Cornerstone Leveling Saturday, Nov. 15th

Transcription

1 V o l u m e N o v e m b e r UPCOMING EVENTS November 6 th Stated Meeting FC Degree November 13 th FC Degree Reading of Grand Lodge Resolutions November 20 th MM Degree November 27 th Thanksgiving Dark Certificate Exam Practices will resume again after the first of the year See pg. 18 for further details Online Calendar JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Visit (and be sure to LIKE) our PUBLIC PAGE Request to join our GROUP PAGE Cornerstone Leveling Saturday, Nov. 15th Brethren, friends, and family, Plano Lodge #768 invites you to a Cornerstone leveling at 10am Saturday, November 15th. For those participating plan to be at the lodge at 8am. All wishing to attend, we will open 1.5 hours prior for a MM Lodge & the Representation of Grand Lodge at 8:30am at Plano Lodge. We will then proceed to the site at 15th & Municipal (Downtown Plano - walking distance from Plan Lodge). Please share this invitation with your members as you feel appropriate. We will level the cornerstone for the new Plano Municipal Data Center. The cornerstone will be at the SE corner, South-facing onto 15th St. and should have nice lighting and landscape to complement it. Right Worshipful Elmer Murphy III will represent the Grand Masters' role. Additional Masonic Lodges, PISD Board of Trustees and leadership, members of Plano City Council as well as the City Manager have been invited and will be welcomed to attend. The ceremony will begin at 10am and is open to anyone who wishes to attend. Lets show our community a good turnout!!! 8:00 am - gathering, breakfast 8:30 am - Open a Representation of Grand Lodge 10 am - Cornerstone Leveling Later - Close the Representation of Grand Lodge Concluding no later than noon with refreshments provided afterwards Arranged and Edited by Brother Junior Deacon: Shaun Henry

2 P a g e 2 November Featured Plano Lodge Past Master Brother Cliff Martin, Buford Clifton Martin, Jr. born April 20, 1944 at home in Gober, Texas. Later grew up on a small farm in the Sabine River bottom just a few miles north of Greenville, Texas in the 1950 s. During the summers I would spend countless hours at my Uncle Dub s Welding and Blacksmith Shop because he paid more money than I could earn throwing a paper route or sacking groceries at Safeway s. Little did I realize that Uncle Dub (also a Mason) was teaching me how to read a blue print, use a rule, plumb, square and level.as well as a shop broom and dust pan. He would later present me with my first set of mechanical drafting tools that I used in High School that was well before Auto Cad. I was in the graduating Class of 62. Remember the movie American Graffiti? Where were you in 62? That movie with Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfus and Suzanne Somers in the white 1957 T-Bird exemplified Saturday night cruising Lee St in downtown Greenville while listening to Wolfman Jack on the car radio. I left Greenville during the summer of 1962 with two of my adventurous friends traveling and working thru Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming for a couple years. I returned to Greenville and worked at LTV/ E-Systems (now L3) in 64 & 65 as a tool maker. I interviewed with Texas Instruments in late 1965 for their facilities maintenance group. I took advantage of their educational assistance program allowing me to enter TI s mid-management team where I served for almost 35 years. The last 20 years as Site Facilities / Plant Engineering Manager for TI s West Dallas / Love Field Operations until my early retirement in January During this period I found myself as a single dad with two young sons Buddy and Bryan ages 7 and 5. A couple of years later I married my soul mate, Pat Allen, a single mom to her 9 year old son Todd. Pat caught my eye being a former Dodge Girl. Remember the TV commercials of the early 70 s? Pat was heading up the TI Education & Training Departments for the North Texas area. Anyway, we combined our families and quickly became very involved with Scouting, Little League, Pee Wee football, boating and camping. Later these events evolved into high school football, track meets, wrestling events, rodeo bull riding and moto-cross racing. Our sons, all successful men now at 52, 50 & 48 are still Texans living in the Rockwall, Lucas and Austin areas. We have been blessed with six grandchildren and one greatgrandson. In early 1993, Pat and I purchased some country property about 3 miles south of downtown Wylie in preparation for our early retirement. We continue to enjoy this country life at Pleasant Valley Stables where we raised Peruvian Paso horses and entertained many friends and family over the years. The last big event was in April of this year as my Masonic Lodge brothers from East Fork, Plano, Farmersville and Lone Oak surprised me with a 70 th Birthday Bash complete with BBQ and Crayfish Boil. They stayed until the keg floated!

