Degree Work in St. Joseph

St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 will have degree work next week:

Tuesday July 28 - 3rd Degree. Food at 6:30pm and Degree at 7pm.

Thursday July 30 - 2nd Degree. Food at 6:30 pm and Degree at 7pm.

All support is very much appreciated.

Glenn Frazier - Urbana Lodge

Glenn Frazier

REDINGTON SHORES, Fla. – Glenn G.Frazier, 83, of Redington Shores, Florida, passed away Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Largo Medical Center in Largo, Fla.

Born on Oct. 23, 1925, in Centralia, he graduated from University of Illinois school of Architecture 1948. He owned and operated Glen G. Frazier and Associates with offices in Urbana and Miami, Fla. until 1988.

He was a construction specifications specialist in Washington, D.C., until relocating to Florida in 1994.

He was a member of Oakhurst United Methodist Church in Seminole, Fla.

Glenn was an Eagle Scout, a private pilot, a life member AF & AM 157 in Urbana, and a life member of the Ansar Shrine, Springfield.

Survivors include a sister, Elda Henley of Pontiac, Mich; sister-in-law, Lucy Frazier (Roy), Springfield; nephew, Bruce Henley of Granbury, Texas; niece, Rebecca (Henley) Cox of Orchard Lake, Mich.; nephew, Anton "Tony" Frazier of New Berlin; niece, LeAnn (Frazier) Boehne of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and 14 great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Mildred Frazier; brother, Roy Frazier Jr.; nephew Roy Frazier III.

A memorial and graveside service will be held Saturday, July 25, at 1 p.m. at Hillcrest Memorial Park, Old Rt. 51, Centralia. Hillcrest Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made in Glenn's name to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Workers Club in Ogden

Brethren,

This is just a last minute reminder that the 12th E. worker's club will meet on Tuesday.21 July in Ogden at 7:00 pm. I just received word this evening that Bill 'Doc' Alwerdt is planning to be there to instruct us so please make all efforts to attend and to bring in some of our younger brethren to learn from one of the best. I pray we have a good attendance to show support for his dedication to the craft. I believe we are scheduled to work on opening 1 - 2 - 3 and closing.

Fraternally, Steve HooperSecretary, 12th E. Workers Club

Royal Arch Degrees in Champaign on Wednesday

Champaign-Urbana York Rite Bodies

Champaign Chapter No. 50, RAM

Special Meeting

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

7:00 PM

Fourth & Fifth Degrees

David Simon-Toledo, HP

James Knott - Cisne Lodge

James Knott

MASCOUTAH – James B. Knott, 67, of Mascoutah, formerly of St. Joseph, born April 30, 1942, in Urbana, died Wednesday, July 15, 2009, in Cook, Minn.

Jim was a retired teacher and athletic director from Mascoutah Community High School, and was the PGA golf professional at Far Oaks Golf Club in Fairview Heights. He attended Bethel United Methodist Church in Mascoutah; member of the Anthony Doherty Masonic Lodge 1111 in Cisne; and a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hiram and Marian, nee Wood, Knott.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia M., nee Wickham, Knott whom he married in Enterprise on July 10, 1966; a daughter, Jodi Knott-Zilafro and husband, Eric of Houston, Texas; three grandchildren, Allison, Alex and Luke Zilafro; a brother, Jack (Barbara) Knott of St. Joseph; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tom and Linda Wickham of Cisne; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Jim Knott Grandchildren Education Fund, c/o Regions Bank, 121 E. Main St., Mascoutah, IL 62258. Condolences can be made to the family by visiting mollfuneralhome.com.

Visitation from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2009, at the Mascoutah Middle School Gymnasium, 846 N. Sixth St., Mascoutah.

A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2009, at the Mascoutah Middle School Gymnasium with Rev. Ralph Blevins officiating. A graveside service with military rites will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, July 26, 2009, in Cisne Cemetery, Cisne.

Moll Funeral Home, Mascoutah, handling arrangements.

