Category Archives: News

Grand Lodge report – 9/23-24, 2019

Eight members of Raytown Lodge #391, including the Master, Senior and Junior Wardens and Secretary, attended the annual communication of the Grand Lodge this week.

WM Thomas Ballieu displaying the Forty Year Achievement Award

We were excited to watch WM Tom Ballieu accept the following awards on behalf of the lodge: Honor Lodge with Distinction, Gold Child Safe award and the Gold Lodge Ritual award. He was also presented with a certificate indicating this is the 40th consecutive year that Raytown Lodge has received the Honor Lodge achievement award. Congratulations go to all of the members of Raytown Lodge for these exciting achievements.

Several matters of legislation were considered by the members. Among those brought for consideration was a provision that would provide for the eventual return of candidate proficiencies as a requirement to advance through the degrees. There was significant discussion and although it appeared most were in favor of a return to proficiencies, there was concern over the method proposed to implement. After a vote of the membership this proposal was defeated. The other proposals were mostly housekeeping measures and passed.

During the event RWB Stanton T. Brown II, Deputy Grand Master, was elected as Grand Master for the ensuing year. On Monday evening he announced that his appointment to the advancing line would be RWB David Brown who currently served as Grand Historian.

We were honored to be able to watch MWB Brown be installed as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons for the ensuing year. MWB Brown has been a friend of Raytown Lodge for many years and we are excited for his leadership this coming year.

Installation of officers and Past Masters dinner

On Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 3:00pm Raytown Lodge No. 391 will conduct our annual installation of officers for the ensuing year. This event is open to all brethren and families and we’d love to see a good turnout. It will be followed by a dinner honoring all Past Masters of Raytown Lodge.

This past Thursday night was the final meeting of WB Tom Ballieu’s year as Master. All of us at Raytown Lodge No. 391 would like to extend our sincere thanks to WB Ballieu for his efforts and leadership this past lodge year. It was a busy year as we conducted three MOChip events, conferred a number of degrees, achieved our Bronze, Silver and Gold ritual awards, adopted a new lodge charity, completed a successful BBQ contest and operated two fireworks tents. WB Tom’s drive and dedication to the craft helped make all of this possible.

Meeting schedule this summer

Earlier this year our Worshipful Master Tom Ballieu made the announcement that due to all of the lodge activities Raytown Lodge would not go ‘dark’ in July and August. We did not meet on July 4 due to the holiday, but will meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays in July and August. As always meeting time is 7:30pm with dinner before. It’s nice and cool at the lodge, so we look forward to seeing our brethren during the summer.

June 20, 2019 – early start for third degree

Raytown Lodge will be conferring a third degree at our stated communication on Thursday, June 20. We will open our meeting at 7pm with dinner served before. We need all available members and brethren to join us to help us welcome our newest Master Mason!