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Brethren,
As November arrives and the days grow shorter, we turn our thoughts toward gratitude, fellowship, and the work that remains before the year closes. October was a month well spent, and I thank every brother who took part in our meetings, and the events that kept our Lodge active and connected. The momentum we have built is a credit to this membership, and I encourage everyone to carry it forward through the final weeks of the year.
A matter of importance this month: dues notices are being mailed from Grand Lodge to each member’s address on file. Please watch your mail, and take care of your dues promptly so that your standing in the Lodge remains in good order. If you do not receive your notice, or if your address has changed, please contact the Secretary so that it can be corrected.
Looking ahead, we call upon every brother to be present at our December Stated Meeting. We will hold our annual elections, and your voice and your vote matter in shaping the leadership of the Lodge in the year to come.
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At that same meeting, we will be signing Christmas cards for the residents of the Masonic Home. A simple signature and a kind word can brighten a holiday, and it reminds those residents that they are cared for and not forgotten. It is a small gesture that means a great deal, and it is the kind of work that reflects who we are as Masons.
Finally, please note that Porter Lodge will be hosting the Feast of St. John in December. It will be on December 28th at 6PM, with the Feast starting at 7PM. The key speaker will be the Grand Master of Indiana MWM John Bridegroom. We will share more details, and arrangements, in the December newsletter, so be sure to keep an eye out for it.
Our strength lies in our attendance, our preparation, and our fellowship within the Lodge walls. We look forward to seeing everyone on the level.
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✵ AT A GLANCE: WHAT HAPPENED IN OCTOBER
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10/06/2026 …. October Stated Meeting
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10/10/2026 …. Masonic Education Day
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10/23/2026 …. Trick ‘n Treat
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10/29/2026 …. Trustees Meeting
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✵ NOVEMBER: PLANNED MEETINGS & DEGREES
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11/03/2026
November Stated Meeting
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11/26/2026
Trustees Meeting
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✵ DECEMBER: PUT THESE IN YOUR CALENDARS
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December is a busy month with a lot of events happening. Here is the schedule for the last month of 2026:
December 1 - Stated Meeting & Elections
December 5 - Lodge Christmas Party
December 8 - Past Master’s Degree (Past Masters only)
December 19 - Installation Ceremony for the 2027 Officer Line
December 28 - Feast of St. John
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✵ PORTER LODGE’S EDUCATION DAY
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It was a tremendous day for Freemasonry in Northwest Indiana.
On Saturday, October 10, Porter Lodge No. 137 hosted its third Masonic Education event in Valparaiso, and the results exceeded expectations. Masonic education is an essential part of every Mason's journey, and more opportunities like this throughout the Fraternity would be welcome.
Attendees enjoyed four excellent presentations, and sincere thanks go to everyone who came out to support the event. READ MORE….
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On Friday, October 23, downtown Valparaiso once again filled with families for the town’s beloved Halloween trick-or-treat tradition, and Porter Lodge #137 was proud to take part.
Hundreds of children, accompanied by their parents, made their way through the downtown streets, as they do each year. Porter Lodge has participated for several years now. The event offers a wonderful opportunity to put a smile on a child’s face, leave a lasting positive impression on young minds, and make the Lodge more visible to the people of Valparaiso. It also gave Brothers the chance to answer questions parents had about Freemasonry in general.
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✵ PORTER’S BANNER AT THE VALPARAISO YMCA
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We are pleased to inform you that our banner is now proudly displayed at the Valparaiso YMCA, where thousands of people will see it. Visitors can scan the QR code to reach a landing page on our website that explains what Freemasonry is, what we do, and who we are.
The page also includes a contact form for anyone who wants to learn more, visit us, or get to know our Fraternity.
We hope this campaign will shed light on our work, dispel common misconceptions, and help the community better understand the noble pursuit we are dedicated to.
We will keep you informed of the response to the campaign and of any inquiries received through the contact form.
