Making Good Men, Better Men Since Time Immemorial
Making Good Men, Better Men Since Time Immemorial

All posts by: Ross Jackson

Live Freemasonry Everyday

Brethren,

We are at the half-way point of the state-wide stay-at-home order from Governor Ivey.  I sincerely hope each of you remain unaffected by this virus which has drastically changed our daily lives.  As we are now in the fifth week of COVID-19, I truly miss attending Lodge and being with my Brothers.  Like so many things in life, it is very easy to take the Lodge for granted.  I have been attending my lodge each Monday night for thirty years.  I have also been visiting many different lodges on other nights and most Saturdays for many years.  Now that there are no regularly scheduled lodge meetings during the COVID-19 event, it seems almost surreal.  In March, we were attending multiple degrees each week and visiting other Grand Jurisdictions and then suddenly, everything halted.  There is definitely a void in my life now.  Not just attending the meetings and conferring degrees (which I enjoy very much), but the most important part is spending time with men to whom I have become so very close and truly enjoy their company.  Also, the many opportunities we have to sit down together and break the bread of fellowship as we confer, with great proficiency, the Masonic Knife and Fork Degree.  I look forward with great anticipation to being able to visit with my Brethren in the near future and renewing our dedication to our Great Fraternity.

I would also encourage each of us to take care of one another during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am sure there are some Brethren among us who may need some relief during this time and we should give as liberally as we can without injury to ourselves. I would like to give a personal example of a Brother taking care of a Brother. Completely separate from the COVID-19 crisis, the severe storms and tornados that hit Alabama on Easter Sunday impacted many of our Brothers and my home in Blount County was in the path of the damage. As many of you know, my Dad and I live next door to each other in beautiful downtown Remlap, Alabama. While our houses did not suffer any damage and all of us were unharmed, we did lose power from Sunday until Tuesday evening. I am working in Montgomery in support of the COVID-19 response and my family as well as my parents remained in Remlap. My wife, Aletha, posted her status on Facebook and completely unsolicited, our Right Worshipful Grand Historian, Brother Steve Rusk, drove from Mount Olive to Remlap and brought a generator to power our freezer to prevent any loss of food. I cannot express how much I appreciate RW Brother Steve doing this for us. However, his unselfish actions are indicative of what so many of you do each day. You Live Masonry. Freemasonry is so many things to so many people, but one of the basic tenets of our Brotherhood is taking care of each other in a time of need. Always remember, as Entered Apprentices, we are taught that the Tenets of our Order are Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. Let these Principles be the focus of all our efforts during the remainder of April. I pray you and your family remain safe and healthy until we are able to meet again.

Mike Taylor

Grand Master

COVID-19 | Suspending All Masonic Activity in the State of Alabama

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latest COVID-19 information…

Please Visit THIS PAGE for the latest information…

To the Brethren of Alabama,

Last Saturday, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, I granted permission for the Worshipful Masters of the Alabama Masonic Lodges to suspend Masonic activities during the period of the declared National Emergency if they felt it would be in the best interest of their Brethren and their Lodges. As I stated at that time, we have never experienced this type of national response to any crisis. I felt it necessary to take extreme measures in response to an extreme situation. We are now one week later,and the situation has been elevated to a level we have never seen in this nation.

As I write this, I am sitting at my home because we have been requested not to travel unless it is absolutely necessary. For the first time in our history, our churches were closed this morning. The restaurants are closed, the schools are closed, all non-essential businesses are closed; as well as all major gatherings such as weddings, funerals, and graduations. Simply stated, we have never experienced this type of extreme national response in our lifetime and I feel that it is important that we protect all our Brethren during this turbulent time.

As such, in order to comply with the orders of the President of the United States and the Governor of Alabama concerning the number of people who should be gathering together in meetings or locations, I am suspending all Masonic meetings and functions in Alabama until April 30th, 2020. The Grand Lodge officers will be convening prior to that date and will assess the current situation and provide further guidance before the end of the April.  

