April came in with the usual Portland rain, but inside the lodge room on Thursday evening, the atmosphere was anything but grey. The brothers of Kenton No. 145 gathered for their April Stated Meeting with a full agenda and the kind of easy warmth that has become a hallmark of lodge nights on North Denver Avenue.
And while the lodge’s Worshipful Master was away, the evening proved that Kenton’s engine runs just as smoothly under capable hands.
A Warm Table Before the Gavel Falls
Before a single gavel strike was heard, the brothers gathered in the dining hall for dinner, courtesy of Junior Warden WB Andrew Gross, who laid out a hearty spread of stir-fried chicken, rice, and a warming sausage-and-bean soup. It was the kind of meal that sets exactly the right tone for a lodge night: simple, satisfying, and prepared with the care that has become a hallmark of Kenton’s table.
The Senior Warden in the East
The evening’s proceedings were conducted by Senior Warden WB Zack Andrew, who presided in the absence of Worshipful Master WB Mike Milford. As many of the brothers know, WB Milford has been undergoing treatment for leukemia in Seattle, and the lodge continues to hold him in its thoughts and prayers. In the meantime, WB Andrew stepped into the East with quiet confidence, steering the evening’s agenda with a brisk, no-nonsense efficiency that the brethren clearly appreciated.
Two Proficiencies, Neatly Done
The formal proceedings began with the lodge opening on the Fellowcraft Degree to attend to some important business: the proficiency examination of Brother Fellowcraft Raul Ramirez. Br. Ramirez stepped forward and delivered his examination of the Fellowcraft lecture to the satisfaction of the lodge. WB Andrew declared him proficient, and the brethren offered their warm encouragement.
The lodge was then called to refreshment and reopened on the Entered Apprentice Degree, which gave Brother Entered Apprentice James Montgomery his moment to shine. Br. Montgomery demonstrated his proficiency in the Entered Apprentice lecture with admirable composure, and was likewise declared proficient, signifying a meaningful milestone on his Masonic journey.
Two proficiency examinations in a single evening is no small undertaking, but WB Andrew navigated both with characteristic steadiness.
Greetings from Afar and from the Distant Past
Among those present was Brother Mark Luther of Tuality Lodge No. 6, who was acknowledged as a visiting brother along with an Entered Apprentice Brother from his lodge. Brother Chris Furtado of San Benito Lodge no. 211 under the Grand Lodge of California F. & A. M. was also in attendance.
The lodge also paused to acknowledge its Past Masters. One return in particular stood out. WB Les Kralicek, who served as Worshipful Master of Kenton Lodge in 2005, was warmly welcomed back after a long absence from the lodge room. His return was a reminder of the deep continuity that gives a lodge like Kenton its character; the thread that runs from those who have served to those who serve now.
The Business of the Evening
Despite the weight of two proficiency examinations, the reading and formal acceptance of a proposed resolution, and the various sundries of lodge business, WB Andrew brought the gavel down in just over an hour. It was a masterclass in purposeful, unhurried efficiency and a testament to what a well-prepared Senior Warden can accomplish.
A Word from the Worshipful Master
Before the lodge closed, WB Andrew took a moment to read an address to the brethren from WB Milford—a message from the East, delivered across the distance from Seattle. The address was received with warmth and enthusiasm by all present. It was a reminder that even when a Worshipful Master cannot occupy his chair in body, his presence can still be felt in the room.
Kabbalah in the Dining Hall
After the lodge closed, the brothers made their way back to the dining hall for the evening’s Masonic Education presentation: a shallow, introductory dive into the ancient mystical tradition of Kabbalah. The presentation traced the core concepts of this esoteric system—from the Sephirot of the Tree of Life to its profound connections with broader Western mystery traditions—drawing a room full of attentive brothers into a rich and stimulating conversation that kept the evening alive well past the formal close of lodge.
It was, in many ways, the perfect capstone to a meeting that had been both efficiently conducted and quietly memorable. Proof, once again, that Kenton knows how to balance the work of the lodge with the joy of learning together.
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