Welcome to Minnesota Masonry and ________Lodge #___ Religious Tolerance, Political Freedom, and Personal Integrity. Our motto is to “Make Good Men Better” Our cause is to work for Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth We believe in Religious Tolerance, Political Freedom, and Personal Integrity. MWB Neil Neddermeyer www.cinosam.net

It is truly unknown when and where Freemasonry began It is truly unknown when and where Freemasonry began. Most believe Masonry evolved from the guilds who built the castles and cathedrals of Western Europe during the middle ages. The moral and ethical bond that these groups (or Lodges) developed was greatly admired. When the need for organized guilds diminished many from outside the building trade sought to join for the fraternal aspect of the organization.

In the early 1700’s a group of these accepted Masons formed an organization that is very much as it is today. This organization accepted men of all religions and men of all backgrounds. It governed itself by each member having an equal vote and it restricted only those who were not of good character.

Many of the founding Fathers of this country were Freemasons including Washington, Franklin, and Paul Revere. The Masonic ideas of tolerance, freedom and integrity rang clear in the formation of America.

14 of our Presidents were Masons including Washington, Monroe, Jackson, Polk, Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Garfield, McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Taft, Harding, Franklin Roosevelt, Truman, and Ford

Minnesota Masonry Many Masons who traveled West formed Lodges where they settled. The first three formed in Minnesota were in Stillwater (because of it logging) and in Minneapolis and in St. Paul (because of their proximity to our two major rivers. They thus received the names of St. Johns Lodge # 1 in Stillwater, Cataract Lodge #2 in Minneapolis and St. Paul Lodge #3. In 1853 our Grand Lodge was formed. It now consists of 160 Lodges and 16,500 members.

Our Grand Master is MWB Raymond Christensen Our Grand Master is MWB Raymond Christensen. MWB Ray is a Medical Doctor from Duluth. He is also a teaching professor with the U of M

____________Lodge #___ (Insert Photo of Lodge here) Our Lodge was formed in ????. We meet on the ?? ????? of each month with the exception of ???? We have ?? members and our dues are $?? per year.

(Insert Photo of Lodge Master here) Our Master (or President) is ______ _____________ who will serve until the next election in December.

(Insert photo of a Lodge activity here) Our Lodge has many activities through out the year. Some of them include ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Matching Funds Grants for Lodges to support charitable activities www.mnmasoniccharities.org Masonic Cancer Center Masonic Home, Bloomington and Masonic Home North Ridge MMC Annual Fundraising GALA There are many charitable endeavors and initiatives of Minnesota Masonry. Minnesota Masonic Charities, the official charitable non-profit organization of the Grand Lodge has had successes in many different projects, working with Lodges around the state. These philanthropic efforts include but are not limited to: Elder Services – Minnesota Masonic Home Care Center, Bloomington and Minnesota Masonic Home, New Hope offering a wide range of senior services Cancer research – Masonic Cancer Center Fund, supporting advanced research and patient care at the University of Minnesota Services for the community – Our Masonic Lodges and Order of the Eastern Star Chapters provide a focal point for identifying community needs, including scholarships, youth services, school reading programs, domestic abuse awareness and prevention and more Scholarships

Our Initiation ritual uses symbols and allegories to teach moral lessons that allow each of us to reflect on who we are and where we are going. We are a traditional society that easily fits into the lives of modern day men.

Additional organizations for Masons Scottish Rite Shrine York Rite Eastern Star The Shrine is an organization where Masons have fun. Everyone knows of the wonderful Shrine Parades and the fun loving guys in those red fezzes, but you may not know that everyone of them is also a Mason. The Shrine also Provides free orthopedic and burn care to children under 18 in their hospitals located throughout North America. There are three shrine Centers in Minnesota, located in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth. The Scottish Rite is an organization that continues with Masonic instruction and explanation of Masonic philosophy There are five Scottish Rite Valleys in Minnesota. They are located in Minneapolis St. Paul, Duluth, Rochester and Hibbing. The York Rite is a Masonic organization that also continues with Masonic philosophy. This organization was founded on the Christian Values. York Rite bodies meet in Masonic Lodges throughout Minnesota. The Eastern Star is a Masonic organization for both men and women. There are chapters throughout the state.

Masonic Organizations for our Youth DeMolay Jobs Daughters Rainbow for Girls We have three Masonic organizations for kids in Minnesota. DeMolay is a great organization for teenage Boys. It has several chapters in the state that meet at Masonic Lodges. Job’s Daughters is an organization for girls and has many bethels in the state. Rainbow for Girls is a new organization to the state having been established just a few years ago. Each of these organizations teaches the greatest of values to our youth. They all create well rounded citizens for tomorrow.

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