The Leader
March 2021: Sister Lodges

The purpose of the initiative,” says Jordan Yelinek, Director of Member Services for Grand Lodge, “is for two lodges from different parts of the state to connect and learn more about each other, with the idea being that only good things could come from such a meeting.” That, at least, was Sean Metroka’s hope when, as Master of Nevada Lodge No. 13, he broached the subject with his counterpart at California Lodge No. 1, Doug Ismail. “I was really interested to get to know brothers from an urban lodge,” says Metroka, who is now Junior Grand Warden, “I knew that my brothers at Nevada Lodge knew mountain Masonry, but here was an opportunity for them to benefit from seeing how other Masons conducted Masonry.” After exchanging emails and getting a draft of the Sister Lodge Initiative Resolution passed through both lodges’ membership, they were ready to go. “The first thing we were going to do was take a trip down to San Francisco to participate in a degree ceremony,” says Lee Wilbourne, current Master of Nevada Lodge. “Then COVID-19 hit.” “The pandemic has certainly curtailed the initiative somewhat,” admits Yelinek, “but with lodges being able to vote on things remotely, they can vote on the Sister Lodge Resolution and begin that relationship now.” Looking ahead to when lodges can reopen and get back to some semblance of normalcy, Worshipful Wilbourne sees a future for the initiative at his lodge. “Once we get grounded again and settled, we definitely intend to start the relationship back up with California No. 1.” Even though they haven’t yet been able to enact their plans for travelling to San Francisco, the Masons of Nevada No. 13 can clearly see the benefit of the program. “How else can you get lodges to travel around the state to see Masonry in different forms?” asks Worshipful Wilbourne. Metroka agrees. “It’s a way of expanding our idea of Masonry,” he says, “and in the end that’s what the initiative is all about.”