KING OSCAR OCTOBER 2004 COLUMN
*********************************************
Visit our website <www.kingoscarlodge.com>
It is loaded “with good stuff!”
From the Lodge
“Where true Masonic brotherhood flourishes!”
*********************************************
TRESTLEBOARD & SPECIAL EVENTS
Oct 8 Stated Meeting
Oct 8 & 9 Grand Lodge
Oct 11 Columbus Day
Oct 16 Sweetest Day
Oct 22 Special Meeting
Oct 31 Halloween
Nov 1 All Saints Day
Nov 11 Veterans Day
Nov 12 Stated Meeting
Nov 25 Thanksgiving Day
Nov 26 Special Meeting
FROM THE EAST
Greetings, Brethren:
We welcome the new officers and look forward to a great year. Thanks to Craig
Stewart for his year in the East, he deserves a big round of applause.
Boy, has the time flown, seems only a short while ago when I first became an
officer, but it has been a while. Time flies when you are having fun.
I am very proud to be a Master Mason and especially so, being a member of King
Oscar Lodge # 855.
Our plans for the year: a normal traditional program. Should any of the members
have suggestions, let me hear from you. This is your Lodge. We are planning
a road trip for next summer and will keep you posted. A list of upcoming events
will be sent out shortly.
I wish to personally thank all the hard working brethren who have been actively
(elbow grease, etc) involved in the temples renovation. It will be especially
great for future generations, an edifice for which the community, City of Chicago
and Illinois Freemasonry will be deservedly proud.
For now, please pardon the dust and disarray.
If any of you have concerns let us know so they can be addressed.
God bless you and have fun this fall.
Fraternally.
Bruce A. Polit
Worshipful Master
FROM THE NORTH & ELSEWHERE
One of my “CIA” informants asked me to “leak” some heretofore-unrevealed
facts. The inseparable duo of “Guy & Smith,” Homer and Chester
that is, both have, or soon will establish milestones while “traveling
through this vale of tears.” Chester has trod the “rough and rugged
road” as a Master Mason for sixty-one years and Homer will soon attain
sixty years. An enviable accomplishment for these two “old timers.”
Neither look that old, or do they?
NOTE: “CIA” = “Current Interesting Announcement” not
“Central Intelligence Agency,” wish to keep the record straight.
As with all “leaked” information, we must also be very wary of the
“FBI” = “Foolish Butt - Inskeys,” who “anonymously
and insidiously report untruths.”
Congratulations to our “Immediate Past Master” Craig Stewart, (please
note we have not used the degrading term “Junior Past Master”).
Thank you for your loyalty and devotion; you are a true “King Oscarite!”
James Clevenger, one of our newer brothers, departed September 13th for Liverpool
England. He will be attending a university there majoring in International Affairs.
James we look forward to your return “when school is out,” in a
year or so.
ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH INSTALLATION of OFFICERS
Our annual meeting, fondly known as the “apple affair,” was held
Friday, September 10th. The annual meeting of the “Jefferson Masonic Association”
(the “high class” moniker of our temple board) followed. Three new
members were elected to serve the Association. They are Bruce Polit, Sheridan
Ostrander and Edward Stracek.
Sunday, September 26th new officers were installed in the usual “top notch”
fashion King Oscar officers expect. A delicious family style dinner was served
and great fellowship prevailed.
The officers, in addition to those listed in the masthead are: Sheridan Ostrander,
Treasurer; Craig Stewart, Chaplain; Michael Fortunato, Senior Deacon; Jimmy
Dakof, Junior Deacon; Joe Silverton, Senior Steward; Michael Dakof, Junior Steward;
Michael Wicker, Marshal; F. Ross Warner, Tyler; Paul Laws, Organist.
We wish our excellent corps of officers the very best and will show our support
by regularly attending lodge; wont we? Your answers better be “ you bet
your boots we will!”
King Oscar Lodge is extremely proud of the fact, in its 107 years no King Oscar
Master has ever repeated his term in the K.O. East. One hundred seven years,
107 different Masters. I wonder how many lodges of the same longevity can meet
or beat that record!
AUGUST BORN BRETHREN
Unfortunately an oversight in the July column failed to list brethren born in
August. Our intent is to list birthdays a month in advance to provide members,
if they wish, sufficient time to send greetings.
