The Further Light Lodge Christmas party will be held Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008. This is a carry-in dinner. Please bring a covered dish or dessert. All children 10 and under will receive a $10 gift card from Santa. Please RSVP to the lodge secretary with the number of children attending. The party will start at 7:00, The regular meeting will start 30 minutes early at 6:30.

Title: Halloween event planning
Location: Lodge
Description: Planning meeting for haunted lodge
Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2008-10-08
End Time: 19:00

Brethren,

A few short weeks from now, Catlin Masonic Lodge #285 will celebrate its 150th Anniversary and Rededication. The Lodge is planning a full week of activities leading up to the Rededication on September 13th.

The celebration will kick off on Monday September 8th with a full evening of activities. The program will begin at 6:30PM with a Spaghetti Dinner being served, followed by a free 30 minute concert by the Catlin Community Chior, which is comprised of members from two local Churchs. The group will entertain the crowd by honoring America with several patriotic songs. The concert will be begin with the presentation of the American Flag by members of the Catlin American Legion. Following the Chior, the program will continue with a “Rite Stuff” Rendezvous, presented by the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Danville. The “Rite Stuff” Rendezvous is a Masonic information and membership generating tool, which was developed by the Valley for the Blue Lodges. The Rendezvous will feature brief presentations on Masonic history and famous Masons, but more impotantly, what the Masons do and who we are. You will hea r first hand accounts from several Brethren on what Masonry means to them and how it has impacted their life. You will laugh, find inspiration, and possibly even shed a tear at some of the stories. If you know anyone who would make a good Mason, but you don’t know how to ask or have not been able to perk their interest, this is the event you need to bring them to. The “Rite Stuff” Rendezvous is open to ANYONE, including ladies and children. Bring a perspective member for your Lodge and show them the good fun and fraternal fellowship the Masonic fraternity has to offer.

A Stated Meeting of Catlin Lodge will be held on Tuesday September 9 at 7:00PM. We would like to invite the members of any Lodge to attend. Feel free to come as a group with the officers of your Lodge and join with us. We have a goal of filling the Lodge room that evening. Would’nt that be great to see a Lodge room completely full! I understand that one of the nearby Lodges is already making plans to join us that evening. We will serve light refreshments.

The celebration will conclude on Saturday September 13th with a Rededication Ceremony performed by Most Worshipful Grand Master, Daniel C. Yandel, and the other officers of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois. Lunch will be served at Noon, followed by the Rededication Ceremony at 1:00PM. Everyone is invited to attend a Cook-Out and Afterglow at the residence of W.B. Jack Kimball and his lovely wife, Gail. The Kimball house is located SouthWest of Danville, out in the sticks on Old Bristle Ridge. Please e-mail me for directions.

The officers and members of Catlin Lodge are very excited to celebrate 150 years of Masonry in Catlin. Over the course of the last several months, a considerable amount of work has been done to the building to restore the original Opera House on the first floor. The building was completed in 1898 and housed the Lodge room upstairs and an Opera House downstairs. The Opera had been closed for many decades and a wall was built in front of the stage abd a suspended celing installed in the 1970s. We have taken down the wall and suspended celing, and have refinished the original hardwood floors and stage and have installed ligths and sound, along with many other cosmetic improvements. Please come out and see it!

We look forward to welcoming each of you to our 150th Anniversary Celebration.

Fraternally,

Sean McBride, Secretary
Catlin Lodge #285

The annual installation of officers will be on July 2nd, at 7:00 p.m. This is an event that you may bring your wife, family, and non-masonic friends. Cake and ice cream will be served after the ceremony.

The lodge will have up to 4 first degrees this Wednesday, June 25th, starting at 6:00 p.m.

    We need your help

.

The annual Past Master’s dinner honoring the masters of the three Danville Masonic lodges will be held on Sept. 29th at 6:30 P.M. at the Masonic Temple.  This year we will be honoring Worshipful Brother Jerry H. Askren, who served the lodge well for the Masonic year 2005-2006.  Reservations are required and must be made with the secretary (217-443-4895) by 9/22/06.  Cost is $10.00 per person in advance.

For the first time in several years our lodge has scheduled a “Fire and Water” degree.  This has long been a favorite of brethren from all over the 8th Eastern District.  The degree will be held on the beach at the GAO Grotto on Denmark Road beginning at 6:30 PM on Oct. 18th.  This is a great opportunity for lodge members to return to lodge for an enjoable event that you only need to sit and watch.  Each brother is encouraged to bring a lawn chair and his appetite for a great dinner.

The ‘bus’ leaves for Sullivan at 9:00 AM 11/11/04 from Georgetown. The weather may be dreary, but our clothing donation will supply sunshine for the residents of the Illinois Masonic Home. Many thanks to Danville Township for allowing us to borrow their truck and trailer!

We are having a third degree on Nov. 17th at 6:30 PM. Brother John Tosh is a history teacher in Westville. This would be a good time for you to come back to lodge and see some work. You won’t be asked to do anything, except maybe hold the canvas. Brother Tosh will be examined on the second degree before taking his third.

Our annual lodge Christmas party will be on December 15th at 6:30 PM at the Masonic Temple. This is a
potluck dinner
, so bring your covered dish and family and enjoy the fellowship. If you are bringing a child or grandchild or any other child you must call me so the lodge knows how many gift certificates to buy. We do not want any child left out so be sure to call!