Wednesday, April 3, 2013

"30 Guns in 30 Days" - 2013 Charity Fundraiser - Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM - Tupelo, Mississippi

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We are proud to announce that we have officially kicked off our 2013 Fundraiser!

As many of you know, the Masons are always looking for ways to help those in need within our communities. We are able to do this through the implementation of fundraisers such as this. We hope you will partner with us again this year by making a small donation to help us continue with this long standing goal. It is our hope that you will also have a great time while doing so! In return for your gracious donation, you will be entered into a raffle during the month of September that could possibly win you an awesome gift! This gives you an opportunity to make a difference in your community as well and have FUN while doing so!

Thank you all, in advance, for your continued support, prayers, and financial contributions! Without YOU, the accomplishments made, would not be possible!


"30 Guns in 30 Days" 2013 Fundraiser / Gun or Merchandise Give-A-Way!

Presented by: Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM as a fundraiser for 2013.

Drawing to be held: September 1st - 30th, 2013


 
You do not have to be present to win!


If your ticket is drawn, you may choose the firearm or a gift certificate worth that day's value.

There will be a random drawing held each day during the entire month of September. A link will be listed daily on our organization page on Facebook which will redirect you to the prize of the day and winner on our blog.

You are encouraged to bookmark www.tupelomason.blogspot.com

From this link, you can access directly, the daily winners. You can also enter your email address on our blog, at the web address provided, to receive automatic updates as each of the winners are posted.

Daily values of prizes range from $250.00 to $1000.00!!!

A donation of $30.00 per ticket gives you a chance to win one prize per day for the entire month of September. That means you actually have 30 chances to win! If you do the math, that averages out to only $1.00 per day, per chance!

Only 1000 tickets will be sold in order to increase each persons odds of winning. Due to the limited number of tickets printed, make sure you get your ticket before they are gone because NO additional tickets will be printed or made available for this particular raffle!
Guns and merchandise have been provided by Scrugg's Farm, Lawn, and Garden in Tupelo, Ms. through a joint partnership with our Masonic lodge. This is the second year they have helped us make this a possibility.

The daily winner will receive the "firearm of the day" or a "gift certificate" from Scrugg's for the monetary value listed on the brochure/calendar below, for that particular days give-a-way.

If you elect the gift certificate in lieu of the firearm, you will be able to use it towards the purchase of either a gun, rifle, bow, pistol, hunting equipment, or any other merchandise of your choice, of equal value to the firearm given away on that day (The firearm of the day and values have been predetermined and are listed on the calendar below). It can however, also be used "towards" the purchase of any other item, even if the amount of that item exceeds the value of the gift certificate provided. You will of course have to pay the difference should you elect to do so.

You can see any of the members of Tupelo No. 318 to purchase your ticket(s).

However, if you are not local, and would like a ticket mailed to you, please send a check or money order only, in the amount of $30 per ticket. Please, NO cash if mailed. Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM assumes NO responsibility for either money or tickets that could potentially be lost in the mail.

Be sure to include your name, telephone number and return address.  Once received, we will mail your ticket(s) back to you. Please contact Bro Derik Rushing, Secretary, by email once your donation is mailed. Your information will be recorded to assist us in our prompt follow up.


Please mail to:

Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
P.O. Box 3566

Tupelo, Ms 38803.



*Notice: By law, winners must be 18 years old to win a long gun, rifle, or shotgun, 21 years old for handguns. Gift certificates of equal value (see calendar), will be issued for merchandise if winner is under age.


*Disclaimer: Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM reserves the right to modify the rules for the raffle / fundraiser, with or without notice, based on the total number of tickets actually sold, out of the 1000 ticket lot printed.



Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM - 30 Guns In 30 Days Fundraiser - 2013 - *Click on photo to enlarge!
 
