The Masonic Messenger The Official Publication of the of Free and Accepted Masons of VOL. 2 - n0. 1 granD LODge OF F. & a.M. OF aLaBaMa SPring 2013

Inside this edition... A MESSAGE FROM THE CharLeS a. BOOker ACTING GRAND MASTER discussing recent tragedies that granD MaSter, 1937-2013 have come to pass within the Charles Arthur Booker Apprentice December 14, Grand Lodge and hopes for this was born in McKenzie, 1974, passed to the degree of coming year. Alabama on February Fellowcraft February 25 1975, 10, 1937 to Royal and and raised to the degree of THE ‘KEY’ TO OUR Pearl Booker. He attended Master Mason March 29, 1975, SUCCESS, thoughts, plans McKenzie High School in Garland Lodge #684 where and goals for in where he graduated in he served as Worshipful Master Alabama as set forth by Grand 1955. After graduation 7 years and Lodge Secretary 4 Master Charles A. Booker he enlisted in the United years. He became a dual member (posthumous) States Air Force where he of Carney Lodge #549 on October served from 1955 to 1963. 14, 2003. THE ALABAMA CHILD ID After his military service He joined the Valley of Mobile PROGRAM needs volunteers he worked for CSX railroad on June 1, 1985 to help make an impact on our until his retirement in 2002. and was invested with the KCCH communities and make this The year 2002 was November 21, 2009. He has been worthwhile cause a success. a good year for Brother a member of the Monroeville York Charles. He met Patricia Rite Bodies since July 24, 1987, UPDATE on the construction Louise Hammons and on September children, 11 grandchildren and 14 and is a member of Abba Shrine in of Rising Virtue Lodge No.4 6, 2002 they were married. From great grandchildren.

a previous marriage he has 5 Charles was initiated an Entered (See BOOKER on Page 2)

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a M a B a L a OF M a F& OF ge LOD D gran Page 2 THE MASONIC MESSENGER Spring 2013 A Message From The Acting Grand Master By LANE WEATHERBEE, Pat is a wonderful, caring and The many, many offerings of adopted the recommendations. We Deputy Grand Master, compassionate lady. She has worked true, unselfish, brotherly love, look for continued financial stability. Acting Grand Master for three years, planning for this compassion and caring have left me Finally, I respectfully ask My Dear Brethren: year. I will do my utmost to see that with a new appreciation of Masonry for your continued support and Never has there been a Grand she receives the support, privileges and a deep gratitude in my heart friendship as your Grand Lodge Master of Alabama Masons who is and respect due the Grand Master’s that words cannot express. Officers and I go about the task more humble and grateful than I. I wife. Pat, we all love you. Brethren, I can only say the most of making the decisions that will became the Acting Grand Master Two of the great tenets on sincere, “Thank you.” While these guide Alabama Masonry. While because of the loss of a great friend, which our fraternity is based are and other words are not adequate to my time may be somewhat limited a great man and a great Mason, charity and brotherly love. As express my feelings, please accept in the coming weeks, I plan to visit Charles Booker. most of you know, my home was them until I can do better. in all sections of our state in the I always looked forward to completely destroyed by fire. The Turning to other matters, the coming months, and I hope to see seeing and talking with Charlie. outpouring of kindness from across Corporate Board met with the and talk with many of you. During my two years on the this state has been overwhelming. Finance Committee on March 9, Again, thank you for everything, Grand Lodge line, Charlie’s quiet The offers of help, expressions of and it was a fruitful meeting. The and I give you my word that I will demeanor and dry humor were sympathy and concern, monetary members of the committee adjusted do the very best I can in advancing great assets in all our dealings. contributions and prayers have been our investment strategy to meet the Alabama Masonry. While I am speaking of my loss, I overwhelming. My loss was great. changing economy, and the board am also reflecting the great loss to My daughter, great grandson and I the Grand Lodge of Alabama. were left only with the clothes on our backs and a few items we had Please keep Charlie’s family The “Key” To in our car. The response from this in your prayers. As the Acting fraternity was greater. The things Grand Master, I have directed Our Success we lost were, for the most part, that Pat Booker is still the “First By CHARLES A. BOOKER inviting them to Lodge, making material things