Seminole Lodge No 304 F&AM

This site is dedicated to it's history

April 16, 1952 to July 23, 2007

1988

 Arnold Lee Gibson was the 36th Worshipful Master of Seminole Lodge. He was born on June 24,1950 in Dayton, Ohio. He was raised to the sublime Degree of Master Mason in Seminole Lodge on May 22,1982. He was 38 years old the year He was Master of the Lodge. His occupation was an Engineering Inspector II Parks Maintenance Foreman for the city of Ft. Lauderdale.

His Officers for the year were Robin Johanson Senior Warden; Tom Cochran, Junior Warden] James V. Joyce, Treasurer; William Manko, Secretary; Joseph Herkert, Senior Deacon; Andre Langlois, Junior Deacon; Robert Hebb, Chaplain; Guy Traino, Marshall; Robert P. Dennis Leigh, Senior Steward; Willard Gibson, Junior Steward; John Fisher, Tyler; Al Kraft Lodge Photographer; and Lou Geubelle, Lodge Chef. Worshipful Brother Arnold Gibson was a busy and hard working Master and he accomplished many planned projects and a few unplanned projects during his term in Office. The following were some of the planned projects; a porch with two beautiful brazened pillars was built by Brother Andre Langlois and painted by Brother Lou Geubelle. The pillars had been laying about the Temple for many years awaiting someone to use them. The porch was dedicated to the memory of Worshipful Brother Jim Zalanka, Past Master of Seminole Lodge in 1974. A new shelf was installed at the entrance to the Temple, again by Brother Langlois, and is used for Lodge Trestleboards, Master and Warden Bulletins, and other Masonic informational Bulletins. Brother Robert Hebb installed a handrail on the steps at the rear door to the kitchen. The Secretary's room and inside Lodge storeroom was cleaned out and reorganized. The door to the outside storeroom was replaced. By the efforts of Brother Dennis Leigh a Lodge Library was started. Two cemetery lots were acquired from Grand Lodge, which were donated by Mr. & and Mrs. Wentworth. The parking lot was resurfaced and ran over the expected cost. Mrs. Menefee, the widow of Brother Louis Christopher Menefee who was a charter member of Seminole Lodge, donated $1,500.00 paying for the total cost of the parking lot paving.

An unexpected project was the tenting of the Lodge Temple to rid it of dry wood termites.

It was also a successful year socially. There was a fund raising Breakfast, a testimonial dinner for Worshipful Brother Hoffmeier, a Chicken and Rib Cookout for a Family Night, and a French Dinner for family and friends with a lot of atmosphere, which was held at the Lodge Temple. The Dinner was a delicious French meal cooked by Brother Lou Geubelle and served by the Lodge Officers dressed in their tuxedoes. Acacia Chapter and Seminole Lodge had a joint picnic at Snyder Park.

Acacia Chapter also had a Spaghetti Dinner and a Fashion Show Luncheon. A very enjoyable time was had at a surprise Testimonial Dinner for Junior Worshipful Brother David Tiburzi. His family was in attendance along with several Past Masters of the Lodge and some Brethren from out of Town. Traveling long distances to attend were; Worshipful Brother Guy Harnish and wife, Worshipful Brother Allen Norwich and family, Worshipful Brother William Townsend and wife, and Brother Harry Sitman and wife.

It was also a productive year in charitable work. The Grand Lodge laid a corner stone to a new building for the Quests at the Masonic Home. The Lodge donated $100.00 for a M.H. 100 Club Certificate.

We also donated $100.00 to the annual breakfast, which raises funds for the 27th Masonic Christmas Party for the Quests at the Masonic Home. $400.00 was donated to the "KIDS IN DISTRESS" along with a Easter Egg Hunt and a Christmas Party, both held at the Lodge Temple. The Santa Claus at the Christmas Party had a familiar New York Accent.

The Worshipful Master gave many service awards during the year, some for Grand Lodges of other districts and some for the Grand Lodge of Florida. Some from Seminole Lodge were; to Brother Delbert Lytle Sr. for 40 years, Brother Clifford Pearce for 25 years, Brother Henry Barnes for 25 years, and Worshipful Brother Guy Harnish for 25 years.

Regretfully the following Brethern passed away in 1988: Brother John Blessing Sr. in January, Brother Raymond Anthony in March, Brother Joseph 0. Kennedy in June, Brother Delbert Lytle Sr. in July, Brother Cecil Westberry in July, Worshipful Brother Kenneth Knisley in September, and Brother Ralph Ketchem in October.

