Hesperia Lodge No. 411 News
News From 2009
December, 2009 - Happy Holidays!
Everyone at Hesperia Lodge No. 411 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons wishes you and yours a safe and warm holiday season!
October 15, 2009 - Past Masters Dinner and Stories of our Annual Grand Lodge Communication Hesperians, friends and families, including a dozen Past Masters of Hesperia Lodge, representing many of the years between 1986 and the present day, gathered in harmony and goodwill to enjoy the company and inspiration of their fellows. We gathered in the Old Irving Park neighborhood at Sabatino's Banquet Hall in Chicago just a few miles from Jefferson Temple. The food, music and conversation were excellent and it may be safely said that all present look forward to a restoration of this ritual and tradition as an annual event.
We enjoyed a special presentation delivered by Secr. Ron Ehemann regaling these fortunate few with tales of Hesperian's experiences at the Annual Grand Lodge Communication and among the historic sites in Springfield. Most fascinating was the account of the reverence and awe inspired by the presence of the Washington Inaugural Bible, that original Masonic Bible still in possession of New York's St. Johns Lodge No. 1 in lower Manhattan. What a rare privilege it was to have this opportunity to look on the very pages on which Bro. George Washington placed his hands and to reflect upon the memory of his Masonic ideals as practiced in both his words and actions. His creation in the form of precedents of the original humble tradition of our Presidency, the first occasion perhaps in all human history at which a man in power relinquished power to return to private life, and then, when called upon took the first oath of office administered to an elected public servant, cannot but stir the pride and reverence of Masons and non-Masons alike. That he incorporated a fragment of Masonic ritual in reverently inserting the phrase, 'So help me God." can only magnify the admiration we Masons may feel.
I suspect that both those who enjoyed their visit to Springfield as well as those unable to be there may have been inspired to entertain thoughts of some future visit to walk among, see, and touch the historic Masonic sites of that uniquely great city of the new world which bears the name 'Washington'.
October 9-10, 2009 - Annrual Grand Lodge Communication (Springfield, IL)
"Grand Master Swaney and his newly installed officers provide the hope and promise of a new era in Masonry."
The 170th Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois was convened at the Springfield (IL) Convention Center on Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10, 2009. Attending from Hesperia Lodge was our official (and voting delegation) Worshipful Master Robert Harvey, Senior Warden Marpno Pallotta and Junior Warden James Voss; along with our Secretary Ronald Ehemann (officially attending as a member of the Board of Managers of the Outreach Committee), Bro. Rick Taman (officially attending as Worshipful Master of Glenview Lodge), Bro. John Orona and Bro. Robert Harney. Click here for more on this story composed by Bro. Secr. Ron Ehemann: Hesperians at Grand Lodge 2009.
October 9, 2009 - Historic Dearborn Observatory Tour (Public Session) - On October 9th the clouds parted an hour or so prior to the scheduled time. A small group appeared for the rain date and observed Jupiter and its moons with the assistance and guidance of a Northwestern University astrophysicist student. A wonderful and interesting evening was had.
September 24, 2009 - Two Men were Made Masons this evening. Two men were MADE MASONS this evening as Hesperians. They have now entered upon a most serious journey and sublime road in life, shedding a degree of that ephemeral mortal coil which binds a man to Earth. Congratulations and best wishes brethren in your studies and lifelong journey in your new 'profession' as Masons. "That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet." E.D. - a bittersweet symphony is life.
September 19, 2009 - Greening of the Temple (Weeding & Cleaning, Beehive Discoveries) - Two Hesperians and one King Oscar Mason appeared to assist in cleaning and weeding the grounds surrounding the Jefferson Temple Building on Gale Street: Jim Pankewicz, John Orona, Jim McDermott and one petitioner who will be experiencing the First Degree in Masonry this week. Amidst the hard work a good time was had by all, flowers were watered, and what appears to be a fairly extensive honey beehive has been discovered in places subterranean beside the foundation of the rear of the building! In the context of the global disappearances of those bees so critical to our agricultural production, this was both and interesting and welcome sight. The bees however, did not seem to share quite the same sense of awe as we cleared weeds they'd been utilizing as camouflage..
