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

 

Links to this post

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.


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

 

 

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

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 10^th 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
*HOME - http://www.tupelomason.org/
*BLOG - http://tupelomason.blogspot.com/
*FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/TupeloMason
*PHOTOS - http://tupelomason.shutterfly.com/
©2011 All Rights Reserved TupeloMason®

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.

Tupelo Masonic Lodge No. 318 F&AM

*HOME - http://www.tupelomason.org/

*BLOG - http://tupelomason.blogspot.com/

*FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/TupeloMason

*PHOTOS - http://tupelomason.shutterfly.com/

©2011 All Rights Reserved TupeloMason®