Urbana/Tolono Joint Meeting

Urbana and Tolono Lodges will be having a joint outdoor meeting on Tuesday July 21. The location is directly East of Thomasboro, across I-57. To get there turn west at Curb Magic, North of Thomasboro. The location is on the south side of the road, immediately over I-57. The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. Fellowship and fishing afterwards. If you intend to go fishing, minnows are not allowed.

If you have questions, contact Brad Cronk (217) 621-2514.

Allan Coffey - Rantoul Lodge

Allen Coffey
RANTOUL – Allen Goodman Coffey, 79, of Rantoul went to meet his Lord on Monday, July 13, 2009, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, surrounded by loving family members.
He was born May 27, 1930, in Esto, Ky., a son of Welby G. and Elva (Aaron) Coffey. He married Yvonne Crain, she survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Debra Ann Stumpf of Champaign, Angela (Patrick) Krickovich of Rantoul; a son, David (Leana) Coffey of Rantoul; a brother, Larry Coffey of Champaign; two sisters, Mildred (James) Pasley of Mahomet, Marlene (Richard) Schaede of Marion; 10 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren, all of whom he loved dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Allen graduated from RTHS in 1948. He owned and operated his own filling station in Thomasboro, and then became the service manager at Rogers Chevrolet in Rantoul. He remained at Rogers for 17 years as a salesman, ending his career as general sales manager. In 1976, Allen bought a Ford, Lincoln, Mercury dealership in Paris, Ill. He finished his career at Rantoul Motors/Manley Ford after being in the industry for 40 years.

He taught Sunday School at First United Methodist Church, Rantoul, served on the Rantoul City school board. He served as a Rantoul firefighter for 16 years, was a member of American Lutheran Church and served as a church elder. He was also president of the board of Rantoul First Bank for several years.

He was a member of the Blue Lodge, a member of the Rantoul Mason Lodge 470 AF&AM, a member of the Danville Consistory, Ansar Shrine Club, Springfield, and involved in the Illini Shrine Club where he served as past president.

Al enjoyed his family, many friends, gardening, and the Chicago Cubs. "Big Al" as he was known to his friends, never knew a stranger and was loved and will be missed by everyone.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday at American Lutheran Church, 500 Church Drive, Rantoul. Rev. Jeffray Greene will officiate. Burial will follow in Grandview Memorial Gardens.

A visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Lux Memorial Chapel, 1551 East Grove, Rantoul. Masonic Rites will be at 7:45 p.m. on the night of the visitation.
Memorials may be made to the American Lutheran Church.

Blood Drive at Ogden Lodge this Saturday

What: 12th Eastern District Blood Drive

Where: Ogden Lodge #754

When: Saturday July 11th

What Time 0900 - 1300

Please come and bring a friend. Carl W is going
To try and keep us scheduled every 2 ta 3 months
“ … But the greatest of these is Charity; …”

Upcoming C-U York Rite Events

Champaign-Urbana York Rite Bodies

Champaign Chapter No. 50, RAM

Urbana Council No. 19, CM

Urbana Commandery No. 16, KT

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Installation of Officers 6:30 PMFollowed by Refreshments

◊Stated Meeting7:30 PM

◊

Wednesday July 22, 2009

4th & 5th Degrees

Champaign Masonic Temple

14 Bel-Air CourtChampaign

David F. Simon-Toledo, HP Robert D. Brooks, Jr., TIM Sean P. McBride, EC

Rocky Knight - Ogden Lodge

J.A. Knight

HOMER – J.A. "Rocky" Knight, age 77, of Homer passed away at 8:33 a.m. Sunday, July 5, 2009, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at Freese Funeral Home, 202 W. Main, Sidney, with the Rev. Mike Mack officiating. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Catlin.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home, with a 7 p.m. Masonic service.

Mr. Knight was born Aug. 28, 1931, at Sidell, the son of James Alfred and Arlene Dillon Knight. He married Bonnie Lawhead on Sept. 4, 1949, at Catlin. She survives.

