Past Master in Florida

MAY 2005

Story by Bro Robert B Ballingham PM
Lodge St Andrew Livingston Station No 1587

Having visited Florida several times over the past few years, I have visited some of the Florida Lodges whilst there. It came as little surprise to my wife Sandra when I suggested that I would like to visit a Lodge while there this year.

You can imagine her surprise, not to mention my own, when Sandra was invited to accompany me to a Lodge visit. It was my intention to visit Lodge St Cloud No 221 in the town of St Cloud.

Lodge St Cloud No 221

Since it was some twelve years since I last visited Lodge St Cloud, I wanted to familiarise myself with the Lodge’s location. Off we went to do a “recci” to find where the Lodge was.

Just as well, as there was road works in St Cloud and the old memory did not quite remember the actual route. We did eventually find the Lodge and as it was Saturday afternoon there were people in and around the Lodge building. Seated by the door was, who turned out to be, the Lodge Master, Worshipful Brother Mike Hemphill.

We approached the door and Bro Mike asked if he could help us. I explained who I was and that I had visited his Lodge some twelve and fourteen years earlier. Also I asked if it would be in order for me to visit his Lodge on their next meeting night. Bro Mike very quickly responded by saying he would be delighted to see me the following Thursday evening. Not only did he invite me to the pre-meeting dinner, he also extended that invitation to Sandra.

I must confess this invitation did not only stun Sandra, but also me. Over the years I have been privileged to accept some of the best hospitality Freemasonry offers and this is one time the invitation really overwhelmed the both of us. In the usual pragmatic way wives think, prompted the question “what will I do when Robert is in the meeting?” Answering this question, Bro Mike said Sandra can spend the time in the company of his wife Cecilia and the rest of the ladies.

With this reassurance in mind and on the Thursday in question both of us set off once more for St Cloud. Forty five minutes later we arrived at the Lodge in time for dinner. Well that was what we thought, in time? Actually we had arrived 30 minutes early for dinner.

However there were a good number of other Brethren there to have their dinner before the meeting started. Turns out most of them were visitors. Rather special visitors at that, they were from Orange Blossom Lodge No 80 from the nearby town of Kissimmee. These Brethren were unfortunate enough to have lost the roof of their own Lodge during the hurricane which hit central Florida in August of 2004. Being rendered homeless, Lodge St Cloud No 221 came to the rescue of their sister Lodge in offering the Brethren of Orange Blossom Lodge their premises to hold their regular meetings until such times as their Lodge was fit to be used again.
We all sat down and enjoyed what turned out to be the main course of the dinner, desert was served after the meeting. St Cloud Lodge has a tradition that Junior Warden prepares and cooks the meal before every Lodge Meeting. I have to admit that Bro Paul Lauridsen made a really good job of the meal (maybe he should think about a new career?).

In order for me to enter the Lodge, the Master and Office Bearers had to be sure I was who I said I was. Unfortunately for me, there was no Brother in attendance who could remember my visit to their Lodge. I do have an interesting memory of being “tested” the first time round and was looking forward to this “test" again. Suddenly an old Past Master came along to the meeting and when he saw me, was told that I had attended the Lodge previously he did not quite instantly recognise me, but did remember my visit. It turns out he was Bro Ernie Elliott P.M. who was the Junior Warden when I visited the Lodge in May 1991 (at that time the Junior Warden did not have to cook a meal?).

Bro Ernie did then fully remember me as in 1991 he very kindly came to the villa we were staying at to pick me up and take me to the Lodge and bring me back home. This he fully recalled and even remembered our discussion we had in his pick up truck, about the Shriners, talking about the good work they do for the children of America with severe burns and disabled. In fact Bro Ernie was in 1991 the Orlando Co-ordinator for the Shrine. He is still actively involved with them.

Although this was a regular meeting of the Lodge there was no Degree that evening, there was a good discussion about the agenda for the forthcoming annual communication of the Grand Lodge of Florida. According to the discussion, some of the proposals will give rise to some interesting discussions.

