A Thanksgiving Day Prayer from our Grand Master

Michael D. Smith, 33°

Grand Master of Masons in South Carolina, AFM

 

Brethren,

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. Today I offer this Thanksgiving prayer to my Masonic Brethren. May God continue to richly bless each of you, your families, our Fraternity, and our Nation. 

Most Holy and Glorious Lord God of Heaven, thank you for the beginning of a new day, as we renew of our vow of service and labors as Free Men and Free Masons, to share your Love, Mercy, and Grace among those that we may touch each day and one with the other.

I ask for forgiveness for our errors, and mistakes that have hurt others, while we give thanks for the great compassion that men of faith have for one another.

I ask your infinite blessings upon all members of our fraternity this day, Thanksgiving Day, as we reflect on our principle role as men of Faith and Love.  Today, I ask that each of our members feel your presence and understand the great role each has to teach our children of whatever age, to be the shining example of what is right and true, an example of Love, an example of strength and an example of faith. 

Guide our thoughts, words, and actions all the days of our lives with that great purpose of teaching and guiding our children, as well as those we influence, to walk in the paths of righteousness and truth. We give thanks for these gifts and the wisdom to properly use our gifts for your honor and glory. Aid us, O God, to learn and use our gifts wisely and well in the coming days. 

I ask for your gifts of patience, steadfastness, endurance, wisdom, love and grace upon all my brethren every day but today more especially this Thanksgiving Day.  Touch each of them with the great sense of purpose as we claim your promise of great success for all of your children.  Lead us every day in the paths of truth, guide the steps of the faithful to remember our duties to our children, our families, each other, our nation and in the world. Aid us, O God, to learn and use these gifts wisely and well in the coming days.

Lord God, I pray that you imbue our Nation, with the realization that our nation is only as strong as our Faith.  Strengthen our members to be the Fatherly example in our homes, communities, churches, states and our Nation. 

Remove those among us, that sacrifice our honor and integrity for their selfish greed and evil motivation, send to us the leaders of faith, men who will stand, men who will lead and men who will pray for strength and guidance every day. 

I ask your grace and mercy upon those among us that are suffering from ill health, loneliness, ill fortune, and even estrangement from their families.  Guide them to the place in your will and paths that will be pleasing in your sight.  As men of faith, we acknowledge that all will be healed in time, according to your purpose, and whether here, so as to be called to further service, or when we claim the promise of joy and fellowship for eternity.

We give humble thanks for all the days of our lives, and all those that have touched our lives, provided guidance and wisdom to us along our journey.  May they know that they are truly Loved.  I ask for your finest blessings each of those that have shared of themselves to help us along our journey as men of faith. 

Amen!

So Mote It Be!

Amen!

Pizza Inn Plaque Presentation

Brother Rusty Aker being presented a plaque from Inman Masonic Lodge by Brother Stephen Parris.

Before the November regular communication, Brother Stephen Parris presented Brother Steven Lane "Rusty" Aker with a plaque as a small token of appreciation for the support that Pizza Inn has shown Inman Masonic Lodge.  Brother Aker, a member of Gaffney Masonic Lodge #186 AFM, along with his brother Daven, are owners several Pizza Inn locations in the area, most notably on Asheville Highway in Spartanburg, SC.  These two men have made Pizza Inn the biggest contributor of Inman Masonic Lodge's annual golf tournament for two years in a row.  Thanks to the Aker brothers and Pizza Inn for their support!

Inman Masonic Lodge Officers for 2018

At the November regular communication, elections were held for the officers of Inman Masonic Lodge for the ensuing Masonic year.  Brother Ken Kuszmaul was elected to serve as Worshipful Master for 2018.  WB Terry Mabry was elected to serve as Senior Warden, and Brother Steve Parris was elected to serve as Junior Warden.  RWB Doug O'Shields was elected to serve as Treasurer, and RWB Paul McWilliams was elected to serve as Secretary.  Brother John Woodyard was appointed to serve as Senior Deacon, and Brother Jared Miller was appointed to serve as Junior Deacon.  Brothers Carl Webb and Gene Michael Kuszmaul were appointed to serve as Stewards.  WB Stephen A. Pinker was appointed to serve as Tiler, and Brother David Fisgus was appointed to serve as Chaplain.  

Public installation for these Brethren will be held at the Lodge on December 9, 2017 at 3 pm.  Congratulation to all these Brethren on their elections and appointments.  Inman Masonic Lodge continues to be held in good hands!

Inman Degree Work

Inman Lodge has had quite a few degrees conferred in the past several months.  Brothers Kevin Steed and Carl Webb received their Entered Apprentice Degree on May 19, 2017.  Brothers Carl Webb and David Fisgus received their Fellow Craft Degree on July 20th, and their Master Mason Degree on August 31st.  Brother Shawn Osbourne received his Fellow Craft Degree on September 30th.  Congratulations to all these Brethren for the steps they have taken! 

Welcome, Brother John Hansborough!

Brother John Hansborough is the newest affiliate of Inman Masonic Lodge.  He was raised in Harry S. Truman Lodge #649 F&AM, in Naples, Italy in 1970.  We at Inman Masonic Lodge are excited to give Brother John a warm welcome to his new home!  

RWB Paul McWilliams KCCH Investiture

RWB Paul McWilliams with MW and Illustrious Brother Michael D. Smith, Sovereign Grand Inspector General and Grand Master of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina.

