July 2006.Pub

Grand Lodge AF&AM of Montana

THE LEVEL Special Points of Interest: Grand Master’s Message From the Grand Secretary Montana Masonic News Membership Changes 50 Year Award Bikes for Books Celestial Lodge Program of the Month Events • Master Builder Award

JULY 2006 NO. 423

Greetings From The Grand East My Brothers: please check the Grand Lodge calendar to avoid conflicts with other events. The Grand I want to express my gratitude for the honor Lodge website is you have bestowed on me by electing me as your www.grandlodgemontana.org Grand Master. I promise my best efforts in serving you and our great fraternity. the link to the calendar is in the lower right corner of the web page. If you are planning an event such as a 100th anniversary celebra- Although much is said concerning the pow- tion, ask the Grand Secretary to add your ers, prerogatives, and programs of the Grand event to the calendar. Appendent bodies may Lodge or a Grand Master, they are not what drive also request addition of their special events to our Craft. The Grand Lodge Officers and I can pro- the calendar. If you desire my presence at pose, recommend, persuade, and even cajole, but your special event, check the Grand Lodge your Lodges accomplish the real work of Freema- calendar and, if I am available, ask early. sonry. The Worshipful Masters are the ones who set the craft to work and give them good and wholesome instructions for their labor. They are The M.A.S.O.N. (Masonic Assistance the ones who must plan interesting programs to Supporting Our Neighbors) program will con- attract their membership to the meetings. They are tinue, but will be revised. Last year, there the ones who must organize and lead the effort to were some misunderstandings of the match attract new members. The lodge officers are the formula and the intent of the program. The ones who must insure that they mentor and edu- match formula will be simplified, and the guid- cate the new members so they fully understand ance concerning what types of charity will what it means to live the life of a Mason and be a qualify for a match will be revised and clari- Freemason in deed as well as in name. The Lodge fied. New guidelines will be published shortly. members must provide the effort through programs such as M.A.S.O.N. and Bikes-for-Books to involve themselves in their communities and make Free- My predecessors had some difficulties masonry a well-known vital presence in our home- answering requests for dispensations. Please towns. Your Grand Lodge Officers and I will do all be aware that a Worshipful Master normally that we can to assist you in these endeavors, but may not request a dispensation. The request success or failure is determined at the lodge level. must come from a lodge after a required vote. Likewise, the power of a Grand Master to When you are planning special events,

Grand Lodge Web Site www.grandlodgemontana.org Page 2

THE LEVEL grant dispensations is limited. There are only MULLAN PASS HISTORIC LODGE eleven types of dispensation that may be ANNUAL MEETING granted. Please see Sections 1030 and 1040 of the Code prior to requesting a dispensation. Use SATURDAY, AUGUST 19TH the Dispensation Request Form, not a letter, to make the request. We are fast approaching the time of the annual communication on Mullan Pass. Thank you again for showing your confidence in me There will be a light brunch on the pass at by electing me Grand Master. It 11: 00 a.m. and the meeting will follow. You will is my intent to attend as many of note that this is a change from previous years your events as possible and ex- when we met for this, then had Saturday tend to each of you my hand in our meal. Also, a review of token of my friendship and August 19th our books shows we actually brotherly love. See you soon. 11:00 a.m. lost money the past two years on the meals, so as with eve- Mullan Pass rything else lately, the price Sincerely and Fraternally, has to go up. We are going to try and hold the price as close to $5 or $6 as possible, but we ask that you be prepared to spend up to $10.00. One of the problems is that we never know how many we are going to serve, and we don’t want to turn anyone away.

We will have to work on that problem.

