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

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The Tenets of Our Order Are Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth

On January 25th , a tornado ripped through the Fultondale and New Castle Communities in northern Jefferson County, barely missing the Gardendale Lodge, but causing massive destruction to the neighboring communities and taking the life of a 14-year-old boy.  It is disasters like these when we, as Masons, can exercise these important tenets in our community.

Brother Nick Chieffo of Brooklin Lodge #704 visited with Brother Paul Thomas of Gardendale Lodge #907, and together, with the help of Brother Melvin Cochran of Sam Thompson Lodge #456, organized an effort to raise funds and supplies for those affected.  Brother Chieffo, and another member of Brooklin Lodge, Brother Bryant Fortenberry, operate a food cart in addition to their usual vocations.

After contacting as many of Brooklin’s members as possible in a short time, they brought their food cart to an emergency staging area in Fultondale. Although several of their brothers from Brooklin were able to attend, they were quickly overrun with demand. Brother Chieffo said he was amazed by the number of brothers who were there already or who came after a quick phone call. They jumped in to help man the cart, purchase additional cart supplies and help in any way they could.

Before long the brothers from Gardendale, Sam Thompson and Brooklin were joined by masons from Acacia #670, Maryland #783, Milton H. Fies #722, Brookside #552, Hewitt-North Birmingham #519, Georgiana #285 and Huffman #633 Lodges, as well as brothers from the GAOTU Tribe of the Widow’s Sons. Brother Andy McCaleb of Milton H. Fies, brought his bobcat and helped clear debris.

In a matter of hours, the food cart raised $3,000 from sales, and other contributions – from masons and community members alike – totaled just over $3,000, generating in excess of $6,000 that was immediately donated to the relief efforts.

This truly is Freemasonry at it’s best!

Brother Bruce L. Patterson, PM

Secretary, Brooklin #704

Grand Master’s Social Media Message

January 13, 2021

Brethren, if you have not reviewed the Social Media Policy lately, I encourage you to do so. While posting on the internet can be fun, rewarding, and educational, at times it can be challenging, especially when engaged in a subject near and dear to your heart. Emotions can sometimes get in the way of expressing yourself in the manner that would be appropriate as a representative of our fraternity.

Having social discourse is a freedom we all enjoy. Please use the social medium platforms we have available today in a positive way and be respectable of others.

Tommy Morrow

Grand Master

*Service Date Change* Obituary of Mrs. Shirley Brackin

Please keep the family of Mrs. Shirley Brackin in your prayers. She is the Widow of Most Worshipful Brother Joseph Brackin, Past Grand Master. She is also the Mother of our current Senior Grand Deacon, Brother Allen Brackin.

Obituary:

Shirley Henderson Brackin, of Dothan, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. She was 85 years old.

Funeral services will be held 3p.m. on Sunday, January 17, 2021, at Sunset Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Mike Pearson and Rev. Teresa Seevers officiating. Burial will follow at Dothan City Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2-3 p.m. In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Greystone United Methodist Church, 4401 Fortner Street, Dothan AL 36305.

Shirley was born on December 16, 1935 to the late John Asa and Katherine Henderson. She was a majorette at Dothan High school and graduated in the class of 1954. After high school, Shirley married the love of her life, Joseph Brackin, and they would be married for almost 50 years before his passing. Shirley worked at Fort Rucker as the Inspector General for 33 years until her retirement. She was a dedicated member of Greystone United Methodist Church, formally Lafayette Street UMC, where she served as the Church Financial Secretary, Sunday School teacher, and charter member. She was also a member and secretary of the Forsythia Garden Club.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joseph Brackin; and her sister, Bobbie H. Jackson.

She is survived by her sons, Allen (Mary Beth) Brackin, Mark (Kathy) Brackin, and David (Kris) Brackin; Her grandson, Matthew (Fiancée Cassie) Brackin; step-grandson’s, Michael Monday, Chris (Elisha) Hollis, and Joey (Erica) Hollis; several great step-grandchildren; her brother, Johnnie (Helen) Henderson; and a host of extended family members and friends.

Clarification to COVID-19 Update 16 December 2020

Brethren, just a point of clarification. If the brethren of your lodge decide that it is in the best interest of the lodge to not meet because of the pandemic issue, I want it to be the consensus of the members who attend on a regular basis, not the Worshipful Master only. The Worshipful Master can determine this consensus in the manner in which he chooses whether it be in a regular lodge meeting or a special called meeting for that purpose, or by contacting these brethren one on one, or in an informal setting with two or more brethren present. Now that a vaccine is in use, hopefully soon we will be back to normal, whatever that normal may be.

Fraternally,

Tommy Morrow

Grand Master

2020 Annual Communication Announcement

Edit: Committee Chairmen May attend as well. Chairmen are asked to have their reports to the Grand Secretary by (preferably before) 15 Oct 2020.