 
Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM - 30 Guns In 30 Days Fundraiser - 2013 - *Click on photo to enlarge!
"30 Guns in 30 Days" 2013 Fundraiser / Gun or Merchandise Give-A-Way - Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM

Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
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PHOTOS: Brother Matthew Michael Gregory, PFC, USMC - Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM - Mississippi

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It is with great pride that we, the brethren of Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM, announce that Bro Matthew Michael Gregory /G\, was initiated as an Entered Apprentice, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on 23 March 2013, under special dispensation and by the order of M.W. Bro. Myron L. Ware, Grand Master of Masons in Mississippi, MS Grand Lodge, Free & Accepted Masonry. Brother Gregory has now been listed on our Wall of Honor!

Although Bro Gregory had many special guest in lodge with him Saturday, we are sure that none were more special than his Grandfather, Bro Robert Oneal McNeece.

We would like to thank The Grand Lodge of Mississippi, The Mississippi Masonic Confederate Degree Team, The Mississippi Masonic Mountain Men Degree Team, and those who worked tirelessly to put this event together, promote, and prepare our lodge to host it. Some of those brethren are Bro Ray Stanford, Bro Derik Rushing, Bro Isaiah Edger, Bro John Davidson, Bro Wheeler Pulliam, Bro James O. Roberts, Bro PD Newman, Bro Austin Long, and Bro Arnie Cade. If any were omitted, please accept our apology. If you will submit your name to the lodge, this will be amended.

To all the countless visiting brethren from several states and to members of Tupelo 318 that attended and took part in, this piece of Mississippi Masonic History, we offer our gratitude and we are truly humbled for your support.

Our newly raised brother is at this present time deploying. Bro Gregory is on his way to bring honor to the fraternity, uphold the legacy of the craft, and defend our freedom in his service to our nation. Bro Gregory also has another title, that of United States Marine. As he boarded that aircraft today, he left behind a wife, mother, father, countless other family members, and hundreds of thousands of brethren in which his bond can never be broken...

I encourage all who may gaze upon this post, pause at this time, in a moment of silence, and offer a prayer for PFC Matthew Michael Gregory, USMC, and his family. Matt, we salute you our brother and look forward to your safe return so that we might once again have the honor of sitting along side you in lodge. God Speed our brother, God Speed!




Bro Matthew Michael Gregory & The Mississippi Masonic Confederate Degree Team

Bro Matthew Michael Gregory & The Mississippi Masonic Confederate Degree Team

Bro Matthew Michael Gregory & The Mississippi Masonic Confederate Degree Team
 
Bro Matthew Michael Gregory & The Mississippi Masonic Confederate Degree Team
 



Bro Matthew Michael Gregory & The Mississippi Masonic Mountain Men Degree Team
 
Bro Matthew Michael Gregory & The Mississippi Masonic Mountain Men Degree Team

Bro Matthew Michael Gregory & The Mississippi Masonic Mountain Men Degree Team

Bro Matthew Michael Gregory & The Mississippi Masonic Mountain Men Degree Team

 
MM Degree conferred by the Grand Lodge of Mississippi F&AM

Bro Matthew Michael Gregory & Grand Officers, The Grand Lodge of Mississippi F&AM

Bro Matthew Michael Gregory & Grand Officers, The Grand Lodge of Mississippi F&AM

Bro Matthew Michael Gregory & Grand Officers, The Grand Lodge of Mississippi F&AM

Bro Matthew Michael Gregory & Grand Officers, The Grand Lodge of Mississippi F&AM

Bro Matthew Michael Gregory with Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM Lodge Officers

Bro Matthew Michael Gregory, Bro Ray Stanford - WM, Bro Isaiah Edger - JW, Bro John Davidson - SW, & Bro Bob McNeece

Bro Arnie Cade, Senior Deacon & Bro Matthew Michael Gregory

Master Mason Presentations

Bro Matthew Michael Gregory & M.W. Grand Master, Bro Myron L. Ware

R.W. Bro. Joseph B. Thompson, Senior Grand Deacon & Bro Matthew Michael Gregory

Bro Matthew Michael Gregory & Bro Jerry Klein

Bro James O. Roberts & Bro Matthew Michael Gregory

R.W. Bro. Kenneth E. Dyer, Senior Grand Warden & Bro Matthew Michael Gregory

Bro Matthew Michael Gregory & Bro Robert Oneal McNeece (Grandfather)


Additional photos can be viewed in our album: Bro Matthew Michael Gregory

Bro Matthew Michael Gregory - Raised To Sublime Degree of Master Mason By M.W. Bro. Myron L. Ware, Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Ms, at Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM - PHOTOS

Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

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

 

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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 32Āŗ 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.