Also, if any of you can assist in the logis- tics of setting up, and taking down, other prepa-

ration for the meeting, please contact:

Brother Jim DeBree at (406) 822-3041 - [email protected], or

Brother Gary Ellestad at (406) 439-1994 - [email protected] We hope by now everyone has received their certificates, dues card and pins. We know there are a couple certificates that needed cor- rection and they are about ready. We are con- cerned we may have inadvertently missed someone; if so please contact the new Secre-

tary, Blake Gardiner at (406) 443-6394 –

[email protected]. Thomas E. Valente, Jr. Grand Master

Page 3

NO. 423 THE MONTANA MASONIC NEWS Articles are subject to editing and, when published, become the property of the Grand As you are aware, MW Brother Bill Brass Lodge AF&AM of Montana. No compensation is has retired as Editor of the Montana Masonic allowed for any articles, photographs, or other News after 22 years of service. During the 140th materials submitted for publication. Annual Communication, MW Bro. Bill was presented an Award for his years of dedicated service as Editor. Permission to reprint articles will be granted upon written request to the Editor from

recognized Masonic Publications and others. The Montana Masonic News will continue When reprinted the articles should note: production. However, it will have a new look and “Reprinted with permission of the Montana Ma- format, a new Editor, a new printing company, sonic News.” and a more frequent distribution Schedule . For those who wish to contribute information please review the information below. Financial gifts will Please direct all correspondence still be accepted. and changes of address to:

The Montana Masonic News is an official Editor: Montana Masonic News publication of the Grand Lodge Ancient Fee and c/o Grand Secretary Accepted Masons of Montana and the Montana PO Box 1158 Masonic Foundation, Corporation. Unless other- Helena, Montana 59624 wise noted, articles appearing in this publication express only the private opinion or assertions of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the offi- or e-mail to [email protected]. cial position of the Grand Lodge. The jurisdiction Please provide full given name, Lodge or affilia- speaks only through the Grand Master and the tion and US Mailing address. Executive Board, when attested to as official, in writing, by the Grand Secretary. Article and Photo submissions The editorial staff invites contributions in Articles Pieces submitted should be typed, the form of informative articles, reports, news double-spaced and preferably ac and other timely information (of about 500 to companied by a computer disk in 1000 words in length) that broadly relate to Mon- neutral PC format (MSWord pre- tana Masonry, Masonic law, lore, customs, his- ferred with formatting off. tory, symbolism, philosophy, responsibility of membership, etiquette, current events, and/or Photo Black and white or color, preferably general public interest. When possible, photo- accompanied by a computer disk graphs that illustrate these informative articles with photo image in .jpg, .bmp, .tff. should accompany the submission. Pieces sub- Include who took the photo, when mitted should be typed, double-spaced and pref- and where. erably accompanied by a computer disk in neutral PC format (MSWord preferred with format- Advertising Anyone interested in advertising in ting off) or via e-mail to: the paper will need to initiate a new [email protected] Agreement. Page 4

THE LEVEL

50 YEAR MEMBERS

Thomas M. Battershell Morning Star No.5 09 June Thomas Beaver Mystic Tie Riverside No. 17 14 June Clyde Pl Peale, Jr Mount Moriah No. 24 20 June Thomas L. Larson Stevensville No. 28 07 June William O. Bradford Ashlar No. 29 09 June Stone E. Paulson, Jr Cascade No. 34 13 June Richard C. Thompson Cascade No. 34 02 June Jack B. Thompson Cascade No. 34 02 June Vernon Christensen Plentywood No. 91 28 June Wilber L. Anderson Ekalaka No. 120 04 June Dean B. Fisher Pryor Mountain NO. 151 6 May

LODGEiCAL SECRETARY SOFTWARE

Just a reminder that to use the Lodgeical Software the original program disk must be in- which will enable you to download the Patch. stalled first then the patch can be downloaded. Within the next couple months we do The “current” patch can be found by anticipate that the second Patch will be avail- going to http://www.lodgeical.com/ able. Keep watching for more information. then change the address to read as follows We would also like to hear from all the lodges/Secretaries who are using the Lodgei- http://www.lodgeical.com/montana cal Software program. Please e-mail, write or You will then be directed to enter a Username call and let us know if you are using or plan to and a Password. For the username you will use the Lodgeical system. need to enter montana for the password enter hiram and then enter. You will then be prompted to select enter. You will then be prompted to enter your Lodge Name and Number and then select Submit this will lead you to the section Page 5

