Brethren,

Below is the calendar of degree rehearsals scheduled for the the future.  We are focusing primarily on the MM degree at this time. The first section will be casted by the 2024 officers. Please practice your parts at home and be ready to rehearse/refine when you arrive to the lodge.  

April 18th- rehearsal- 7.00pm

April 23rd -rehearsal - 7.00pm

April 25th- rehearsal - 7.00pm

May 2- Rehearsal -7.00pm

Brother officers, 

WM Jim has asked the officers to plan on attending an officer meeting at 5.30pm prior to dinner at our stated meeting. Please contact WM Jim if you have any questions or concerns.

Cody

Brethren,   the 5 hour lecture service that was originally scheduled for this weekend has been canceled.   There will be another oppurtunity to participate on Saturday April 6th.  This will take place at OASIS SHINE TEMPLE  604 Doug Mayes Place Charlotte, NC 28262. This event will be tiled so a current dues card will be necessary.  Cost of this event is 35$. You can register for this event through the grand view portal.  If you have any questions, please let me know,

Cody

What- Ritual Restoration/ Lodge Lecture Service

When- Saturday April 6th.   

Schedule:

Registration: 7:30am - 8:30am

Breakfast: 8:00am - 8:45am

Lunch: 12:00pm - 12:45pm

Meeting: 9:00am - 2:30pm

Where- Oasis Shrine Temple 

604 Doug Mayes Place
Charlotte, NC 28262

FROM WB RANDY RICHARDSON

Just a reminder of a couple of meetings coming up this week:

Brethren, due to a missunderstanding on my part,   ZOOM access will not be possible for the planned property meeting. I appologize for this misscommunication. 

Cody. 

Brethren,

Per request of Worshipful Master Jim Ferguson, you are requested to attend a meeting regarding property transaction of James K Polk Lodge. The meeting will be held on Thursday March 7 at 6.30 pm.  This meeting will be solely for the purpose of near future land transactions of our property at 900 hill street.  We will be hosting the developer who is happy to answer any questions you may have. Our own legal counsel will be in attendance to aid in discussion.  If you cannot attend, online Zoom meeting opportunity will be available for you to attend virtually where you can ask any questions and be apart of the discussion LIVE.  If you plan on attending please let either myself or WM Jim Ferguson know. ASAP.  

NOTE: this is a preliminary meeting and thus far no aggrements have been made. JKP lodge has not made any commitments or contractual obligations. 
 

JAMES K POLK SECRETARY

CODY J GUSTAFSON

704 498 4029 

Brethren,   Please find below the upcoming calendar for the month of February and March

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 20TH. FELLOWCRAFT REHEARSAL

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 27TH. FELLOWCRAFT REHEARSAL

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 29TH-  FELLOWCRAFT DEGREE.   DINNER AT 6.00PM DEGREE AT 7.00PM 

THURSDAY MARCH 14TH  MARCH STATED COMMUNICATION 6.00PM AND LODGE TILES AT 7.00PM

BRETHREN,

PLEASE SEE BELOW THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR JANUARY-FEBRUARY

JANUARY 18TH.  MASTER MASON DEGREE REHEARSAL. 7.00 PM 

JANUARY 25TH. MASTER MASON DEGREE REHEARSAL. 7.00PM

SATURDAY JANUARY 27TH 8.00AM.  MASTER MASON DEGREE. 

FEBRUARY 8TH.  - FEBRUARY STATED COMMUNICATION-   DINNER 6.00PM.  MEETING 7.00PM

Brethren and friends,

I hope this message finds you well on the eve of the new year!

As secretary, I have been dealt a few minor setbacks in the closing of the old year which unfortunately will be passed on the the member. BUT, we can adapt and overcome.

First,  GRANDVIEW Data base suffered from two weeks of database maintenance which prohibited me from inputting some data. I am updating as I can and will address shortcomings as they arise.

SECOND, the grand lodge print office had material setbacks that delayed DUES CARD printing.  Those of you who have payed 2024 dues in advance, THANK YOU!!. I can issue letters of good standing under JKP759 seal with backing from the Grand Lodge of NC seal. Please let me know ASAP if you require such documentation. 

