Lots of years ago, Centralia Lodge, along with our great friend and Brother, VW Larry Foley did our first ever torchlight Degree on the banks of Hood Canal.
Since that time, through the tremendous efforts of VW Larry and the assistance of countless Brothers in Districts 8 and 17, this Fellowcraft Degree has continued, and we’ve been able to provide a wonderful and unique Degree experience to many new Masons.
This year we are making a few changes.
We are moving the Degree from the Masonic Park in Granite Falls to Quilcene-Jefferson Lodge in Quilcene. Not because we don’t love the park, we do. But because the outdoor Lodge Room at the park remains under construction. Quilcene-Jefferson has a really wonderful outdoor Lodge Room of its own, and the Brothers of that Lodge have been extremely gracious in allowing us to use it for this Degree.
We are combining it with the also pre-existing BBQ Contest, so that we can all eat like kings prior to the Degree.
At the Masonic Park the space was so large that we have used dozens of torches. The space at Quilcene is much more intimate, so this will be a Star and Moonlight Degree, rather than a Torchlight Degree.
I certainly hope that you’ll be able to join us for this super unique event on this upcoming Saturday!
No, and I'm sorry for the confusion. I should have been more clear.
We certainly don't want to move out of the Park long term, nor do we want to break our normal every other year schedule. Down here we had talked about doing one in the 'off' year in conjunction with our BBQ, and since the outdoor Lodge Room at the Park isn't available we looked at other options for this year.
We hoped that by calling it 'starlight' instead of 'torchlight' it would help prevent confusion between the two.
Every other year would be great and hopefully promote travel between all the districts.
I'm hoping the park completes the Open Air area. The shed needs moved to the new location and ground "smoothed" a little more. But at least it not visible to anyone in the picnic area any longer.
The plan is for the Lesser Lights at the Altar. 3 Lights at the JW, 5 Lights at the SW, 7 Lights at the WM. Plus a Lantern with the SD. Not torches as we've traditionally done at the Park because at Quilcene the tree limbs are right above us and it would be bad to burn the place down, rather electric candles. We've lit our Lodge Room at Centralia (no windows or other light sources) with that number of candles for a Degree and found it to work well, so we should be set. These little gizmos are actually quite a bit brighter than a real candle.
If we get rained out we are going to do the Degree inside the Temple, but instead of lighting the Lodge Room normally we are going to do so with old time kerosene lanterns. Either way, it will be awesome!
Yes, the entire facility is available to us.
Sorry for the slow reply, I came up to Quilcene last night, and the wi-fi in my little place is a wee bit questionable.
But I have to thank MW Cameron for organizing this event, it was a blast. The food was amazing, and the degree went off quite well in my opinion. It was amazing to watch brother Clayton do the middle chamber lecture, was one of the best I’ve ever seen, especially considering he has no safety net. Just in awe of his performance.
I hope brother Brad enjoyed the degree as much as we all enjoyed providing it.
I guess this means I need to remove this from the Park's schedule for 2025?
No, and I'm sorry for the confusion. I should have been more clear.
We certainly don't want to move out of the Park long term, nor do we want to break our normal every other year schedule. Down here we had talked about doing one in the 'off' year in conjunction with our BBQ, and since the outdoor Lodge Room at the Park isn't available we looked at other options for this year.
We hoped that by calling it 'starlight' instead of 'torchlight' it would help prevent confusion between the two.
Every other year would be great and hopefully promote travel between all the districts.
I'm hoping the park completes the Open Air area. The shed needs moved to the new location and ground "smoothed" a little more. But at least it not visible to anyone in the picnic area any longer.
Thanks!
Certainly moving it around in the off years allows more folks to experience it, and that's got to be a good thing.
I imagine that once it is done, the new outdoor Lodge Room will be superb!
I do hope there will be at least some lighting there, at least at the altar and pillared stations
The plan is for the Lesser Lights at the Altar. 3 Lights at the JW, 5 Lights at the SW, 7 Lights at the WM. Plus a Lantern with the SD. Not torches as we've traditionally done at the Park because at Quilcene the tree limbs are right above us and it would be bad to burn the place down, rather electric candles. We've lit our Lodge Room at Centralia (no windows or other light sources) with that number of candles for a Degree and found it to work well, so we should be set. These little gizmos are actually quite a bit brighter than a real candle.
Looking at the forecast for tomorrow, it appears to be rain all day. Are there alternate plans, such as moving it indoors, if that is the case?
Also, do we have access to the kitchen?
I'm visualizing alternatives, WB Glenn.
We're going to make this work. After all, that's how the degree came to be! Inventiveness.
Plan B is almost as awesome as Plan A.
But, as you and I discussed last night, the first time we ever did this we did it in the middle of a rain storm!
If we get rained out we are going to do the Degree inside the Temple, but instead of lighting the Lodge Room normally we are going to do so with old time kerosene lanterns. Either way, it will be awesome!
Yes, the entire facility is available to us.
Sorry for the slow reply, I came up to Quilcene last night, and the wi-fi in my little place is a wee bit questionable.
Ok, it’s really really late.
But I have to thank MW Cameron for organizing this event, it was a blast. The food was amazing, and the degree went off quite well in my opinion. It was amazing to watch brother Clayton do the middle chamber lecture, was one of the best I’ve ever seen, especially considering he has no safety net. Just in awe of his performance.
I hope brother Brad enjoyed the degree as much as we all enjoyed providing it.
Was a great night to be a mason!
W Glenn:
We couldn't have done it without you! Thank you! It was truly superb.