"That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet." Emily Dickinson c. 1870 C.E.

OFFICERS - 2008

John Sarabia
Worshipful Master
wm@hesperia411.org

Robert Harvey
Senior Warden
sw@hesperia411.org

Marino Palotta
Junior Warden
jw@hesperia411.org

Correspondence

Secr. Ron Ehemann
Hesperia Lodge No. 411 AF&AM
Jefferson Masonic Temple 5418 West Gale Street
Chicago, IL 60630

STAFF - 2008

Officer Proficiency and
Certified Lodge Instructor
Rick Taman
rick.taman@e-masons.us

Newsletter Editor
James McDermott
newsletter@hesperia411.org

Webmaster
Shiloh Madsen
webmaster@hesperia411.org

Co-Webmaster
James McDermott
webmaster2@hesperia411.org

Bro. George Washington:
"Let us raise the standard to which the honest and the honorable can repair."

NEWS - RECENT EVENTS

Is there news of interest to Hesperians in particular and Masonry in general that we have missed here? Please feel free to email the webmaster(s) with details or suggestions.

13 Nov 2008: SEVERAL HUNDRED MASONS WERE PRESENT AT THE FUNERAL OF BRO. MOHSEN MODARESSI, Grand Lecturer, 33° Including the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Daniel C. Yandel, of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, AF&AM, of the State of Illinois Several hundred Masons were present at the funeral of Bro. Mohsen Modaressi at 8:00 PM today. Bro Modaressi passed from his labors on Earth to eternal refreshment in the paradise of the Supreme Architect of the Universe at 6:25 pm on November 6th. The funeral was held today at Nelson Funeral Home at 5149 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. The Most Worshipful Grand Master, Daniel C. Yandel, of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, AF&AM, of the State of Illinois and several members of the Grand family including Right Worshipful Tony Cracco, Senior Grand Deacon, Right Worshipful Cary Willis, Grand Chaplain were present. Also present were Past Grand Masters Larry Ingles and Charles Sullins. Also present prior to the service (due to other funeral commitments on the same evening) was the Most Worshipful Bro. Angelo W. Jones, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM of the State of Illinois. The funeral was conducted by Bro. Eddie Witas III, 33°. Bro. Modaressi is survived by his daughter, Susan and his son, also a Master Mason, Josh. The Nelson Home was filled with those many men and women who were touched deeply by the warmth and example Bro. Modaressi shared so freely not only with his fellow Masons, but also with his fellow veterans and his fellow man in the world at large. May his new life in the Celestial Lodge be a peaceful and blessed one for one who lived so well as a just and upright Mason. Hesperia Lodge No. 411 was given special dispensation by MW Grand Master Yandel to forego its stated meeting on Thursday 13 November in favor of the funeral service. Mohsen, born in 1924, served in the U.S. Army between 1942 and 1947, stationed in Tehran, Iran. An audiocassette of an interview with Mohsen regarding his service is available at the Library of Congress. He was several times a Past Master and recently Master of Evans Lodge No. 524 in Evanston, Illinois. He devoted much of the latter decades of his life to the tireless service of our veterans and Veterans Hospitals. Mohsen was awarded the 33rd degree by the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite in 1996 in recognition of his extraordinary service to humanity. This ultimate degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is awarded only by the Supreme Council at the Annual Meeting of that body and cannot be applied for. It is given to those 32° members who have performed "outstanding services for the Fraternity," or "for service to humanity that brings great credit upon the Order." Are we not all linked together by that indissoluble chain of human life, the final link of which, as Bro. Francis Bacon suggests, 'must needs to be tied to the foot of [ the Divine ] chair?' "He has gone to join the choir Eternal whose music is the joy of the world." A R C H I V E : | H E R E | . Image: Modified JGM - McKim NE Scotland UK The Latin, 'SPES MEO IN DEO EST' is translated, 'My trust is in God.' The image on the home page is that of the surface of a lake in Wisconsin known as 'Sacred Lake.' The wavelets in the waters can be seen. We see the waters here from far above and at upper left, visible as a white speck, a bird soars from the lake below into the Heavens above. Image: JGM

26 Oct 2008 at Noon: Second Annual Informal Tour of Graceland Cemetery

Click on the above image to view other images of the day at Graceland.

