iowa in Sioux City,

June 2010 : Madison Masonic Center My brothers, I am deeply humbled but honored by having been elected and installed as your Grand Master.  I want to congratulate and thank all of the Grand Lodge Officers that have been elected or appointed and installed to serve you this next Grand Lodge year with me.  We all thank you for your support and confidence. We pledge to you our support in  all of your endeavors.  We also pledge our support to