The District Deputy Grandmaster for the Grand Lodge year of 1988 was Right Worshipful Brother John R. Thomas of Hollywood Lodge.

Brother Robin Johanson started out the year as Co-Chairman and later assumed the position of Chairman of the Masonic Education and Citizenship Committee. Other District appointments were Worshipful Brother Fred Hoffmeier was Chairman of the Wills and Gifts Committee and was elected as Treasurer of the Master and Wardens Association. Membership gains for the year were one Affiliation, sixteen were elected to receive the Degrees in Masonry and eight were raised to the sublime Degree of r1aster r1ason.

UNFORGETABLE MASONS

Worshipful Brother John Fisher is a Past Master of Damacus Lodge #888 in Chicago, Illinois. He served as Worshipful ~Master in 1935. He has already received a Fifty Year Service Award and is now working on a Sixty Year Award.

He is a person that believes in staying active. He could have re- tired years ago but he goes to work every day. He is active in the Eastern Star and has held an Office in the Acacia Chapter for several years. He enjoys his Masonic Heritage and has served Seminole Lodge well by accepting the Office of Tyler every year since 1980.

MASONIC FUNERALS

An obligation every Worshipful Master of the Lodge has had was the duty to conduct Masonic Funeral Services in ~1emory of Deceased Brethren when requested by relatives and friends. There have been several Worshipful Masters that have conducted all or some of the Masonic Funerals during their term of Office. Some of these that I can remember were, Worthy Brother Guy Harnish, Worthy Brother Allen Norwich, Worthy Brother Lester Thompson, and Worthy Brother Arnold Gibson.

Our first Worshipful Master, R.A. Jarrell was Worshipful Master of the Memorial Lodge which was chartered to conduct Masonic Funerals in the 27th Masonic District. .

Seminole Lodge members, Brother Clyde McCrea and Worthy Brother, Kenneth Nance have conducted funerals as a service when requested by several Worshipful Masters, of Seminole Lodge.

Some Brethren of other Lodges who have performed this service for Seminole Lodge are, Robert Shaw, Harry Murphy, Rick Balch, and William Sandiford.

Brother William Sandiford conducted funerals for Seminole Lodge for many years and was given a Honorary Membership to Seminole Lodge .and presented a Plaque of Appreciation for his service to the Lodge.

TRADITIONS

When the Lodge first started and needed a name the Brethren chose Seminole in honor of the Seminole Indian Tribe. In the early years the Lodge Officers purchased Seminole Indian Jackets to wear on special occasions. Sometimes they would wear them at Degree Work or at Grand Lodge Meetings. The Lodge became known to many because of the jackets. Even a Grand Master who had admired the colorful jackets was presented one after he had made a comment about how pretty they were. As most traditions, this one was not necessary for the Lodge to exist and was discontinued because of the poor quality of material and the expense of the jackets. This is one tradition I would like to see returned. (This tradition was previously mentioned on page two) .

Seminole Lodge has had many 27th Masonic District appointments down through the years and have had a few Grand Lodge appointments. Four Distinguished Seminole Brothers were appointed to serve as District Deputy Grand Masters of the 27th Masonic District. They were R.W. Floyd Hamilton in 1959, R.W. Harvery Giberson in 1962, R.W. James W. Stevens in 1967, and R.W. Lynn Corpman in 1971. R.W. James W. Stevens was actually a member of J. Dewey Hawkins Lodge at the time He was D.D.G.M.. having demitted to start J. Dewey Hawkins Lodge in 1958. R.W. Harvery Giberson was also appointed Grand Sword Bearer in 1969.

The Committee on Lodge history has attempted to bring the Lodge History current with the hope that it can be revised every few years and kept up-to-date. This Lodge has a rich historical foundation and some of it is recorded for our Brethren to read and en- joy. Not many Lodges have a written History available and we can be proud that we have ours.

It did not come easy. An effort earlier in 1988 by Worshipful Brother Straker to get the last ten Worshipful Masters of the Lodge to make written comments about their particular year in Office resulted in less than half of them responding.

I felt the History was important and I was determined to see it completed. I went to the Lodge Minutes and Lodge Bulletins for information and added it to the comments from the Worshipful Masters that had responded.

If one year's record is smaller than another it does not mean that the year was less important, only that there was less written material available.

Worshipful Brother Straker is a Charter Member of Seminole Lodge and probably knows more about the History of the Lodge than anyone I know. He has been instrumental at helping complete the first addition to the History of Seminole Lodge. Because of his knowledge we were able to fill in the voids that appeared when there was little recorded.

Respectfully Submitted By the Committee of,

Philip Straker

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