To the Brethren of Alabama,

As we continue to live in the COVID-19 world, your Grand Lodge officers are constantly monitoring the national, state, and local events to ensure we are conforming to the guidelines established by President Trump, Governor Ivey and our local community leadership here in Alabama.  There have been many questions concerning our Annual Communication in November and because we have cancelled and/or rescheduled so many Masonic events already this year, I feel that it is important for our Fraternity to have a Grand Lodge Session. However, I also feel very strongly that we cannot just engage in “business as usual” and maintain all of the necessary precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of our Brethren.  As such, the general attendance at Grand Lodge this year will be restricted to one member per lodge.  This will reduce the expected attendance by several hundred Brethren.  Each of the attendees can proxy all four votes for your respective lodges so every lodge will have fair and equal representation at the Session and we will be in full compliance with the Constitution, Resolutions and Edicts of the Grand Lodge.  Also, the schedule will be abbreviated to ensure we conduct the required business of our Fraternity and minimize the risk to all.  We will not have the Committee on Work Workshop and Divine Service on Sunday afternoon.  We will not have the Exemplification of the Work by the Committee on Work and District Lecturers on Monday.  We will not have the traditional Hospitality Suite for the attendees.  Registration with the Credentials Committee will be from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Monday and 7:00 am to 12:00 noon on Tuesday.  The first event will be the Grand Master’s Banquet on Monday evening.  The 2020 Grand Lodge Session will begin at 0900 on Tuesday morning.  We will be focused on ensuring we make the most productive use of our time together.  At this time, we do not plan to have any activities on Wednesday morning.  Our intent is to complete all of the business on Tuesday, conduct the elections of the Grand Lodge officers, and have the installation Tuesday evening.  The ballroom is large enough to spread everyone out and by limiting the Session to one full day, this will provide the minimum amount of exposure possible.  

This will be the 200th Grand Lodge Session of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Alabama. Brethren, this is most definitely not how I wanted this Annual Communication to occur. We had planned to make this a “Session to Remember” and although it will bear no resemblance to events we had originally prepared, I am confident that none of us will ever forget the 2020 Annual Communication. If you have any questions and/or concerns, please contact me at any time and we will work together to make the best decisions for Masonry in Alabama.

Jon Michael Taylor

Grand Master

July 2020 | GM’s Message

Brethren,

It has been a long, strange, trip during the last three months.  The world we live in today is very different from where we began in March 2020.  We have spent an unusual amount of time secluded in our homes and the constant use of facemasks and hand sanitizer have become an important part of our daily routines.  Although the COVID-19 situation has not been completely resolved, we have begun to return to some sense of normalcy.  Since June 1st, I have attended several degrees and conferences; as well as presenting eight 50 Year pins.  During each of these events, all appearances indicate that at least in the Lodge, we are very close to where we started.  Our Ritual remains unchanged and it appears that wherever I travel, the Brethren are truly enjoying the sincere Fellowship and Brotherly Love that our Fraternity facilitates.  And I have partaken in some of the best meals that I have had during my Masonic journey during the past month. 

I cannot Thank each of you enough for the patience, understanding, and encouragement that has been extended to myself and all of your Grand Lodge Officers as we have striven to make the best decisions for the health and wellness of all our Brethren and their families, and to do everything we can to continue to resource and support our Lodges.  We have been unified in purpose and effort; and your support has been essential to our endurance during this period of uncertainty and unpredictability.           

As we are beginning a new Masonic year with new leadership teams in place throughout the state, we are in a great position to revitalize our efforts in diffusing light and imparting Masonic knowledge.  Our internet Committee has done an Outstanding job providing constant communication to all of the Brethren in Alabama through our website and the E-Mason e-mail system.  I simply cannot Thank them enough for what they do every day for our Fraternity.  I strongly encourage you to visit our Events Page on the Grand Lodge website.  The committee updates this page daily and there are many events being posted.  If you have the opportunity, attend a degree at a nearby Lodge or attend a Masonic Conference.  Your presence supporting these important events will help us tremendously as we continue to Open Alabama Freemasonry back up. 

   As we continue to move forward, we will closely monitor the situation in Alabama and follow the guidance and direction of Governor Ivey and her medical advisors.  However, as I have stated before, the situation is not consistent throughout the State.  What may be the best course of action for a Lodge in Tarrant may not be the most prudent course of action for the lodges in Mobile.  As such, it is imperative that the Worshipful Masters of the respective lodges in Alabama rule and govern to the best of their ability with the primary goals of health and safety in mind.  As we move forward as a State-wide Fraternity, each Lodge will be faced with significant decisions. If you have any questions and/or concerns, please contact me at any time and we will work together to make the best decision for Masonry.  As long as we have the best interest of our Brethren and our Lodges in mind, the Worshipful Masters in Alabama will always have my full and unwavering support. 

Finally Brethren, be of one mind, live in peace.  Let nothing disturb that pure warm, and holy love which our ritual enjoins.  I am very Proud to be an Alabama Mason and I am extremely Proud to serve each of you as we strive together to persevere through these unprecedented times.   

Mike Taylor
Grand Master