Montgomery Lodge No. 13, A.F. & A.M.

Report of the Worshipful Master – 2009

Dear Brothers,

Tonight marks a full year since I was first elected Master of Montgomery Lodge No. 13.  As everyone says, “Where did the time go and did I do everything I could for the Lodge to insure its future?”

I thank you for the chance to serve Montgomery Lodge.  It was a very enjoyable and rewarding experience, and I will never forget the year we had!  Here are some of the highlights.

On January 21, 2009, the officers were installed by Most Worshipful Past Grand Master, Brother George S. Greytak as Installing Officer and Most Worshipful Past Grand Master, Brother Charles W. Yohe as Installing Marshal.  It was a beautiful public ceremony witnessed by 25 guests.  The officer line included three past district deputies, one present district deputy, and one Past Grand Master.  To some, this may sound like a great line, however, it shows that we may be in a slump.  A Lodge’s health can be measured by the number of non-past masters in the officer line.

Before we could meet again, the Grand Architect of the Universe called home Worshipful Brother Eyton “Gerry” Hammarstrom.  With fourteen Brothers, we met together with about 50 family and friends at Geer Village for a memorial service.  The family videotaped the service and were truly impressed.  Thank you to all who helped honor our fallen Brother.

On March 18^th, we were inspected on the Entered Apprentice degree.  Brother John DiMarco was the candidate that evening and Right Worshipful Brother Frederick Miller, District 2B, passed us with high marks.

Seven Brothers represented Montgomery Lodge by attending the Grand Lodge session held on March 30^th.  We had the distinct privilege to vote to present a charter to Ashlar Lodge No. 332, whose home is at Ashlar Village on the Wallingford Campus of Masonicare.  A majority of the members of this Lodge are either residents or employees at Ashlar Village.  They selected the number 332 as it represents the amount of money that was returned to the Grand Lodge of Connecticut from the monies sent for relief of the great Chicago fire on October 8, 1871.  Subsequently, Montgomery Lodge gathered together extra Lodge furniture from Hamilton and Blazing Star Lodges, transported and donated it to the new Ashlar Lodge.  Especially welcome were the two pillars and the altar.

On Saturday, May 30^th, the Lodge, through Brother Doug Richardson, entered into a fundraising program by selling lobsters to benefit the H.V.R.H.S. football team.  Approximately $1,000.00 was raised in this effort.

During the year, we traveled to many Table Lodges, but one of the best was on June 2^nd at Unity Lodge No. 148 in New Britain, Connecticut in celebration of 20 years of mutual recognition of Connecticut Prince Hall Masons.  What a great evening of fellowship!  Right Worshipful Brother Frank Bauer and I dashed off to Virginia to attend a Table Lodge where his good friend and Brother, the Most Worshipful Brother Jeffrey E. Hodges, sitting Grand Master of Virginia for 2009 was the guest speaker.  During that trip, we also drove to Macoy Publishing.

Brother Robert Keller’s son received an all expenses paid trip to Afghanistan in June, so the Lodge assembled and sent a “care package” to help provide some of the items that the U.S. government does not!  Brother Keller has reported that his son is expected to be home by December 15, 2009.

Summer brought our 50^th year for selling lobsters to raise funds for the Lodge.  In recent years, R.W. Brother Michael Fitting has chaired the lobster sales.  We offer our thanks to him for his many years of hard work and dedication.

Most Worshipful Brother Charles W. Yohe was elected to receive the honorary 33^rd Degree by the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of North America on August 25, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts.  Congratulations Most Worshipful Brother Yohe.

We held a special communication on July 25^th to confer the Entered Apprentice degree on Brother John Dugan.  Then we started the fall season with four additional petitions.  By the annual meeting on December 9^th, we had raised four new Brothers and had balloted on five others who sought admission into our Order.

If you back up to the beginning of this report, I hope you will agree that the answer to the question I posed is ‘yes.’

My Brothers, we are in better shape than a year ago.  Much work has been done, but there is much more we can and must do!  We owe it to our newly admitted Brothers to provide them with further light in Masonry, and they shall receive it!  We must give back to the Lodge the promise of hope for the future generations of Masons to come in equal measure to what those Brothers who came before us have given.  The dedication and participation by every member is required if we are to make good on the intention of having Montgomery Lodge continue well into the future.

2009 is now history!  The page is written and the book is closed.  2010 is a new year and we begin with a fresh page.  Please join me as we rededicate ourselves to the Ideals and Precepts of Masonry so future generations may also enjoy the same rich heritage that we now enjoy.

I remain Fraternally yours

Robert L. Thompson, Sr.