January 2017
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VOLUME V, ISSUE I JANUARY 2017 INSIDE THIS ISSUE William Hooper Council Wreath Laying Ceremony Information on the 52nd Anniversary ‘Selma to Montgomery Reenactment March' The Grand MasTer’s AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE M.W.P.H.G.L. O F A L A B A M A Trestle Board I N S I D E THIS ISSUE: od Almighty serve this country safely, Editor’s Message 2 continues to successfully and grace- bless us. He fully. He is an inspira- 147th G Communication 3 has allowed us to see an- tion to us all. We have Announcement other year. I wish a hap- been blessed to have wit- Prince Hall py and prosperous new nessed history with the Americanism Classic 4 year to all! May God election of President Information continue to bless each of Obama. We thank God Message from the 5 you throughout the year. for President Obama’s Deputy Grand Master vision and foresight for Wreath Laying Recently the 44th Presi- 6 this country. Ceremony dent of the United States, Update on Temple the Honorable Barack On Sunday, March 5, 9 Renovation Obama’s, tenure as Com- 2017, we will be, once Temple Renovation mander-in-Chief of this again, participating in the 11 Fundraiser O taste and see that the Lord is good: great country ended. I Selma March in com- Grand Lodge 13 blessed is the man that trusteth in him. am thankful that the memoration of “Bloody History Psalms 34:8 President was able to Sunday”. 52nd Anniversary Selma March 16 I am asking all Brothers and Sisters to please participate in this event. Bring as many peo- Information ple as you can to Selma, Alabama. If you cannot walk across the bridge, do not be de- Message from the terred, just come and fellowship with all the Brothers and Sisters from far and near. If Grand Medical 17 there was ever a time we have needed to show our strength in numbers and show our sup- Registrar port for the Voting Rights Act, the time is NOW! I cannot wait to see you there. Achievements 18 On the first Saturday in March we will begin our Regional Meetings throughout the State In The Spotlight 19 of Alabama. I eagerly anticipate this time of year. I enjoy traveling throughout the vari- News & Events from 21 Region 1 ous areas and having an opportunity to meet and greet brothers who are eager to do what News & Events from they can to help better this Grand Lodge. All Masters, Wardens and Brothers are to be 22 Region 2 present at the Regional Meetings. News & Events from 23 It is no secret that we are currently living in a country divided. Due to the recent election Region 3 there has been an upswing in protests and demonstrations, some non-violent and some News & Events from 24 Region 4 violent. I say to you, do not be dismayed. God is still in control. Isiah Chapter 9, Verse 6 News & Events from reads, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be 27 Region 5 upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, News & Events from The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” We serve a God who sits on a throne much 31 Region 6 higher than any world leader. We must continue to lean and depend on Him. Obituaries 38 May God continue to bless each of you, our beloved Grand Lodge, and may God bless Article 39 Submission Guidelines America! Fraternally, Corey D. Hawkins, Sr. Most Worshipful Grand Master P A G E 2 Message from the Editor o all readers and sup- I do ask you to be mindful of ganize and tell your good porters of this Official the Article Submission works to the readers as best T Publication of the Guidelines on the last page of you can. Finally, please in- Most Worshipful Prince Hall this newsletter. No more than clude a point of contact and a Grand Lodge of Alabama two articles per lodge can be telephone number with your titled The Cornerstone Mes- submitted for each edition of article submissions. sage, Greetings: I would like the newsletter. Individual As always, I want to encour- to take this time to thank all pictures should be of good of the contributors to this quality in JPEG and not as a age all subordinate lodges to edition of The Cornerstone collage. Pictures should also continue to support The Cor- Message. I continue to com- capture actions of the event nerstone Message and show mend you on your good showing the readers your everyone throughout the ju- works and taking advantage event and not just a group risdiction what