WMJ Oct 2007 - Freemasons of Wisconsin

Dennis V. SiewertJunior Grand DeaconYour Brothers of Theodore RooseveltLodge No. 322 Congratulate You!Davey L. White, Jr.Senior Grand DeaconGrand Lodge of WisconsinTWO GM-AGs...from page 1namesake of the Masonic Lodgechartered on June 11, 1879, in SturgeonBay. He became the first AttorneyGeneral of the Territory of Wisconsinin 1836 and served until1839. He served as Grand Master ofMasons in Wisconsin for two termsin 1856 and 1857.The present Master of Henry S.Baird Lodge, Ross Chapman, presentedthe Grand Master with aframed picture of Henry S. Baird sothat it might be hung in its place nextto all the other Attorney Generals ofthe State of Wisconsin.Alice Byrnes presented the GrandMaster with a beautiful boundleather collection containing sixspeeches delivered by Henry S.Guy K. GoodingDistrict 4 DeputyCongratulations,Brother Davey, onyour installation asSenior GrandDeacon ~ fromyour Brothers atWarren LodgeNo. 4 in Potosi-And-BrotherChristopher J.HirtheDistrict 4Area 1AdministratorBaird dating from 1826 through1832.Special thanks are in order for severalbrethren: Michael Dal Santo asChef, Mark Fischer as Assistant Chef,Charles Wingrove as Dinning RoomCaptain, James Byrnes, PGM, asMaster of Ceremonies, and JamesWade, who portrayed Henry S.Baird in the costume of that period.We learned many things aboutHenry S. Baird from his presentation.Grand Master J. B. Van Hollenshared his passion for integrity in hispersonal and political life. His foundationin Christianity and Masonry isthe driving force in his life to propelthe human race toward honesty andrighteousness in all things. As AttorneyGeneral of Wisconsin, his passionis to return honesty andrespectability to the political arena.H. S. Baird on H. S. BairdThe following dramatic readingtitled “Henry S. Baird” was presentedby Bro. James S. Wade on September20, 2007, at Henry S. BairdLodge No. 174, Sturgeon Bay.“Brethren and Ladies:“My name is Henry S. Baird, ormore correctly Henry Samuel Baird,for those who would wonder whatthe “S” stands for.“We are gathered here to celebratethe visit of our Grand Master, and asthis Lodge is named after me, andlike our Grand Master I was also aGrand Master, and like our GrandMaster I was also Attorney Generalof what would become the State ofWisconsin, I have been asked toaddress you tonight.“I must bow to this Grand Masterand give credit where credit is due. Idid hold both positions, but unlikeour Grand Master I did not hold bothpositions simultaneously.“Since I was called to the Lodgeabove over 132 years ago, and it hasbeen 150 years since I was GrandMaster, it is not surprising that I amnot remembered in Sturgeon Bay.“Perhaps I should reacquaint youwith who I am, and why thefounders of this Lodge would nameit after me. I was born May 16,1800, in Dublin Ireland.“My family immigrated to the UnitedStates and settled in Pittsburgh in1805. That is where I received mylimited education, attending schooluntil age 15. I have always been selfconsciousabout this.“The crash of 1818 wiped outContinued on page 11Notes From The Grand LecturerBy Brother Ronald H. GlaunertThe Badge of a MasonAs we contemplate any phase of our ritualisticwork and follow it through the three degrees, wemost certainly have to be impressed by the mannerin which it builds up to a climax—as in the scripturelessons for example.In the First Degree the profound lesson on harmonyin the 133rd Psalm and the reference to the Dewof Herman.In the Second Degree we are given an allegorywhich speaks to the life of a man being built foursquare and true by the Square of Virtue, the Plumbof an upright character and the Plumb Line of goodjudgment.In the Third Degree we are given a Scripture lessonpowerful in its allegory, gentle in its teachings and impressive in itsstrength.After all that we turn our attention to the lambskin or white leather apronand study its allusions to the Badge of a Mason, for to recognize a conclusionis to compare the beginning and the end of the subject under consideration.The first allusion to the apron is a subtle one and occurs in the openingof the Lodge. The Worshipful Master orders that the brethren will beclothed and in order for opening a Lodge. Every brother present mustwear the badge of a Mason, the apron.The next allusion to the apron is made at its presentation to the candidatein the First Degree, where it is the defined as an emblem of innocenceand the badge of a Mason. The very use of the word “The” donates that itis the only badge that a Mason has. There is no other: the rings which wesee on fingers, the emblems that are worn on lapels or caps are onlymeans of identification. The real badge of a Mason is his character.The Apron is a badge of his character and to be worn only while at laborand serves as an example of how Masons dress when at labor, and whenhe is to be properly clothed with the Apron.At a Lodge communication, obviously, all must wear an Apron. Theyare then at labor and while at labor they are “distinguished” by the badgeof a Mason. Give special attention to the word distinguished as told by theSenior Warden to the candidate. They are not “recognized” or “identified”but that they are “distinguished” by the wearing of the Apron.During a Grand Lodge Communication every Brother present must beproperly clothed. Also, at the laying of cornerstones and dedications oftemples, the officers must be properly clothed.When a Lodge conducts a funeral service for a deceased Brother, allMasons present regardless of rank are to be clothed with a whiteApron—the symbolism teaching us that all men are equal in death. However,at Lodge communications Brethren are clothed according to theirlast degree taken.The white Apron symbolizes the life’s work, so that when at last theworking tools of life are laid down, the Apron is not placed on the body ofthe deceased brother, but on the casket, in recognition that a life has beenlived. It is not placed on the body but rather on the casket, as the symbolof a life well spent as a Mason.Fraternally, Ron Glaunert, Grand LecturerRonald H. GlaunertGrand LecturerBrethren, your comments or suggestions are always welcome. ContactGrand Lecturer Glaunert by e-mail at or byphone at 608-788-4953.Bro. John C. MetcalfGrand TilerGrand Lodge of WisconsinCongratulations,Brother JohnFrom YourBrothers atDodgeville LodgeNo. 119 inDodgevilleContact the Wisconsin Masonic Journalat 262-334-1876 orWE SAVE SLIDES TO DISKSlide Scans as low as 69 cents ea. • Quality film & print scanning,DVD slideshows, image restoration, custom t-shirts, Tapeto DVD transfers: vhs, vhs-c, beta, & 8mm • Call 877-718-4588,ask about our Christmas in July special!http://www.newworlddigitalarts.comWISCONSIN MASONIC JOURNAL - OCTOBER 2007 - PAGE 3