CHICO-LELAND STANFORD Masonic LODGE № 111 BLOG
Lodge and Other Masonic News
2020 Hiram Award: Bro. Sid Crane
/
Bro. Sid Crane was honored with the Hiram Award on Oct. 12 by the Chico-Leland Stanford Masonic Lodge No. 111. The Hiram Award is presented to a Master Mason who has served the Lodge and the Masonic Fraternity with devotion over and above the ordinary. It is the highest honor (other than being Master of the Lodge) that can be bestowed on a member of a Masonic Lodge. Among Crane’s contributions to the lodge include his many years of being our secretary and getting the lodge through the Covid-19 shutdown by the California Grand Lodge. Bro. Crane kept the lodge going on his own for the benefit of the lodge members.
2021 Hiram Award: Bro. Fritz Zanker
/
Fritz Zanker of Chico (left) was honored with the Hiram Award on Sept. 14 by the Chico-Leland Stanford Masonic Lodge No. 111. The Hiram Award is presented to a Master Mason who has served the Lodge and the Masonic Fraternity with devotion over and above the ordinary. It is the highest honor (other than being Master of the Lodge) that can be bestowed on a member of a Masonic Lodge. Among Zanker's contributions to the lodge include his many years of cooking dinners for monthly stated meetings, serving as junior steward and chairing the scholarship committee. On right is John L. Barneson III, master of the Chico Lodge.
Fritz with lodge officers and family
Fritz with his family. Pictured from left are Fritz's stepson Brett Bond, Fritz, wife Laurel Zanker, sister-in-law Peggy Porter and brother-in-law John Porter.
1st Degree Ceremony: Tuesday, August 31st
/We will be welcoming to our lodge Mr. John Couchot, candidate for the First Degree in Masonry
When: Tuesday, August 31st
Time: 7:00pm
Do you remember your first degree?
Come support this new brother on his Masonic journey. Mr. Couchot is a lifelong DeMolay, so let’s be with him on this special evening.
Contact Bro. Sid Crane, Lodge secretary (893-3171 or 111secretary@sbcglobal.net) if you need assistance with transportation. Lodge officers and others can help get you to the degree and home again.
Light refreshment will be served after the degree ceremony.
Welcome to Bro. John Couchot!
3rd Degree Ceremony: Bro. Shane Swithenbank - Tuesday August 17th
/Brothers, please come join us in raising
Bro. Shane Swithenbank
to the sublime degree of Master Mason.
When: Tuesday, August 17th @ 7:00pm
Light snacks and desert afterwards.
Do you remember your 3rd degree?
Please make time to come out to support this young brother and help raise him to further light in Masonry.
Contact Bro. Sid Crane (530-893-3171 or 111secretary@sbcglobal.net) in the Lodge secretaries office if you need assistance with transportation.
Lodge officers and others can help get you to the degree and home again.
3rd Degree Ceremony: Bro. Jason Cipta - Monday August 9th
/Brothers, please come join us in raising
Bro. Jason Cipta
to the sublime degree of Master Mason.
When: Monday, August 9th @ 7:00pm
Light snacks and desert afterwards.
Do you remember your 3rd degree?
Please make time to come out to support this young brother and help raise him to further light in Masonry.
Contact Bro. Sid Crane (530-893-3171 or 111secretary@sbcglobal.net) in the Lodge secretaries office if you need assistance with transportation.
Lodge officers and others can help get you to the degree and home again.
Pictures from Bro. Larry Willis's 50th ceremony
/
Larry Willis of Chico was awarded a 50-year membership pin and certificate from the Chico-Leland Standford Masonic Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons No. 111 on July 12, 2021. Pictured with his children and fellow Masons from left are: Miles Mallette, Grand Lodge of California Inspector for Masonic District Nos. 216 and 226; Davy Willis, Larry Willis, Jon Willis, Nan Miner and John L. Barneson III, master of the Chico lodge.
Let's Go Bowling Brothers! And those Interested in Masonry!
/Chico-Leland Stanford Lodge #111
Proudly presents
Masonic Bowling Night @ Bowlero Chico
Brothers come on out for an evening of fun at the lanes! Our lodge is covering the costs (lanes and shoes) for 2 hours of bowling fun.
Any men interested in learning more about Freemasonry - If you ever thought of being one, then come ASK one!
Come to ask questions, bowl and have a good time. Bring a friend and discover Masonry! You’ll be glad you asked.
Thursday, July 22nd, 7-9:00pm
Bowlero Chico
2397 Esplanade
3rd Degree Ceremony: Bro. Travis Crane - July 6th
/
Brothers, please come join us in raising
Bro. Travis Crane
to the sublime degree of Master Mason.
When: Tuesday, July 6th @ 7:00pm
Light snacks and desert afterwards.
Do you remember your 3rd degree?
Please make time to come out to support this young brother and help raise him to further light in Masonry.
Contact Bro. Sid Crane (530-893-3171 or 111secretary@sbcglobal.net) in the Lodge secretaries office if you need assistance with transportation.
Lodge officers and others can help get you to the degree and home again.
Golden Veterans Award: Bro. Larry Willis, P.M.
