Grand Lodge Office: 478-742-1475 Please send changes of address to the Grand Secretary MASONIC MESSENGER at 811 Mulberry Street, Macon, GA 31201 Vol. 116 June 2020 No. 1 on your lodge secretary’s monthly report. The editor does NOT keep the list of addresses. Table of Contents Grand Lodge Officers Grand Lodge Notices and Events From the Desk of the Grand Secretary....................................3 Grand Master Johnie M. Garmon (114) Freemasonry Around Georgia.................................................4 Deputy Grand Master Jan M. Giddens (33) Grand York Rite News...........................................................5 Grand Orient of Georgia News..............................................6 Senior Grand Warden Donald C. Combs (46) Articles Junior Grand Warden Michael A. Kessler (216) “History of Dallas Lodge No. 182”......................................7-9 “Operative, Speculative, and Oline”..................................10-11 Grand Treasurer Larry W. Nichols (59) “Crypta Podcast Interview”..............................................12-14 “The 50 Year Mason: A Cut Above”.................................15-17 Grand Secretary Van S. McGee (26, 70) “The Freemasons & the Catholic P...”...............................18-20 “Pakistan’s Freemasons”........................................................21 Review of Georgia Grand Masters and their Tokens.............22 Grand Chaplain James R. Harris (205, 758) “Relevancy to the Community”............................................23 From the Archives “Consolidation (1931)..............................24 Grand Marshal F. Keith Hales (220, 724) The Common Gavel: “Pigs Don’t Care”................................25 Veteran’s Corner..................................................................26 Grand Orator Clyde E. Griffin (693, 1, 750, 303) GA ChIP Communication Corner..........................................27 Ex Amino.............................................................................28 Senior Grand Deacon Benjamin W. Polston, II (6) Awards................................................................................29 Junior Grand Deacon Mark A. Bradley (36) COVID-19 Notice.................................................................29 In Memoriam..................................................................30-31 First Grand Steward Bill Shepard (717, 214) Back Cover: Grand Lodge Store Second Grand Steward Brian Coffey (271, 749, 710) Third Grand Steward Tom Bruce (42, 216) Grand Tyler William White (114, 597) Publications Editor of the Masonic Messenger Daniel P. Bennett (364,154) 728 Baugh Mountain Rd. NW Sugar Valley, GA 30746 Email: [email protected] 770-608-6232 Chairman of Publications Brian Coffey (271, 749, 710) Published bi-monthly at 811 Mulberry Street, Macon, GA 31201. The Messenger goes to all Masons holding membership in Georgia Subscription $10.00 domestic, $16.00 foreign per year. Advertising rates on application. Publication Deadlines for the Masonic Messenger to the Editor February Issue: January 15 April Issue: March 15 June Issue: May 15 August Issue: July 15 October Issue: September 15 December Issue: November 15 2 / June 2020 From the Desk of the Grand Secretary Important Notices 2020 District Conventions 1st District POSTPONED Savannah @ Scottish Rite Building Host: Landrum Lodge No. 48 2nd District POSTPONED Albany @ Albany Lodge No. 24 Host: Albany Lodge No. 24 3rd District POSTPONED Pinehurst @ Millwood Lodge No. 198 Host: Millwood Lodge No. 198 4th District August 15, 2020 9:45 AM Greenville @ Greenville Lodge No. 321 Host: Centralhatchee Lodge No. 403 5th District September 12, 2020 10:00 AM Alpharetta @ Alpharetta Lodge No. 235 Host: Alpharetta Lodge No. 235 6th District POSTPONED Griffin @ Meridian Sun Lodge No. 26 Host: Rutland Lodge No. 298 7th District POSTPONED Rome @ Cherokee Lodge No. 66 Host: Cherokee Lodge No. 66 8th District POSTPONED Elberton @ Philomathea Lodge No. 25 Host: Nancy Hart Lodge No. 690 9th District September 26, 2020 9:00 AM Marietta @ The Keheley Center Activities Building Host: Hickory Flat Lodge No. 205 10th District June 13, 2020 10:00 AM Augusta @ Martinez Lodge No. 710 Host: Martinez Lodge No. 710 11th District September 19. 2020 10:00 AM Waycross @ Waycross Lodge No. 305 Host: Waycross Lodge No. 305 12th District POSTPONED Lyons @ Lyons Lodge No. 49 Host: Lyons Lodge No. 49 GA/SC Exchange: TBD @ Greenville Scottish Rite Building 817 Cleveland St. Greenville, SC 29601 with a meal and activity to follow. We have been invited by MW Grand Master Cal Disher, GM of SC and MW Grand Master Johnie Garmon, GM of GA. The South Carolina brethren will come in force, trying to beat our attendance record from last year. Georgia Masons need to travel well and beat them on their home turf. Special coins will be presented at some point during the evening, after the meal. The GA/SC Exchange is a big deal and the fellowship is superb, make your plans to bring a truck load. Rock Quarry Meeting: the 67th Annual