I would also like to congratulate our twenty-five year members: Brothers Richard Anderson, Kenneth Anderson, David Austad, Michael Belko, Bernard Frankowski, Patrick Gorzycki, James F. Higgins, Franklin Johnson, Dennis Lesterson, Donald Manthey, Terrance Nelson, and Robert Ramsay. The brothers whose names are printed in bold lettering were able to be with us that evening, but our congratulations go out to all of the members who have attained this impressive achievement in support of Masonry.

Monday, October 26th, 1998 - Awards and Past Masters Night: Fifty Year Members, Twenty-Five Year Members and Past Masters of Arcana Lodge

The evening of the 26^th was made even more special as the Past Masters of Arcana Lodge attended to the opening and closing ceremonies. Most Worshipful Past Master Donald M. Severson headed up our impressive corps by presiding in the East with Arcana's Senior Past Master, Worshipful Brother Edmund P. Theisen stationed in the West, and WB Franklin D. Johnson stationed in the South. WB Gerald R. Chartrand was Senior Deacon, WB Dale R. Clementson was Junior Deacon, WB Kevin E. Erickson was Treasurer, WB Joseph P. Macko was Senior Steward and Arcana's Junior Past Master WB Richard F. Hunt was Junior Steward for the evening. There were approximately sixty members in attendance that evening, so even with two members assigned to each office in the Lodge, and the five fifty-year members sitting in the East, the sidelines were impressively filled. Speaking of being filled, I would also like to thank our Senior Warden, Brother Dave Sibben who prepared a fabulous roast pork and roast beef dinner.

Throughout the year we have called upon the brothers of Arcana Lodge, and I am thankful to say that we have never been let down. This year we welcomed several new members who have been raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason, and Arcana initiated as many into the new order of the A. L. K. I., or Arcana Lodge Kitchen Investiture. Thank you brothers for securing these petitions, for mentoring our new brothers and for the fantastic degree work you all performed.

This past spring we held an extremely successful spaghetti dinner fundraiser in order to renovate some of the 40-year-old lighting fixtures in our lodge building. I am very thankful to the brothers of our lodge who contributed so generously of their time and money. A special thank you goes to the members of the Eastern Star, Commandery, Council, Jobs and DeMolay who upon seeing that we needed help, volunteered to pitch-in and lend a hand serving the masses. Your help and made the evening a complete success.

We have one final fundraiser planned for 1998, a Booya Dinner on Saturday, December 5^th, from 5:00 to 7:30 PM. Tickets are available from the officers of the lodge or at the door. Other events to put on your calendar are the Minnesota State Degrees for DeMolay at Arcana on December 12^th, and the All Temple Christmas Party on Sunday the 13^th. Arcana's Annual meeting will be Monday the 14^th. This will be the night for elections and my last meeting as Master of Arcana. As tradition dictates our annual Oyster Stew Dinner will follow the meeting.

Brethren, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve Arcana Lodge as Master for 1998, and I am truly thankful to all of you for your help. Together, and with Gods help we have grown in Masonry this year, and I trust the future of Arcana to be in good hands under the stewardship of the new Master, Wardens and officers for 1999.

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

Brethren, as the year comes to an end, I would like to start out by saying what a great year we all have had at Arcana Lodge. It’s the support you all have given that has made this one of the most successful years in recent time. I think Arcana is on the right track. Let’s keep up with it and carry it into 1999.

We raised many Master Masons with the help of many of you. By bringing in petitions or by your great degree work. Many of our new members are young and enthusiastic and will bring many years of life to Arcana. You all supported the Worshipful Master to help raise the new members to the rank of a Master Mason. I would like to thank all of the older members for coming out and taking part in many of the programs and activities that the Master has laid out.

Now with the new year coming soon I would like to thank all of you that have taken an office or committee for 1999. I will have a planned calendar ready, if elected to be Worshipful Master. If you have not heard from me and are interested in taking part, please call me and I will find something you will like to do. As your Senior Warden I would like to thank you for your support and help with many activities this past year. We are changing and making improvements in masonry and at Arcana.

Worshipful Master, thanks for the great year and your support in helping me realize that we are all Brothers and can work together even with all of our members differences. This is why Masonry is alive in Arcana and abroad. We can thank our forefathers for the great lessons they have taught us. Brother Doug, thanks again and I know that you will be around to support us and Arcana in the future.

Yours in faith,

Open Installation of Officers of

Saturday Evening, 7:00 p.m.

December 19, 1998