Oriental Lodge No. 33

Invitation to Procession for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, 1879

We do not yet know whether the Masonic Fraternity was represented at this auspicious event, but as one of the prominent civic organizations in Chicago, Oriental Lodge No. 33 received an invitation to participate in the public procession prior to a private reception in November 1879 for former President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia, after they returned to the United States from their goodwill trip around the world. 

5th and 6th Northeast District Blood Drive, April 29

We need you to do your part!

Oriental had the second most donors last year with 12 out of 41 and we want to exceed that this year. Remember, friends and significant others count toward our total, and each successful donor is entitled to an Italian buffet dinner after donating compliments of the lodge!  Feel free to request a take-out container if you cannot dine on-site.  Blood donations may also be made at any LifeSource collection center and allocated to "Oriental Lodge."

5NE District Masons" -- visit www.lifesource.org for locations.5th & 6th NE District Masons

Jefferson Park Community Blood Drive

4:00pm-8:30pm Wed April 29, 2009

Biagio's Restaurant

4242 N. Central Ave, Chicago

1 mile south of Jefferson Park Masonic Temple - free parking next to donation site

To schedule appointment contact Paul Scheeler 630-408-1158 or scheeler33@msn.com

JUSTICE LODGE NO. 949: The Only lodge to merge with Oriental No. 33

 

Membership in multiple lodges was not permitted in Illinois until 1975, as was also the case in many other jurisdictions, and it was customary for new lodges to be “spun off” once a lodge had attained a certain level of membership, with would-be new lodge members required to dimit from their old one prior to joining the new one. Having members prove their sincerity by casting their lot together, it was thought, would ensure success and provide leadership opportunities for charter members to serve as officers in their new lodge.

Justice Lodge No. 949 was one such lodge, started when a request to establish a new lodge received dispensation from Most Worshipful Grand Master Albert B. Ashley on July 10, 1911. The lodge was instituted the next day by Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master Harry W. Harvey of the Second District, who presented the dispensation and installed the first slate of officers.

Our Charter

Ever wonder what our Charter looks like? Wonder no longer. This is the replacement Charter that was issued in 1872. So what happened to the original? Did we lose it? Nope. The original was consumed along with the rest of our lodge, in the flames of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Eureka Challenge Assembly Party Jan. 25th

This is our annual fundraiser where we, the brothers of Oriental Lodge assemble all the materials for the Eureka Challenge. It is a lot of folding, bursting stacking and handling paper, but it's also pizza, beer, snacks and good times.

This year's Assembly will take place on SUNDAY, JAN. 25, 2009, from 11am to 6pm at W. Bro. Todd Newton's house in Oak Park, Illinois. We need a good turnout to make the work go quickly. I've been going since we started doing the assembly and I can tell you it is a good time. If you can help, please contact W. Bro. Paul Scheeler, at 630-408-1158. Looking forward to seeing you there!