​Friday, November 4, 2016:
 
In recognition of and appreciation for the service of our Masonic Brothers, James Island Lodge No. 396, AFM of SC will be conducting a Special Communication on November 4, 2016 at the Veterans Victory House under a dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge of South Carolina. Starting promptly at 7:00 PM, the purpose is to honor the Military and Masonic service of resident Veterans Victory House Brothers. All Masons, family and friends are invited to attend. The Lodge will open on the Master Mason Degree. Once open, the Lodge will move from Labor to Refreshment for an open forum of Masonic Demonstration, VVH Brother participation and then Individual Recognition of each of these Masonic Brothers. Family and friends are invited to attend this portion of the Special Communication. When completed, the Lodge will be purged and the Lodge will go from Refreshment to Labor and close on the Master ​Mason Degree. The Special Communication is scheduled to end by 8:30 PM. 

​We are honored to have MWB Barry A. Rickman, PGM (2009 - 2011) as the lead presenter for the Certificates of Appreciation and Personal Letter of Thanks to each Veterans Victory House Masonic Brother. Assisting in making the presentations will be RWB Joe Wells, PDDGM of the Seventh Masonic District and MSA Field Representative for the Veterans Victory House and RWB Dale A. Schumann, DDGM of the Second Masonic District and a member of​ James Island Lodge No. 396.

Dress is coat and tie with equivalent dress for ladies and children. Bring your Masonic Apron and Dues Card. No food or beverages will be served. There are water fountains and vending machines for your use as well as rest rooms. This outreach is supported by the Veterans Victory House Administration and the MSA in South Carolina. This will be an annual event occurring the first Friday of each November; at 7:00 PM. Other First ​and Second Masonic District Lodges will be offered the opportunity to host the Special Communication on the first Friday in November in the future.
 
Questions may be referred to RWB Joe Wells, MSA Field Rep at the VVH at [email protected] or WB Ned Balzano, PM at [email protected]
Veterans Victory House is at 2461 Sidneys Road, Walterboro, SC 29488. Click here for map: 2461 Sidneys Road

​Early Years of Masonry
            When an organization comes into being there are Individuals with great ideas and skills that work and sacrifice to make their ideas come to reality and the same is true with Masonry. South Carolina has many Brothers who distinguished themselves in the early years. On the 28th of October 1736 the first Lodge in South Carolina was opened in Charleston with Bro. John Hammerton being unanimously elected as Worshipful Master.
            About the middle of the eighteenth century the division of the Fraternity in England into two conflicting societies of the “Ancients” and the “Moderns” came into being; although by the reconciliation in 1813 uniformity was restored in The United Grand Lodge of England, which was then formed. That uniformity was restored and did not extend to other countries with Lodges. Although nearly all Lodges in the United States, before the Revolution of 1776, derived their existence from the Grand Lodges of England, the American Masons do not use the multitude of signs that prevail in the English System.   
            In the early years of Masonry in South Carolina there were the “Ancient York Masons” and the “Moderns”. Moderns were the original Grand Lodge established in 1717 in London and became known as the “MODERNS”. The Ancients were the Irish Masons who formed a rival Grand Lodge in London in 1751 and styled themselves as “ANCIENTS’. The reconciliation in 1813 restored the two Grand Lodges in South Carolina. The result of the reconciliation was the formation of “The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient and Free Masons of South Carolina.”
            The degrees of Freemasonry are the steps by which a candidate ascends from a lower to a higher condition of knowledge. It is the opinion of the best Masonic scholars, that the division of the Masonic system into degrees was the work of revivalist of the beginning of the eighteenth century. Prior to this period there was but one degree or common platform of ritualism.
            In 1717 the whole body of the Fraternity consisted only of Entered Apprentices, who were recognized by the thirty-nine Regulations, compiled in 1720, as among the law givers of the Craft. In the old charges, and approved in 1722 the degree of Fellow-Craft is introduced as being necessary qualifications for Grand Master, although the word degree is not used.
            The Grand Mastery, published in 1725, makes no reference to any degrees. The division of the Masonic system into three degrees must have grown up between 1717 and 1730, but in so gradual manner that we are unable to fix the precise date in the introduction of each degree. As late as 1735 the Entered Apprentice’s Degree contained the most prominent form of initiation and he was an Entered Apprentice which was, for all practical purposes, a Freemason. After repeated improvements, by the adoption ceremonies and new regulations that the degree of Master Mason took the place it now occupies. In 1813, the Grand Lodge of England vindicated the ancient landmark, by solemnly enacting that ancient Craft Masonry consisted of the three degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow-Craft and Master Mason. The most important and significant of the legendary symbols of Freemasonry is, undoubtedly, that which relates to the fate of Hiram Abif, commonly called the legend of the Third Degree. The legend has always remained unwritten, and descended, from age to age, through the means of oral tradition. It has been considered of so much importance that it has been preserved in the symbolism of every Masonic Rite. Although over time modifications or alterations have been attempted. The legend of the Temple Builder has ever been left untouched, to present itself in all the integrity of its ancient mythical form.
            The idea, therefore, proposed to be communicated in the myth of the ancient mysteries was the same as that which is now conveyed in the Masonic Legend of the Third Degree, the sublime symbolism of a resurrection from the grave to a new birth into a future life.
Fraternally,
William B. Rogers
Grand Master
 

