Volume: XLVI Edition: Spring May 2012

The Texas Mason Magazine The Texas Mason Table of Contents

The Texas Mason Magazine is an official publication of the Grand Lodge of Texas A. F. & A. M. It is published four times a year for the members of Texas Lodges and subscribers. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Opinions expressed by the Editor and contributing writers do not necessarily reflect official positions of the Grand Lodge of Texas Copyright 2012, by the Trustees of the Grand Lodge of Texas. All rights reserved. Page 1 …………... The Grand Master’s Message Publisher The Trustees of The Grand Lodge of Texas Page 2 …….. Masonic Children and Family Svc.

Editor Page 3 ………..Deputy Grand Master’s Message Benjamin Franklin Linduff and the Grand Senior Warden’s message

Copy editor Clinton M. M. McKenzie. Page 4 ……...…. Grand Junior Warden message The Texas Mason Magazine encourages submission of articles and name badge order form and photographs of general interest to Masons in Texas, re- serving the right to edit and use the articles and pictures as Page 5 ………..………2011 Masonic Family Day needs and policies dictate. News and articles from around the state will continue to be Page 6 …………….. Grand Secretary’s Message published in a web based format on the Grand Lodge of Texas website The Grand Lodge website is accessible at http:// www.grandlodgeoftexas.org Page 7 ……………………….…Brother Nichols Please continue to send your articles and Lodge events and news to the Editor of The Texas Mason Magazine. Page 8 ……………….………... Circumbulations The preferred method of submission is via email with an at- tached Microsoft Word document. Pictures should be sepa- Page 13 …………………….....Wardens Retreats rately submitted in JPEG format to [email protected]. If you do not have email, submissions may be sent to the Grand Lodge of Texas, Attn.: The Editor of Texas Mason Page 14 ………………2011 Merchandise Sales Magazine, PO Box 446, Waco, Texas 76703. All materials become property of the magazine and cannot be returned.

Subscriptions $6.00 per year U.S. and Canada, $15.00 for three years; $10.00 per year in foreign countries, $25.00 for three years

Permission to reprint Permission to reprint original articles appearing in The Texas Mason Magazine is granted to all recognized Masonic publica- On the Cover tions, provided that credit is given to the author and attribution The Grand Lodge to The Texas Mason Magazine. of Texas Auditorium. Volume XLV, Edition: Spring P a g e 1

The Grand Master’s Message

Brethren: I bring you greetings from the Grand Lodge Trustees and hope all is going well in your lodges. I can't tell you how much we are enjoying going all over this great State Of Texas. We have been afforded the nicest hospitality you can conceive. At the time of this writing, we have completed eleven of our sixteen Conferences. We have had great attendance at each and expect the same at the next five. I want to remind all that we are going to have the same type Workshop as we had last year and they will be after mid-year. The program for the workshops has been written by R:. W:. Leonard Harvey and they will be very enjoyable.

I have a number of concerns and the one on my mind all the time is our 'image'. As I read the DDGM reports it is amazing how many lodge buildings are in need of repair. We have two images over which to be concerned. One is the image that we display to the public when they pass by our buildings. We sure hope that they say "that’s a good looking building" The other image to be addressed is the one that we have when we attend lodge. Are we proud of our facility, does it look good to us?

Think about our image and let’s clean up as needed.

