Greetings from the East, First, I would like to congratulate Worshipful Garry Drummond on his successful year as Worshipful Master! Through his efforts the Lodge will receive the Noel Hillman Award for the first time in many years. He was also recognized by the Grand Master at the Grand Annual Communication as one of the outstanding Masters in Virginia. Second, I would like to say it is indeed a pleasure to have been elected Worshipful Master for 2011 and I will do my best to make this a successful year for our Lodge. Here are some of the events we have planned for the coming year: A monthly planned visit to a Lodge on the shore; a planned visit to Norfolk #1; supporting a Little League team; conducting a Food Drive; recognizing veterans during the November stated; a report from our building committee on whether to build a new Lodge, build a new addition, or simply make cosmetic improvements such as landscaping or paving the parking lot; two family events (1) a covered dish meal at the Lodge with families invited and (2) a Widow’s night dinner; and a Lodge heritage night. Stay tuned for event dates and times. We will try using a calling service to call all the members of upcoming events and Lodge meetings. The Lodge heritage night will be during one of our stated communications. It is my expectation that members from all the Lodges who were members from Lodges who merged with Central 300 will attend. We will have artifacts from all of the Lodges on display. For me, personally, I was Master of Parksley 325 in 1998 and participated in the Masonic School at Wachapreague for five years. I was heartbroken when my Lodge closed and the school stopped meeting. For years I did not come to Lodge because it did not feel like “home”, no offense to the members of Central as they welcomed us with open arms. For those members from the other Lodges I most strongly encourage you to come and support us here at Central. We need you here with us and “our Lodge” cannot thrive without your support. We have a lot to get accomplished this year, but my brethren, the Lodge officers and I cannot do it without your support. While I appreciate our dues paying members, there is nothing wrong with that, the Lodge needs members to participate. We need members who are interested in learning the lectures (in particular we need a member to learn a lecture and present it for the first time this year), we need someone to learn the Masonic Funeral Service as a back-up, we need future officers who are willing to commit to practices and attendance at meetings, a volunteer to help coordinate our family events, members who can help our steward with meals and clean-up, volunteers to provide meals, publishing and distribution assistance with the Lodge newsletter, and members to participate on committees. There are a handful of members that have been working many years to keep the Lodge going and they need some relief. Our Lodge is financially sound and with your help we can become strong in our Masonic work. At a minimum, I encourage you all to visit the Lodge on your Masonic Birthday. I guarantee you will be met with honor, respect, friendship and brotherly love. Sadly, brethren, I must report the loss of Bro. Paul Scott, Bro. Braxton Parks, Wor. James Henry Taylor’s Widow Iris, and the fathers of Bro. Harry Fisher, Bro. Nat Atkinson, and Bro. G. W. Hart. Please remember these families in your thoughts and prayers. Please feel free to call me at home if you have any questions or suggestions for the coming year or if you would like to volunteer your support. My home number is 757-665-4467.

Fraternally, Alex Bengtson, WM

LEAVE A LEGACY TO YOUR LODGE CALENDAR

AND Mar 1 Monthly Communication A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU District 12 DDGM Official Visit to HOW WOULD YOU LIKE A GIFT OF $504 TOWARD YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN THE LIFE MEMBERSHIP IN Central Lodge No. 300. Dinner 6:30pm, Meeting begins 7:30pm PERPETUITY (LMIP) PROGRAM? Mar 18 Planned visit by Central 300 members The rules for Life Membership in Perpetuity (LMIP) specify that a member must pay a membership fee that is to Accomack 243 equal to sixteen (16) times their current lodge dues. Once a person becomes a LMIP member he will never have to pay Meeting begins at 7:30 pm. dues again. Each year his lodge will receive the amount of his local dues from the LMIP program. This payment from the Grand Lodge will continue perpetually, even beyond his death. In the case of Central Lodge, the Mar 12 Royal Arch School local portion of your $63.00 dues equals $35.00. Willow Grove Temple For a limited time your Finance Committee is proposing a one-time program whereby Central Lodge will pay one- Meeting begins: 9:00 am half of any member’s fee if he chooses to join LMIP. The rationale for this program is that the $35.00 returned to the Apr 1 Planned visit by Central 300 members lodge each year represents a significantly better return on investment than anything offered by any of the banking to Capeville Lodge institutions today. Meeting begins at 7:30 pm Why not take advantage of this offer and save one-half of the membership fee ($504.00) and forget about ever having to pay lodge dues again! For the investment of your half of the membership fee ($504.00) you will no longer be Apr 5 Central 300 Monthly Communication responsible for lodge dues, Grand Lodge increases or Grand Lodge assessments. In addition you will be leaving a Dinner 6:30pm; Meeting begins 7:30pm legacy to your lodge in perpetuity. What a great deal. What a great way to acknowledge what has meant to you. Apr 30 Reunion Bud James Venerable Master At the stated meeting on April 5, 2011 other business will be held to a minimum in order to allow time for discussion and questions regarding this proposal. If you are at all interested, please be present to have your questions May 3 Tiled visit by Grand Master to answered and to voice your opinion/concerns. A vote will be taken at that time to authorize the Finance Committee and Temperanceville Lodge Trustees to initiate this program. Meeting begins at 7:30 pm Note: Central 300 will ask for Central Lodge Trustees dispensation to hold May communication Central Lodge Finance Committee on May 17.

