Article by Brother Thomas LeBlanc

 

Hiram Lodge No. 9 awards Denise Mathews with a Community Builders Award at their Annual Christmas Party. 

Denise has been a teacher for the Claremont School district for many years and in that time has always worked with and for children with special needs. Denise came to our lodge some time ago with a request of support for the summer program in which she is involved called Camp Imagine. This summer camp is designed specifically around the needs of children who may have Autism or some other form of disability which would prevent them from attending a traditional summer camp.

At Camp Imagine, these children learn skills that may help them cope with the normal life as well as discover that they are special not for their lacking but in what they have to offer the community in which they belong. The lodge has helped her organize the funding needed for this program to operate and has done so for the last 4 years with the help of other Masonic organizations as well as the International Order of Odd Fellows.

Denise’s efforts don’t stop there. She has organized the first Relay For Life held in Claremont many years ago and it still runs today. She now goes across the state helping other communities organize and run their relays. She has dedicated her life to the growth of the community and the betterment of those less fortunate.

We the members of Hiram Lodge voted and decided she is deserving of this award.

When asked if she had any words her response was simply,  “I love my job.”

Article by Brother Scott Ives

The Masons of Horace Chase Lodge in Boscawen, NH held their annual Christmas Breakfast on Saturday the 17th, even with the snow falling at a rapid pace. The event is a fundraiser to support the Boscawen Police Department’s, “Christmas for Kids” program. Local officers work extremely hard to try and provide toys on Christmas morning for needy children in the local area. Worshipful Master Michael Drotar said: “The Boscawen Police department is dedicated to making a difference, and the Brothers of Horace Chase Lodge want to be a part of their important work. This year’s breakfast is dedicated to that effort, every dime raised will go to support them!”

“This breakfast is so much fun for Masons, local families, and especially the kids”, said Brother Glen Patterson, Master-Elect of Horace Chase Lodge. Members of Horace Chase Lodge, worked in the kitchen, to feed 80 people, and prepared the dining room for a visit from Santa! The children had an awesome time, sat with Santa, and received a gift from his magic bag! Glenn Patterson, breakfast organizer, for Horace Chase Lodge, said “The event was a huge success, we raised $578.“

Pictured: Officer Michael Cooper, Police Administer Lynne Davis and Worshipful Brother Brian Stiles.

Article by Bro. Scott Ives

The Masons of Horace Chase Lodge held their 14^th annual D.A.R.E. Pancake Breakfast, on Saturday, April 16, 2016, to benefit the Boscawen Elementary School D.A.R.E. Program! The D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches children from kindergarten, through high school grade, how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives. It provides the students with factual information about drugs, gangs and violence, and the consequences of becoming involved with them. The program also teaches coping skills to resist the pressure to use drugs, or to become involved in harmful activities. It offers this in their school in an effort to foster a strong relationship with community-based police officer.

“This breakfast brings joy to our lodge! We love having the local families, and especially the kids, visit us,” said Brother Michael Drotar, Worshipful Master of Horace Chase Lodge. Members of Horace Chase Lodge, with financial support from local businesses like The Smoke Shack Southern Barbeque, and the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, were able to raise $1,100 for Boscawen’s D.A.R.E. program! Brother Rodney Sewall, breakfast organizer, for Horace Chase Lodge, said “the event was a huge success. They came hungry and they left happy!” Master, Michael Drotar added, “We’ll present the check to Chief Kevin Wyman at the June stated meeting. We also want to give a huge thank you to all the servers, the kitchen volunteers, and the Boscawen Police Department for all their help!

Article by Right Worshipful Kenneth Clay, Senior Grand Warden

 

On Sunday, April 24, 2016, Most Worshipful Grand Master John F. Gordon presented Worshipful Brother Alan D. Lugg with the Major General John Sullivan Distinguished Service Medal in Bronze. This special ceremony was held in conjunction with the Blazing Star Eureka Lodge No. 11 Veteran’s Program in Concord, NH. Brother Lugg’s family was present to witness the special occasion.

The Major General John Sullivan Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to a New Hampshire freemason who distinguishes himself through service to his lodge and community. The medal is presented in bronze, then silver and then gold.

Congratulations to Worshipful Brother Alan Lugg!