that can be replaced. Lady of Masonry in Alabama.” Grand Master (Posthumous) that new EA, FC or Master Mason feel special and wanted, to give In the past three years I have these new and inactive Masons BOOKER had the opportunity to attend a reason to come to Lodge other several neighboring Grand Lodge than sitting through a business Continued from Page 1 Brother Charles has served the Grand Lodge of Alabama in the Communications, the North meeting or degree. Remember, Mobile and the Order of the Eastern following Offices: American Conference of Grand not everyone has an office and Masters and the Southeastern Grand Star in Greenville Alabama. Junior Grand Warden in 2009 not everyone has an interest in the Masters Conference. Throughout Brother Charles was examined Senior Grand Warden in 2010 ritual. Do community activities these events it has become apparent for his Grand Lodge Certificate of Deputy Grand Master in 2011 outside of the Lodge by utilizing Proficiency by Brothers Larry W. that a common concern permeates existing Grand Lodge Programs or At the 2012 annual communication the fraternity - membership. Stinson and C. B. Dodd, which he of the Grand Lodge, he was elected those that the Lodge may come up received October 13, 1988. Brother Everyone is looking for a solution, with or propose. and Installed as Grand Master on a “key” that will unlock the J. C. Brady appointed him as November 14, 2012. Freemasonry is a way of life. District Lecturer in Group 7 District answer. We have seen our numbers It is this association with good On December 8, 2012, nationwide fall from approximately 31 in 1989. In 1993 he served as he became a Knight Mason men and true -building a bond of Lecturer in Group 7 District 25, 4.1 million to 1.33million over the friendship and brotherly love that in Pensacola Florida. Also in past 53 years. Alabama peaked going back to 31 the following year. December he was made a Prophet at endures for a lifetime, helping one In 2000 when the Groups were in 1961 with 76,511 members and another and knowing that whatever Site in Al Hassan Grotto in Mobile. has steadily fallen until July 2012 combined to 5 state wide he had his Brother Charles Booker was for station we have in life, we are all old District but it was now Group 5 when it was 27,882. Every Grand equal as Masons. A man never has his entire Masonic career a faithful Lodge has been and is now looking District 40, which position he held servant of the Craft. He will be the opportunity to truly find out until he was elected Junior Grand for solutions to reverse this trend. what the Fraternity is about unless missed by all who new him. On As Alabama Masons we cannot Warden in November 2009 and February 6, 2013, he was called by he is made to feel welcome, unless was planning to return to after his afford the luxury of sitting back we make that extra effort to find a the Great Architect of the Universe to and waiting for someone else to years serving in the Grand Lodge. service in the Celestial Lodge above. place for him in our midst, to make solve our problems, we must solve him part or our “team”. our own. All of your Grand Lodge This year, as Grand Master, Officers will be talking about this The Masonic Messenger I will be devoting my time and topic as they travel throughout The Official Publication of the Grand Lodge of F. & A.M. of Alabama energy to membership. If each of Alabama this year. Regardless of Published Semi-Anually at Millbrook, Alabama you will help in this effort we can what we say or encourage you to do, achieve remarkable success. We we can do nothing unless you get Please send all changes of address can reverse this trend one Mason involved in this campaign to change and membership status to your and one Lodge at a time. The the direction of our fraternity. I first place to start is with existing know what the “key” to our success Lodge Secretary members; calling them and is; look in the mirror, it is you! SPring 2013 THE MASONIC MESSENGER Page 3 Grand Lodge of Alabama Child ID Program By JOhn r. StriCkLing webpage now not only gives an or fire departments. Although the opportunity to interact with the SgW, Committee Chair overview of the Program, but also it is called a Child Identification parents and children, you will want My first order of business is to contains information on how to Program it can be used to the benefit to schedule another one. Please do thank all the Brethren for approving conduct an event, the materials of children or adults. This is one of not worry about volunteers on the the 2012 - 2013 budget at Grand and equipment supplied by the the most comprehensive programs next event, you will have