THE CRAFTSMAN. Members who support the Craftsman

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1 The official Publication of North Star Lodge #23 and Appendant Masonic Bodies is issued with the permission of the most Worshipful Grand Lodge A.F. & A. M. of MN North Star Lodge #23 AF & AM PO Box 23, St. Cloud, MN Phone: Web: Editor: Freemasonry's Secrets We just recently had a group of 5 new brothers go through the degrees here at Northstar and I had the privilege to speak most of them extensively during their journey. One candidate in particular had several questions about the secrets of Masonry and how we must take that privilege very seriously. Later on after that candidate had gone through his first degree he approached me again and asked what we considered the secrets. His head was obviously swimming with all of the work he had just experienced but he was genuinely curious what are the secrets; is it the floor work, the long monologues, the methods of recognition, or is it everything? I think that the conversation that ensued was actually quite good but at the same time I found myself feeling that I had been ill prepaired for that question especially when he added on it just doesn t seem like very many of our secrets are really secrets anymore. So I have spent the last couple months really trying to think through this and come up with a better answer, and this is what I came up with. What are our secrets? Well to be frank a lot of our secrets are simply public knowledge. With a few clicks of the mouse and some creative google searching most people can find very detailed information about the things which we as Masons hold very dear. Our ceremonies and symbolisms are very well documented in both book and on the web. With very little effort a person could put together the general idea of the ceremonies of the first 3 degrees of Masonry. This includes thing like our methods of recognition which we like to use as a test for visiting members. The membership itself used to be much more secret, now we as a brotherhood wear it proudly with our rings, shirts, car decals, and several other decorations. Most lodges have their own websites where we publish our meeting nights and Members who support the Craftsman Alyn & Anna Dull Bob Darling Jerry Butner - in Honor of Al Bedoo Shrine Temple Inez Hornibrook - in memory of Harold Hornibrook Shirley McNary - in memory of Dick McNary Christopher H. Kittleson - in memory of Howard B. Kittleson Dr. John Pike Marv Felderman - in memory of Pete Kloskowski, Dick McNary & Billy Pinnell H. Casey Wolford Mike Yankovec - in memory of Richard K. Brown Keith Kennedy Order of the Eastern Star Chris Chopp - in memory of Peter Kloskowski In memory of Lois & Hank Buelow James Becker Wayne L. Longwell - in memory of Jerry Longwell, Richard K. Brown & Peter Kloskowski Gerald Plachecki!1

2 locations. We publish papers and do pod casts all contributing to the fact that our secrets are becoming less and less so. People know who we are, they know what we do, and for the most part how we do it. There you go that s it! All of our secrets right out in front of everyone to learn and do with what they want. So why even keep the secrets anymore let s just publish an official secrets of Masonry book by the Blue Lodge and put the questions to bed. I will tell you why! Because we have been in a conversation with a candidate who thought they knew exactly what was going to happen during their first degree after doing some research on the internet, reading a book, or talking with a friend. How often, though, did that candidate really have it right? Sure they may have known some words they might know positions of officers in a lodge, a handshake, or even a secret word. How many times, however, has that same candidate came up to you after going through the degree and said, that's exactly what I thought it was going to be! I am willing to bet that no one has ever said that. Why? Because the secret of our secrets is that they are in the individual experiences. Our cypher is just a book a collection of letters that if translated properly tell a series of stories. However even those stories aren t that remarkable until we as Brothers breathe life into them and our newly admitted brothers experience them for the first time. It is at that moment that our secrets become something to behold and it is our ability to do that, that must be kept as the Secrets of a Mason. Keeping the secrets of a Mason means so much more than simply not reading someone a monologue or showing someone a token. It means truly keeping or maintaining the secret itself or the ability to, when we choose, impart the knowledge of a Mason in a meaningful way. Think back to your first degree and the myriad of thoughts that were flowing through your head. Now imagine that instead of the well trained degree team leading you through you had a bunch of individuals reading lines off a script. The emotion is gone because now it is simply words. Also imagine that those scripts have been maintained poorly for years, things have started to change and words here or there are different. Entire phrases meanings have been altered. Things seem disjointed and unorganized now suddenly the shining impression starts to tarnish a bit and the secrets seem less important. These are the kind of secrets that people are reading on the internet. When we do degree work we instead use our past experiences and our love for the craft to create a real experience for our new brothers. We can all remember the awe we felt when we saw someone deliver a particularly emotion filled 32 to 60- minute monologue and then we try and deliver that same feeling. We practice hard to make sure we know the work and can deliver it as flawlessly as possible. We emulate those brothers that came before us whose deliveries of this work were particularly impactful making their secrets a part of our own. We understand that these moments when one mason is passing their secrets onto another are the ones that keep the young and the old brothers so in love with what we do. So now when I am asked What are the secrets or Masonry is it the floor work, the long monologues, the methods of recognition, or is it everything? I know what I going to say. It's everything! It's the words we speak, the steps that we take, the way that we greet one another as Masons, the great feeling of pride we have when we do these things in the way which we were taught, and our responsibility to correctly pass these lessons onto those who are found worthy. It's our obligation to communicate the secrets of Freemasonry in a lawful way and the way we express to new candidates and brothers our love of the craft. To ensure that future generations of Masons can keep and perform the same. Peter Bauer, WM!2