NO. 423

Evan Martinesen Butte 24 27 June 2006 Daniel F. Patterson North Star No. 46 30 June 2006 Walter E. Trerise Morning Start No. 5 12 June 2006 Wilfred H. Nelson Ashlar No. 29 29 May 2006 Robert G. Stockburger Ashlar No. 29 06 June 2006 George M. Richardson Powder River No. 135 26 May 2006 George M. Mungas, Jr Flint Creek No. 11 16 May 2006 Harold V. Olson Hiram No. 52 20 May 2006 Vernon Elwood Darms Delta No. 128 15 April 2006 Edmund A. Jessel, Jr Delta No. 128 28 April 2006 Russell Packard Lower Yellowstone No. 90 26 May 2006 John R. Pearcy Victor No. 43 17 Feb 2006 Roger Ward Briggs Corinthian No.72 04 May 2006 Alf W. Wagner Euclid No. 58 17 July 2006 William Griffin Eureka No. 93 08 July 2006 Carl L. Marsh Helena No. 3 30 April 2006 Irving R. Ball Mission Valley No.78 11 July 2006 Leonard A. Cantrell Corinthian No. 72 19 July 2006 Earl E. Perry Victor No. 43 08 July 2006 Stanley B. Robbins Circle No. 136 23 July 2006

Page 6

THE LEVEL

MEMBERSHIP CHANGES June/July 2006 Note: The following is based upon 40% of the 100 Lodges having submitted the required Monthly Report.

RAISED

Lodge Member Date Clayton Mack Costner Huntley Project No. 144 28 June Eric Dwayne Pedersen Gallatin No. 6 14 June Jeffrey Daniel Aaron Euclid No. 58 06 June Robert Richard Chacon Euclid No. 58 06 June Dennis Duane Deforest Euclid No. 58 6 June Dewey Dwight Goering Euclid No. 58 6 June Sean Matthew Redden Euclid No. 58 6 June Robert Willard Donaldson, III Ashalr NO. 29 5 May Ryan Thomas Lee Ruby No. 36 31 May F. Edward Heppe Mountain No. 110 16 May Owen James Schmidt Huntley Project No. 144 28 June Chad Ricahd C’ Connor Jordan NO. 148 13 May

Reinstatement

Todd Michael Tecca Helena No. 3 Reinstatement 01 May 2006

Glenn Pearce Victor No. 43 Reinstatement 9 May 2006

Affiliations

Terry Ray Lane, Sr Montana No. 2 Plano NO. 768, TX (Dual) 1 June 06 Herman John Seibert Corinthian No. 72 Stillwater No. 62 (Plural) 9 March 06 Kim Allen Reaney Victor NO. 43 R. Burns No. 97, OR (TX) 23 May 06 Withdrawal of Dual Membership Paul E. Blases from Morning Star No. 5 retained with Llano NO. 242, TX 9 May 2006