The second annual informal tour of Graceland Cemetery in Chicago was graced with perfect weather. Its magnificent 19th century monuments, including many Masonic monuments, were seen by about a dozen participants who gathered to share in the good 'spirit' of the day. In addition to the history and beauty of the monumental art, dedicated to industrialists and other great men and women of the 19th and early 20th century as well as the many more common men and women who share most of the joy and sadness of life and do most of the living and dying in this world, the grounds themselves are beautiful, and the color of the leaves, though less pronounced than last year, was magnificent. Chicago architects Louis Sullivan, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and even the final resting place of Augustus Dickens, brother of the famous author, were discovered. Also, at least two Hesperians have connections to those whose final resting places are here. "That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet." Emily Dickinson

25 SEP 2008: BRO. TOMAS RISBECKER, JURISDICTION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF SWEDEN VISITS HESPERIA Hesperia enjoyed the fellowship of Bro. Tomas Risbecker, an VIII Degree Mason of Svea Provisial Lodge No. 1 (Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Sweden), Stockholm, Sweden in September. Following the introductions, Bro. Risbecker rose and was escorted to the East by Bro. Rick Taman, acting Senior Deacon. He brought greetings from his Worshipful Master and our brothers in his lodge in Sweden. After expressing his gratitude for Hesperia's hospitality, he presented the Lodge with the gift of a table banner bearing the seal of Sweden's Lodge No. 1. Bro. SW Robert Harvey, acting as the Worshipful Master, received this gift which will be displayed in the case located in the lobby of Jefferson Temple, beside the outer door of the lodge. As an exporter of Swedish goods he was in Chicago for a trade show. Bro. Risbecker was also conducting local research for a biography he is currently writing. He appears in the adjacent image with RWB Rick Taman, who served as Worshipful Master during the initiation of three new Entered Apprentices, presenting the banner from his Mother Lodge. [ Tomas Risbecker, NF AA Svea XIII, Stockholm, Sweden ].

JULY 2008: BRO. WALSON HARRY OF RIVERS LODGE NO. 1663, PORT HARCOUR, NIGERIA, VISITS HESPERIA Hesperia recently enjoyed the fellowship of Bro. Walson Harry, a Mason of Rivers Lodge No. 1663 in Port Harcour, Nigeria. (Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Scotland). Bro. Harry indicated that he was enjoying a trip to Chicago in order to visit his children who reside here. His visit happily coincided with the summer exhibit of Nigerian Court Art at the Art Institute of Chicago. .

25 SEP 2008: THREE MEN WERE MADE MASONS TODAY

Congratulations are in order for three of the men who have joined us for dinner periodically during the last year. Each submitted petitions to the MW Grand Lodge AF&AM of the State of Illinois and were permitted to advance through the First Degree in Masonry this evening.

25 SEP 2008: A BROTHER FROM GREECE BECOMES A MEMBER OF HESPERIA

We are most honored to welcome a brother from Greece who has successfully petitioned the lodge for plural membership.

25 SEP 2008: SICKNESS & DISTRESS: BRO. MODARESSI

Bro. Modaressi has been transferred to the cancer unit at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He is feeling better and welcomes guests, in person or by phone. He hopes to attend Grand Lodge on October 10-12. Bro. Mohsen Modaressi, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Prentice Building, Room 1598) 250 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611. His direct dial phone in that room is available through Bro. Secretary Ehemann.

