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| Northfield Lodge Meets Every 1st and 3rd Thursdays @ 7:30pm (September - June) 17 Church Street, Pittsford, NY 14534 (585) 586-2976 |
Lodge is Dark for the Summer! Next Meeting Thursday September 3rd, 2009 Time: 7:30pm Lodge |
Welcome to Northfield Lodge on-line.
Friends and brethren,
It gives us great pleasure to welcome you all to our
lodge's website. Please drop us a line if you have
any questions or suggestions.
Fraternally,
Your brethren at Northfield Lodge
Friends and brethren,
It gives us great pleasure to welcome you all to our
lodge's website. Please drop us a line if you have
any questions or suggestions.
Fraternally,
Your brethren at Northfield Lodge
| Northfield Lodge #426 Free and Accepted Masons |
We took the Traveling Gavel
from Oatka Lodge No. 759 and
will hold it over the summer .
See you all in the Fall!
from Oatka Lodge No. 759 and
will hold it over the summer .
See you all in the Fall!
Northfield News
by Erik Loepker
It’s time for me to share another book that I am reading with all of you. In a Sunburned Country is a cross
between travelogue and documentary of Australia, written by one of my favorite authors, Bill Bryson. It is filled
with Mr. Bryson’s wit, humor, and ability to connect with the “everyman” in all of us, yet also shows the depth of
research, attention to detail, and open sense of wonder that hallmarks his writings. I strongly recommend it.
But, why do I bring this up, you ask? Well, I came across a small excerpt in the book, where the Mr. Bryson
relates an encounter that took place during the very first known expedition across the interior (the “outback”) of
Australia, through the brutal and unforgiving Simpson Desert. Bro Robert Burke and Bro William Wills (yes, they
were apparently Freemasons!) are attributed as being the first Europeans to ever cross the interior of Australia.
But, here is the interesting thing, Bro Burke’s diary records that about halfway across their journey, literally
thousands of miles from anywhere, they ran across some Aborigines. That in itself was unusual, but what really
astounded the brothers was that the Aborigine’s greeted the explorers “with the secret sign of Freemasons.”
Bro Burke’s diary did not give details on what this sign was, but he was significantly impressed by the
encounter, and seemed sure that it wasn’t a mistaken action, but a carefully executed and deliberate motion. The
diary also went on to describe that the Aborigines knew how to tie shoelaces, even though they did not wear any,
and concluded that they must have met other explorers before Burke and Wills’ expedition, although there was
never (nor has there ever been) any record of previous excursions.
While the mystery of where the Aborigines learned these things is tantalizing, I share it here to elaborate a
couple of points. First, some brothers get caught up in the minutiae of what we do (eg. Dinners, community
projects, Masonic courses, and so on). These duties are nothing to be neglected or looked down upon, but
sometimes we can get very caught up in the processes, to the point where we don’t enjoy the wider view. We all
know of great people in Masonic history, but I always enjoy finding references to brothers that have done
wonderful and exciting things (such as being (officially) the first explorers of Australia) – it’s like making my own
small discovery, and getting a glimpse of a wider world.
Secondly, while we may marvel and wonder at how the Aborigines learned our “secret sign”, the apparent fact
remains that they were exposed to Freemasonry at some level. What a wonderful way of making contact with
people with whom one has never met! It’s a great example of spreading Brotherly Love.
As for Brotherly Love, at our meeting on May 7th, W.•. Bro David Adams made some special presentations to
distinguished brethren. R.•.W.•. Bro Raymond Beardsley, Sr., was escorted to the East and given a plaque
recognizing his Mason of the Year award for 2003. Bro Ed Rummler was also escorted to the East where he
received his 45-year pin. Both Bros Beardsley and Rummler were given Grand Honors. On a lighter note, our
newest brother, Stephen Mitchener, attending his first communication as Master Mason, was presented his jacket
name plaque.
It was also a pleasure having W.•. Bro Dean Smith, Sr., and R.•.W.•. Bro Martin Reitz in attendance, having
spent the winter away.
After this, Northfield held its elections for the coming year, with the following brothers voted into the chairs:
Bro James Deasey, III — Worshipful Master, Bro Erik Loepker — Senior Warden, Bro Michael Zona — Junior
Warden, W.•. Bro David Adams — Treasurer, W.•. Bro John Dudley — Secretary, and W.•. Bro Donald Smith — 1-year
Trustee.