3 P a g e 3 This leads me into talking about my Masonic journeys and adventures.. As a young lad growing up in the country I remember having many visitors on our farm where several always greeted my father as Brother Martin and he returned the greeting in a like manner. This was always strange to me because others addressed him as B.C. He later explained that the Masonic Lodge members addressed each other as Brother. I then began to notice that many of the farmers and ranchers that visited my Uncle Dub s Welding and Blacksmith Shop also addressed each other as Brother, including the owner of the grocery store across the street and the owner of the hardware store and the Ford Tractor place! This went on and on with many firemen, police officers, the school principal and several teachers. It didn t take me long to realize how my father knew that I had been sent to the principal s office before I even made it home from school! Bad Juju!!! As mentioned earlier about traveling thru Colorado and Wyoming during the summer of 62, this was the very first time this 18 year old lad had ventured out of Hunt County except for a few road trips with some older college friends to Dallas for a bootleg beer run. We ll tell the rest of the story later. While traveling thru the small towns across the country I began to notice the very familiar square and compass in almost every town. It was then I began to realize where my roots lay and that my father, grandfather, uncles, bankers, teachers, grocers and school bus driver were all Freemasons. I respected these men that I grew up with knowing they were all men of good character and I wanted to follow their example. Needless to say I was heartbroken when my petition to Greenville Lodge #335 was rejected for a period of two years because Greenville Lodge just wasn t ready for that Martin Boy who rode his motorcycle around the courthouse backwards, or tipped over outhouses on Halloween and kept their daughters out past curfew. Oh and did we mention the bootleg beer runs from Dallas? That 21 year old deserved to be blackballed and he got it! That is when I thought it best to check out that new company in Richardson, Texas Instruments, move to Plano, and change my name from Buford to Cliff. After spending my two years in purgatory I regained the courage and maturity to re-petition the Plano Lodge for membership in 1968, even with the embarrassment of being previously rejected. I was so happy to be elected to receive the degrees as was my Dad and Uncle Dub! They drove to Plano to help confer my EA and FC degrees and even brought a full degree team from Greenville to confer my Master Mason s degree. Bro. Paul Hart PM was my teacher, mentor, and became more of a father to me than my own. Bro. Paul was one of the most respected and Godly men that I have ever known. After receiving the degrees and turning in all the required proficiency work within about a 90 day period I began teaching the esoteric work to other new Masons that worked at Texas Instruments. They were as eager to learn as I was to teach. We enjoyed Masonry during lunch breaks. I continued to teach even though I didn t attend many Lodge meetings for about 15 years while raising the boys, being assistant coach, scoutmaster, Indian guides, camping dad, etc.

4 P a g e 4 To my recollection, I have taught the esoteric questions and answers to some 100 young Masons since Many went on to serve as Masters of their Lodge. I just wish I had all of them sign the back of my lambskin apron. By early 1987 all the boys had left home, my job with TI was becoming more manageable and I finally got back to attend Plano Lodge. I remember after a couple of visits and being pro-temp for a couple of offices I was approached by Past Masters, Frank Beverly, Raymond Robinson, Paul Hart and Harry Rowlinson. They said Buford, when are you going to pay your dues? Surprised, I quickly reached for my wallet knowing I was a paid member when Frank said, These dues are paid by rolling up your sleeves and working in the quarries. I nodded my head in agreement and told them I would serve wherever needed. I spent the remainder of the year as Sr. Deacon pro-temp and was elected to the office of Jr. Warden for , Sr. Warden and served the brothers of Plano Lodge as Worshipful Master Many changes took place during those three years, most importantly was the leadership team concept, consisting of current officers and past masters. The Worshipful Master led the team in planning events, budgets, future leaders to be groomed for the line up, building improvements, etc...and these carried over with continuity. No more reinventing the wheel year after year and picking under qualified leaders. The team launched a long overdue Fix up, Paint up campaign to close up the broken side windows, remodel the kitchen and rest room, add new blue industrial carpet, upgrade electrical in attic, and re-plaster and paint the lodge. These efforts gained favor with the Plano Historical Society and gave us a much needed tax break as well as just looking good. It is said that an Army runs on its stomach and so do Masonic Lodges. I well remember a conversation with then WM H. David Moore about improving the average attendance of 20 folks for stated meeting. Shortly after, we launched a telephone blitz to every Lodge member on the books asking what it would take to get them to attend. The answers received were pretty amazing: 1) When I get home and kick my shoes off I don t feel like getting up again to attend a 7:30 stated meeting to vote to pay the bills. 2) I come straight from work in Dallas to the 7:30 meeting and I am starving by the time we get out at 9:00. A bowl of chili at 9:00 keeps me up all night. 3) Meetings are boring, read the minutes, pay the bills, go home. 4) Meetings Start too late, cheese and crackers for refreshment at 9:00 just doesn t cut it. Short Answer, we listened to the membership, offered a delicious home style dinner at 6:00 pm with PM, Avis L. Drew as Chef Emeritus, changed the Stated Meeting time begin at 7:00pm and told folks we would have them heading home before 9:00 pm. Attendance immediately jumped from 20 to 50+ Masons at every meeting. When word got out that Al Drew was making hot homemade buttermilk biscuits and his famous bread pudding, Masons came from neighboring lodges. The Stewards of Plano Lodge became known throughout the District and remains so today.

