The Freemasons. An organization that interested me from a young age. Not because of the false hype and rhetoric, but because of its ties to brotherhood, it’s teachings of a bond that can never be broken, and even more so, a common morality that every man should hold dear that will guide him in his endeavors throughout his life. At the end of November 2020, I would begin to experience what the world of Freemasonry means to a Brother in distress.

Saturday, December 15, 1957 - On Saturday, December 15, 1956, the officers and guests of Porter Lodge No. 137 gathered to perform and whiteness the 105 Installation Ceremony. Here is the Program of that evening.

Sunday, November 24, 1963 - Post Tribune: PORTER LODGE 137, F & AM, moved to new quarters in Valparaiso on Saturday, Nov. 16, thus opening still another chapter in a fraternal history which predates the American Civil War.

It was in May of 1842-nineteen years before the Civil War when six Masons gathered at the rural Valparaiso home of Adam S. Campbell lor Porter County's first recorded Masonic Order meeting.

In October of 2023, as the sitting Worshipful Master of Porter Lodge, I found myself embarking on an all-day degree in South Bend. Prior to this, my opinion of all-day degrees was fairly conventional: a necessary tool for extenuating circumstances—for brothers who were infirm, preparing for military service, or facing other significant limitations. We had just such a brother, Dylan, who had recently turned 18 and was slated to join the Marine Corps. I was entirely on board with ensuring he could enter the Marine Corps under the protective umbrella of our Masonic fraternity.

As powerful as the allegory of HA is in the Master Mason degree, we must not overlook the deeper lessons hidden in the actions of the Ruffians. Their role is more than merely setting the stage for the central drama. In truth, their presence in the ritual is deeply personal and profound. It’s about the struggle we all face between who we are and who we are trying to become on our spiritual journey. They symbolize the very real internal obstacles we face on the spiritual path. In the grand tapestry of Masonic teachings, they hold a tragic and transformative role.

On Thursday November 14, 1963, the Vidette-Messenger of Porter County, a local newspaper, announced the rededication of Valparaiso's new downtown masonic temple. Below is the original article. 

I’ve been fortunate to have many brothers that have been guides and have inspired my journey in Freemasonry; however, the story of my first introduction to Masonry, I think, is the most compelling.

I had visited my grandfather’s grave, and I noticed he had a square and compass on his gravestone. He had passed when I was young, so I had never had an opportunity to discuss his involvement, but finding the symbols on his gravestone piqued my curiosity.