Brethren, please understand that the only reason I am making this decision is to ensure the safety and well-being of all our Brethren.  I realize this will place a hardship on some lodge activities, but I am convinced this is the most prudent course of action for Alabama Masonry.  

Once this critical situation has passed, we will reengage the Masonic Fraternity in Alabama with the strongest fervency and zeal.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me anytime at 205-276-5348.  I sincerely Hope and Pray that each of you and your families remain safe during the COVID-19 crisis.   

Fraternally,

Mike Taylor, Grand Master

COVID-19 | Crisis

This page is NOT the latest COVID-19 information…
Please Visit THIS PAGE for the latest information…

To All the Brethren of Alabama:

As a result of the current COVID-19 crisis, we have entered uncharted territory in our Nation, State, local communities and our Masonic fraternity.  The President has declared a National state of emergency which has altered all of our daily activities.  Because of this, if a Worshipful Master determines that it is in the best interest of his lodge and his brethren to suspend Masonic activities, he will have my full support.  I realize this is not the normal way we conduct our business, but these are not normal times.  When the national state of emergency has ended, we will revert to our normal operating procedures stated in our constitution, resolutions and edicts. Rest assured that your Grand Lodge Officers are monitoring this situation closely and as new information arises, we will respond accordingly.  Our number 1 priority is the health and safety of our brethren.  If you have any questions or concerns call me at any time.  My number is 205-276-5348.

Fraternally
Mike Taylor
Grand Master

Online Lodge Supply Orders

The Grand Lodge of Alabama now offers an electronic solution for our Lodge Secretaries to order supplies from our office. If you choose not to use our electronic method, you may download a traditional order form from the Grand lodge Member Database to print and mail in.

Traditional Forms can be downloaded from the Member Database by clicking this button.

In order to view or order these items, you must request an account from the Internet Committee. We will review each request, and after verification through our Grand Lodge Member Database, we will grant access to Lodge Secretaries and designated Assistant Secretaries.

To request Access, please complete the following request form:


    Please only click once. Processing may take a few seconds.

    New Grand Treasurer

    On Saturday, January 18th, 2020, the Grand Lodge Corporate Board met in Montgomery to administer the business of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Alabama. During this meeting, Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Ron Andress informed the board of some recent medical procedures he has endured and as a result of this and his several additional Fraternal commitments, he felt it necessary to tender his resignation as the Grand Treasurer of our Grand Lodge. It was with a sincere heavy heart that we accepted his resignation. MW Brother Andress has faithfully served our Grand Lodge in many capacities over the years but his time as Grand Treasurer has been truly remarkable. During his tenure, our Grand Lodge has remained financially sound and our Charitable Endowment is one of the most solvent in the nation. I have often joked that MW Brother Ron treated the Grand Lodge finances like it was his own money. But Brethren, that is exactly what we want in a Grand Treasurer. We should always seek a person who will ensure that our finances are well-guarded and that the budgets approved by the Brethren are adhered to and not over-executed. MW Brother Andress has performed these duties in an exemplary manner and deserves the respect and admiration of each Brother in this State. On behalf of the Corporate Board and the Craft wherever dispersed, I offer MW Brother Ron Andress our sincere appreciation for a job Extremely Well-Done!

    As Grand Master, it is my responsibility to appoint a well-qualified Brother to serve the remainder of MW Brother Andress’s term as Grand Treasurer. After much thought and consideration, and with the consent of the Corporate Board, I have appointed Brother Zachary Allen Holmes to serve as Grand Treasurer for the remainder of this Masonic Term of Office. I have known Brother Zach for several years and he has my complete trust, faith, and confidence. I have served with him as a District Lecturer and I know first-hand his dedication to our Fraternity and the Brethren of Alabama. He graduated from Auburn University in 2004 and has served as the Mayor of Loachapoka, Alabama where he has been responsible for the financial planning and budget execution for the municipality. He is active in the York Rite and is a 32 Degree KCCH Scottish Rite Mason in the Montgomery Valley. Based on his formal education and real-world fiscal experience, I am confident he will serve us well in this most important capacity. Please join me in congratulating Brother Zach Holmes on his appointment as the Right Worshipful Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Alabama.