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A Message From The East

When first installed as Master, I spent some time in reflection in historic Port Royal thinking about the generations of masons that built Kilwinning Crosse and masonry in Virginia. Halfway through my year in the east, I again visited Port Royal, walked around the lyceum and walked past several of the homes where our lodge is documented as having met. Our lodge is indeed historic; the craft even older. It is impressed upon me that what we do to support our cause is bigger than individual legacies, interpersonal rivalries, and cultural persuasions which seem to change from year to year. We should all be proud to be a part of a fraternity that stands for things that will outlast memories of ourselves for centuries to come. Let us recall those words when we pay last tributes of respect to fallen brothers wherein we ‘consider our probationary state’ on earth. Since our time on earth is limited, let us strive to make our earthly marks as fervently as possible so that we might play a lasting role in the perpetuation of our craft.

Famous painter and brother Sidney E. King was made a mason in Kilwinning Crosse in 1977 and raised by Wor James Madison during his year in the east. Brother King served a long and lauded career painting hundreds of works, largely depicting scenes from the Civil War as a part of a commissioning from the US Parks Service in 1954. In late 2014, Union Bank donated 2 murals measuring 12’ x 5’ to the Bowling Green Arts Council who decided a fitting place for them would be within the halls of Kilwinning Crosse. Last month I signed the final agreement between the town and our lodge to receive these paintings. It is my hope that the laudable earthly workings of Brother King will live on for many generations in our lodge and bring enjoyment to all who visit. A special thanks goes to RtWor Wayne Brooks for coordinating the acquisition, RtWor Joey Schiebel for organizing transport, and to Melissa Lewis of the Caroline OES chapter for her assistance working between the town and our lodge.

It is July and I am sure everyone is enjoying their summers. I would like to ask for one day of your time for a work day. The primary purpose of the workday will be painting the downstairs dining room so our new murals have an appropriately nice facility to live. I am naming July 18th, the same day as our pancake breakfast, a work day. Please come to enjoy some free breakfast and stick around to help prepare our facility. If you can’t stay to work, don’t let that scare you away from the food. The breakfast is free but, as always, donations are more than welcome.

Other Announcements

Stated Communication.  The July Stated Communication will be held at the Masonic Temple in Bowling Green Va. on Monday, July 13th at 7:30 pm. Dinner will be served at 6:30pm. Meal cost is $10 per plate. Please come and support our OES ladies by purchasing

July Pancake Breakfast.  Our pancake breakfast will be July 18, the Saturday following our Stated. Cost is free, but voluntary donations are accepted. All proceeds will go towards subsidizing the purchase of new jewel collars for the lodge.

Work Day: Painting to Prep for Portrait Hanging.  Our lodge has officially been given 2 portraits from brother and member Sidney King. RtWor Wayne Brooks has been instrumental in this effort. Before hanging, it was determined that our dining room walls could use interior painting. After July 18th’s breakfast, we will repaint these walls so the room does justice to the works of art produced by Bro King.