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It is an annual tradition.  Norfolk Lodge and Norumbega Fraternity Lodge held their joint Table Lodge the evening of Monday, March 8th, 2015, at the Newtonville Masonic Apartments.  The two lodges opened separately, Norumbega Fraternity Lodge presided over by Wor. Jay Gibson, and Norfolk Lodge by Worshipful Michael Centola.  After conducting routine business, the two lodges joined together to receive the District Deputy Grand Master of the Fifth Masonic District of Massachusetts, R.W. Joseph Goldstein.  After R.W. Goldstein's remarks and some presentations and announcements, a recess was called and the Table Lodge was opened in the banquet hall.

The traditional toasts were given by the Masters and Wardens of the two lodges.  Five candidates were in attendance to experience this unique and enjoyable tradition for the first time; two Entered Apprentices from Norfolk Lodge, and three Fellowcrafts from Norumbega Fraternity Lodge.  As part of the tradition, volunteers from Garden City Lodge and Waltham Triad Lodge served the meal and greatly contributed to the warm and friendly atmosphere.

It was an evening filled with good food, fellowship, and tradition.

On Monday at Norfolk Lodge's Annual Table Lodge, Brother Ari Marcus was presented with the Master Mason Rookie Award.  R.W. Goldstein the District Deputy Grand Master presented the award to Brother Marcus on behalf of the Grand Master.  

This award is given to new Masons who become actively involved in the activities of Masonry. It is the goal of this award to get newly raised members involved in the lodge and give them a well rounded exposure to the different things that this fraternity does, from charity work, to the visits of the District Deputy Grand Master, to helping to support a lodge function.

Brother Marcus not only completed the list of requirements, but he also went above and beyond what was required of him to obtain this award.  In less then a year from his raising Brother Marcus has been a very active brother; he has volunteered at numerous Lodge activities, mentored new candidates, and is currently the Senior Steward of the Lodge.    

Norfolk Lodge congratulates Bro. Marcus on receiving this well deserved award.  

This Monday at the Feast of St. John Bro. Donald Hector LaLiberte of Norfolk Lodge was installed Deputy Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts for 2015. The Deputy Grand Master is the second highest ranking officer of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.

A reception to honor the new Deputy Grand Master was held on January 17, 2015 at the Needham Masonic Apartments.

Brother LaLiberte has been actively involved in Freemasonry since he was raised in 2005. He served as Worshipful Master of Norfolk Lodge from 2011 to 2013. He has also been involved on a number of Grand Lodge Committees, including the Audit and Business Process Improvement Committees, as well as a past Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge.

Active in several Masonic organizations beyond Norfolk Lodge, Bro. LaLiberte is a 32° Mason in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, where he serves as First Lieutenant for Mount Olivet Chapter of Rose Croix. He is a member Saint Paul’s Royal Arch Chapter in Boston, the Aleppo Shrine Temple in Wilmington.

For more information please see the Grand Lodge Website:  http://www.massfreemasonry.org/index.tpl?&ng_view=134

At its December meeting Norfolk Lodge AF&AM wrapped up its first annual Toys for Tots Drive. The Lodge collected more then 165 toys for the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.  Norfolk Lodge would like to thank all of the people in the community who donated toys and helped make event such a success 

Norfolk Lodge A.F&A.M would also like to extend its sincere thanks and appreciation to those in Needham who contributed to our first annual Toys for Tots drive to benefit the U.S. Marine Reserve Toys for Tots Program. A special Thank You to the Charles River YMCA and Brothers Pizza for their help in hosting collection boxes in their locations.  

We look forward to growing this initiative over the coming years.

With the passing of the holiday season, Norfolk Lodge has completed its annual Christmas tree sale, a Needham tradition for over 30 years.  This is Norfolk Lodge's biggest fundraiser of the year, and the proceeds go to support the lodge's Charities Fund.  This fund is used to support numerous organizations in the Needham community such as the Needham Community Council and the Charles River YMCA.

The lodge also donated trees from its sale to the Needham Community Council, and donated a tree to the Needham Women's Club Festival of Trees, a new addition to their Holiday House Tour.

Norfolk Lodge thanks all those who purchased trees and supported the Charities Fund.