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✵ LODGE’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY
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Porter Lodge No. 137 invites all Brothers to bring their children and grandchildren, ages 13 and younger, to the Annual Children's Christmas Party on Saturday, December 5. The party begins at 11:00 AM, and Santa is scheduled to arrive at noon. All members and their families are invited!!!
Registration
To help ensure Santa has an appropriate gift for every child, each child must be registered with their age and gender. Registration is available by scanning the QR code on the flyer or by using the link below.
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✵ PORTER LODGE TRAVELING GAVEL UPDATE
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We haven’t heard any updates regarding the Porter Lodge Traveling Gavel in quite a while! As a symbol of inter-lodge visitation, communication, and brotherly fellowship, the gavel has traveled all across the region and been captured as a prized trophy by more than 15 lodges over the years.
A few months ago, it was claimed by Glen Park Lodge No. 732. With the summer hiatus, it remained safely in their care until Wednesday evening, October 28th. Determined to bring it back, six Porter Brethren traveled to Glen Park Lodge to witness degree work and reclaim the gavel.
While this was technically the shortest voyage in the gavel's history—given that Glen Park Lodge meets right here in our own building—it simply means the gavel is moving to a different cabinet. Most importantly, the gavel is back home again!
That said, we hope its stay here is a brief one. We warmly invite Brethren from neighboring lodges to visit, enjoy our fellowship, and capture the Traveling Gavel for themselves and take it to their home lodge.
You will always find a warm welcome at Porter Lodge!
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Understanding The Working Tools
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The Skirret: The Forgotten Working Tool of Freemasonry
The skirret is an especially interesting subject for Masonic education because it connects the practical work of the operative stonemason with the moral and philosophical lessons of speculative Freemasonry. It also raises a worthwhile historical question: why does this tool appear in the symbolism and ritual of some Masonic traditions, particularly those influenced by British workings, but is generally absent from the standard ritual of American Craft Masonry?
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The Mosaic Pavement:
History, Geometry, and Symbolism
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Few images are as closely associated with Freemasonry as the black-and-white chequered floor at the center of the Lodge. It is among the first symbols encountered by the Entered Apprentice, and it is often one of the most recognizable features of a Masonic temple to those outside the Craft. Yet, despite its familiarity, the Mosaic Pavement has a history more complex than its simple appearance might suggest.
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✵ CORNERSTONE REFLECTIONS
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WB Robert Easton, PM:
Stop Trying to Sell Masonry
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Are we driving potential Masons away by rushing to recruit them?
Drawing from thirty years in sales, this article reveals why pushing petitions too quickly backfires and cheapens the Craft. Instead of "selling" Masonry, Lodges must master active listening to understand what brings a man to their door. Read on to discover how patient, genuine connections build stronger candidates and a more resilient Fraternity.
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Bro. Justin D. Miller:
A Three Part Masonic Riddle
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The key in mind did seek the masters word
Though shan't be sought by use of any tool
By one that knocked who was the last and third
The key was severed like the masters jewel
Twas he that knocked upon the temple door
With all the zeal of those who worked and earned
Not thrice but once and then a word no more
No grave for he whose wage would see him burned
In square of three and three they testified
Yet three did not respond nor did they show
Instead they sought relief upon the tide
But wind would not reward that fateful blow
Twas he that stood before the throne while bound
The truth could not remain below the earth
It grew until it pushed up through the ground
And from the death he wrought was granted birth
His name remains but do we know his worth?
(part 2 is the attached image, which the key is derived from the poem)
(part 3 is the derived from the study of the MM degree)
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Old Tiler Talks (4)
Acting as a Chaplain
The Old Tilers talks first published in 1925, by Carl Claudy, is a series of short anecdotal stories told in the setting of a new member asking an old tiler for his opinion on various masonic topics.
These short articles are still very relevant, 100 years on, and hopefully provide some insight to new members today.
