The AFM Club of Spartanburg hosted The 7th Annual Grand Master’s Bowling Tournament on August 31st, 2015 at Paradise Lanes in Spartanburg, SC. Twenty-four teams of four competed in two games for highest and lowest scores of the night. The Individual High Score trophy went to Spring Lanford, bowling with Roebuck Lodge 327’s team, which also captured the Team High Score trophy. The Individual Low Score trophy went to Alex Honbarger, bowling for Boiling Springs 413’s team, which also captured the Team Low Score trophy. MWB William B. Rogers, Grand Master of Ancient Free Masons in South Carolina, and RWB William Logan, Deputy Grand Master, were both presented with donations from the proceeds of the event to assist them with their traveling expenses as they fulfill their duties in the Grand East. WB Jeff Honeycutt, chairman of the bowling tournament, reported that this was the largest turnout for this event to date as Masons from across the state attended in support of their Grand Master.
George Washington Portrait Presentation
On May 29th during their awards day presentation, brothers from around the county presented a portrait of George Washington to Mabry Middle School. WB Steve Pinker, RWB Eddie Mitchell, RWB Doug O’Shields, WB Paul McWilliams and Brother Steve Setzer presented a large, custom framed portrait of George Washington painted by Gilbert Stuart in 1796 to Mabry Middle School as part of the “Put George Washington Back In Our Schools” project. This project is being spearheaded by RWB Sam Turner, III of Roebuck Lodge and RWB John King of Cross Hill Lodge. “In 1932 congress mandated that a portrait of George Washington be hung in every school,” Brother Turner explains. “By the 1980s, the portraits began to disappear. They have taken many things out of our schools over the years. We are just trying to get one of them back.”
So far, the project has placed over 60 portraits in schools across the state, with these two brothers attending as many of the presentations as possible. “By presenting these portraits to the schools,” Brother Sam says, “it allows Masons to be seen in public schools to possibly spark interest in young minds.” Some schools have even placed two to three portraits in prominent locations around their campuses.
The proceeds from each portrait purchase of $150 goes to Juvenile Diabetes Research. Contact RWB Sam Turner III at 864-590-7405 or RWB Jason Traxler at 864-909-6003.
Degree Work
Inman Degree Work
Gene Michael Kuszmaul, Graham Batson and Justin Babcock received their Fellowcraft degree on May 26th. Congratulation to these three brothers as they continue their journey into Masonry!
Outdoor Degree
The AFM Club of Spartanburg will be hosting an Outdoor Master Mason Degree at the outdoor site in New Prospect on August 1st. A degree team from Cliffside Lodge in North Carolina will be conferring the degree. Dinner will be served at New Prospect Lodge at 5:30 pm, then everyone will travel to the outdoor site for the degree at 7:30 pm. This is an opportune time for brethren who have not seen degree work from out of state, so please make plans to attend to experience degree work from another jurisdiction.
A Night to Remember
Saturday, June 6th, masons from around the state gathered at the Spartanburg Masonic Temple to honor one of Inman’s own, R.W.B. Bruce Chennery. Dinner was served to a packed room, then the roasters ascended the dais to give the audience and R.W.B. Bruce “A Night to Remember”. Roasters included Worshipful Brothers Paul McWilliams and Jeff Honeycutt, R.W. Brothers Tommy Watson, Ray Moore, Mark O’Shields and Michael D. Smith, and M.W. Brothers Gerald Carver and Barry Rickman, with R.W.B. Trent Henderson serving as the Roast Master. Laughter filled the room as each roaster raised the temperature with their speeches, but it can safely be said that Bruce’s wife, Glenna Chennery, stole the show with her appearance at the podium. M.W.B. William Rogers was the final speaker before Bruce Chennery, the Man of the Hour, “gave as good as he got”. It was a night full of hilarity, and hopefully the AFM Club, who sponsored the event, will plan more fun for us in the future.
