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| The Mississippi Masonic Confederate Degree Team |
THE MISSISSISSIPPI MASONIC CONFEDERATE DEGREE TEAM
The
Mississippi Masonic Confederate Degree Team was organized in May 2012 to help
promote interest in free masonry and granting members a chance to become
proficient in their work, while allowing them a chance to gain knowledge in the
fraternity during the War Between the States. Each member is requested to
research clothing and equipment used during the period from April 1861 to April
1865, obtain a uniform and articles used by the Confederate forces during that
time frame. He may choose from any branch of service including medical,
chaplains, suttlers (civilians), and if desired Union, before he can participate
in the degrees. Each member is also asked to be able to relate a short account
of a Masonic event that took place during the Civil War, such as the Masonic Rights
given to Lt. John E. Hart of the USS Albatross by Feliciana Lodge #31 in
St. Francisville La. The funeral
contained both Union and Confederate forces. Members may also tell about their
ancestors, who were in the war, relate stories of their lodges or towns or
battles close to their homes. These are to be short so as not to interfere with
the importance of the degree or slighting the candidate.
We did not
form this team to make a political statement or to give the impression that
only Confederates were the ones who practiced the True Tenants of Freemasonry
during the Cival War because this would be invalid. I received a few e-mails when we
first began suggesting we change the name because many Southerners joined the
Union. This was a war in which many families were torn apart, some never to recover;
friends were pitted against each only to face one another in some of the
bloodiest battles ever fought on American soil. Many found themselves holding
the dying and mutilated bodies of their fathers, sons, brothers, and longtime friends;
such was the case of a father discovering his dying son. The son was a
Confederate soldier, the father Union, being unable to play "Dixie" at his son's
funeral he was allowed to perform a song which is still used today at military
burials, known by all as "Taps".
To date we
have conferred five Entered Apprentice Degrees and Three Master Mason Degrees
and are looking forward to doing more. Our active members are Gene Vincent,
Larry Minyard, James Whitaker, Leslie Reeves, George Frazier, Bruce Childress,
Kelly Martin, Terry Morgan, Richard Rodgers, Wade Johnson, Ed Jernigan, Gerald
Klein, Edsel Carpenter, Stu Wright, and Stuart Wright.
Other members who do not
yet have uniforms or have not worked in any degree are Chris Wilbourn, Robert
Moore, Louis Correro, Randy Welch, Zack Case, Walt Karr, Jamie McMillian, Paul
Reese, Ron Gardner, James Waldo, and Ray Keith. We have lost one of our original
members since we started. Brother James Fullilove passed away from cancer a
short time ago.
I conceived
the idea of forming a degree team after attending a Masonic Cave Degree in
Tennessee. The degree was conferred by a Masonic Civil War Degree Team. On our way home those
of us who attended began discussing the idea of forming our own team. We were
not sure how to start or if it would be alright with the Grand Lodge of Mississippi, F. & A.M. Sometime
later we began hearing about the Mountain Men Masonic Degree Team, so I inquired if we could
form our team and got the go-ahead. I have been a War Between the States
"re-enactor" for about fifteen years as well as other time periods before that. I
had been to re-enactments and talked with other Masons who thought it was a
good idea. We all had Confederate uniforms so we decided on the name and
started recruiting members.
I believe
another reason for doing this is to honor those who gave their lives and limbs
to defend their beliefs, both Federal and Confederate.
In doing research on my
family I found that many of them were Masons.
One of my g-g grandfathers was a Chaplain with 10th Texas Infantry and also Mason. My grandfather was
a Past Master of Williams Arizona lodge #38 in 1931 and a Veteran of WWI. My father was also a Past Master of Williams Arizona lodge #38 in 1951 and a Veteran of WWII.
Although my dad and grandfather have
little to do with the War Between the States their influence on my life seemed
to fit into my ideals for this team. It is a tribute to them and all veterans.
You may contact me at < desertrat2013@yahoo.com > for more information on The Mississippi Masonic Confederate Degree Team (MMCDT), how to join , or to schedule us to visit your lodge to confer a degree.
Fraternally,
Bro Gene Vincent, PM
Grenada Masonic Lodge No. 31 F&AM
Mississippi Masonic District 10
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| Bro Gene Vincent PM - Greneda Masonic Lodge No. 31 F&AM |
Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
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