Greetings Brother!
I wanted to send out a quick update with the happenings at last night’s stated meetings, as well as the upcoming events for February at Bluffton #145.
Besides the regular committee reports and information, all of which you can check the minutes that are available at the lodge with our secretary for all the details, February’s meeting was a mixture of celebration and mourning.
We mourned the loss of Past Grand Master Robert Stevens (’83-’84) and Past Grand Master of DeMolay Keith Klein. Locally, we mourned for Phyllis Ulmer (wife of Mick Ulmer), Ron Harruff, and Jimmy Huffman. All of these fine people laid down the working tools of life in January and they will be missed by the craft, as well as their friends and family.
In terms of celebration, we honored recently “retired” secretary Larry Tschannen after more than 22 years of service to the craft. During those years, Larry has served as Secretary of Markle Lodge and Bluffton Lodge, as well as serving terms of Worshipful Master at both lodges as well. His dedication to the lodge has ensured a bright future for the brothers of #145.
We also had two brothers that were brought before the lodge to receive an Honorary Membership at Bluffton #145 and they were both unanimously elected to receive this honor. For the sake of secrecy and surprise, I will not include their names at this time, but they will be honored soon upon their next visit to the lodge.
Upcoming events at Bluffton #145 include some degree work and some social gatherings. On February 11th, we are planning on an Entered Apprentice Degree for the one brother that wasn’t able to be at the degree day in January. This degree will open at 6:30 and there will be a light meal in between sections.
Thursday Febuary 18th, the Lodge will be hosting a Scottish Rite Thursday Night at the Rite Degree. The 27th Degree will be presented digitally beginning at 8pm. Any Scottish Rite brother is welcome to come and view the degree and receive passport credit. If you are not a member of the Scottish Rite, this is a great time to join as the NMJ is allowing members to join and receive the 4th degree digitally, along with any other digital degrees presented, allowing a person to receive the necessary qualifications to receive the 32nd Degree, which will be presented in May. Talk to anyone at the lodge and we can get a petition for membership in your hands!
If you haven’t had a chance to pay your dues yet, please get those payments to the lodge as soon as possible. There are also forms available at the lodge to get a Masonic License Plate. The form is also at the member portal here.
There is a lot of activity and business happening at the lodge. Lots of work is being put in by brothers in all aspects of Masonry. If you haven’t been to the lodge in a while, please consider joining us for any of the events mentioned here, or for the March Stated Meeting on March 2nd.
Thank you for being a part of Bluffton Lodge #145!
Pastor Nick Miller
Huntington Bethel UMC
Huntington, IN