June 2023 – Newsletter
It’s hard to believe that we are now in June, the year is almost halfway over, summer is right around the corner and it’s time for some fried fish and fixins!
We have a good bit going on this month and I am looking forward to getting to work. Worshipful Brother David Stuard has been reinstated and completed his affiliation paperwork. We will ballot on his return to Acacia Lodge at the June meeting. He is thrilled to be back with his Brothers and I am looking forward to welcoming him back to our ranks. He assisted the Lodge with a Masonic Memorial service recently and served as my Chaplain.
I opened Acacia Lodge at noon on May 12th and reconvened at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery to confer Masonic Rites on Brother Ken Woodall. Brother Ken was a member of Bates Lodge in North Carolina and he was the father of Ryan Woodall who was raised in Acacia Lodge several years ago. Ryan is an attorney and relocated to Charlotte. He called and asked if Acacia would do his Masonic Rites and I was honored to do so! Brother Ken and I had quite a few conversations when he would attend Lodge with Ryan, or “Blur” as we called him. He was quite a character and I was honored to assist the family at this sad time. Please keep the Woodall family in your prayers!
It is also with sadness that I report the passing of Brother Arthur “Art” Nebiker. We were informed of his passing by his daughter recently. Brother Art passed away in April. At his request, he did not want any Masonic Rites or fancy funeral service. He requested a private service with his family. He was very insistant that the family knew where his lambskin apron was and that they assured him that he would be cremated properly clothed. Brother Art will be missed! Please keep this family in your prayers.
As I alluded to above, it is time to heat up the grease and get down to some good old fish cooking. We are having our annual St. John’s Fish Fry on Saturday, June 24th. We will start serving at 11am and go until 3pm or when we sell out! We are again, partnering with Columbia #59 OES as we have in years past. Their support and assistance has always been wonderful and those ladies can bake! Please come out and support our only fundraiser of the year and bring your friends, family, neighbors and any stragglers you find on the way.
We will have the third and final reading of our amended by-laws at the June meeting. I will open the floor for discussion and we will then ballot and send to Grand Lodge for approval. I appreciate all of your patience and support while we go through this tedious process but we are almost done.
Brothers, we are seeing some excitement around the Lodge and I hope to see it continue. We are increasing our ranks and attendance is picking up a bit. Many thanks for all of your dedication and support.
To close out on a wonderful note, I am happy to report that our Steward, Brother Jeff Benson, is out of the hospital, he has returned to his home in Columbia and doing much better! He still can’t drive and is wearing a boot to get around but he has improved tremendously! He still has a procedure or two and some therapy and healing to do but this is wonderful news. On an even happier note, Brother Jim Benson will bring him to the June meeting and the rumor I am hearing is that he assures us that we will have a meal! June is looking great so far!
Have a great month, keep our Brothers in your prayers and bring a big appetite on June 24th!
See you all on June 1st!
Fraternally,
Jeff Hall
Worshipful Master