Rock Quarry Degree will be held on August 22, 2020 in Morgantown, Georgia. As always, there will be a meal served at the Springs at 11:00 AM. The Master’s Degree will be con- ferred by Cherokee Lodge No. 66. The GPS coordinates for the rock quarry are 34 48 27.72N 84 12 00.62W. GPS coordinates to the Spring for lunch are 34 48 08.90N 84 11 14.59 W. Be on the lookout for changes coming to your Masonic Messenger. The Pub- lications Committee is in discussions with our publisher, Panaprint, to change the publication of the Masonic Messenger from Bimonthly to quar- terly; going from 32 to 48 pages. This will result in a cost savings of over $17,000. A specific date for transition has not been determined. Your Publi- cations Committee is always working to improve your Masonic Messenger and we ask for your input on what you would like to see included in the mag- azine. Do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. Brian Coffey, Second Grand Steward Chairman, Publications Committee 3 / June 2020 Freemasonry Around Georgia Harmony Lodge No. 405 Presents Star Awards: Worshipful Master Brian Graham of Harmony #405 Presents Star Stu- dent and Teacher Award to Mrs Lisa Byrd Star Teacher (L) and Miss Saleena Cauley Star Stu- dent (R) City of Lavonia Police Officer and Lavonia Lodge No. 241, F&AM Brother Jonathan D. Merck, along with two other officers, was awarded a Life Saving Commendation at a recent Lavonia City Council Meeting. The award was presented to Brother Merck and his fellow award recipients by Chief Bruce D. Carlisle, Members of Tallapoosa Lodge No. 126 pre- also a Brother of Lavonia Lodge No. 241, F&AM. sented a $6,500 check to Mr. Jefferson Allen. Jefferson was injured playing sports during fall 2019, and during his surgery, he lost the use of his legs. The Brethren of Tallapoosa Lodge partnered with the Local School Sys- tem and churches to raise funds to assist this family with some of his expenses. 4 / June 2020 5 / June 2020 6 / June 2020 Dallas Lodge No. 182 has a long and interesting history...and future! In 1854 a two-story he Lodge received its Charter in 1853 from brick County Court- T the Grand Lodge of Georgia, F. & A. M. The house (Building A) City of Dallas, GA received its charter from the State was erected in of Georgia in 1854. It was named the County Seat of downtown Dallas, Paulding County after the original Paulding, which on the spot where extended from Cobb County to the Alabama line, was the Lodge now sits. cut in two, the western most part becoming the new According to one Polk County. Since Van Wert, which was the County historian, a tempo- Seat of the original Paulding County, was now in Polk rary wood frame County, Paulding needed a new County Seat. The land courthouse was on which downtown Dallas and its immediate envi- erected somewhere rons now sits was sold to the County. It occupied a very near that structure, possibly on the west side of ridge line, was at the convergence of several roads and Main Street, while work progressed on the original trails, and contained excellent sources of very good brick Court House that sat where Dallas lodge now drinking water. sits. As soon as that building (Building A) was com- The early records of the Lodge are lost, and although pleted, the temporary structure was torn down. there is hope that they or part of them may be found All space in the Court House was occupied by the ju- someday, we have little to go on for the first 70 years dicial and administrative officers and staff of the of its existence. Sometime in 1853, before the city County, as well as the Courtroom, and so we are rela- received its Charter from the State of Georgia, 12 tively certain that the Lodge did not meet there. Master Masons who resided in or near Paulding Where the Lodge met between the time it received its County petitioned the Grand Lodge of Georgia to Charter in 1853 until it began meeting in the old organize a Lodge and to meet as Masons in Paulding Courthouse (Bldg. A) in 1892 is unknown. Various County. In November of that year, the lodge received sources lead us to believe that the Lodge met in at its Charter from the Grand Lodge. least 3 locations prior to 1892. One of these locations The founders of the Lodge were most likely from the we believe to be on the NE corner of the Public eastwardly adjacent Cobb County, or Fulton County Square. Another meeting location is said to have been (where Atlanta is situated). We know the names of the across East Memorial from the present City Hall, Charter Members and Officers from Grand Lodge where Highlands College is now and where the Winn records. What we don't know is from what Lodge(s) Building was for many years. Conjecture has it that for they migrated, or where they met. a time it also met in a building slightly north of the northeast intersection of Hwy. 61 (Confederate Ave.) The Charter Members of the lodge (1853) were Uriah and Memorial Drive. This is purely conjecture, how- Mathus, or Matthews, WM, C.S. Jenkins, SW, E.B.