Each Grand Master leaves behind a personal mark upon his tenure through the presentation of a commemorative pin distributed among the Brethren throughout the state. These pins are far more than simple tokens or collectibles; they often contain symbols, words, and ideas that reflect the principles, values, and deeper message the Grand Master wishes to share during his year of service.

At the Annual Communication, several more Brothers from our midst were installed into the Grand Line.

We are proud to announce the following appointments:

• WB Tim Lawson – Junior Grand Deacon

• WB Jim Iles II – Grand Steward & Tyler

• WB Luke Reed – Grand Marshal

• WB Thomas Johnson – Grand Chaplain

   

Congratulations to all of these Brothers on their appointments!

Education Meets Philanthropy

A wonderful opportunity to learn, connect, and give back is just around the corner. Join us on June 6 for a special day centered on Masonic education and fellowship, dedicated to helping restore the fire-damaged property at Compass Park Masonic Home.

Tickets are just $10 to cover the cost of lunch, but we warmly encourage you to give a little extra if you can. As Masons, we are guided by the virtue of Charity and the enduring tenet of Relief - this event is a powerful opportunity to put those principles into action.

Let’s come together to rebuild and support our community. (Read more below)

REGISTER HERE

May was a busy and meaningful month for the Lodge, blending regular work with significant statewide Masonic events. We held our Stated Meeting on May 5th and Degree Practice on May 12th, followed by participation in the Annual Communication in Indianapolis on May 19th–20th, a historic gathering for Indiana Masonry.

Back in Lodge, we conferred an Entered Apprentice Degree on May 26th, and concluded the month with a Trustees Meeting on May 28th, closing a productive and eventful month of fraternal labor.

• 05/05/2026 …. May Stated Meeting

• 05/12/2026 …. Degree Practice

• 05/19-20/2026 …. Annual Communication

• 05/26/2026 …. EA Degree

• 05/28/2026 …. Trustees Meeting

On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the Brethren gathered at the Lodge to initiate our newest Brother, Aiden Traykovski. Aiden is the son of Brother Chris Traykovski and has chosen to follow in his father's footsteps to pursue the path of becoming a better man. Having attended nearly all of our public gatherings, dinners, and social events over the years, Aiden took his time to observe, reflect, and ultimately make the right decision to join our fraternity.

• 06/02/2026

  June Stated Meeting

• 06/06/2026

  The Triad of Light - Presentations

• 06/09/2026

  Practice - MM Degree

• 06/16/2026

  MM Degree

• 06/23/2026

  FC Degree

   

   

Brethren,

At the most recent Annual Communication, the Grand Lodge approved an increase in the per capita assessment of approximately $4.50per member. As a result, all constituent Lodges must evaluate their financial position and determine the appropriate course of action to ensure continued stability and growth.

Porter Lodge No. 137 has long maintained some of the lowest annual dues in the jurisdiction. While we take pride in providing exceptional value to our members, the steadily rising costs of Lodge operations, meals, programs, supplies, and other essential expenses make it necessary to consider an adjustment.

After careful review, the officers and trustees recommend increasing the annual dues to $150 per year. This adjustment will provide the Lodge with the working capital necessary to maintain our activities, meet our obligations, and plan confidently for the years ahead.

When viewed on a monthly basis, the proposed dues amount to just $12.50 per month—less than the cost of most streaming subscriptions or approximately two handcrafted coffee drinks from Starbucks. We believe this modest increase is a reasonable investment in the future of our Lodge and the preservation of the quality programs and fellowship we all enjoy.

Therefore, you are hereby summoned to attend the July Stated Meeting, where this matter will be formally discussed and brought to a vote of the membership. Your presence and participation are important, as this decision will affect the future financial health of our Lodge.

The Grand Lodge has established a deadline for reporting annual dues, making timely action necessary. We encourage every Brother to attend, share his thoughts, and exercise his vote on this important matter. We look forward to seeing you in Lodge.

By Order of the Worshipful Master

June is Men’s Mental Health Month — a reminder that even the strongest men can carry silent burdens. As Masons, we are taught Brotherly love, relief and truth which are all contained within the saying “I am my Brother’s Keeper”. That means checking in on one another, offering support, and reminding our Brothers they are never alone. A simple conversation can make a lasting difference.

