Christopher L. Hodapp's Blog, page 18

"The best laid schemes o' mice an' men"

by Christopher Hodapp
As I reported last week, I managed to fall and break a bone in my ankle ten days ago. No great story to regale you with — no spectacular bar fight, no mishap on my tricky ascent up the north face of Mount Schmatterhorn, no I wasn't worked over by a gang of pirates or bootleggers. I just managed to get a leg cramp after standing up all weekend and fell over, snapping the joint on my fibula (the big, thick drumstick bone in your leg). So, I go in Friday morning for surgery whe...

Congratulations Illus. Brother James Dillman, 33°

by Christopher Hodapp

I'm furious that a stupid stumble wound up keeping me home from an event that was so important to the four portly gents in this old picture.
Fifteen years and way too many banquet dinners ago, there were these four Indiana troublemakers: an extremely overweight Dummy, WB Jim Dillman, RW Roger VanGorden PGM, and WB Nathan Brindle. The photo above was shot on a very hot summer afternoon in 2007, behind the Indianapolis Scottish Rite Cathedral. Jim, Nathan and I had just starte...

Illustrious Indiana Masons Among Honored With 33° In Louisville

by Christopher Hodapp

I had fervently hoped to attend the Scottish Rite NMJ's Supreme Council meeting in Louisville this week, for several reasons. I had it on my calendar for a year. We'd made the plans months ago. But my last-minute leg injury prevented us going, along with other events I've been forced to cancel. And I'm NOT happy about it.
Congratulations to our new Illustrious 33° Brethren from the Valley of Indianapolis in the photo at the top of this post.
Bradley Keith KeenSteven John Sonaf...

AASR-NMJ: Illus. Walter F. Wheeler Installed As Grand Commander

by Christopher Hodapp

This just in from Louisville, Kentucky:

The Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Northern Masonic Jurisdiction has just installed Illustrious Walter F. Wheeler as its new Sovereign Grand Commander.

This post will be updated.

Kentucky's Rubicon Masonic Society 11th Annual Feast and Symposium

by Christopher Hodapp

I'm tardy in thanking the Brethren of Lexington Lodge 1 in Kentucky, the William O. Ware Lodge of Research , and the members of the Rubicon Masonic Society for hosting such a fantastic event last weekend. Friday night was the Society's 11th annual Festive Board at the beautiful Spindletop Mansion, and it was outstanding, as always. Brother Antonio Mantica from Lexington Lodge delivered the keynote address. There was a superb dinner, wonderful surroundings, warm friendships, a...

Stalking the Fraternal Lodge Goat

by Christopher Hodapp

The July 2023 issue of Indianapolis Monthly Magazine featured a unique artifact from the Masonic Library & Museum of Indiana in Indianapolis: 'Bucky,' our very own fraternal mechanical goat. (Click the image to enlarge)

This local guide magazine features news, entertainment, dining picks and reviews, museums, theater information, lifestyle articles, and more. Nearly every month, their staff seeks out unusual artwork, displays and other odd items, generally from local museums....

MSA Issues Disaster Relief Appeal for Maui Fires

(Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

by Christopher Hodapp
The Masonic Service Association of North America has officially issued a Disaster Relief Appeal for the wildfire devastation on the Hawaiian island of Maui, on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Hawaii: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 11, 2023Hawaii Wild Fire Disaster Relief Appeal

"Last night, our beloved island of Maui was touched by the destructive forces of fires that swept through the community, leaving devastation in their wake. As B...

Oklahoma Grand Master Issues Warning About Anti-Masonic Activity

MW Glen A. Chaney, Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge AF&AM of Oklahoma
by Christopher Hodapp

MW Glen A. Chaney, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Oklahoma , has issued a letter of warning to his jurisdictions' lodges concerning recent threats, acts of vandalism, and violence against Freemasons. This warning comes in the wake of the recent increase in Anti-Masonic behavior in the U.S. and Canada. 
In his letter, he provides a list of recommendations to help heighten security in and around Masoni...

HELP WANTED: Lodge Furniture and Vintage German Language U.S. Ritual

by Christopher Hodapp

I've been contacted by brethren from two Indiana lodges in need of some specialized items. If you're able to help with either of these requests, contact me directly ay hodapp@aol.com and I'll connect you with the appropriate brothers:

Fraternal Lodge Room Furniture NeededIf anyone knows of a Masonic lodge that is closing or consolidating, an Indianapolis lodge is moving to a new location later this year and is in need of a (hopefully matching) set of lodge room furniture. Acc...

Freemason and Odd Fellows Exhibit at Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock

by Christopher Hodapp

A new exhibition on Freemasonry and the Odd Fellows opened this evening at the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock: "Mystery and Benevolence: Masonic and Odd Fellows Folk Art from the Kendra and Allan Daniel Gift to the American Folk Art Museum."
The exhibit is on loan from the American Folk Art Museum in New York.


From the exhibit's description :

Mystical, evocative, and sometimes simply strange, the art of fraternal practice is rich in symbols that are oddly familiar yet s...