Brother Ellsworth Cobble brought to our attention his birthday (August 13th)
wasn’t listed. Our records indicate he was born October 13th, he was listed
in the September column.
We apologize to all our Master Masons born in August and will make every effort
(if still among the living) not to overlook you in the July 2005 column. SORRY,
just proves we are human.
SHOULD WE INCORRECTLY REPORT OR OMITT YOUR BIRTHDAY, NOTIFY THE WRITER OR OUR
SECRETARY, RUSSELL E. JOHNSON. PERFECTION IS OUR INTENT, NOTHING LESS IS ACCEPTABLE!
WWW WISE WORDS OF WISDOM
If there is no wind, row. Latin proverb.
The only way of knowing a person is to love them without hope. Walter Benjamin
(1892-1940) Critic & philosopher.
Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. Jim Ryus,
Olympic medallist & politician.
One person’s stressor is another’s challenge. Beverly Potter, writer.
A true friend is someone who is there for you when he’d rather be anywhere
else. Len Wein, Comic book writer and editor.
Mundane tasks don’t interfere with “living.” They are “living,”
John Columbus
Yes, but… . = No! Curtis Swisher
The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for. Will Rogers.
Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable. Will Rogers.
Never miss a good chance to shut up. Will Rogers
By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step he’s too old to go
anywhere. Billy Crystal
Don’t worry about avoiding temptation…As you get older, it will
avoid you. Winston Churchill
By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you’ll become happy; if you
get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher. Socrates
A woman drove me to drink… and I didn’t even thank her. W. C. Fields
REMEMBER: Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. Anon.
KINDRED LODGE ASSOCIATION
From time to time in this column we have updated you on the activities of the
subject organization of England. It is comprised of brethren who are or have
been involved with various youth organizations such as the Boy Scouts. Some
of us are members. Recently received the following announcement:
KINDRED LODGE ASSOCIATION
AUTUMN 2004 FESTIVAL
SATURDAY, OCTOBER SECOND
SHEFFIELD PARK HOTEL
“All members are invited to attend with their guests. All who are eligible
are encouraged to wear the uniform of their Youth Organization.”
NOTE: Thought this might be of interest to those of us who were Boy Scouts and
later adult leaders, or belonged to other youth organizations!
LESS WE MIGHT FORGET - KING OSCAR HISTORY
1989 was the year Steve Klos occupied the Oriental chair. He gave
devoted service to both the Scottish and York Rites, receiving the Scottish
Rite MSA (Meritorious Service Award) and the Illustrious 33º. A wearer
of two hats, the “red” and “white.”
During Steve’s year in the “East,” a Table Lodge for Masonic
enlightenment was held one cold winter evening at the Swedish American Museum
on North Clark Street. Over the years the King Oscar Players, under Steve’s
direction, performed scripted Masonic plays at various lodges.
Worshipful Brother Klos recalls such a performance in Muskegon
Michigan, the local brethren served a “ham” dinner. It was agreed
the players group were a bunch of hams. The King Oscar brethren later presented
him with a figurine of a hog!
NOTE: From “King Oscar Lodge # 855 A.F.&A.M. Centenary Celebration”
by Randy Becker.
THE MASONIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION
Last month we shared with you some information from a talk given by Brother
Richard E. Fletcher, secretary treasurer of the MSA. Under the heading “Education
- Publications” the following is a portion of his presentation.
“There is no aspect of Freemasonry more important or more significant
than Masonic Education. The ritual is our introduction to the fraternity. Masonic
education is what makes a man a Mason – for if he does not understand
the words and the implications of his obligations, he cannot possibly live by
them. When we learn what our fraternity is truly all about; when we realize
the significance and the impact Freemasons have had in this nation we can thank
Masonic Education.”
NOTE: More next month.
WELTERS WELL OF WORTHY WORLD WIDE MASONIC TRIVIA
The letters of the English word GOD are the first three letters of the Hebrew
words for beauty, strength and wisdom, G in Gomer, O in Oz and D in Dabar.
In 1860 at Limerick, Ireland was found a stone in a small chapel, dated 1517
with the following inscription: "I will serve to live with love & care,
upon the level, and by the square.”
Dr. Joseph Ignace Guillotine was a member of Concorde Fraternelle Lodge of Paris
and a member of the French Assembly. He obviously invented the device, which
bears his name. He was later executed with one.
