DDGM, District 14B official visit:

3x PM William Thomason, DDGM Mike Biddler and PM Earl Tweed

RW Mike Biddler, DDGM of the Grand Lodge of Texas was received with honors at our January meeting. Additionally, RW Jeff Miller, DDGM of District 14A , Education Instructor Max Gilley, and Ambassador George Rutherford were visitors.

PM Earl Tweed and 3x PM Bill Thomason escorted RW Biddler to the alter where he received Private Grand Honors by the lodge members and then was escorted to the East at the request of acting WM :. J. Darrell Kirkley. RW Biddler gaveled the members to be seated and requested to present his message from MW Orville O'Neill of the Grand lodge of Texas near the close of the Lodge. A Master's Lodge was opened to receive RW Biddler and then called-off to refreshment and then an EA Lodge was opened for the EAs to partisipate in the business meeting of the lodge. Once the EA was closed, the Master's Lodge was called back from refreshment to labor and the Master's Lodge was officially closed for the evening. Other officers present: APM, Treasurer Gary Hill sat in and read reports for Secretary Biddler. PM, Chaplain Kelly Weed acted as Senior Deacon since Senior Deacon Rueff could not be present. Junior Deacon, John Wayne Weed and Tiler, PM, John Slate were also present.

Prior to the meeting at 6:00PM, a scrumptious spaghetti and meatball dinner was prepared by Judy Kirkley and delivered to the lodge.

Also during dinner, two petitions for Masonry were presented to Secretary Mike Biddler by two visiting young men, whom joined us for dinner. The petitions were in order and assigned to two investigation committees during the business meeting that followed.

The Masonic Temple:

The 105 year old building in down town Dallas is under contract to be sold and all the Masonic Bodies presiding in the building will need to find new locations within the next 2-3 Months.

Bro. Kelly Weed heads up the relocation committee. No decision has been made as of our January stated meeting as to where HP Lodge will relocate.

Illinesses:

Bro. PM McLeod Stinnett is nursing his way back to good health from a stroke he had a couple of Months back. Also Bro. PM Bowen Florshime has gone through neck surgery and over the Christmas holidays cracked a rib. He is on the road to recovery. Bro. Bowen was able to be at lodge to receive RW Biddler in January.

Deaths:

It is with much sadness that we have lost a long standing member Bro. Henry S. Miller Jr. passed away in December 2009. Our condolences go out to his family.

Highland Park Lodge's WM :. on the road:

WM:. Matthew Townsend has been working out of El Paso since September and has not been able to be active in the lodge as he had hoped. While his family is back in Flower Mound, WM:. Townsend is able to be with them on the weekends. We wish him well and sincerely hope that his schedule can bring him back active in the HP Lodge functions soon.

Other Lodge Officers:

In WM:. Townsend's absence, Senior Warden J. Darrell Kirkley is acting WM in the East. Bro. Don Burnett has been sitting-in the West Chair and in the absence of our Junior Warden Chris Keller, (reported to have moved to Colorado). Bro. Richard Hudman will be sitting in the South for the remainder of the term.

Contributions and Donations:

In December Bro. Richard Hudman donated 3 large boxes of ladies clothes and shoes from his wife Melissa (Eastern Star Member) on behalf of Highland Park Lodge to The Bridge, a Dallas homeless shelter. The Bridge was very appreciative of their donation.

Assessments:

Due to the economy, the Grand Lodge of Texas has not been able to pay anything to the Texas Lodges for their Endowed Memberships. This is causing some hardship on the Lodges because they have counted on a percent of the interest paid back on an annual basis. This being the case, HighPark Lodge last year ask its members to donate the equivelent of one years dues of $80.00. We would like to extend this request for one more year. If you are able to donate this amount or whatever amount you can to HP Lodge for 2010, please know we are in humble appreciation. The Secretary will be mailing this request to lodge members shortly. Hopefully the GL of Texas will get back on track by 2011 with interest payments on the endowed memberships.

SPECIAL BOOK DONATION

Highland Park Lodge #1150, AF&AM, made its fifth annual donation to the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in December with the delivery of approximately 1,500 books for the hospital's young patients and their families. The books are provided free of charge from Half Price Books, whose flagship store and and warehouse are in Dallas. PM, John Slate is greeted annually by Half Price employees Scott Ward, Cesar, and crew, who pack John's truck to its limit. In the picture above Donald Corben-Smith, Scottish Rite Hospital's Development Officer accepts the books. Highland Park Lodge's donations to the hospital now total over 7,500 books.

"In the Greater North Texas area Half Price Books operates a Donations Storefront, a unique "free bookstore" for non-profit and educational organizations. This facility is stocked with excess inventory coming mostly from our Dallas-Fort Worth area Half Price Books retail bookstores. Instead of throwing away our excess inventory, like many of our "Full Price" competitors, we choose instead to make this available for use in our communities in North Texas and beyond."

Thanks to the special efforts of PM, John Slate

Highland Park Lodge #1150
P.O. Box 38568
Dallas, TX 75238-0568
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