May 17 Central 300 Monthly Communication

What year is it? by Wor. Greg Lewis Jun 7 Central 300 Monthly Communication

Have you ever wondered what the Secretary means when he reads the date of his minutes and gives the years 2010 Jun 14 Tiled visit by Grand Master to A.D. and 6010 A.L.? What does the year designation A.L. on a Masonic document mean? I located the following Broadwater Lodge references in A Comprehensive Dictionary of Freemasonry by Ernest Beha, New York, NY: Citadel Press, 1963. Meeting begins at 7:30 pm

Anno Domini (A.D.) This is the Latin for “In the Year of Our Lord”. It is also called the Vulgar Era, referring to Jul 5 Central 300 Monthly Communication its common or general use, a term which perhaps will fall into disuse eventually. The Masonic year, or “The Year of Light” is 4,000 years ahead of . (See .) Aug 2 Central 300 Monthly Communication Anno Lucis (A.L.) This is Latin for “In the Year of Light”. The term is frequently used in Masonic procedure, and expresses a year that is 4,000 beyond Anno Domini (“The year of Our Lord”). There is a reason for this, of course. The Aug 5 Grand Master’s Official Visit to Districts 12 & 13 at Temperanceville Lodge date of the creation of the world is generally assumed to be 4,000 years before the birth of Our Lord, and the creation of the world saw the beginning of Light. (“Let there be Light. And there was Light.”) Dr. James Anderson, in his 1723 Sep 6 Central 300 Monthly Communication “Constitutions”, refers to the 4,000 year-advanced “Anno Lucis” as “The Year of Masonry” and the idea was adopted. That is why a many Masonic document have two dates recorded thereon, the Year of Light (or the Year of Masonry) Oct 4 Central 300 Monthly Communication and the accepted everyday calendar year (or the “Year of Our Lord”). So, therefore, if a person were made a Mason in Nov 1 Central 300 Monthly Communication 2010, this year (and the precise date) would appear on his Masonic record, as well as the Anno Lucis date, which would be 6010. Dec 6 Central 300 Monthly Communication

MASONIC ANNIVERSARIES Secretary’s Corner by Greg Lewis It is a tradition in Central Lodge to recognize and celebrate the Masonic Birthday of each and every Lodge Brother in the month that they were raised to Master Mason. If you are listed below; we hope that you will put forth a special When you get your 2011 dues card you may effort to be with your brothers in the Lodge to be honored on your birthday. notice a change in the way they look. When the cards were printed by the Grand Lodge they March 2009 mistakenly printed them with the year 2010. So, to Earle Keith Bridges (35); Jerry Roger Brooks (17); Christopher Shane Childress (11); Bobby Clark Gladden (60); correct their mistake they provided each lodge Roger Dale Greer (36); Vernon Elsworth Hopkins, Jr. (18); Frank Porter Hurst (22); Mark Wayne Keyes (18); Eugene with small stickers to cover the 2010 with the Anthony Mason (17); Michael Anthony McKinney (19); Billy Curtis Murphy (11); Norton Byrd Newton (41); Carlisle correct year, 2011. Lamar Nottingham (65); Andrew Lewis Russell, Jr. (20); Gerald Scherma (4); Brooks Lewis Shaw (53); George 2010 Dues to become Delinquent If you have Howard Ward, Jr. (34); John Tankard Williams (41); Ralph Franklin Young (54) not yet paid your 2010 dues, they became delinquent on January 1, 2011. I am required to April 2009 report delinquent members to the Grand Lodge of William Bauer Adams (57); Fred Allen Annis (15); Roy Lee Bailey, Jr. (35); Bruce Northam Bonniwell (49); Eric Virginia. If you are unable to pay your dues Anthony Bruno (25); Ernest Garrison Drummond (26); Robert Frederick Dunlop (45); Robert Lee Edson (16); Elwood because of personal or financial hardship please L. Evans (58); Charlie Turlington Farlow, Jr. (17); Robert Leon Glover, Jr. (10); William Oswald Hickman (58); let me know. I am sure the lodge will be willing to Delmas Williams Jester, Jr. (34); Roland Thomas Kellam (8); William Revell Lewis, Jr. (63); Harold Jackson Littleton “help, aid and assist” in the matter. (64); Dale Francis Marsh (17); Norman Fletcher Mason, Jr. (49); Walter Edward Melson, Jr. (16); David Earl Neal I wish each and every one of you a Happy (16); James Roland Parks (16); Michael Dallas Payne (34); Robert Brent Powell (17); James Alfred Rew, Jr. (34); New Year!! Walter Todd Wessells (12)

