Hall No. 53 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
Brethren, I have a few reminders:
Fraternally, Bennie Woods, Secretary |
Hall No. 53 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
Greetings Brethren, Some of you are aware that I attended Annual Communication this past week, along with our Senior Warden, Shane Snedecor and Junior Warden, Dean Blazier. It was an enjoyable trip and a well-organized Communication. There were several items of interest that came up and I want to discuss them before the rumor mill begins to spin. Numerous Masonic charges were brought against Grand Master Don Kehler and last Monday the Board of General Purposes decided action needed to be taken before Annual Communication. They told Grand Master Kehler not to make an appearance at the Communication. Thursday morning the Board of General Purpose convened and decided to allow him to step aside from his duties due to a “Disability”. On Friday, since our Masonic Organization can never be allowed to be without a Grand Master, Deputy Rideout took the title of “Acting Grand Master” and he explained about the charges and what was happening. Next, he assigned a temporary Deputy Grand Master so there would be no improprieties. Saturday morning Past Grand Master Bryant Webster explained what needed to happen and what had to be done to be legal. 1st - A temporary amendment had to be added to the code which would allow us to elect a new Grand Master before the current Grand Master’s term would expire, it had to be a unanimous decision, or it would fail. 2nd – We would need to hold a vote to elect a new Grand Master, and this must be a 2/3rd majority. The Deputy asked if anyone was against adding a temporary amendment to stand up; no one stood up. Next, he took a ballot on making Robert Rideout the new Grand Master and that also passed unanimously. As the last item of business on Saturday Robert Rideout was installed as our new Grand Master and Steve Norris was installed as the new Deputy Grand Master. The Grand Master said a normal officer installation would take place November 9th which is the 2nd Saturday in November. This would be for families and friends; both he and the Deputy would be ceremoniously installed at that time. The Masonic charges have been passed to the Judge Advocate and he has 30 days to act upon them. I believe we will have more information as time goes along. The Amendments were ruled out of order and was not voted on because they were not distributed in a timely manner. The date they are to be received by the Secretaries is in the Code. Lodges did not have enough time to review them thoroughly. They will be added to next year’s agenda. Fraternally, Bennie Woods, Secretary (757) 333-1718 |
Hall No. 53 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
Brethren, I was under the impression this Amendment might be withdrawn and not brought before the Grand Lodge for a vote, Needless to say, my expectation was wrong. This per capita increase if passed will be RETROACTIVE BACK TO JANUARY 1, 2023 meaning that the lodge will have to absorb this since dues from 2023 and 2024 have already been collected and we can't ask the members to send us an additional $10 covering 2023 and 2024. Based on our current membership this will be an additional $920 we will owe the Grand Lodge in addition to the 2025 per capita bill of $3760, expected gain of 2 ($40 x 94) that we will owe, making it a total of $4680 + the other charges for dues cards, etc. I've attached the 2024 Reports Book below so you can read it for yourselves. Sincerely and Fraternally, Amendment Group 14 The following amendment has been submitted by Grand Master Donald E. Kehler.This amendment would amend Regulation 20-1.1 to increase the Per Capita from $35.00 to $40.00 annually. Chapter 20 – Per Capita Tax and Initiation Fee Reg. 20-1 – Established REG. 20-1 ESTABLISHED. Each lodge, including lodges under dispensation, shall pay annually to the Grand Secretary, for the use of the Grand Lodge, the sums hereinafterspecified.1. The sum of forty dollars ($40.00) and for each member of the lodge at low twelve on December thirty-first. A lodge shall be exempt from the payment of the annual assessment to the Grand Lodge for any member who has received the Fifty-Year Service Award and any member of a lodge whose dues have been remitted under Reg. 77-14.2. (5-1.1; 20-1; 81-1; 81-7). (This regulation amended effective January 1, 2023.) Respectfully submitted, Matthew C. Robbins, Chairman |
Hall No. 53 Grand Lodge Of North Carolina, A.F. & A.M. |
