Masons Come to Aid of Masonic Family

On April 26^th 2010, Masons from Jackson Lodge #45 and Pleasant Green Lodge #291 of Trezvant assembled at the home of Ms. Evie Frantz to make repairs to the back stairs leading down from an upper floor.

M. Franz’s Grandfather, James V. Rush (deceased 1969) and an uncle, Robert Rush (deceased 1992) were members of Jackson Masonic Lodge #45 of Jackson, TN.  Jackson Lodge #45 was contacted, via our website, by Patricia Anne Justice (Job’s Daughters) of Utah concerning her niece, Ms. Frantz.  It was explained to us that Ms. Frantz had recently fallen down these stairs being in bad repair, and suffered multiple broken bones resulting in her disability.  It was asked if our Lodge could possibly help Ms. Frantz with repairs.

This message was received via email by Brother Mike Winslow, Secretary of Lodge #45 while attending a fish-fry hosted by Pleasant Green Lodge #291 with several Brothers from Lodge #45.  The timing could not have been better.  Within a few minutes, cooperative plans were being made to come to the assistance Ms. Frantz with Ray Sanders, WM of Lodge #291 and Mike Stanton, WM of Lodge #45. 

Brothers Ray Sanders, Kethan Miller of Lodge #291 and their friend Jeff Smith affected the necessary repairs in short order with WM Mike Stanton doing a lot of pointing (see photo).  I took photos and did my best to stay out of the way; not being allowed to have tools for reasons of public safety.

Ms. Frantz was very appreciative of the help received and asked that the Masonic memorabilia she had from her uncle to be placed in the archives of Lodge #45.  We gratefully accepted. 

As stated in the Charge to a Master Mason, “Charity and benevolence are always to be inculcated.  Charity is one of the main pillars of our Order and he who is destitute of that noble feeling is unworthy the name of Mason.”  These Masons are definitely worthy of the name.

Rose Upon The Altar Masonic Play

Jackson Masonic Lodge #45 proudly announces the hosting of the Masonic play, "The Rose Upon The Alter." If you have never experienced this impressive production by the Memphis Scottish Rite, you will have a chance on April 24, 2010.

The Memphis Scottish Rite players will present this play, open to the public and free of charge, at 7 pm following a dinner at 6 pm. A donation of $5.00 for the dinner will help support Masonic charities that are supported by Jackson Lodge #45.

The play and dinner will be held at Jackson Masonic Lodge #45; 2911 Hwy 45 Bypass; Jackson, TN 38305.

"A ROSE UPON THE ALTAR"

The Memphis Scottish Rite Bodies proudly sponsor and present this beautiful and inspiring Masonic play by Carl Claudy. Brother Claudy gave the Masonic Service Association a number of his plays and permission for this and all performances is granted by that body. We are deeply indebted to Bro. Claudy for his love of our great fraternity.
The cast is made up of Scottish Rite Ritualists and contains some of the finest performers in the State of Tennessee.
The play is made available without charge to any Masonic affiliated group desiring it. This is just one of our ways of cooperating with Blue Lodge Masonry in the advancement of our beloved Fraternity.
If you have not been attending your Blue Lodge, let us urge you to give them your whole-hearted support. They need you and you need them!

THE SCOTTISH RITE PLAYERS

The group was formed in 1970 for the purpose of presenting this play to our brethren. The name "Scottish Rite Players" was given them by Dr. Joseph C. Mobley, 33o and Past Grand Master, who was one of their most ardent boosters.

The cast has changed a number of times over the more than thirty five years and has performed the play more than 300 times. Ill. Jim E. McDaniel was the play director almost from the beginning and is currently Director Emeritus.

This play is performed for three reasons:

1. To promote Freemasonry in general!

2. To assist in securing petitions for the Scottish Rite.

3. To inform everyone of the charitable endeavors of the Scottish Rite for the children.

A donation will be collected at the conclusion of the play to support the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorder Clinic at the University of Tennessee - Memphis.

“A Vacation From My Destiny”

The following was shared by Brother Tom Lewis, now living in So. Carolina.

“A Vacation From My Destiny”

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 participants stories that remind us why we’re proud to be Masons. Like that of Brother Charles.

Jackson Masonic Lodge #45 2010 Officers and Appointments

The 2010 Officers of Jackson Masonic Lodge #45 F&AM were installed in a formal ceremony on Saturday December 12th, 2009. 

Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Paul Phillips presided and installed as Worshipful Master of Lodge #45 Brother Michael Lee Stanton and his officer corps.

(Photo by Brother Jimmy Owen)

Jackson Masonic Lodge #45

2010 Officers and Appointments

Worshipful Master: Michael Stanton

Senior Warden: Jordan Droke

Junior Warden: Terry Blackburn

Senior Deacon: Rod Guiterrez

Junior Deacon: Jeremy Blankenship

Treasurer: Jimmy Owen

Senior Steward: Douglas Jackson

Junior Steward: Jeff McClemore,PM

Tiler: Danny Stanton

Chaplin: Marty Amick

Secretary: Michael Winslow

From The East - Worshipful Master Jeffery McLemore

Brethren,

It has truly been a pleasure to serve you and our lodge over this past year. This definitely marks one of the highlights of my life. With the months having flown by it has only been just recently that I have comprehended the fact that my tenure is almost over. And with this kind of realization usually comes reflection. Over the past year I have learned a great many things about masonry, my lodge, my brothers, and myself.