September 11, 2009 - A Dedication on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the September 11th Attack
"Above the carnage rose prophetic a voice. Be not disheartened, compassion shall solve the problems of freedom yet. Sons of the mother of all, you shall yet be victorious. You shall yet laugh to scorn the attacks of the remainder of the Earth."
Adapated from Whitman, Leaves of Grass
(A reflection upon the carnage he witnessed during the Civil War)
August 27, 2009 - We Extend Our Deepest Sympathies to Bro. Robert Harney - We extend our deepest sympathies to Bro. Robert Harney who experienced the loss of a loved one this past week.
August 29, 2009 - Three Men were Passed to teh Degree of Fellowcraft Mason - A special meeting was called this week in order to confer the Second Degree in Masonry upon three men who had demonstrated proficiency in the First Degree. Congratulations brethren and best wishes in your efforts to study the Fellowcraft Ritual and its meaning in the coming months.
August 22, 2009 - ILCHIP Child ID Program at Central Romero in Chicago - ILCHIP packages were were produced for the children of dozens of families this last weekend at Centro Romero, a community center at 6216 N Clark St. in Chicago.
Bros. John Orona, Tom Wood and Jim McDermott were among the Hesperians who joined about a dozen Masons from several Lodges in the 5th District to contribute to the efforts of law enforcement agencies to assist parents in locating missing children. We continue to seek Hesperians to come forward to learn this process and to be available to volunteer at the occasional ILCHIP event. It's easy to learn and fun. Join us.
This is the Child Identification Program. We help parents and children collect DNA in oral swabs, record fingerprints and conduct a videotape interview to record height, features, and voice idiosyncrasies. This is stored on disc and given to parents to store in a small envelope. King Oscar Lodge has purchased a kit, including laptop and camera and Hesperia Lodge has pledged funds toward a shared 5th District kit. Bro. Howell Brown joined 26 Masons for ILCHIP at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago in June and Bro. Jim McDermott participated in the ILCHIP event at Gray School in Chicago in April.
Photos of event provided courtesy of Bro. Craig Sterwart, King Oscar Lodge No. 855
August 15, 2009 - An Evening at Millennium Park, Beethoven's 9th Symphony (Picnic and Music Underneath the Starry Canopy) - An evening of music in Grant Park in Chicago was shared by several Hesperian's, one of our recent petitioners, and family just two blocks north of Buckingham Fountain at the spectacular new Pritzker Pavillion designed by internationally renowned architect Frank Gehry. Food, drink, good conversation and this rare performance were enjoyed on the vast lawn along with several thousand others surrounded by the stars above, the grass below, and the spectacularly lit artificial canyon wall of Michigan Avenue.
August 13, 2009 - Friend's Night & Open House - Dinner and a presentation by Bro. Ron Ehemann was shared by Hesperians and about a dozen guests. Petitions were submitted and several more requested.
August 1-2, 2009 - Halsted Market Days Festival (Presenting Masonry to the Public) Hesperians and friends manned our information table at what has been described as Chicago's largest neighborhood street festival, attracting as many as one half million during the two day event. Visitors to our table numbered in the several hundred to 1000 or more range. The enthusiasm and interest on both sides of the table seemed to be both more positive and of greater magnitude than that encountered at previous street fairs. Among those visiting were many of the sons and daughters or grandsons and granddaughters of Masons. But, most encouraging was the positive interest among those only marginally familiar with Freemasonry. We hope to see a good showing at our Friend's Night Open House on August 13th.
July 18, 2009 - Beethoven's 9th Symphony (Pinnic and Music at Ravinia) - The weather was perfect and the food and drink was pleasant. The performance on the stage was memorably spectacular and from the lawn, the performance of thousands was universally well done. As you might expect, among we Masons especially, the fellowship itself was the most memorable part of the evening.