Also surviving are two sons, James Arlin (Rea) Knight Jr. of St. Joseph and Richard Lee (Connie) Knight of Sidney; six grandchildren, Christina Moore, Tonia (Alan) Siuts, James A. Knight III, Brian (Erin) Knight, Hillary (Jeff) Gayler and William Tyler Knight; nine great-grandchildren, four step-great-grandchildren and two step-great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Jerry Lee Knight; one sister, Velma Ellen Melton; and stepmother, Josephine Knight.

Mr. Knight farmed his entire life in the Homer, Fithian and Metcalf area.

He was a lifetime member of the Ogden Masonic Lodge 754 and a lifetime member of Elks Club, Lakeland, Fla.

He was also a Shriner, and a University of Illinois sports fan.

Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 or Homer Fire Department.

Catlin Schools Superintendent - Also St. Joseph Lodge Member

Gary Lewis is a member of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 and is also the new Superintendent at Catlin, Illinois school district. This article was in the July 6, 2009 News-Gazette:

New Catlin superintendent no stranger to area schools
By Douglas Toole
Monday July 6, 2009
Superintendent makes move from Westville schools
CATLIN – Superintendent Gary K. Lewis may be new to Catlin, but he is familiar with southern Vermilion County.
Lewis, whose three-year contract with the Catlin School District began Wednesday, spent five years as a school administrator in nearby Westville.
"I know some of the superintendents in the nearby districts," Lewis said. "And I know that the Catlin schools have a good reputation in the area."
Lewis grew up in St. Joseph, and said he was strongly influenced by an aunt who taught business at a high school and by Mike McKenzie, his high school history teacher.
"I was already interested in history," Lewis said. "But Mr. McKenzie made the subject exciting. He went beyond just having us memorize important dates. He emphasized learning from the past."
Lewis attended school at MacMurray College in Jacksonville and received his teaching certificate from Rockford College in Rockford. He received a master's degree from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
His first teaching job was as a high school history teacher at Sheldon High School near Watseka. In his fourth year at the school, he became the assistant principal.
He said he pursued administration because he wanted to learn more about the school system and to have more of an impact outside of his classroom. His wife, Amy, encouraged the change.
"At the time, I was coaching junior high and high school baseball and junior high basketball in the district, and serving as assistant high school football coach," Lewis said. "She thought I would be home more if I was just an administrator."
After spending half a year as an assistant principal, he took a job as the principal of Tri-Point Junior High School in Piper City.
Two years later, he came to Westville as the principal of Westville Junior High School. Two years after that, he was named the Westville district's director of operations, learning from and assisting Superintendent Jim Owens.
"I learned a lot in that role," Lewis said.
Three years later, he accepted a job as superintendent of the Shiloh Community Unit District in Hume.
Now, two years later, Lewis is in Catlin, filling the superintendent position left vacant when Guy Banicki announced his retirement.
Catlin School Board President Jeff Fauver said 19 candidates applied for the position, but that the board members and the teachers unanimously decided that Lewis was the best.
"I look forward to working with Mr. Lewis," Fauver said.
Lewis said he plans to spend his first year in Catlin getting to know the teachers, students and parents.
"The Catlin schools and students already have a good reputation," Lewis said. "I am not a fan of making changes just for the sake of change."
The age and condition of Catlin High School is a concern, he said, but he is aware that school officials have been exploring the possibility of building a new, centrally located cooperative high school for the Catlin, Jamaica and Oakwood districts, which have about 700 students enrolled in them.
Lewis said he is pleased with the path his career has followed.
He enjoys living in smaller towns, and said they are also a good for his wife, Amy, and their two sons, Brady, 8, and Quinn, 2.
"I went to small schools when I was growing up, and I have worked in small schools," Lewis said. "I have no frame of reference for large school districts."
Three things about Gary K. Lewis
— He was a pitching coach at Rockford College for two years. "I pitched and played first base at MacMurray College until I hurt my elbow," Lewis said. Coaching pitching allowed him to combine teaching with his love of baseball. He said he still sometimes wanders around team practices after school.
— His favorite movie is "Heartbreak Ridge" with Clint Eastwood. In the 1986 movie, Eastwood plays a career Marine sergeant who has to deal with younger, undisciplined Marines who have not been through combat. Although the film is fictional, it references The Battle of Heartbreak Ridge from the Korean War.
"It is based on real history, and it has Clint Eastwood in it," Lewis said. "I saw it on television and just loved it."
— His favorite television show is "Ice Road Truckers" on the History Channel, especially the current season, which takes place in Alaska.

