For Sale

Brand new KT Sword. Sale to benefit the Lodge. Make offer.

Academic Team & Fellowship Dinner

The April Fellowship Dinner was a huge success. 53 people were in attendance for a delightful spaghetti supper cooked and presented by Bro Don Vogler and his wife Tootie. They were the first to utilize our brand new kitchen and announced what a joy it was to have such a fine area for our food preparation. We would like to thank them for their special effort and hard work. Fellowship was at its maximum and some presentations were made. It was announced that Mildred Lane would be leaving the area and moving to her daughter's in Washington State. Incidentally, she will be celebrating her 93rd birthday this month. Other Special Ladies birthdays were also recognized: Donna Dodd, Helen Pulliam, Betty Barnes, and Ione McAnly.
Our sponsored Academic Team-the AFC students were in attendance for this supper and were presented a recognition plaque for their participation in the 2011 Academic Bowl. Their coach Steve Toole made comments about the team and their
experiences with the school competition. His information was very well received by all.
WBro. Harry Gross, Academic Bowl Committee Member also had some kind words for the team and the collective process of the competition.
Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Past Masters and a note of their dedication and time to the fraternity. After supper, the Masons all struggled up the stairs to the lodge room to witness a fine 2nd degree. The ladies talked about their upcoming outing and several ideas were expressed about where to go.
The next Fellowship Dinner on May 3rd will be presented by the ladies of the Eastern Star. We haven't been privileged to the menu at this point of time, but rest assured that it will be a delicious meal. The ladies will give a short talk on the Star. Also that evening we will have a recognition night for several of our senior members who have dedicated so much time and energy to Masonry in the past years.
May birthdays to be celebrated will be: Pat Koeching, Nita Hultgren, Vivian Mullins, and Lynn Messer. If these ladies are unable to make it, we will sing "Happy Birthday" to them anyway, probably in the key of flat. If any lady cannot make it to the Fellowship Meal on the month of their birthday and would like to send a note, we would certainly like to read it at the supper.
We are presently putting a picture board together of all of our Special Ladies. Many of you have moved from the area or are shut in and are not able to enjoy our monthly Fellowship Meals. And, many of you may not know each other. To solve this problem, we will provide a picture board in the dining hall of all of the living widows of our past Masons. Please send us a favorite picture of yourself. You pick out the picture you want-it doesn't need to be today's. Also, a picture of you and your husband (preferably not a wedding picture) would be appreciated for another picture board. It is just a way for everyone to recognize yourself and your husband; it would be greatly appreciated by all.
Remember, if you need a ride to the Fellowship Meal, please call a Mason. If you need assistance in any way, please call a Mason. And, if any of you would like to attend Easter Services and have no family to take you, please call a Mason. Next dinner is at 6:30 pm, May 3rd.

Past Masters Night

On April 5th the Rochelle Masonic Lodge met for a Past Master's Night. All past masters of the area and especially the Rochelle Lodge were invited for a night of recognition of their achievements and dedication to the fraternity.

Worshipful Brothers

Front Row: Otto Heisner, Rich Spahn, Ron Dean, Harry Gross, Virgil Ewald
Middle Row: Henry Toms, Orville Schoemaker, Ken White, Paul Mathis
Top Row: Wayne Williams, Jack Baylor, Jim Toms, Bud Norcross, Lyle Headon

IMOS Dinner

Rochelle's Horicon Lodge celebrated the receiving of the coveted Grand Lodge IMOS Award during a sit down dinner with 80 people in attendance. A delicious meal was served while being entertained by Bro Walt Roush on his keyboard. It was a very pleasing and pleasant evening.

There were several memorable parts of the program:
1. Madison Wilkinson an RTHS senior sang the National Anthem,
2. Karla Carwile made the presentation of the IMOS Award,
3. Orville Shoemaker , DDGM, presented Bro LaVerne Krahenbuhl with his
50 year pin and certificate.
4. A special Memorial Service was held by reading the names of our
Masonic Widow's departed husbands.

WM Bud Norcross acted as the Master of Ceremonies and filled in the gaps for information about the several parts of the program. He explained the Lodge's part of the sponsorship to young Madison Wilkinson on her trip to Europe with the national choir group. He introduced Karla and had a few words about her achievements in Illinois with the Grand Lodge. And, he also introduced our WB LaVerne Krahenbuhl for his 50 year award.
We were especially honored with the presence and presentation of a very informative talk about the IMOS program in Illinois, by Karla Carwile. Many of our widows and families in attendance did not realize the importance of this program in assisting the distressed Masonic Widows of this state. They had realized that Rochelle Masons were providing them with many considerations because of their late husband's membership with the Lodge. But, they realized for the first time the importance of this program and the leadership of the Rochelle Masons in this effort.

Bro LaVerne Krahenbuhl was presented his 50 year pin and certificate by DDGM Orville Shoemaker, on behalf of the Grand Master of Illinois. Laverne was very humbled receiving this coveted award as his family looked on.

Concluding the evening, WBro Lyle Headon led the memorial service of our widow's departed Masons. He read the 48 names on our rolls and explained the remembering of each Mason as he passed from our ranks.
The dinner meeting adjourned and everyone parted the enjoyable evening.

To our Special Ladies

Spring is just coming and is it about time. The men of the lodge have assembled together to make you some soup for those cool days yet coming. They enjoy this night of making soup as it gives them time to have fellowship and remember. Many times your husbands are remembered as to the yesteryears of the lodge and their participation. So, please enjoy the soups!! It is in their memory and your honor.
Our special dinner for the IMOS Award was well attended with 80 people present for a delicious meal. If you were unable to make it, we missed you. Speeches were made about what is happening in Rochelle and how our widows helping the lodge come back to life as it was when their husbands were here.
We had a 50 year presentation award for LaVerne Krahenbuel. District Deputy Grand Master of the State of Illinois made the presentation, with his wife Donna and family looking on.
At the end of the evening, a memorial service was presented with all the husband's names of our present widows being read off.
Please join us on the first Tuesday evening at 6:30 pm for a potluck meal and fellowship. Most often we have a short program and then the men go upstairs for their meeting and the ladies converse and go home at their own schedule.