Toccoa Masonic Lodge #309

Letter from the Grand Master about the Masonic Home to the Masons of Georgia, Once again, I call upon you to exercise your faith and prayers as this virus conti...nues to wreak havoc in our Fraternity. COVID has sickened and taken the life of many of our Brothers and their families. Now we have our first positive test at our Children’s Home, it is on lockdown and all precautionary measures are being taken to safeguard Staff and the children. John Snipes and the staff have done an excellent job thus far to protect our children and should be congratulated, but this was inevitable. Absolutely NO visitors at this time. Combating this virus is a great and important undertaking and should be met by prayer as we are instructed. Continue to practice the safeguards as prescribed and take care of one another. May the blessings of Heaven rest upon us and all regular Masons! Jan M. Giddens, MWGM See more

Brethren, Toccoa lodge is returning to its normal schedule. We will have a regular meeting on January 21st at 7:30 (no meal will be served). Be safe Brethren.

Ambassadors and Masters, take due notice...

Hello Brethren, For the safety of the brethren, the first meeting of January (January 7th) has been cancelled. Please stay safe brethren. Unless further stated, we will have a meeting on January 21st.

Brethren, several of us met the recipient families at the lodge last night to hand off the Christmas gifts and food. Even though we weren't able to have a party this year, your generous donations made a difference in the lives of 3 families and 6 kids. Thank you all and have a very Merry Christmas!

Hello Brethren, The officers of Toccoa #309 want to wish each brother a Merry Christmas. May your holidays be filled with joy and cheer. Please stay safe this holiday season. We want to continue our fellowship into the new year. May your Christmas be bright and remember that your brethren stand with you. Merry Christmas!

Construction of Cottage No. 5 has begun. **The Children's Home is a non-profit organization that receives no funding from the State or Federal Government. If yo...u wish to make a contribution to The Endowment Fund of the Masonic Home of Georgia select the link below: http://www.masonichomeofgeorgia.com//En/endowmentinfo.html See more

Please keep Brother Chapman's family in your prayers.

Just a reminder that the Masonic Home will have their annual Appreciation Day on Sunday, December 6th at 3 pm at the Masonic Home Gymnasium. As usual, this is the time for the Lodges to bring their gifts of money to be presented to the Grand Master that they have raised for the Children’s Home through their fund raising efforts and to give any gifts that they may have to the children. Also, I would like to announce that the Tables and Chairs Project of the ABLA met and excee...ded its goal. Our goal was $10,000 and we exceeded $11,700. We want to thank all those that donated this year even though COVID-19 put a damper on our Lodge activities. We want to especially thank the members of Lakeside Baptist Church in Marietta Georgia for their generous donation of $10,000 dollars. Their church was closing and needed places to donate the proceeds of the church. With the help and guidance of Brother Rusty Cordle, they heard about our cause and cheerfully donated. I personally want to thank Steve Carson, ABLA Project Chairman for heading up this project. You will see the tables and sit on the chairs for the first time at this Appreciation Day. Thanks for all you do! Fraternally, David M. Wellman Sr. President Association of Blue Lodge Ambassadors

Brethren, this is a reminder that we will be shopping on Monday, November 30th at Walmart, Toccoa. Please wear a mask and meet outside the pharmacy side door at... 6:30 p.m. I'm sure they would not want us gathering inside the door with other customers trying to enter the door in such close proximity. We will be wrapping the gifts at the lodge on Tuesday, December 1st at 6:30 p.m. Please bring non-perishable food items to the lodge before December 21st. Thank you all for your donations and your assistance. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas! See more

Brethren, we now have 3 families with a total of 6 kids. Please keep this in mind when buying non-perishable food items.

We will be working on the light fixtures at the lodge at 1 pm if anyone would like to help.

Does this building look familiar?

Brethren, we will be helping 2 families with a total of 5 children this year for Christmas. Shopping will take place at Walmart on Monday, November 30th. Meet at the pharmacy door at 6:30 p.m. Gift wrapping will be done at the lodge on Tuesday, December 1st beginning at 6:30 p.m. We need your help both nights. As always, the York Rite Bodies and Eastern Star have provided funds for groceries to each family for a big Christmas dinner. We will also accept donations of non-perishable food items at the lodge to give the families. If you haven't sent in your financial donation, please do so as soon as possible. If you need help getting into the spirit of Christmas after the crazy year we have experienced, come on out and join us!

