Tony Staver was raised to a Master Mason on December 5, 2016.

Arthur Campbell received his 50 Years of Membership award from Worshipful Master Jeff Lichtfuss at the Past Masters dinner held at the Prime Quarter in Janesville on November 10, 2016.

New Master Mason Jim McMillan was raised on November 12, 2016.  Pictured l-r: Larry Preston, Mike Nelson, Norm Burns, Richard Moen, seated Pete Rambow, PGM Jack Allord, New Master Mason Jim McMillan, Jeff Lichtfuss, Allen Snyder Seated Warren Notestad, Duane Harvey and Mark Nelson.

ven new Jobies in front and the Jobies who came from other Bethels to perform the Initiation Ceremony.
By Emmalyn Smith, Grand Bethel Senior Princess
Bethel #21 of Janesville, was reinstituted on Sept. 18. After many months of working out logistics and finding girls who were interested in joining, the Bethel finally took it's first steps and initiated seven girls. These girls have so much support from the State and from other Masonic organizations. They have an amazing council to work with: Mom Sherri Arnold, Bethel Guardian; Dad JT Lichtfuss, Associate Bethel Guardian; Mom Anne DeWilde, Guardian Secretary; Dad Larry Preston, Guardian Treasurer; Mom Laura Slavik, Director of Epochs; and Mom Rosie Fiscus, Promoter of Sociability. Bethels from Burlington, Milwaukee, West Allis, Bristol and Racine came to help out with the initiation. The girls are excited to finally be members and we are excited for them. Continued support for these girls as they begin their journeys is essential. They have already started working on a calendar and have many ideas for events. We hope to see you at some of their future events!

Janesville-Western Star Lodge #55 just completed a fund raiser to improve the appearance of the Dining Hall.  With the walls of the area repainted, new six foot round tables and burgundy colored fabric stacking chairs were purchased.  This is what a recent event looked like with these new tables and chairs.   

Back row l-r: Dale Anderson, John Meek, Miles Bradley, Ron Rasmussen, Patrick Garvin, Fran Prusansky, Duane Harvey.
Frt. row l-r: Jerry Thompson, PGM Jack Allord, PGM John Wilke, MM Joshua Grube, WM Jeff Lichtfuss, Brian Duoss, Jim Gajdosik.

Six Lodge members and two wives enjoyed an evening with the Rockford Illinois Robert Burns Club celebrating the 258th Anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns.  l-r; Larry Preston, John Scotty Meek, Dale Anderson, Alan Snyder, Norm Burns and Jerry Thompson.

Our own Scotsman in proper dress.

Brother Robert Wilson received his 65 Year Membership Certificate.  Brother Wilson will be 101 on December 28.  Pictured l-r, Dale Anderson, John Meek, Robert Wilson (seated), Larry Preston, and Jerry Thompson.

Western Star Lodge #14 first met June 1847 and was granted a Charter on January 18, 1848.  Janesville City Lodge #55 first met on October 3, 1854 and was granted a Charter on June 13, 1855.  These two lodges formed a joint venture and purchase from the Methodist Church their building on the Northwest corner of Court and South Main streets in the city of Janesville in 1905.  After remodeling the building, the Lodge was dedicated on December 27, 1906. The Lodges met there until selling the building and construction of the current Lodge building at 2322 East Milwaukee Street.  The corner stone for the current building was laid in ceremony on November 9, 1965 and the Lodge dedicated on October 1, 1966 by the Grand Lodge officers of Wisconsin.  Western Star Lodge #14 merged with Janesville City Lodge #55 in 1996 to become know as Janesville-Western Star Lodge F&AM #55.

Janesville-Western Star Lodge invited all Rock County Masonic Lodges to participate in supplying information about the Masonic Organizations.  Beside the Masonic Lodges, there was information about Jobs Daughters, Bethel 21, an order for young girls, and Eastern Star, Janesville Chapter 69, an order for Ladies and Masons.  Masonic Lodges from Beloit, Edgerton and Milton participated.