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![]() A History of Freemasonry in South Carolina - This is a great history book covering the years 1860 - 1919. It would make a great gift for any Mason interested in the history of Freemasonry. The book can be purchased for $20.00 each plus $5.00 S/H. A check can be made out and mailed to The Grand Lodge of A.F.M. of S.C, PO Box 2185, Lexington, SC 29071-2185 or call the Grand Secretary MWB Gerald L Carver at 803-808-4377 for more details. ![]() I would like to thank you for electing me to serve you as your Grand Master at the 278th Annual Communication. As we are taught in our degrees that Masonry is a Life Changing Experience. My life changed forty five years ago this month when I was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. I was initiated into a Fraternity that I discovered to be the most loving, friendly and devoted group of men imaginable. I would like to tell you that you have forever changed my life with the Honor you bestowed on me as your Grand Master. I ask all of you for your support, prayers and guidance as I carry out my duties throughout the coming year. My theme for the year is “Spreading the Light.” By this I mean that under the direction of Rt. Wor. Michael Smith, Senior Grand Warden, the Masonic Education Committeemen and District Deputies will be given Masonic Education topics from the Ahiman Rezon and the Ritual Book to be presented in each of the Lodges in their District. Also I want the Lodges to make contributions to the four Veterans Administration Facilities in South Carolina. We will ascertain the needs of these centers and distribute the contributed funds accordingly. I am excited about the year ahead of us and the opportunities to further the cause of Freemasonry in this Grand Jurisdiction. Our Ancient Brethren turned this great Fraternity over to us and it is our duty to improve it over to the next generation to be greater that we received it. I have chosen the Grand Masters Jewel as the centerpiece of my lapel pins with the dates 1737 * 2017 the date our Grand Lodge was established and the latter date of 2017 in hope that as I complete my service as Grand Master the Fraternity will be better because of our labors for this Grand Jurisdiction. Congratulations to Rt. Wor. Cal Disher elected as Junior Grand Warden, M.W. Gerald L. Carver, P.G.M. as Grand Secretary and Rt. Wor. Rev. A. Robert Nix as Grand Chaplain. Fraternally and Sincerely, William B. Rogers Grand Master of Masons in South Carolina
![]() Membership is Important Early in October, I was fortunate to represent our Grand Lodge at the 28th Annual Shriners International Membership Seminar held in Tampa, Florida. There were ten representatives of Grand Lodges present who were warmly welcomed by the Chairman of the Membership Development Committee, MW and Imperial Sir Jefferey Sowder, Imperial Oriental Guide (PGM Kansas 1994). We were also pleased to hear from Imperial Sir Dale Stauss, Imperial Potentate from North Dakota, who spoke about priorities and his motto "Make yours the Shrine." Chairman Sowder pointed out that the Shrine must maintain its membership in order to support its charity, Shriners Hospitals for Children. In this endeavor, he says working with the Blue Lodges and the support of our ladies are crucial in changing the culture as regards to membership in our temples. Sowder was extremely positive about what we could do and this positive atmosphere permeated the entire session. In an effort to get everyone more involved in membership, a Shrine Membership Action Renewal Team (SMART) concept has been instituted by the Imperial Shrine. This team consists of General Chairman and a Chairman for recruitment/mentoring, Masonic relations, retention and restoration. I believe this concept is also applicable to our Lodges with a few changes. The Chairman is charged with selecting the team members, holding meetings and organizing and setting goals. The Recruitment/Mentoring Chairman could be in charge of mentoring our candidates and new Master Masons. Since we get our members by what we do and how we act and not by asking prospects to join, he could be in charge of community relations for our Lodges and show support for DeMolay and Rainbow. The Masonic Relations Chairman could schedule visits with other Masonic Bodies such as Past Masters Clubs, Shrine Clubs and work with the Grand Master to encourage Masonic Lodge attendance. The Retention Committee Chairman could work with the Lodge Secretary in calling and contacting delinquent members before they go NPD. A call or letter from a member to these Brothers may bring good results. And last and most important, is the Restoration Chairman who would work to restore our members to Lodge membership by personal visits and other means and thereby create an opportunity for the Shrine to also gain another member. The SMART plan is workable in the Lodge as well as in the Shrine, but we must be willing to roll up our sleeves and work the plan together for it to be a benefit to the Shrine as well as our Lodges. Sincerely and Fraternally, William R. Logan, Senior Grand Warden Chairman, Masonic Education Committee ![]() "CHOICES" Life is about choices. All choices have result or consequences. Do you remember the process of "choosing sides" for a game while in grammar school? It was always a tense moment until you were chosen by the team captain, ever hoping that you would not be the last choice. Of course, the results of these choices lasted only until recess was over and the