Needham Times / WickedLocal

At its monthly meeting in November Norfolk Lodge honored the members of the Lodge who have helped to defend the country in the Armed Forces.  It was a good turnout at the meeting with around thirty brothers attending the meeting.  Wor. Centola presented each of the men with a small token of appreciation from the officers and the Lodge.

After honoring the veterans a guest speaker, R.W. Graham Marsdone spoke to the Lodge on the history of Veterans Day starting from when it President Wilson declared November 11th Armistice Day in order to commemorate the ending of the First World War. 

At the meeting Wor. A. Theodore McIntosh received his Past Masters Jewel.  Wor. Armstrong presented Wor. McIntosh with the jewel on behalf of the brothers of the Lodge.  This was a unique circumstance because the Lodge was able to award Wor. McIntosh the jewel that his Grandfather wore when he was Master of Norfolk Lodge back in the early part of the 20th Century. 

After the official business of the Lodge ended the brothers of the Lodge enjoyed a nice Turkey Diner and collation where good food and fellowship was shared by all.  

Ethan Gilson, 32 degree received the Distinguished Service Award from the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of Scottish Rite during the One Day Class Class at the Valley of Boston on November 1st.

The Distinguished Service Award is presented to any brother in recognition of his exceptional and dedicated service to the Scottish Rite bodies in the Valley of Boston. The DSA, awarded by the Presiding Officers, is not partial to any of the four bodies or to any particular form of service within the Valley of Boston.

Ethan has been a member of the Valley of Boston since 1999. Ethan has assisted in the production crew for the Valley for a number of years; and since 2011 has been the production manager for the Valley of Boston. Congratulations to Ethan on receiving this great honor.  

On November 1, the Scottish Rite Valley of Boston put on their bi-annual One Day Class.  It was a great day when the members of the four bodies, Lodge of Perfection, Princes of Jerusalem, Rose Croix, and Massachusetts Consistory meet at Grand Lodge in order to raise new candidates. There were about forty candidates who participated in the One Day Class, and were made 32nd Degree Masons.  Congratulations to all of the candidates, including the newest 32nd Degree Mason from Norfolk Lodge, Brian Shea. 

There was a great turnout, and it was a day of fellowship and learning for all. Members of Norfolk Lodge assisted Rose Croix and Massachusetts Consistory in the 18th, 23rd, 31st, and 32nd degrees.

On Saturday October 18th, 2014 Norfolk Lodge and the other Lodges housed in the Needham Masonic Building hosted their Annual Square and Compass Day, one of the days every year that Lodges throughout Massachusetts open their doors to the general public in order to show people what the Fraternity is.  

This year the men of these Lodges hosted a free pancake breakfast for the community, there was fun for the entire family as the Lodges also had pumpkin painting for the children who attended. During the event the lodges accepted donations for the Charles River YMCA.  

The Lodges hoped to build off the success of their touch-a-touch event during the Open House in April of last year. There was a great turnout and more then 100 people came to the breakfast and got to experience first hand the good work that Masons do for their community.  Thank you very much for all of the people who took time out of their day to visit the Lodge building.  

Norfolk Lodge A.F. & A.M., in conjunction with Massachusetts Consistory, hosted Illumination Lodge No. 5 from Bloomingdale, Illinois for a third degree on Saturday, September 13, 2014. It was held at the Armory of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, located at Faneuil Hall. The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts is the oldest chartered military organization in the western hemisphere. Its charter was granted in March of 1638 by the Great and General Court of Massachusetts Bay and signed by Governor John Winthrop.

Illumination Lodge No. 5, founded in 2012, has one class of candidates per year and has made it their tradition to travel to a site of significance to perform their third degree. Previous years have led them to travel and perform the third degree in the House of the Temple, the seat of the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction, and New Orleans.

This year brought them to Boston to perform the sublime degree of Master Mason at one of the most historic sites in Boston, Faneuil Hall. Seventeen members of Illumination Lodge traveled to Boston and presented the Illinois version of the third degree. While it proved to be very different from a third degree in Massachusetts, it was equally enlightening. The degree was enjoyed by forty-three Massachusetts Masons. After the degree all brethren returned to Grand Lodge to enjoy an evening of brotherhood, fellowship, and dinner.