As part of the year-long Bicentennial celebration of East Aurora, New York, on March 1, 2019, a time capsule was assembled and sealed to be opened March 1, 2069 – 50 years from now. The Brothers of Blazing Star Lodge included the following letter and some other specifics for our Brothers 50 years from now. This year is our Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary of our current charter) and we are planning for a celebration on June 15 which is open to the public (Details are coming soon). When the time capsule is opened our Lodge will be celebrating 200 years of Freemasonry.
Brothers of Blazing Star Lodge #694 Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York.
Good afternoon Brothers,
Today is March 1, 2019, this year is the 200th anniversary of East Aurora, New York and this year also marks the 150th (sesquicentennial) Anniversary of Blazing Star Lodge #694. We are busy planning our 150th celebration scheduled for June 15, 2019. Bro. Wochensky already taking an active role by being the chairman of that committee. You should be planning your 200th by now too. My name is Todd M. Paterek I am 46 years old and if all goes well I am reading this to you in Lodge at 96 years old. I am currently filling some very big shoes as Chaplin as Bro. Janeczko recovers from some health issues. If I am not here, I already put down my heavy earthly working tools and joined our Brethren in that Celestial Lodge above. Hopefully one of my sons is reading this to you in my stead. Our Worshipful Master is Bro. Capron. W:. Capron is very passionate about Masonry and is working hard for our Lodge. He truly is an exceptional Mason and should be remembered. Bro. Rhodes is our Senior Warden, a man who has devoted his life to the betterment of everyone else’s life. Sitting in the Junior Warden chair this year (again) is W:. Andruczyk, a man who is helping the community, The Craft and this Lodge each day. Senior Deacon is Bro. Ginter. He is way too busy for his own good but continues to play an active role. Junior Deacon is Bro. Layman. He is a fine and honorable man who is growing in the Craft. Our Secretary is W:. Breth. He never stops and is probably still the Secretary or is the Secretary of the Celestial Lodge above. Our Treasurer is Bro. Thomason. He is our Knight Templar and wears the armor well. W:. Barber is currently the Marshal. He knows every line and every movement to every position and ritual, for everything there is in Freemasonry. We have Bro. Egressy sitting in the Senior Master of Ceremonies chair. He started Brothers of the Bread to help supply food pantries in the area. So far it has spread from just him to several Lodges helping from Niagara Falls to Syracuse and soon to be Statewide. W:.Markuse, DSA is a Trustee and heads up our Fellowcraft club. He is always organizing a delicious fundraising dinner. Bro. Evans, DSA is truly dedicated to this Lodge personally paying for and attending to many of the repairs in the Lodge. W:. Mann has finally taken a roll on the sidelines after MANY years of dedicated service. Bro. Snyder recently affiliated with Blazing Star and is a welcome addition especially with his ritual expertise. When W:. Breth was Master he started a quick history of the world for each year from our Chartered year of 1869. I will take the honor of doing the same for 2018-2019: Dues are $150 per year. The average cost of a home in NY is $382,000. The average cost of a new car is $34,000. The average cost for a dozen eggs is $2.96 and milk is ~$2.00 a gallon while gas is $2.48. The average salary is $44,564 and a haircut will cost $20. Donald Trump is the President of the US. I am using a Dell 5530 Precision Laptop with an i9 processor, 32GB or Ram, 2GB nVidia graphics card, and a 1TB solid state hard drive. This is the BEST laptop I could purchase at this time. You can get other desktops that have more graphical processing power but the i9 CPU is the best out right now. The iPhone XS and Samsung Galaxy S10 are the best mobile phones available. Currently, there are estimated to be about 1,035,000 Mason in the United States we hope that number grows and are working to attract new, worthy, and deserving men to join our Lodge. We currently have about 100 members with about 10-15 active members. This year we Raised two new Brothers (Bro. Wochensky and Bro. Neff) to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason and just this past Tuesday, Initiated Brother Cius in his Entered Apprentice Degree. We also have about eight men expressing some interest. I included a copy of our 2018-2019 Roster and By-laws, a letter from W:. Capron at the beginning of the 2018-2019 Masonic year. I also included a dues summons because I had it laying around, and a petition. We wish you well Brothers. It is our sincerest wish that the building is in good repair, updated a bit but still holding and practicing the time-honored traditions of Freemasonry. Always remember that you are Sublime – Of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe. Go inspire Brothers!
Entered Apprentice Degree for Bro. Cius – February 26, 2019Upper left: Present Day – Lower Left: 1930s – Left: Looking WestBlazing Star Lodge, East Aurora, New York 1907Blazing Star Lodge East Aurora, New York 1908
Robert Burns day is the day when Scottish, Masonic, and people everywhere celebrate the life, poems, and songs of the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns. In 1801 nine of Burns’ closest friends (most likely Masons) gathered to honor the fifth anniversary of his death. While it is not a Masonic tradition, just as Masonic traditions never change, Burns night is celebrated exactly the same way it was that first night. If you wish to celebrate you will need to follow this guide.
May the best you’ve ever seen Be the worst you’ll ever see; May a moose ne’er leave yer girnal Wi’ a teardrop in his e’e. May ye aye keep hale and hearty Till ye’re auld enough tae dee, May ye aye be just as happy As I wish ye aye tae be.
Our Brother was Initiated an Entered Apprentice on July 4, 1781 in St. David Tarbolton Lodge. Soon after his initiation Brother Burns passed to the degree of Fellowcraft and raised to the Degree of Master Mason on October 1, 1781. Further information can be found at http://www.robertburns.org.uk/freemason-robertburns.html.
Masonic Song Robert Burns - 1786 Tune: Shawn-boy," or "Over the water to Charlie.
Ye sons of old Killie, assembled by Willie, To follow the noble vocation; Your thrifty old mother has scarce such another To sit in that honoured station. I've little to say, but only to pray, As praying's the ton of your fashion; A prayer from thee Muse you well may excuse 'Tis seldom her favourite passion.
Ye powers who preside o'er the wind, and the tide, Who marked each element's border; Who formed this frame with beneficent aim, Whose sovereign statute is order:- Within this dear mansion, may wayward Contention Or withered Envy ne'er enter; May secrecy round be the mystical bound, And brotherly Love be the centre!
DOUGIE MacLEAN ~ Ae Fond Kiss ~ Robert Burns
Dougie MacLean is another great Scottish singer/musician. It is an obvious fit for him to sing one of Brother Burns’ songs.
Blazing Star Lodge #694 F&AM – Courtesy of Aurora Town Historian Photographer Unknown
Since 1869 our Brethren traveled through all kinds of weather to celebrate our Fraternity with time-honored traditions. We continue the tradition of traveling through any weather to gather together in unity still today. These lights shine brightly on our front doorway, as they have since 1907, lighting the way for our Brothers and welcoming new men of all backgrounds. The influence of Freemasonry in our lives helps us be better husbands and fathers, better businessmen, and better citizens. We always seek the Truth, delight in the company of our Brothers, and answer the call of those in need.
Are you interested in finding out more about Freemasonry? Please Knock on our door to learn more.
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