Dimit To Non Affiliate Harry Chalres Croft Doric NO. 53 20 May 2006 Page 7

NO. 423 EVENTS TO REMEMBER FROM THE DESK OF THE GRAND SECRETARY AUGUST We are considering con- 1 Installation for Manhattan 59, Belgrade 68, ducting workshops for Lodge Secretary Three Forks 73 7pm and Treasurer. If there is enough inter- 4 Billings Area Lodges Installation, 6:30pm est RW Bro. Bruce Lahti the Grand Treasurer and I will schedule up to four 10-12 Shrine PNSA, Great Falls workshops across the state. In most 12-15 Grand Lodge of Wyoming lodges the Secretary and Treasurer are 19 Mullan Pass Historic Lodge a combined office. If you are interested Annual Meeting, 11 am in have this work- 19 Lincoln Lodge Annual Fish Fry, Noon shop in your area and if several 20 Masonic Home picnic, 100th Anniversary Secretaries and 26 Valley Lodge Installation, 2pm Treasurers are 27 Mt Jefferson Installation, 6pm interested please contact the Grand Lodge Office. Those Secretaries who attend will be presented this pin. SEPTEMBER 7-8 Grand Lodge Officers Meeting, Dillon PER CAPITA AND FEES 8 Wisdom Lodge 100th Anniversary • Per Capita for 2006-2007 is $22.00 9 Bannack Historic Lodge Annual Meeting, 10am • Reinstatement Fee is $22.00 16 Ponemah Lodge NO. 63, 100th • In addition to the fees for the degrees, each petitioner shall pay $15.00 candidate Anniversary fee. Of this amount $5.00 goes to the 19 Whitefish NO. 64, 100th Anniversary George Washington National Masonic Me- morial and $10.00 goes to the Montana 21-23 Grand Lodge of Idaho, Sun Valley Masonic Home (Ref Code Section 6030). 29-20 Scottish Rite Statewide Reunion— Helena • Petitions for degrees/initiation must be ac- 30 Rocky Mountain District Meeting, 9am companied by the fee for one degree (Ref Code Section 37070). Phillipsburg • Fees for degrees. A lodge shall not confer 30 DeMolay Meeting, Region 7, Helena a degree without the fee therefore being paid in advance (Ref Code Section 37080). • Reinstatement from NPD payment of any arrearage due at time of suspension plus one year’s current Per Capita. Page 8

BIKES FOR BOOKS 2007 PROGRAM OF THE MONTH BROCHURES Working in cooperation with the Masonic Renewal Committee of North America the Education and Research Committee of Grand Lodge is making available the Program of the Month program free to each Lodge.

Throughout this Ma- sonic year your Lodge will receive a Program of the Last year, which was our second year for the Bikes for Books program, 55 Month. This program is Lodges participated and awarded 465 created for you to utilize in Bikes in 157 elementary schools and ex- your Lodge. pended some $27,000.00 in bikes and helmets. The program has been well re- If your Lodge al- ceived in every school and all of them ready has a program simi- have requested that we continue the pro- lar to the program that is gram. Grades 3,4 and 5 have been the contained in this brochure, most successful grade levels participating. by all means continue your efforts. If however, Start planning now to participate in you are not conducting the 2007 Bikes for Books program. If your this type of program Lodge is interested in participating please please consider using this make plans now and contact the Grand information provided for Secretary. The optimum start date is you. 1 February 2007. These programs are Grand Lodge will provide Posters, created to help your bookmarkers, and a Serialized Masonic Lodge retain your mem- decal and number to be placed on the bers and it is specifically tied to our Re- winner’s bike. The Montana Masonic newal Effort. Foundation will award 50% matching funds up to $400 to participating Lodges. Be sure to let us know how this Other funds may be available from other program is working in your Lodge. The organizations such as Wal Mart, if you Program of the Month brochure will be need information contact the Grand Sec- mailed to each Worshipful Master start- retary. ing in September. Page 9

NO. 423 2006-2007 GRAND LODGE OFFICERS ELECTED

THOMAS E. VALENTE, JR. (6/18) M∴ W∴ GRAND MASTER 8624 Panorama E, Bozeman, 59715 406-586-7882 (H) 539-7882 (C) [email protected]

DAVID L. NIELSEN (5) R. W. DEPUTYGRAND MASTER 3150 Vigilante Dr, Helena, 59602 406-442-7347 (H) 457-8595 (W) 431-5236 (C) [email protected]

ROBERT A. COLEMAN (121) R. W. SENIOR GRAND WARDEN PO Box 786 , Poplar, 59255 406-768-5402 (H) 768-5173 (W) [email protected]

THOMAS L. LUND (38) R. W. JUNIOR GRAND WARDEN 275 Cooper Ln, Hamilton, 59840 406-363-5776 (H) 363-1250 (W) 363-2796 (Fax) 363-8054(C) [email protected]

BRUCE W. LAHTI (34) R.W. GRAND TREASURER 41 Dune Ridge Lane, Great Falls, 59404 406-454-3690 (H) 761-2820(W) 788-5030 (Cell) [email protected]

REID L. GARDINER (3) R.W. GRAND SECRETARY 1312 Cole Ave No.1 Helena, 59601 406 410-1543 Cell 442-7774 (O) 442-1321 (Fax) [email protected]

