Arcana Lodge #187 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons Worshipful Master Douglas Roswold Arcana Masonic Hall 920 Lowry Avenue NE Minneapolis, MN 55418

Index of this issue:

News From the East - Play it again Sam

The officers of Arcana Lodge are doing just that with Masonic Degrees. Although we finished a complete set of degrees only a few weeks ago, we started another set of degrees, have planed an additional two degrees on one day, and have put yet another set of degrees on the calendar for this fall. If that isn’t enough, the Grand Lodge of Minnesota will be hosting a special One-Day-To-Masonry event later in the fall.

The Entered Apprentice Degree on Monday, April 20th kicked off a new set of degrees for our newest brother Wilbert Thomas. That night we also performed a courtesy degree for Mr. Thomas Thorsten of Montgomery Lodge #258.

At our stated meeting on April 13th, it was moved to petition the Grand Lodge for special dispensation to hold two degrees on the same day. The Grand Master has since approved our request, therefore we will be holding both an Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft Degree on Saturday, May 30th. The brothers initiated and passed on that day will join Brother Thomas to be raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on Saturday, June 20th.

To be eligible for this special one-day first and second degree your prospective candidates’ petition must be turned into the secretary by our meeting on May 11th so that it can be voted on at our stated meeting on May 25th (Memorial Day). The summer months of July and August will be without degree work at Arcana Lodge, but come September 21st we will be starting yet another set of degrees. As always, it’s nice to have several candidates for each degree class. If you know a man who would be a good Mason, please make a petition available for him.

In like manner the Grand Lodge of Minnesota will be holding a special event called "One Day to Masonry" on Saturday, October 24th, 1998. This is a first for Masonry in Minnesota, all three Masonic Degrees will be performed for a class of candidates on the same day!

The one-day class is an opportunity for men to become Master Masons in one day. This will allow men to receive all three Masonic Degrees even though their schedules have not allowed them to progress through the degrees in the usual manner in the past. Each individual Lodge is still required to do the usual petitioning and investigation. The dead line for one-day class petitions to be received by the Grand Lodge is October 10th, 1998. The cost to the candidate for the "One-Day-To-Masonry" class is $250.00 and it is limited to the first 350 candidates. Further information on the one-day class and the special petitions that are required are available at the Lodge.

Until next time, may the blessing of Heaven rest upon us and all regular Masons. May brotherly love prevail and may every moral and social virtue cement us.

Fraternally yours,
Douglas R. Roswold, Master

News From the West

As Senior Warden it is my duty to see that the Craft receive their wages, if aught be due. Brethren, one of our members needs your help to restore the harmony, strength and support in his household that is achieved through full-time employment. Please contact either the Worshipful Master or myself if you know of a company that could utilize the skills of our brother as outlined below.

Objective: To secure full-time employment in the field of Janitor/Custodian or Warehouse Stock Person.

Our brother is a high school graduate, with ten years experience as a warehouse stock person in the auto parts industry. He also has five years experience in the janitorial and building maintenance industry. He lives in Fridley, MN, near University Avenue and 694. He would like to work either within walking distance from his home or on the bus line. He would prefer daytime hours or a schedule with enough flexibility to allow him to attend Arcana Lodge meetings on Monday nights.

If you know of a company that can help our brother please contact either the Worshipful Master, Doug Roswold (daytime phone 612-653-7921 ext. 44, evening phone 773-2017, email: webmaster@arcana187.org,) or myself (phone 612-785-1975.)

Fraternally yours,
Dave Sibben, Senior Warden

Outstanding Mason of the Month

Robert Brody

Arcana Lodge is proud to acknowledge the outstanding Mason of the month for May, Robert "Bob" Brody. He has been a member of Arcana Lodge since 1949. In his quite, unassuming, dignified manner, he is a complement to the Lodge. Attendance at lodge meetings has been a part of his life, and with the inception of the Arcana Coffee Club he immediately became a fixture furthering the Brotherhood of Masonry.

Masonic Vocabulary

Profane: Today means, as a verb, to make common or unholy; to desecrate; pollute; degrade. It is not so used in Freemasonry and has therein no suggestion of the taking of the name of the Lord in vain. In earlier usage and Masonically, profane (noun) is derived from the Latin pro, before, outside; fanum, a temple. Profane is thus, "one outside the temple" or "before initiation", a man not initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry thus must remain outside of the temple. (Classical music lovers will note the Debussy work, "Danses sacrees et profanes," as a use of the same word in French with this meaning.) To the Mason all men are either Masons or profanes, but courtesy and common sense dictate an explanation of the word when Masonically used in places other than the lodge room.

Bits and Pieces - Things You Can Learn From A Dog

• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
• When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
• When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
• Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
• Take naps and stretch before rising.
• Run, romp and play daily.
• Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
• Be loyal.
• Never pretend to be something you're not.
• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
• Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
• On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.
• When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
• No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout... run right back and make friends.
• Bond with your pack.
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Special Announcements

Grand Lodge of Minnesota Ancient Free and Accepted Masons

One Day to Masonry

A One Day Class for the Three Degrees of a Master Mason

October 24, 1998, 8:00 AM, Scottish Rite Temple, 2011 Dupont Ave So., Minneapolis, MN 55405

This publication is issued with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M of Minnesota.

Send stories, ideas or comments to:
Doug Roswold, Editor at webmaster@arcana187.org

This page was updated on May 02, 2003 by Doug Roswold