Of course the deeper meaning and content of the piece, a dedication to the universal brotherhood of man, without diminishing due recognition of the harmonic perfection of the music alone, is certainly always the most memorable and spiritual element for those who know the translation of the original German incarnation of those Renaissance and Masonic sentiments. [ Transalation: at end of page ] Einstein once lamented to a physicist friend in a private letter, that in the 1930s the idealistic age of Göethe and Schiller had been supplanted by something darkly antithetical, and one may sometimes be tempted to suggest that idealism and benevolence are nearly as lost in our own Age - but a light always shines in the darkness, both in music and the good deeds of men and women alike.
I had not been to Ravinia in several years and everything was as beautiful as it has always been - like a midsummer's evening dream. On the last occasion when I had the opportunity to enjoy the 9th, the heavens erupted with an incredible deluge and I and my companions were the ONLY people left (happily) on the lawn, having had a large plastic tarp underneath our blanket, as the unprepared fled as if they were made of sugar. The warm thunderous rains hardly diminished the majestic splendor of the performance. All the more sublime was this evening in the company of perfect summer weather.
I was happily surprised to see that perhaps 20 percent of the crowd on the lawn were probably less than 30 years of age. So many of the unacquainted, consider classical music as an elitist sport as opposed to work which is classical because it is eternal and eternally capable of enriching the minds and lives of the common man. This revolutionary and innovative explosion of music and thought was presented as a final gift to the world from the mind of the aging and deaf composer, and in incorporating the words of the 'Ode to Joy,' it joyfully devotes itself to liberty, happiness, that face of the Deity we see both in the starry skies and the common and uncommon man alike. To gain a better understanding of that fountain of inspiration derived from the trials and tribulations in Beethoven's own life, I cannot emphasize too much the value of the 1990s era film, 'Immortal Beloved.' Consider renting this surprisingly vivid and even shocking view of Ludwig Beethoven's tumultuous private and public life set amidst the greater battles of the reverberations from the American and French revolutions, and the Napoleonic Wars and the Siege of Vienna.
A rare free performance of Beethoven's IX will be presented to the public on the lawns at Grant Park in the Pritzker Pavillion on Saturday 15 August. Remember that such a performance requires the participation and virtuosity of some 100 or more chorus members as well as perhaps almost as many of those numbered among the finest musicians in the world. I hope that all who were unable to attend Ravinia this last week will consider this opportunity to join us again, along with friends and family, on the Millennium Park lawn for fellowship, picnic and music. Life is short my friends; let us live life to lees and neglect to immerse ourselves in few of the good things when they are laid out before us like a unexpected feast. CAVEAT EMPTOR! Seize the day!
May-July 2009 - The Greening of the Temple - Over ten volunteers appeared on Saturday morning May 23rd to clean and weed the grounds of the Jefferson Masonic Temple, to construct cedar flower boxes and plant evergreens in urns at the front door. Flowers planted in six 6-foot cedar boxes have been nurtured and watered during the past two months with the assistance of Bros. Jim Pankiewicz, Frank Greenwich, Orineo Bolusan (all of King Oscar Lodge No. 855), John Orona, Jim McDermott (both of Hesperia Lodge No. 411), Stanley Smith (Oriental Lodge No. 33). Divine rainy intervention, 'precipitously' unplanned, also cared for the plants' watery needs throughout much of the months of June and July.
Click here for more information about this event and to see some pictures, too.
June 20, 2009 - Hindu Temple Tour - Several Hesperians enjoyed a fascinating tour of the very beautiful Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago near Lemont, Illinois. The history and architecture were discussed and food and good conversation were enjoyed at the home of Bros. Ray Masterson and Fred Bloss in Lemont. Thank you for the images Les. Though it is said that he who would pun would pick a pocket, I cannot resist: Les is indeed 'more.'
