Calvin W. Prather Lodge #717 F&AM

Pre-registration is open!
Enter today for a chance to win $100 in Meijer Gift Cards!

Proceeds help us build wheelchair ramps in the community in partnership with Servants At Work (SAWs).

60 days remaining until our 3rd Annual Auto Show on October 5th!

Take a trip down memory lane by browsing our photo album from the inaugural show in 2022.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SSrQwVQzenXPBefJDZ39qwgsqR1NtlNi?usp=share_link

Yesterday, members of our Lodge were able to give the gift of freedom to Jennifer. This marks the 4th wheelchair ramp our Lodge has built since 2021.

Thank you to all the brothers who were able to make it out to help, as well as all those who were able to contribute financially to this project.

If you would like to donate to ensure we are able to build our next ramp in 2025, please visit the Calvin W. Prather website, select the dues page and select Donations from the option menu.

Help us to bring freedom via an access ramp to another person in our Indianapolis community in 2025.

Available on Saturday morning?
Join us at our next Wheelchair Ramp Build with SAWs!

Contact our Senior Deacon DJ Finch for details.

Pre-registration is open!

Join us on Saturday October 5th, 2024 for The 3rd Annual Calvin W. Prather Masonic Auto Show

Motorcycles, Trucks, and Cars of all makes and models are welcome to attend. Over 25 custom made awards will be presented with door prizes announced every hour!

Registration 9am-11am, Judging begins at 12pm, Awards announced at 2:30pm. $15 pre-registration fee. Those who pre-register before the event will receive a free dash plaque and goodie bag. The registration fee jumps up to $20 the morning of the event. Proceeds go towards building wheelchair ramps in the community.

Come for the vehicles, but stay to enjoy the vendors, presenters, music, games, Lodge tours, silent auction, 50/50, and delicious food. There is something for everyone so bring the whole family! Located just off I-465 at 7502 East 56th Street right next door to Lawrence Central High School.

Register today at https://calvinwprather.com/wp/2024-masonic-auto-show/

Vendor spaces available for just $20 ($10 for Masonic owned businesses). Sponsorship opportunities are still available if you would like to advertise with us.

For any inquiries, please contact Zach Smith at [email protected]

2024 Calvin W. Prather Masonic Auto Show - Calvin W. Prather - Lodge #717 Saturday October 8th 9am-3pm - Cars, Trucks, and Motorcycles welcome! $15 Pre-Register Vendor spaces & sponsorship opportunities available.

Stated Meeting & Upcoming Events -

Stated Meeting & Upcoming Events

See you tonight for our Fellowcraft Degree!

Our Taco Bar Dinner will begin at 6pm. The Degree Starts at 7pm and we should have 4 brothers taking part.

Join us on Thursday night for our Fellowcraft Degree!

Our Taco Bar Dinner will begin at 6pm. The Degree Starts at 7pm and we should have 4 brothers taking part.

Mark your calendar! Thursday July 18th will be our next Fellowcraft Degree with 4 brothers taking part. We will need plenty of conductors, so let's pack the Lodge!

For dinner, we will have a Taco Bar. It will open at 6pm. The Degree Starts at 7pm.

See you tonight!

Dinner begins at 6pm.
Meeting begins at 7pm.

Join us on Thursday night for our Stated Meeting!

For Masonic Education, we will conclude our "Finding your Cornerstone" series with a group discussion on the following question: "What is the Cornerstone of Freemasonry?"

Can't rain on our parade...
Happy Independence Day from the Brethren of Calvin W. Prather!

Happy Independence Day!
Looking for a way to celebrate? We've got you covered.

Happy Independence Day... sorta.

On this day in 1776, 12 of the 13 original colonies voted to separate from Great Britain. New York abstained, citing a lack of instructions from their assembly (those instructions received on July 9th, though too late, expressed a desire for Independence).

The occasion prompted this letter (quoted below) from John Adams to his Wife Abigail prescribing July 2nd as the date of infamy. It would be another two days before the breakup letter was approved.

Adams might have been off about the date in which we celebrate, but he was right as to the manner.

You can find the Brethren of Calvin W. Prather participating in the annual 4th of July parade through Lawrence! We will be riding in the back of WB John Freeland's Deuce and a Half. We hope to see you there!

As a reminder, July's Stated Meeting will be on the second Thursday this month due to Independence Day.

Join us on October 5th, 2024 in Lawrence for our 3rd Annual Calvin W. Prather Masonic Auto Show!

Motorcycles, Trucks, and Cars of all makes and models are welcome to attend. Over 25 awards will be presented with door prizes announced every hour!

