Olive Branch 38 Celebrates Third Annual Founders' Day Sunday Spetember 10th

 

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

Danville, Illinois 61832

olivebranch38@gmail.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

MASONIC LODGE CELEBRATES FOUNDERS’ DAY

Public welcome September 10^th at Spring Hill Cemetery

 

DANVILLE, IL, August 24, 2023- Olive Branch Lodge No. 38 will hold its third annual Founders’ Day Celebration at 2:00 PM on Sunday September 10^th at Spring Hill Cemetery, 301 E. Voorhees.

            This year’s event is a historical cemetery walk.  It will begin near the recently installed plaque at the grave of John Charles Black in Block 12 of the cemetery.  General Black and his Brother William Perkins Black were the first pair of brothers to receive the Medal of Honor for action in combat during the Civil War.  General Black was also a Freemason in Olive Branch Lodge.  A current member of the lodge will deliver a presentation on his life. 

            As the walk continues, current lodge members will deliver talks at the graves of four other members of Olive Branch Lodge each of whom presided over the lodge and who were distinguished leaders not only in the lodge, but also in their communities.  These members were leaders in the military and government as well as in local community organizations.  Brian Pettice, the current secretary of the lodge said, “We hope this Founders’ event, like the others before it, helps to educate our lodge members and the public about the role the members of the lodge have played in the history of, not only the lodge, but the city, state, and nation as well.  We hope people will come out and meet us and learn a little of the history of all of us.”  The walk will be a half mile loop visiting the graves of the five Masons and ending near where it began.  The lodge suggests arriving at the cemetery a bit early to park and make your way to General Black’s grave.  Lodge and youth group volunteers will be on site at 1:30 pm to direct people to the walk and to nearby parking during the walk.

Olive Branch Lodge No. 38 has been a member of the Danville and Vermilion County community for over 175 years and is a local unit of the Fraternity of Freemasons.  For more information about Freemasonry or the lodge, visit their website at https://olivebranchlodge38.blogspot.com/ or email the lodge at olivebranch38@gmail.com .

L to R, grave of C.L Sandusky, photo of L.D. Gass, grave of L.L. Lockard, and photo

 of R.A. Hooton.

MASONS TEAM UP FOR AMBUCS SUMMER CAMPS

 

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

Email olivebranch38@gmail.com

Danville, Illinois 61832

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          

 

MASONS TEAM UP FOR AMBUCS SUMMER CAMPS

DANVILLE, IL, July 31, 2023- This past Wednesday, July 26^th, several children attended the AMBUCS Summer Day Camp for Children at the GAO Grotto.  These children, each of whom has a disability challenging their mobility or independence, played on the playground equipment, enjoyed a Lee’s Famous Recipe lunch, and went for boat rides provided by the Grotto Skippers as AMBUCS campers have done since the summer of 1963. 

As the children enjoyed the activities, many Grotto members and Danville area Freemasons gathered with AMBUCS leaders and supporters to celebrate sixty years of AMBUCS camps at the Grotto and the accomplishment of the Grotto’s campaign goal to raise $100,000 to renovate and bring their restrooms into ADA compliance.  With new restrooms, the facilities at the Grotto will be able to accommodate AMBUCS campers for many years to come.

The Grotto’s fundraising campaign was kicked off late last year by a donation made to AMBUCS and directed to the Grotto restroom renovation.  In addition to funding from GAO Grotto organizations, the campaign gained the support of many private donors. 

On Wednesday, Jerry Askren, the Worshipful Master of Olive Branch Lodge No. 38, made two check presentations to the leadership of the Grotto—one made by the lodge itself and another from a grant made on behalf of the lodge by the Grand Lodge of Illinois’ Illinois Masonic Childrens Assistance Program.  Together these checks brought the campaign over its $100,000 goal and will allow construction to begin.  "Today was a great day for Olive Branch Lodge, the GAO Grotto and Danville AMBUCS as the fundraising goal was reached.  We look forward to the ribbon cutting upon the completion of the construction project,” said Askren.

The GAO Grotto is an organization of Freemasons who seek to teach their members to express their principles of Masonry as, “doing good for others.”  The Freemasons of Olive Branch 38 are pleased that their contributions will help continue the AMBUCS Summer Camps at the Grotto and help the members of the Grotto to put their principles into action.

Olive Branch Lodge No. 38 is a local unit of the Fraternity of Freemasons whose members support each other as they seek to become the best men they can be.  For more information about Freemasonry or the lodge, email the lodge at olivebranch38@gmail.com .

Jerry Askren presents checks to Troy West and Mike West, holding poster board, co-chairs of the Grotto’s restroom renovation fundraising campaign as Grotto members and Masons look on.

 

As AMBUCS Campers play, members of Olive Branch 38, the GAO Grotto, the DeMolay, and AMBUCS leaders celebrate the successful completion of the fund drive for new restrooms at the Grotto.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OLIVE BRANCH LODGE NO 38 AWARDS SCHOLARSHIP TO DANVILLE STUDENT

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

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          

 

MASONIC LODGE NO 38 AWARDS SCHOLARSHIP TO DANVILLE STUDENT

 

DANVILLE, IL, May 23, 2023- Olive Branch Lodge No. 38 awarded its 2023 scholarship to Danville High School Student, Mackenzie Blanden at its meeting on May 16, 2023.  The Olive Branch Scholarship is a one-time award to a graduating High School Senior to assist a student in paying for tuition, books, fees, housing, and other costs of attending college or other post-secondary education programs.

At the presentation ceremony held at the lodge, Miss Blanden spoke about her goals and plans and how furthering her education will help her help others in the future.  The lodge is honored to be able to help her accomplish her academic goals.

The Olive Branch Scholarship program is one of many Masonic related scholarship programs in Illinois.  These many programs award more than $500,000 in scholarships to post-secondary students each year.

Olive Branch Lodge No. 38 has been a member of the Danville and Vermilion County community for over 175 years and is a local unit of the Fraternity of Freemasons whose members support each other as they seek to become the best men they can be.  For more information about Freemasonry or the lodge, email the lodge at olivebranch38@gmail.com  or call 217-446-7620.

 

  Mackenzie Blanden, her parents, and members of Olive Branch Masonic Lodge at the Scholarship award presentation.  L to R Jerry Askren, Christopher Morse, Ron VadeBonCoeur, Brooke Colunga, Mackenzie Blanden, Cindi Blanden, Sherard Blanden, Bill Lucas, and Brian Pettice.