Centennial Lodge #491 Detroyed By Fire

At approximately 8:30 pm last night (4/8/2009) the Centennial Lodge #491 of Erwin, TN was destroyed by fire. Lodge #45 can sympathize with their loss. We suffered a similar fate in 1979 when the Jackson Lodge #45 building on Baltimore Street in Jackson was destroyed by a fire.
Please keep the Brothers of Lodge #491 in your thoughts and prayers.

Lodge #45 RIFA Shelving Project

The project to build shelving for RIFA in Jackson, TN got underway in earnest today, Saturday April 4th. Brothers Jeff McLemore, WM and Mike Stanton, SW worked on the shelving unit in the shop of Brother Mike Winslow, Sec. The unit was completed and is now ready for delivery to RIFA. This was a community outreach project of Jackson Lodge #45.

The Regional Inter-Faith Association (RIFA) was incorporated in 1976 as a join effort between local leaders and area churches to support local ministries and clergy groups in identifying the needs of people, securing resources, and providing programs to meet those needs.

Through RIFA's ministries, the faith community can work together more effectively to help those in need. Collectively they can meet needs in the community that would be impossible for a single church or organization.

RIFA has built a credible reputation by combining funds from many area churches, individuals and business sources to provide efficient, effective and unduplicated services for people with the most critical and basic human needs. RIFA is governed by a Board of Directors and depends on the generous support of over 1,000 volunteers annually.

“A Vacation From My Destiny”

Courtesy of Brother Tom Lewis:

I’ve heard a lot of brothers say why they don’t like to go to Grand Lodge – the sniping, politicking, styling and profiling, etc. And it is a little expensive with the travel and accommodations, eating out and all. But for me it’s priceless for the chance to see brothers in other Lodges that I wouldn’t ordinarily see all together in one place. Especially when I go back to Tennessee and see people I knew when I was a young man and Mason that I never see otherwise now that I live in another state. Sharing time with men who showed me how to live as a man and Mason, and sharing accomplishments that they made possible through their mentoring is one of the gifts Masonry offers. And it does my heart good once a year to hear the ritual done he way I remember it done in my home Lodge 30 years ago, so when “Tennessee Ritual” supplants “South Carolina Ritual” in my South Carolina Lodge recitations, at least it’s correct “Tennessee Ritual” that’s creeping in.

At Grand Lodge you get to share opinions and ideas with like-minded men in peace and harmony. You get to spend time with brothers that are just as “deep into” Masonry as you are who make you feel you may not be quite as odd as some of the brothers back home (and your wife) think. You get to sit down and share meals with brothers you never would’ve met otherwise. Sometimes someone gets elected Junior Grand Warden that you shared a table at dinner with the night before, who because of the shared time is someone you know instead of some well-connected brother you can barely see from the back of the hall. You hear stories of dedication to the craft and local successes – of men who’ve been their Lodge secretary for over 50 years and donations of large amounts of money to worthy charities. And sometimes, in the midst of all the reports of sundry committees, you get to hear a story that grabs you and brings into focus why many of us do Masonry. Such is the story of Brother Charles:

The Grand Master started the story, but was overcome with emotion and asked the Secretary of the Johnson City Lodge involved to take up the story. Charles had been in the military and when he got out, he decided to pursue two goals: to become a nurse and become a Mason. He petitioned a Lodge and took his Entered Apprentice degree in California, and started his nursing training which brought him to Johnson City Tennessee. He had already applied and gotten permission for the Lodge in Johnson City to put on his Fellowcraft and Master Mason degrees as “courtesy work”. Then life threw Charles a 90 mph curve ball. It was discovered Charles had prostate cancer that had already metastasized into his bone marrow. His chances of survival were nil. Charles was out of options and out of time. His greatest wish was to die a Master Mason and to have a Masonic funeral, but his condition precluded the normal process. He simply didn’t have 28 days to wait between the remaining degrees. Added to that, the pain medication just didn’t leave Charles the clarity of mind necessary to retain the memory work. That’s when the Tennessee Grand Lodge entered the story.