THIRD, dues for 2024 are set at 232.00$   If you have prepaid and have given another amount, I will reach out and let you know the balance owed and/or request where overpayment should be direceted. If you have any questions regarding your dues status, please contact me ASAP

Some changes to online dues payment options will come in 2024.   IF you have trouble logging into the GRANDVIEW platform, please let me know and I will help as best I can

In closing, I hope the new year treats you well. If you have any questions, comments, concerns or advise, I look forward to it as YOUR SECRETARY!

Do not hesitate to reach out to me by any means necessarry! 

Your brother

Cody Gustafson

James K Polk 759

704 498 5029

secretary.jameskpolk759@gmailcom

cgus307@gmail.com

UPDATED 01/11/24

Brethren,

I hope this finds you well.

James K Polk Lodge is gearing up for a Master Mason degree.  We have scheduled this degree for SATURDAY JANUARY 27TH. 8.00AM

We will hold practice for the second section this Thursday December 7th at 7.00pm.  We will need as many master masons as possible to fill the cast.  If you have or know a part for the SECOND SECTION OF THE MM DEGREE, please plan on attending this rehearsal.  Future dates for rehearsal will be set following the december stated communication.  If you know a part and wish to participate, but CANNOT attend this first rehearsal,  please let me know as soon as possible so I can get a cast list assembled.

01/18/24 MASTER MASON DEGREE REHEARSAL

01/25/24  MASTER MASON DEGREE REHEARSAL

01/27/2024- (SATURDAY)   MASTER MASON DEGREE- 8.00AM

I look forward to seeing you Thursday and again at our December stated,

Cody 

Brethren,

 We have been asked by the Grand Lodge of South Carolina, by way of DDGM Brian Turner, to perform a courtesy funeral service for a brother master mason.

 The funeral service will be held for Brother Billy Sessoms. The funeral service will be held at McEwen Funeral Home - Pineville Chapel on Saturday, Nov 18th @ 1:00. The address is: 10500 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC.

 W Br. Bob Braswell has already agreed to provide the funeral lecture.  It will be James K Polk's responsibility to have at a very minimum the Holy Writings present.  Please plan to arrive at 12:30.

 The Master of Corinthian Lodge #416 (Bro Billy's Home Lodge) will be attending.  His name is W Bro Rodger Ellingwood and his phone # is: 803-493-8030

 The Funeral Director is David Blackwell and can be reached at 475-223-8111.

 If you have any questions or can attend the service, please let me know as soon as possible.

Dear Brethren,

I am strongly encouraging all brothers, who physically can attend, be at our October stated communication on 12-Oct.  Our By-Laws committee in concert with the Finance committee have recommended two changes to our by-laws.

1. The first is to align a section that is in violation of the GLNC finance committee rules.  Starting in 2023, no lodge can take 10% of the proceeds and apply it to the lodge.  

We will strike out the below from our by-laws.

Amended Article 22, Section 1, Clause 18 (Strike out):

Ten percent (10%) of the proceeds from all fundraisers go into the James K. Polk

Scholarship Fund.

2. Each year costs go up, members are lost due to death, moves, etc. and the lodge building becomes older and requires more maintenance.  This year we have had two of our air conditioning units fail and one caused damage to the ceiling of the lodge.  Our utilities have gone up, along with simple things such as stamps, envelopes, etc.  In 2023 we reduced our spending by turning off the internet, reduced our secretary’s salary, had members donate their time without taking any payment, yet we will still find ourselves in the red for the fourth straight year. Our dues have not increased with the inflation and have stayed the same for the last 6 years.  A lodge, much like a business, must be able to fund itself.  

I consider James K Polk my home.  I was taught everything to know about masonry in NC in these walls.  Though it was not where I first sat in the East, this is my home and I want to be able to preserve it for future generations of masons. Many brothers put seat and tears into building the lodge and maintaining and I hope you agree that we must be able to carry James K Polk Lodge #759 into the future.

With that being said, I will not pass this problem onto the officers below me, nor do I want to put any of them in the position to have to increase dues.  The proposed amendment regarding dues will result in a $67 increase the first year and will increase an additional $10 for each of the next four years.  The initial increase works out to just 18 cents per day.  I know masonry means much more to me than an additional 18 cents per day and I hope you will too.

