Brethren, as usual, we had another busy month in October. The Fort Clinch outdoor degree this year was another huge success. We started the festivities with a wonderful dinner in the Lodge prepared by Brother Len Lee of Callahan Lodge, and then we all went out to the fort. There were about a hundred thirty Brothers from all over Florida and South Georgia attending, and many of them were dressed in colorful Civil War military uniforms.
    Brother Frank Ofeldt, a full-time ranger at Fort Clinch State Park, began the evening’s events by firing the big cannon to commemorate the 150th anniversary of our chartering as a Masonic Lodge. We’re not sure just what it was that Brother Frank was aiming at, but he managed to blow the glass out of the windows over the door of the old barracks building. Good shooting, Frank! The ritual was more difficult this year than usual, with the temperature in the mid-fifties and the strong wind – it must have been at least forty miles an hour – making it impossible to use the public address system. Nevertheless, we managed to Raise Brother Jerry Alton (Al) Giddens. R.W. Brother
Wilbur Atwell shivered through his most impressive lecture in almost record time, and W. Brother Jessie Tiner delivered the charge to Brother Giddens and Brothers Paul Frederick Carter, Omer Dale Oliver, and James Paul Loos, who had been Raised in the Lodge on September 22nd, but who had not yet received the lecture and the charge. It was a night to remember!
    On the 27th of October, we enjoyed Brother Bill Maule’s last spaghetti dinner of the year. Brother Bill’s efforts with his spaghetti dinners have added well more than $9,000 to our Building Fund, more than $3,200 for this year alone. Well done, Bill! I’m sure that we all appreciate the hard work that he, the Junior Wardens, and the Stewards have put into this project over the years.
      After dinner, Brothers Donn Aaron David and George
Lewis Faucher were passed to Fellow Craft. Brother John Schwartz did an excellent job in the East, and the lecture was delivered by R.W. Robby Stokes in his unforgettable style.
We have a number of pending issues that must be brought before the Lodge in a regular business meeting, so I am encouraging everyone to attend the meeting on November 10th. Our second meeting in November will be given over to Community Recognition Night, and our only meeting in December will be the elections of our 2010 officers.
    A lot of the needed work on the Lodge has been completed, but Brother John Wigger still needs help. Anything that you can do to help will be appreciated. See Brother John and talk to him about it.

Fraternally,
Bill Goldwire
Worshipful Master 2009