The last meeting of the year for Carmel #421 saw candidate Kenneth Richard “Rick” Rowe, III become the lodge’s newest Entered Apprentice. Rick works full time for a large, well known shoe company (and also part-time for a well known professional basketball team). Carmel 421 lodge members are extremely pleased to have Rick join the lodge and the fraternity!
Approximately 25 Masons were in attendance for Rick’s EA, including visitors from Noblesville #57 (thanks Brad Hummel). For the degree, officer positions were assumed by the incoming 2014 officers …and a sign of good things to come – a most succulent baked ham dinner (and all the fixings including parfait desert that was to die for!) was served by incoming Junior Warden and emerging “Chef Extraordinaire” Nate Howard. There were also numerous 421 lodge members in attendance of whom we have not seen too regularly (note that we enjoy having you around and hope you will continue to return and ask to get involved in something you’d like to participate in).
Special thanks goes out to PM Mike Payne for assistance as Chaplain, Senior Steward Aaron Pilcher for performing outstanding degree work, and to MM Allen Huang for covering for an absence in the Treasurer position. More thanks to PM Bill Sanders for help in the prep room and kitchen, and thanks to our newly inducted 421 “transferee” – 37 year Mason PM Bill Mount (Lake Forest, IL #1026 83,’84, & ’86) who helped tremendously within the EA degree ritual.
Lastly, heartfelt and loving words were said thanking our current WM Rick Hurwitz for his service to the lodge and the fraternity. 2013 was – to say the least – a challenging year full of highs and lows. The editor of this post can say on the behalf of the members – “Rick, regardless of the challenges, we had the FUN and FELLOWSHIP you so desired we’d have this year! Thank you!”
With the degree done, a number of attendees headed over to “the library” for further study. Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a healthy and prosperous 2014!
Video:”Freemasonry and the Fabric of America”
More About Freemasonry (from IndianaFreemasons.com)
(A Masonic) lodge will perform three degrees (initiation ceremonies) for your education and enjoyment. These ceremonies are very dignified and inspirational. At no time will horseplay or indignities enter into the program. These degrees are very solemn and Masons take the task of making Masons very seriously. After becoming a Master Mason (the third degree of the lodge) you may seek membership in the many other Masonic related groups these are often referred to as appendant bodies.
This process of going through the degrees can be done traditionally in your own lodge with smaller groups that include other candidates entering your lodge just like you. This process would start with the Entered Apprentice degree and then move to the Fellow Craft degree and conclude with the Master Mason degree. This traditional process could take 3-6 months based on the system of the lodge you choose. This process is very rewarding and will help you get to know the brothers at your lodge.
In the last several years we have begun another process called the One Day Class. This process was developed to help compensate for the very busy schedules of modern life. In this situation the Entered Apprentice Degree, Fellow Craft Degree and Master Mason Degree are all taught in one day. You will be watching the process as an exemplar is used to represent all in the room rather than in the traditional format where you are a participant in your own degrees.
Whichever path you choose to becoming a Master Mason when it is complete you will be a Master Mason and can proudly consider yourself a member of the world’s oldest fraternal organization.
There are many more degrees you can take and several different groups you may choose to get involved with as you grow in the fraternity. These are only available to you after becoming a Master Mason.
For more information about Masonry, contact Carmel Masonic Lodge #421 and schedule a talk with a lodge member Mason. There is no pressure to join and you will most certainly come away with a better understanding of why Masonry is so important to the members of Carmel 421. As the lodge is only open for activities a few times a week, it is best to contact us via our email form, or call and leave a message at (317) 846-2346. Just let us know you have an interest in Masonry and wish to talk with a Carmel Lodge member.
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