So sorry I was wrong at the last lodge meeting about all cottages being completed. It appears that construction of cottage #5 will begin soon.

Message from the desk of the Grand Secretary:

Brethren, at last night's meeting there was a lengthy discussion regarding our annual Christmas program. We can all agree that there are families in our community who are in need. Difficult circumstances posed by COVID-19 will not stop us from providing assistance! The Lodge voted to proceed in the following manner: The committee will accept applications for assistance until 10/31/2020. To protect the safety of our members who investigate and evaluate applicants, please only ...recommend families who you can personally vouch for. The Lodge Secretary will send a letter to all members detailing the changes to our Christmas program. For everyone's safety, we will not hold a dinner or party. We ask that members be as generous as possible with financial donations. Shopping with a parent of each family will occur as usual, gifts will be wrapped by members and spouses, and parents will pick up gifts on an assigned date using a staggered schedule to prevent unnecessary personal contact. We will need members to assist with all phases. Toccoa Lodge's Christmas Program is a long-standing tradition of which we can be very proud. We will finish 2020 with a success knowing that we have done our part to help those less fortunate in our community!

Job Well Done. Thanks to ALL those involved. But there is still much more we can do for Our Children...

Prayers for PM Michael Sosebee, Bro. Junior Duncan, and the entire family. https://www.acree-davisfh.com/obi/Ellie-Mae-Cowart-Sosebee

Wife of deceased brother Charles Rickman.

Due to the increasing number of Covid-19 in the area, it has been decided that the July 16th meeting be cancelled. It is encouraged that you reach out to the brethren. Sometimes a phone call is all it takes to change someone's day. Stay safe brethren.

Toccoa Lodge is planning to meet this Thu. Please inform everyone that there will be NO meal and social distancing will be expected. BYOM (Bring Your Own Mask). 7:30pm.

Brethren, please use this provided link to review the latest information on the impact COVID-19 has on your local Lodge and the decisions going forward regarding meetings. https://sites.google.com//toccoalodge3/covid19-information Please help spread the word on these details to other Brethren, too.

Contact a member of Toccoa Shrine Club for a petition!

With regret, we must announce that Mrs. Nita Macomson has passed away. She was the widow of Bro. Bill Macomson, long time Tyler of Toccoa Lodge. Mrs. Nita was very active with Eastern Star.

Stay safe and stay healthy brethren’s, ladies, family members and friends

https://glofga.org/endowment-fund-lodge-recognition-program/

With the situation at hand with the Covid-19 virus. Tonight's meeting as well as both meetings in April have been cancelled. We will communicate any changes as they come.

The work day at the Masonic Children's Home that was scheduled for April 25th has been cancelled.

https://www.ugle.org.uk/2-uncategorised

Greetings Nobles of Yaarab Shrine,The Spring Ceremonial Trip to Greenville Shriners Hospital for Children has been postponed due to public health concerns. Attached to this email is the official news release from Shriners Hospital in Greenville. Please note that Yaarab Shrine will still hold a Spring Ceremonial on March 14th. We are very excited to have such a large group for this event and look forward to seeing you all there. The agenda for the ceremonial March 14th is belo...w.Beginning next week, refunds for the registration fee will begin to be issued. Please call the business office at 404-872-5818.Spring CeremonialMarch 14, 2020, SaturdayYaarab Shrine Center, 400 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE. Atlanta, 303083:00 PM Check in at Front Office (Candidates & Wives)3:30 PM The Ceremonial Begins6:00 PM Obligation 6:15 PM Fezzing Ceremony6:30 PM Dinner & EntertainmentThis is an OPEN invitation for all Shriners to join us in celebrating our newest members!