5 P a g e 5 Blue Lodge Masonry is truly where my love for the fraternity lives even though I belong to several other appendant bodies, including the Scottish Rite Bodies of Dallas where I served as Membership Co-Chairman for Collin County East for several years. I was pleased to have carried some 50 Master Masons thru the Scottish Rite Reunions. In 1999 I was invested with the rank of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor and in 2009 was coroneted to 33º Inspector General Honorary. Although I continue to hold membership in the York Rite bodies as well as Hella Shrine my attendance has waned since forming a leadership team and working in the quarries with East Fork Lodge in Wylie and serving as Worshipful Master in As our good brother and past master Gene Reynolds would say, It s Great To Be A Mason! Cliff Martin, 33º IGH, PM Plano Lodge 90-91, PM East Fork PS: It was an honor to serve as your Dist. Deputy Grand Master in 1994 for PGM Billy Wayne Tinsley. When asked to offer any advice to the current administration of officers and brothers, Brother Martin proudly offered this: My brethren always remember, you are someone s image of Masonry. ~ Brother Cliff Martin

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7 P a g e 7 George Washington s Thanksgiving Proclamation 1789 By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation. Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness: Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us. And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best. Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord Go. Washington Taken from the Library of Congress

8 P a g e 8 He once held a degree in the bathroom because it was the most properly tiled room in the lodge! Thirst for knowledge and fellowship my brothers!

9 P a g e 9 Feastival and Blood Drive The Plano Feastival and Plano Lodge Blood Drive in Downtown Plano and Haggard Park on October 25 th was a huge success. It was a beautiful, cool fall day filled with family, friends and members from the lodge who came out for a day of fellowship and donations! We had a charity raffle for the Scottish Rite Hospital as well as artifacts from the North Texas Masonic Museum and Library on display. Many brothers as well as walk-ins from the feastival came to donate blood. There was pumpkin carvings with Brother JJ Miller and just over all good times. A special thanks goes out to brothers Senior Deacon Brian Cook and Senior Warden Barry Parrish for coordinating everything as well as Brother Chaplain Siynp Silagan for taking pictures and documenting the event. And thank you to all friends and family who came out to donate blood, participate in the festivities, and set up, break down, and clean up after the event. Those who attended had a great time and also had the opportunity to enjoy great fellowship. This was a great opportunity for the lodge to get noticed in the community and to see such a big turnout of brothers at the booth. Thank you to all for helping make our lodge get noticed.

10 P a g e 10 Carter Blood Care wished to thank all of those who donated as well as those who were unable to: DEEPEST APPRECIATION FROM ALL OF US AT CARTER BLOOD- CARE FOR HELPING US SAVE LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE SAW 24 DONORS AND DREW 22 WHOLE BLOOD UNITS AND 1 DOUBLE RED UNIT. YOU HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SAVING LIVES OF 72 PATIENTS. THANK YOU!

11 P a g e 11 A Glimpse at the Past: Plano Lodge Trestleboard November 1987 Old Trestleboards provided by Brother Cliff Martin PM Scanned and archived by Brother Junior Steward Jonathan Buck

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13 P a g e 13 International Order of the Rainbow for Girls Plano Assembly No. 320

