From the East
Welcome to October!
I hope you have been well and are ready for cooler weather.
We have two upcoming degrees in the near future. The lodge approved two petitions for
the degrees at our last stated. Also, four brothers are working through their Catechism for the second degree and a third degree to confer for these brothers soon.
I look forward to seeing you anytime but more especially in the lodge.
Fraternally,
Chris Lueck
From the West
As we wind down 2021, there are a lot of things going on in our lodge that need your input so please come to lodge if you want to provide input on those issues.
October in Freemasonry
A 29-year-old Franklin Delano Roosevelt received his first degree on October 11, 1911, at Holland Lodge #8 in New York City (founded in 1787 and still located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan). Although his mother and father both came from wealthy New York families, then ex-president Teddy Roosevelt (arguably the most famous man in the world in 1911) was a distant cousin, and his wife Eleanor being TR’s “favorite niece”, in 1911 FDR was merely an unknown young New York State Senator with a young wife and 3 young kids (all under the age of 5). He likely joined the fraternity for fraternal friendships and political connections. However, during FDR’s life he was not a passive brother as he was actively involved in the fraternity as a Master
Mason, 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner. He spoke glowing at many masonic events about his experience in the fraternity and had many honorary memberships including Grand Master of Georgia and the Order of DeMolay. However, none were as important to him as the honorary membership bestowed upon him by Architect Lodge No. 519 in New York where, while President, he raised his sons Franklin Jr. and James on November 7, 1935. Included here is a picture from that night. Seated far left is Dan Roper, then Secretary of Commerce and FDR in the middle. Standing five men from the left is FH LaGuardia (the little guy), Mayor of New York City, and FDR’s son James directly behind FDR and Franklin Jr. over FDR’s left shoulder.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Nick Voelker
From the South
Greetings from the South!
Remembering brother Walter Scott Liddell. Walter was a member of Phalanx Lodge No. 31. He was Master of the lodge for the years 1892, 1893, and 1894. He was also a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, Knight Templar, and served as Potentate of Oasis Temple of the Shrine for four years. He was also Grand Master of Masons in North Carolina in 1904
and 1905.
Oasis Shrine Temple can trace its history back to 1894 when Walter Liddell and eight other Knights Templar members in the Charlotte area petitioned Acca Temple in Richmond, Va. to organize a Shrine Temple in North Carolina. Most Worshipful Walter Liddell remained active in masonry until his death in 1940.
Fraternally,
Paul Parker