Community Corner

Lake Zurich Masons Open Their Doors

Have you ever wanted to know what the Masons are all about?

When some people think of the Masons, they think of the group as being a "secret society" — a belief that has been perpetuated by many television programs and books.

Members of the Lake Zurich Masonic Lodge, however, say that's simply not true. Indeed, there are secret handshakes and even secret words during meetings, which also are held in secret, said Bobby Nielsen II, a Lake Zurich Mason.

But, as the lodge's Worshipful Master Brian Acevedo pointed out, "Masonry is not a secret society, but it is a society with secrets."

The Lake Zurich Masons recently opened their doors to members of the — and Lake Zurich Patch — and gave visitors the chance to learn about the organization. It wasn't the first time that the Lake Zurich Masons welcomed outsiders (they held an open house last year) and it won't be the last, with a plan to hold an open house during this year's Alpine Fest.

"There's mystery shrouding our organization, absolutely," said Acevedo. "It's actually quite alluring to some people who are interested in history."

The Lake Zurich Masonic Lodge was and is part of the "Blue Lodge," or main Masonic Lodge. Lake Zurich's Lodge is No. 1089, meaning it was the 1,089th lodge chartered in Illinois. The Lake Zurich Masons originally met on the second floor of the old Village Hall but bought their existing building at 101 Oak St. in 1941.

As for the history of the Masons themselves, Acevedo said "nobody really, truly knows when it started," but some date it back to the stonemasons who worked on King Solomon's Temple.

The aim of Masonry, Acevedo said, is to make good men better and to provide "a moral compass on how to live your life and build your temple."

Masons are required to believe in a higher power. Acevedo said when Masons take their oaths, they do so on the holy book associated with their faith. He points out, though, that the Masons are not a religious organization.

"We're a very moral fraternity," he said.

Masons must maintain a moral code that prohibits them from certain activities while at the Lodge, including gambling, drinking alcohol, and talking about politics and religion, said Nielsen, a third-generation Mason. He added that Masons who are convicted of felonies are "booted out" of the organization.

The Lake Zurich Lodge's 86 members, like their counterparts at other lodges, meet in secret. The shuttered windows of their building hide not only stained-glass windows but also the ceremony and discussion that take place within the lodge.

Meetings open and close with a ceremony, said Tapkowski.

"There's a lot of ritual," he said. There is even a hierarchy that determines where Masons sit during their meetings. The lodge's master, for example, sits three steps above the other Masons. Above his chair is a large letter "G," which Tapkowski said stands for God and geometry.

During meetings, a Bible sits atop an altar in the center of the room, Tapkowski said. The Bible is open during the meeting, and a spotlight shines on it as it is opened. Tapkowski added that once a meeting begins, a guard stands outside the door with a drawn sword.

He pointed out, however, that "we're not doing anything odd here." The Masons, he said, are largely a social and service organization.

"It's a great way to give back to the community and to be a part of something bigger than yourself," said James Edgell, a member of the Palatine Lodge.

Illinois Masons offer the Illinois Child Identification Program, better known as IL CHIP, said Tapkowski. Through the free program, a child's picture is taken, he or she is fingerprinted, and a DNA sample is collected. The information is then stored on a CD and kept in case something happens to the child.

Here in Lake Zurich, Masons aim to reach out more to the community. For example, the Lake Zurich Masons sponsor the Scholastic Bowl team, said Nielsen.

Tapkowski added that the Lake Zurich Lodge wants to get involved with community events and parades.

The one hurdle the organization must overcome, however, is finding new members. Read about how to become a Mason.

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