Fraternally

James F. Brumit, Grand Master

P a g e 2 The Texas Mason Volume XLV, Edition: Spring P a g e 3

Deputy Grand Master

Brethren of the Grand West the same time would challenge each of you to “Lead I begin by saying once more; with compassion and Humility”. Remember, you “How good and how pleasant it is for are elevated for only a chosen time and must Brethren to dwell together in unity”. eventually return to the fold only in the capacity of a “Master Mason”. How can it be May 2012? When I began this journey in I am so appreciative of each and every one December 2008 My wife, “Miss Ardith” and I decided to be of you Texas Masons allowing me to be in the nominated for the Grand South in 2009. Taking it one day at a position I am in and I pinch myself daily and thank time, where have the days, months and years gone? the Supreme Architect of the Universe for allowing The 2012-2013 Grand Lodge year is progressing me to do what I am doing. according to plan and I would guess we are 98% complete. Finally, Brethren, as Masonry requires In reference to the talent bank we have created, we have each and every one of us to believe in a “Supreme received well over one hundred responses to this appeal and we Being”. Thank Your “Supreme Being” for allowing have appointed several of these brethren to Grand Lodge you to be “a Master Mason”. committees, etc. I continue to ask all Masons in Texas to remember your obligations and live your lives according to the requirements of Sincerely and Fraternally each obligation. Always remember “You are someone’s example of Freemasonry daily”. It is approaching time for election and installation of Walter W. Rogers Lodge officers. I would congratulate each new Officer in every Deputy Grand Master Lodge in Texas on your being chosen to “Lead your Lodge” and at Masonic Grand Lodge Of Texas

Grand Senior tasks, and keep a scheduled follow up on the pro- W a r d e n gress of the committees, you will have a successful year. For the incoming Wardens, now is the time From the Grand Senior Warden: to be developing your plans for the things you want to accomplish for the good of your Lodge. Brethren, as we approach the time of year for election Last minute planning, more than often, does not of Lodge Officers and the installation thereof, I trust come off as planned. As is often said in the that the incoming Masters have made solid plans for Wardens Retreat training session on planning, their year of governing the Lodge. One year sounds “If you fail to plan, plan to fail.” like a long time until that year comes and passes before you realize it is almost over. Believe me I Let’s all plan on making next year and every year know. My year as your Grand Junior Warden seemed a great one for Texas Masonry. to go by faster than my year as Master of the Lodge. However, I have been planning since the first day I Jerry L Martin Grand Senior Warden was elected, and have enlisted the aid of my Planning Team members in the development of plans for the year 2014. If you have a sound plan and implement it at the very beginning; delegating those plans to vari- ous committees for the accomplishment of the various P a g e 4 The Texas Mason Grand Junior Warden’s M e s s a g e

Brethren, winter is gone, spring has arrived, and people are cultivating their flower beds, fertilizing the yard, and trimming trees and shrubs in preparation for the new growth to come. It seems we all want our neighbors and passers by to approve of the way our property looks because it says a lot about who lives there.

This is even more important about our Lodge property. When the public does not know who Masons are and what they do, they sometimes judge us by the way they see the outside of our buildings. If it is neat and clean, then we can hope that they assume that we are also. We should all do our best to ensure that the exterior of our Lodges are well cared for and kept neat, for after all, as Masons we are taught to be good neighbors and citizens of our communities.

Likewise, spring is an excellent time for each of us to clean ourselves up, so-to-speak, and make sure we present the right image of Masonry to not only all that those that we come into contact with, but those who observe us from a distance and know us only by the emblems on our cars, belt buckles, rings, hats, etc. Think about that old saying that is posted over the door of so many Lodges, “Remember, you are someone’s image of Masonry.”

Just as spring is a time for preparing for new growth in nature, it is a great time to “bloom” new growth in Masonry by getting out into the community. Lamar Medal presentations and scholarships are part of this season and an excellent opportunity to either get the students, family, and school personnel into our Lodges or us into the school facilities to make these awards. A well planned presentation ceremony can bear much fruit for our gentle fraternity, and as we all know, that “fruit” can easily become membership. So let’s all get out and promote the oldest and greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

Michael Wiggins Grand Junior Warden

P a g e 6 The Texas Mason M e s s a g e from the Grand Secretary

LODGE OFFICER INSTALLATIONS

Queries continue to be asked about the implementation of Article 276a regarding the additional qualifications of the Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, and Junior Warden prior to installation. Please note this law is in effect now and governs the June 23-July 31, 2012 Lodge installations. It is the responsibility of the Lodge, the top three Lodge officers, the Lodge Secretary, and the DDGM to act and document that the top three Lodge officers are properly qualified. The installation officer has no responsibility to ensure the officers are qualified – he just installs them.