Thank you for a good first half of the year.  Enjoy your summer with your families.  

Fraternally

Ian Christiansen - Worshipful Master

With the commemorative coins for the 175th Rededication of Porter Lodge No. 137 now officially sold out, we extend our sincere thanks to all who secured one of these meaningful pieces of our history. Your support ensures that this milestone celebration is not only remembered, but tangibly preserved through a symbol carried into homes and families. May each coin serve as a lasting reminder of the heritage, fellowship, and labor of those who came before us.

Cherish it well, and may it be passed down to future generations as part of the enduring story of Porter Lodge No. 137.

Hey, Brother, we added a new item!

The new commemorative T-shirts, available in a variety of classic colors and several sizes (3XL is not available), serve as both a vital fundraiser and a meaningful keepsake for our upcoming milestone. They celebrate a remarkable legacy as we prepare for the 175-year rededication of Porter Lodge #137 on May 8, 2027. Featuring the iconic Square and Compasses alongside specialized anniversary honors, each shirt is a token of the enduring principles that have guided us since our founding. By wearing these, members and supporters alike can visibly share in our pride and help ensure that this historic celebration truly honors the generations of brothers who built our foundation. Only $25. Pre-Orders accepted now!

Living on the Level: From Lodge to Life

This series of articles will explore the symbolism and deeper meaning of our Masonic working tools. Through various perspectives and interpretations, we will examine how these tools can be understood, embraced, and applied in our daily lives.

Far more than simple instruments of architecture, the working tools are rich symbols that convey profound lessons in morality, self-improvement, and spiritual growth. They serve as guides in shaping and refining our character—that rough ashlar which each of us strives to perfect—so that, in due time, it may become a worthy stone in that spiritual edifice, "a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

MWB WILLIAM “BILL” BLASINGAME

This June, just weeks after Most Worshipful Grand Master John Bridegroom took the helm of Indiana Freemasonry, it feels appropriate to honor the memory of the first Grand Master from our own lodge, the late Most Worshipful Brother William Blasingame.

While the Grand Lodge website currently lacks detailed information and imagery regarding our earliest Grand Masters, we understand this is likely an ongoing archival project and expect…

A Legacy of Light: Brother Jim L. Irwin Sr. Receives 50-Year Award of Gold

On the evening of May 5, 2026, the atmosphere at our May Stated Meeting was one of profound history and fraternal pride.
The lodge gathered not just for routine business, but to witness a milestone that few achieve: the presentation of the 50-Year Award of Gold to Brother Jim L. Irwin Sr.

Freemasons today, to some, may appear as a shell of what they once may have been. This ambiguous statement serves as to suggest that the Freemasons of yesteryear, even with time bolstered reverence to knowledge purported by many, may not have all been in "the know" as many of today's nostalgic and potentially disgruntled Masons would love to believe was the case within the fraternity. With any path seeking enlightenment or as Masons term it "Light", there are always ones who continually dwell in the mental darkness and grope frantically for any semblance of order among the chaos of their psyches.

Homer L. Zumwalt: A Study of the Winding Staircase

In the ritual of the modern day Masonic Degrees, the building of King Solomon's Temple plays an important role. It has also fascinated the Biblical scholar and the archaeologist in their attempts to prove the existence of the Temple and the Bible story of King Solomon. All through history this subject has produced an air of mystery which seems to defy a positive solution.

For the Brothers born in June:

You arrive with the solstice, at the pinnacle of the year where light is at its most generous. While others are defined by the quickening of spring or the harvest of autumn, you are the children of the high sun—born into a season of fulfillment and clarity.

The Lodge will then turn its attention to degree work. A practice for the Master Mason Degree will be held on June 9th, and all officers and participating Brethren are encouraged to attend as we prepare to deliver an exemplary experience for our candidate. The Master Mason Degree will follow on June 16th, marking an important milestone in the Masonic journey of one of our Brothers. We invite all members of the Lodge to be present and help make this evening both memorable and inspiring.

Continuing our labors, we will confer a Fellow Craft Degree on June 23rd. Degree nights are among the most meaningful occasions in the life of a Lodge, and the presence of the Brethren adds immeasurably to the experience of our candidates. Your attendance and participation are sincerely encouraged.