Seminole Lodge No 304 F&AM

This site is dedicated to it's history

April 16, 1952 to July 23, 2007

1984

John Henry Hutchinson Jr. was born in Oil City, Pa. on June 20, 1946. His age at the time He was Master of the Lodge was 38 years old. He was raised to the Degree of Master Mason on May 24, 1976. His occupation was a Tool Maker.

His officers were as follows; Lester Thompson Senior Warden, James D. Hutchinson Junior Warden, Mike Optekar Treasurer, James Hartwick Secretary, Frederick Hoffmeier Senior Deacon, Arnold Gibson Junior Deacon, Bernard Hoffmeier Chaplain, Ian R, Griffiths Marshall, Robert Gregor Senior Steward, Robert Burke Junior Steward, and John Fisher Tyler..The Treasurer Brother Mike Optekar had to resign early in the year because of a job requirement move. "A special election was held and Brother William Manko was elected and installed to serve the rest of the year. .Sterling Pratt served as Organist.

There were many social functions in the year of 1984.

In January the Eastern Star and the Lodge enjoyed a joint project "The Country Rose Jubilee Dinner Dance."

In the month of February there was a covered dish supper and an Americanism Program entitled "Our Flag" presented to the Craft and their Families by the Rainbow Girls.

On March 4,1984 Worshipful Brother Jim Zalanka Past Master of Seminole Lodge passed away. Worshipful Brother Allen Norwich Past Master of Seminole Lodge 1979 was acting Worshipful Master at the Masonic Funeral for Worshipful Brother Zalanka.

In March the Annual "Guy Harnish Dance" took place at the American Legion Hall in Oakland Park. The Theme was that of the 50's and 60's complete with vintage cars of that time and White Castle Hamburgers flown in from Kentucky. Many in attendance came dressed as the people dressed during that time. A White Castle prop was constructed by Brother Mike Zedick. The music had been donated by Brother Leroy Wells and the D.A.s. Worshipful Brother Harnish and his wife Ethel came down from Pennsylvania and was presented a Life Membership to Seminole Lodge that night.

In April after a covered Dish Supper, Major Nick Navarro from the Broward Sheriff's Dept., spoke on the subject "Crime In Broward

County". Also in April an Easter Egg Hunt was shared with the "Kids In Distress" at the Temple. A check for $150 was presented the organization "Kids In Distress".

In May another covered Dish Supper was enjoyed and the Quest Speaker Brother Harold Rifkin spoke on the subject "Free Masonry in Europe during the Second World War."

The Eastern Star served a Thanksgiving Dinner at the Lodge Temple in November.

The Lodge Members gave the "Kids In Distress" a Christmas Party topped by a Turkey Dinner served at the Temple along with a visit from Santa and entertainment by the Ft. Lauderdale Shrine Club Clowns.

Some Charitable Gifts for the year from the Lodge included $500 to the "Kids In Distress" and $5000 presented to Most Worshipful Grand Master, James A. Wilson, to be used for the new Masonic Home Building Fund.

Some other gifts and awards presented were the Grand Master's Silver Award given to nine Girl Scouts, a replacement Past Master's Jewel for Worshipful Brother William McNary who had his stolen, an apron case to replace the one R.W. Floyd Hamilton wore out coming to Lodge and a new Past Master's Apron to Worshipful Brother David D. Tiburzi who wore his out coming to Lodge and helping many Brethren in Degree work as the Lodge Instructor.

The Lodge Brethren were instrumental at getting Brother Herb Joneck admitted to the Masonic Home in his home state Illinois. Improvements to the Lodge Temple were made as follows; The Temple painted inside and out, new drapes and curtains hung, an air conditioner repaired, new front doors installed, and both rest rooms renovated.

Twenty-Five Brethren were raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in several Degrees during the year, of which two Master Mason Degrees were held on Saturdays with lunch having been served.