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS APPOINTED

JOHN J. MANGEN (135) W. SENIOR GRAND DEACON HC 82 Box 201, Broadus, 59317 406-436-2263 (H) 436-2273 (W) 436-2293 (Fax) [email protected]

WILLIAM L. ALEXANDER, II (65) W. JUNIOR GRAND DEACON HC 48 BOX 1088 Roberts 59070 406 962-3371(H) 860-5102 (C) [email protected]

THOMAS M. DUFFY (58) W. GRAND. MARSHAL 2 Prospect Ave, Great Falls, 59405 406 454-0060 (H) 453-0936 (W) 899-2104 ( [email protected]

THOMAS W. CHISHOLM (153) W. SENIOR GRAND STEWARD 2115 Moiese Valley Rd, Ronan 59864 406 676-8808 (H) 826-3666 (W) [email protected]

CARL E. WISHMAN (102) W. JUNIOR GRAND STEWARD PO Box 271, Geraldine 59446 406-737-4266 (H) [email protected]

Page 10

THE LEVEL

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS APPOINTED

DONALD S. CEROVSKI (1/37/59/68) W. GRAND STANDARD BEARER PO Box 662, Belgrade 59714 406 388-7766 (H) 70-9510 (C) [email protected]

BRIAN J. MURPHY (1,37) W. GRAND SWORD BEARER 618 S 7th Ave, Bozeman 59715-4411 406-582-0702 (H) [email protected]

LEWIS K. SMITH, III (3) W. GRAND PURSUIVANT PO Box 212, Deer Lodge, 59722 406 442-2123 (Cell) 442-2980 (O) [email protected]

THEODORE T. WILLIAMS (6/18) W. GRAND CHAPLAIN 1757 Highland Blvd #2, Bozeman 59715 406 587-7669 (H) 698-2072 (C) [email protected]

BERTUM WILLIAMS (21) W. GRAND HISTORIAN 275 Goose Bay Lane, Townsend 59644 406 266-4050 (H) [email protected]

THOMAS G. GOCKSCH (3/5) W. GRAND ORGANIST 11 Dakota Street #1, Helena, 59601 406 431-6453 (C) [email protected]

C. DAVID BURGESS (1/5/6) W. GRAND PHOTOGRAPHER PO Box 1921, Bozeman 59715 406 586-2522 (H) 581-3229 (C) [email protected]

JACK D. ANDERSON (55/1) JUNIOR PAST GRAND MASTER 522 10th St. Havre, 59501 406 265-2041(H) 390-3602 or 390-3601(C) 265-2041(Fax) [email protected]

Page 11 At Prayer on the Journey West Meriwether Lewis July 15, 1805

The Montana Masonic Foundation still has a few copies of the limited edition offering of these high quality prints signed and numbered by the artist R. F. Morgan. Prints are available from the Grand Lodge Office for $85.00. The proceeds from the sale of this print go to support the Montana Masonic Museum

The Masonic Apron of Meriwether Lewis is depicted in the painting and is owned by the Grand Lodge of Montana, and is currently on loan to the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Exhibit. The Exhibit is now at it’s last stop the National History Museum in Washington D.C.

The Apron will be retuned to the Montana Masonic Museum around November. At recep- tion will be held at the Montana Masonic Museum to welcome back the Apron and to conduct a special showing of the Meriwether Lewis Apron.

Brother Meriwether Lewis 1774 - 1809 Grand Lodge AF&AM of Montana US POSTAGE PAID 425 N Park Ave PERMIT NO. 197 PO Box 1158 HELENA, Helena, MT 5924-1158 MONTANA Non-Profit Organization

Montana Masonic License Plate The Masonic Family license plate is available at your local courthouse. This year you must purchase new plates anyway for a cost of $15.00 to the state when you renew. So please consider helping the Montana Masonic Foundation by buying a Masonic Family license plate and in doing so contributing an additional $25.00 each year directly into the Foundation to be endowed forever.