Hello Brethren and Family, I am glad to announce the completion of our new lodge site. Within this site, you will find information for those interested in the lodge, Toccoa's events, and a page for members. I am also glad to announce that we are now accepting Debit/Credit cards for fundraisers and dues. This is a big change for the lodge and I am eager to see the response. The web address is www.toccoalodge309.org... Thank you all!

https://www.whitlockmortuary.net/obituary/ray-roberts?lud=1B13360F8B2CA106332F2D48E6EF7D87

Please consider supporting Toccoa Masonic Lodge's upcoming BBQ fundraiser. You can see details on the newly published website at https://sites.google.com/view/toccoalodge309/bbq-fundraiser (the "Buy Now" button will not work on Facebook's Mobile app). or purchase tickets directly, online, at https://checkout.square.site/buy/335TYRZEQQNFFNZAVODM7BQC

Many of you have asked me to let you know about this organization being started in the area for our youth. There is an open house event scheduled this Saturday from 2 to 5pm at Lavonia lodge (see link below). It is not limited to Lavonia. It is for the Northeast GA area. Lavonia Masonic lodge is sponsoring it, but there will be events that cover the area and potentially worldwide. What this new chapter does will be decided by the members. They will learn to create their o...n plans, present them for approval, raise their own funds, assess risks, and then ultimately lead their own activities. The idea is to have fun while teaching leadership and professional skills like public speaking, servant leadership, etc. We also need adult leaders (both men and women) to help teach these skills. Here is a chance to come learn more. https://facebook.com//new-year-prospect-/607039790060949/ Also, here are some internet links. https://beademolay.org/ https://demolay.org/

Shellman Bluff Camp Workdays

If you are ready to take the next step in your Masonic journey, we would love to have you join the ranks of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine!

Brethren, it is my sad duty to inform you of the passing of Bro. Douglas Warr. Acree-Davis Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Services will be announced later.

Officers for 2020

The final countdown to the party has started. Please make your donations and dinner reservations right away! The week will begin with shopping Monday, 12/2 at 6... pm at Walmart. We have 25 very deserving kids to shop for, so we need all the help we can get. After checkout, the gifts will be transported to the lodge and stored. Help is needed with this task. Gift wrapping will take place on Thursday, 12/5 at 5:30 p.m. at the lodge. Masons, spouses, family members, and friends are encouraged to join in and help. On Saturday, 12/7 festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. with dinner in the dining hall. We will move to the lodge room around 7:30 p.m. for the party and a visit with Santa. See more

Brethren, if you haven't paid for dinner reservations or made your donation, please do so as soon as possible. The Christmas program committee has selected 8 fa...milies with a total of 25 children. We will need lots of help with shopping and gift wrapping. Shopping will take place Monday, December 2nd at 6:00 p.m. at Walmart. Meet at the pharmacy door. Wrapping is scheduled for Thursday, December 5th at 5:30 p.m. at the lodge. Please bring scissors, tape, and black permanent (Sharpie) markers. We will set up a food donation area in the foyer of the lodge to receive non-perishable food items for the families. See more

Brethren, the Christmas committee is busy finalizing family selections for our party. Please make your donations, sponsorships, and dinner reservations as soon as possible.

Brethren, as mentioned at the meeting last night, the Christmas committee will meet at Toccoa Lodge on Tuesday, November 12th at 6:00 p.m. We will discuss famil...y applications and divide into teams for visits in the near future, so this meeting will be brief. ALL members of Toccoa and Grove Lodges are invited and encouraged to participate. See more

A hundred years ago it was the Temperence Ladies that re-shaped the Masonry on this continent, forcing lodges to go "dry"... Now the fundamentalists are taking over the Craft - one GL at a time. I hope I will.never have to live in a jurisdiction like that! (Sapienti sat...)

Sad situation in Canada.

Brethren, don't forget that we need family applications for the Christmas program turned in by 10/31/2019!

Masonic Home of Georgia Family Day 1417 Nottingham Drive, Macon, GA 31211 Saturday, October 12th 2019, 10 am until 2 pm (Ambassadors should be there at 8 am to help with parking.)... Dinner on the Grounds at 12 Noon Near the Cottages Children’s Cottages and Building tours 10 am until 2 pm

Brethren, The 114th Annual Communication of the Ninth Masonic District Convention to be hosted by Buford Lodge #292. We will Be at the Buford Community Center located 2200 Buford Highway. All qualified Masons are encouraged to attend

P.G.M. Joseph Suttles (1995) passed away today. Please keep his family in your prayers.