On May 21st, Northfield held its Brother-Bring-A-Brother Night, where a modified version of the Rusty Nail
Ritual was performed for Sojourners and brothers that had been away too long and felt self-conscious about
returning. It was a success with the process led by Bro Erik Loepker, and assisted by all the brethren present.
Our last official night is June 4th, where we will hold an Open Communication for the benefit of brothers’
friends and families for the installation of our officers for the coming year.
As always, we look forward to seeing you there; we may not be Aborigines in the middle of a desert, but we
will always greet you in a fraternal fasion.
by Erik Loepker
It’s time for me to share another book that I am reading with all of you. In a Sunburned Country is a cross
between travelogue and documentary of Australia, written by one of my favorite authors, Bill Bryson. It is filled
with Mr. Bryson’s wit, humor, and ability to connect with the “everyman” in all of us, yet also shows the depth of
research, attention to detail, and open sense of wonder that hallmarks his writings. I strongly recommend it.
But, why do I bring this up, you ask? Well, I came across a small excerpt in the book, where the Mr. Bryson
relates an encounter that took place during the very first known expedition across the interior (the “outback”) of
Australia, through the brutal and unforgiving Simpson Desert. Bro Robert Burke and Bro William Wills (yes, they
were apparently Freemasons!) are attributed as being the first Europeans to ever cross the interior of Australia.
But, here is the interesting thing, Bro Burke’s diary records that about halfway across their journey, literally
thousands of miles from anywhere, they ran across some Aborigines. That in itself was unusual, but what really
astounded the brothers was that the Aborigine’s greeted the explorers “with the secret sign of Freemasons.”
Bro Burke’s diary did not give details on what this sign was, but he was significantly impressed by the
encounter, and seemed sure that it wasn’t a mistaken action, but a carefully executed and deliberate motion. The
diary also went on to describe that the Aborigines knew how to tie shoelaces, even though they did not wear any,
and concluded that they must have met other explorers before Burke and Wills’ expedition, although there was
never (nor has there ever been) any record of previous excursions.
While the mystery of where the Aborigines learned these things is tantalizing, I share it here to elaborate a
couple of points. First, some brothers get caught up in the minutiae of what we do (eg. Dinners, community
projects, Masonic courses, and so on). These duties are nothing to be neglected or looked down upon, but
sometimes we can get very caught up in the processes, to the point where we don’t enjoy the wider view. We all
know of great people in Masonic history, but I always enjoy finding references to brothers that have done
wonderful and exciting things (such as being (officially) the first explorers of Australia) – it’s like making my own
small discovery, and getting a glimpse of a wider world.
Secondly, while we may marvel and wonder at how the Aborigines learned our “secret sign”, the apparent fact
remains that they were exposed to Freemasonry at some level. What a wonderful way of making contact with
people with whom one has never met! It’s a great example of spreading Brotherly Love.
As for Brotherly Love, at our meeting on May 7th, W.•. Bro David Adams made some special presentations to
distinguished brethren. R.•.W.•. Bro Raymond Beardsley, Sr., was escorted to the East and given a plaque
recognizing his Mason of the Year award for 2003. Bro Ed Rummler was also escorted to the East where he
received his 45-year pin. Both Bros Beardsley and Rummler were given Grand Honors. On a lighter note, our
newest brother, Stephen Mitchener, attending his first communication as Master Mason, was presented his jacket
name plaque.
It was also a pleasure having W.•. Bro Dean Smith, Sr., and R.•.W.•. Bro Martin Reitz in attendance, having
spent the winter away.
After this, Northfield held its elections for the coming year, with the following brothers voted into the chairs:
Bro James Deasey, III — Worshipful Master, Bro Erik Loepker — Senior Warden, Bro Michael Zona — Junior
Warden, W.•. Bro David Adams — Treasurer, W.•. Bro John Dudley — Secretary, and W.•. Bro Donald Smith — 1-year
Trustee.
On May 21st, Northfield held its Brother-Bring-A-Brother Night, where a modified version of the Rusty Nail
Ritual was performed for Sojourners and brothers that had been away too long and felt self-conscious about
returning. It was a success with the process led by Bro Erik Loepker, and assisted by all the brethren present.
Our last official night is June 4th, where we will hold an Open Communication for the benefit of brothers’
friends and families for the installation of our officers for the coming year.
As always, we look forward to seeing you there; we may not be Aborigines in the middle of a desert, but we
will always greet you in a fraternal fasion.
