August 3rd saw the first of our new format Stated Meetings where we invited our ladies to join us for dinner before the meeting, and to then enjoy some entertainment and socialising whilst we conducted our lodge business.The Hill City Ladies Club is an initiative by our WM and is designed to get our partners more involved in the lodge.
37 people attended the event and enjoyed a freshly prepared three-course meal prepared by our Stewards and also accompanied by music from a brother guitarist. The meeting was enjoyed by all and we will be repeating the format for our September Stated Meeting and beyond.
https://hillcitylodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hcl8-300x73.jpg00Nick Grossmanhttps://hillcitylodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hcl8-300x73.jpgNick Grossman2021-08-04 13:31:252021-08-04 13:31:27Stated meeting and Hill City Ladies’ Club
We had another enjoyable meeting this week when one of our brothers who’d relocated from Spring TX was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. It was particularly pleasing to welcome two brethren (including the sitting Worshipful Master) from his mother lodge in Spring who participated in the ceremony and joined us for our pre-meeting meal and refreshments afterwards. Yet another Raising ceremony will take place in two week’s time so do come and join us
https://hillcitylodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hcl8-300x73.jpg00Nick Grossmanhttps://hillcitylodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hcl8-300x73.jpgNick Grossman2021-07-29 16:06:152021-07-29 16:06:18Raising ceremony brings another master mason into Hill City 456
We had a productive and enjoyable lodge meeting last night when 20 brethren and guests gathered at the Scottish Rite Theater. Following fellowship and coffee, where we all caught up with the week’s developments, we sat down and enjoyed a scratch-made meal. During this our newly appointed Lodge Education Officer facilitated a thought provoking and stimulating discussion on chosen masonic topics. We then opened the lodge and one of our fellow craft brethren delivered his fellow-craft turn-in work in excellent form, ahead of his forthcoming Master Mason’s ceremony. There’s also a master mason degree scheduled for next week’s meeting so do come along and join us if you can.
https://hillcitylodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hcl8-300x73.jpg00Nick Grossmanhttps://hillcitylodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hcl8-300x73.jpgNick Grossman2021-07-21 12:37:592021-07-21 12:38:03Weekly meeting report June 20th 2021
The Austin Valley of the Scottish Rite had its Moton H. Crockett Jr. Reunion on 10 July at the Scottish Rite Temple & Theatre. It was a compressed Reunion since the planning and preparation were taking place under evolving restrictions related to COVID-19. This is noteworthy not only by its being in our jurisdiction and the same building as our Lodge, but our very own Junior Steward, Nick Grossman, was a member of the class and received the 29 nine degrees of Scottish Rite make him a 32° Scottish Rite Mason.
https://hillcitylodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hcl8-300x73.jpg00Don Jarrellhttps://hillcitylodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hcl8-300x73.jpgDon Jarrell2021-07-12 13:29:202021-07-12 13:29:22Austin Scottish Rite Reunion and Degrees
Here are your Lodge officers for the ensuing Masonic Year.
Missing from the photo are Senior Steward Sean Williams and Junior Steward Nick Grossman.
https://hillcitylodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hcl8-300x73.jpg00Don Jarrellhttps://hillcitylodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hcl8-300x73.jpgDon Jarrell2021-07-12 13:16:192021-07-12 13:16:21Hill City Lodge Officers for MY 2021-2022
Robert Eschenburg frequently reminds all of us at Hill City Lodge of our tradition for having an outstanding meal on the table for Masons, families and visitors every Tuesday night. The pandemic, the lockdowns, and the overall disruption in our lives for this past Masonic year certainly threw a wrench into that but SS Ryan Divincenzo and JS Sean Williams soldiered on and did the best that could be done under adverse circumstances. For the past 3 months we have seen rising attendance at Stated and Called meetings as life starting coming back to normal.
Last night for our Installation evening, Brother Williams astounded the 30+ attendees with a fantastic dinner and mustered the help of several Brothers to serve us all in the dining room (like a real restaurant !) on real dishes. It is true that fantastic food is always helped by great presentation and remarkable service rendered, in this case, by some of our most junior masons, several Past Masters, and even a non-Mason who has been visiting regularly. Even the cleaning up in the kitchen, after a long night in the Lodge room, was like the good ol’ days of Hill City Lodge fraternity.
For those of you who could not join us for the evening, here is the meal we enjoyed. Trust me and all the other Brothers who remarked at the salmon, potatoes, and really exquisite asparagus and carrots, it was great.
So come on down on Tuesday evenings and maybe you’ll luck out and get a meal like this.
https://hillcitylodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hcl8-300x73.jpg00Don Jarrellhttps://hillcitylodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hcl8-300x73.jpgDon Jarrell2021-06-30 19:00:132021-06-30 19:00:44Tradition of Outstanding Meals at Hill City Lodge is BACK !
Yes, we had an installation of Lodge Officer at Hill City Lodge #456 and it went quite well. Richard Garrett was duly and constitutionally installed as Worshipful Master for Masonic Year 2021-2022. The full slate of officers is shown here. Outgoing WM Luke Michaels, now Junior Past Master, was presented with his Past Master apron in the new version released this year by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas as well as a standing ovation for his leadership – and perseverance – as Hill City Lodge’s first (and hopefully only) pandemic Master. New WM Garrett was also presented with keys to the Lodge and the traditional Master’s belt buckle by JPM Michaels. Retiring Lodge Secretary Phillip Dewailly was presented with a gift of thanks for his many years of dedication serving in that office.
We also transitioned our Master Masons Lodge of Sorrow for the ensuing Masonic year. We had a very good turnout on this Family Night with many of the Masons’ wives whom we haven’t seen in a while because of the pandemic and lockdown, which is mostly beyond us. With that and a full slate of enthusiastic officers, we look forward to an outstanding year of growth and rejuvenation.
It was a sad day, but a beautiful day. We luckily had a break from the 11 straight days of rain and maybe as many as 40 Brethren attended the burial service for our beloved Brother, Uncle Bob Schmidt, PM. Brother Kent Kinkade, PM, presided in excellent form. He knew Uncle Bob was watching and would correct him if he made a mistake. Several of our tough ol’ Texas Masons got a little teary eyed as we gave him our goodbyes for his journey to the Celestial Lodge above. May he ever rest among the evergreens.
https://hillcitylodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hcl8-300x73.jpg00Don Jarrellhttps://hillcitylodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/hcl8-300x73.jpgDon Jarrell2021-05-30 16:10:462021-05-30 16:10:48Uncle Bob’s Masonic Burial Service