22 SEP 2008: BRO. MODARESSI AT NORTHWESTERN HOSPITAL

Greetings Brethren,

Thanks to everyone who has supported Bro. Modaressi with contributions and prayers. They have made a great difference. Here is a forwarded update on his condition from Bro. Bruce Barnes. Bro. Rick Taman:

After more than two weeks of very trying times, we have finally succeeded in getting Brother Modaressi transferred from Advocate Trinity hospital on the far southeast side to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in downtown Chicago. This is a triumph for several reasons, most notably that fact that his primary cancer and general medicine doctors are at Northwestern, but also for the fact that Northwestern is simply much better equipped to handle his situation . . .

CONTINUED: | CLICK HERE (Including previous updates) | .

SEP 2008: MASONIC OBITUARY: Bro. John Merril Kapp

We recently received notice regarding the Passing of Bro. John Merril. Brother John Merril Kapp was born May 20, 1915, in Rochester, New York. He received a BA from Northwestern University and a Masters from Villanova University. Both were in political science which he used by joining the national Guard 121st cavalry just prior to its being federalized. He next served 20 years, attaining the rank of Major. After retirement he served his nation in a number of ways, including that of a Boy Scout Executive Officer, Director of the Philadelphia’s USO, as well as active membership in the Union Club, the American Legion and Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

To that end, Bro. Kapp petitioned Hesperia Lodge No. 411 at Chicago, Illinois and was there elected to receive the degrees in masonry on November 10, 1949. He was initiated as an Entered Apprentice on February 9, 1950, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on July 13, 1950, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on August 10, 1950.

On February 12, 2003 he became a 50-Year Member of the fraternity.

Bro. Kapp passed from his labors on Earth and into eternal refreshment in the presence of the Grand Architect on May 21, 2008. Thus ends the record of a just and upright Master Mason. May his memory remain eternal.

Respectfully submitted:

Ronald J. Ehemann, PM Secretary

BRO. AL MECHNIG AND WIFE JULIE HAPPY TO SEE VISITORS AT REHAB: 29 AUG 2008
Bro. Al Mechnig continues along the road of post-stroke recovery on Mon., Wed. and Fri., 12:00 - 4:00pm at Ravenswood Hospital in the company of his wife Julie and her sister Georgie. Julie and Georgie managed the kitchen and dining room for many years and would love to have company at the hospital: 4600 N. Damen St., Chicago, IL. Parking is available in the parking garage structure to the south.

Hesperia has chosen Gads Hill Center as it's sponsored charity. 10 July 2008
Hesperian's have chosen to sponsor computer tutoring for the children served by the Gads Hill Center on the near SW side of Chicago.

Hesperia's former sponsored child brings a newborn baby girl into the world. 10 July 2008
Congratulations and best wishes are in order for our former sponsored child, Alma. The lodge voted unanimously on 10 July 2008 to donate funds towards her initial expenses as a new mother.

Independence Day - July 4th 2008
On the occasion of this 232nd anniversary of the foundation of our nation and the blessings of liberty and brotherhood it engenders, we wish all Masons and all Americans a happy and prosperous 4th, and a pleasant summer. 'Solomon's Builders,' a recent book released by Indianapolis Mason and author Christopher Hodapp, informs and captivates readers interested in the degree to which then visionary Masonic tenets were perhaps the most significant inspiration for our treasured Constitution and Bill of Rights. This anniversary is an occasion for reflection on Bro. George Washington's assertion memorialized in the monument at Wacker and Rush streets in Chicago: "The government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that those who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support."

Bro. Mohsen Modaressi's Recovery - July 2008
Bro. Modaressi, 33, having left the care of the good doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and returned home, is now back in action in his numerous capacities as a Mason, Hesperian and Master of Evans Lodge.

Bro. Al Mechnig's Rehab and Recovery - July 2008
Bro. Mechnig continues along the road of post-stroke recovery and is now present each week at Ravenswood Hospital with wife Julie and her sister Georgie. New brethren may not know that Julie and Georgie managed the kitchen and dining room for many years prior to the advent of Al's stoke. They would love to have visitors during these rehabilitation visits. The hospital is located at 4600 North Damen in Chicago. Al's therapy occurs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon until 3pm.