Blue Hills Masonic Lodge in Rice Lake WI is holding an open house this Sunday April 6

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Masonic Lodge plans Sunday Open House

By:Eric Quade 04/03/2008

Many people have heard of this far-reaching fraternal organization, but fewer know what it is all about, aside from what can be gleaned from sensational TV documentaries: the Free Masons. In this light, the local chapter of Masons, hailing from the Blue Hills Masonic Lodge in Rice Lake, is holding an open house this Sunday from 1:30-4 p.m. There, the public is invited to learn more about what being a Mason is like and what the brotherhood has to offer the community. One person who knows a great deal about being a Mason is Barron's Larry Hoyer, a former Master of the city's own Masonic lodge years ago. Hoyer has been a member of the Masons since 1977 and had the honor of presiding as the local lodge's master during its centennial celebration in 1981. There are some common threads that tie fellow Masons together, Hoyer said. In addition to rudimentary requirements, such as being at least 18 years old, Masons must also profess belief in a supreme being, must live a "good moral and social life," must not advocate the overthrow of the government and they must be sponsored by two existing members. Hoyer explained that many local Mason lodges have Christian themes in their ceremonies where members look to better understand the Bible. But he stressed that other religions, such as Judaism and Islam, are also welcome in their fraternity. The moral teachings and ethical standards behind these belief systems are a cornerstone of Masonry, he said. "To steal a saying from the Marines, we take good men and make them better," he said. But what about those conspiracy theories discussed in contemporary literature and documentaries that always seem to have a Free Mason connection? Hoyer said that the shroud of secrecy sometimes associated with the fraternal society is likely due to its early years when Masons were less open about their organization. Craftsmen of the medieval cathedrals across Europe originally founded the Free Masons as a way to protect their trade secrets. As the fraternity expanded its membership to include non-craftsmen, the only aspects that remained hidden were the "modes of recognition" or the manner by which members address each other. The career paths of members may have changed over the years, but the guiding principles of the lodges have not. Balancing the demands of the workplace with a devotion to one's family, church and community are examples of the morals Masons still hold dear. While the values they hold remain cemented in place, local Masonic lodges have undergone some physical changes in recent years. About 8 years ago, Cumberland's lodge merged with Rice Lake's to make a new Blue Hills Masonic Lodge. Just this past January, Barron decided to follow a similar tact and consolidated with the Blue Hills lodge, also. Russ LaPoint, master of the Blue Hills Masonic Lodge, said that the local organization has 160 members and is trying to keep up with demand for memberships. As soon as one person completes the three-step initiation process and becomes a full-fledged member-known as a master Mason-other hopefuls are waiting to start their journey. Besides educating the public about Masonry, LaPoint said that the open house is important because it offers current members from each of the represented communities a chance to become better acquainted with each other. The local organization also plans to use the open house to bring special recognition to one of its cherished members-Herman Friess-who led the Masons at the state level in 1977-78 as their grand master. Attorney General J.B. VanHollen, the state's current grand master, will be in attendance at the April 6 open house to dedicate the Blue Hills Lodge's banquet facilities in Friess' name. The Blue Hills Lodge is located one block west of Main Street in Rice Lake on South Street.

Barron News Shield - Masonic Lodge plans Sunday Open House