more than Lodge. That approval permitted the Grand Lodge, what materials the available in the country and it is enough! formation of the Child ID Program Lodge will need to provide, the FREE! What a magnificent way to Our Grand Master Charles Committee and gave the necessary number of kits required for an bring the Masonic Fraternity to the Booker wanted membership to funding to expand the Program to event, the number of volunteers forefront of public attention. We are be his primary project this year. meet the growing demand. I am needed and the ability to view and providing a service to give parents Public awareness, membership pleased to have this opportunity to print the flyers and questionnaires. and law enforcement a tool to save involvement and community inform you of the progress we have Contact information for each missing or abducted children at no service projects will help not only made thus far. Group Committee member is cost to them. If we can save one to retain members but attract the Since November we have also included. It is still a work in Child, is it not worth our efforts? kind of men we are looking for. doubled the number of our Child ID progress but we are trying to make It is my hope that every Lodge in The Child Identification Program kits. We now have 20 serviceable this Program an easy and enjoyable Alabama will schedule at least one meets all the criteria needed to kits to employ statewide, these have experience for all involved. I invite event this year to take advantage achieve this goal while providing been distributed so that each group you to visit the Child ID Website at of this gift we have been given. our communities with the tools to has 4 kits. In the event that demand www.alchip.org. I promise you that once you have help keep our children safe. in one Group exceeds that in others, The Child ID Program can conducted one event and have had for a certain date, we will have be set up and used in schools, the ability to transfer equipment churches, daycares, public or between Groups for short periods. community events or Lodge Rising Sun Lodge No. 29 We have updated the Child ID functions. The Program may be webpage in the past few months used in conjunction with civic A Brief History It is very probable that a pre- with more information. The groups, law enforcement agencies By neaL hUDSOn rising Sun Lodge no. 29 Civil War glimpse of the actual Rising Sun Lodge No. 29 was building Rising Sun Lodge occupied How Can I Help My Lodge? organized in Decatur, Alabama and is visible on one or both lithograph you can help your Lodge, to be a drawings displayed on our website: By hart FrankLin, WM chartered in 1827. Omega Lodge no. 380 part of the team, to use your unique Its early members were pioneer www.risingsun29.org/about.html grand Lodge of Florida talents to help us achieve our goals. settlers of Morgan County and those Rising Sun Lodge was destroyed Each man is part of the team who laid out and founded the city of November 25, 1864 by Federal What is a Lodge? It’s a team. simply by paying dues, and each Decatur. As war veterans, planters, troops during the Civil War. A team of brothers all acting in is limited by the constraints of his builders, legislators, county officials, Afterwards, meetings were held in concert to achieve common goals. own cable tow. No man can judge doctors, ministers, lawyers, bankers, several different places, most likely Some brothers are good at ritual another’s level of involvement railroad and business men, they ranging from individual members work. Some are interested in in the Lodge. But the fact is figured in practically every important homes, to other buildings as they Masonic history and education. only a small percentage of our development during the first quarter became available. Some prepare meals. Some membership actually participate at to half century of the county’s history. In 1873, a lodge was built on the teach the catechisms to new all in the workings of the Lodge. A Masonic Hall was built in northwest corner of Bank and Pond Masons. Some know all the Attendance at meetings is rarely 1834, the lower floor being used for Streets and meetings were held details of Lodge administration more than 10% of members. When church and school purposes. (See RISING SUN Page 4) and management outlined in degrees are conferred we regularly the Florida Digest. Some take have to rely on visitors from other an interest in maintaining the Lodges to fill the chairs. It always building and grounds. Someone seems to be the same small group maintains the library, cleans the of regulars who shoulder the bathrooms, sweeps and mops the load throughout the year. We are dining room floor, and vacuums grateful for that small group of the carpet. When the plumbing regulars, but don’t fool yourself in springs a leak, a fixture needs thinking that they have nothing else re-wiring, or the grass needs to do with their time. They all have mowing, there’s a brother who busy lives and yet have chosen takes care of it. Some simply to make time for Lodge work. attend meetings and give monetary Ask yourself if you are doing support when the collection basket everything you can to support comes around or give advice when your Lodge, to be a part of the the craft are considering a difficult team. We need your help. We issue. Some give rides to brothers need your unique talents. We who can no longer transport need your insight and advice. SOME HISTORIANS BELIEVE THAT RSL29 MET AT THE MCCARTNEy themselves. There are many ways HOTEL AfTER THE LOdGE WAS dESTROyEd By “THE ENEMy.” We need more active brothers. MCCARTNEy WAS A PAST MASTER Page 4 THE MASONIC MESSENGER SPring 2013 RISING SUN Rising Virtue Lodge No. 4 A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words

COTACO OPERA HOUSE Continued from Page 3 there until 1876, when that building Rising Sun Lodge met there until caught fire and burned to the ground. moving to its current location on the Rising Sun Lodge then moved to a corner of Bank and Walnut Streets. RISING VIRTUE LOdGE NO. 4 AfTER APRIL 27TH TORNAdO two-story building on the corner Rising Sun Lodge has recovered of Bank and Market Streets. This from being destroyed by the building was closer to the river, and “enemy” during the Civil War. It has served as Rising Sun’s designated held meetings in at least 8 different Lodge for several years. locations since, twice burning to the In 1890, the Grand Lodge of ground losing its charter, jewels and Alabama issued a dispensation furniture. It has survived two major for another Lodge, naming it New epidemics of Yellow Fever in 1878 Decatur Lodge No. 491. and again in 1888 that claimed the On September 12, 1907, The lives of its members. Grand Lodge of Alabama issued a During the 19th, 20th and in the dispensation for Austinville Lodge 21st centuries, we’ve had officers No. 679 and it was chartered on and members who have defended December 8, 1907. The charter was our culture, our freedoms and our forfeited in 1933. lives; some having returned home In 1916, New Decatur was maimed physically and mentally renamed to Albany, respectively and others who failed to return changing the Lodge name to Albany home at all, having paid the ultimate Lodge No. 491. Meeting minutes sacrifice in faithful discharge of their from Albany Lodge reveal that the sworn duty or Hippocratic Oath - all three lodges regularly participated Heroes. in courtesy degree work. It’s the internal and not the In 1917, Rising Sun’s building external qualities that make a Rising caught fire, and burned once again. Sun Lodge No. 29 member. From there, the Lodge moved into We are very proud of our Grand the Knights of Pythias Building, Lodge linage which includes our which was located between Church Past Masters, Honorable MWPGM and Wilson Streets. James McGinnis Brundidge and In 1934, Rising Sun moved to present RWSGW Brother John NEWLy CONSTRUCTEd RISING VIRTUE LOdGE NO. 4 the , formerly the Strickling. Cotaco Opera House, on Johnston As 1 of 18 nationwide recipients, As the photograph clearing shows, the construction of the new home Street owned by Albany Lodge Rising Sun Lodge No. 29 was for Rising Virtue Lodge #4 is nearing completion. According to M.W. No. 491. The Cotaco Opera House awarded the 2011 Masonic Service Brother Ron Andress, PGM the Brethren of his Lodge are hoping to was the first Opera House built in Association of North America’s occupy the building by late spring or early summer of this year. Alabama and in 1986 was listed in the Mark Twain Award for Masonic Rising Virtue Lodge #4 and Von Bayer Lodge #699 were both National Register of Historic Places. awareness in the Lodge and in the destroyed by the tornadoes that struck Tuscaloosa in April of 2011. These On May 3rd, 1935, Albany community. two Lodges have since consolidated into one Lodge, Rising Virtue #4. We Lodge and Rising Sun Lodge were In 2012, our website had over congratulate these Brethren for their ability to overcome the adversity and consolidated and, upon agreement, 28,000 visitors and received three despair that accompanies such a loss. They have been able to construct were fully chartered as the original awards. Please visit us online at: a building that will be an asset to the Masonic fraternity and the City of Rising Sun Lodge No. 29. www.risingSun29.org Tuscaloosa.