RWB Paul McWilliams, Past Master and current Secretary of Inman Masonic Lodge, as well as current District Deputy Grand Master of the 20th District, was invested with the Knight Commander of the Court of Honor of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, on Friday, October 6th.  This honor, informally referred to as receiving the “red hat”, is conferred to a limited number of 32° Masons by the Supreme Council for their commendable service to the Rite, to Masonry, and the world at large.  Congratulations to RWB Paul for receiving this distinct honor!

Harvest Day 2017

The Harvest Day Barbeque Sale is Inman Masonic Lodge’s second largest fundraiser, and this year it took on the unofficial slogan, “Keeping it in the Community”.  Keeping the money from its fundraisers in Inman and its surrounding communities has been the goal of Inman Masonic Lodge, and volunteers reminded its patrons as they came in for the Famous Pinker Barbeque served each year.  Inman Lodge gave free water to Harvest Day attendees, and customers enjoyed the air conditioned dining hall and the tents outside.  One patron said, “I come by each year because it’s for the Lodge, it’s local, and it’s just plain good.”

About ten or more servicemen came in for a complimentary meal.  At the end of the day, two young men, members of Chapman’s football team, came in and were treated to a meal.  As they ate, they began to ask about Masonry, and the Brothers of Inman were more than happy to answer all of their questions.  A special thanks goes out to all the volunteers for their assistance, especially the Pinker family for preparing the food, and also to Bi-Lo of Inman.

Golf Tournament 2017

Another successful golf tournament was had by Inman Masonic Lodge as the 31st Annual Charles Heatherly Memorial Golf Tournament was held at Village Greens Golf Course on August 26th.  Over thirty teams competing to become the top golfers of the day.  As each team closed out their round of golf, they were treated to a barbeque dinner prepared by Gary & Rick Plumley, Mike Caton and Chad Morris, and served by the members and family of Inman Lodge.

The tournament took a somber tone as Worshipful Brothers Dean Chapman and Reggie Cox were remembered.  WB Dean for many years worked behind the scenes of the golf tournament raising money from sponsors, and WB Reggie, along with WB Jackie Gregory organized the event since its inception.  WB Stephen Pinker, Master of the Lodge this year, had this to say about the day, “The success of this golf tournament lies with the volunteers and the sponsors.  We couldn’t do this event without them.  There are so many, but they are not forgotten, and I would like to thank each and every one of them for their contribution.”

Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief

The storm known as Harvey has carved a path of destruction through Southeast Texas and is creeping into Southwest Louisiana, dumping record levels of rain on the Houston area.  The storm has left at least 50 dead and thousands homeless as they escape from the flood waters.  One of the most vital supplies the area needs right now is drinking water, and Spartanburg School District 1 began a drive to collect donations of relief items to be shipped to Texas.  To assist with the relief efforts, Inman Masonic Lodge collected donations of bottled water.  WB Jeff Honeycutt spearheaded the collection, and on Friday, September 1st, delivered 272 cases of water to Chapman High School.  Thanks to all the Brethren for their charity in this time of need for the people of Texas.

Inman Masonic Lodge George Washington Portrait Presentation

The members of Inman Masonic Lodge pose with the portrait presented by Brothers Ken and Gene Kuszmaul.

At the August Regular Communication of Inman Masonic Lodge, Brothers Ken and Gene Kuszmaul presented WB Stephen Pinker and the Brethren with a George Washington portrait.  The inscription on the plaque at the bottom of the portrait reads, “The blessings of each day are cemented in the Brotherly Love of Inman Masonic Lodge #201 AFM.  We will forever be grateful, Ken and Gene Kuszmaul, 2017.”  During a trip with RWB Sam Turner III and WB Bryan Megonigal to Charleston, SC, he discovered that many of the Lodges in the low country were buying portraits, one per Lodge, for the schools in the area.  Brother Gene had the idea of buying one for Inman Lodge.  Ironically, Brother Ken had came up with the same idea, without any prior discussion between them.  He and his Uncle Ken decided to purchase a portrait for Inman in the hopes that it, with the inspirational message inscribed on it, would serve as a beacon to the Brotherhood of Inman.  But, the portrait serves a two-fold purpose. 

The George Washington Portrait Project is helmed by RWB Sam Turner III of Roebuck Lodge #357 AFM, and RWB John King of Cross Hill Lodge #159 AFM.  The proceeds of the portrait project go toward Juvenile Diabetes Research, which Brother Ken Kuszmaul is all too familiar with.  When she was three, Ken’s daughter Bridget was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.  He had to witness his daughter who, at the time, had to be stuck with needles five times a day to get her glucose readings as her own body had no way of producing it on her own.  Now at the age of 43, she has suffered many hardships battling her disease.  In 2014, Bridget had a brain bleed as a complication of diabetes, and during her rehabilitation contracted cerebral meningitis as well as a staph infection.  Although she recovered, she now has diminished eyesight as a result of diabetes.  His granddaughter, Katlyn was also diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the age of one.  Now eighteen, she has enjoyed a normal life due to the advances in treatment that research into this disease has brought.  With Ken’s brother’s and Gene's Uncle's death as a result of this dreaded disease in 2016, as well as with his daughter’s and granddaughter’s battles, it was only natural to contribute to such a noble purpose while presenting a small token to the Brotherhood.