In the Orlando District of the Grand Lodge of Florida they have a Travelling Gavel which is awarded to the Visiting Lodge with the largest numbers of members attending the holding Lodge. This is similar to the Travelling Trowel the Provincial Grand Lodge of Linlithgowshire has. Only the difference in Florida is they do not use the Travelling Gavel to raise money for charity, as we do. Mind you, when told of what we in Linlithgowshire do, they thought that was a good idea.

As Orange Blossom Lodge No 80 had the largest numbers of members attending that evening they were presented with the Travelling Gavel. There was a condition to the presentation of the Gavel to the Master, Worshipful Brother Johnny Brock that Brother Mike Hemphill would be back at Orange Blossom the following Monday to claim the Gavel back.

This was the cue to plug the Grand Opening of Orange Blossom Lodge No 80 following the difficult period of rebuilding and renovating their Lodge after the devastation of the August 2004 Hurricane. Bro Johnny Brock advised all present they were all invited to attend the Grand Opening of his Lodge on Monday 16th May 2005 at 6.00pm. They would commence with Dinner followed by the Lodge Meeting to formally open their rebuilt Lodge. Br Johnny also announced that the Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Florida, Most Worshipful Brother Elmer Coffman would be in attendance to welcome the Brethren of Orange Blossom Lodge No 80 back to their Lodge following the hardship and loss of their premises.

Not only did Worshipful Master Johnny Brock extend the invitation to all present he made a point of inviting both Sandra and I to come along and join in his Lodge’s celebrations. Once again this invitation took our breath away. Little did we think that we would both be asked to be part of their celebrations, again for the second time in our holiday Sandra was going along to a Lodge meeting.

Orange Blossom Lodge No 80

Monday 16th May 2005 saw Sandra and I leaving our holiday home for another Lodge Meeting. This journey did no take as long as the one to St Cloud, only thirty five minutes. On arrival we found the place absolutely mobbed. Had difficulty parking and I eventually managed to squeeze my “wee” American car in?

On entering the Lodge Rooms they had a display of photographs showing the extent of the devastation following the August Hurricane. Both Sandra and I could only sympathise as to how low they must have felt when the Brethren came along and inspected the extent of the damage.

However the Office Bearers and Brethren rallied themselves and set about, what turned out to be a long and arduous road of rebuilding their Lodge. After sorting out the Insurance, no easy feat, due to the amount of claims that were being made at that time. We must remember that the Central area of Florida usually escapes the worst of Hurricanes, as the strength of hurricanes usually dissipate by the time they reach the central area of Orlando and Kissimmee In August of 2004 three hurricanes hit central Florida within six weeks. The first of them caused the worst damage to Orange Blossom Lodge and the other two made sure the job was really complete.

Living in Scotland we do not really have much of an idea of how devastating the forces of nature can be. Also of the feeling of helplessness and despair when that force of nature is fully felt. We can only imagine what must have been going through their minds at that time. A lifeline was thrown to them by the offer of St Cloud Lodge No 221 to use their premises for all their meetings, also to plan their recovery. This offer must have really inspired them as within nine months their Lodge was rebuilt, decorated and refitted with all new furnishings. All this despite the amount of devastation in the whole of Central Florida and how Insurance Companies tend to drag their heels when it comes to paying out claims.

Following the delicious first course of the dinner there was some thanks to be said. Worshipful Master Johnny Brock first of all welcomed all who were present to commemorate the grand opening, especially the presence of the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Florida, Most Worshipful Brother Elmer Coffman. To mark the occasion Bro Johnny presented the Grand Master with certificate to commemorate his visit and the grand opening of the Lodge. M W Bro Coffman made a suitable reply of thanking the Brethren and the Ladies for giving him and his deputation such a warm welcome. He also made reference to all the work that has gone in to rebuilding the Lodge and the wonderful job they all of them made of it.

