1950

At the communication of April 11th, 1950 a bill was presented to pay for a 3x5 US Silk Flag, a Flag Staff and a Setting Maul.

A new committee to revise the by-laws was announced on April 25th Meeting.

On May 9th, the new by-laws were read and approved and were laid over until the next communication.

On May 23rd, the by-laws were read and passed. One of the by-laws passed was to have the communications at 8:00 PM the year round.

On September 23rd, a meeting was held in the school auditorium. This meeting was requested by the Grand Lodge Historical and Education Division. The then Governor Herman Talmadge was the principle speaker.

The election of officers for the year 1951 was held on December 12th, 1950. Officers elected/appointed were as follows:

R. J. Lee-Worshipful Master

Herbert Harrell-Senior Warden

C. J. Drum Jr.-Junior Warden

W. J. Mays-Treasurer

J. R. Lewis-Secretary

Orland Brasfield-Chaplain

Cecil Love-Senior Deacon

O. U. Moore Jr.-Junior Deacon

Ralph Moseley-Senior Steward

Glenn Thompson-Junior Steward

On January 9th, 1951, our Past Master Worshipful Brother Raymond Edsel Walden was Raised. (This was included as this was the first name the researcher recognized and knew).

On May 12th, a called communication for the purpose of paying our last respect and burial of Brother Thomas Syvester Moseley who died May 10th. Brother Adel McCullough of Rex Lodge conducted the ceremony. Burial was at the Moseley Cemetery near Ozias Church on Highway 155.

On July 24th, letter was read thanking the lodge for supporting the Boy Scouts of America.

On December 11 communication, the officers for 1952 were elected/appointed. These were

Herbert Harrell-Worshipful Master

C. J. Driver-Senior Warden

Cecil Love-Junior Warden

J. R. Lewis-Secretary

W. J. Mays-Secretary

Orland Brasfield-Associate Chaplain

O. U. Moore-Senior Deacon

Ralph Moseley-Junior Deacon

Harold Goodwin-Senior Steward

Glenn Thompson-Junior Steward

On January 10th, a called communication to pay our last respects and burial of Brother W. O. Evans. Graveside services was conducted by Brother Adel McCullough.

On January 28th, a called communication to pay our last respects and burial of Brother Robert E. Lee. Graveside services was conducted by Brother Adel McCullough.

On December 9th, election of officers for 1953 was held. Those elected/appointed were:

C. J. Driver-Worshipful Master

Cecil Love-Senior Warden

O. U. Moore-Junior Warden

W. J. Mays-Treasurer

J. R. Lewis-Secretary

J. D. Nelson-Senior Deacon

Glenn Thompson-Junior Deacon

Harold Goodwin-Senior Steward

Jimmie Gardner-Junior Steward

Lemuel (Ike)Renau-Tyler

Orland Brasfield-Chaplain

At the January 27th meeting, a report was given by the finance committee pertaining to the financing of a lodge building. A letter was to be sent to each member with a pledge card for him to pledge a sum of cash over a period of time. A dinner was also to be held on March 15th with the tickets at $1.00 per person. The proceeds of the dinner go to the building of the lodge.

First reading of new by-laws of Stockbridge Lodge #691 were read on February 10th.

Second reading of new by-laws were read and approved on February 24th. These by-laws were amended stating the regular meeting of the lodge would be held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, except the 4th Tuesday in December would be suspended. The hour of the communication would remain at 8:00 PM. The meetings of the lodge would be REGULAR, FESTIVAL OR CALLED.

On May 12th meeting, a letter was read from the City of Stockbridge which read in part

"In the consideration of $1.00, the City of Stockbridge would deed the afore mentioned two lots to the Stockbridge Lodge #691 F&AM for the purpose of erecting a lodge building on these lots and they shall remain the property of the said lodge so long as they are used for that purpose, and should the lodge abandon the said lots shall revert to the City of Stockbridge and that said lodge shall pay the expense of fixing the deed to the lots and also recording fee." Motion made and carried to turn this over to the building committee for investigation and if they see fit to close the deal and start erecting the building.

On June 9th, a motion and second to buy the property of Mr. Grady Moseley for $750.00. This request to be turned over to the building committee to close the deal. This lot being 180 feet front on Berry Street running 100 feet deep and joining the property of J. D. McCullough on the west side.

On July 13th, a call communication for the purpose of paying our last respects and burial of Brother Walter Lewis Wright. Burial at East View Cemetery with Brother Adel McCullough in charge of the ceremony.

August 11th, a motion was made and carried that the finance committee be authorized to investigate and if they see fit to purchase the property now owned by Mr. H. G. Moseley on Berry Street between the City Pump and the old Cox Garage.

