Grand Master of Iowa

Dear Brother,
I have visited two lodges informally the past two weeks who were doing third degrees. One of the lodges was Crossroads Lodge No. 677 in Dewitt. The other was Canopy Lodge No. 290 in Oxford. At both lodges the Grand Master was received and the Office of Grand Master was accorded the proper respect.
The evening in DeWitt was started with a fine meal prepared by the members and shared by wives. It was the First Raising for Crossroads Lodge. The attitude of the members and officers of this fine young lodge was heartwarming for me and the Grand Lodge Officers who were in attendance. The evening was made more special because of the new Master Mason. He was very impressed with the Degree. He was most impressed by the number of brethren who took the time to spend the evening with him.
The second visit was to Canopy Lodge in Oxford No. 290. This Lodge had been inactive for a number of years. They had not had a degree of any kind for 11 years. Starting in calendar year 2006 a petition was received, another, then another, and they have raised 4 new Master Masons this year. I was told they have at least two more in the works.
Well done, brethren of Canopy Lodge.! All the newly raised brothers were in attendance for the Degree, as was the brother raised 11 years ago. The evening ended with a fine meal prepared by the members.
I tell you of these happenings to let you know that Masonry is alive and well in Iowa. Lodges all over the state are receiving petitions, doing Degrees and giving the new Master Masons reasons for becoming and staying members. All the brethren I have talked to are enthusiastic and ‘ON FIRE’ for Masonry. This is new Master Masons as well as long time members.
Brethren, I am ‘fired up’ about Iowa Masonry! I am asking you to get HOOKED ON MASONRY. If we all work together, we can continue advancing and making Masonry in Iowa grow to become the Fraternal I know it can be.
If you have a degree scheduled, contact me, dzahrt@revealed.net, and I will make every effort to attend. If there is one thing I enjoy, it is degree work. And it is just as enjoyable for me to watch a degree performed as it is to participate.
Until next time I remain,
Dennis M. Zahrt
Grand Master of Masons in Iowa