consequences disappeared even if you were chosen last. We know that most choices have more dire and lasting consequences. As adults, we are almost one hundred per cent in control of our destiny as a result of the choices we make. The consequences of these choices control many things. We decide how we look and dress, how we feel and how we act. How we relate to others and how others interact with us are all controlled by the choices we make. Each of the choices we make, no matter how small or unimportant they may seem at the time, shape who we will become and what we are able to achieve in the future. Young people especially have many choices to make and experience tells us these choices will become more difficult and the results more critical as they age. Some choices made early in life may even have lifetime implications. Whether we realize it or not, we are constantly making choices. Will I attend my Lodge meeting, church or civic meeting or do I stay home and watch television? Do I learn a part, a lecture, or decide to let someone else do all the work? When faced with choices, will we be relentless in pursuing the harder right instead of the easier wrong? Will we let criticism of our choices bring us down or will we use them to make us stronger? Will we choose to be followers or will we take the road less traveled? The poet Robert Frost made a good point in his poem 'The Road Less Traveled" when he said that by taking this road, it made all the difference in the world. It could also have the same effect for us. Choices, good choices, linked together and building upon one another will help develop who we are, will cement our mindsets and will let us achieve our hopes and dreams for the future. We need to remember that what we choose today determines what we can choose tomorrow. Sincerely and Fraternally, William R. Logan, Senior Grand Warden Chairman, MEC From MWB G Ray Marsh, Grand Secretary
Grand Lodge has a new fundraising item for sale. A 4x6 magnet or window decal as pictured here. Magnets are $5 each, and the window decals are $4 each. They may be purchased by sending a check to Grand Lodge. Be sure to note how many of each item you are purchasing. There is no charge for postage. The Lodge Secretary or Worshipful Master may order them in quantity for resale to members, and have them billed to the lodge through the annual report, as with other saleable supplies. Net proceeds benefit the Disaster Relief Fund. Grand Lodge Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina PO Box 2185 Lexington, SC 29071-2185 803.808.4377 Office ![]() THE 4 "Ms" of LODGE MANAGEMENT All businesses must be properly managed in order to be successful and profitable for its owners or shareholders. Recent statistics show that eight out of ten new businesses started in the United States fail in the first year due to improper management. Our Lodges fall under the category of a business and the task of proper management falls upon the management team, i.e. the Master, Wardens, Secretary and Treasurer. How they perform their various duties and their interaction with the other officers and members in general have a direct effect on the success or failure of a Lodge. The make-up of the Membership must be understood in order for the Lodge to fulfill their needs, desires and their ability to participate. The management team should know the number of members in their Lodge, the number of 40-year members and the names and number of those who are unable to attend due to health reasons. It is the Master's duty to keep abreast of those who are in need of a visit and to work with the Chaplain as he ministers to those in need. Money is an indispensable part of Lodge management. If a Lodge does not plan and prepare a budget, it is like going on a road trip without a destination in mind. How will you know when you get there? Most Lodges have fund raisers to provide money to give back to their community. If a Lodge has to depend on fund raisers to have enough money to operate, they should consider increasing their dues to cover operating expenses. The dictionary defines Morale as the mental condition in regard to courage, confidence or enthusiasm. Morale or esprit de corps in a Lodge manifest itself in a show of intense loyalty, devotion and enthusiasm of its members. When this sense of union and common interest exist, it has a profound effect on what a Lodge is and can do. One of the best ways to increase morale in a Lodge is by its members working together whether it is a fund raiser, Lodge upgrade or a project to help or benefit someone in the community. The comradery generated with members working together will spill over into the Lodge and its meetings in a positive manner and everyone will benefit. Memories are important and those made in the Lodge are some of the "special" ones. Do you remember the night you were raised? How about a moving speech or presentation by our Grand Master or the time you were able to participate in the degree work for your son or a family member? These are the important things we remember and they bring us back into the warm fellowship of our Lodge time after time. Membership, Money, Morale and Memories are important to us and to the success of our Lodges. Let's manage for success. Sincerely and fraternally, William R. Logan, Senior Grand Warden Chairman, Masonic Education Committee Just a reminder that we are still accepting donations from South Carolina lodges and local brethren to purchase TV's for the Richard Campbell Veterans Nursing Home in Anderson, South Carolina.
