​Brethren:

Springtime is finally upon us! The renewal of nature is contagious. We have a very busy three months ahead. We have five new petitioners, with several candidates yet to receive either their Fellowcraft or Master Masons degrees. 

We will target the second meeting each month as a degree night for EA or FC, and will probably schedule specials to confer the Master Mason degree. It’s terrific to have so many new members heading our way... one was a direct result of our participation with Cancer Patient Services Chili Cook-Off in February. 

We will participate in the 2019 Backyard Mission Trip on Saturday, April 27. We will contact our most “senior” members and widows to create our work list for that day (and into the summer if we can’t finish on the 27th). This will be a meaningful opportunity for us to fulfill our Masonic obligation to “assist worthy distressed Master Masons, their widows and orphans”. Volunteers can sign up online at https://findlaybmt.com. Those who have work for us to do can also sign up online, or leave a message at the Complex at 419-422-5016 to receive a call from our team. 

Our Annual awards night will be Wednesday April 3 at 6:00pm. Dinner at 6:00 and awards at 6:45 for members who have reached membership milestones in Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council, and Commandery. 

Jim Buckingham is working on a Mud Hens Baseball game for June 21. We have 40 tickets reserved! Always a fun time! Anyone is welcome! 

We will host the Oran Goodman Scholarship and Widow’s Night on Wednesday May 15 with a dinner at 6:00pm. We will announce our Scholarship recipients that evening and will honor the widows of our Brothers who are no longer with us. 

We will host the Annual Memorial Service at 3:00pm Sunday May 19 as we remember our Sisters and Brothers who have gone to their heavenly home during the past twelve months. 

If you haven‘t subscribed to the electronic message system (either mails or text message) you can do so at www.findlaymason.org. You will find this system to be a handy way to receive reminders and timely updates when events are added or deleted to our calendar. 

Fraternally, 
Rick Eakin 
Worshipful Master

​My Brothers:

Happy New Year!  I trust you enjoyed a meaningful Christmas holiday and that 2019 started well!  It will be a very busy year for the Lodge!  We have several new brothers moving through the degrees-a few special meetings will be needed for the Fellowcraft and Master Mason degrees for them.  It is exciting to have so many candidates who are eager to join us.

Congratulations to Worshipful Brother Eric Wilkins who was installed  District Education Officer at our Dec. 5 meeting by RWB Keith Manbeck, District Advisor.  DDGM Kevin Ridgeway, PDDGM Robert Newell, and DEO John McEntee were also in attendance.

Also on Dec. 5, I had the honor of being present as Richard P. Barchent Jr. (33rd) was presented his 50-year pin and certificate from DDGM Kevin Ridgeway.  Also attending was Worshipful Brother Jim J. Buckingham (33rd, PIGM Grand Council Royal and Select Masons of Ohio).  Thank you, Richard, for your years of devoted service to Boy Scouts of America and Masonry.

January meetings will be on the 2nd and 17th.  You will notice a “take away” at the sign-in book, and a supply of Blue Lodge Petitions.  Please take a petition and bring it back filled out for a new candidate!

Our Annual inspection will be the Entered Apprentice degree on Monday, January 21 at 7:00pm.  We expect to have a “live” candidate and would appreciate every Brother to attend.

Many of you will be asked to serve on one of a variety of committees this year.  The committees will have a specific item to study and provide recommendations to the Lodge.  Most committees will only meet three times!  The recommendations of these committees will be vital in charting our course forward.

Upcoming events within the 10th Masonic District are:
Jan. 3 Inspection Dunkirk @ Dunkirk EA 7pm
Jan. 14 10th District Meeting @ Hamer (Wapakoneta) 7pm
Jan. 17th Inspection Sager @ Harrod EA 7pm
Jan. 21 Inspection Findlay @ Findlay EA 7pm
Feb. 9 Inspection Senate @ Kenton MM 11am
Feb. 9 Inspection Wayne @ Wapakoneta MM 4pm
Feb. 20 Inspection Mercer @ St. Marys MM 7pm
Feb. 21 Inspection Mt. Cory @ Mt. Cory FC 7:30pm
Feb. 23 Reconsecration @ Mercer @ St. Marys
Feb. 23 GRAND MASTER RECEPTION @ Celina Eagles Club 6pm $25.00
Mar. 4 Findlay Temple Association Annual Meeting @ Findlay
Mar. 11 10th District Meeting Lima @ Lima 7pm
Mar. 18 Inspection Lima @ Lima  7pm
Mar. 20 Inspection Hope @ Delphos FC 7pm
March 26 Inspection Hamer @ Wapakoneta FC 7:30pm
Mar. 27 Latham @ Kenton MM 7pm
Apr. 3 Annual Awards Night for all Findlay Masonic Bodies