EDICT NO. 2019-2 TO ALL CONSTITUENT LODGES UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE... GRAND LODGE OF GEORGIA, FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS: I hereby issue this edict, to-wit: WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of the undersigned that Brethren have been attending stated and called Lodge meetings and other events wearing attire much too informal to maintain the decorum and dignity of a Masonic Lodge; and WHEREAS, Brethren have made known to me their concerns about the clothing worn by some Brethren at Lodge meetings and other events; and WHEREAS, it is my desire that peace and harmony prevail in this jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, this edict shall apply to all Masons attending Masonic meetings in this grand jurisdiction: NOW THEREFORE, it is my edict that: In order to maintain proper decorum and to show proper respect for a Masonic Lodge and our Brethren, all Masons, whether Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, or Master Masons, shall be properly attired when attending a stated or called meeting of a Lodge, Grand Lodge, district convention, funerals, memorial services, or public ceremonies such as cornerstones (hereinafter "Meeting") unless some part of the program, ritual, or degrees normally requires them to dress otherwise. No Mason shall attend any Meeting wearing shorts, an uncollared shirt, tshirt, exercise wear, open-toed shoes, sandals, or flipflops unless medically necessary. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting a Brother from wearing jeans or overalls with a collared shirt or any required medical device. Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring a Brother to wear a suit, sport coat, tie, or tuxedo unless the Worshipful Master so directs. Neither Masonic aprons nor collars may be worn unless the Brother is properly dressed, as herein described, to attend a Meeting. Clothing at events outside of the Lodge such as picnics, concerts, ballgames, etc. shall be at the discretion of each Brother although proper decorum should always be a consideration. It shall be the responsibility of the Worshipful Master to see to it that this edict is enforced. Each Secretary of all Subordinate Lodges shall read this edict at the first regular communication of their Lodge after receipt of same. SO ORDERED and this edict is given under my hand and seal as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Georgia, and under the seal of the said Grand Lodge, this 28th day of August, 2019. Michael H. Wilson, Grand Master

Brethren, as you have heard on the calling post message from our WM, secretary WB Michael Sosebee sustained an injury at work. I just spoke with him tonight. He said a piece of equipment hit him in the face causing 3 broken bones in the cheek area. He was transported by ambulance to NE Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, evaluated for further injuries, treated and released. He is experiencing swelling and pain, but is in good spirits and he appreciates the calls and expressions of concern for him.

Please contact me if you need tickets. I will be at Toccoa Lodge this evening around 5:30 for the tree trimming if you'd like to pick some up.

I came across this little item of Masonic memorabilia and I thought I would share it to all. It’s still in the envelope as well.

Happy Independence Day!

Would you like to help the Alumni of our Home with our Cottage Campaign project and hear the appreciation story of some of your children who you have supporte...d and loved and given a Home where we could grow physically, mentally and spiritually? Most of you know that we are selling shirts and mugs featuring a beautiful picture of our Home and the logo Love Lives Here. I would be happy to visit any Lodge in Georgia ( I have enjoyed being in several already) and bring the shirts and mugs and give a short presentation on life at the Home. One of my favorite things to do is talk about growing up in the Castle that is the Masonic Home of Georgia. Brenda Lawless Brannon Secretary/Treasurer Masonic Home of Georgia Alumni Association [email protected] 478-361-0998 See more

Happy Fathers Day to all the Brethren’s

The annual GA/SC Exchange night will take place on Friday June 14th at Philomathea Lodge #25 in Elberton, GA. This meeting is a wonderful chance to meet brethren from South Carolina and of course see brethren from around our state who travel for this unique night. Our Grand Master has ask that all of you make every attempt to come enjoy the fellowship and brotherly love. South Carolina brings a lot of Masons to this event, and we should do the same. Please gather all the bret...hren you can and come join us for this great night in GA Freemasonry. Dinner will be at 6 pm and the meeting will begin at 7 pm. There will be a special keepsake given to those who attend the meeting. As a Mason, the things we remember the most is not the meeting, but the times shared with other brethren on the ride to and from the meetings. The address to the Lodge is listed below. Please pass this along to all in your address books. We look to seeing you all in the Granite Capital on Friday. Philomathea Lodge #25 119 Industrial Blvd Elberton, GA 30635