Worshipful Master Bro Johnny Brock then presented many of his Brethren with certificates to mark the occasion to thank the Brethren who worked really hard during the past nine months to get the Lodge up and running once again. He made a point of speaking albeit briefly, but sincerely of the time and effort they all put in.

After the dinner and speakers the Brethren then made their way into the Lodge room for the first time to open the Lodge for the meeting. Following their opening ceremony and when the Lodge was open, carried out their normal meeting agenda, with minutes and correspondence. Worshipful Master Johnny Brock asked the Senior Deacon to retire and introduce the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Florida along with his deputation. Brother Brian Shaw Senior Deacon (a refugee Past Master from England) escorted the Grand Lodge deputation into the Lodge. Bro Brian then introduced and escorted Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason Elmer Coffman to the East, along with the two other members of the Grand Lodge deputation.

During the course of the meeting the Grand Master was presented with a Stetson hat from the Brethren of Orange Blossom Lodge, this is a custom in American Lodges that the master wears a hat when he sits in the chair of King Solomon. The Grand Master Mason usually wear a hat when he is wearing his full Grand Master’s Regalia. On his visit the Grand Master was wearing his normal trilby hat when he went into the Ledge, when he came out he was a fully fledged cowboy, wearing his Stetson. Most Worshipful Grand Master warmly thanked the Lodge and their Worshipful Master for their kindness and having presented him with such a honour as a real cowboy hat.

What I thought was a different way to close a Lodge was that since the Grand Master was present and in the Chair of King Solomon he took over the task of closing Orange Blossom Lodge No 80. This is something we, in Scotland would not expect our Provincial Grand Masters never mind the Grand Master Mason to carry out. Rather we invite the dignitaries to retire to restore themselves to their own comfort and make sure they receive suitable refreshment. Florida, they have a different way, by giving the Grand Master the privilege of closing their Lodge.

Bro Robert B Ballingham P.M. with M.W. Grand Master Elmer Coffman

Following the closure of the Lodge, Sandra and I spent a good hour and a half with the Brethren and enjoyed our desert and their company. Once again meeting and making new friends in the sunshine state of Florida not only was very enjoyable, but really a great honour and privilege.

Sandra and I would like to thank both Worshipful Masters and their Brethren for the warmth of their welcome (nothing to do with the temperature outside?) and the manner in which they made the both of us really welcome and the way they included us in the workings of their respective Lodges. We really enjoyed our visits and having met one old friend and made new ones. Should you ever find yourself in Florida I would strongly recommend that you contact any Lodge in the district you are staying and you can be assured of a really warm welcome among new friends.

As I have stated both Sandra and I have been to Florida some eight times now and have been really privileged to meet many Masons. None more so than one really good friend as in Most Worshipful Brother Jacque Allen Couture, Past Grand Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Florida.

Sadly we had our suspicions confirmed during our visit this year, in that our good friend has been summoned the Grand Lodge above where I have no doubt he will be advising the Great Architect of the Universe. Bro Jack (as he was known to his friends) passed away in June 2003 and we were really sad to have this confirmed. He was a great fighter, having fought cancer for some ten years. This was one battle he would have loved to win, sadly it was one battle he could not.
This story is dedicated to the memory of Most Worshipful Brother Jacque Allen Couture who was Grand Master in 1998 – 1999 and Sandra and I had the honour of attending his Installation as his guests. It was through the friendship and assistance of Brother Jack that we have made so many friends in Florida. Not just in the Orlando, Kissimmee area, but all over the State

Good Brother Jack, you may no longer be with us. When you were with us, you were larger than life, now you have been called to the nearer presence of the “Most High” your influence is always with us and felt by us all. May you enjoy the Company of your Jesus, Sandra and I thank God for the privilege of having been your friends, we will always have a special place in our hearts for your memory. You will always be with us as we know you will be with your wife, Reba and your children and grandchildren. Also the Freemasons in Florida will sadly miss you from their events as will all who knew you during your time of this earth.

Below are a number of photographs taken during our trip to Florida.