Seminole Lodge No 304 F&AM

This site is dedicated to it's history

April 16, 1952 to July 23, 2007

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Lodge membership at close of 1977 will be 226. This would indicate a net gain - on average - of a bit over 3% per year for past 25-years. We underline "net gain" for during this 25-year period we lost 59 members by death, 33 members by demit, 41 members suspended for non-payment of dues, and 2-members expelled from the Lodge

Following, a roster of 23 - Honorary Members and 1 - Life Member, listed in approximate order of their election. They are:

M.W. Bro. Clyde A. Gleason, PGM

M.W. Bro. William S. Christian, PGM

M.W. Bro. John T. Rose, Jr., PGM

M.W. Bro. Perry R. Marsh, PGM

Bro. Richard E. Handschy, PM

R.W. Bro. James W. Stevens, PDDGM

W. Bro. J. Herschel Campbell, PM

W. Bro. Sig Christian, PM

Bro. Edward E .Brown

R.W. Bro. Earl J. Zalanka, PDDGM

M.W. Bro. Carvle E. Webb, PGM

M.W. Bro. Clyde S. McLaren, PGM

M.W. Bro. Roy T. Lord, PGM

R.W. Bro. Grant G. Gllder, PDDGM

R.W. Bro. Roland Paulson, PDDGM

R.W. Bro. Robert R. Mlller, PDDGM

Bro. Fred Wever

Bro. Arthur O'Connor

R.W. Bro. Roland Rlp Mannlng, PDDGM

Bro. John Mayer

Bro. Wllllam P. Sandlford

R.W. Bro. Gene Gardner, PDDGM

R.W. Bro. Robert Shaw, PDDGM

Bro. I. A. Pop Sterllng (Llfe Member)

Each of these Honorary Members and one Life Member here listed have had a distinctive influence upon our Lodge and we are proud to list them on our Membership Roll.

Without intention of any slight, the Committee would lift four of these Brothers for special attention:

Bro. EDWARD E. BROWN, now deceased, a close friend and associate of R.W. Bro. Harvey Giberson, was a member of Doric Lodge No. 140, who seemed to have adopted Seminole Lodge as his own. He had an enviable record of attendance to all our meetings. When the Lodge moved into our present Temple, Bro. Eddy Brown, being handy with hammer and saw, constructed an Alter with pads, Master and Wardens Stations, and Fellow Craft Columns. Later, this furniture was to be replaced and/or redesigned.

W. Bro. J. HERSCHEL CAMPBELL, a Past Master of Riverside Lodge No.862, in Riverside Illinois, now resides in Ft. Lauderdale Florida. In 1968 when the prospects of our Temple seemed so close and yet so far away, he was most helpful with assurance that if we wanted a new home, we would find a way.  During his year as Master of Riverside Lodge, during 1960, he was able to convince the membership of his Lodge to begin construction of their new Temple, a vision they had had since 1925.

While attending one of the first meetings in our Temple he suggested that Riverside Lodge had Fellowcraft Columns in storage, about which he would make inquiry. Not only did Riverside Lodge donate the Columns to Seminole Lodge, but they crated and paid shipping charges to Ft. Lauderdale. These stately Columns give grace and beauty to the decor of our Lodge Room and dignity to our Fellow Craft Degree.

R.W. Bro. EARL J. ZALANKA, PDDGM, (now deceased) and Past Master of John A. LeJune Lodge No.350, of Quantico, Va., and Father of our Pas Master James B. Zalanka (1974), became a familiar figure at all our communications and a benefactor to the Lodge.  R.W. Bro. Zalanka was also handy with hammer and saw, was also skilled in working with Formica, and set about reworking and covering our Alter, kneeling pads, and several Stations. He also assisted in the construction of platforms for the East, West, and South, as well as the elevations for sideline seating.

No history of the Lodge would be complete without a few words about our "Number One Mason", Bro. ISADORE ADLER STERLING. Number one Mason is no "official" Masonic designation, but one readily assigned to, and acknowledged by, the members of our District, to Brother Sterling. It is not unknown, in upper echelons, through the State of Florida Masons.  This appropriate designation - Statewide -stems from Brother Sterling’s, and the 27th Masonic District annual Masonic Home Christmas Party project, and other meaningful contributions he has made to the Home.

Other personal charities of this nature, by this Brother, are so numerous as to be unbelievable to anyone who does not know him personally, and well.

Brother Sterling is also a member of Acacia Chapter No.249, Order of Eastern Star and thru the Chapter and our Lodge, has contributed most generously to the utility and comfort of our Temple.

This reporter made the mistake of admiring a necktie he was wearing one evening and had to do some fast-talking to prevent him from presenting it to me, then and there.

Bro. Sterling would never say these things about himself, but they can be said for him as they are a matter of record. Bro. Sterling exemplifies this Committees interpretation of "Number One Mason".  He has endeared himself, in turn, to each Master of his Lodge with his suggestions and solutions.

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Those of us who have been around long enough to remember these Brothers cannot look upon our Lodge Room today without being mindful of the contr1tion made by these distinguished Brothers.

A roster of Secretaries and Treasurers of Seminole Lodge and years they served:

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COMMITTEE'S NOTE & DEDICATION - In attempt to record in 1977, a history of Seminole Lodge for past 25-years, the committee contacted each of the living Past Masters urging them to submit copy as may apply to their year as Master, or to our 25-years of existence, and nine responded. Undoubtedly much has been forgotten and will never be recorded. No one on this History Committee claim any literary qualifications, and approaching this project with a "somethins better'n nothing” and a “better late than never” attitude, have endeavored to record as many events as were available to the Committee.

            While some may question parts of statements herein set forth, we feel that any differences will be in minor degrees. We have tried to be as factual as our knowledge permits. Token efforts to prepare a Lodge History have previously been made but somehow, the spark to ignite was weak or lacking, and then along came W. Bro. Ken Nance, not with spark alone but with determination to see our Lodge History written. Because of his sincerity, persuasiveness, and willingness to assist, this Committee unanimously dedicate this work to Worshipful Brother KENNETH HAROLD NANCE, Worshipful Master - year 1977.

The Committee Floyd L. Ham1lton

Herman c. Sm1th

Ph1l1p R. Straker

Dav1d D. T1burz1

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