Registration 9am-11am, Judging begins at 12pm, Awards announced at 2:30pm. $15 pre-registration fee. Those who pre-register before the event will receive a free dash plaque and goodie bag. The registration fee jumps up to $20 the morning of the event. Proceeds go towards building wheelchair ramps in the community.

Come for the vehicles, but stay to enjoy the vendors, presenters, music, games, Lodge tours, and delicious food. There is something for everyone so bring the whole family! Located just off I-465 at 7502 East 56th Street right next door to Lawrence Central High School.

Register today at https://calvinwprather.com/wp/2024-masonic-auto-show/

Vendor spaces available for just $20 ($10 for Masonic owned businesses). Sponsorship opportunities are still available if you would like to advertise with us.

Join us on July 4th!

Mark your calendar!

July's Stated Meeting with be on Thursday July 11th.

Lasagna will be served for dinner at 6pm. The meeting will begin at 7pm.

Say hello to our 3 newest Entered Apprentices Chase Colclazier, Jon Price, and Caleb McKinney!

Their Fellowcraft Degree will be held on Thursday July 18th.

Join us tonight as we welcome three new brothers into the family!

Free Thursday night? Come join us for dinner and our Entered Apprentice Degree!

Men, the ripple effect you have on this world is immeasurable.

Being the protector, provider, and problem solver in your home will beset you with many challenges. Yet your children, and those you mentor, will define a legacy far more meaningful and lasting than a 9 to 5 job could provide.

To those embattled this day, mourning the loss of a father figure or even a child, know that you are not alone. Not only are the officers of the Lodge available if you need someone to talk to, but remember there is an inexhaustible supply of support from your Heavenly Father in the Grand Lodge above.

Please join us for the steak and cigar night. Follow the link to get your ticket. Tickets are limited for this event.

https://murat-nexgen.ticketleap.com/4th-annual-steak-and-cigar-night/

Happy Flag Day!

On such an occasion, one may naturally think of Betsy Ross. A patriotic seamstress from Philadelphia with zeal aflame in her heart. However the true story of America's first flag is not so straight forward and is the cause of much scholarly debate.

As the Ross Family recalls...
On a day in late May 1776, three members of a secret committee from the Continental Congress came to call upon Betsy Ross.

Those representatives were George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross. George Washington was then the head of the Continental Army. Robert Morris, an owner of vast amounts of land, was perhaps the wealthiest citizen in the Colonies. Colonel George Ross was a respected Philadelphian and also the uncle of Betsy's late husband, John Ross.

Betsy was a widow struggling to run her own upholstery business. Upholsterers in colonial America not only worked on furniture but did all manner of sewing work, which for some included making flags. According to Betsy, General Washington showed her a rough design of the flag that included a six-pointed star. Betsy, a standout with the scissors, demonstrated how to cut a five-pointed star in a single snip. Impressed, the committee entrusted Betsy with making the first flag.

The reality is Betsy was one of several seamstresses in Philadelphia working on flags for the new nation.

Until that time, colonies and militias used many different flags. Some are famous, such as the "Rattlesnake Flag" used by the Continental Navy, with its venomous challenge, "Don't Tread on Me".

Another naval flag had a green pine tree on a white background, such as the "Liberty Tree" flag. Other flags were quite similar to Britain's Union Jack or incorporated elements of it, such as the "Grand Union" flag displayed here.

On September 3, 1777, Patriot General William Maxwell raised the stars and stripes at Cooch's Bridge, Maryland, marking the first time that an American flag (as we now know it) had flown in battle.

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress, seeking to promote national pride and unity, adopted the national flag saying...

"Resolved: that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation."

The stars on that flag, however, were placed in rows, not in a circle. Even George Washington's Headquarters flag resembled this. His being a simple blue flag with white stars, mirroring that of the nation's.

Betsy Ross' Flag, though well-known with its circular star design, was never adopted as an official flag of the United States. Nevertheless, it joins a patchwork of flags from the period that represent the desires of our new nation to be truly independent and sovereign.

Tonight, we raised 2 new members into our Lodge family, Joanis Occy and Derek Stauffer. We also performed some courtesy work for Brookside lodge, helping them raise another brother.

We were honored to have the Grand Master of the State of Indiana, David G. Morgan present for the first half of the degree and dinner. The Grand Master did us the honor of opening the lodge in Ample form.

Thank you to all that came out to support our newest Master Masons!!!

On Thursday June 6th, 2024 Brother Charles Clay Trowbridge received his 50 year Award of Gold.

Charles was born on June 2nd, 1950 and at the age of 23, began his Masonic career.

He was initiated as an Entered Apprentice on January 18th, 1974, Passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on March 8th, 1974, and Raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason on May 31st, 1974.

The proclamation was read by W.B. Paul Page as friends, family, and brothers watched on. Thank you to all who made this evening special.