14 P a g e 14 Richardson DeMolay Chapter

15 P a g e 15 Congratulations to the following brethren who celebrate their anniversary of being raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason 8 Gerald S. Callaway (1991) 18 Jerrel B. Jones (1993) 9 Issac N. Davidson Jr. (1972) 18 Mark E. Paul (2004) 9 Sam Tiner (2000) 19 Steve W. Baker (1994) 10 James F. Roberts (1994) 19 Jeffery S. Rowland (1992) 12 Bruce Weaver (1992) 19 Joseph W. Campbell (2009) 14 Chandler R. Snow (1996) 20 Thomas W. Plunkett (1982) 15 Tyler J. Snyder (2012) 20 Douglas E. Sam (1986) 15 David H. Pace (2000) 21 Siynp Silagan (2013) 16 Manning O. Bozeman (1961) 29 William B. Brayton (1984) 16 Cody W. Howell (2006) 29 Charles P. Conrad (1979) 17 Benjamin J. Elkins (1994) 30 Michael J. Schuler (2013) 18 Lonnie J. Turner (1971)

16 P a g e 16 November Birthdays The officers and members of Plano Lodge all join in extending Greetings and Best wishes for a Happy Birthday to the following brethren. May your day be Richly Blessed with Peace and Joy and Everything that makes for Happiness. Carl E. Jones - Nov. 2 David M. Almond - Nov. 18 M. Todd Coats - Nov. 4 Timothy W. Sinor - Nov. 22 Jonathan Gibson - Nov. 4 Timothy Soheili - Nov. 23 Richard James Grubb - Nov. 5 Earl R. Griffin - Nov. 23 Dennis P. Surrells - Nov. 6 Mark E. Paul - Nov. 24 Jerrel B. Jones - Nov. 7 John A. King - Nov. 27 Sam Shields - Nov. 8 Jerry N. Toler - Nov. 27 Keith Hollingsworth - Nov. 8 Nathan White - Nov. 28 Tyler J. Snyder - Nov. 10 Tom M. McKamy - Nov. 29 Joseph W. Dalton - Nov. 11 William W. McLeod - Nov. 30 James E. Hood III - Nov. 16 John E. Luttrell Jr. - Nov. 30 David M. Almond - Nov. 18

17 P a g e 17 Sickness or Distress Please remember our brethren who are dealing with various illnesses and are unable to attend our meetings, or who have returned to that spiritual building in the heavens; currently: Jerrell Jones recovering from triple bypass and aortic valve replacement Larry Kester Feisty as ever! Bob Vinson Sinus Surgery Barry Parrish Sinus Surgery Lucille Carroll (Wife of Tom Carroll) - Recovering from a fall Please, if you know a brother or families thereof who should be on this list, either from our lodge or otherwise, contact the Master of the Lodge or the Secretary. We need your input to help us stay informed. Please call the Secretary for further details and address or contact information if you wish to visit or communicate with our worthy brethren and their families. CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION PRACTICES Practice sessions for certificate candidates will be continued after the first of the year. As a reminder, here are the requirements for each class: C Certificate Questions and answers from all three Degrees, the Tiler s Oath, and how to open, close, and call to and from labor all three Lodges and the Master Mason s Lodge of Sorrow B Certificate All requirements for C certificate and the floor work for all three Degrees A Certificate All requirements for B certificate and the short-form lectures for all three Degrees Contact Junior Warden Jim Harbor at jim.harbor@gmail.com or (469) for more information!

18 P a g e 18 Calendar of Events November 2014 Sun MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Stated Meeting 5:30pm FC Degree McKinney Commandery Stated 6:30pm Rainbow Plano Assembly 6:30pm Dallas Scottish Rite Stated 6:00pm Plano Eastern Star 7:30p FC Degree Reading of Proposed GL Resolutions FC Proficiency MM Degree 6:00pm Hella Shrine 6:00pm Cornerstone Leveling (15th and Municipal) 8am Haggai Chapter Stated 6:00p Rainbow Plano Assembly 6:30pm Dark 28 29

19 P a g e 19 Plano Masonic Lodge #768 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons 1414½ J Avenue Plano, TX Phone: SENIOR OFFICERS Worshipful Master Brian Chaput master@planomasoniclodge.org Senior Warden Barry Parrish ellisparrish1@hotmail.com Junior Warden Jim Harbor jim.harbor@gmail.com Treasurer Kevin Campbell kevinmcampbell2003@yahoo.com Secretary H. David Moore dmoore@ghizmo.com JUNIOR OFFICERS Chaplain Siynp Silagan siynp@hotmail.com Senior Deacon Brian Cook go2e@sbcglobal.net Junior Deacon Shaun Henry rescue161@aol.com Senior Steward Dwayne Hale dhale33048@gmail.com Junior Steward Jonathan Buck sbuck@cox.smu.edu Marshal Bob Walton bwalton3@verizon.net Master of Ceremonies Jonathan Gibson yubba2004@yahoo.com Tiler Dennis Surrells dennis.surrells@verizon.net