Greetings Warden’s and Brethren,
It was great finally getting back to actual in person meetings.   June’s meeting will include a dinner, which is now legal again.  And YES!!!, collation after the meeting to include some dessert items along with your choice of Beer, wine or after dinner spirits.  I will also bring a few cigars, to be enjoyed outside.
June will give us the opportunity to initiate 2 candidates to the degree of Entered Apprentice.  I am also talking with two other men who have told me they are interested in becoming Masons.  July and August we go to recess as normal, so I expect all Franklin Brethren, including myself, to be ready to do a Fellow Craft degree by October, with our EA’s being able to do EA proficiency in September.  Our District Deputy Grand Master, Right Worshipful Mazen Alsabe will be joining us for our June meeting.  I would like to do a “Casual” Dinner Table come fall.  Having it an “Open Table” so non-Masons, including our wives can come.  I’m thinking a Sunday brunch starting off with a raw bar and Champagne on the front porch followed by 4 courses served table-side then dessert and cordials back on the main level and front porch.  I will bring this up at June’s meeting.


Brett Marggraff
Master 
Franklin Lodge #20
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Greetings Warden’s and Brethren,
Hats, some people wear them often and others never seem to wear them.  Some only wear them occasionally, depending on their environment or the season. Some have a number of different ones that they wear depending on the occasion.  Most only wear one at a time and others seem to wear multiple ones all at once.  Here is an interesting story I recently heard.  A distinguished Quaker is said to have once kept his hat on in the presence of Charles II.  The king observed it, and took his own off.  “Friend Charles,” said the Quaker, “put thy hat on.”  The king replied, that it was usual for only one person to wear his hat in that room.


If you are wearing a hat, wear it well.  Take pride in your hat.  Some people will recognize you depending on the type of hat you are wearing.  That means that you may be representing whatever that hat signifies.  Choose your hats wisely.  Make sure that you are comfortable in the hat that you are wearing.  Sometimes a hat may be too big for you to wear.  Sometimes it may be too small and you should be looking elsewhere for a bigger hat.  Sometimes you just can’t seem to find the right hat for you to feel comfortable in.  It is important and no small thing to make sure that you have just the right hat on for just the right occasion and it fits properly.


Please join us for the our joint DDGM visitation to Franklin Lodge and our Grand Masters visitation to his Southern District.  Please note the time change.  We have a wonderful program planned and we all look forward to the fellowship of our Brothers.


Daniel Rzewuski
Secretary 
Franklin Lodge #20
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Greetings Warden’s and Brethren,
Well, I personally am getting pretty optimistic about the future.  Today 4/5/21 both Lady Elaine & I received our Covid vaccine.  I was able to go to Wood River in RI and was lucky to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, so in two weeks I’m immune, or so they say.  My darling wife had to go to the Westerly Senior Center where she could only get the Pfizer dose, so 4 more weeks till immunity kicks in for her.  But, definitely a very positive outcome.  I have gone over Grand Lodge protocol for voting and want to bring up some points at our next practice and meeting.  We do this ritual O.K, but we need to start doing it “Spot On” and that starts with me.  Only some detail work needs to be done by myself and 1 – 2 brethren, and nothing major, but will make it look sharp.  Aprils meeting will have more from Br. Juan Sepulveda regarding his last video we saw when we were in “Virtual” lodge.  I think these are great and want to include them in our teaching of new brethren.  Mays meeting I hope to have a presentation on sharks, done by a local who has a shark museum downtown.  I think this will be interesting, after all, I don’t think there is anyone who saw “JAWS” for the first time in a theatre and doesn’t think twice before going to the shore (Jersey term) and going into the water.  Personally, I only do “chlorine oceans”.  Hopefully we’ll have a meal in May.  Hope both you and family are doing well.


Brett Marggraff
Master 
Franklin Lodge #20
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Greetings Warden’s and Brethren,
First things first, our March meeting, Tuesday, March 9th, will be live at Franklin Lodge.  No meal, but meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.  Masks to be worn by all and 6’ spacing will be marked off for all.  Now, as I write this I have just returned from Charity Lodge’s first live meeting since the pandemic.  It was a very exciting and enjoyable meeting for a number of reasons.  As I entered their lodge room W.M. Christopher Tavares asks if he can speak to me for a second, sure I say.  He then asks if I could sit in the South.  Sure I reply, as any Mason would, to help another brother and lodge.  So I sit in the South and ritual goes fine.  Then a knock on the door, 2 visitors from Harmony Lodge enter, always very nice to see Brethren visiting other lodges.  The secretary starts his report then some loud knocks and “BAHM” the door blasts open and in comes, Brother Gary S. Kaufman, the Grand Master for the State of Rhode Island along with his escort, our District Deputy Grand Master for the Southern District MW Stephan Saraidarian.  Well, now things are a bit different, doing opening or closing is fine, no problem, but now…things have changed.  I have to tell you though, our Grand Master made for an extremely relaxed meeting.  Everyone had a lot of fun and WM Christopher handed the gavel over to our MWGM and he closed the meeting.  A “GREAT” night, and great to start for live meetings, and to see fellow Brethren again.  We will be starting ritual work in the next couple months and will go over in more detail at our March meeting, which will be live, so please try to attend.
Brett Marggraff
Master 
Franklin Lodge #20
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​Wardens and Brethren,
 
I hope all had a safe and happy Thanksgiving, and continue to be safe through the holiday season.
 