The Grand Master’s Reception on Feb. 23 is at Celina Eagles Club.  This reception is jointly hosted by the 4th and 10th Districts.  Please attend for a night of great food and better fellowship!  Several awards and scholarships will be presented as well.  See Senior Warden Casey Zechman for tickets.

Everyone should attend the Annual Temple Association Meeting March 4, and the Annual Awards Ceremony April 3.

In closing, I am honored to serve as Worshipful Master this year.  I am surrounded by terrific officers and past masters who provide good counsel.  Together with you, Brethren, we will continue our legacy of exemplary degree work; fraternal charity and care of our Brother Masons, their widows and children; and devoted practice of our Masonic principles every day.

If you haven’t been to Lodge for a while, please come! You will receive a warm welcome.

Fraternally,
Rick Eakin

The Annual meeting for Findlay Lodge 227 will be at 7:30pm on Wednesday, November 7th with Worshipful Master William Wenner presiding.  End-of-year reports and election of officers will be the highlight of the meeting.

Installation of Officers will be the following Saturday, November 10th at 10:30am with a luncheon following.  Please join us to thank WM  Wenner for his year of service as Master and to greet and welcome the incoming officers for the ensuing year.  The Installation is open.

The annual children’s Christmas Party will be Saturday, December 22 from 2-5pm in the dining room.  Children of all ages are welcome, and we will enjoy cookie decorating, ornament making, games, songs and a visit from Mr. and Mr. Claus.  This party is open to all!

An Adult Christmas Gathering for all Masonic members will be held at 6:30-8:00pm on December 22nd featuring hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages.  RSVPs will be needed by December 19th.

The Annual Inspection of Findlay Lodge will be in the Entered Apprentice degree on Monday, January 21, 2019 at 7:00pm

A full schedule of Inspections in the 10th District will be available after the Annual Communication in October.

Rick Eakin  S.W.

​WOW! Fantastic things have been happening at the Lodge these past few weeks and summer will not be the lazy days that we have had in the past. We have had ballgames, blood drive, table lodges, picnics and now eight candidates. 

We had no petitions the first seven months of this Masonic year, but then, seemingly all at once, we have eight candidates! The lodge will be very busy these next four months getting these candidates started on their Masonic 
journey and bringing them into the lodge as Brothers. We have already had one special meeting where the Past Masters put on the Entered Apprentice degree and initiated three of our candidates. But the craft has more work ahead. 

Looking back a little, we had a great time at the Mud Hens game where thirty of us piled into two limos and rode up to Toledo for a great Friday night game. Too bad they lost, but we all had fun. The comments I heard were 
positive and most said they would like to do more of these outings. Thank you, WB Buckingham, for putting this together. 

By the time you receive this newsletter, we will have had our table lodge, with a great meal prepared by our Stewards, Brothers Malhoit and Walters and overseen by our Warden, Brother Zechman. The lodge hosted its Red Cross Blood 
drive in as many years and it is hoped that it becomes a tradition. We also had our Fourth (third) of July picnic and watched the fireworks being shot off at the Fairgrounds. Another activity that has become a tradition. 

By this time also, I will be living in Kechi, KS. This, too, happened quite quickly and not exactly the way Beth and I had planned it. I am grateful to all the Brothers who have supported us in this move, and it is certainly with 
mixed emotions that we left Findlay and this lodge. As most of you know, we will be living fifteen minutes from our son, John, and two days closer to our grandchildren. We hope that with our move we are able to fill our lives 
with the joy of family. I have promised that I would be in lodge for election and installation in November, so I will be able to see many of you then. 

Our Senior Warden will be taking my place in the East, as provided for in the Grand Code and will be setting the craft labor getting our candidates and new Brothers started on their Masonic path. Don’t forget, we still have our 
Family Corn Roast coming up, so keep your “ears” open for more details. 

Have a great summer and I will see you in the Fall. 

Fraternally, 
Bill Wenner 
Worshipful Master