From the East

Greetings from the East,

November is here and it will be a busy month. Backing up into October, we had a 3rd degree for Brother Lee Rabe who was raised to Master Mason. Thank you to the officers for their excellent work.

Our Halloween Family Fun Festival was a fun day, thank you to Brother Art Walasek and his wife Vicki for coordinating this event, and a big thanks to all the Brothers and our Eastern Star New Hope Chapter that assisted. Check out the photos in the Photo Gallery below.

At November’s Stated Meeting on Thursday, November 2^nd, we will have our annual flag presentation and the annual election of lodge officers for 2024, Trustees, and Hall Association Directors. Brothers, please be present at this event and show your support for the lodge and the incoming Officers, Trustees and Hall Association Directors.

On Saturday, November 11^th, Natoma Lodge will be participating in the Folsom Veteran’s Day Parade. We will be having participants on our float and walking. We will be sending more information out on this event shortly. Please contact me @ (916) 990-1469 if you would like to participate.

Then on Thursday, November 16^th, we will be having a 3^rd Degree for Brother Greg Lane. All Master Masons are encouraged to attend and support our brother and lodge.

We are still seeking brothers to deliver Masonic degree charges. If you would like to learn a Charge to deliver to a candidate, or if you have experience, please let me know.

Please feel free to contact me with any ideas, questions, or concerns @ (916) 990-1469. It is an honor to be serving you and our lodge, thank you.

Stay safe and have a great November!

From the West

As Freemasons we are predisposed to symbolism. One of the most recognizable symbols around the world is that of Freemasonry’s square and compass, and central to our beliefs.

The American flag is a symbol. It is also a symbol that is recognized around the world. It represents freedom, democracy, and the American way of life. The connection between Freemasonry and the American flag goes back to the founding of our nation. Many of the founding fathers, as you know, were Freemasons, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Paul Revere.

Did you know that the American flag was designed, not by Betsy Ross who stitched it together, but by Brother Francis Hopkinson, who was also a Freemason. His design was approved on June 14, 1777, when the Continental Congress made the following resolution: Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.

American Freemasons observe the American flag by displaying it at our lodges. In California lodges and at Natoma Lodge 64 we present the flag in the lodge during our November Stated meetings. We then join in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge was written by Brother Francis Bellamy in 1892, for a public school program. The original words were: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” The words “my flag” were replaced with “the flag of the United States of America” in 1924, and “under God” was added in 1954. Of note, when “under God” was added after “one nation” no comma was inserted and therefore it is pronounced “one nation under God” without a break. As you remember, we are charged as Freemasons “…by never losing sight of the allegiance due to your country.”

Often, either before or after the Pledge of Allegiance, our National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner, is sung. The words to this song were written as a poem originally titled, "Defence of Fort M'Henry" by yet another Francis – Francis Scott Key. He wrote the lyrics to be sung to the tune of a song called, "To Anacreon in Heaven," which had been composed by John Stafford Smith. Both men were Freemasons.



For these reasons and more we observe the presentation of our national symbol, the flag of our country in November. Happy Veteran’s Day to all our Brethren Past and Present who have served this Great Symbol of our nation and protected our Freedoms!

Fraternally and on the Level,

Stuart Stackhouse

Senior Warden

From the South

Happy November Brethren and Ladies,

First, let us celebrate our newly raised Brother Lee Rabe. This was a long time coming and we are very proud of him!

This November, we are going to start off with our stated dinner on the 2^nd which will be catered by El Pollo Loco. So make sure to RSVP this way we can get an accurate head count to ensure we have enough food. Being November, this also means the excitement of elections is here. Time to see who your 2024 officers are going to be, as well as attend to other business we have to address.

Then on Saturday, November 4^th, we will have our monthly breakfast. If you are looking to help support that then please feel free to join the breakfast crew. Talk to your Wardens if you have any questions on what is needed.

The following weekend, November 11^th, will be the Veteran’s Day parade. Our lodge will be part of the parade in Folsom again this year. Let’s see what we can do about getting some bodies out there for the float and represent our lodge proudly.



As far as degrees go, there is another rumor going around that we will be having a 3^rd degree on the 16^th. This is always a very exciting time for a brother to be raised. Come join us and be a sideliner to help a brother see the light by which Master Masons work.

Watch out for those emails so you can get the details needed on events happening.

This Thanksgiving, I hope you all have plenty of fun, food and fellowship. May the time you spend with family be blessed. May the time we all spend together remind us of all that we have to be grateful for. 

Until next month, fraternally and By the Plumb,

Noel Lukas

Junior Warden

From the Northeast Corner

Greetings Brethren,

Lots of activity with our candidates this month.  Our new EA, Bro. Kevin Cameron is making great progress, as is Bro. Shahin Mogharab. Bro. Greg Lane is almost ready to be raised. And a hearty congratulations to Bro. Lee Rabe who was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in October.

As always, coaches are needed. We have sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 5:00 p.m. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or call me @ (916) 203-3656.

Fraternally Yours,

Joe Freidson P.M.

Head Candidates Coach

From Natoma Rainbow Assembly #90

Hello Masons of Natoma Lodge! Hope you all are well coming up on the holiday season!

Natoma has had a pretty packed month of events in October! Kicking off the month strong, we had our Official Visit of the Grand Worthy Advisor on October 1^st, which was Lorax themed.