Since our last meeting, Grand Master has decided to close temples for the foreseeable future, a decision that must have been difficult, but necessary to make.  So this means until further notice, Franklin Lodge will be meeting virtually, which also could mean our annual communication may be done virtually as well. This also means Franklin will not be having its annual holiday party, which was one of my favorite events here at the Lodge. 
 
For December's meeting, this will be primarily a business meeting. To be honest, it's been tough to plan programs during this mostly virtual Masonic year. So, before I go any further, I want to thank all that stepped forward and spoke to Franklin Lodge, even in these times, we have some fantastic speakers and topics.  One of my goals was to have Masonic orientated programs, and for the most part they have been. This will be continuing this month, as W:. Dan Rzewuski stepped forward and offered to do a presentation on the Scottish Rite.
 
Happy Holidays,
Ralph Brunson
Master
Franklin Lodge #20

Wardens and Brethren,

          I hope this finds you and your family safe
and healthy. I apologize for the lateness of this
notice, but I was waiting for information as far as
how we will be proceeding. November’s meeting
was scheduled to be the Most Worshipful Grand
Master’s visitation to the Southern district. But due
to recent rising cases of Covid-19, our Grand
Master has closed the Temples after due
consideration of Governor Raimondo’s plea to the
State. A decision that I’m sure was not easy to
make.

          So where does this leave us for our meeting
for November? As of this writing, a decision has
not been made from Grand Lodge on the visitation.
If I were to guess, it would either be a virtual
visitation, or it will be postponed. So, at this time,
we are kind of in limbo until I hear from Grand
Lodge, which should be within the next few days,
and at that time, I’ll send out another
communication via email.

          If we do host the Grand Master, we have a
tremendous program put together by our own W:.
Joe Giancaspro, entitled “The Psychological
Significance of the Master Mason Degree” This
program and topic has already generated a lot of
buzz, and a virtual visitation will allow more
brethren to enjoy and participate in this topic.

          Again, please keep an eye out for an email
with how we will be proceeding, and I hope to see a
full lodge or computer screen in the future.

Stay safe, Stay healthy, and Stay on the Level
​
Ralph Brunson
Master
Franklin Lodge #20

Wardens and Brethren,
 
          It felt good to return to work in September and if feels better that we are going to be meeting in person again for October.  Since our last meeting Franklin has gained two new Master Masons, thanks to our Grand Master’s degree classes in September. I want to extend my congratulations to Brothers Zack Stanton and Zack Bowman. Brothers Bowman and Stanton went from Entered Apprentice to Master Mason in just a couple weeks. They still have work ahead of them, but as challenging as 2020 has been, its been amazing to see them continue their Masonic journey.

          This month Franklin will be having a program presented by its newest member, RW Mike Northup. It was just a few weeks ago RW Mike was voted for affiliation to Franklin Lodge and since then, he has not only agreed to present to us, he has not missed a rehearsal night with us, stepping in where needed, and offering his thoughts and opinions to his new lodge.  RW Mike’s program is entitled “The Ancient Masonic Bond: The Mentor, the Candidate, and the Catechism. A Plea for the Full Form Proficiency.”   This should be a great thought-provoking discussion, so please join us if within the length of your cable tow.
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          Finally, a few weeks ago I was informed that our Special Lady Nancy Penhallow is requesting a Masonic Service for her husband Bill.  Worshipful Brother Bill passed away earlier this year and she had asked for a Masonic service then, but due to covid 19, those plans were put on hold. I have had couple great conversations with Nancy over the last couple weeks. Nancy spoke highly of how much the craft has meant to him and the family and how much Bill would have wanted to have a Masonic Service. So, we will be holding a Masonic Service for our departed Brother this month, on Sunday October 25th at 1pm here at Franklin Lodge.  I hope to see the lodge full to support Nancy and the Penhallow family.
 
May the blessings of heaven rest upon us,
Ralph Brunson
Master
Franklin Lodge #20

Wardens and Brethren,

         I hope everyone has had a happy and safe summer.  Now that summer is winding down, it is time to return to labor. With that, I am extremely happy to say we will be having a physical meeting for September.  We will be ad hearing to social distancing guidelines, and we will have masks, for those who need one, as well as hand sanitizer on hand, as well as temperature checks when entering lodge.  In the event that the government or Grand Lodge make changes to gathering regulations, there will be a virtual meeting, in which all who have an email address on file with Franklin Lodge will receive the link and invite. So please reach out to Brother Secretary or myself if we don’t have your email.  Now I also understand that some brethren may not feel comfortable attending a physical lodge meeting at this time, and if that’s the case, I respect your decision to not attend, and you will be missed.

         September will be a business meeting.  Lodge will open for the transaction of such business that may regularly come before it, and such other business as brought before the Lodge.  As of this writing there are two main pieces of business. First is a vote of affiliation for RW Michael Northup and the second is a vote for re-admission of membership for Christopher Harrell.

         I truly look forward to meeting again. Its been nearly 6 months since Franklin Lodge last opened in due form and I honestly miss the fraternal bonds made with in our temple.
​
May the Blessings of Heaven rest upon us,

Ralph Brunson
Master
Franklin Lodge #20