Golf
Our New District Deputy
Guy Lewis Burrell has been appointed by M.W.B. William Rogers as the newest District Deputy Grand Master of the 20th Masonic District. R.W.B. Burrell was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason in 2003 in Lone Oak Lodge #372, and was elected Worshipful Master in 2009. He was elected Treasurer in 2012 and is currently serving in that chair. He received his 32nd Degree in Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in 2005 and is a charter member of the Knights of St. Andrews. He is also serving as the Senior Warden in the Chapter of Rose Croix of the A.A.S.R. R.W.B. Burrell received his Knight Templar in York Rite Masonry in 2010, and received the Knight Commander of the Court of Honor in 2013. He became a member of the Royal Order of Scotland in 2014, and is a member of both the South Carolina Masonic Research Society as well as the Scottish Rite Research Society. We congratulate R.W.B. Burrell on his appointment and look forward to working with him as our District Deputy
Scholarship Awards
For the 21st year, Inman Lodge #201 presented two $500 scholarships to students from Chapman High School. W.B. Keith Dellinger and Brother Steve Parris presented the scholarships to these very deserving students. Julie Logan Morrow graduated 14th in her class and will be entering Wofford College this fall three credits short of her junior year. Benjamin J. Noe graduated 10th in his class and will be entering Limestone College this fall. Congratulations to both of these students for their outstanding academic accomplishments, and may they both continue to receive accolades as they pursue their higher educations.
Golf Tournament 2015
The 29th Annual Charles Heatherly Golf Tournament will be held at The Village Greens in Inman, SC on August 29th with a shotgun start at 8 am. Four man teams will be playing Captain’s Choice golf in support of Inman Masonic Lodge and their continued commitment to the community. Donations are always welcome, and new teams are always invited to play. For further information, contact any of our lodge offiers, or contact Reggie Cox at 864-472-8225 or Jackie Gregory at 864-472-2692.
Grand Lodge 2015
The Grand Lodge proceedings for 2015 were held in North Charleston on April 23rd & 24th at the Embassy Suites Convention Center. During the convention, there was much fellowship and comradery as brothers from across the state convened for this communication. The Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina elected M.W.B. William B. Rogers to the Grand East to serve as Grand Master for 2015-2016. R.W.B. William R. Logan, Jr. was elected as Deputy Grand Master. R.W.B. Michael D. Smith of Landrum 278 was elected to Senior Grand Warden. R.W.B. Walter Calhoun Disher, II was elected to the chair of Junior Grand Warden and M.W.B. Jack A. Marler continues as Grand Treasurer. M.W.B. Gerald L. Carver was elected to the chair of Grand Secretary after M.W.B. G. Ray Marsh announced his retirement and was given the title of Grand Secretary Emeritus. Jerry L. Phillips also announced his retirement as Grand Chaplain, and A. Robert Nix, who was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason in Whitney Lodge in 1974, was elected to the chair.
Brothers from around the 19th, 20th and 21st districts were appointed to Grand Lodge positions. W.B. James E. Hayes, III of Converse-Cowpens 210 was appointed as Grand Standard Bearer. W.B. Edward Herschberger of Landrum 278 was appointed as Junior Grand Deacon. W.B. Eric Timmons of Lone Oak 372 was appointed as Grand Steward. R.W.B. John T. Fawcett of Calhoun 81 was appointed as District Deputy Grand Master of the 19th district, R.W.B. Guy Burrell appointed as DDGM of the 20th district, and R.W.B Robert W. Culp appointed as DDGM of the 21st District.
Other notable events involving the brethren of Spartanburg County included R.W.B. Sam Turner, III presenting M.W.B. David J. Dechant with a framed portrait of George Washington from the brothers of the “Put George Washington Back In School” team. R.W.B. Trent Henderson, PDDGM of the 20th district, was presented with the Fredrick Dalcho Certificate of Merit. The brethren of Spartan 70 presented M.W.B. William B. Rogers with a masonic puzzle box, and the Landrum Lodge 278 golf team took home the first place trophy in the Grand Lodge Annual Golf Tournament. We congratulate all these brethren for their accomplishments as they continue their masonic journeys.
Our
Inman Lodge Open House
Worshipful Brother Stephen Pinker held an open house at Inman Lodge on March 14th. Finger foods and desserts prepared by the Pinker family were served to everyone who attended the event. Over two hours of fellowship commenced as many brothers came to the open house with their families. It was wonderful to renew the bonds of friendship with those we haven’t seen in a while, and to forge new ones as well.