Christopher L. Hodapp's Blog, page 6

Wisconsin MasoniCon in Eau Claire This Saturday April 12th

by Christopher Hodapp

The MasoniCon season is heating up. Join me this Saturday, April 12th at the Wisconsin MasoniCon in Eau Claire, where I'll be speaking along with Steven Harrison of the Midnight Freemasons blog and author of Freemasons–Tales from the Craft.
The day will kick off at 10AM with a special meeting of the Silas Shepherd Lodge of Research #1843. Steven and I will speak after lunch.


This event takes place at the magnificent Eau Claire Masonic Temple located at 616 Graham Avenue, from ...

April 13th: Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library Celebrates Its 50th

by Christopher Hodapp

The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library  in Lexington, Massachusetts is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. If you've never visited, make the effort. It's one of the top Masonic museums in the U.S.
The Museum & Library first opened as the 'Museum of Our National Heritage' in 1975 to correspond with the American Bicentennial, on the 200th anniversary of the battles at Lexington and Concord. It was envisioned by then-Sovereign Grand  Commander George A. Newbury as an ...

Thanks To Rochester, New York's College of Freemasonry

by Christopher Hodapp

Last Saturday I was supposed to be in New York to make a presentation at the 2025 College of Freemasonry , sponsored by the Scottish Rite Valley of Rochester . The theme of the event was the 200th anniversary of the disappearance of William Morgan in nearby Batavia back in 1825. Alice and I were hoping to drag out the Airstream and camp out in upstate New York after this event. Unfortunately, Alice is still recuperating from her foot surgery performed back in February and is u...

An Idiot and a Dummy At Midwest Conference on Masonic Education in Indianapolis May 2-4

Christopher Hodapp

A couple of years ago, the Midwest Conference on Masonic Education posted a lineup of and they broke the lists down according to general subject matter – historical, ritualist, esoteric, philosophical, leadership, and so on. The very first category was for the 'Beginning Mason' and it was gratifying to see that the twin titles at the top of that list were Freemasons For Dummies and The Complete Idiot's Guide To Freemasonry .
I...

GM of Arizona Withdraws Edict Against DeMolay

by Christopher Hodapp

The Grand Lodge of Arizona has apparently resolved its disagreements with Arizona DeMolay. On March 6th, MW Grand Master Michael A. Dale officially rescinded Edict 2025-01, which had briefly forbidden Arizona Masons from sponsoring or participating in any activities involving DeMolay International. The original edict had been issued on February 10th.
According to several brethren there, the Grand Master and others had objected to the makeup of Arizona's DeMolay Foundation boa...

Oklahoma's Grayhorse Lodge Closes; Appeared in 2023's 'Killers of the Flower Moon'

by Christopher Hodapp

Lodges in rural and economically depressed areas all too often have a tough time surviving these days. I received word last week that Fairfax, Oklahoma's Grayhorse Lodge No. 124 has lost its charter and closed its doors. That's sad — all lodge closures are — but lodges close every day, so it's scarcely a surprise. Still, you might recall that Grayhorse Lodge had a recent moment in the spotlight when it was featured in Martin Scorcese's 2023 film, Killers of the Flower Moon.

A...

Oklahoma's Grayhorse Lodge Closes; Appeared in 2023's 'Killers of the August Moon'

by Christopher Hodapp

Lodges in rural and economically depressed areas all too often have a tough time surviving these days. I received word last week that Fairfax, Oklahoma's Grayhorse Lodge No. 124 has lost its charter and closed its doors. That's sad — all lodge closures are — but lodges close every day, so it's scarcely a surprise. Still, you might recall that Grayhorse Lodge had a recent moment in the spotlight when it was featured in Martin Scorcese's 2023 film, Killers of the Flower Moon.

A...

California's Newest Lodge: Sonora 887

by Christopher Hodapp

California's newest lodge, Sonora Lodge No. 887 , in the historic Sonora Masonic Hall held its grand opening on Saturday, February 22, 2025. According to a press release about the event,  membership interest has been growing statewide, and the new lodge has already welcomed 21 new members to the fraternity. 
From Globe Newswire:

The opening of Sonora Lodge No. 887 is yet another milestone in the Sonora Masonic Hall’s rich history. Built in 1850 during the peak of the California...

Utah Past Grand Master Gerald Everett Expelled

by Christopher Hodapp

The assembled members of the Grand Lodge F&AM of Utah have voted to expel Gerald J. Everett, Past Grand Master, from Freemasonry. 
In a letter dated Monday, it was reported that Everett appealed a conviction by his lodge to the Grand Master, and Utah's Grievances & Appeals Committee reviewed his case. At the 153rd Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Utah, the Chairman of the Grievance and Appeals Committee presented the charges, the verdict, and the results of their ow...

Grand Master Cuts Off DeMolay From Arizona Freemasons

by Christopher Hodapp

In an edict issued on Monday, MW Michael Dale, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Arizona , cut off the Masonic-related youth group DeMolay International from Arizona Freemasonry. (Click the image above to enlarge)
In his edict, GM Dale (photo at left) - a 27-year veteran of the Marine Corps -  gives no explanation apart from it being due to "the Grand Master's and the Arizona DeMolay State Association's loss of faith and trust in DeMolay International and the Arizona DeMolay ...