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Thursday, January 31, 2013

The Importance of Visitation: Bro Charles Harper


I wonder how many Brothers may realize the impact of that right for a Master Mason in having the ability to visit a Master Mason’s Lodge in a foreign jurisdiction, or what that statement truly denotes. “To work in foreign countries and earn a Master’s wage.”

In the days of the operative Mason, before speculative Freemasonry was organized in 1717, it is taught to us that an operative mason was taught the trade of a stone mason by becoming an apprentice to a journeyman. After his apprenticeship was over and he had mastered his trade, he was given the password and grip to prove he was a journeyman to other stonemasons. He was therefore free to travel to foreign countries and earn a wage. The grip and password weeded out those who had not mastered his craft from gaining employment under false pretense. Thus, the integrity of the trade was protected.

“The Freemasons worked according to a set of rules and regulations of their own, centuries old, among them being Landmarks, and such questions of organization or of work arose in any given Lodge were settled according to those rules; and since the same rules were in force wherever Freemasons worked, and each Apprentice and Fellow was under an oath never to violate them, it was this body of rules which gave its unity and consistency to a Fraternity which had no national organization or national officers. And until the fourteenth century, they did not even have permanent local organizations, and which at the same time preserved its rules and trade secrets in the memory of its members and taught them to Apprentices by word of mouth.”- [The Masonic Trowel]

Because the stonemason was able to travel away from his homeland in his protected trade, it enabled him to learn differences in how he labored compared to other workman in other lodges in other countries. Although basic knowledge was similar, the application of formation of cathedrals had small differences from one area to another depending on the architect and his training. The structure was engineered with the basic principals of weight distribution with right angles, horizontals, and perpendiculars. But, the sculpture and layout varied according to the vision laid out on the trestle board for each building by the designer.

A humble master, who always sought to better his skill, enjoyed traveling. It allowed him to expand his skills by obtaining knowledge of techniques that were different than the ones he had already mastered. So, by traveling, versus staying in one area his whole career, he could better appreciate the potential of the creativity that dwelled inside him. He could better express his ability and individuality by the reflection of his collective intake of the many ways of creating a masterpiece he witnessed in so many other different places.

 We, as speculative masons, are afforded the same ability and privilege. Through our system of defining regularity and establishing recognition with foreign jurisdictions, we are taught how to prove ourselves as master‘s of our speculative trade. The continued use of passwords, grips and add to that signs and dues cards, allows us the opportunity to visit other Lodges throughout the world and experience the differences in ritual and the varied personalities of different Lodges.

This experience of visitation benefits us in many great ways through the use of reflection. The journey of betterment of a man in the application of the lessons we learn in Freemasonry is only possible when he reflects on his past experiences in life with trusted others and compares them with the ideals of what he envisions himself to become. But, if he only exposes himself to only his Lodge and the members contained therein, the reflection of his behavior is biased. There will come a point when you will realize that there is no outside input to test if any changes in your thoughts or actions in being a mason are within bounds of ALL mankind.

 Although we are not stonemasons, roughing designs out of stone with the physical tools of this tradesman, we continue to shape our spiritual self with the symbolism of the tools this workman used. Each Lodge uses the application of symbolism in ever slightly different ways. It may be the way that a lecturer might deliver a charge, or the passion a Worshipful Master who gives an obligation that might charge you to make a change in yourself that had not occurred to you before. You may share some insight of what a certain meaning in Freemasonry may mean to you. A more experienced Mason may happen to point out something that hadn’t occurred to you. Or, you may teach an older Mason something he had not thought of before by the benefit of fresh perspective.

All of these examples of the ability to share thoughts and experiences for the purpose of becoming a better man are made possible by Lodge visitation. We must not allow ourselves to become comfortable in staying within the confines of just our Lodge. It truly limits our exposure to great learning and expanded fraternal friendships. To travel in foreign countries IS to visit other Lodges than your own. To earn a master’s wage is to gain knowledge and experience due to visiting these other Lodges and reflecting on the shared information in your visit. This enables you to gain a more rounded insight into your own thoughts and actions. Which, the result of an improved self is benefited not by just yourself, but your relationship with your family, friends and even your co-workers.

