Bro. James W. Maertens was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason at Lake Harriet Lodge in June 2007 and appointed Lodge Education Officer in January 2008.  He is a 32° Scottish Rite Master of the Royal Secret, having taken the full degree cycle of the Scottish Rite in Fall 2007 at Minneapolis Valley's Temple.  He is also a Noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and member of the Zurah Shrine unit "The Chairmen."  In 2009 Bro. Maertens was elevated to the most sublime degree of the Holy Royal Arch and is a member of St. John's-Lake Harriet Chapter No. 9.

Born in Minneapolis in 1960, Bro. Maertens has lived in Minnesota all his life except for a couple of short sojourns abroad. In 1983-84 he lived and studied in England as an undergraduate.  In 1985, he received his baccalaureate degree summa cum laude at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.  He received his Master of Arts (1990) and Ph.D. (1993) in English language and literature at the University of Minnesota.  

Bro. Maertens has been a teacher of English and Humanties for many years, but presently works as a writer and wood carver.  He has published numerous articles and papers on a variety of philosophic and literary subjects, and is currently working on a novel for middle grade readers.   He lives with his wife and daughter in Minneapolis and enjoys book collecting, reading, drawing, architecture, travel, hiking, gardening, yoga, films, theater, opera, concerts, and peculiar hats.

James is also very proud and honored to have been named Grand Lodge of Minnesota Representative to the Grand Orient of the Netherlands and to the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium.  He expects in the future to travel to both of those bodies and to visit our brothers in the Netherlands and Belgium.  As Lodge Education Officer (LEO) of Lake Harriet Lodge, Bro. Maertens delivers monthly talks on Masonic subjects during the lodge stated meetings.  He also frequently arranges for guest speakers on topics of interest to Masons.  Finally, Bro. James is founder and grand bibliophile of the Lake Harriet S.A.G.E.S. Masonic reading and discussion group, which meets regularly every fourth Monday of the month.

Bro. James W. Maertens was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason at Lake Harriet Lodge in June 2007 and appointed Lodge Education Officer in January 2008.  He is a 32° Scottish Rite Master of the Royal Secret, having taken the full degree cycle of the Scottish Rite in Fall 2007 at Minneapolis Valley's Temple.  He is also a Noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and member of the Zurah Shrine unit "The Chairmen."  In 2009 Bro. Maertens was elevated to the most sublime degree of the Holy Royal Arch and is a member of St. John's-Lake Harriet Chapter No. 9.

Born in Minneapolis in 1960, Bro. Maertens has lived in Minnesota all his life except for a couple of short sojourns abroad. In 1983-84 he lived and studied in England as an undergraduate.  In 1985, he received his baccalaureate degree summa cum laude at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.  He received his Master of Arts (1990) and Ph.D. (1993) in English language and literature at the University of Minnesota.  

Bro. Maertens has been a teacher of English and Humanties for many years, but presently works as a writer and wood carver.  He has published numerous articles and papers on a variety of philosophic and literary subjects, and is currently working on a novel for middle grade readers.   He lives with his wife and daughter in Minneapolis and enjoys book collecting, reading, drawing, architecture, travel, hiking, gardening, yoga, films, theater, opera, concerts, and peculiar hats.

James is also very proud and honored to have been named Grand Lodge of Minnesota Representative to the Grand Orient of the Netherlands and to the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium.  He expects in the future to travel to both of those bodies and to visit our brothers in the Netherlands and Belgium.  As Lodge Education Officer (LEO) of Lake Harriet Lodge, Bro. Maertens delivers monthly talks on Masonic subjects during the lodge stated meetings.  He also frequently arranges for guest speakers on topics of interest to Masons.  Finally, Bro. James is founder and grand bibliophile of the Lake Harriet S.A.G.E.S. Masonic reading and discussion group, which meets regularly every fourth Monday of the month.