The last meeting of the year 1953 was held on December 8th. It being the last meeting of the year, officers were elected/appointed for the year 1954. Those brothers were:

Cecil Love-Worshipful Master

O. U. Moore Jr.-Senior Warden

J. D. Nelson-Junior Warden

Norris Owen-Treasurer (later changed to L. B. Cochran)

J. R. Lewis-Secretary

Bill Moseley-Senior Deacon

Harold Goodwin-Junior Deacon

Robert Johnson-Senior Steward

Don Knowles-Junior Steward

Orland Brasfield-Chaplain

January 26,1954, a motion was made and seconded and passed to purchase a filing cabinet.

At the September 28th, 1954 meeting, a motion was made, seconded and passed the lodge would present to the Worshipful Master at the end of the year a Past Master Pin.

December 14th, the following brothers were elected/appointed as officers for the year 1955:

J. D. Nelson-Worshipful Master

Bill Moseley-Senior Warden

Robert Johnson-Junior Warden

Don Knowles-Senior Deacon

Glenn Thompson-Junior Deacon

Max Stokes-Senior Steward

Glynn Kugler-Junior Steward

Bill Bowen-Tyler/Rev Jack Smith-Chaplain

January 11, 1955 the Worshipful Master appointed Brother Bill Moseley as chairman of the building committee and to see if he could get material wholesale and to get someone to finance the building.

January 25th, Brother Bill Moseley gave a report on the plans of the lodge building and after a general discussion it was put in motion and passed that he see about laying of the foundation of the lodge building and also the cleaning off of the lot.

February 8th, a motion was made and passed that Bass Tapley and his crew be given the contract to lay the foundation and build the new lodge building.

March 8th, motions were made and approved to give the building committee the authority to go ahead with the building; the secretary authority to release the building funds to the building committee and a committee appointed to raise additional funds for the building.

Called communication sometime between May 23rd and June 14th for the purpose of paying our last respects and burial of Brother Reverend J. Trot Buice. No details of where Brother Buice buried nor who conducted the ceremony.

October 11th, motion made and passed that pipe be installed in new lodge and to use propane gas.

October 25th, a discussion was had to turn over to the Lion's Club the charter of the Boy Scouts of America to take effect at the close of the official year; and in the meantime to let the Lion's Club to use the service of the scouts in anyway that they see fit.

December 13th, the last meeting of the year saw the following officers for the year 1956 elected/appointed:

W. B. Moseley-Worshipful Master

Robert Johnson-Senior Warden

Don Knowles-Junior Warden

L. B. Cochran-Treasurer

Oscar Burdett-Secretary

Frank Owens-Chaplain

G. C. Thompson-Senior Deacon

Max Stokes-Junior Deacon

Glynn Kugler-Senior Steward

Turnner Fisher-Junior Steward

Appointment of Tyler was Post-poned

March 5th found the lodge having an oyster stew supper at club house and several members were appointed to contact all members of the lodge to see how much money each could give to the building now and to see if each would pledge $100.

June 12th, a motion was made and approved that the lodge not sell lot to city for septic tank line. Lodge requested Don Knowles to contact city officials to see if we could help them in some way without selling lot.

July 10th, a motion was made and approved to let city build a septic tank on our lot for city hall provided our new lodge building be able to use it.

July 24th, Brother Don Knowles gave a report from the building committee that plans had been made to fill in building foundation with sand, and the building committee would draw up plans for all the plumbing to be approved by the lodge.

December 11th, being the last meeting of the year, elections/appointments of officers for 1957 were made. The following were so honored:

R. L. Johnson-Worshipful Master

Don Knowles-Senior Warden

Glynn Thompson-Junior Warden

L. B. Cochran-Treasurer

James Carter-Secretary

Max Stokes-Senior Deacon

Glynn Kuglar-Junior Deacon

O. U. Moore-Senior Steward

Oscar Burdett-Junior Steward

Frank Owens-Chaplain

Most meetings from January to July had discussions about the new lodge building and funds for the new building.

October 22nd, found the lodge making final arrangements to borrow monies from the First National Bank in McDonough. The amount of the loan was $5000 at 6% interest. This loan was to be paid back in yearly payments. 10 active members to sign the note.