Article 276a requires the Worshipful Master and both Wardens, prior to their Installation, to be qualified as follows: (1) To the satisfaction of the members of the Lodge, shall be proficient to properly open and close an Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, Master Mason’s Lodge, and a Master Mason’s Lodge of Sorrow in the manner prescribed by the Committee on Work and approved by the Grand Lodge. Note: Any member would meet this requirement if he has a current A, B or C certificate from the Committee on Work. (2) To the satisfaction of the members of his Lodge, he shall have completed a Grand Lodge approved course in the administration of his duties – either by the Wardens Retreat, or the Lodge Instruction for Effectiveness program (L.I.F.E.) under the supervision of the Masonic Education and Service Committee. The L.I.F.E. program is to be administered by a Lodge Counselor appointed by the Worshipful Master. Note: Any member qualifies for the Lodge Administration if he has completed a Wardens Retreat and that such documentation has been provided to the Lodge Secretary. Since no Warden’s Retreats are scheduled in 2012 until after Lodge installations, the 2012 installations must be met with the L.I.F.E. program or by completion of previous Warden’s Retreats.

A Masonic Form No. 101 is to be completed by the Lodge Secretary every year for each of these members being installed and he will attach a copy to the installation minutes. The top three officers are required to provide a copy of their Form 101 to the DDGM, five (5) days prior to the Installation.

The esoteric requirements are to be completed each year when the officer advances through the chairs. If the officer does not have a current esoteric certificate from the Committee on Work, the Lodge must af- firm to the satisfaction of their members that the officer can properly open and close the EA, FC, MM, and MM Lodge of Sorrow. Usually this is done at a called meeting or scheduled practice session, and the Lodge makes the entry in the minutes of a stated meeting that the proposed officer is proficient.

The Lodge Administration requirement is a one-time event upon the completion of either the L.I.F.E. program or the Wardens Retreats.

Lodges are responsible for conducting legal elections, and DDGMs have been directed to review and report the completion of the Article 276a requirements. Please ensure that your Lodge complies with the new rules approved by the Grand West in 2011.

Tom Guest, Grand Secretary Volume XLV, Edition: Spring P a g e 7

2nd Annual Schuetzenfest

Fellows,

We had a wonderful time at the Second Annual Masonic Schuetzenfest this past Saturday in beautiful Raisin, Texas. We had eight shooters and a new SCHUETZENKOEING was crowned - Chris Skeen of Temple lodge #4 AF&AM in Houston, Tx. Chris shot a Browning T-bolt with a receiver aper- ture sight had a clean win with 272 points. Trey Silvers, son of Mason Jimmie Silvers was nippin' at his heels, however, with 262 points, while Ronnie Beard of Fayetteville #240 shot a 255, followed by Dick Brown and Jimmie Silvers, both at 254.

The course was shot at 10-ring bull's-eye targets from a bench rest position at 48 yards, and at 5" round steel plate "knock down" targets from an offhand shooting postion at 35 yards. Two 10-shot rounds at the paper, three 10-shot rounds at the steel plates. (Note: a hit on the steel plate was worth 5 points, and if you knocked it down you got 10 points. It took a good solid upper 1/3 of the plate hit on the plate to knock it down.)

Shooters used a variety of rifles, both new and vintage, including a Ruger 10/22, a Remington pump, a Browning lever action, a Henry lever action, a Browning T-bolt, a CZ 452, and a vintage Remington Mod. 41.

For more information on the Masonic Schuetzenfest, or to place your email address on the mailing list for next year's event, contact Bro. Dick Brown at [email protected]

Brother Talley Nichols – Gunsmith to Millions of Cowboys

If you were a boy growing up in Texas during the 1950's and early 1960’s, it is very likely that you owned a toy cap pistol. Cap pistols were very popular, and the toy from the Circle N Ranch in Jacksonville, Texas were the best in the world. They were the perfect sidearm to wear while watching programs like The Lone Ranger, The Roy Rodgers Show, Gunsmoke, Death Valley Days, Bonanza, and the other “Westerns” that were breaking ground on the new home entertainment medium, black and white television.