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



 
 



Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
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The Mississippi Masonic Confederate Degree Team

 



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


Bro Gene Vincent PM - Greneda Masonic Lodge No. 31 F&AM



Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM
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The Mississippi Masonic Mountain Men Degree Team


 

Mississippi Masonic Mountain Men Degree Team - Grand Lodge of Mississippi



Mississippi Masonic Mountain Men Degree Team



The Mission of the Mississippi Masonic Mountain Men Degree
Team is “to exemplify the first three degrees in Ancient Craft
Masonry as approved by the Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge of
Mississippi and Board of Custodians of the adopted work in
Mississippi and to create enthusiasm, participation, membership
growth and interest in Mississippi Masonry and Masonry in general
by exemplifying the work in authentic period correct pre-1840
Mountain Man Regalia”


The Mississippi Masonic Mountain Men (MMMM) Degree Team was originally organized by Past Master Wilson Arthur Windham, MMMM No.I while serving as Worshipful Master of the sponsoring lodge-John Henry Wooten, Sr. Lodge No. 503, F&AM, Jones County, Mississippi as a testament and celebration of the lodge’s One Hundredth Anniversary in 2009.
The minimum mountain man outfit consists of a Customized Authentic Handmade Wool Trade Blanket Capote, Handmade Elk hide moccasins and masonic apron, period correct Handmade Osnaburg shirts, pants and a possible bag. Accessories may include other items and clothing normally used by the mountain man prior to 1840. All attire is authentically produced to represent the actual mountain man dress from the period of 1804 to 1840. All participating members of the degree team confer the degrees in authentic attire. The authenticity of the outfits is one of the things that degree attendees say makes the presentation exciting, unique and inspirational. The MMMM degrees are indicative of how our Masonic Forefathers would have performed degrees by campfire light as they trapped and traveled the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains of North America.
Strict research has been done from the time our Brothers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, under orders for the Great Expedition to find a way West by President and Brother Thomas Jefferson, set out to find a route to the Pacific Ocean in May of 1804. These great Masons and Patriots were very active Masonically as they conferred numerous degrees under the stars on high hills and in low vales and fulfilled the orders of President Jefferson. Brothers Lewis and Clark began what would be a short-lived portion of our American History as many of their expedition would be raised Master Masons and continue to trap, raise and guide others westward. The Mountain Men Rendezvoused annually to trade their wares and often to confer degrees. History teaches us that they conferred many Masonic Degrees during this period of less than 40 years which ended in 1840 at the last Rendezvous held at the converse of Horse Creek and the Green River near Daniel, Wyoming.
The Mississippi Masonic Mountain Men held The First Annual MMMM Rendezvous and Campfire Degree conferral January 23, 2010. A beautiful outdoor lodge setting has been established along Rocky Creek between Lake Ivell and Lake Hatten in western Jones County, Mississippi for an annual MMMM campfire degree. The date is set annually, and is usually the fourth Saturday in January. To date over 4,000 Masons have witnessed this unique degree team as they have conferred degrees all across Mississippi. By special invitation of the Grand Masters of Tennessee and Alabama, this team has performed this beautiful work in these states. Invitations are outstanding in several states with an outdoor degree scheduled to be held at the annual Tennessee Coon Degree June 2, 2013 some 40 miles east of Memphis, Tennessee.
The MMMM degree team is limited and consists of only twenty-four active members. Several members have retired and/or relinquished their active status but remain inactive members. Members must be Past Masters, be proficient in the adopted work and recommended, elected and accepted by unanimous vote of the degree team active members. Members are assigned a unique number with their credentials and a special MMMM pin for lapel use outside of the mountain man regalia. The team confers any of the three degrees and has some of Mississippi’s finest ritualist.
To inquire about degree work or to schedule a degree, the team secretary and scheduler is PGM Bobby Ainsworth, MMMM No. III who can be reached at 601.477.3994.




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