The Grand Master of Tennessee got with the Grand Master of California to get Charles a demit from the Lodge in California. The timing was right and the Lodge in California voted that night at their business meeting to grant the demit, and faxed the necessary paperwork to Tennessee. The Lodge in Johnson City voted two nights later to accept Charles by affiliation into their Lodge. Then Most Worshipful Grand Master Jerry Hanson traveled across the far corners of the state of Tennessee from Memphis to Johnson City to make Charles a “Mason at Sight” – one of the ageless prerogatives reserved for Grand Masters. A conference room at the VA Hospital in Johnson City was secured and while a hall-full of Masons and other well-wishers in wheelchairs waited outside the room, the Grand Master conferred the Fellowcraft and Master Mason degrees on Charles. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Brother Charles was presented with his white lambskin apron as well as a Masonic ring, both of which Charles requested to be buried wearing. Charles also requested that the Master of the Johnson City Lodge perform his Masonic funeral. Charles told the Grand Master:” You’ve given me a vacation from my destiny.” Thirteen days later Brother Charles’s feet too soon reached the end of life’s toilsome journey, and from his nerveless grasp dropped forever the working tools of life. But thanks to his brothers going the extra mile (or 400 miles) he had his dying wish fulfilled to stand before the throne of God as a Mason.

It’s true there is a certain amount of tedium in every meeting of every Grand Lodge. For me it is a small price to pay to hear from the participant’s stories that remind us why we’re proud to be Masons. Like that of Brother Charles.

Patience is a Virtue

Within each degree there are virtues which the initiate
discovers and which are to serve as guideposts toward building his
Spiritual Temple. The Entered Apprentice finds that Temperance,
Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice are paramount to his advancement as
a man and Mason. He must control his life, apply his efforts with
steady purpose, regulate his life with reason, and respect each man,
regardless of distinction.

Likewise as a Fellowcraft, he is to gain knowledge and apply
that knowledge in advancing himself through work. By using his five
senses and learning the seven liberal arts he is to advance his
understanding of morality, the nature of a good life, and his duties
as a Mason.

At last he progresses to knowledge of Masonry's philosophy
and teachings. As a Master he comes to understand the common bond of
the Fraternity and Craft. Brotherly love and affection work toward
happiness upon the level of time. Such is the nature of becoming a
Master Mason.

It is said that "time, patience, and perseverance will
enable us to accomplish all things, and perhaps at last to find the
True Word." Time and perseverance are clearly expectations of the
Craft; patience sometimes is forgotten or not given its just due. To
be patient is to bear trials or pain calmly and without complant, to
be steadfast despite the challenges, the difficulties, and
adversities. The challenges at each step of the Degrees are to test
the character, the commitment, and desire of men who want to be
Masons and who understand being better than themselves. These are not
easy tasks or lessons.

Each Brother is charged to be patient with his Brothers, to
admonish with candor, assist with care, and guard the integrity of
the Fraternity as whole. The Legend of Hiram illustrates what
impatience can do in search of the True Word, but also how patient
understanding can point the way to a better life through faith. So,
when we are challenged, let us remember the patience the Great
Architect has with us and let us extend that same patience to those
about
us.

No stone begins with perfection. Through work and patient
industry, the rough edges fall away until the beauty within shines
forth. Perfection is a goal and journey, so it is with each of us and
each Mason.

The Masonic Ring

Turn on your speakers and enjoy:

The Old Master

HE WAS SITTING IN A WHEELCHAIR,
LOOKING DOWN AT THE LAWN,
I THOUGHT HE MIGHT BE ASLEEP,
THEN I SAW THE OLD MAN YAWN.
I TOLD HIM I HAD COME TO VISIT,
A BIG SMILE LIT UP HIS FACE,
HE SAID IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN,
PEOPLE VISIT THIS OLD PLACE.

PARDON MY MANNERS YOUNG MAN,
AS HE OFFERED ME A CHAIR,
WOULD YOU LIKE A GLASS OF TEA,
IT'S ON THE TABLE OVER THERE.
I BEGGED OFF THE OFFER,
BUT I SAID I HAVE A SURPRISE,
I'VE COME TAKE YOU TO LODGE,
YOU SHOULD'VE SEEN HIS EYES.