Honorary Memberships were presented to Brothers John Mangrameli, George Gordan, and Henry Gebhardt (members of the so-called "Hollywood Delegation") along with R.W. Douglas Ames, R.W. Theodore Carpenter, M.W. James A. Wilson, Grand Master, and W.B. Joseph Pucek Sr

RITUAL

Down through the years Seminole Lodge has had Brethren who were gifted at performing Ritual Work. Some have been able to learn and recite lectures of the several Degrees.

I do not want to over look anyone and it will be un-intentional if I do not mention a Brother that has done Lectures, but I will try to name those that I can remember and the ones that I found recorded in the Lodge minutes and Bulletins.

One of the first that I can remember was our first Worshipful Master, W.B. R.A. Jarrell who used movie slides to demonstrate it. More recent Seminole Lodge Members were W.B. Jim Zalanka, W.B. Guy Harnish, W.B. John Hutchinson Sr., and W.B. James Hutchinson.

The Lodge has never had too many Brothers that could do all of the Lectures, so from time to time we have had to rely on Brethren from other Lodges to help out. Some of these Brethern were; Robert Shaw, James V. Prigodich, Joseph Pucek, Douglas Ames, Eri Al Lay, Maurice Hotzman, Lee Spitskoff III, Elmer Ball, and Rick Balch.

Seminole Lodge Members owe a debt of gratitude to all of these Brethren who took .the time to learn the Lectures and who gave up many evenings to teach the secrets of Masonry to the new Brethren.

1985

Lester Raymond Thompson was born in Berwyn, Illinois on November 5,1948. Les was 37 years old at the time he was Master of the Lodge. He was raised in Seminole Lodge on November 17, 1980. e worked for Southern Bell Telephone company. The Theme or the year was "Come Alive In 85".

The rest of the Officers were as follows; Senior Warden

James Hutchinson, Junior Warden Fred Hoffmeier, Treasurer James V. Joyce, Secretary William Manko, Senior Deacon Arnold Gibson, Junior Deacon Robin Johanson, Chaplain Bernard Hoffmeier, Marshall Alexander Norwich, Senior Steward John Borman Junior Steward Henry Burke, and Tyler John Fisher.

The January 28th meeting was known as the re-obligation Night. All Masons present participated in repeating the obligation for all three degrees.

On April 14th the brethren and Families enjoyed a Lodge breakfast.

Seminole Lodge had the pleasure to sponsor a Grand Cross Dinner for the Rai bow Assembly.

During the Grand Lodge Session Worshipful Brother Norwich was appointed to t e Grand Lodge Accountant and Finance Committee.

In 1985 Seminole Lodge started a tradition in charity work by adopting the "Kids .In Distress" as their project for the year. In the years since the Lodge has given parties to the kids, presented th Christmas presents and donated money to the organization " ids In Distress". –

The Lodge treated the "Kids In Distress" to a Easter Egg Hunt and a Christmas pa ty at the Temple.

Later in the fall the Lodge voted to donate $200 to the 27th Masonic District Christmas Party for The Masonic Home Fund.

TRADITIONS

Passing of the Lape1 Pins: Worshipful Brother Guy Harnish gave Worshipful Brother William Townsend, at his Installation, a Worshipful Master’s Lapel Pin (Masonic Square) which started a tradition of it being passed down to each incoming Master. Worshipful Brother Ken Nance gave his Senior and Junior Wardens Lapel Pins, signifying  their respective Offices.

It has been the tradition for the past ten years that these lapel pins have bee passed down with ceremony at each Installation.

Some actions that rave also become traditions are the newly Raised Master Mason are requested to sign a ledger that most all of the brethren that were raised in this Lodge have signed

In the early years it was the custom to take the Fellowcraft Brethren that would be Raised to Master Masons that night, to a steak dinner at a nice restaurant. I guess it was a little like "the Last Meal For The Condemned". That tradition was discontinued, probably because of the cost involved.

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