Official Proceedings of the Grand Lodge FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF WISCONSIN 2004 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GRAND LODGE FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF WISCONSIN Held June 14-15, 2004 La Crosse Center 300 Harborview Plaza La Crosse, Wisconsin Wisconsin Masonic Code, Section 52.05 Notice of Grand Lodge Proceedings. A lodge shall take due notice of the proceedings, orders, edicts and laws of the Grand Lodge and be governed accordingly. MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER MICHAEL A. DeWOLF Masonic Biography Symbolic Lodge • Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason at Myron Reed Lodge #297 Milwaukee, WI October 2nd, 1984 • Served as Worshipful Master, Wauwatosa Lodge #267 Wauwatosa, WI 1991 • Perpetual Member, Wauwatosa Lodge #267 • Plural Member of Excelsior Lodge #175 Milwaukee, WI • Plural Member Forest Lodge #130 • Plural Charter Member Perseverance 1836 Lodge #366 • Honorary Member of Baraboo Lodge #34 • Honorary Member of Unity Lodge #367 Scottish Rite: Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Milwaukee, WI • Wisconsin Lodge of Perfection – November 2nd, 1984 • Wisconsin Council Princes of Jerusalem – November 3rd, 1984 • Wisconsin Chapter of Rose Croix – November 3rd, 1984 • Wisconsin Consistory 32nd Degree – November 10th, 1984 • Past Thrice Potent Master – Wisconsin Lodge of Perfection 1992 • Class Honoree Fall 2003 & Spring 2004 – Valley of Milwaukee • Elected to receive the 33rd Degree of the ASSRNMJ in Milwaukee 2004 York Rite: • Henry L. Palmer Chapter No. 87 RAM, Milwaukee, WI • Kenwood Council No. 34 R&SM, Milwaukee, WI • Henry L. Palmer-Wauwatosa Commandery No. 51, Milwaukee, WI • Red Cross of Constantine, ST. Wilfred Conclave • Wisconsin College Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis • Royal Order of Scotland Shrine: • Noble of Tripoli Temple, Milwaukee, WI (A.A.O.N.O.M.S.) • Royal Order of Jesters – Court 101 Milwaukee, WI Order of DeMolay • Past Master Councilor, Wausau Chapter • Chevalier, Wausau Chapter • Representative DeMolay • Past State Officer • Legion of Honor • Past President United Masonic Board for DeMolay, Inc. (UMB) • Board Member WI DeMolay Foundation National Sojourners, Milwaukee Chapter #27 • Member in Perpetuity (MIP) Others • Grand Lodge Representative to Kansas • Honorary Junior Grand Warden – Grand Lodge of Kansas 2 MICHAEL A. DeWOLF Grand Master 2003-2004 3 • Grand Lodge Representative to New York • Grand Lodge Representative to New Jersey • 2nd Vice President Midwest Conference on Masonic Education • Grand Lodge of Wisconsin Skunk Patrol • Grand Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill – Blackhawk Order No. 8 • Order of the Beaver Grand Lodge of Wisconsin • Appointed District Deputy Grand Master, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 • Appointed Junior Grand Steward, 1996 • Appointed Senior Grand Steward, 1997 • Appointed Junior Grand Deacon, 1998 • Appointed Senior Grand Deacon, 1999 • Elected Junior Grand Warden, 2000 • Elected Senior Grand Warden 2001 • Elected Deputy Grand Master 2002 • Elected Grand Master 2003 4 KEITH D. CHAMBERLAIN Grand Master 2004-2005 5 MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER KEITH D. CHAMBERLAIN Masonic Biography Blue Lodge Richland Lodge No. 66 Raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason - 8/17/83 Past Master - 1988 & 2003 Plural Member Charter Member Mineral Point Lodge No. 1 Armistead-Bingham No. 1862 Warren Lodge No. 4 Perseverance No. 1836 Franklin Lodge No. 16 Benton No. 268 Scottish Rite Valley of Madison - Lodge, Council, Chapter & Consistory York Rite Evansville Chapter No. 35 R.A.M. Richland Center Chapter No. 75 - Plural Member Winnebago Conclave Red Cross of Constantine Baraboo Council No. 35 R. & S. Masters Baraboo Commandery No. 49 Knights Templar Shrine Noble - Zor Shrine Temple (A.A.O.N.M.S.) Past President - Pine River Valley Shrine Club 2001-2002 Affiliated Memberships Milwaukee No. 27 National Sojourners Heroes of ’76 DeMolay Legion of Honor - Life Member (White Cord) Black Hawk Order No. 8 - Grand Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill Fraternal Order of the Beaver Grand Lodge of Wisconsin Skunk Patrol Transylvania Lodge U.D. - Indianapolis, IN. Grand Lodge Representative to South Dakota near Wisconsin Brentford Lodge No. 176 - Brentford, SD Deadwood Lodge No. 7 - Deadwood, SD (Honorary) Masonic Veteran’s Association of South Dakota South Dakota Lodge of Masonic Research Metropolitan Lodge No. 49 - Dubuque, IA Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons Appointed: Elected: District No. 9 Deputy .......... 1991-1994 Junior Grand Warden ........ 2001 Grand Marshal ..................... 1996 Senior Grand Warden ......... 2002 Junior Grand Steward .......... 1997 Deputy Grand Master ........ 2003 Senior Grand Steward .......... 1998 Grand Master ...................... 2004 Junior Grand Deacon ........... 1999 Senior Grand Deacon ........... 