Wardens and Brethren,

          As we head into another month of social distancing,
I hope all are healthy and safe. I honestly don’t really care for
the term “social distancing”, during this time we really
shouldn't be socially distant, just physically distant.
Freemasonry doesn’t work without being social. Holding
meetings virtually, calling, texting, emailing, and using one of
the many forms of social media is a great way for us to still
talk with the brethren. Those are just some of the forms that
we can physically distance ourselves but still not be socially
distant.
​
          Last month, we held our first zoom meeting, and
first I want to thank all the brethren who attended. It was great
to see the brethren again. It was my goal to run the meeting as
close as a normal in lodge meeting goes and I think it went
pretty well. This month we will be holding our stated
communication virtually again via zoom. The zoom meeting
information will be emailed out and attached to the monthly
notice. I hope to see more brethren join us this month, and as a
reminder we will be opening on our normal day and time,
Tuesday May 12, 7pm.

          This month's program will be presented by RW
Brother Michael Jarzabek, a member of several lodges
including Ezekiel Bates Lodge in Massachusetts. His
program is titled “The Mason with a Thousand Faces”. This
talk is inspired by Joseph Campbell’s 1949 book, “The Hero
with a Thousand Faces.” As such it is an exploration of: the
various stages of the Hero’s Journey, its mythological roots,
Masonic exemplifications, and the practical application of this
useful art by the contemplative man.

          I hope to see everybody in lodge for what is going to
be a great program and a great night of brotherhood.

May the Blessings of Heaven rest upon us,
​
Ralph Brunson
Master
Franklin Lodge #20

Wardens and Brethren,

First off, I hope everyone has been in good health and taking the proper precautions to stay healthy. Also, I know this can be a very stressful time for some in many different ways, so if there is anything that Franklin Lodge or I can do to help, I'm only a phone call, email, or text away. I can be reached at rbrunson23@icloud.com or (401)644-4525

Now on to the business. Not too long ago I sent out an email to the Franklin lodge google group giving an update on how lodges are to proceed for the time being. If you do not get the messages from the Franklin group or would like to be added, now is the time to be added. Please reach out to myself or our Secretary WB. Dan Rzewuski if you need to be added.

Franklin Lodge will be having a meeting this month, just not meeting physically at the lodge. Grand Master has set forth that lodges are to meet virtually. So, on our normal day and time, Tuesday April 14th at 7pm Franklin will meet via video conference, utilizing Zoom. For those getting this message via email just click https://zoom.us/j/476941810?pwd=bUloeHhCNytqMmFpTVc1UEhma0toQT09 or copy and paste into your browser and use password franklin. I would suggest joining 5-10 minutes before the start of the meeting. As a reminder from the email sent out, the top 5 officers are required for the virtual meetings, the WM, SW, JW, Tres, Sec, but I would love to be able to see as many brethren as possible on our virtual meeting.

Honestly, I would never have thought we would be holding a virtual lodge meeting, so I think this will be a learning experience for all of us. If this is going to be continuing through the next couple months, I am going to be trying to work on some sort of program that can be presented over a video conference.

May the Blessings of Heaven rest upon us,
Ralph Brunson
Master
​Franklin Lodge #20

Greetings from the East!

              It’s been three years since I last said that! First off, I must thank all the members who came out for our Annual last month and put their trust in me and the rest of our officers for the ensuing year. I am truly honored to serve the Brethren, and Franklin Lodge for another term.
             To kick off the new masonic year for us, we are getting right back to work. The officers along with myself have already started preparing for an Entered Apprentice Degree for March, in which it looks like we will be initiating two candidates. One candidate we already voted on and we will be hearing from the investigation committee on Mr. Zachary Stanton, and voting on him this month.
                It’s not going to be all business during our February meeting. For a program we will be welcoming Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Peter Iacobucci who will be giving an encore presentation Codex Gigas, also known as the Devil's Bible because of a very unusual full-page portrait of the devil, and the legend surrounding its creation. MW Peter gave this presentation last month at Overseas Lodge, so for those who were not able to make it then, this is a perfect opportunity to hear what is sure to be an amazing presentation.
            I look forward to seeing the brethren of Franklin every month as well as the travelers, and if you haven’t been to lodge in a while, come on down, join us for dinner and conversation. We are all Brothers and friends here.

May the Blessings of Heaven rest upon us,
Ralph Brunson
Master
​Franklin Lodge #20

Greetings from the West!
 
        Probably for the last time that I’ll be saying that, as we have reached the end of our masonic year.   For January's stated communication, RW Eric Grist will be joining us for a fairly short business meeting.  Directly after we close, RW Eric will be going through a quick rehearsal for our Annual meeting. So, it is imperative that all brethren that will be taking a chair for 2020 please be in attendance.  

         Speaking of our Annual Communication, it is being held on Saturday, January 18, lodge will be opening at 5pm for annual business and election of officers, then breaking for dinner at approximately 6pm, and resuming at 7pm with a semi-public installation of officers.  I urge all members, to join us, even if you haven’t been to lodge in a while, this is a great opportunity to reconnect with the brethren.  Also, with this being semi-public, please bring your friends and family along so they can see a small part of what we do. 
​
       Last month Franklin Lodge performed the Master Mason degree for our two candidates as well as for one from Daylight Lodge.  Congratulations to our newest Master Masons. They received the finest degree that I had ever seen, not just in our lodge, but in any lodge, and I am extremely proud to have been part of it.   It’s this type of quality degree work and candidate experience I have set as one of my goals for 2020, it is our responsibility to show and teach the newest members of the craft why Freemasonry is the greatest fraternity in the world, and that starts with those three distinct knocks.
 