Click here for more information about this event nad to see some pictures, too.
June 19, 2009 - Deerborne Observatory Visit (NWU, Evanston, IL) - Though the absence of visible stars in the humid and hazy cloudiness trailing powerful storms prevented our planned stellar and planetary observations, we nonetheless enjoyed and participated in conversations and discussions led by a graduate student of astrophysics and an undergraduate student specializing in both history and philosophy at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. About one dozen Hesperians, friends and family came together to gather around the historic telescope. The night very much reminded me of my first meeting with a Mason about one quarter century ago at the historic observatory on the Urbana campus of the University of Illinois. Subjects discussed ranged from the link between the telescope and civil war history, the possible existence of extraterrestrial intelligent life, extra-solar planets, astronomical evidence of the 'creation' event, as well as the structure of stars and the chemistry and physics which govern the brightness and color or stars.
Click here for more information about this event and to see some pictures, too.
June 6, 2009 - Bro. McCain and over 300 Men Were Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason - With WM Robert Harvey present as his mentor, Bro. McClain participated the Grand Master's School at which, on this date, over 300 other men from lodges around the NE District of Illinois, were raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. Welcome Bro. McClain. Congratulations and best wishes are due to all those men who completed their third degree on this day.
June 14, 2009 - Andersonville Midsommerfest - Many Masons, men and women whose fathers or grandfathers are or were Masons, and many men who expressed considerable interest in our fraternity, visited our table and tent amidst the festive activities of the weekend. We also experienced a brief appearance by none other than Bro. PDDGM Chuck Renslow himself. The colorful posters produced by Bro. Secretary Ron Ehemann and the 'National Treasure' movie poster supplied by Bro. Jim McDermott were employed to provoke interesting and intelligent conversation regarding the differences between works of fiction, speculation, well researched works of non-fiction, and the possibility that all of these elements may be combined with various degrees of success. And of course, as the antidote to imperfections which may lie within such works, the true charitable and benevolent nature and history of Freemasonry in Europe, in the formation of the United States, and elsewhere in the world was discussed.
Click here for more information about this event and to see some pictures, too.
June 2009 - Grand Master's Blue Lightning - Several Hesperians including WM Robert Harvey, as mentor, Bro. Rick Taman, and candidate Elgin McClain, were participants along with as many as 300 candidates hosted by lodges in Oak Lawn and Riverside, Illinois. Elgin, like many other candidates who received their First Degree at their home lodge but whose schedules did not permit them to complete the process, experienced the Second and Third Degrees on this Saturday morning and afternoon. WM Harvey intends to devote the Fall in 2009 to a particularly intense Degree schedule with a dozen or more candidates waiting to progress.
June 2009 - A First Degree for a Soilder - Bros. John Orona and Jim McDermott participated, in a chair and as a lecturer at Decalogue Lodge, in the conferral of the First Degree in June 2009 upon a young soldier immediately prior to his departure to serve abroad. Participation in such a Degree is a particular honor given the great history of the Fraternity among military men from Bro. Washington to Bro. Bradley and the danger and sacrifice many soldiers face while serving their country. We wish him the best: Gods speed!
April 2009 - Illinois Masonic Hospital - Illinois Masonic Family Health Foundation
Several Hesperians were present at the annual meeting of the Illinois Masonic Family Health Foundation in April in Chicago. Administrators, Masons, and many of the finest doctors and dentists in the nation discussed the benefits provided to children with autism, burns, vision problems and dental needs. Most touching of all was the testimony of individual children and families who were assisted by Masons. Our Grand Master and a Past Grand Master were also present.
May 2009: Mozart and the Enlightenment - Song and Lecture - At Chicago's 'Instituto Italiano di Cultura' in May Hesperians John Orona and Jim McDermott enjoyed a performance of opera aria and a lecture devoted to notions of the influence of the Age of the Enlightenment on Bro. Mozart's life philosophy and music. The Chicago Opera Theater invites all to join them in the future. A section devoted to Bro. Mozart may be found on our Education page.
