Stated
Meetings
First
and Third Tues.
Olive
Branch Lodge No. 38, A. F. & A. M.
Masonic
Temple – 109 W. North St.; P.O. Box 1773
Telephone
217/446-7620
Danville, Illinois 61832
The year 2021 marks the 175th
anniversary of the Chartering of Olive Branch Lodge No. 38 by the Grand Lodge
of Illinois on October 6, 1846. In
observance of this milestone, the lodge has shared several blog posts about the
history of the lodge and its members at https://olivebranchlodge38.blogspot.com/. The lodge has also planned two events
scheduled for late September and early October to celebrate the occasion.
The first of these events, the Olive Branch
Lodge No. 38 175th Anniversary Celebration and Memorial
Service, is scheduled for Saturday September 25th at Spring Hill Cemetery in
Danville. This event is free, open to
the public, and requires no reservations.
This celebration and service will be a Sunrise ceremony beginning at
6:30 am. It will include a brief talk on
the men who have been important to the creation and sustainment of the lodge
and conclude with an exhibition of the Masonic Funeral Service in honor of all
of our Brethren who have passed. The ceremony
will take place near the grave sites of both William E. Russell, the first Master
of Olive Branch Lodge, and John P. Norvell, who served the lodge as Master more
times than any other. Please enter the
south section of the Cemetery from Voorhees Street and follow the instruction
of the parking directors on site and park on the right hand side of the
road. The gate will open at 5:30
am—please arrive well before the start time to allow yourself time to park and
walk to the ceremony site. The event
should last 30-40 minutes. Please bring
your own lawn chair if you will need to sit during the ceremony.
The second of the events will be a Lodge
Rededication Ceremony performed by the Grand Master and Officers of the Grand
Lodge of Illinois. This event is
scheduled for Saturday October 2, 2021 at the Danville Masonic Center at 109 W.
North Street, Danville. This event will rededicate
the lodge for Masonic purposes and offer an opportunity for all of us to
reflect on where the lodge has been in the past and where it is going in the
future. The doors to the Masonic Center
will open at 11:00 am. The Rededication
ceremony will begin at noon. There is no
cost to attend this ceremony and friends and family are welcome.
We invite you to and hope you will be able to
join us at these events.
