Farewell Message From R:.W:. C. Pearce Dreadin, District Deputy Grand Master

Brethren,

It is time to head to Grand Lodge in Orlando to say goodbye to the office of District Deputy Grand Master. It has been an amazing year . Thank you to our Grand Master, M:.W:. Jeff Foster, It was my honor to be your District Deputy Grand Master for the 2021-2022 Masonic year.

Thank you, to all my committeemen and our District Instructor for their hard work this past year. Greg Riddell, Thomas Romanishin, Bert Leach Jr., Chris Clifton, Buddy Staton, Jeffrey Odenkirk, Adrin Mcgough, Charles Welborn and Jeremy (Jeffery) Leslie. Well done gentlemen!

Thank You to all of the Masters, Wardens, Secretaries and Brothers of District 21 from north to south, and east to west for all of the hospitality, support and brotherly love they have shown me this past year. Looking forward to another great year.

Fraternally,
R:.W:. C. Pearce Dreadin, District Deputy Grand Master, 21st Masonic District.

Image courtesy of R:.W:. C. Pearce Dreadin, Facebook page.

Congratulations To Us! Our Website is Three Years Old Today

Today we celebrate the third anniversary of our Master Mason Association's presence on the Internet. It all began in May 2019 when Bro. Rick Schwarz proposed to the Master Mason Association the idea of creating a website to promote Freemasonry not only in the State of Florida but in the 21st Masonic District which at the time consisted of 15 lodges (As of 2020 we now have 14 lodges) located in three counties including Hardee, Highlands and Polk which encompasses over of 100 miles of Masonic territory (The 21st Masonic District is the 4th largest in the State of Florida), the proposal was pass unanimously by Brothers who were present at the MMA meeting and so Bro. Schwarz began work setting up the site to go live on May 30, 2019, during its time online our site has gone through changes in design but we were finally able to settle on a single design which we've been using since 2021.

Alas, My Brother... M:.W:. Thomas L. Turlington, Jr. P:.G:.M:.

My Brethren,

It is my sad duty to inform you that on Friday afternoon Most Worshipful Thomas L. Turlington, Past Grand Master of Florida (2020-2021) laid down his working tools and passed to the Celestial Lodge above. He battled COPD and other issues, he fought hard and never gave up hope that he could be cured, but the good lord has called him home.

His family needs prayers for peace and comfort, and time to process their loss. 

I am asking each and everyone of you to please respect their need for privacy as they mourn.  Please do not reach out to Sandy, let her grieve in peace and when she is ready, I am sure she will let it be known that she is ready to talk.

Thank You,
M:.W:. Jeffrey S. Foster
Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Florida

Funeral Request

Brethren of the 21st Masonic District,

We've received a Funeral Request for Bro. Merle D. Key, Jr. of Travelers Lodge No. 390.  The Service will be on Saturday, June 11th at 11:00 am at Steele's Funeral Home, 207 Burns Lane, Winter Haven, FL.  Gloves and Aprons at 10:30 am.  Please let me know if you are available.

Fraternally,
R:.W:. Bill Doolin, Secretary, Kathleen Lodge No. 338

Email: kathleenlodge338@gmail.com

Wauchula Lodge No. 17 Master Mason Degree

What a day it was to be a Mason in Florida, On Saturday May 21st seven lodges, Wauchula No. 17, Poinciana No. 227, Lake Wales No. 242, Corinthian No. 191 and Kathleen Lodge No. 338 came together in Brotherly love and friendship to raise five Fellowcraft Brothers, Johnathan Johnson, Kelian Burtz and Barbaro Calves of Wauchula, Shoen Perkins of Lake Wales and Christopher Hill of Corinthian Lodge to the Sublime Degree of a Mason Mason. As a special bonus, the candidates also had M:.W:. Stanley Foulke, Past Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Alaska, Free and Accepted Masons in attendance to witness the raising along with multiple District Deputy Grand Masters and District Instructors, current and past. For myself This was mine and Bro. Paul Crothers first time as a Senior Deacon and Degree Master for a Master Mason Degree (Respectfully) and I have to say that even though we were nervous in front of a large crowd, we all of the degree team pulled an excellent rendition of this degree, Congratulations to all of the news Master Masons. The degree work is done for you now but now the rest of your life work has begun. We look forward to seeing how you add your thread to the tapestry of rich history of your respective lodges. Love you lodge and your lodge will move you back. Well done my Brothers, Well done indeed.