May 2009: Hesperian Participation in ILCHIP - Child Identification Program - This is the Child Identification Program. It is easy and fun to learn and to help parents and children collect DNA in oral swabs, record fingerprints and conduct a videotape interview to record height, features, and voice idiosyncrasies. This is stored on disc and given to parents to store in a small envelope. King Oscar Lodge has purchased a kit, including laptop and camera and Hesperia Lodge has pledged funds toward a shared 5th District kit. Bro. Howell Brown joined 26 Masons for ILCHIP at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago in June and Bro. Jim McDermott participated at Gray Elementary School on Chicago's northwest side. Documentation was created for parents for several dozen children at each location.
May 13, 2009 - Hesperians Participate in an ILCHIP Event - Hesperians were among those Masons who joined members of King Oscar Lodge to provide ILCHIP's Child Identification package to parents of children at Gray School on Chicago's Northwest side. All Masons are encouraged to consider participation in the training program for the ILCHIP program. Refer to the ILCHIP link on Hesperia's CHARITY page. This program provides a CD ROM on which is recorded critical information for parents to store at home and provide for police if, God forbid, their children become lost or missing. Our volunteers collect basic information, saliva swabs for DNA testing, fingerprints and a videotaped interview is recorded to provide a record of appearance, speach and mannerisms.
May 2, 2009 - Hesperia Lodge Featured in Illinois Freemasonry Magazine, Spring 2009, Vol. 15, No. 2. - Hesperia Lodge is featured in the current issue of Illinois Freemasonry Magazine on page 9. The article observes the fact that Bro. Robert Harvey, our 'Worshipful' Jazz Pianist . . . that is 'Worshipful Master' . . . possesses certain harmonious skills at the keyboard as well as in the lodge. Some may have noticed last Fall that an image of our somewhat disheveled Masonic Community Days tent but more presentable volunteers in Andersonville last summer was included in a previous issue of the magazine, but without the annotation indicating the interesting unseen story; Our tent had survived storm winds which had destroyed many other tents and tables at the annual street festival - perhaps nearly 50 percent.
Hesperia will have a table at this years Andersonville 'Midsommarfest' on Saturday and Sunday June 6-7. Volunteers will be needed. Please RSVP: Contact Bro. Secr. Ron Ehemann at Secretary for details. Or simply enjoy the festival and visit our table once or twice.
April 2009: Gads Hill Center Annual Gala Dinner - Two Hesperians, Bros. Robert Harvey and Jim McDermott, as well as Irineo Bolusan of King Oscar Lodge No. 855 attended the Gala Dinner where several of Chicago's corporate leaders spoke of their dedication to Gad's Hill, Gad's Hill's past and its future. Both Hesperia and King Oscar Lodge contribute to Gads Hill. Bro. Orejudos is a regular volunteer at Gads Hill which provides learning support and educational enrichment, early childhood development, and out-of-school care for children. The families assisted by Gads Hill include those who have found that other educational services fail to meet their needs, may be ineligible for other programs, or who have found the traditional support of parents, extended family and peers to be inadequate. We have chosen to earmark funds for computer tutoring for children.
April 26, 2009 - Rosehill Cemetary Tour - Eleven Hesperians, family and friends enjoyed a tour of the historic Rosehill Cemetery led by members of Hesperia's 'Ladon Society'. Perhaps the most interesting moments in the tour were the time spent in the Masonic section, ( O ), the section owned by Hesperia Lodge since the time of the Chicago fire, and the magnificent 'Lady in Glass' which we discovered that day is in fact the great great grandmother of Hesperian Howell Browne. Bro. Brown's mother and Mason father are also interred nearby. This branch of his family were among the early settlers of the Chicago area and can in turn trace their roots to the 17th century pilgrims at Plymouth Rock.
