JULY 4th HOLIDAY NOTICE: Per our bylaws, in honor of the July 4th holiday, the July Stated Meeting and Dinner will be postponed one week to Thursday, July 11. There will be NO stated meeting and dinner on July 4th. Please mark your calendars and join us on Thursday, July 11. Thank you. | |
From the East
Greetings from the East,
It was a hot and proud day celebrating the 170th birthday of Natoma Lodge 64 at our 1850s style outdoor 2nd degree for Brother Lucas Morales on June 2. We had the honor of having Most Worshipful Sean Metroka perform the Staircase lecture with members of the Grand Lodge of California in attendance. The officers of Natoma did a wonderful job passing Brother Morales to the degree of Fellowcraft. It will be long remembered. Congratulations Brother Morales on being passed! I would like to thank the brethren of Hiram Lodge 25 and Oak Plains Lodge 789 for their participation and help. Particularly Brother Grant Coffin for his equipment and Brother Lee Rabe for his supplies! Please check out the photos below.
I would like to once again congratulate Brother Dale Jordan Sr. on his Hiram Award from his brothers. A well deserved honor, my brother! You set an example for us all to follow!
At our first degree in the month of June, it was 'like father, like son', with Brother Lucas Morales being passed to the degree of Fellowcraft following in the footsteps of his father, Brother Rene Morales. At our second degree of the month, it was 'like son, like father' with Brother David Dahlberg following in the footsteps of his son, Brother Adam Dahlberg as he was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft! Brothers Morales and Dahlberg, congratulations! We all look forward to your next degrees!
This month, we have a number of opportunities coming up to participate in our community and be more visible. As members of the Folsom Chamber of Commerce we can attend most of the events at little or no cost. It gives us the opportunity to promote the lodge building and its business rental availability during the weekdays and some evenings. This would help with revenue to reduce the maintenance and upkeep of the lodge building. At these events we can talk about our history of community support like our scholarship program for the last 66 years. I have spoken with many people that had no idea that we are here. Please visit the Chamber's website, ChooseFolsom, to see what events are happening and participate as a member of Natoma Lodge 64. Ribbon cuttings and the monthly Power Lunch are great events to participate in to demonstrate our partnership and visibly represent the lodge in our community.
As supporters of the Folsom Parks and Recreation department we can have a no cost booth (EZ-Up) at the Friday night Summer of Music concerts at Folsom City Lion's Park, on July 12 and 26 from 7 - PM. They have other upcoming events that we can be present at as well. If anyone is interested, please contact me so we can get set up for the concerts.
Planning for our later life is important and as California Masons we are fortunate to have the opportunity to live in comfort amongst our brethren and their families within the Masonic homes. Seeing how difficult it can be finding care as we become older and frail most of us don’t recognize how important this can be. I see so many families that must be reactive rather than proactive, which is heartbreaking and expensive. As this is now open to all three degrees including in-laws, I encourage you to go with me and other lodge members to visit our Union City Masonic home on August 17th. It is a day trip, and we will have a BBQ lunch and get a tour. This is a way to show your family what they can think about as a future option. Depending on the level of interest, we may even arrange transportation. Please reach out to let me know if you will be joining us for the day.
Don’t forget that our July breakfast, on July 6th, is also our next open house at Natoma Lodge. 8:00 am – 12:00 pm. If you have friends and neighbors with questions about Freemasonry, Rainbow, Demolay, or Eastern Star bring them to the open house, and they can get answers.
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Parting Upon the Square,
Stuart J. Stackhouse
Worshipful Master
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Congratulations to Brother Lucas Morales on being passed to the degree of Fellowcraft. | |
Congratulations to Brother David Dahlberg on being passed to the degree of Fellowcraft. | |
From the West
As we get ready to celebrate our countries independence on July 4th we often discuss the signing of the Declaration of Independence, when it took place and who signed it. For Freemason’s, we feel a particular connection as there were 13 Brothers that we know signed the Declaration. You will recognize names like John Hancock, infamous for being the first signer of the declaration, Thomas Jefferson, who later became the third president of the US., Benjamin Franklin, inventor, statesmen, and diplomat, as well as John Adams, who was later elected as our second president. We know these men signed the Declaration of Independence, forever changing the world, on July 4th 1776.
However, did you know that of the 56 signers of the Declaration, seven of them did not sign on the 4th of July. These men did not sign the document until August 2nd. This was because even though the official date was July 4th, 1776, there ended up being a lot of turnover in congress. It was a turbulent time, with many members leaving to fight in the revolution or stepping aside for personal reasons. This means, new members of Congress had to be elected in and were given the opportunity to sign the Declaration on August 2nd, 1776.
One of these men was Robert Treat Paine born in Boston, Mass, on March 11th, 1731. He was a graduate of Harvard in 1749. At Harvard, he studied theology and law. He later became a delegate to the provincial congress in 1774-75 and the Continental Congress from 1774-78. Robert Paine, was a member of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge. Paine went on to become speaker of the Massachusetts house of representatives in 1777. He also served as the state’s first attorney general and served as an associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the state’s highest court.