During World War II, Lewis W. Nichols, Jr. and older brother Talley W. Nichols, started a manufacturing company in Pasadena, Texas, that provided items for the war effort. Lewis was overseas in the service, but sent his entire savings home to Bro. Talley, who ran the company. When Lewis came home after the war, the brothers made the decision to make die cast toys, and since the “Cowboy Western” movie was very popular at the time, they decided to make toy cap pistols. The first Nichols cap pistol, the single shot Pony, was introduced in 1946. It was made of shiny die cast metal, and sales were good from the very start. The brothers added plastic molding facilities to their company, and in 1947 the Silver Mustang, a repeating cap pistol, was intro- duced. Then came the Stallion 45, Stallion 38, the Stallion 32, the , the Mod. 94 rifle, and many more cowboy style guns that were made by Nichols Industries. All were made of real metal, held together by real screws, and tough enough to be about 99% boy-proof. Continued on next page. P a g e 10 The Texas Mason Magazine

Nichols cap guns

ended, and the needed raw materials became avail- able again. It was at this time that Brother Talley made the decision to make a smaller (and less ex- pensive) version of the loading Stallion 45, and the Stallion 38 was introduced. While not as big and fancy as the Stallion 45, the Stallion 38 was a favorite of many cowboys. It was less expensive, and the smaller size fit a young boy's hand better. Further, the smaller cartridges it used just seemed to shot “louder”. Before it was all said and done, the Stallion 38 would out-sell the Stallion 45.

A Pair of Stallion 45’s from the Circle N Ranch in By 1955, Nichols Industries needed a place to ex- Jacksonville, Texas pand and enlarge production facilities, and chose the small east Texas town of Jacksonville as its new A key feature that made Nichols cap guns unique was the home. A brand new production and office facility, reloadable cartridge, which was introduced at the Toy known as The Circle N Ranch, was built a few miles Show in 1950. The reloadable cartridge was a two-piece out of town on the old Tyler Highway. Most manu- bullet, and it could be loaded into the pistol to simulate the facturing facilities in the 1950’s were drab and bor- action of reloading a real . The reloadable cartridge ing, but the Circle N Ranch was new and exciting. and the new Nichols cap guns to chamber it were an in- They had a "Sky King" style airplane parked at their stant hit, and within a few weeks of introduction the entire own landing strip, a herd of Buffalo roamed a first year’s production was sold out. fenced in field just next to the facility, and they made toy guns!

Talley Nichols was a master at promotion of his toy guns. Just as Brother Sam Colt had done to promote his guns, Brother Nichols used highly decorated pistols as gifts to important people. When the new plant opened in Jacksonville in the summer of 1955, all the guns made still showed the Pasadena name. The local fathers were anxious to promote Jackson- ville and asked Brother Nichols when he would have "Jacksonville" on the guns instead of “Pasadena”. Brother Nichols retooled the area of the “Stallion 38” on the barrel to make it say Jack- sonville, then had a special run of 250 guns made with this new change. He held a special event out of Reloadable, two piece cartridges the change and invited the local fathers of the com- munity. Each of the guns was double buffed, double copper-nickel-chrome plated and double polished. But just a few months into 1950, the Korean War esca- Each was stamped with the words "PILOT RUN" to lated, making the raw materials used in the guns almost distinguish from any other “Stallion 38” that these impossible to obtain. During the Korean War years, from were special. mid-1950 to about mid-1953, the plant had to operate with shortages of key materials, and experiment with alternative By 1956 Nichols Industries had 650 employees and materials. Many of the guns made during this period were was producing millions of cap pistols at the Jack- made from scrounged automobile carburetors and grills! sonville facility.