/Come Celebrate 50 Years of Masonry
Come join with us in celebrating
Brother Frank (Larry) Larimer Willis, Jr.
Who has spent the last 50 years tirelessly working within the craft to better himself and spread the light
Tuesday, July 13th
Dinner 6:30pm
Public presentation at 7:30pm
Stated meeting to follow
Please RSVP for dinner with the lodge secretary, Bro. Sid Crane; 111secretary@sbcglobal.net or 530-893-3171
Midsummer & St. John's Tide: Meanings in Masonry
/Brothers, what is the secret power of Midsummer: Solstice & St. John’s Tide?
"The outer light will decrease: the inner light must increase"
Here in the Northern Hemisphere on Earth we have begun the summer season after having nearly 15 months of Covid-19 restrictions put upon us. Our lodge, like the sun coming back from a long winter’s sleep, is awake again and shining. All of us are here to bring the light of Freemasonry to our region through the delight of human contact—brotherly love.
June 21st is the date of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. In this season, one can envision a marriage of the Sun with the Earth creating the multi-colored world of nature. Seeds once buried in the depths of winter are born again as plants and flowers rising ever farther away from the Earth. Nothing is held back as plants and animals rejoice in this annual divine cosmic union. We too as Mason’s, can rejoice as we have reached the far end of one of our annual pendulum swings between the two St. John’s. At the summer solstice, we must open ourselves to the sources of life—open ourselves to the cosmos.
In the Masonic calendar the Festival of St. John (the Baptist) is celebrated in the Christian calendar 3 days after the midsummer festival on June 24th. St. John was known as the “last prophet,” the hermit in the desert, said to be a tremendous orator. Clothed in animal skins and eating only the food of the desert, he must have been a wild sight to behold. But rather than exalting his own personality, St. John made himself subservient to a higher calling. One way he has been described is through his gesture of self-sacrifice in the act of service. This is one way to perceive the gesture of the midsummer sun, as the outer light must now start to decrease as we prepare to move towards winter solstice and thus our inner light must increase. The midsummer sun, the outer light bringing with it the cosmic light and warmth must be internalized, so that humanity can shine from within. As Masons we understand the light shines from within and is to be shared through our actions and deeds.
As we pass through the heart of summer, one answer to the midsummer challenge can be: “My small all-too human ego, must decrease so that the greater cosmic GAOTU may live through me, aligning and guiding my personal journey and morality within the cosmos.”
So Mote it Be.
Passing of Bro. Darrel Deatherage,P.M.
/
In Memoriam
Brother Darrel Deatherage, P.M.
was called to the Celestial Lodge above on June 23, 2021.
He was a PM, Past Grand Marshal, District Inspector, and a degree coach for our lodge.
Call the Lodge Secretary for any information on pending services.
You may also call W.M. John Barneson (530-570-0080) for further information.
Support Butte Humane Society this Summer!
/Hello Brothers,
Lets help the animals at Butte Humane Society this Summer.
Please bring down to the Lodge Monday through Friday between 10-12 to the secretary’s office, or for Thursday coffee (7-9am), either a bag or cans of dog and/or cat food. We will be bringing this to the Butte Humane Society at the end of July along with other donations.
Let’s show our community our Masonic pride!
If you bring a bag (or set of cans) of dog or cat chow to the July 13 dinner you have covered your dinner cost!
Thank you,
Glenn Story
Senior Warden
Lodge BBQ - This Friday, June 11th
/
Do you feel like Rip Van Winkle for the last year and a quarter and ready to wakeup? Your lodge is back in action with activities. If you missed the lodge Tri-tip dinner on Tuesday this week (a la Chef Fritz) and a packed stated meeting here is your chance to come join your brothers, family members and guests for a BBQ on the lodges back patio.
Starts around 6pm
Food to be ready by 7pm. Hamburgers, Hotdogs, homemade ice cream…. YUM!
Bring your own lawn chair or you can sit out our picnic tables. Bring your own drink, no restrictions!
Please RSVP with Bro. Dan Heal (530-624-3937) so he can make sure we have plenty of food. Let Dan know if you want to bring a side dish to share.
In Memoriam: Bro. Myron Stephenson
/Brother Myron Stephenson
was called to the Celestial Lodge above on May 31, 2021.
He was a Golden 50th year awardee in 2014.
Call the Lodge for any information on pending services.
Lodge Dinner is BACK! :)
/Brothers, Families and Visitors we are back to having dinners before Lodge stated meeting!
To all of you that have expressed interest in joining Masonry you have another opportunity to come meet us and others like yourself that are interested in Masonry.
Please see the below announcement. If you let me know that you are attending, your dinner is on me and a guest if you would like to bring one.
Brethren:
We will be having our Stated Meeting dinner at the lodge on Tuesday June 8th at 6:30 PM. I will be grilling marinated tri-tip as our main course. YUM!
As this is our first dinner meeting back PLEASE RSVP to insure that we have enough to serve everyone.
Please let Chef Fritz know by Friday June 4th, either by phone or email, both are provided below.
Phone: (530) 894-5951
Email: teamfritz@yahoo.com
To insure a great meal for everyone let me know if you are going to be there.
Sincerely Yours,
Jr. Steward F.W. (Fritz) Zanker