3 Order of Eastern Star - Granite Chapter #5 It is hard to believe that Christmas is only weeks away as I write this article. We have been blessed with beautiful weather, but we are told it will change soon! We had a great meeting in November, with the Official Visit of the MN Grand Family. We were able to present the Worthy Grand Matron with a check, to be used toward her projects, for $125 from the OES Flower Sale at Grand Chapter. Special thanks to Brenda and Faye for cooking dinner and the Brothers of North Star who helped to serve and clean up. We had a Memorial Service for our Brother Alyn Dull, prior to the meeting, and invited the Brothers to join us. It is great to have a Lodge that is so welcoming and supportive of our Chapter! At our next meeting on December 5th, we will be having a Potluck, be decorating the Fellowship Hall and stuffing bags for the Christmas Party. We are planning to fill over 40 bags for the children who will attend the Christmas Party, and will be wrapping gifts for the Women from Anna Maries. Please plan to bring your entire family to the Masonic Family Christmas Party at the Masonic Temple on Saturday, December 10th. This is a joint effort of Granite Chapter OES, North Star Lodge, and Bethel 11 Job s Daughters. The party is from 3 to 6 pm, with food, games, a visit from Santa and then a bird s eye view of the Winter Lights Parade. We have again invited the women and children from Anna Maries to also be our guests, with the help of matching funds from MN Masonic Charities. In case our paths don t cross, I wish you a Blessed Holiday Season Enjoy!! Nancy Fischer, Worthy Matron Schedule of Events: C: Monday, December 5- Stated Meeting Potluck / Christmas Party Dinner - 6:30 pm; Meeting 7:30 pm Refreshments: Christmas Cookies Saturday, December 10th All Masonic Christmas Party All are invited!! 3:00 6:00 pm Lunch/ Santa/ Winter Lights Parade Monday, January 2- Stated Meeting Comfy, Cozy Night - Dress is warm, comfy clothes we will be tying blankets for the Masonic Home Meeting 7:30 pm Refreshments: Jackie Benn/James Billig Monday, January 30-5th Monday Social Monday, February 6- Stated Meeting Mix Up Night Bring your Rituals! Meeting 7:30 pm Refreshments: Tanya Hosfield / Cindy Buening Monday, March 6- Stated Meeting Annual Meeting / Elections Meeting 7:30 pm Refreshments: BEFORE MEETING Elected Officers!3

4 York Rite The joint Commandery and Royal Arch Sessions for 2017 will be held on those months containing a 5th Tuesday. Please review your new calendars and identify those months. Traditionally, a meal is served at 6:30pm, compliments of one of the Companions, followed by the meeting which begins at 7:00pm. It s a real advantage to have a local presence vs. commuting to a distant location to meet! Please join us! Yours in the Faith: Bruce Christofferson, HP Past Masters The end of another year is near. Which will add another name to the name board of Past Masters. Having lost, at least two, to eternal life. The rest of us are left to carry on the the Duties of Masonry. It is said, there is Wisdom in old knowledge. Also, It is said that to evolve, to open out; develop, it is necessary to change. When I became a Past Master at the end of My mind did not consider what the responsibility of being a Past Master the longest could be like. Two icons have left to that lodge above. Although, it is no pleasure to have Brothers depart. It is a vicissitude of life. Reiterating the purpose of the Past Masters Club, we are to help, aid and assist the incoming Master and the members in line to become the Master. I have not returned to lodge this fall, as many of the Past Masters, have not attended the previous meetings I have attended. Why, a question unanswered. Our next meeting will be on December 29, 2016, 6:30 pm Light lunch, 7:00 pm meeting. Do no lead for I may not follow. Do not follow for I may not lead. On a common platform working together in peace and harmony. All things can be accomplished. Respectfully, Northstar Lodge #23 St. Cloud, MN Officers Master - WM Peter Bauer peterjbauer@gmail.com SW - Bro Andrew Harmer ajharmer@gmail.com JW - Bro Chris Chopp ctchopp@gmail.com Treas. - WB Jesse Hopkins-Hoel hopkinshoel@gmail.com Sec - WB Nick VanVleet nickvanvleet@gmail.com LEO - WB Jim Youngren jimy.nre@gmail.com SD - Bro Justin Brown brju1202@stcloudstate.edu PM, David A. Wilson wilsonda2740@aol.com JD - Bro Mark Sasse II (410) mii1992@yahoo.com!4