​LODGE MEMBERSHIP RETENTION  
Brethren, I trust you had a great summer with some time to relax and enjoy family and fellowship.  While many of our Lodges, having been dark for the hot summer days, will gather again to recommence their labors in the quarries of Freemasonry, most of our Lodges have remained at labor and continued to bring in new members and work on Lodge improvement projects.  It is now time to kick off our Membership Programs as we sprint to the end of the year!  It is time to make contact our members and share what your Lodge has been doing this year BEFORE dues collection.  Will the dues notice be the first time members have heard from your Lodge this year?  It is my hope that is not the case for your members sake!
Recently, I was speaking to a Brother Mason at a conference in Denver, CO.  I was asking about his wife who had some health issues, and had followed up with him on a couple of occasions. As we sat together, he shared a sad story of how his wife had been stricken with a sudden illness and several months of recovery.  He commented how much it meant that Brother Masons had supported him and his wife.  He shared that his church, however, had not made one call, not one message, not one card during the time and that they knew about it because of the involvement both had with the church.  They called the church to let them know that they would not be able to teach or serve on committees.  His disappointment was obvious!  He went on to say the first notification from the church was the annual giving notification and the pledge card!  He indicated that he was so upset that he was seriously considered for a few moments not participating as he has always done.  We discuss how all of us fall short in our duty to each other, but thankfully his support from the Freemasons and the great lessons from his faith and the teaching of freemasonry allowed him to pause and reflect. 
What about your Lodge members that are not attending regularly? Have we forgotten them, like this example of my friend and brother?   Are we only asking for their dues money and forgetting that they too are our brothers?
My Brethren, I submit it is time now to reach out, check on our members and see how they are doing.  Some will need our encouragement, others may need our direct assistance and some may need to hear from a familiar friend from the past.  Regardless of the situation, isn’t it part of our duty to our members?  It is easy to forget those which we cannot see, especially when we are busy and focused on other things. But our “Duty is with us Always!”
So Let us take time this fall to reach out to our all of our members, establish a new habit of staying in touch, especially with those in need.  Some members may only get to interact with you my brethren.   Isn’t that what we value the most from our Masonic Journey, fellowship with good men and the Fraternity of Light!                                                                                                                           
Our lesson plan for the month references some ways to improve communication with your members.  Find the Masonic Light Lesson plan under the resources tab at www.scgrandlodgeafm.org.   Salve! Salve Frater!