Franternally,
W:. Danny Lackey, Worshipful Master Wauchula Lodge No. 17

Image courtesy of Wauchula Lodge No. 17 F. & A. M.

Image courtesy of Wauchula Lodge No. 17 F. & A. M.

Image courtesy of Wauchula Lodge No. 17 F. & A. M.

Image courtesy of Wauchula Lodge No. 17 F. & A. M.

Image courtesy of Wauchula Lodge No. 17 F. & A. M.

21st Masonic District Website Updates and Maintenance

My Masonic Brothers and visitors to the 21st Masonic District website,

In preparation for the 193rd Grand Communication being held in Orlando and the impending installation of the new Grand Master, Grand Line and the District Deputy Grand Master for the 21st Masonic District our website will be under maintenance from May 30th until June 1st, as a result the site may load slowly or may not load at all (Display a 404 error). We apologize for the inconvenience.

Our email servers are unaffected by this maintenance, however because of the changeover of the District Deputy Grand Master and his Committeemen some email address may not initially work.

If you have any further questions please email office@21stmasonicdistrict.com.

Fraternally,
Bro. Rick Schwarz, IT Administrator and Social Media Manager, 21st Masonic District

Wauchula Lodge No. 17 AFJROTC Awards Ceremony

My Brothers,

On Friday May 13th, Wauchula Lodge No. 17 continued its tradition of honoring cadets from the Hardees Senior High School AFJROTC (Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) program by presenting two national level awards, the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction medal/ribbon that was presented R:.H:. Gary Gordon, P:.M:. Ean Eddy and Bro. Paul Crothers (32nd Degree), the national Sojourner medal and ribbon presented by Wauchula's sitting Worship Master Danny Lackey, Past Master and current Secretary Ean Eddy and Senior Warden Bro. Paul Crothers. It was a privilege and honor to carry on a legacy this lodge first established with this school and school district in 1895, when members of our Lodge built the first ever high school in Wauchula and who’s first teachers were wives of some of these members. Since then, our involvement with this school included Superintendents, Administrators, teachers and support staff. Even today, we have one member who is a teacher at the middle school and another who is support staff at the elementary. So, in honoring the achievement of these cadets we are also honoring a commitment we made over 128 years ago. Well Done Cadets! Go Wildcats! The Freemasons of Wauchula Lodge No. 17 will always have your back.

Fraternally,
W:. Danny Lackey, Worshipful Master, Wauchula Lodge No. 17

Image courtesy of Wauchula Lodge No. 17 F. & A. M. Facebook page.

Image courtesy of Wauchula Lodge No. 17 F. & A. M. Facebook page.

Image courtesy of Wauchula Lodge No. 17 F. & A. M. Facebook page.

Image courtesy of Wauchula Lodge No. 17 F. & A. M. Facebook page.

Image courtesy of Wauchula Lodge No. 17 F. & A. M. Facebook page.

Our Masonic Brother M:.W:. Stanley Foulke

Image courtesy of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Alaska Free and Accepted Masons

Twenty-Five years ago on April 4, 1997 M:.W:. Stanley R. Foulke was officially installed as the Sixteenth Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Alaska Free and Accepted Masons.

After moving from Alaska to the warmer climates of Florida, he served as Worshipful Master of Lake Wales Lodge No. 242 in Lake Wales and in 2018 he served as the second District Deputy Grand Master for the newly created 21st Masonic District under Grand Master M:.W:. John E. Karroum. As a result of the "Great Masonic Redistricting" plan of 2017 the 24th Masonic in Polk county and the 25th Masonic District in Hardee and Highlands counties were merged into the new 21st Masonic District.

Presently, M:.W:. Foulke is a very active member of Lake Wales Lodge No. 242 currently serving as the lodge's organist, He is also very active with various activities of the Grand Lodge of Florida.

From our District Deputy Grand Master C. Pearce Dreadin and all of the Masonic Brethren, Congratulations M:,W:. Foulke for reaching such an incredible milestone in your Masonic career. It is an honor to know you and to call your our Masonic Brother.

Fraternally,
Bro. Rick Schwarz, IT Administrator and Social Media Manager, 21st Masonic District.