Click here for more information about this event and to see some pictures, too.
April 23, 2009 - Two men were made Fellowcraft Masons - Congratulations brethren! We expect that you will apply yourself to the acquisition of knowledge and wisdom and to the study of Masonry with dedication, actively contributing to the work of the lodge, self-improvement as men, and good works among your fellow creatures. "Tis the mind that maketh the body rich." Shakespeare "Great men are those who realize that the spirtitual is greater than any material force, that thoughts rule the world." Emerson
April 9, 2009 - Two men were made Masons - Two men were made Masons this evening. Congratulations brethren! We expect that you will apply yourself to the study of Masonry with dedication, actively contributing to the work of the lodge, self-improvement as men, and good works among your fellow creatures.
March 26, 2009 - Two men were passed to the degree of Fellowcraft - Two men were passed to the degree of Fellowcraft this evening. Congratulations brethren. We expect that you will apply yourself to the study of Masonry and of the several liberal arts and sciences, actively contributing to and participating in the educational aspects of our lodge experience.
March 24, 2009 - Bros. Ehemann and Orona Help Out The Night Ministries - Hesperian's contributed to yet another night assisting the Night Ministries' mobile food pantry. Bro. Chuck Renslow prepared a complete spaghetti dinner for them, a rare treat at these events. Perhaps this opportunity should be taken to note that, for a good part of the last decade, Bro. Renslow, PM, has offset a large percentage of the costs of Hesperia's dinners. He has also donated stationary, copy costs and postage for announcements, notices and newsletters and the people used to stuff envelopes and get the mail out over the years. He purchased the costumes we once used in our 3rd degree, as well as a host of other things over the years such as the embroidered blindfolds. Depicted below is Chuck serving as Hesperia's master chef preparing the Night Ministries' Dinner.
March 19, 2009 - Second Meeting of the Ladon Society - About Fourteen Masons, including Entered Apprentices and Fellowcraft were present for the second meeting of this group. We meet as Masons and as men of goodwill. Discussion was devoted to the format, frequency and formula of our meetings, contributions from the group which might be suitable for educational presentations in lodge, and a variety of interesting philosophical topics which might serve as future subjects for presentation. A fascinating presentation was delivered by Bro. Keyston Franklin: 'An Introduction to Symbols.' It was decided that the frequency of meetings should be set at once per month. It was also decided that although the group should meet independently of the lodge, the guiding principles of Freemasonry will wisely be applied in order to facilitate the most civil discussions and presentations which proceed in an objective, academic and analytical form which presents facts and conditions but does not endorse any particular set of beliefs or interpretations. Contact Bro. Secr. Ron Ehemann for location information: Email
The energy, enthusiasm, ideas and dedication evinced at the meeting last night were impressive - my own optimism magnified. This initial momentum seems to portend a bright and productive future, a hopeful example of what Masons and Freemasonry can do if only a few men of honest goodwill focus collective mind and energy to study together, to learn together and to transform this good to do good for their fellow man
March 6, 2009 - Dearborn Observatory Tour - At Dearborn Observatory this evening, where the clouds parted for our viewing pleasure, Comet Lulin, Saturn, it's rings and moons including Titan (along with the Earth, the only solid body in the solar system other than Mars supporting an atmosphere), and the famous Orion Nebula were seen. There is a possible connection between Osiris and Orion as well as some Masonic lore associated with Orion. It has also been hypothesized that the 3 pyramids at Giza, Egypt are arranged as mirrored representations of the 3 Belt Stars of Orion on Earth with the Nile representing the Milky Way. Nebulae such as this are often the incubators and birth places of young stars. Ten Masons, family and friends were present and a few were dressed for the plummeting temperatures. The afternoon began near 60 degrees and hovered around 40 degrees during the tour.
