Congratulations Maine's Teacher of the Year!!

The Margeson Family

Brethren,  I hope you take a moment to congratulate Alana Margeson on becoming Teacher of the year.  If you are not aware Alana is the wife of Caribou Lodge member Br. Erich Margeson. 

She is a 12 year educator at Caribou High School and mother of four wonderful boys.  I know Alana from community, church and the fact that our children attend school together.

In my opinion the recognition given this award is wonderful but only partially speaks to the character and ability of this wonderful lady.


According to the Bangor Daily News, "Alana will go to Texas in January to meet the other teachers of the year and to Washington, D.C., in May to meet President Barack Obama. She also will attend Space Camp in Alabama in July, and will make a video two months later to document why she loves teaching so much. She then will go on to compete in the selection process for the 2012 National Teacher of the Year. The winner of that honor will be announced in April 2012 at the White House."

Here is a link to the full story:  http://bangordailynews.com/2011/09/15/news/aroostook/caribou-educator-named-maine%E2%80%99s-2012-teacher-of-the-year/

Again, I hope you take a moment to congratulate the Margesons and be proud that Maine's Teacher of the Year supports her Mason.

An interesting week in Masonry

Brethren, I thought that I would share with you some of my travels this past week or so.

I started by on September 1^st with Caribou lodges Stated meeting.  

 

  We were pleased to recognize some of our brothers for their years of service, Oscar Erickson with his 55 year service Star, Wor. Dale Dee and Br. Gary Richards with their 50 year veterans medal, and pictured Peter Doebener II with his 25 year service pin.  The highlight of the evening was that Wor. Peter Doebener was able to present his son Peter Doebener II with that award.

  

 On September 7^th I found myself in Washington County for work and was able to attend Washington Lodge No. 37 in Lubec Maine.  I was pleased that the master asked if I would sit in the West for them and happily agreed.  Then just before we opened he threw me the curve ball by informing me we were going to do it in EA.  Something I was not completely prepared for but we did manage. J   Another point of interest from that meeting was the reading of an application submitted by one of the local Catholic Priests.  I think that this is great and reinforces that an active lodge attracts good men.  But if raised will they call him “Father Brother”, or “Brother Father?” just a bit of attempted humor.

Finally on September 10th  I attended International night hosted by Trinity lodge in Presque Isle.  International night brings the lodges of District one in Maine and District four in New Brunswick together for a meeting.  Once again I was asked to sit in the West as a replacement and was again very pleased to do so.  Maybe more so when we stayed in the more familiar MM opening.  As part of the program District 1 members put on a Rusty Nail Degree which was very good the brothers did a wonderful job.  They were followed by a degree team from New Brunswick who raised a candidate for the Masonic Lodge in Grand Falls.  That was for me the highlight of the evening.  They were both skilled in their work and flawless in their execution.  I was truly impressed.

They say you get out of Masonry what you put into it, and this week I think the returns were far more than the investment.  

David Spooner, WM

The Dudley Masonic Watch

William Wallace Dudley was born in 1851 in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. He became interested in horology at the age of 13 and became an apprentice to a maker of ship chronometers. After completing his apprenticeship, he moved to the United States.

Dudley moved around from one watch factory to another gaining knowledge and experience. 

Over the years Dudley had viewed many watch designs including those of M. Tobias & Co. (England), which incorporated two Masonic symbols in the workings of the watch. Dudley was deeply interested in Freemasonry, and was a member of both the York and Scottish Rites, the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon.

In 1918, Dudley began work on the production of a Masonic watch with its bridge plate in the form of Masonic symbols (a slipper, plumb, trowel, level, square, compass, the letter G. and a Bible). The plates were machined by his friend, Willis R. Michael, also a Freemason. Dudley later applied for and was granted patents for the Masonic plate design dated June 29, 1923. According to his daughter, Dudley had been planning his Masonic watch for 15 to 20 years prior to being granted the patent for the design.

On February 9, 1938 Dudley died at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He never lived to see the Dudley Masonic Watch become a valuable, sought after collector's item. 

~~~~~

Dudley Masonic Watch
Identification Keys

Model 1) 14-size, 19 jewel, open face, "Holy Bible" engraved on winding arbor plate. Exposed winding pinion. Gilded pallet bridge matching the plates.

Model 2) 12-size, 19 jewel. Uses Hamilton 910/912 train and escapement. Flat silver-colored Bible covers winding arbor.

Model 3) 12-size. 3-dimensional silver-colored Bible riveted in place. Third wheel bridge rounded on one end.
Dudley Masonic Watch.

Approximate Serial Numbers and Production Dates
Years S/N
1920 - 1925 Dudley Watch Co. 500 - 1900
1925 - 1935 P. W. Baker Co. 2001 - 4800
1935 - 1976 XL Watch Co, NY 4801 - 6500

IMPORTANT: Be sure to use the serial number on the movement (the works) of the watch.
Do not use the serial number from the case.

 — with Thorsten Philippi and My Dudley.