Seeing masonry from the East is like looking through a kaleidoscope. You see what you have always seen but it becomes almost mystical. Each new responsibility hurled at the Worshipful Master requires him to know more about the mysteries and philosophies of the craft and thus requires his diligent study. Through this study I have begun to unravel the true magnitude of the knowledge of the fraternity. I don’t presume to have some feeling of enlightenment but rather a feeling of excitement. The excitement comes from the changes brought on by personal growth through the power of the teachings of masonry.

About my lodge and my brothers I have discovered a wealth of support that I knew existed but had not had the opportunity to need. But as a person ascends up the ladder of responsibility he is constantly reminded that he cannot do this on his own. He tries, unsuccessfully. And when he hits the ground the brothers are there to support him and to pick him up. This year has brought many trials along with its many pleasures…trials of patience, trials of perseverance, and even trials of faith. But the greatness of the organization lies in its ability to lift one up. A brother’s welfare and a reliance on our Almighty are the great responsibilities that we as masons have. I am proud of our lodge and my brothers who have not only demonstrated a love for others but also a commitment to each other.

A few weeks ago I was reflecting on my year as Worshipful Master and I decided to go to the lodge. It was early evening and no one was there. As I walked through the dark building my emotions became overwhelming. A deep sense of contentment filled my heart. Sure, I am saddened by the ending of my tenure but am so very pleased at what the lodge has accomplished. It has been a wonderful and humbling experience and I am most grateful to our Great Architect for having designed this fraternity and for having seen fit to place me as your Worshipful Master. Thank you to all who have supported me and supported Jackson Lodge 45.

With Grateful Thanks,

Jeff McLemore

Worshipful Master

Jackson Lodge 45

The Investigator's Responsibility to Masonry

The investigation of a Petiton for the Three Degrees is a serious matter and should not be considered routine.

When the Master of a Lodge assigns one of its members a petition to be investigated, he is saying, in substance, to that member, "You know the type of man the Masonic Fraternity accepts.  The recommenders on this petition say the applicant quailifies.  Now I want to know your opinion."  From there it becomes a matter for that member, acting not only as a member of that Lodge, but as a representative of the entire Masonic Fraternity, to investigate the petitioner as sincerely and honestly as he is capable of doing.

Let us first think of Masonry.  It is an organization composed of men who believe in the Deity; who believe in righteousness and justice; who live by and adhere to a moral code of ethics, and who practice a philosophy of life second to none. Here are men of every walk of life who compose a fraternity of moral, social and intelligent persons creditably recored in every community, men who believe in each other, thier fellow members.  Masonry is the binding together of this type of men and cementing them into an everlasting fraternal association.  Masonry, which asks no man to join its ranks, will accept no less. 

Now comes the petitioner - a stranger - wishing to become a member of that group!  WHO IS this stranger?  What are his motives for wishing to gain membership?  Will he be worthy and well qualified?  The investigation process is to determine the answers to these quesitons.

Upon accepting the assignment, the Investigator is now employed by your Lodge and the entire masonic family, world-wide, to investigate the petiton of an applican who wishes an intimate knowledge of Masonry and association with its members. The petitioner is actually being considered not only for membership in our Lodge, but for world-wide Masonic membership with the opportunity to visit and associate with Masons everwhere.  Each visitation the new member may make, in any Lodge in the world, will be as a member and representative of your Lodge.  He should, therefore, be the type of man of whom you can be proud and honored to have represent you and your Lodge.

It now becomes obvious, as you evaluate your investigative assignment, that it is important -- important that only the right type of man is accepted, for the Mason of today, more so than ever, is an intregal part of our nation and our way of life. 

Masonry was instrumental in the founding of this country and so will be its re-founding. In the Masons' hands and those of his associates, lies the future of the America of tomorrow.

(Sourced from a California publication by Walter Van Wagern - affiliation unkown)

Wounded Warrior Project Check Presentation

On Saturday November 7, 2009, members of Jackson Masonic Lodge #45 presented a check for $500 to the Wounded Warrior Project. The presentation took place at the Air National Guard facility at McKeller-Sipes Airport following the 5k – Run sponsored by AASF #3, also benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project.

The funds donated by Jackson Lodge #45 were raised at the Pancake Breakfast held for held at the Lodge for this event. The entire $500 was raised by the breakfast and donations by members of Jackson Lodge #45. Many thanks to all those who participated and made this a successful event. Events such as these help present the Lodge and Masonry in a positive public light.

The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) works to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.

Photos by Brother Jimmy Owen: