The Masonic Messenger the Official Publication of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Alabama VOL
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The Masonic Messenger The Official Publication of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Alabama 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 Freemasonry 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 Scottish Rite 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) LATE P ICENSE L ASONIC M A URCHASING P BY Y FREEMASONR UPPORT S D N A E D RI P YOUR HOW S D REQUESTE SERVICE CHANGE PAID PAID PAID PAID 36054 L A , K OO R LLB I M 1070 BOX P.O. 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.