East LaPorte News Letter

East LaPorte

December 2005

TRESTLE BOARD

East LaPorte Lodge No. 358

Stated Communications

2^nd and 4^th Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.

It is that time of year to collect dues. They are due on Jan. 01, 2006. Please send your dues plus any other donation for the Masonic and Eastern Star Home (MESH) or the Oxford Children’s Home or any donation for the lodge. I am trying to save money by not sending out separate dues notices.

We honored our Widows and 50-Year Members on Oct. 27^th with approximately 50 people at an evening supper and program. We lost one of widow this year – Carmen Farley whose husband was John Gossett Farley. We also lost Bro. George William Reeser who died Sep. 28, 2005 and one brother most likely will be suspended for non payment of dues in Dec. bringing out membership to 79 members. Eighteen of those members are 50-year members. The lodge again this year exempted the 50-year members from paying dues but we will still accept your donations. There are currently two brothers working their way through the degrees. Bro. David Cowan was made a Fellow Craft on Nov. 19, 2005 and Bro. Jacques Brevery is still working on his EA catechism but he will be moving back to Florida before he completes his degrees here in NC.

Bro. William (Bill) Jasper Cowan has become our most recent endowed member bringing our total to 13 members with one more that has said he would become an endowed member as soon as his land sold – Michael Clark in late Dec. Remember, an endowed member never pays dues again regardless of how high the dues may go. The lodge receives a pro-rated share of the interest earned from the endowment for as long as the lodge and the Grand Lodge exist – even after the death of the endowed member. The cost of the endowment is 20 times the annual dues ($1100.00) paid in one lump sum or it can be broken into 5 yearly payments of $261.75. The money ($1100.00) must be received by the Grand Lodge by Dec. 31, 2005 and you will still need to pay 2006 dues – but no more.

As noted in the last Trestle Board several projects have been completed recently. The emergency exit door and steps have been completed. The Past Master’s board has been updated and new boards established for 50-year members and endowed members. Bro. Lloyd Phillips completed the coordination of the purchase and replacement of the upstairs windows. Thanks to the following people for the donation of the windows: Winfred Ashe (2 windows), John Joachim, Bill Cowan, John Davis & Lamar Buchanan, Baxter & Jack Wood, Ed Kesgen & Marcie Williams, Harrell Hooper, Mylie Ramsey, Joanne Sutton, Lloyd & Juanita Phillips, and Frank Hooper. Another board with oversize brass plates will be set up recognizing these donations. We may pursue the replacement of the downstairs windows sometime next year (2006).

The fireproof safe now contains the archives of the lodge. I continue to transcribe old minutes and build the master data base of everyone that ever applied or has been a member of East LaPorte Lodge. I have a data base of over 500 names but many people are only listed in the minutes, ledgers, and other records by initials or nicknames. I need help in determining their full / correct name. The attachment is a listing of those that I am missing part of the name. Please provide me the full correct name and any other information you may have on any of these people. Also, if you have any old pictures of the lodge please send me a copy. I especially would like to have a picture of the original lodge and the current lodge when it was only one story high.

Ron E. Stephens P. O. Box 388

Secretary Cullowhee, NC 28723

East LaPorte Lodge #358 828-293-1154, ronestep@mchsi.com