Frank again THANKS!
“THE REST of the STORY!”
In order to have unbroken floor space in the George Washington memorial in Alexandria,
Virginia, the cars in two elevator shafts move sideways thirty-five feet. As
the elevators rise 255 feet in two slanting hoist-ways from the main floor to
the observation platform at the top of the building, it moves sideways one foot
for approximately every 7.28 feet it ascends or descends.
NOTE: Furnished by Brother “Jerry Owens,” thanks Brother!
AUGUST EMESSAY NOTES from THE MASONIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION
Brother Philip G. Buchholz, Grand Master of Wyoming is quoted below, from an
article in the subject communication:
“ I believe the key to growth lies in the constant practice of the moral
and ethical values of our great fraternity. In Freemasonry’s years of
consistent growth in North America, individuals wanted to be part of this fraternity
because of the ‘value’ of membership; because of the conduct of
those who belonged, the way they treated each other, the mutual respect and
genuine concern they exhibited for each other. I believe we must return to the
time when values and principles are the first priority of Freemasonry, when
we are a value based organization with brothers, not a member based organization
with values.”
NOTE: The bold printed phrases of the last sentence reflect exactly your correspondent’s
view!
SHRINE FACTS & FIGURES (2003)
This information was likewise included in the August Emessay Notes.
“With the approval of 35,133 new patient applications in 2003, Shriners
Hospitals had an active patient roster at year-end of 187,328 children. Since
the first Shriners Hospital opened in Shreveport, LA. in 1922, there have been
approximately:
9,164,963 X-rays taken
6,824,375 outpatient & outreach clinic visits
1,194,249 braces and prostheses applied
717,106 operations performed; and
15,942,821 physical therapy treatments
“Shriners Hospitals total budget for 2004 is $ 596 million, of which
$ 554 million is targeted for operating expenses.”
TEMPLE RENOVATION
Renovation is progressing rite on schedule, well, maybe a bit ahead of schedule.
OUR PLEA FOR PHYSICAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE ABLED BODIED BRETHREN MET WITH VERY
LITTLE RESPONSE. SOME SAID THEY WEREN’T AWARE OF THE PLEA. NOW YOU HAVE
ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE, PROVIDING, OF COURSE YOU CAN AND DO READ THIS COLUMN!
COME ON JOHN HOFFMAN AND FELLOWS, LEND A HAND!
SICKNESS &DISTRESS
Brother Bill Bissen is back in Swedish Covenant Hospital.
Brother Randy Becker is up and walking some without the assistance of a walker.
His wife, Pam’s leg is healing, soon she will be able to put some weight
on it. They are booth at the Knights Templar Home in Paxton, Illinois. The street
address is: 450 E. Huron Street P O. Box 49 Paxton, Il 60957-0049. Randy’s
phone number is 630-542-0006.
Almighty God, we ask your guidance of the medical experts serving these beloved
friends of ours. May your blessing be bestowed upon them and those of whom we
are unaware of such need.
OBITUARY
Brother Norbert A. Piasecki was born October 17, 1925. He was initiated May
10, 1971, passed June 3, 1971 and raised December 16, 1971 in Wright’s
Grove Lodge # 779. “Norb,” as he was affectionately called, became
a plural member of King Oscar Lodge September 9, 1993
Brother Piasecki laid down his earthly working tools August 30, 2004 and now
sits at the right hand of the Grand Master of the Universe. May his soul rest
in peace.
Almighty God console, as only you can, his dear wife, Marge, their
two daughters and their families in these days of extreme sorrow and grief.
CLOSING
‘Tis the time for goblins “to get you if you don’t watch out”
as written by the great Hoosier poet, James Whitcomb Riley of Greenfield and
Indianapolis, Indiana. One of my grandfathers was a “drinking buddy”
of James Whitcomb, who is reputed to have done some of his “best work”
after enjoying a few libations. At least that is what “Gramps” imparted,
Grandpas never ever fib, my Dad once told me?
Following the pumpkins, goblins, ghosts, et al, comes Thanksgiving, then Santa
Claus and the new year of 2005. My God where does time fly to?
May your days of the forth-coming holiday season be joyous and prosperous enough
to “pay the tabs?”
Until next month, God bless.
Whispering George C. F.
a.k.a. “the chicken hater.”