Another mason that signed on August 2nd was Elbridge Gerry, member of Philanthropic Lodge, Marblehead, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard in 1762 and entered his father’s business. He was a member of the Massachusetts legislature and General Court (1772–73), served on a Committee of Correspondence, was a member of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress (1774–75), and was a delegate to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia (1776–80), where he was an early advocate of independence. He was also a member of Congress (1783–85) under the Articles of Confederation and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia (1787). He was an outspoken opponent of ratification of the U.S. Constitution, fearing that it might give way to aristocratic or monarchical rule. However, he gave it his full support after its ratification, helping to draft the Bill of Rights and serving as a representative in Congress for two terms (1789–93). He later became the 5th vice president of the United States. (source Elbridge Gerry | 5th Vice President of US, Signer of Declaration of Independence | Britannica)
The 56 men took a great risk signing the Declaration of Independence from the British monarchy . If not successful they would have been branded traitors to the crown and executed. However, because of their vision and hope for a better world they became founding Fathers of this great nation. Much can be learned from an in-depth study of the influences of freemasonry on the American Revolution and this article only lightly touches on the numerous affects they had. As we raise our flags high and light those fireworks to celebrate, take a few minutes to reflect on the great sacrifice these men made and remember the words of Thomas Jefferson, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Fraternally and On the Level,
Noel Lukas
Senior Warden
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From the South
Dear brethren,
On June 6th we had the opportunity to come together as a fraternity during our stated meeting dinner. That night I had the opportunity to introduce my half-brother, who lives in Los Angeles and who was initiated as Entered Apprentice last year. He has improved in his personal conduct, and his loyalty and love for his brethren in his own lodge is unquestionable. That day, he showed me an important lesson in brotherly love when he drove more than six hours from Los Angeles to Folsom to help me prepare our dinner, for which we had received many compliments. Even though he just learned the basic principles embodied in the rudimentary tools of an Entered Apprentice, I felt so humbled, proud and happy, that he is a living proof that he understands what Freemasonry really means.
On Saturday, June 2, we had the opportunity to participate at a secluded ranch in Placerville in a second degree ceremony, in favor of Brother Lucas Morales, in which we represented what we could have done during the 1850s, when many lodges were growing in California and they used. the lush and lonely forests, the musical sound of the nearby rivers, the singing of birds and the great celestial vault above our heads as mute witnesses of the ritual and teachings given during the ceremony. All of us who attended it were with that humility, enthusiasm and dedication, willing to listen, learn and grow in our eternal and constant search for knowledge and personal growth because only in this way will we be filled with the necessary wisdom to find in each step of our journey. The path to the find truth, personal improvement, charity and brotherly love, which will help us to transform our natural lives into spiritual beings and finally become true workers in the earthly workshop of the Great Architect. Congratulations, brother Lucas.
We don't have any meetings on the 4th of July but don’t forget to RSVP to our July 11th stated meeting Dinner, featuring an all-American BBQ and double cheese burgers.
And of course, our breakfast on Saturday the 6th is always foolproof and the best option and place for breakfast west of Reno. Don't forget to invite your friends and neighbors as July 6th is also our next open house from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM.
And, above all, come, participate and join your brothers in Masonry who look at you with admiration and charm, perhaps we will not find time to talk to you but only to see you here and then give us the necessary strength to follow your exemplary Masonic life on your own journey towards the East.
Please contact me if you can help at any of our activities this month (310) 291-6399 (text preferred).
By the Plumb,
Pedro Sanchez
Junior Warden
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Join us for Breakfast and Open House on July 6 | |
Join us for Stated Meeting Dinner on July 11
RSVP by July 9
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Congratulations, Brethren! | |
The Natoma Lodge calendar is also available to view on the home page of the Natoma Lodge website. On the lodge calendar you have the ability to save events to your personal calendar so you won't miss a beat! Another convenient feature is that you can also scroll ahead to view future months to see what's planned throughout the year. Check it out! | |
SAVE the DATE to attend these upcoming events
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Brethren,
You approved moving forward with a proposed property improvement project for the lodge. Our patio needs a cover. This will allow us to raise revenue by renting out this beautiful new space! We ourselves will be able to use it year round. Additionally, it will improve our property value. This project will be a commercial patio cover to match the existing color and roofline. It will cover 80% of the patio space and include lighting, fans, misters, and heaters. As with other past projects like the foyer, lodge room seating, and library, we ask for your financial support for this project. To date, we have raised $7876.00 in pledges and revenue, but we have a long way to go. You can make a one time donation or divide your pledge over time. There is a web address to visit the lodge shop and donate or pledge. To make it easier there is a QR code as well. Thank You for your support. We look forward to enjoying this wonderful feature with you in the coming years.
Fraternally,
Stuart Stackhouse WM
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Help us fund the patio cover! To easily send a check, print out the attached document (linked here), fill it out & mail it to the Lodge with your check to Natoma Lodge #64, 1000 Duchow Way, Folsom, CA 95630. | |
2024 Natoma Lodge No. 64 Officers | |
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