2000 6 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 160TH ANNUAL COMMUNICATION of the MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE F. & A.M. OF WISCONSIN OPENING OF GRAND LODGE The Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Wisconsin met in its 160th Annual Communication on Monday and Tuesday, June 14th and 15th, 2004 at the La Crosse Center, 300 Harborview Plaza in La Crosse, Wisconsin. A Lodge of Master Masons at 8:45 a.m.o’clock was declared formally open by the following officers from the Grand Master’s Lodge, Wauwatosa No. 267, F. & A.M.: Worshipful Master ................................................... John W. Schaefer Senior Warden .............................................. Christopher W. Howard Junior Warden ......................................................... Dennis C. Wilson Secretary ................................................................... John C. Kneiszel Treasurer .................................................. Theodore A. Isenberg, P.M. Senior Deacon ................................................................... Leigh Miller Junior Deacon .............................................................. Scott E. Kaczor Senior Steward .................................................. Brian W. Hurst, P.M. Junior Steward .................................................................. Carl Brisar Chaplain .................................................................... Ed Kofroth, P.M. Tiler .......................................................................... Alfred S. Costello ENTRANCE OF GRAND LODGE OFFICERS The Senior Deacon was asked by the Worshipful Master to escort the Deputy Grand Master and the 2003-2004 Grand Lodge officers into the lodge. The Deputy Grand Master was escorted to the East where he was introduced and welcomed with the Grand Honors. The Grand officers then took their stations. Most Worshipful Grand Master Michael A. DeWolf entered the lodge and was introduced in the East by Deputy Grand Master Keith D. Chamberlain and given the Grand Honors. He was given the gavel of authority. GRAND LODGE DECLARED OPEN The Grand Master declared the 160th Grand Lodge of the State of Wisconsin in session and asked the Grand Chaplain, Reverend Ray Heilborn to start them off with a prayer. This was followed by the presentation of the flag of the United States of America by Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Wisconsin, Worshipful Brother Lawrence Presnell and his corps of officer. The Pledge of Allegiance was said and the national anthem was sung. This was followed by the presentation of the flag of Canada and the Canadian national anthem, and the presentation of the flag of Morocco and their national anthem. INTRODUCTION OF WAUWATOSA LODGE OFFICERS Grand Master DeWolf thanked the members of Wauwatosa Lodge for all of their 7 help and support and called upon the Worshipful Master, John Schaefer, to introduce his officers. PRELIMINARY REPORT OF CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE Brother Scott Graske, Masonic Center Administrator, on behalf of the Creden- tials Committee, reported to the Grand Lodge that out of a total of 196 chartered lodges, 165 have been registered. A quorum of lodges is present. A constitutional number of the Grand Lodge officers are present and the Grand Lodge is in order to proceed with any business that may come before it. UNFINISHED BUSINESS COMMITTEE REPORT To the Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Wisconsin: At the 159th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, held on June 9th and 10th, 2003, twelve new resolutions were presented and two laid-over from 2002. Six resolutions were adopted, four were defeated, one was laid-over, two were disallowed and not acted upon and 1 was designated as out-of-order. Resolution No. 7-2003, to enhance the meaning of the Chaplain’s prayer was laid-over for debate and vote at the 2004 Grand Lodge Communication. After a thorough review of the 2003 proceedings, the Unfinished Business Committee concludes that there is no other unfinished business from the 2003 Annual Communication. Respectfully submitted, James H. Olson, P.G.M., Chairman James M. Hays, Grand Treasurer Bruce S. Sim, P.G.M. Grand Secretary Report accepted. APPROVAL OF THE 2003 PROCEEDINGS Grand Secretary Bruce S. Sim moved that the 2003 Proceedings be approved as printed and distributed. The motion was seconded and passed. RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE REPORT To the Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Wisconsin There were 11 resolutions received by Grand Lodge prior to the submission deadline and forwarded to the Resolutions Committee. One resolution was returned to the sender; it purported to be submitted by a Lodge, but did not have the required signatures. Resolutions 1-2004, 2-2004 and 3-2004 are the usual code requirements and deal with annual budget, per capita tax, and place of the annual communication