The Past Masters Jewel

We are now introduced to the Quadrant, Sextant, and the Sun

The Quadrant  -  Shows the angle of the opened compass.  Now able to measure “due bounds” it is the Past Masters experience of being responsible to ensure that Masons under his jurisdiction made proper use of their own compass while he was Master.  Here the quadrant symbolizes the Past Master’s experience with balance.

The Sextant  -  A navigation tool used to measure altitude, symbolizes that the Past Master had to navigate the course of his Lodge.

Here the sextant symbolizes the Past Master’s qualifications and ability to advise.

The Sun -  We recognize the Past Master as a source of Masonic Light and that he has observed the sun at its meridian height, its setting, and its rising.

Here the sun represents wisdom and the Past Master’s progression up the chairs. 

From Worshipful Master Ivan Smith Cataract Lodge #2 Speech 10-14-2014

Biggest Loser Finalist Is a Minnesota Freemason

O'Neal Hampton the Junior Warden of Cataract Lodge #2 of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is currently somewhere at a secret location on the famous television show The Biggest Loser. Joining him in this grueling life changing experience is his daughter Sunshine.

The photo on the below left was taken on September 8th, 2010 just before our Junior Warden O'Neal started the Biggest Loser. With O'Neal is the Master of Cataract Lodge Dave Kampf and Senior Warden Lane Guyot.


The photo on the below right is from February 23rd when O'Neal stopped in. He took us all by surprise when he took a break from his work out and exercise program and joined us for a Fellow Craft degree. You can tell he is much smaller in this photo.

Its always a great pleasure to see my Brother O'Neal . Because it means a big hug, a warm smile, and a meaningful conversation. O'Neal is a very busy man. He is a Station Manager for the Post Office. During Football season after work he rushes to one of our local high schools to help coach and mentor the kids. But he will always have time to stop and talk if you need to see him. O'Neal has been a great leader and supporter of our youth and Athletic and Scholarship programs in our community.

For those of you who are busy going to Masonic events all week and don't get a chance to watch the show, here is a quick review of what it is about. The Biggest Loser is a two hour reality television show that is on NBC. The show recruits extremely overweight people to participate in a competition. The contestants are brought to a secret location to live for several months. The object is whoever loses the largest percentage of their body weight is awarded a $250,000 cash prize.

To make it even more exciting each week, one contestant is voted off the show. The contestant is sent home, but still has a chance to win $100,000 by following a weight loss program at home.


I have watched more television in the past 14 weeks than I have in the past 15 years. Every week I make sure to see O'Neal and Sunshine. I can't believe that every week, I'm yelling words of encouragement to television as those two are involved in some weekly physical activity. Or how I had tears of joy when I saw O'Neal completing a series of push ups the week his brother died. Or I gasped when Sunshine fell below the yellow line and was almost eliminated.

Every week I watch my Brother who is subduing his passions and making himself a better man.

We at Cataract are very proud of O'Neal, but then again we always were. The biggest loser is our biggest winner.

This is week 14 and Oneal has lost 119 pounds so far, and Sunshine has lost 84 pounds.

ME?......................................I'm down 12 pounds in 8 weeks. For as huge of an effort that this weight loss has been for me, it pales in comparison to their accomplishments.

My Home Lodge

These are the newly elected and appointed Officers of Cataract Lodge #2 of St Anthony Falls . The Installing Officer was the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Minnesota Masons, Thomas McCarthy.
We are fortunate at Cataract. We have all the chairs filled with interested and dedicated Masons.
This truly is a home for me. Its a place filled with my Brothers where every time we meet it's a home coming.
At Cataract #2 we have a long and deep Masonic tradition. We received our Charter Febrary 14,1852. Even before Minnesota's Statehood.