Welcome to the Internet Home of
Braden Lodge #168
Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Minnesota
5149 Bloomington Ave S
Minneapolis MN 55417
♦ LIGHT: Masonry is all about improving: ourselves, our community (Lodge), and, by extension, the world around us. To this end, Masonry provides us with Tools. One of this year’s goals is the proper use of these Tools.
♦ LOVE: Masonry provides us with a community: our Lodge. One of this year’s goals is to improve our Lodge. Moving to a more conducive environment was a good start. Let us continue to strive to build harmony and ritual excellence.
♦ LIFE: As part of the larger Masonic community sharing with our Brothers and the world at large, Braden builds Masonry with Fellowship: table lodges and meals, murder mysteries, puzzles, Socrates Café, an artists salon, “killer” ritual, and thoughtful discussions into the wee hours.
This Year... Let us look at the drawings on the Trestle Board, choose our Tools, Labor as a Team, and do the necessary improvements in Ourselves, our Lodge — and perhaps Masonry itself. — WB Jay Koelsch ♦ Worshipful Master ♦ 2023
Does that describe you? Then we suggest you come visit us on one of our open events dates (colored in gold on the right). Get a feel for who we are and what we do. Perhaps even visit a few lodges, as each has a different personality. If you like what you see, and think Braden Lodge will be a good fit for you, then fill out a petition -- your first step on your journey towards Masonic enlightenment!
Did you attend any of our
CONvergence Puzzle Rooms?
• To access the puzzles from past years, click on the "Events" tab above.
• If you would like to help Braden Lodge defer the costs of hosting a Puzzle Room each year, please consider making a donation by clicking on the following "Donate" PayPal button.
• THANK YOU for your support of Braden Lodge and our participation in CONvergence!
Schedule Updates:
SCHOOL, DEGREES, AWARDS, & WINTER REVELRY
▲ The 2nd Degree School of Instruction that the MetroWest Masonic Assoc. initially announced for Fri Oct 13th, is now set for Wed, Oct 11th at Wayzata Lodge #205; see other details at right.
▲ WM Jay Koelsch has postponed the Fall Degree Cycle, to give all involved more time to prepare. The Entered Apprentice Degree will now be held on Thurs Nov 2nd at 7:30pm. Dates for the other Degrees will be announced soon!
▲ The date for the Annual Awards Night, originally scheduled on the Trestle Board distributed last December for Thurs Oct 12th, has been changed to Thurs Nov 30th. This is the annual event where we recognize the members of Braden Lodge who have reached a five-year milestone (5, 10, 15, 20 years, etc) in their Masonic membership. Worshipful Master Jay Koelsch will also be making a presentation of the Hiram Award that evening (name of recipient to be released shortly.) The event will still begin with a Dinner at 6:30pm, followed by the Awards Program at 7:30pm.
▲ The Winter Revelry event scheduled for Nov 30th will be combined with our Annual "Cheese & Crackers" Holiday Potluck Get-Together on Thurs Dec 28th. We'll have more details on that event as it draws nearer.
Braden Lodge
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Making Good
Men Better Since 1886.
NOTE: Unless otherwise indicated, all events are at our NEW Masonic home:
Minnehaha Lodge #165
5149 Bloomington Ave S
Minneapolis MN 55417
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FELLOWSHIP NIGHT
Thurs • Sept 28th
6:30pm - EA Degree Rehearsal
7:30pm - Dinner Served
8:00pm - Socrates' Café
TOPIC: To Be Determined
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STATED COMMUNICATION
Thurs • Oct 5th
7:30pm • Stated Meeting
General Lodge Business
(EA Degree Postponed
to Nov 2nd)
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FELLOWSHIP NIGHT
Thurs • Oct 12th
7:30pm - Dinner Served
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2nd Degree
(Fellow Craft)
SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION
Wed • Oct 11th
NOTE DATE CHANGE!!
(Original notification said
Fri Oct 13th)
Wayzata Lodge #205
405 Lake St E • Wayzata MN
6pm Dinner • 7pm School
RSVP to Secretary
by Tues Oct 3rd
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STATED COMMUNICATION
Thurs • Oct 19th
7:30pm • Stated Meeting
General Lodge Business
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Treats & Eats
TABLE LODGE
No Tricks, Just Great TrEATS !
Sat • Oct 21st
Featuring a 7-Course Meal and Traditional 7 Toasts
Costume Contest, Too!
$25 / person
See Details At Left!
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LOOKING AHEAD:
METRO WEST
MASONIC ASSOCIATION
Wed • Nov 29th
MN River Valley Lodge #6
4821 W 124th St • Savage MN
6pm Dinner • 7pm Meeting
RSVP to Secretary
by Nov 26th
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See "Calendar" page
in the menu above
for a complete calendar
of up-coming activities.
= Everyone
"...and improve myself in Masonry..."
Greetings from the Master:
No
Tricks...
Just
TrEATS !
Quick
L I N K S
"Treats & Eats" TABLE LODGE
You are cordially invited to a special Halloween
Fallen leaves crunch on the sidewalk beneath your feet... Animals skitter out of your path... Black cats are given a wide berth, passing silently beneath a street lamp before blending into the darkness... Even the air itself carries a scent of FEAR... For soon, it will be the time of ghosts and goblins! Before children scurry from home to home in search of sugary treats, come and find refuge from whatever lurks in the night's darkness, gather together with us in the illusion of safety in numbers, and enjoy the warmth of Friendship and Brotherhood -- as we FEAST!
You are cordially invited to join us on Saturday, October 21st, for a special Halloween-themed Table Lodge! If you dare to join us for a mere $25 per person, you will be treated to a scrumptious seven course dinner, punctuated by the traditional non-alcoholic seven toasts of a Masons' Table Lodge, plus entertainment and other fun activities. The Dinner and "Feastivities" will begin at 6:30pm in the dining hall of Braden's new Lodge home at Minnehaha Lodge, 5149 Bloomington Ave S in Minneapolis. You will find an adjacent parking lot (accessed from the alley) and plentiful street parking. (Sorry, this facility is NOT handicapped-accessible; there are 20 steps down from street level to access the Dining Room.)
Attire is business casual, or, if you are up to the challenge, you can come in your favorite Halloween costume -- perhaps you will even see your efforts rewarded in our Costume Contest, where the best costume will receive a free ticket to our next Murder Mystery Dinner Theater, scheduled for the Spring of 2024 (a $100 value!)
Follow the link at left to order your tickets and for more details -- then join us on Saturday, Oct 21st, for a Festive Feast of Fun, Frivolity, Food -- and Friends!
= Masons Only
People often think one has to be invited to become a Mason. However that is not the case. While a friend may suggest the benefits of membership, we only accept members who join entirely of their own free will. We do have a few requirements: one must be a male over the age of 18, believe in deity, be of good repute -- and share a genuine interest in improving yourself.