Fraternal Greetings Brothers,
On July 1, 2024, our stated business meeting was held. Thirty-five brothers were in attendance. The Past Masters as well as the current and past Grand Lodge officers, including our current District Deputy Grand Master, were introduced. Health and happiness were discussed with prayers for those mentioned and not mentioned. Brother Carl Moore gave Masonic education of masonic brothers during the Civil War. The summary was that a Union soldier needed to give his Fellow Craft proficiency. The Union soldiers asked the Confederate soldiers if there was a lodge. The traveled to Savannah, by escort from the Confederates, and returns to his base after lodge. He had given his proficiency and was raised to a Master Mason. Brother Moore gave an outstanding presentation that no matter what, even in a conflict, Masons show each other respect and brotherly love. Minutes from the previous month were read and approved. Brother Moore was voted on to become a dual member in our lodge. Three new candidates were voted on to take the Entered Apprentice degree, one candidate to take the Fellow Craft degree, and one candidate to take the Master Mason degree. All voting was favorable.
We then moved onto old business. WB Jud Close stated he has made progress and that the mosaic floor in the lodge may be done by next business meeting, replacing the star. The secretary and treasurer gave their monthly reports and all was satisfactory. Two Brothers gave their Masters proficiency and did an outstanding job.
We will be celebrating our nation’s 248th anniversary of our independence this week. I pray that everyone has a safe and fun holiday. The following was taken off of History.com website:
“When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did were considered radical.
By the middle of the following year, however, many more colonists had come to favor independence, thanks to growing hostility against Britain and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in the bestselling pamphlet “Common Sense,” published by Thomas Paine in early 1776.
On June 7, when the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence.
Amid heated debate, Congress postponed the vote on Lee’s resolution, but appointed a five-man committee—including Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York—to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain.
On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (the New York delegation abstained, but later voted affirmatively). On that day, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that July 2 “will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival” and that the celebration should include “Pomp and Parade…Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.”
On July 4th, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, which had been written largely by Jefferson. Though the vote for actual independence took place on July 2nd, from then on the 4th became the day that was celebrated as the birth of American independence.
Respectfully,
Steven Lourigan Senior Warden
UPCOMING DATES:
July 11- Entered Apprentice degree (SW will be in the East); 3 candidates
July 18- Fellow Craft Degree; 1 candidate
July 25- Master Mason Degree (Gene Swygert will be in the East); 1 candidate
July 27- Inspirational meeting @ Jamil Temple 6-8 pm
August1- Business meeting
August10- BBQ #2
August 17- Adopt-a-Highway
September 5- Business meeting (Grand Master’s official visit); Officers to be in coat and tie
September 7- Wardens workshop @ Blythewood lodge 8:00 am
October3- Business meeting
November 7- Business meeting (Election of officers)
November 16- Adopt-a-Highway
December 5- Business meeting
January 25, 2025-Instructional meeting @Boyleston lodge 8 am
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