I look forward to seeing everyone in lodge!
 
Fraternally,
Ralph Brunson P.M
Senior Warden
Franklin Lodge #20

  Greetings from the West!

             Franklin’s Masonic year just keeps rolling
along and were coming up to the final stretch of 2019.
What a better way to begin the close of the year by the
Raising of new Master Masons. Worshipful Brett and
his line of officers have been hard at work, so the
candidates receive a great degree. Please come out
and support our soon to be new Master Masons, they
are not just our candidates but they are the future of
Franklin and the Craft. A special thank you to W:. Ed
Lowe for stepping in to the role of Senior Deacon, not
just for the degree but for the remainder of the year as
Brother Corey Maclean has accepted a new job out of
the area and had to step out of line. To Brother Corey,
Congratulations and thank you for your service in the
Navy, and we wish you luck if the next chapter of your
life and hope to see you back in lodge soon.

            On Sunday, November 17 Franklin is going to
hosting a Special Ladies Brunch at Franklin Lodge. So
please join us as we treat our Special ladies with a
delicious meal prepared by the brethren of Franklin.
Brunch will be at 1pm and consist of a meal of
Roasted Pork Loin with Apple, Onion Sauce or Baked
stuffed Chicken with Wild Mushroom, Gravy, Mashed
Potatoes, Carrots with Fresh Dill Butter or a Vegetarian
option. Scrambled eggs, Mini Bagels with Cream
Cheese & Sliced, Salmon, Sausage Links. Please
RSVP with Worshipful Brett by Nov 10 at
brettwesterly@gmail.com or (401) 378-6474.
​
           Lastly, another reminder about the Southern
Districts Annual Winter Warmer. It will be held on
Saturday, February 1st, 2020 at the Downey Weaver
Post in Charlestown. Cocktail hour at 5pm, with dinner
at 6pm with raffles and auction to follow. Tickets can
be purchased through franklin20.org/store or via
contacting me directly at rbrunson23@icloud.com or
401-644-4525.
​
Fraternally,
Ralph Brunson P.M.
Senior Warden
Franklin Lodge #20

Greetings from the West!
 
            As we move into fall Franklin Lodge’s candidates have been passed to the degree of Fellow Craft with a special thank you to Worshipful Jim Halderman and the brethren of Hope Lodge.  W:. Jim and his lodge did an amazing job and the candidates were treated with the long form of the Fellow Craft degree, which really isn’t done as much in any lodge any more.   Congratulations to our candidates for taking their next step in Freemasonry.

          So here we are in October already, I’m always amazed on how quick the Masonic year seems to fly by. Even though I haven’t been as active this year as I hoped to be due to the birth of my son and conflict at work, I am still dedicated to Franklin and the Craft.  I have been busy planning for another year in the east for potential programs and more importantly degrees for incoming candidates.  Next year is going to be about the candidate experience.  As I have been thinking on how we as a Lodge can do more to keep our candidates and newly made brethren to keep coming to Lodge, one challenge has come up.  As of this writing Franklin is facing an issue with filling the roles for officers within the Lodge.  I believe each chair is crucial to the lodge and our candidates learning and growing experience in Freemasonry.  So, I am asking that any brother who wishes to help Franklin Lodge and the Craft grow, please reach out to me.  There are a couple key positions that Franklin needs to continue the growth of our candidates and our lodge.  My contact information will be listed below.

         Finally, as I have been planning 2020, I have also been planning the Southern Masonic District’s Annual Winter Warmer.  I have very pleased to announce that it will be help on Saturday February 1st, 2020 at the Downey Weaver Post in Charlestown.  Cocktail hour at 5pm, with dinner at 6pm with raffles and auction to follow.  Tickets can be purchased through franklin20.org/store or via contacting me directly.   For those planning on attending, if within the length of your cable tow, please bring a gift basket or item for the silent auction or raffle.
 
Fraternally,
Ralph Brunson P.M.
Senior Warden
Rbrunson23@icloud.com
401-644-4525

.

Brethren,

       Welcome back! As you hear in every September message, I hope that you enjoyed and/or had a very productive summer. Are you ready to get back into the swing of things? We have three EA’s that are looking forward to their FC degree, on to being Master Masons and then members of our lodge.

​         So Brothers, we have work to do. Speaking of being busy, it was great to hear from W. Brother Gregg Gingerich. He was installed as Worshipful Master of Barrington Lodge #522, Illinois back in July. Check out their website https://www.barringtonmasons.org. Great pictures! He stated that he did have to step down as 2nd NE District Education Officer so that he could focus on the business of the lodge. They are pretty busy. If anyone ever wants a place to stay while in the Chicago area, please reach out to him.
       
       W. Brother Ray Geer just completed his year as President of the National Camping Travelers Club! Wow did that go by quickly. Congratulations on a job well done! For those that didn’t know, W. Br. Ray was recently installed as AGL for Franklin Lodge. I guess now that the business running a National Masonic Camping club is behind him he can focus his attention elsewhere.

        And a job well done to W. Br. Brett Marggraff and Br. Bob Caron who manned the Franklin Lodge booth at Westerly's 350th anniversary celebration in Wilcox park. It was wonderful that we had representation for this occasion. RW Eric Grist stopped in for an assist. Thank you Brother! Hope Mitchell PM. and Arielle Poulin WM were also there to represent Deborah Chapter OES and Westerly Assembly IORG. It sounds like it was a good day indeed. And no, I don’t think that is what we are having for dinner. :-)

Daniel Rzewuski, PM
​Secretary