Oriental Lodge No. 33

Hop Leaf

This Wednesday, October 1st, will be the next Oriental Lodge social outing.  As this will likely be my last beer before the marathon, I figured we'd go somewhere decent.  The Hop Leaf (5148 N Clark St) seemed popular before, so we'll do that again.  As with last time, I'll be at the Chase Plaza (Monroe between Clark and Dearborn) until 6, so if you're downtown you can meet up with me there, or just meet us up at the Hop Leaf (we should get there about 6:30-6:45).

Article in TimeOut Chicago

Apparently there are some who did not know that we had an article written about us in Time Out Chicago Magazine. It was back in the July 17-21 2008 issue as part of a feature called "Secret Chicago" The title of the article was "Masters of the Universe?" Thanks to Paul Scheeler who helped with pointers on dealing with the media. Even after being very careful in how things were phrased, the author still managed to get one or two details wrong, but they are minor quibbles. All in all I think she did a pretty decent job, considering what they were trying to accomplish.

You can read the article in its entirety here. So what do you think of it?

The Broken Column: R.W. Bro. Nicholas George Smith (1924-2008)

We are greatly saddened to announce that our brother and friend R.W. Bro. Nicholas George Smith passed to the Celelstial Lodge yesterday at the age of 84. Nick was a Grand Lecturer, an affiliated Past Master, our past Secretary and our longtime Officer of Instruction. It was Nick that taught me the secrets of a Master Mason when I was going through my degree. He was a gentle soul who was positive and belived deeply in the principles of the Craft. An ardent ritualist he never shirked his duty to correct ritual when it was still in need of perfection, but he did it in a gentle non-confrontational way. He managed to smooth out ritual rough edges without ever striking the stone, and that my friends, is the mark of a true Master.

We will remember our brother with a Masonic memorial service at 8:00 PM TOMORROW, Sept. 11, 2008 at the Brieske-Hedegen Funeral Home at 1356 W. Wellington Street, Chicago, IL. Their phone number is 773-525-0178. After the service we will adjourn to the The Duke of Perth or someplace more local to the funeral home to gather and remember our friend and Brother. Nick's Masonic record:

Born 5/22/1924
Elected 1/11/1955 North Shore #937
Initiated 1/18/1955 North Shore #937
Passed 2/15/1955 North Shore #937
Raised 3/22/1955 North Shore #937 (merged with North West # 271 Which he later left)
Affiliated with Old Glory Lodge # 141 6/1/1992
Affiliated with Oriental Lodge #33 9/2/1998

Past Master North Shore Lodge # 937 1960
Past Secretary and Treasurer Oriental Lodge
was a life member of Oriental Lodge.
became a 50 year member in 2004
CLI 1995
Gr. Lecturer 1999

Thus ends the record of a just and upright Mason. Nick worked not from a sense of fraternal ambition, but for the love of the Craft and the ritual. He may never have "worn the purple" of the Fraternity. But I am a product of his guidance as are many of us in the Officer's line. Nick worked to make our lodge what it is today and that is a legacy that will live on. His work was straight and true and he crafted it with grace and wisdom. His fraternal conduct was an example to us all. Nick we miss you terribly. Rest well, my brother.