At the last meeting of the year, December 10th, the following brothers were elected/appointed to fill the chairs for the 1958 year:

O. U. Moore Jr.-Worshipful Master

Glynn Thompson-Senior Warden

Max Stokes-Junior Warden

R. L. Johnson-Treasurer

J. W. Carter-Secretary

Frank Owens-Chaplain

Glynn Kuglar-Senior Deacon

W. O. Burdett-Junior Deacon

Jessie Duffey-Senior Steward

Webb Copland-Junior Steward

Wayne Ghostlan-Tyler

January 28, 1958 was a big day! This is the first meeting in the new lodge.

April 12th,Saturday a called communication for the purpose of laying of the cornerstone and dedication of the new Stockbridge Masonic Temple. The officers participating in the ceremonies were:

Grand Master John C. Kaufman Brunswick Lodge 214

Deputy Grand Master R. M. Vandergriff Sr John Rosier Lodge 608

Senior Grand Warden W. J. Penn Dougherty Lodge 591

Act. Jr Grand Warden J. Clayton Woodbine Lodge 326

Act Grand Treasurer John A. Dunaway North DeKalb Lodge 712

Grand Secretary Daniel W. Locklin Mount Vernon Lodge 22

Act Grand Chaplain W. S. Shelfer Joseph C. Greenfield 400

Act Grand Marshall Frank Owen Stockbridge Lodge 691

Act Architect P. Y. Luther Macon Lodge 5

Act Sr Gnd Deacon M. G. Haley Rex Lodge 251

Act Jr Gnd Deacon G. J. Driver Stockbridge Lodge 691

Act Sr Gnd Steward W. B. Moseley Stockbridge Lodge 691

Act Jr Gnd Steward O. U. Moore, Jr Stockbridge Lodge 691

Act Grand Tyler R. L. Johnson Stockbridge Lodge 691

(I contacted W. B. O. U. Moore Jr. who was the Master of the Lodge if they enclosed any artifacts behind the cornerstone and he said yes. He said that there was a 2" capped pipe sealed in the cornerstone but all he could remember it containing was a newspaper).

November 11th, Motion made, seconded and passed to let the Eastern Star use the Lodge.

December 9th, the last meeting of the year calls for the election/appointments for officers for the 1959 Year. Selected were:

G. C. Thompson-Worshipful Master

Max Stokes-Senior Warden

J. L. Duffey-Junior Warden

R. L. Johnson-Treasurer

James Carter-Secretary

Wesley Thomas-Chaplain

Bill Moseley-Senior Deacon

Webb Copland-Junior Deacon

Ray Hinton-Senior Steward

Wayne Ghostlaw-Junior Steward

January 13th, motion and seconded and passed to let the City of Stockbridge build a fire hose drying rack on lodge property. Must be kept painted and neat at all times.

February 10th, motion made and seconded to build cabinets in lodge. Motion made and seconded to hook up hot water heater to sink. Brother Gordon Cox donated the hot water heater.

June 23rd meeting had a discussion to get prices of an air conditioner.

July 14th meeting has the discussion on air conditioner tabled until lodge in better financial condition.

September 8th, there was a discussion on renting the lodge hall to the KKK. The secretary was asked to get a ruling from the Grand Lodge on renting the lodge hall.

September 22nd, the members present voted not to rent the lodge hall to the KKK.

A committee was appointed by the Worshipful Master to contact the brethren to donate $5.00 to help pay the 1959 note on the lodge hall. There was $780 in the bank and they needed about $600 more to pay the note.

September 26th, 1959, a called communication to pay the last respects and burial of Brother Wylie B. Lane who died on September 24th, 1959. Brother was laid to rest in the Stockbridge Cemetery with the Brother Adel McCullough in charge of the ceremony.

November 24th, 1959, a motion was made, seconded that the Grand Secretary Brother Daniel W. Lacklin and Brother J. F. Johnson (E. A. Minor Lodge) to install the officers for 1960; date to be determined at a later date. Motion made and seconded to send the name of our deceased brother, Sam Houston McCullough to the Masonic Messenger. Motion made and seconded to purchase a water cooler and install the same downstairs until next spring. Cooler to be purchased from Brother Owen for $30 if the lodge sees the way clear.

December 8th, a motion and second to let the Methodist Church Sunday School Class to use the downstairs of the lodge. The Charge to be $5. Also this being the last meeting of the year, elections of officers for 1960 was conducted. Those elected/appointed for 1960 were:

Max Stokes-Worshipful Master

J. L. Duffey-Senior Warden

Webb Copland-Junior Warden

R. L. Johnson-Treasurer

James W. Carter-Secretary

Dan Preston-Senior Deacon

Wayne Ghostlaw-Junior Deacon

Kenneth Bray-Senior Steward

Harold D. Kelley-Junior Steward

G. C. Thompson-Chaplain

Russell Crawford-Tyler