March 5, 2009 - Inaugural Meeting of the Ladon Society - Fourteen Masons, including Entered Apprentices and Fellowcraft were present for the first meeting of this group. Among those topics proposed at the first meeting were: Comparative Religion, Mythology, Social-Educational Excursions (Purely Social, Concerts, Houses of Worship), Symbols, Masonic History and several others.
Click here for more information about this event.
March 3, 2009 - Night Ministries - Soup and Sandwiches Served for Homeless Youth - Hesperians, family members and friends were among those who assisted the Night Ministries staff with food preparation and distribution for homeless youth. Bros. Secr. Ron Ehemann and SW Marino Pallotta prepared some 200 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as well as about 10 gallons of hot tomato soup for a crowd of about 60 or so homeless persons. Bananas and wheat snacks were also available. About 90 percent of those served were teens or very young adults. In spite of the 26 degree temperatures and a bit of a wind chill, the crowd, staff and our volunteers enjoyed the opportunity to help one another and share stories and the usual Masonic camaraderie. About six gallons of soup and perhaps a few dozen sandwiches remained at 10pm and were donated to the nearby homeless shelter. Bros. John Orona, Jim McDermott and Joe Hoffman as well as Bro. Hoffman's girlfriend, Vicki assisted Bro. Ehemann.
Click here for more information about this event and to see some pictures, too.
February 5, 2009 - A Visit to the Historic Wilmette Temple - Members of Hesperia had been invited by Rt. W. Bro. Edward Rund while sharing the honor of his company and conversation at his table at our Officer Installation dinner.
January 25, 2005 - Officer Installation - Robert Harvey Our New Worshipful Master - Today, several hundred Hesperians, Masons, and their family and friends gathered to welcome and celebrate our new officers.
Click here for full coverage (including photos).
January 22, 2009 - Two Men Were Made Masons This Evening - Two dedicated and enthusiastic young men were made Masons this evening and have begun their life-long journey. We welcome them to Hesperia Lodge and as the youngest members of this ancient fraternity. We hope and expect that they will apply themselves to study and successfully advance through the 2nd and 3rd degrees in Masonry in the coming months.
January 17, 2009 - Bro. Casimer Mironack, PM, Has Passed From His Labors On Earth - Brother CASIMER S. MIRONACK, PM, passed from his labors on earth and into eternal refreshment sometime just prior to noon on Monday last ( January 5 ). Casey was raised by West Englewood Home Lodge No. 1074 in 1972 and affiliated with Hesperia Lodge No. 411 by demit in May of that same year. He was thrice Past Master, having been in the East as Worshipful Master in 1980, 1981 and 1991. In addition, his Masonic affiliations include over thirty years in the Shrine, where he served as a Jester and member of the Patrol, as well as serving many, many meals as the cook. Casey was active in the American Legion and the Elks.
In accord with Casey's wishes, the body was cremated. A memorial service was attended by approximately 50 Masons including many Hesperians. Rt. Worshipful DDGM Russell Johnson, Bro. SW Robert Harvey (to be installed as Worshipful Master), Bro. JD James Voss (to be installed as Junior Warden), and Bro. James McDermott (to be installed as Junior Steward) presided over the Masonic Services as requested by the family. Bro. Mironack's Masonic Apron was presented by the family for use during the service. Bros. George Harris, PM, Gil Orejudos, PM, Richard Elia, PM, and three Entered Apprentices were among those Hesperian's present. Some twenty representatives of the Shrine also attended. May Bro. Mironack's new life in the Celestial Lodge be a peaceful and blessed one for one who lived as a just and upright Mason.
January 8, 2009 - Hesperia's New Officers Have Been Elected - Bro. Robert Harvey will serve as Hesperia's Worshipful Master for the coming year. Bros. Marino Palotta and James Voss will serve as senior and junior wardens. The names of other officers may be found on the 'CONTACTS' | Click | page. Each new officer was received with great acclamation and welcomed warmly. Masons, friends and family are welcome to join us for the installation of new officers on Sunday January 25th.