Saturday I went to Oxford Iowa for a Grand Lodge Reception. Tom Bowersox is the Junior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge. I am friends with his whole family and while I don't usually go to Grand Lodge Receptions in small doses they are quite pleasant. The skies were cloudy and my planned route had to be changed.
As you can see we had some flooding. I had planned on turning at Belle Plain and taking the diagonal down to Highway 6 but the road was closed. So I had to go further East and fortunately I had planned enough time. There was one place where the water was on both sides of the road but I got through.
Some pictures from the reception. Our Grand Secretary Brother Bill and his lady.
R.W. Brother Bill, Senior Grand Warden (No all of the Grand Officers are not named Bill.) I had this picture posted on Facebook and someone wanted to know about the "big necklace" (probably should have been capitalized) - It is the chain a Grand Officer wears to suspend the Jewel of Office from so we can know they are important. :~)
Grand Master Bryce, his lady (seated) and the wife of the honoree.
Brother Bill finally found his lady who was saving him a seat while he "made the rounds" which is what Grand Officers are expected to do.
The head table.
A close up of M. W. Bryce and his lady. sorry Bryce I caught you in a "pensive" mood.
We had a delicious meal (prepared by the Eastern Star) and we were done in time for me to make the two hour drive home (in the rain) and I think everyone had a good time. I know I did.
4 comments:
I'd just note that Bro. Jay him-very-self once wore such a Big Necklace as the head of a Masonic body in Iowa. He had a snazzy sash to go with it. Made him look like one a' them-thar amBASSadors!
Truedat...that is of course why I can have some fun with the term "big necklace" (Which Brother John has also worn. In fact sometimes there are more fellas at these things who are wearing or have worn them than the guys who are what we are really all about. Brotherhood is an important part of our lives and the most important title any of us can have is that of "BROTHER"
(Heh, heh, heh!)
The ONLY reason that there are sometimes more horsecollars than normal folks at receptions is that too many of our brethren have yet to learn how much fun they are.
I plead guilty to having worn such apparel—three times. In all that time, I've only attended one boring reception, and it honored moi (yawn). My other deception was a lot of fun (I weaseled out of a third one), as have been the rest I've attended. The one for RW Bro. Bill in Ames this year was a complete delight.
Whenever I get to go to a reception for a grand officer of ANY body I see friends I dearly love, and whom I haven't seen for a while. Now, where's the down side of that?
Well, the steak (while flavorful) was tough. but at least we didn't have green beans - Good old Iowa Corn.
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