I understand that this is a significant increase and may cause hardships on some.  For those on fixed incomes, feel free to reach out to me to discuss and I am sure we will find a solution that benefits both you and the lodge.

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to me and I will answer any questions that you may have

Sincerely and most fraternally,

Dale Bruck

Master

The amendment proposed is as follows.

Amended Article 10, Section 1:

SECTION 1. The annual membership dues in this lodge shall be One Hundred

Ninety-Seven Dollars ($197.00) for the year 2024, Two Hundred and Seven Dollars

($207.00) for the year 2025, Two Hundred Seventeen Dollars ($217) for the year

2026, Two Hundred Twenty-Seven Dollars ($227) for the year 2027, and Two

Hundred Thirty-Seven Dollars ($237) for the year 2028, or until amended again, One Hundred Thirty Dollars ($130.00) PLUS the Grand Lodge per capita tax as Specified in Regulation 20-1.0 of The Code, and is to increase as the per capita tax increases, which each member shall pay in advance on or before the first day of January of each year.

September 12- September Stated Communication

September 19th- Fellow Craft Degree Rehearsal

September 26th- Fellow Craft Degree

October 2nd - October officer Meeting

October 12th- October Stated Communication

UPDATE-  AT THE REQUEST OF THE FUNERAL HOME AND FAMILY, WE ARE ASKED TO PERFORM RITES FOR BROTHER GREENE AT 9.40 AM. WM DALE BRUCK HAS ASKED ANY MEMBERS WHO CAN PARTICIPATE TO ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 9.30 AM.   

Brethren,

Below are the details for Brother Will Greenes celebration of life. Masonic Rites have been requested by the family. If you are available, please make plans to join in laying our brother to rest. I will pass along any other details as I get them. 

Celebration of life for Williard Eugene Greene

Saturday, July 8, 2023 at 11:00 am

BROTHERS ARE REQUESTED TO ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 9.30 AM FOR A 9.40 SERVICE. 

Greene’s Funeral Home Northwest Chapel

2133 Ebenezer Road, Rock Hill, SC

https://www.greenefuneralhome.net/obituary/willard-e-greene/

Cody

Brethren and Friends of James K Polk,

I am writing this afternoon with a heavy heart, to inform you of the passing of Brother Willard Green. I have no details as of yet for arrangments at this time. Brother Greene resided in Richmond Hill GA. He was initiated at James K Polk 759 on March 3 1988, Passed May 5 1988 and Raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on May26th 1988 where he enjoyed 35 years as a member of our beloved fraternity. Please offer up a prayer of rest and comfort for Brother Greene and his family during this time.  I will pass along details as I get them. 

Cody

Brethren and friends,

I am writing to impore your prayer requests for WB Dennis Woolery. He has been expidited in his pacemaker procedure and will undergo that tomorrow as of this writing and my best information. I ask each of you to set aside a moment to say a prayer and good word for another pillar of JKP as he goes under the knife for medical treatment. Please keep Dennis, Sue and Jonathan in your prayers for speedy recovery and helping hands during the coming time. If I recieve updates, I will pass them along as I get them. 

Cody

update 6/28/23
 

Brethren,  I just received an update on WB Randy by way of WB Jerry. Randy is showing improvement but still struggling. He will have a long road of recovery.  He and Cille sure could use all the prayers and positive thoughts that we can muster. I will pass along my updates as I get them. 

 Cody

Brethren and friends,

This message is to inform you that WB Randy Richardson underwent surgery this morning and as of this writing, he is doing well and resting.  Pending final checks, he is supposed to be released tomorrow. Please keep WB Randy and his wife Cille in your prayers for speedy recovery

Cody

-July 20th - Entered Apprentice degree rehearsal

-July 27th- Entered  Apprentice Degree

-August 3rd- Officer Meeting

-August 10th - Stated Communication

-August 17th- Degree Rehearsal

-August 24- Degree Rehearsal

- Sep 9 - BBQ at lodge pavilion

- Oct 20 – Pineville Fall Festival

- Oct 21 – Pineville Fall Festival

Brethren and Friends, Please find the March Edition of the Trestleboard attached for your information and enjoyment. 

Cody