March 2026: Awakening for a Historic Spring of Brotherhood

March has been a whirlwind of activity for Shekinah-Fernwood Lodge No. 246. It feels as though the Lodge has fully awakened from some kind of winter hibernation...or maybe it's just brothers returning from Florida. Either way, we're jumping straight into one of our busiest months on record. From historic visitations to a surge in new members, the "Spring of Brotherhood" is officially here.

A Historic "First": The Districts B & C Joint Visitation

Our Stated Meeting on March 12, 2026, held at the Masonic Temple on One North Broad Street, was a truly momentous occasion. We played host to the first-ever Joint District Visitation between Districts B and C.

The room was filled with 45 members and 42 guests, including the Officers of both districts and six members of Mount Pickering Lodge No. 446. We were even joined by Brother Niki Schlemmer from Zur Warheit Lodge in Vienna, Austria.

Brother William F. Moree Jr., District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District B, brought greetings from Brother Robert D. Brink, Right Worshipful Grand Master. In a fun twist, the DDGM had every Worshipful Master in attendance stand up to share their lodge name, meeting night, and a fun fact. Admittedly, it got a little confusing who to address first when Brother Samuel Freeman, District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District C was introducing each lodge from his district. We're still working the quirks out, but the energy in the room was unmatched.

Announcements for the District(s):

• September Visitation: A second joint visitation is already being planned for September.
• The "Pink Degree": Stay tuned for details about an upcoming night of laughs where our significant others will take our seats in the Lodge to act out what they think we do during a typical meeting. It’s going to be a night to remember, sometime this Fall of 2026!

The Unsung Financier of the American Revolution: Haym Salomon

During the joint visitation, Joel H. Rosner P.M. delivered a captivating presentation on Haym Salomon, a Sephardi Jewish immigrant and Freemason who served as the primary financier of the American Revolution. Born in Poland to a family expelled from Portugal in the 15th century, Salomon’s contributions were so vital that Washington’s army might have ground to a halt without his resources.

Salomon’s journey was one of immense bravery:

• Harrowing Service: Arrested by the British as a spy in 1776, he used his fluency in seven languages to serve as a translator for Hessian mercenaries, whom he then encouraged to desert.
• The Yorktown Miracle: When Washington trapped Cornwallis at Yorktown but lacked $20,000 for supplies, he famously ordered, "Send for Haym Salomon". Legend says Salomon was approached during Yom Kippur services and immediately left to raise the funds.

• Financial Sacrifice: Operating out of a Philadelphia coffee house, he raised or personally loaned $650,000 to the cause (roughly $25 million today).

Though he was a member of Pennsylvania's Lodge No. 2, Salomon’s story ended in tragedy. He died in 1785 of tuberculosis contracted in a British dungeon, passing away penniless because the government never repaid the $353,000 owed to him. Today, he is finally honored on the "Great Triumvirate of Patriots" monument in Chicago alongside George Washington and Robert Morris.

Degrees, Degrees, and More Degrees!

We haven't just been meeting; we’ve been working. The Lodge held two extra meetings this month to confer a total of three degrees.

Sublime Degree of a Master Mason: On March 26th, after a great meal at Tom's Dim Sum, Brother Ross Akselrad was raised to the 3rd degree. It was a special family affair, as he was guided by his actual brother, Brother Hunter Most P.M..

Entered Apprentice Degrees: To close out the month on March 31st we had dinner at Maggianos, and then we welcomed Brother Drew Weinstein and Brother Garrett Stominger into the fraternity as they both received their first degree. One of the degrees was delivered for the first time by Brother Ringo Roseman, Senior Warden.

Congratulations to our new and advancing brothers on taking these significant steps in their Masonic journeys.

Fellowship Around the Region

Our social calendar was just as packed as our floor work.

Brotherhood Night at Nur Shrine: On March 20th, a large contingent of our Lodge attended Brotherhood Night. Another huge thank you to Brother Stuart E. Konefsky, P.M., for capturing the memories through his photography. More pictures are up on his website here.

Lodge Plus One Dinner: On Saturday, March 28th, we gathered at Chickie’s & Pete’s on the Blvd for a fantastic evening of food and fellowship with our partners.

Temple School of Instruction: On March 24th, Brother Steve Sacavitch officially became certified in the opening charge. We are incredibly proud of his hard work and look forward to him delivering his first charge next month during the Right Worshipful Grand Master’s visitation!.

Upcoming Events: Don't Miss Out!

The momentum isn't slowing down. Make sure you have these dates on your calendar and your RSVPs in.

March was a testament to the strength and growth of our Lodge. Whether you are a long-standing member or looking to join a group of men dedicated to charity and community, there has never been a better time to be part of Shekinah-Fernwood.

We hope to see every one of you on April 9th to welcome the Right Worshipful Grand Master!.