Be present and part of history

The Wisdom of Winter

(Updated December 23, 2023)

The winter season is often associated with darkness and cold, but for Freemasons, it can also be a time of great personal growth, maturity, and wisdom.  Just as the winter solstice marks the longest night of the year, it also marks the start of a new cycle of growth and renewal.

In many traditions, winter is a time of introspection and contemplation, a chance to look within oneself and reflect on one’s own personal growth. For Masons, this can be a particularly important time to take stock of one’s progress on the path to self-improvement and enlightenment.

The winter season also provides an opportunity to strengthen one’s connections to others in the Fraternity. With the colder weather, Masons may have more time to attend meetings and participate in group activities, strengthening the bonds of Brotherhood.


Our main charitable outreach, Brothers Of The Bread, continues to grow and provide thousands of loaves of bread, jelly, treats, and green beans to food pantries across New York State and now into Pennsylvania. We are welcoming another Lodge near the Buffalo City limits to assist with at least three new food pantries. We also welcomed a Lodge in Cattaraugus County to help supply our Southertier pantries.

If you are interested in Freemasonry in East Aurora, NY, and want to help those in need, contribute to the community, and become part of a worldwide fraternity, please feel free to contact us for an in-person or Zoom meeting to learn more.


Blazing Star Lodge #694 F&AM – East Aurora

Blazing Star Lodge #694 F&AM
Blazing Star Lodge – East Aurora, NY

Proud yet unassuming and slightly hidden behind some old-growth trees, the Blazing Star Masonic Lodge stands as a permanent fixture in East Aurora, New York.  It overlooks the town with a protective eye ensuring all who pass are good and upright citizens.  We like to think that the presence of the Lodge in our town sets a stage of history, pride, and Brotherly love among the members of the Lodge and the citizens of the town.

As part of the East Aurora, New York community since 1818, the Blazing Star Masonic Lodge actively seeks ways to contribute to the success of our neighbors.  We do this by supporting little league baseball, FISH of East Aurora, The Rural Outreach Center, and Scholarships to graduating seniors at Iroquois High School and East Aurora High School.  Most recently the formation of Brother Of The Bread, led by Brother Andrew Egressy.  We are interested in our community and the people who call East Aurora and surrounding areas, home.  

Our members meet in the Lodge every second and fourth Tuesday of each month September through June.  Dinners begin at 6:30 pm with communications starting promptly at 7:30 pm.  If you are a good and upstanding man, interested in improving your life and the life of everyone around you, please do not hesitate to knock on our door, virtually or literally, before 7:30 pm, and join us for dinner.  We encourage social discussions before and after official communications are complete.

Blazing Star Lodge East Aurora, NY
Blazing Star Lodge – East Aurora, NY
Blazing Star Lodge – East Aurora, NY 1920s

Since 1906 our Lodge stands as a building of humble men striving to better themselves and in turn make the world a better place.  This is what we do.  We would love to talk to you more about Freemasonry please contact us anytime.


We are not affiliated with any of these Podcasts but they are so informative we wanted to provide a way for our visitors to learn from their content.

Craftsmen Online Anniversary Special – RW Steven Adam Rubin, DGM Craftsmen Online Podcast

Craftsmen Online was established to serve as a source of additional Light in Freemasonry for Brothers around the world. Co-founded by RW Steven Adam Rubin and WB Michael Arce during the early days of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, our goal is to produce Masonic content that focus on Education, History, Leadership, and the Membership Experience. In this episode, we celebrate the 4th anniversary of Craftsmen Online with a look back on the early days and forward into many years to come!Show Notes:Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts Visit Craftsmen Online's website to learn more about our Reading Room, New York Masonic History section, and submit your Blog articleEmail the host, WB Michael Arce! Yes, we will read your email and may even reach out to be a guest on a future episode.Support the Craftsmen Online Podcast. Whether it's a one time donation or you become a Patreon Subscriber, we appreciate your support!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/craftsmen-online-podcast–4822031/support.
  1. Craftsmen Online Anniversary Special – RW Steven Adam Rubin, DGM
  2. Mackey's Symbolism Of Freemasonry – Craftsmen Online Reading Room
  3. The Templars and Freemasonry – RW Kurt Morauer Sr
  4. Daily Progress – 5 Masonic Lessons to Make 2024 a Success
  5. The Daily Masonic Progress Podcast – RW Darren Allatt
This week, we’re diving into the story of a Friend to a Friend monument. What can we know from the facts? WB Dey cracks the case open using MW Bro. Halleran’s text as a guide on this path. We’ve also got exclusive information on some great events as well as some awesome science news! Join us as we dig into some contemporary astronomy! Thanks for listening and have an amazing week! Links Illinois Lodge of Research http://www.illinoislodgeofresearch.org Illinois Lodge of Research Facebook About Event https://www.facebook.com/events/933350724677069?ref=newsfeed The Better Angels of Our Nature: Freemasonry in the Civil War https://amzn.to/3VnfRvS Europa Mission https://europa.nasa.gov/spacecraft/vault-plate The Retreat https://www.spesnovum.com/retreat The Eclipse https://www.sciencenews.org/article/total-solar-eclipse-sun-science-viewing-2024 Skull and Crown Ltd. www.skullandcrownltd.com Craftsman+ FB Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/craftsmanplus/ WCY Podcast YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/WhenceCameYou Ancient Modern Initiation: Special Edition http://www.wcypodcast.com/the-Shop The Master's Word- A Short Treatise on the Word, the Light, and the Self – Autographed https://wcypodcast.com/the-shop Get the new book! How to Charter a Lodge https://wcypodcast.com/the-shop Truth Quantum https://truthquantum.com Our Patreon www.patreon.com/wcypodcast Support the show on Paypal https://wcypodcast.com/support-the-show Get some swag! https://wcypodcast.com/the-shop Get the book! http://a.co/5rtYr2r
  1. Whence Came You? – 0630 – Gettysburg
  2. Whence Came You? – 0629 – What is Theurgy Pt.2
  3. Whence Came You? – 0628 – What is Theurgy Pt 1
  4. Whence Came You? – 0627 – An Eavesdropper in the Library?
  5. Whence Came You? – 0626 – The Truth About the Orders in Architecture