Brethren, I previously sent an email regarding electronic petitions. This is an update to that email. If you have a prospective candidate, do not, repeat, do not give me a petition, Form 17 and take no money from the prospect. Provide me the following information on your prospective candidate: a. First and Last Name b. Email address (make absolutely sure you have this correct) c. Mobile phone number (make absolutely sure you have this correct) d. Zip Code I will then take the above information and create a prospect for Hall Lodge and an email link will go to his email address and he will click on the link provided in that email and proceed from there to fill out the petition, pay all necessary fees using a credit card, and then will move on to the background check and again pay all necessary investigative fees using his credit card which at a minimum will be $33.50. Once he has completed all forms and paid all fees this information will go to the grand lodge for certification. I will validate the recommenders. Both recommenders must be current active NC Masons and at least one recommender must be a member of Hall Lodge. Recommending prospects to the lodge. If you don't know them, DON'T RECOMMEND THEM and DON'T ASK OTHER BROTHERS IN THE LODGE TO SIGN AS A RECOMMENDER IF THEY DON'T KNOW THE PERSON. IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE PETITIONER YOUR OBLIGATION IS TO NOT RECOMMEND HIM FOR MEMBERSHIP and/or REFUSE TO SIGN THE PETITION. If a person or stranger whom you're not familiar with asks you for a petition invite them to our dinner, DO NOT GIVE THEM A PETITION. Also prospects that you only casually know, see a couple of times per month is also not a prospect to receive a petition. Invite them to dinner. To truly get to know a prospect takes time, it doesn't happen in a week or two. As Master Masons it is our obligation to protect the West Gate. I know this sounds confusing, however, after the first one it should go pretty smoothly. Lastly, I stated in my previous email on this subject that the investigation committee and others would need access to Grand View. This has changed and I will provide more information when we get to this point. Sincerely and fraternally, Bennie Woods, P.M., Secretary |
Good Afternoon Brethren!!
I have a few reminders I would like to put out today:
1st – Don’t Forget; our District meeting is Monday July 31st, at Eureka Lodge, hosted by Gatesville #126 and those festivities will start with fine dining at 7:00 PM. I know it will be a good meeting as we always have some very interesting speakers.
2nd – The First degree for Mr. Albert Sanchez will be August 9th which is the first week after our August stated. He is out of town this week so we will be having our last practice tomorrow night.
3rd – Our August stated is next week and I have received word that our Virginia Brothers will be visiting us that evening. Nobody can ever say for sure how many brothers will attend but the Secretary from Great Bridge told me he is expecting to bring 25 members of Great Bridge with him. Several other VA Lodges are also planning on attending that same evening. Keeping that in mind, please try to bring a little extra food so we will have enough.
4th – Great Bridge Lodge has moved their Past Master’s night to August this year so it will be Wednesday August 23rd. We have all been invited and are planning on attending, remember they make great steaks just for Past Master’s night and you can eat as many as you want. They always have extras left over. Please plan on attending with us, we always have lots of fun…
Good Afternoon Brethren;
I hope everyone is having a great 4th of July weekend. I want to send a quick reminder that Wednesday is our July Stated meeting, we will be having hamburgers and hot dogs. We will also have chips, sodas, baked beans, and potato salad. If you want to bring a side dish, please bring what ever you want. And wear your favorite Hawaiian shirt so we all look good.
New Lebanon will be at our meeting to bring home what’s left of the gavel, I am not sure how many others will be there. It should be a very good meeting. Hope to see everyone there Wednesday!!
Brethren;
I want to let everyone know that 8 members went with our Master to New Lebanon Lodge last Tuesday evening and retreived the traveling gavel. It was immediately believed to be lost to termites and other vermin, being their lodge sits might close to the water and all that was found in the bag was a small token of something resembling a gavel. Luckily, before lodge was over, it was located and the Master secured it to bring home.
We were served an outstanding meal of BBQ, hot dogs, chips, baked beans, and banana pudding for desert. Great fun was enjoyed by all!!! Good job Hall Members!!!
Good work Hall members!!
v/R
Bennie
Hello Brethren;
This is not a bad email. Please click on the following link, all you will need to do is create a password to register for Grandview and our website. It could not be simpler.
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