New Years Eve fireworks.

The Dinning Room of the Lodge is a great place to watch the fireworks.  Out front is a bus pick up location to all other events and many are within walking distance.  There may even be a little hot chocolate.  Fireworks is to begin at 7 PM.  I'll be there at 6:30.  Weather you are going to attend First Night or not, bring the family for the fireworks, in where it is warm, and the booms aren't a loud. 

There is no act in the Lodge this year.  Only a few lights will be on.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Tomorrow night is Family Night at Lodge.  There will be a large tray of scalloped potatoes and ham.  See you there.

Today is officially, my last day as Worshipful Master (St. Johns’ Day next or December 27^th).  What an experience!  The primary job of the Master of an operative masons’ lodge was to teach and motivate.  While I did my share of teaching, I have learned so much more from you.  Of the 38 new Brothers who have joined us this year, each one has taught me something new.  Soon I will no longer be Master of the Lodge, I hope that we will continue to teach each other in the years to come.

 In my profession, I thought I was at least somewhat up on social media and many other forms of communication.  Was I wrong!  In the last two years, I and many others, have managed to drag a very old and prestigious fraternity close to the Twenty-First Century, at least in Oil City.  Now, will you help pull it the rest of the way?   We must preserve our ritual and ancient ways, but out side of the lodge room, we MUST CHANGE.

Thank all of you for making this one of my greatest memories.  I expect you to continue on and make this the greatest fraternity ever, by continuing to learn and make yourselves better.  By perfecting the ritual and memorizing great volumes, as our ancient Bothers did.  Lead by the Grand Architect of the Universe, you will improve your skills in all areas of life.  You will learn leadership skills. You will begin to understand the great truths found in the Degrees.  As you listen to and learn the Charges, they will provide a guide and a light unto your path through life.  You will make friends like you have never made before.  Know that I am here to help you. 

Continue to support Brother James Monson in his ninth year as Master.  He and Brother Dennis Butler were behind many of the innovative changes this past year.  Jim has more great plans for the coming year.  He cannot be successful alone, we all need to help, by simply attending and getting involved.  Let us show the world what a real family is.  Again, thank you all.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!

Isn’t it great to be in a fraternity that actually suggests you to say Merry Christmas?  Also, wishing you a happy Hanukah and a Joyous Kwanzaa, or whatever greeting meets the needs of your religion.  We have different beliefs, but we are all still brothers and sisters.  All came from Adam and Eve.  We are all God’s children, regardless what you call Him. 

OK, now that the sermon is out of the way, Pam and I offer you our deepest and most sincere wish that this wonderful season draws your family closer together.  May that bond be ever strengthened and never be broken.  Our hope is that your new year be truly blessed!

Ok brothers, first mistake I made this year. (Other than taking Worshipful Master for a second year, and breathing).  There is no school of instruction tonight.  Enjoy your family.  See you next week at Family Night.

Tonight is District 53 School of Instruction at Lake Lodge in Sandy Lake at 7 PM.

The year end activities for Mason's has consumed my time for the last two weeks.  Even more for Secretary Denny Butler.  My goal is to get the rest of this internet service going the way it should be.  I have the ideas but I need Brother Steve Luxbaucher to help me.  He is tied up for a while with all the concerts he is in charge of.  We will be at his mercy to get this done right.

The District 53 re-organizational meeting was this morning.  The list of official visits will be on the calendar of the new web site when we get it up and running.  Petrolia's will be February 7th and Myrtle's will be April 3rd.  The Leadership Seminar will be February 18th in Meadville.  Anyone interested in becoming an elected officer in 2018, must attend this course.  Much more info will be coming in the next week or so.

Brother Gary Rhoads will be installed Worshipful Master in Titusville Lodge Tuesday evening at 7:30 PM.  If anyone would like to attend, I will be leaving our Lodge at 6:45 PM.

In my previous post, I left out one person who I have great respect for and who has been a real mentor to me as Worshipful Master this past two years.  His guidance when thing were not going as planned, his encouragement when I was worried, have been priceless.  Brother Richard McCleary, District Deputy Grand Master.  Thank you for your support through this troubling time.

The last two years have been a whirl wind of activity.  The sesquicentennial of Petrolia Lodge has been a success far beyond any of our imaginations.  We never dreamed it possible to have a 20% increase in membership.  38 new Masons and 2 duel memberships.  In addition, last night we read 5 more new petitions that will count for 2017 rolls.  More importantly, several of our new Brothers have show a serious interest in the true meaning of Free Masonry.  Brother Berry Myers is the only appointed officer who has served in our lodge before.  All others serving in 2017 have never served as an officer in our lodge before.  Several have already shown interest in advancing through the elected chairs in the future. Most important - we have 38 new Brothers - friends. 

We are still in the process of creating several web pages to include all Masonic Bodies in and around the Venango County area.  It will be named "Masonic Families of Allegheny Valley."  I hope to have it changed over to that name by the beginning of the year.  There will be a calendar that will promote all Masonic Body events in the area.

We have started a "Family Night" currently held on the 4th Wednesday evening of the month.  All Master Masons, (regardless of which lodge you are a member of) their families, neighbors, friends, relatives, and children are invited.  Bring some food and at 6 PM we will sit down and have supper together.  After supper, there are two pool tables, game room for table games, TV room with several movies available.  Ritule work if you are interest, in the lodge room.  Or just enjoy each others company.  In addition, several field trips are being planned.  We will add any wholesome events the group would like to consider.

And more to come.  This is not the work of one person.  While all these events took place on my watch, it was an effort of many.  Brother James Monson, PM takes a lot of the credit for the creative ideas.  Dennis Butler, PM, many details for those ideas and a lot of creative ways to implement them.  Larry Shaffer, Jr. and James Monson, and Dennis Butler where first line signers on at least 20 petitions.  Neighboring Lodges supplied officers in the degree teams so our members could be mentors to the new candidates in two One Day Class's.  The ladies of Eastern Star who co-ordinated and served food, and many others who helped in the various events of the year.  Thank you all for making this a success.  Now our work really begins.  Showing our new brothers what Free Masonry really is.

Our ritual is very old and historic and must be preserved.  Out side of the lodge room, WE MUST CHANGE.  All seasoned Master Masons are needed to help with both.  Family Night is a good place to bring your ideas and begin this process.

Last, thank you all for making this some of the most memorable years of my life.

Richard Palm, Worshipful Master, 2015, 2016.

Tomorrow evening, Tuesday, is our last official meeting of 2016.  Dinner will start at 6:15, Oil City High School Choir will be singing in the Lodge room from 7 to 7:25.  Meeting starts at 7:30.

We will be voting on a new petition then Election of officers for 2017.  See you there.