your lodges of utilizing this instrument to picture of the brothers in the are doing in your respective PM Herman “Jerome” Glover (50) display your good works lodge. The write up should be areas to add to the mission of Publication Editor throughout this great jurisdic- at least one paragraph telling making sure Prince Hall Ma- sonry is at the forefront in the tion of Alabama. This juris- the story of your article to the diction continues to accom- readers. The Cornerstone state of Alabama. plish great things and you Message isn’t Facebook or - PM Herman “Jerome” Glover Publication Editor “This program is will find some of them cap- Instagram where you post tured within this edition of several pictures and a few designed to allow The Cornerstone Message. sentences. Take time to or- suspended Members suspended after June, members to Reclamation Drive (TARP) 2002, can reinstate by paying the reinstate for a following: more affordable In an attempt to give suspended Brothers an $20.00 reinstatement fee opportunity to become active again during $10.00 taxes fee.” these tough economic times, our Most Wor- shipful Grand Master has devised a plan named $25.00 registration TARP– Traveling Again Reclamation Program. $50.00 assessment (Have two This program is designed to allow suspended years to pay the remaining members to reinstate for a more affordable fee. $200.00) $105.00 Total Members suspended before June, 2002, can reinstate by paying the following: TARP serves a two-fold purpose: (1.) It gives suspended Brothers a more affordable means of reinstating $20.00 reinstatement fee and (2.) It gives dying lodges a final $10.00 taxes opportunity to salvage their exist- ence by increasing their numbers $25.00 registration before being forced to close or $50.00 assessment (Have two years to pay merge. Our Grand Master has ex- the remaining $150.00) tended a challenge for the mem- bers of this jurisdiction to go out $105.00 Total and reclaim our lost Brothers. TARP will be in effect through July 31, 2017. THE CORNERSTONE MESS AGE WWW.MWPHGLOFAL.ORG P A G E 3 A N N O U N C E M E N T The One Hundred Forty-Seventh Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free & Accepted Masons of Alabama will be held Monday, July 17, 2017 - Wednesday, July 19, 2017 THE BATTLE HOUSE RENAISSANCE MOBILE HOTEL & SPA 26 North Royal Street Mobile, Alabama 36602-3802 The room rate is $109.00 + applicable taxes per night When making reservations, ask for the Prince Hall Grand Lodge room block to get our rate. The cutoff date for the $109.00+applicable tax per night rate is June 30, 2017. So make your reservations now! For Reservations Call 800.922.3298 • 251.438.4000 THE CORNERSTONE MESS AGE WWW.MWPHGLOFAL.ORG P A G E 4 THE CORNERSTONE MESS AGE WWW.MWPHGLOFAL.ORG P A G E 5 A Message from the Deputy Grand Master rothers, I would like to give you some wholesome words of encouragement. You must have a positive outlook in each and everything that you do. Nobody would argue that electricity exists. B You can’t touch, smell, hear, or see it, but its effects are evident everywhere you look. Its pow- er is evident everywhere you look. In the same way, your thoughts are energy. Your thoughts drive your life just as electricity drives a motor. That is the power there is in having a positive mental attitude. If we put action with our positive mental attitude, then the sky is the limit in what we can get accom- plished for the Most Worshipful Prince Grand Lodge of Alabama. If we can dream it, believe it, then we can achieve it. Yes, I am not the first one to say this, and I bet I won’t be the last either. You know why? Because it is true. It’s simple, but true. There is power in thoughts, both in negative and in positive thinking. Choose posi- tivity and you will enjoy positive energy and positive results. A poem by an unknown author states the follow- ing about having a positive mental attitude: “If you think you are beaten you are; If you think you dare not, you don’t; If you want to win but think you can’t; It’s almost a cinch you won’t. If you think you’ll lose you’ve lost; For out of the world we find Success begins with a fellow’s will; It’s all in a state of mind. Life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger and faster man, But sooner or later the man who wins Is the man who thinks he can.” As Masons, we must keep our faith firm in God and always trust in His word.