March 9, 2014

It is our sad duty to report that our current Grand Marshal, Worshipful Brother William "Billy" Graham, passed away last night after a long battle with cancer.

Please remember our worthy, dedicated Brother, and his family during this difficult time.

MWB David J DeChant, Grand Master, on left;
WB William "Billy" Graham, Grand Marshal, pictured on right

The Memorial service for W.Bro. Billy Graham, Grand Marshal, will commence at 11:00 a.m. on March 12, 2014 at the ALL SAINTS Chapel located at 2316 Redbank Rd, Bldg. 707, Goose Creek SC 29445.

Grand Lodge and MacArthur Lodge 427 will open at 10:00.am, then proceed to the Chapel. MacArthur Lodge 427 is located at 145 St. James Ave, Goose Creek S.C. 29445.

Brethren;
By now every Lodge has had their first meeting; I hope everything is going well. I know that the newly installed Masters and their officers are excited and want to do a good job. It is my suggestion to be yourself and try to do that which is right for your Lodge and the Fraternity. You cannot satisfy the needs or wants of every member. When you make a decision ensure you think it through and weigh the pro's and con's of that decision, pray about it and then stand by that decision.

This past month (January) has been a very busy month for your Lodges and your Grand Lodge Officers. I hope that our attendance at your Instructional Meetings was helpful for you and your members. Brethren, as I went to these Instructionals, I was impressed at how encouraged the Brethren were with their new positions in their Lodges, also the number of young men who are taking leadership roles in their Lodges. Brethren, as I and your Grand Lodge Officers travel throughout our Grand Jurisdiction we see many Lodges doing a lot of degree work and it is being done in a very proficient manner, the pride in our Lodges continues to impress me, your dedication to ensure that our ritual does not change is how and why our Fraternity in this State has continued to be the example for other Grand Lodges to emulate.

Brethren, I have had many requests to start a Lodge web page for the Lodges. The procedure for establishing that web page is when you get it the way you want it for your Lodge, you need to submit it to the Grand Lodge Web Master, and then when he reviews it and makes any suggestions, the Lodge has to send a letter to the Grand Lodge for approval.

Brethren, in the past I have talked about rumors and what it can do to the Lodge and this great Fraternity. Unfortunately, we are still having these challenges throughout not only in the Blue Lodges but in our appendant bodies, as it has been said throughout history this is a cancer and can destroy any and all friendships and more especially our Great Fraternity. The only way we can overcome this challenge is to educate and communicate with each other and if we have a concern with a Brother then we need to go to that Brother and talk to him face to face without involving those who are not familiar with that situation.

Brethren, our Fraternity has not lasted for so many centuries without friendship, morality and Brotherly love. This is the Greatest and oldest Fraternity in the world. We set ourselves apart from others not because we think that we are better than others, but because we set our standard a little bit higher so we can be the leaders of our community and of our state. When we are seen by others, they will know that it is our purpose as a Fraternity to be good and true men with the love of our fellowman and to be faithful to our God.

Brethren, if there is anything I or your Grand Lodge can do for you or your Lodge, please call on us; we are here to help in any way we can. May God Bless and keep you until we meet again.

Fraternally,
David J. DeChant Sr.
Grand Master

To find a cure for Juvenile Diabetes
This is something very dear to our family, our son David was diagnosed as a child with Juvenile Diabetes. As Grand Master I am placing upon the trestle board a request that every lodge in our Grand Jurisdiction support finding a cure Juvenile Diabetes.

Over thirty thousand individuals will be diagnosed with diabetes this year alone. It is estimated that over one hundred and twenty million individuals worldwide have diabetes. It is further estimated that approximately five million individuals have diabetes that has yet to be diagnosed. Without adequate medical treatment and supervision, serious health problems can arise. Long term complications include: heart attacks, blindness, nerve damage that can ultimately cause loss of limbs, and kidney failure.

I have asked MWB G. Kent Elkins to take the lead on this endeavor and will work with the Lodges and gather funds that will be presented during our 277th Annual Communication on behalf of the Masons in our Grand Jurisdiction.


Checks should be made to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of South Carolina and mailed to:             
M.W. Brother G Kent Elkins PGM
307 Wembley Rd 
Greenville South Carolina 29607-3136

Juvenile Diabetes Awareness Pins are available for $5.00 from several Grand Lodge officers. For multiple purchases, contact Brother Tommy Blackwood at 843.926.5788

MWB David J. DeChant, Grand Master, is scheduled to attend the following Instructional Meetings during January (schedule subject to change)

Jan 4th - 14th District at Ruff Lodge 240
Jan 4th - 25th District at Marlboro Lodge 88
Jan 11th - 10th District at Columbia Scottish Rite...
Jan 11th - 29th District at Myrtle Beach Lodge 353
Jan 13th - 23rd District at Great Falls 277
Jan 16th - 17th & 18th Districts at Scottish Rite Greenville
Jan 17th - 3rd District at Cottageville Methodist Church
Jan 18th - 8th District at Cayce Lodge 384
Jan 18th - 13th District at Palmetto Lodge 19
Jan 20th - 4th District at Port Royal Lodge 242
Jan 23rd - 1st & 2nd Districts at Charleston County Masonic Center