YOU KNOW, I'M A PAST MASTER,
ABOUT THREE OR FOUR TIMES,
HE SAID AS MATTER OF FACT,
I CAN WORK ANY CHAIR IN LINE.
I FELT PROUD TO PUSH HIS CHAIR,
AS WE HEADED FOR MY CAR,
I HAD ALREADY CHECKED HIM OUT,
AND SIGNED HIS PASS CARD.

WHEN WE DROVE INTO THE LOT,
YOU SHOULD'VE HEARD THE CHEERS,
I HAD A LUMP IN MY THROAT,
DOWN HIS CHEEK ROLLED A TEAR.
THE LODGE WAS FILLED WITH BROTHERS,
WHO HAD COME TO CELEBRATE,
OUR GUEST OF HONOR HAD ARRIVED,
THE EASTERN STAR HAD BAKED A CAKE.

WE MADE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION,
THAT BROUGHT LAUGHTER AND TEARS,
FOR TONIGHT OUR WISE OLD MASTER,
HAD COMPLETED SIXTY-FIVE YEARS.
WITH COUNTLESS YEARS OF SERVICE,
IN THIS LODGE IN HIS HOMETOWN,
HE DID IT ALL WITH A GENTLE HEART,
AND THE STRONGEST GRIP AROUND.

HIS TIRED OLD VOICE CRACKED,
BUT HIS MIND WAS SHARP AND CLEAR,
AS HE TOOK THE MICROPHONE,
SITTING THERE IN HIS WHEELCHAIR.
WE ALL SAT DOWN AT TABLES,
WITH HOT COFFEE IN OUR CUPS,
HE SAID I'D LIKE TO TAKE YOU BACK,
TO WHEN I WAS JUST A PUP.

YOU SEE, THERE'S BEEN TIMES,
THIS OLD LODGE ALMOST WENT DARK,
WE WERE DOWN TO JUST A FEW,
AND SOME DIDN'T KNOW THEIR PART.
BUT WE KEPT ON WORKING HARD,
AND DOING EVERYTHING WE COULD,
TO GET MORE MEN INTERESTED,
IN THE CRAFT OF BROTHERHOOD.

OH THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS,
THAT'S CHANGED OVER THE YEARS,
BUT YOUNGER MEN NOT COMING IN,
IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST FEARS.
YOU SEE, IT WAS DIFFERENT THEN,
THAN IT IS THIS DAY AND TIME,
I REMEMBER HOW STRICT IT WAS,
YOU DIDN'T DARE CROSS THE LINE.

ABOUT ASKING A MAN TO JOIN,
WHEN YOU KNEW HE WAS GOOD,
GOD AND FAMILY CAME FIRST, THIS,
THE LODGE UNDERSTOOD.
WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL HE ASKED,
ABOUT HOW TO BECOME ONE OF US,
THEN WE COULD TELL HIM THE TRUTH,
ABOUT FELLOWSHIP, HONOR AND TRUST.

WE WORKED HARD AND DID OUR BEST,
TO BE GOOD EXAMPLES AMONG MEN,
WE ALL KNOW FROM READING THE BIBLE,
THERE'S NOT A MAN WITHOUT SIN.
SO WE'D TAKE THE BEST MEN,
AND GENTLY SHOW'EM THE LIGHT,
JUST LOOK AT ALL THE BROTHERS,
THAT SHOWED UP HERE TONIGHT.

IF I COULD LIVE MY LIFE ALL OVER,
AND I COULD REWRITE EVERY PAGE,
I'D HIT A FEW BUMPS A LITTLE SOFTER,
BUT THERE'S NOTHING I WOULD CHANGE.
EACH TIME I WAS ASKED TO TEACH,
OH IT MADE ME FEEL SO GOOD,
TO LEAD YOU GENTLY TO THE LIGHT,
UNTIL I KNEW YOU UNDERSTOOD.