1953 was a pivotal year for the young company; Lewis In 1961, the Circle N Ranch introduced what was Nichols made the decision to enter the ministry and an- likely the best cap gun a boy could have - it was a nounced his departure from the company, the Korean War derringer style pistol, appropriately named the Volume 1, Issue 1 P a g e 11

Grand Lodge History Committee

“Derringer”, and it used a new three-piece cartridge. The cartridge featured the same brass case of the older cartridges, but had a new bullet component that would hold a red plastic projectile. When fired, the force from the cap would propel the plastic bullet out the barrel, and at decent velocities! In fact, it shot really hard, and it was an instant hit in the back yard wars that were constantly being waged in the neighborhood. While the inner-tube gun was still king for sheer power, the intimidation power of the new Nichols shell firing “Derringer” turned many a battle into a rout!

Business was great for Brother Talley and the Circle N Ranch through the early 1960’s, but by 1963 Western movie idols like Brother Roy Rogers, Brother Randolph Scott, and Brother Audie Murphy were gradually making fewer movies and television shows, and children's interest in cap guns began waning. Nichols Industries sold out to Kusan in 1965, but cap guns continued to fade from the scene, and even Kusan and many other famous companies were forced to cut back or sell out completely. Thus ended the Glory Days of the cap gun, but the legacy of Brother Talley Nichols and his Circle N Ranch will live on in many a (older, now) cowboy’s memory.

Masonically, Brother Talley Nichols was Initiated 11/15/1946 at Pasadena #1155, Passed 4/21/1947, and Raised 5/23/1947

He affiliated 9/12/1963 with Jacksonville #108 where he remained an active member until his death in 2001. Reverse side of Brother Nichol’s gravestone in Jacksonville City Cemetery

For more reading on Nichols Industries and the Circle N Ranch, see the excellent website maintained by nephew Mike at: http://www.NicholsCapGuns.com

About the Author: Bro. Dick Brown, Chairman of the Grand Lodge of Texas History Committee, grew up during the 1950’s and 1960’s in Jacksonville, Texas, and owned several Nichols Cap Guns, which he used to great advantage against many a bad guy who inhabited the piney woods. P a g e 8 The Texas Mason

This edition of the Texas Freemason will only be posted on the Grand Lodge web site and an email notice will be sent out to those brothers with email. If you know a Brother who does not have email please print out a copy for him or take a copy to Lodge.

Circumambulation

During the circuits of the Lodgeroom, corners should be squared in accordance with the ancient tradition of “squaring the Lodge.” The Master covered and seated in the East or another Brother designated by the Master, shall recite or read the following passage of scripture during the circumambulation, beginning immediately after the Candidate passes the South.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity;”

“It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, that went down to the skirts of his garment;”

“As the dew of Hermon, and the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”

Hopkinsville Lodge No. 183 Volume XLV, Edition: Spring P a g e 1 3

2012 Wardens Retreats LODGE LEADERSHIP

The Warden’s Retreat Program of the Grand Lodge of Texas prepares Senior and Junior Wardens to accept the leadership role as Master of their Lodges. In addition, there is an educational program for the ladies to prepare them to assist their Masons in being successful as Master. There are separate programs for the Junior Wardens focusing on administration and Senior Wardens on leadership. The Retreat Program is presented by the Committee on Masonic Education and Service and the elected Grand Lodge Officers and their ladies.

Open to all interested Master Masons, participants engage in classroom type instruction, team building and group activities, and open question and answer periods. The program is structured, fast paced, intense and provides opportunities to exercise leadership and management skills. There are opportunities to visit one-on-one with the instructors and Grand Lodge Officers.

Designed for Texas Masons, the program is open to all Master Masons and their Ladies. Officers of Lodges and appendant Masonic bodies are especially encouraged to attend. Make your plans now to join us for the 2012 Retreat Program and prepare to lead your Masonic organization into the future.

Wardens Retreat 2012

Grand Lodge Officers Calendars Click on Calendar below