 Remember, the vary nature of a Lodge is for like minded men to come together for the purpose of the promotion of shared thoughts and ideas in a trusted confined space. To know that you can share your opinions with strangers, of whom actually aren’t because we are all bound by the same obligation of assistance to a worthy Brother Mason, is one of THE most valuable privileges a Master Mason can take full advantage.

So, the next time you are out of town on a business trip and find yourself flipping the remote in your hotel room, find the local Lodge and give them a call to visit. You might find, as I often do, that the fraternal bond of being a Freemason allows an instant connection with Brothers you have never met before. It seems that every time I visit another Lodge, I meet Brothers for the first time that feels like I’ve known them forever. And before long, you like I, will find a Brother, a friend and a home away from home in every place you visit. For no good man is ever traveling alone.

 

Humbly submitted,

Brother Charles Harper
 
 
 
Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

New Sign & Flagpole - Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM

The brethren of Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM would like to thank the following local companies and nonprofit organizations for thier hard work, donations, and contributions they made during a recent project to add a new sign and flagpole to the exterior of our lodge for better visibility on Veterans Blvd in Tupelo, Ms.

The sign was fabricated and detailed by two local companies located in Tupelo. Both companies are divisions of Transport Trailer Service, Inc., which is owned by one of our brethren, Larry Michael. Larry is a Master Mason and member of R.E. Lee Masonic Lodge No. 156 F&AM in Tupelo, and also a 32º Scottish Rite Mason.

The fabrication and construction of the sign was completed by Precision Machine & Metal Fabrication,Gabe Boykin - General Manager and team.

The detailing and covering of the sign was completed by Fastwrapz, Josh Smith - General Manager and team.

A new flagpole, U.S. flag and Mississippi flag were placed behind our sign in order to further enhance the exterior of our lodge. This new addition was donated on behalf of Woodmen of the World Tupelo Lodge 130, a Fraternal Nonprofit Benefits Society. The presentation was made by Arnie Cade, Field Representative with WOW and Vice President of WOW Lodge 130. Arnie is also a Master Mason and member of Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM in Tupelo.

Special recognition also needs to be given to Bro Derik Rushing, Bro Ray Stanford, Bro Wheeler Pulliam, and Bro John Davidson, for the donation of thier physical labor and valuable time to ensure that this extensive project came together.

We hope that you will find time to ride by and see our new addition for yourself and if you are a Mason in good standing, we would love to have you visit our lodge.

The date and time for the official "Flagpole Dedication" ceremony will be announced once arrangements have been made. — at Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F. & A.M.









Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
*HOME - http://www.tupelomason.org/
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Past Masters - Tupelo Masonic Lodge No 318 F&AM

Past Masters





Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM



1869 - T. W. Freeman


1870 - G. C. Williams


1871 - S. M. Robinson


1872 - S. M. Robinson


1873 - S. M. Robinson


1874 - S. M. Robinson


1875 - C. B. Hood


1876 - C. B. Hood


1877 - C. B. Hood


1878 - C. B. Hood


1879 - C. B. Hood


1880 - C. B. Hood


1881 - C. B. Hood


1882 - C. B. Hood


1883 - C. B. Hood


1884 - C. B. Hood


1885 - W. A McCanless


1886 - C. B. Hood


1887 - C. B. Hood


1888 - J. W. Keyes


1889 - J. W. Keyes


1890 - J. W. Keyes


1891 - R. B. Fitzpatrick


1892 - J. W. Keyes


1893 - W. X. Wilson


1894 - J. W. Keyes


1895 - J. W. Keyes


1896 - J. T. Garrett


1897 - J. Q. Robins


1898 - J. Q. Robins


1899 - J. T. Garrett


1900 - C. B. Hood


1901 - W. C. Coffee


1902 - J. A. Thompson


1903 - J. A. Thompson


1904 - J. A. Thompson


1905 - J. A. Thompson


1906 - J. A. Thompson


1907 - R. F. Robinson


1908 - T. A. Boggan


1909 - L. A. Reese


1910 - J. W. R. Boggan


1911 - C. D. Curtis


1912 - W. J. Brown


1913 - J. E. Rankin


1914 - J. E. Rankin


1915 - T. M. Milam


1916 - T. K. Boggan


1917 - A. C. Hambrick


1918 - R. B. McVay


1919 - R. B. McVay


1920 - H. T. Moore


1921 - H. T. Moore


1922 - R. L. Senter


1923 - R. L. Senter


1924 - G. C. Kirkpatrick


1925 - G. C. Kirkpatrick


1926 - W. F. Riley


1927 - T. J. J. Bowen


1928 - Shelby Topp, Jr.