I LOVE YOU ALL MY BROTHERS,
I ENJOYED BEING THERE FOR YOU,
AND I'LL TELL EACH ONE TONIGHT,
YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR ME TOO.
HE TALKED FOR HALF AN HOUR,
AS WE TRAVELED BACK IN TIME,
HE HAD TAKEN US ON A JOURNEY,
AND WE HUNG ON EVERY LINE.

IT WAS LATE WHEN WE GOT BACK,
BUT HE WAS STILL WIDE AWAKE,
AS I PUSHED HIS WHEELCHAIR INSIDE,
HE GAVE THE NURSE A PIECE OF CAKE.
UNTIL THE OLD MASTER IS CALLED,
TO THE GRAND LODGE ON HIGH,
HIS MEMORIES WILL BE FILLED,
WITH THE CELEBRATION TONIGHT.

A FEW YEARS HAVE COME AND GONE,
SINCE WE HONORED HIM THAT NIGHT,
THE OLD MASTER EVEN HELPED ME,
RAISE MY GRANDSON INTO LIGHT.
HIS KIND AND GENTLE MANNER,
STANDS TALL AMONG THE BEST,
TODAY HE MADE THE FINAL JOURNEY,
WE LAID THE OLD MASTER TO REST.
Ben Steen copyright October 25th 2003

February 2009 Lodge #45 Newsletter

The Trestle Board

February 17, 2009 – Lecture Practice Session – 6:00 pm Lodge 45

February 24, 2009 – Fellow Craft Degree – Dinner 6pm; Degree 7pm – Lodge 45

February 12, 2009 – Brownsville Lodge – 2 Entered Apprentice Degrees

February 16, 2009 – School of Instruction at St. John Lodge #322

March 2, 2009 – Master Mason Degree – Lodge #322

March 21, 2009 – Master Mason Degree performed by York Rite team – Lodge #322

March 10, 2009 – Jackson Lodge #45 Stated Meeting – Dinner 6pm; Meeting 7pm.




Deceased Brethren

The last three months have seen four of our brothers admitted to the Celestial Lodge above. Please lend your prayers for their families in remembrance of our departed Brethren.

They will be missed.

James T. Williford
Deceased 12/21/2008
Raised 8/16/1952 Lodge #399


Henry Melford Lester
Deceased 1/09/2009
Raised 09/20/1949 Lodge #45

Michael Luther Hopper, Tiler
Deceased 1/25/2009
Raised 1/20/1979 in Unity Lodge #95

Carl Fincher
Deceased 2/1/2009
Raised – 11/25/1958 Lodge #399



From The East:

Brethren,

I hope you are all having a great start to your new year. This is shaping up to be a wonderful year for our lodge. There are a lot of exciting things happening and I would like to take a few minutes and share them with you.

We are going to be having our first Community Service Project for the year at the end of this month. The lodge is working with the Regional Interfaith Association (RIFA) here in Jackson to provide some needed work for their building and the community. This is an organization that wears many hats. They provide food for the hungry through a soup kitchen, they run an education program to help the homeless to find jobs and housing, and have many other great programs.

As speculative masons we are builders of men but I am excited to see our brethren work in operative masonry as well. We will be building shelving, wheelchair ramps, and several other projects with RIFA throughout the year. As the year moves along we will keep you updated as to what is going on so that you may be a part of this project.

The lodge is beginning a series of “Lecture Evenings” where the brethren will be teaching and giving lectures on particular aspects of freemasonry in which they are passionate and well-versed. This will occur one Tuesday a month. This month we will be having two of our Past Masters teaching a class on learning and teaching the ritual. The Worshipful Master will also be giving a class on the prayers of Freemasonry. If you have a subject you would like to present or would like to learn about please give me a call or email me. My email is jmclemore@alumni.lsu.edu .

One of the brothers in the lodge is putting together an order for some nice polo shirts with the Masonic logo and our lodges name. The price is uncertain at this point but we will be taking orders at the March stated meeting so if you would like to place an order please come out to the lodge on March 10th.

I am excited about serving you and serving our lodge. If you ever need a ride to lodge just give me a call a day or two in advance and I will do my best to find you one. I hope and pray that you will have a blessed month and I look forward to seeing you at the lodge.

Fraternally Yours,
Jeff McLemore