5 Masonic Service Association Thanks You... A huge thank you to all who contributed their time and talent at the four steak frys North Star and appendant bodies during the summer of It s a true indication of the dedication of the entire Masonic Fraternity when we have volunteers from Blue lodge, OES, the York and Scottish Rites and the Shrine who carry on traditions started by M Wor Bro Alyn Dull, W Bro Pete Kloskowski, and others. Thank you to: Sister Lana Felderman, Bro. Cory Haugen, Bro. Jon Asplund, Bro. Jerry Plachecki, Karen and Bro. Chris Chopp, Shirley and Patti McNary, Bro. Jim Hooper, W. Bro. Colonel Nemec, W. Bro. Bill Triplet, Diane Boles, Eric Malien, Dave Nicholson, Sister Nancy Fisher, M. W. Bro. Roger Taylor, and W. Bro. Peter Bauer. I apologize to those who I did not acknowledge, there were some names which I could not read. Not only does the MSA provide publications, teaching materials, and relief throughout the world, but one of its most successful and I d argue most important accomplishments is the The Hospital Visitation Program. Many of you are familiar with and donate to the green envelope and blue envelope programs which are aimed at helping hospitalized veterans. Many of you contribute money to the program. Did you know there is a huge need for hands on volunteering. Here in St. Cloud we have a Veterans Medical Center which affords us easy access to volunteering and there are other opportunities throughout the state of MN and throughout the world. Listed (separate sheet) are various areas where you can help out at the St. Cloud VA. Please consider volunteering. If you are interested or have questions, please contact, Marvin Felderman, at Thank you. As MSA Representative to the St. Cloud Veterans Medical Facility, I'd also like to say thank you for the generous donation to Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 290 for the very generous donation of money for food baskets for needy veterans at the Thanksgiving and Holiday season. You ll never know how much our generosity means to these deserving veterans. They are veterans from all eras, from all branches; they are females and males; some have physical limitations and some have other limitations. What they all have in common is they are veterans and they have given of their time and talents to serve you and me. May the Supreme Architect watch over them and keep them safe. Marvin Felderman, PM St. Cloud Shrine Club Holiday Party The Tuscan Center At Midtown Square 3333 W. Division St. #116 St. Cloud, MN December 17th 2016 Social Hour 5:00 pm - Dinner 6:00 pm Presentations and Door Prizes to follow Buffet Dinner to include: Chicken Cordon Bleu Pork Tenderloin Mashed Potatoes & Gravy Glazed Baby Carrots Dinner Roll & Garden Salad $20 per person. Please RSVP by 12/5 to ctchopp@gmail.com or call/text Chris Chopp at !5

6 Political Freedom, Religious Tolerance, Personal Integrity; Freemasonry - it's not for everyone! December 2016 The Craftsman North Star Lodge # 23, AF & AM Box 23 St. Cloud, MN NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO ST. CLOUD, MN RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED December 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THUR FRI SAT OES 6:30 Dinner 7:30 Meeting at Northstar Lodge All Masonic Christmas Party 3:00-6:00. Lunch/ Santa/Winter parade Northstar Lodge Dinner 6:30pm, Meeting 7:30pm St. Cloud Shrine Club Holiday Party Social - 5:00 Dinner - 6:00 The Tuscan Center New Years Eve! MERRY CHRISTMAS! Upcoming event: NSL Annual Cribbage Tournament 1/28/17!6