1929 - H. T. Moore


1930 - H. T. Moore


1931 - H. T. Moore


1932 - H. T. Moore


1933 - H. T. Moore


1934 - H. T. Moore


1935 - H. B. Lawhon


1936 - H. B. Lawhon


1937 - H. B. Lawhon


1938 - J. R. Powell


1939 - H. T. Moore


1940 - J. H. Weil


1941 - H. T. Moore


1942 - T. H. Hall


1943 - H. T. Moore


1944 - H. T. Moore


1945 - H. T. Moore


1946 - H. T. Moore


1947 - H. B. Lawhon


1948 - M. O. Haas


1949 - Phillip Means


1950 - Phillip Means


1951 - Phillip Means


1952 - O. L. Hodges


1953 - J. C. Carter


1954 - G. O. Dorrah


1955 - Phillip Means


1956 - L. G. Summerford


1957 - R. H. Norman


1958 - E. B. Deuschle


1959 - J. E. Sneed


1960 - C. H. Ferguson


1961 - O. R. Dulaney


1962 - W. W. Hall


1963 - T. L. Buse


1964 - Phil Evensky


1965 - J. B. Martin


1966 - O. R. Hutson


1967 - H. O. Weatherford


1968 - T. L. Buse


1969 - O. T. Swindol


1970 - S. Ray Johnson


1971 - Ben B. Logan


1972 - E. B. Deuschle


1973 - Travis Woods


1974 - John W. Herndon III


1975 - David J. Osberg


1976 - Jerry M. McKee


1977 - Emmett P. Heaton


1978 - Robert Nolen Sheffield


1979 - James Doyle Scott


1980 - James Ottis Roberts


1981 - James Larry Sharp


1982 - Tom Tindell


1983 - Felix R. McClelen


1984 - Billy R, Collins


1985 - Randy Headings


1986 - Phillip J. Holt


1987 - B. Wade Spires


1988 - Johnny Crabb


1989 - Gary Johnson


1990 - Melvin T. Ford III


1991 - Joe C. Westmoreland


1992 - James Larry Sharp


1993 - Walter Don Easter


1994 - Clarence Scott West


1995 - Clarence Scott West


1996 - W. Milton Collier


1997 - Marvin Ray McFadden


1998 - W. Milton Collier


1999 - William Wayne Housley


2000 - Bruce Vance Perkins


2001 - James Ottis Roberts


2002 -Marvin Ray McFadden


2003 -Jimmy W. Jones


2004 -Otho O. Stevens


2005 –John W. Repult


2006–Bobby Ray Boyd


2007–Robert Livingston Spencer


2008–Wheeler Wallace Pulliam


2009 –Otho O. Stevens


2010 –Robert Wilson


2011 –Derik Paul Rushing


2012 –Derik Paul Rushing



Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
*HOME - http://www.tupelomason.org/
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Monday, January 28, 2013

RE Lee Masonic Lodge No 156 F&AM - Officers 2013

Congratulations to the newly installed officers!




  • James Scott - Worshipful Master

  •  Robert Carnathan - Senior Warden

  •  Guy Weldon - Junior Warden

  •  Robert Earnest - Treasurer

  •  Robert Davis - Secretary

  •  Glenn McCarver - Senior Deacon

  •  Jason Duffy - Junior Deacon

  •  George Kieth - Tiler


It is the hope that you find yourself in harmony among brethren and that you will visit RE Lee Lodge in 2013. 

Regular meeting is the 3rd Monday of each month in Tupelo, Mississippi

Be sure to visit them on Facebook as well!




Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
*HOME - http://www.tupelomason.org/
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©2011 All Rights Reserved TupeloMason®

 

Weekly Events - Grand Lodge of MS: 1/27/13-02/02/13

Brethen,
In order to keep all its subscribed members up to date, the Grand Lodge Internet Committee sends weekly emails with the most recent event updates and additions. Here is a list of Masonic Events for this week:

Events
  • Monday, 01-28-2013 - (06:00 PM - 10:00 PM) - Master Mason Degree - [GM], West Point No. 40 - West Point, MS
  • Monday, 01-28-2013 - (07:00 PM - 09:00 PM) - Entered Apprentice Degree, St. Albans No. 60 - Columbia, MS

  • Tuesday, 01-29-2013 - (06:00 PM - 08:00 PM) - 50 Year Pin Presentation - [GM], John P. Byrd No. 629 - Pearl, MS

  • Tuesday, 01-29-2013 - (06:00 PM - 08:00 PM) - District 29 Mini School, Orange Grove No. 635 - Gulfport, MS

  • Tuesday, 01-29-2013 - (06:00 PM - 10:00 PM) - Master Mason Degree, Circle No. 638 - Madison, MS

  • Tuesday, 01-29-2013 - (06:15 PM - 05:00 PM) - Entered Apprentice Degree, Tyrian No. 427 - Brandon, MS

  • Thursday, 01-31-2013 - (06:00 PM - 10:00 PM) - Confederate Master Mason Degree, Abert No. 89 - Starkville, MS

  • Thursday, 01-31-2013 - (06:00 PM - 09:00 PM) - Entered Apprentice Degree, Canton No. 28 - Canton, MS
 
Please feel free to forward this email to any Brethren on your contact list.
 
Fraternally,
Grand Lodge of Mississippi Internet Committee
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Other Degree Work:
 
  • Monday, 1/28/2012 - 2 EA Degrees -- Tremont Lodge, Tremont, MS -- 7 pm
 
  • Tuesday, 1/29/2013 -- FC Degree -- Fairview Lodge in golden, MS 7 pm
 
  • Thursday, 1/31/2013 -- MM Degree -- Abert Lodge in Starkville -- eat at 6, degree at 7 pm -- Mississippi Masonic Confederate Degree Team.
 
  • Saturday, 2/16/2013 -- Ea Degree -- Noon -- Smithville Lodge -- Mississippi Masonic Confederate Degree Team
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
*HOME - http://www.tupelomason.org/
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©2011 All Rights Reserved TupeloMason®

 

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM - 2013 Officers

 

 

Bro Ray Stanford
Worshipful Master





Bro John Davidson
Senior Warden





Bro Isaiah Edger
Junior Warden





Bro Arnie Cade
Senior Deacon






Bro Danny Newman
Junior Deacon






Bro Tom Swindol
Tiler






Bro Marvin McFadden
Chaplain






Bro James "J.O." Roberts
Treasurer






Bro Derik Rushing
Secretary




Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
*HOME - http://www.tupelomason.org/
*BLOG - http://tupelomason.blogspot.com/
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©2011 All Rights Reserved TupeloMason®

 

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Bro John Ryan Porter - Entered Apprentice Degree Conferred

We would like to welcome Brother John Ryan Porter to the fraternity! John Ryan is now following in the footsteps of his Grandfather, who was also a Master Mason in Mississippi.

John Ryan is a native of  Woodland, Ms and lives in Anchor, Ms. which is located near Houston. He is the son of Charles and Paula Porter, also of Anchor and attends ICC, majoring in Nursing. John Ryan is active in his local church, enjoys hunting and playing baseball.

The Entered Apprentice Degree was conferred by HOUSTON MASONIC LODGE NO. 67 F&AM, CHICKASAW COUNTY - MASONIC DISTRICT 8, Houston, MS, which reports to the Grand Lodge of Mississippi F&AM, in mid December 2012.


We look forward to this new brothers progression through the degrees and will be notifying our brethren of the dates for his Fellow Craft and Masters Degrees.

Congratulations brother on taking the first step in Masonry and welcome!

We wish you the best of luck on your journey and hope that you will positively promote the true principals of Freemasonry throughout your life as many others have done before you.


Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
HOME - http://www.tupelomason.org/
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