A perfectly articulated story by Claudy that reminds us of a lesson from the Second Degree Charge; in the decision of every trespass against our rules, judge with candor, admonish with friendship, and reprehend with mercy.
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(*Wisdom from the Old Books)
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On October 10, 2026, officers of The Great South Bend Consistory Line, representing the Valley of South Bend, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, painting and building a shed alongside the future homeowner. They also sponsored coffee for the building team as a gesture of gratitude. Impressed by their work ethic and attitude, Habitat invited them back, reinforcing their ongoing commitment to service, fellowship, and community involvement.
Join us for our next humanitarian action!
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Discover the symbolic universe of Tarot in our upcoming series, where we’ll explore the deck card by card. Tarot is a powerful mirror for self-reflection and the human experience, using symbols and archetypes to illuminate our journey rather than simply predict the future.
Over the next few months, we’ll explore the meanings and imagery of the Major Arcana, continuing now with
The Emperor, the symbol of structure, authority, stability, discipline, protective leadership, and the sovereign principle through which raw potential is shaped into enduring reality.
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The Time Capsule Exhibit is part of Porter Lodge No. 137’s celebration of its 175th Anniversary Re-Dedication. Over the coming year, Brothers are invited to contribute meaningful artifacts, photographs, documents, and other items that reflect the history, spirit, and life of the Lodge. As each contribution is received, it will be placed on display for all to enjoy.
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As November arrives with crisp autumn air and the gathering spirit of the season, Porter Lodge No. 137 takes time to celebrate our Brothers born this month.
Whether near or far, actively attending or with us in spirit, your place in our fraternity is always valued. We extend our warmest birthday greetings to each of you and hope the year ahead brings good health, peace, and plenty of reasons to smile.
May you enjoy your special day surrounded by family and friends. From all your Brothers at Porter Lodge No. 137, Happy Birthday—may the best of the year ahead be yet to come!
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✵ FROM THE SECRETARY’S DESK
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Greetings, Brethren - A New Year Begins with Us
As November arrives, our attention naturally turns toward the year ahead and the continued work of Porter Lodge No. 137. The 2027 dues letters should begin arriving in your mailboxes any day now, but some of our Brothers have already taken the initiative and paid their dues early. Thank you to those Brothers for getting a head start! Our annual dues remain $110.00, and taking care of them promptly is one of the simplest ways each member can contribute to the Lodge’s stability. Dues are more than an annual obligation; they are each member’s share in sustaining the place where we gather, strengthen friendships, welcome new candidates, and continue the traditions that connect us as Masons.
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When every Brother does his part, the Lodge is better positioned to plan its activities, support its programs, and make the coming year meaningful for everyone. You can pay your dues online, by check, or in cash—whatever is most convenient for you. Rather than leaving this task for the last moment, consider taking care of it early and beginning the new Masonic year with one less thing on your list. A strong Lodge is built through the participation and commitment of its members, and every contribution helps keep our shared work moving forward. Thank you for being part of Porter Lodge No. 137 and for helping ensure that we enter 2027 ready to continue building something worthwhile together.
We look forward to seeing everyone at Lodge soon!
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If you have not activated your account but would still like to pay online, please contact me and I will provide you with a personalized payment link that allows you to complete your payment in just a few clicks.
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✵ BELONG. RESPRESENT. INSPIRE
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We are excited to unveil the new design of our Lodge shirt - crafted by Masonic Beehive - a fresh and distinguished look that reflects the pride, tradition, and fellowship we share as Brothers of Porter Lodge No. 137. This shirt is more than just apparel; it is a visible symbol of our connection to one another and to the Craft.
We encourage every Brother to place an order and wear it proudly at Lodge events, community activities, and wherever our travels may take us. By wearing our Lodge shirt, we not only represent Porter Lodge, but also demonstrate our unity, commitment, and sense of belonging to something greater than ourselves.
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