Brethren; we are now approaching the end of another Masonic year. I hope that you, your family and your Lodge have had a good year. We will soon be electing and installing a new slate of officers for our Lodges, and we need to remember that all newly elected officers must have a current dues card. As of October 31st all too many Brothers throughout our Grand Jurisdiction were erased from the Lodge rolls because of not paying their dues. Although no longer in good standing as a Mason they still have a grace period -- until December 31st to come and pay their dues for the ensuing year and they will be automatically reinstated. Remember Brethren, those who do not pay by December 31st; in order for him to be reinstated, he must submit a reinstatement request accompanied with the dues for the year that he was dropped and for the current year's dues. The Lodge must formally read the request, assign a com­mittee of investigation and the committee must return a favor­able recommendation before the Brother is balloted upon by the Lodge at the next regular meeting.

Brethren, we took an obligation, so please don't let this happen to you. If you do lose your membership in your Blue Lodge, you will also lose your membership in all of the appendant bodies in this Grand Jurisdiction. I truly feel that no Brother should be dropped for nonpayment of dues without the Secretaries and Brethren of each Lodge doing everything possible to assist in reaching out to all who may need our assistance; he is your Brother, you promised to befriend and relieve every Brother who should need your assistance. Find out why this Brother is getting ready to go N.P.D. Call him or go see him in person and encourage him, maybe he is having some difficulties or he may have health problems; there are several reasons why he has not paid his dues, the only way to be sure is talk to the Brother face to face.

Brethren, December is the time of year when family and friends get together by way of Christmas cards or in person to let them know how much they are loved. We, who are Christian, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ while our Jewish Brothers celebrate Hanukkah. Free Masonry accepts men of high moral character from all Faiths and only requires that he believes in a supreme being, regardless of his religion. Brethren, it is my hope and prayer that each of you and your families have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. To our Grand Lodge ladies, Debbie, Sandra and Connie, there are no words that can thank you enough for what you do for this great Fraternity, you are all the greatest, thank you for your dedication.

Fraternally,

David J. DeChant, Sr.
Grand Master

Remember "Educate and Communicate"

Congratulations to RWB Keith Stika, DDGM of the 1st Masonic District, who was presented the Albert Gallatin Mackey Medal. MWB David DeChant, Grand Master, made the presentation at the recent 1st & 2nd District Inspirational Meeting.

At the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina in March 1934, Grand Master, E.S.C. Baker, made a recommendation that "a Grand Lodge Medal, to be known as the Albert Gallatin Mackey Medal" be established.

It was to be awarded in the judgment of the Grand Master "to any Mason for distinguished service in Masonry."

Brethren; by the time you read this edition of the Masonic Light we will have celebrated the two hundred and thirty seventh year of our great country's birth and of our freedom. It is great to live in a country such as ours where we don't have to fear what we say or do and to be able to meet as Free Masons. We are very for­tunate to have these freedoms and privileges, but as you all know, they come with a price. Many great men and women gave the ultimate sacrifice for this opportunity and way of life, I ask you to thank God every day for His blessing and for giving us those great men and women. Brethren, this is the time of year when several Lodges go dark for the summer. I encourage those Lodges, if they have candidates in waiting, not to go dark, but to do the work of the Lodge and not make them wait for two or three months longer than they need to.

Brethren, at our Annual Communication last April, I asked the Craft to consider being careful of what you say or comment about in your emails and Facebook accounts or any other electronic format. Since that time I have received and/or seen information that to me was confrontational and/or incorrect. This usually creates a problem not only between Brothers, but also within our Lodges and our Great Fraternity. If there is something you have a question about concerning our Great Fraternity, or any of the appendent bodies, please don't rely on what you read in an email or on Facebook, please call your Grand Lodge or myself. I have been to several Lodges thruoughout our Grand Jurisdiction and I can assure you that our Fraternity is doing well, there is a lot of degree work and educations being done in our Lodges. Those Lodges that I have been to are working hard to get there NPD Brothers back in the Lodges. It is my hope that we can someday have no NPD's to report in our Lodges.

Brethren, this is the greatest Fraternity in the world. As Masons we have the ability to agree to disagree and still stand side by side as Brothers. There will always be challenges as we go forward, not only in our Masonic travels but in our daily life, as long as we try to do what one of our Past Grand Master's encouraged us to remem­ber when he was Grand Master which was to "Accentuate the Positive," with that and communication with each other and education, we will continue to grow and be the greatest Fraternity. I hope everyone has a safe and joyful summer.

Please remember our three charities: (Veterans, Breast Cancer Awareness, and Juvenile Diabetes).

Fraternally,

David J. DeChant, Sr.
Grand Master