The 32" Flat-screen TV's will cost about $250.00 each, and the 60" about $1050 each. This estimate does not include the costs of mounting brackets and hardware. Please make checks out to the Grand Lodge and designate the funds for the "Campbell Veterans Home TV Project". To learn more about this project, please read our original news story here. ![]() Old Masonic Temples Never Die Today, with Masonic membership down to about a million from four million in the 1950s, the Masons can't afford the upkeep of all the antiquated Buildings and Temples that serve as meeting places for their Fraternity. These Buildings, which are typically located in the downtown areas of large cities, usually have limited parking and with the absence of working elevators, making them difficult for aging members to use. So, what is happening to many old Temples that are located in these cities? Masons are selling them and relocating to smaller, more modem structures in the suburbs where the upkeep is more nominal. A Lodge with 2200 members in 1928 can use a much smaller building in 2014 with only 800 members. Encouraged by the rebounding real estate market and with an eye to make some money from the demand for luxury condos, developers and individuals have snapped up old Temples in cities such as New York City, Columbus, Ohio and Newport, Rhode Island.
The majority of these structures were built from the late 1870s to the early 1930s. During this period of time, Freemasonry was a major force in American Society. Labor and materials were cheap and members built large and elaborate Temples and Lodges across the country, often with imposing facades and intricate carvings. Since Masonry is a central component of the origin of the Freemasons, these structures were very well built, however converting a Masonic Temple with a large meeting hall to residences isn't always easy for the developer, but they knew they had a solid building with which to begin their conversion. Drawing cards for tenants of these condos were the wide-open spaces, forty foot high ceilings, spiral staircases and the exquisite stone-carved symbols, all worked into the transition from Masonic Temple to luxury living spaces. Many of these condos are rented, most even before the conversion is completed and prices can range from $900 to $2000 per month. However, many are for sale, ranging in size from 700 square feet to 1800 square feet in size. A three bedroom, two bath unit in New York City recently sold for $2.7 million. Even though these old Temples are not now being used for their original purpose, their solid foundation, well-built structures and intricate designs continue to benefit and influence another generation with our Fraternity's purposes and values. Sincerely and fraternally, William R. Logan, SGW Chairman, Masonic Education Committee ![]() The Richard M. Campbell Veterans Nursing Home is a 220 bed nursing facility built primarily to serve our veterans who have served their country. It accepted its first resident in March of 1991 and has been serving veterans continuously since that time. So what can we do to make a difference in the lives of these veterans who are in the sunset of their lives? RWB Sam Atkins, who is the MSA appointed representative for that facility, has pointed out a very specific need they have, that only a group as large and committed as we are can meet. He has asked and MW David DeChant has endorsed providing televisions for these veterans. They need thirty (30) 32" flat-screen televisions for patient rooms and five (5) 60" flat-screens for the Day Rooms so that all residents will have access to TV. This appeal is to all of us, the Masons of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina, to step up and make this happen. If you, your Lodge or your Master & Wardens club or any other group would be so generous as to buy one of the 60" flat-screens you will be recognized with a brass plaque attached to the set. The cost of these 60" TV's are $1000.00. RWB Cal Disher will be the point man on this project and his address is: 174 Mims Road Harleyville, SC 29448-3334 Please make all checks payable to the Grand Lodge of AFM of SC and designate it for the "Campbell Veterans Home TV Project". I am really excited about this. The last time I was personally involved in something like this you, the brethren, opened up your hearts and wallets and raised almost $30,000.00 to buy a handicapped equipped wheelchair bus for the Veterans Victory House in Walterboro. Brothers, we made a difference then and I know we can make a difference NOW. Carey D. Baxley, Jr., PDDGM MSA State Coordinator |
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