Donald Reasor - Tuscola Lodge

Donald Reasor
TUSCOLA – Donald Eugene Reasor, 65, of Tuscola passed away at 11:36 a.m. Wednesday (July 1, 2009) at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday at the Joines-Appleby Funeral Home in Newman. The Rev. Joseph Carter will officiate. Burial will be held at the Young America Cemetery in Hume. Visitation will be held on Sunday evening from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home, with a Masonic service to be held at 7 p.m.

Mr. Reasor was the first child born to Arthur Eugene and Geraldine Joy Reasor. He was born on Dec. 10, 1943, in Paris, Ill.

After graduating from Young America High School in 1962 Donald followed the love of his life to Tuscon, Ariz. There he married Esther Gail Johnson on March 3, 1963, and they returned back to Illinois to make their home. They were blessed with four children.

He leaves behind his wife Gail of 46 years; a son, Virgil (Kendra) Reasor of Sadorus; two daughters, Deborah (Andy) Sperling of Dewey and Vicky Wiese and her fiance Eric Hartman of Pesotum; four grandchildren, AJ and Katie Schumacher and Kyla and Kiersten Reasor; and four great-grandchildren, Conner and Addison Schumacher and Olvia and Preston Williams. He also leaves behind two sisters, Sharon (David) Irish of Palm Bay, Fla., and Minon (Lawrence) Smith of Hume; and two brothers, Charles (Ruth) Lewsader of Chrisman and Ralph Lewsader of Champaign.

He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur Eugene Reasor, and mother, Geraldine Joy (Reasor) Lewsader, one son, Jason Matthew Reasor, and a brother Dr. Phillip Reasor.
Don retired from the Union Pacific Railroad after 22 years. He was a long-standing member of the Masonic Lodge in Tuscola.

He was the Vice-President of the Douglas County Crimestoppers organization and served on the Douglas County Sheriff's Merit Board.

He loved being with his family, who meant the world to him. Before becoming ill he enjoyed building and flying high-powered model rockets. He belonged to The Tripoli Rocket Club of Central Illinois. He was also a longtime CB radio operator.

Don will be missed by many including "Bow" his favorite puppy.
He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who was always there for his family.
Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.
Joines-Appleby Funeral Home of Newman, is in charge of arrangements.

Happy 4th of July = Brought to you in part by American Freemasonry

The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776 and no less than 9 of the 56 signers have been confirmed as Freemasons. It has been thought that many of the ideas on which this country were founded were originated in the Freemason fraternity through the years.

So as you celebrate July 4th this year, think about the contribution Freemasonry has made for our freedoms!

Georgia Freemasonary Problems

Down in Georgia quite a controversy has developed in regards to African-American's being admitted to a Georgia Lodge. The NY Times today had an article that talks about the issues:

ATLANTA — The members of the Gate City Lodge No. 2 would like it known that Freemasonry, a centuries-old fraternal organization founded on the principles of the Enlightenment, is not racist.

But some of their fellow Masons here in Georgia are spoiling the message.

In June, the Worshipful Master, or leader, of the Gate City Lodge was served with complaints from two other lodges, whose Worshipful Masters were upset that Gate City had admitted a “nonwhite man” to its ranks.