Entered Apprentice Degree at Wauchula Lodge No. 17

Good evening my Brothers,

How do you add more meaning to an Entered Apprentice Degree than there already is? by having two historic "Firsts" to go with it, that's how. On May 9th Messrs. Ryan Thomas and Michael Watson became the fifth and sixth men we have Initiated this year. What makes this one so special is that for the first time in a rather looonng time, we were able to completely do it on our own, with our own members, without any outside assistance from other Lodges with the sole exception being that of the lecturer. Every place and station was filled by a member of our Lodge. The 1st historical "first" was three of the chairs were occupied by current Fellowcrafts (Senior and Junior Steward and the Chaplain) who are to be Raised in just a matter of days (May 21st). Fellowcraft Bro.'s David Johnson, Kelian Burtz and Bobby Calves really stepped up and stepped in to help welcome not only two new Brothers and show how Masons love one another but it helped that they have also known each other out in the world for a while. The Second "first" was when Entered Apprentice Bro. Michael Watson was Initiated. He broke a barrier that has existed for over 134 years within our Lodge. However, don't get this twisted, he wasn't Initiated for solely and only for this reason. It is just a distinction he will now have forever as being the "1st One". More will follow, I'm am sure of it. It's not the outward appearance of the man that concerns us but the inward one that we embrace and we have found him worthy and an upright and just man and we welcome him and Bro. Ryan Thomas as Brothers and will help them to grow in Masonry as their journey progresses. In the picture below, front row from left to right, is Fellowcraft Bro. Bobby Calves (Chaplain), Entered Apprentice Bro. Ryan Thomas (newest Entered Apprentice), Bob Leafgreen (Tyler), Entered Apprentice Bro. Michael Watson (newest Entered Apprentice). Fellowcraft Bro. Kelian Burtz (Junior Steward) and Fellowcraft Bro. David Johnson (Senior Steward). In the back row, from left to right, is W:.M:. Danny Lackey (Senior Deacon), Bro. Wade Sperry (2nd Conductor). R:.W:. Scott Johnson (Senior Warden), Bro. Paul Crothers (Degree Master), P:.M:. Bro. Ean Eddy (Secretary), Bro. Brett Dowden (Junior Warden) and Bro. Jacob Laughlin (Junior Deacon). The guest lecturer was R:.W:. Phil Dixon of Lake Wales Lodge No. 242 and the Charge was delivered by R:.W:. Scott Johnson. I have to say, for a young Lodge degree team, we smashed this one out of the park particularly since this was the first time doing a degree for the Fellowcrafts They did an excellent job and it looked like they had done this before. WELL DONE WAUCHULA LODGE No. 17!!! We're definitely moving in the right direction now. Given a little more time, we'll be able to do all of our own degrees including Lectures. Keep up the EXCELLENT WORK!

Fraternally,
W:. Danny Lackey, Worshipful Master Wauchula Lodge No. 17

Image courtesy of R:.W:. Phil Dixon, Lake Wales Lodge No. 242

New Officers Jewels Donated To Wauchula Lodge No. 17

On Monday night it was a pleasantly surprising evening for our Lodge in the form of new Lodge Officers jewels which were donated by a locally owed business, Robarts Funeral Home which is owned and operated by Bro. Brett Dowden and his lovely wife, Lady Summer. These beautiful collared jewels replace the basic but functional lanyard jewels that our lodge had for many years and are a very welcomed and much appreciated addition to the continuing improvement and upgrades to our lodge. In the picture below are the three principle officers representing the new collars but rest assured, all stations and places of the Lodge got new jewels. At our next regular Stated Communication, as the Worshipful Master, I am going to present this business and all of its employees with a Certificate of Appreciation for their generosity. It’s rare when a business can affect the lodge in a meaningful way because it’s usually the other way around but this is co-operation on a grand scale, between the two organizations. Thank you very much Robarts Funeral Home, It was truly humbling to accept this gift.

Fraternally,
Danny Lackey, Worshipful Master, Wauchula Lodge No. 17

Image courtesy of the Wauchula Lodge No. 17 F. & A. M. Facebook page

Master Mason Degree at Wauchula Lodge No. 17

On Saturday May 21st, Wauchula Lodge No. 17 will be conferring the Master Mason Degree on 3 to 4 of our own Fellowcraft Brethren and possibly other candidates from other lodges. Lunch will be at 12:00pm with the Degree work starting at 1:00pm and continuing until finished. All Master Masons in good standing are welcome to attend and if you would be interested in helping out to fill any open part except Degree Master or Senior Deacon please contact either Bro. Paul Crothers (email) or W:. Danny Lackey (telephone / email) of Wauchula Lodge No. 17 or the 21st Masonic District Instructor R:.H:. Jeremy Leslie (telephone / email) of Kathleen Lodge No. 338 with your preferred possition.