Masonic Recognition Day WHEREAS, for many years, Freemasons have endeavored to achieve a level of recognition within their respective Central Lodge No. 300 A.F. & A.M. communities, and 20455 Washington St. Rte 1610 WHEREAS, this activity has taken many forms and produced a like number of programs and some success has P.O. Box 978 been achieved, and Onley, Virginia 23418

WHEREAS, continuous and on-going displays of our Masonic membership will forever engrave a lasting memory Website: http://centrallodge300.org in the minds of friends and associates of our commitment to our Brothers, our Lodges and, most importantly, our way of life, Do we have your email address? NOW, THEREFORE, I, John M. Chambliss, Jr., Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, desiring the Masons in Get Newsletters and announcements by email Virginia to be more pro-active in this area, do hereby proclaim that all Lodges holden under this Grand Lodge shall observe Masonic Recognition Day on the first day of each month. This recognition should take the form of wearing of ANNOUNCEMENTS BY PHONE Masonic apparel such as hats, shirts, jackets, belts, etc. Further, each Mason is encouraged to hold every day as Masonic Recognition Day by studying a portion of the Methodical Digest, Presentation Volume, other Masonic books The Worshipful Master has instituted a program or pamphlets, and the , as well as hold discussions with well-informed Brethren that his actions that will provide telephonic announcements of may conform to the most favorable kinds of public recognition. upcoming events for Central Lodge members. Did you receive a phone call last week to inform Newsletter Alert! you of a Fellowcraft’s Degree and March’s stated communication? If so – Great! If you did not, we There is a desperate need for a member to take over the task of publishing the Lodge may not have your current phone number. Please newsletter. This will be the final issue until a new chairman can be found. If you would be call Wor. Alex Bengtson (665-4467) or Wor. willing to help, please contact Wor. Alex Bengtson at 665-4467. Greg Lewis (787-8018) to update your number.

Alex Bengtson, Worshipful Master, 757-665-4467 [email protected] Gerald Scherma, SW, 757-787-7553 [email protected]; Nathaniel H. Atkinson, Jr, JW, 757-787-7978 [email protected]; Jack W. Bonniwell, Treasurer, 757-787-3775 [email protected]; Gregory A. Lewis, Secretary, 757-787-8018 [email protected]; Wayne H. Lewis, SD, 757-787-7818 [email protected]; Joseph L. Hopkins, JD, 757-787-7729 [email protected]; David A. Evans, SS, 757-665-5418; C. Ray Pruitt, Chaplain, 757-787-3710 [email protected]; Robert N. Marsh, Marshall, 757-787-7737 [email protected]; G. Walker Harmon, Tiler, 757-665-4884 [email protected]; Jack W. Bonniwell, Newsletter Editor, 757-787-3775 (h), 757-710-9150 (c) [email protected]

CENTRAL LODGE #300 BLOOD BANK PROGRAM

WHY JOIN THE BLOOD BANK? Supporting the Blood bank helps ensure that blood will be available at all times, for any emergency. Joining the plan eliminates the need for members and their families to pay the replacement costs for any blood used. It is important to realize that most health insurance plans do not pay for blood.

ANYONE CAN JOIN! Anyone can become a plan member. There are no age or health requirements for membership.

MEMBRSHIP BENEFITS Membership provides protection for the whole family. The Blood Bank will replace, or pay the replacement cost for blood used by the member, spouse or all those who can be claimed as tax dependents. Group members have unlimited coverage at all hospitals in the United States that require blood replacement. Group members and their families are protected the moment they are enrolled.

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF YOU? Each member is required to take a turn providing blood approximately once every two years beginning within a few months after joining. (Most healthy people age 17 and older can give blood. Members age 75 and older have no blood obligation.)

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE BLOOD YOURSELF! While most members find it very easy to give blood when called upon, there are two other options. (1) You can have some other eligible person give blood for you; or (2) you can pay the cost of replacing one pint of blood, which is $30.00.There is an annual dues fee of $5.00. Members over 65 years of age pay only $2.00 (after the initial year of membership). These funds help support the costs of the Blood Bank.

THE BLOOD BANK The blood bank of Delaware/Eastern Shore is a non-profit, full-service blood bank which annually collects, tests, and distributes over 90,000 units of blood and blood products. The success of the Blood Bank is due to the support and active involvement of its 182,000 members. This support spreads the responsibility for the region’s blood supply over a large donor base and has eliminated the emergency blood shortages for over 25 years. With the close cooperation of business, labor and industry, it is the largest program of its kind in the United States.

JOIN NOW! If you would be interested in joining this unique organization all you need to do is complete the application found below and return it to R/W E. Wayne Parks at 27112 Lang Farm Rd., Accomac, Va.23301. He will forward it to the enrollment office and your coverage will begin immediately upon their receipt. Your annual dues will be included with the dues statement which you receive from the lodge.

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NAME: LAST ______FIRST ______MIDDLE ______

MAIL ADDRESS: ______CITY: ______STATE: _____ ZIP ______

HOME PH: ______BUS. PH: ______BIRTH DATE: __ __ - __ __ - ______

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SPOUSE’S NAME: LAST ______FIRST ______MIDDLE ______

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