The Quarry Observer

Cayce Masonic Lodge #384 A.F.M

October 2025

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Monday, October 13th – EA Degree

Friday, October 24th – Ladies and Awards Night at Cayce Lodge – 6:30 (arrival 6pm)

Saturday, October 25th – MM DEGREE   Breakfast 7:30am, Degree to follow

Monday, November 6th – Business Meeting  OFFICER ELECTIONS - help needed to fill

 

Greetings from the East,

It is with a sad heart that I inform you of two deaths in our Masonic family this month. WB Andrew Hermann’s mother, Julia Fletcher passed away. Please keep him in your prayers. Also Brother Tom Halcum, a 40+ year member has laid down his working tools and passed to the celestial lodge above. We will miss Tom’s sense of humor and attendance. Tom was also the grandfather of WB Jay Greene. Our sincere condolences to these families. Also keep all those on our prayer list in your thoughts and prayers.

Although we had only a few members at our October meeting it was great to see so many visitors. Including 7 from Sinclair lodge who came and recaptured their flag, don’t get used to having it as we will be coming to get it back. During this meeting the petition of Adrian Carter was voted on and approved. We will be conferring the EA degree on Monday the 13th. Plan now to come out and support this candidate as he begins his masonic journey. The Master’s Degree that was postponed last month for Brother Loy Miller will be held on Saturday morning October the 25th. Breakfast will be served at 7:30am with the degree to follow. If having to come after work or get up the next day is your reason for not attending lodge here is the perfect opportunity to come and enjoy a Master’s degree and the lodge fellowship.

The Grand Chapter of the Amaranth will be having their annual BBQ plate fundraiser this Saturday (11th). Plates are $10 and will be served from 11am till 1:30 pm and all are welcome to come and enjoy. It was announced that “Transitions SC” will be having a drive to raise blankets for the homeless as winter is coming on. They are looking for used, clean blankets. If you have any you would like to donate they can be dropped off at the lodge at the degree on the 25th and Brother Jorge Navarrete will get them to the correct people. Sinclair lodge will be hosting a “gaming marathon” on Saturday Nov 1st for the “Children’s Miracle Network” annual event. If interested contact WB William Cordova from Sinclair at 803-404-8784.

Our annual Ladies and Service Awards night will be Friday October 24th. Dinner will be served at 6:30. This is when we recognize our ladies for their support and our brothers for their service. We have a casual atmosphere with good fellowship and some nice door prizes. I want to offer my personal invitation to all our widows to come and enjoy an evening with us.

In closing, our year is quickly coming to a close. I urge each of you to plan now to come out and be with us for one of the upcoming events. Remember that without your support our lodge cannot survive. We all need to be involved in making sure we pass on to the next generation what we inherited.

Till next time, may God bless and keep each of you in his grace.

Mark Pridgen, PM, WM   

 

Greetings from the South

 

I sincerely hope that the Summer has been kind to you. We are now in the Fall - fair and football.

 Cayce 384 has a busy month on Monday October the 13th we are having a EA degree, Friday October 24th Ladies night, the following morning Saturday October the 25th we are having a Master Mason degree 7:30 am breakfast gavel drops at 830am.

 Looking forward to seeing you and fellowshipping with you. 

 I hope you all have a great Fall and Winter to come be safe we’ll see you in the quarry.

 

John Howell, PM, JW

 

 

 From Brother Jorge Navarrete:

Hello Brothers, those of you who know me or follow my activities are aware of my commitment to community involvement.

Transitions, a homeless shelter in Columbia, provides essential support to individuals and families year-round, employing a three-stage approach: counseling, education, and job training or services, with the objective of ending homelessness in the Midlands.

https://transitionssc.org/

The organization requires new or used (and washed) bedding, including sheets, blankets, and comforters, to prepare for the winter. Cayce Lodge will be collecting donations up until October 25th, during our Master Mason Degree, to deliver to the shelter the following week, as part of our efforts to support their cause. If you are unable to attend but wish to participate or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

~Brother Jorge Navarrete   803-908-9578

 

From the Secretary’s Desk:

Brothers, Dues notices have gone out for 2026 which is $100 plus Grand Lodge per capita (this year a total $123.50). The dues notice also has your accounting history listed at the bottom.

If you have any discrepancies, questions, and/or would like to discuss anything please contact me by email jsimp@hotmail.com or cell 803-422-0373.

We do not want to drop anyone NPD (non-payment of dues) if it presents a financial difficulty, we have measures in place to ensure this does not happen but we must know, please contact me and it can be kept confidential.

Jason M. Simpson, PM, Secretary

Dues notices also provide your Grand Lodge ID so you can log in to our Grand Lodge Membership Management Portal and can access your information such as contact info, years of service, history, Dues tracking, etc. Log on and verify your info today (you can even add a picture!).

Visit:   https://portal.scgrandlodgeafm.org

Cayce Lodge offers deepest sympathy to the family, as we just learned of the passing of 50+ year Brother Victor Roof, especially to his widow Maxine, who passed in February of this year. In addition, for Brother Tom Halcum 40+ year member, especially his grandsons- members of our Lodge- Vic Le and Jay Greene, PM.

 

PRAYER LIST:

 

The United States of America

All the Troops, the Police and Firefighters, First Responders and all others who help protect and serve us, also all the Doctors and Nurses and others on the front lines.

Prayers for our Grand Lodge of SC, AFM

George Barber (surgery)

Jim Bickley

Wor. Bro. Julian Bevel and family

Linda Birchfield (Masonic Widow)

Debbie Boomer (health)

Bro. Bubba Burley and his wife

Scott Chattin & family (son’s health)

A.G. Dantzler

Michael and Stacy Dembitsky

Lyndsey (Dustan) Eberhardt’s father

RWB Marvin Epting

Donna Gardner (WB Mark’s wife)

Mac Graham’s wife

Harold Griffith

MWB Steve Hames, GM (health)

WB Andrew “Pudge” Hermann

Wor. Bro. Ron Horbal

Wor. Bro. Jeff Hutchison

Gary James wife

Barbara Jeffcoat (Masonic Widow)

WB Travis Mann and Lisa

Brother Richard Merritt & wife (Brenda)

Bro. Loy Miller’s wife (Claudette)

Bro. Jorge Navarrete’s father

Brother Nate Meyers (health)

David Powell

Betty Price  (Masonic Widow)

WB Tommy Rivers and wife (Imogene)

Terri Smith (wife of RWB Ed)

Haley Strickland

WB Truett Templeton’s wife (Chloe)

MWB Sam Tennyson

Mike Vinson

 

Please help us keep this list updated by contacting the Lodge; any officer or brother; or by e-mail:

caycemasoniclodge384@gmail.com