Other lodges are welcome to bring their candidates as well if courtesy work is desired.

Fraternally,
W:. Danny Lackey, Worshipful Master, Wauchula Lodge No. 17

Short of Time Degrees at Tuscan Lodge No. 6

My Brethren,

With dispensation received from the M:.W:. Jeffrey S. Foster, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Florida, Tuscan Lodge No. 6 will confer the Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason Degrees on Mr. Deacon Lee Olsen on Saturday May 14th, Fellowcraft Tyler Ward of Tuscan Lodge will also be raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason.

A light snack including coffee will be served prior to the start of the degree work, the degree work will itself start promptly at 9:00am. Lunch will be served someone during the break in the conferrals.

Hope you can join us.

Fraternally,
W:. Casey Fletcher, Past Master, Tuscan Lodge No. 6

Tuscan Lodge No. 6 F. & A. M. is located at 320 South Florida Avenue in Bartow.

Lake Wales Lodge No. 242 Scholarship Presentation

Presentation of a scholarship to Miss Katherine Nessa on behalf of Lake Wales Masonic Lodge 242. We wish her much success in all her future endeavors.

Fraternally,
W:. Charles Welborn, Jr., Worshipful Master Lake Wales Lodge No. 242

Image courtesy of W:. Charles Welborn, Jr. Worshipful Master of Lake Wales Lodge No. 242

Image courtesy of W:. Charles Welborn, Jr. Worshipful Master of Lake Wales Lodge No. 242

Wauchula Lodge No. 17 Outstanding Cadet Award

On May 13th from 4:30pm to 7:00pm we'll be holding multiple presentations at the Hardee Senior High School auditorium next to the Hardee Agri-Civic Center, this includes the Grand Lodge Outstanding Cadet certificates and two Masonic awards, one being the Scottish Rite award. This is a black suite and tie affair and we will be decked out in full regalia since we'll be in the public eye of at least 300 to 400 guests. Two of our members need to be Scottish Rite Masons for the actual medal award presentation and you are allowed to wear your full Scottish Rite regalia. We'll be taking pictures for the Herald-Advocate newspaper, our lodge and the Grand Lodge Facebook pages. This makes the fourth year we've attended this function and we are always well received. All Brothers, in Good Standing including Entered Apprentice and Fellowcrafts are more than welcome to be in attendance with us. Please, if you can, make plans to attend this with us. Its one of our biggest events of the year.

Fraternally,
W:. Danny Lackey, Worshipful Master, Wauchula Lodge No. 7

Hardee Senior High School is located at 830 Altman Road in Wauchula.

Entered Apprentice Degree at Lakeland Lodge No. 91

On Saturday (April 30th), five new Brothers from three different lodges were initiated as Entered Apprentices at Lakeland Lodge No. 91. Pictured with the Degree team from left to right are:  Front Row: Bro, Nathan G. Calzat, of Kathleen Lodge No. 338, Bro. Seth Tillman, of Travelers Lodge No. 390,  Bro. Joshua Johnson, Bro. Neftali Mendoza, Bro. Russell King of Lakeland Lodge No. 91 and W:. John Purvis, Chaplain. Back Row: Degree Team Members: Bro. Joseph Meeker, Bro. Ryan Greiner, R.W. C. Pearce Dreadin, D.D.G.M., Bro. Greg Riddell, Bro. William Nelson, R.W. Bill Doolin, P.D.D.G.M., W:. Jason Harper, W:.M:.,  Bro. Troy Stone and Bro. Martin Restrepo.

Congratulations Brothers.

Image courtesy of Lakeland Lodge No. 91 F. & A. M. Facebook page

193rd Annual Grand Communication Schedule (May 30-June 1, 2022)

As a reminder the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Florida's 193rd Grand Communication is a CLOSED event and is open to Florida Masonic Brethren in Good Standing and invited guests only who have been properly credentialed by the Grand Lodge.

If you have any further questions please email the Grand Secretary at gs@glflamason.org.

                                               Click on image below for larger view.