HARTSVILLE, TENNESSEE
It did not meet 4 years during the Civil War.
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113 River Street in Hartsville, Tennessee.
Our Stated Meeting is on the third Monday at 7:00 P.M. Central Time.
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Worshipful Master - Bill Scruggs
Senior Warden - Kelton Goodman
Chaplin - Lonnie Taylor,
Junior Warden - Robert Knight
Secretary - Melvin Luhrs, P.M.
Treasurer - Eddy Gregory, P.M.
Senior Deacon - Verne Deckard
Jenior Deacon -Randy Brady
Senior Steward - Richard Reasonover, P.M.
Junior Steward-
Tiler - Ira Clifton Watson, P.M.
Marshall - Henry Linville, P.M.
Brethren,
I first want to take a moment to thank each and everyone of you for entrusting me with the task of leading Bethpage Lodge in 2006. The challenges that lie ahead, I know will be daunting, but I am thankful to have such a wonderful supporting cast to make the burdens so much easier to bear. With my trust in God, a wonderful family to stand by my side, and brothers like yourselves, I am confident this can be a great year for Bethpage Lodge.
I attended a Masonic funeral for Brother James Harlin Bean of Hartsville Lodge #113 last night. I arrived a little late and the service had already started so I did not get the chance to be a part of the service, although I wanted to be. However, I got the opportunity to watch the service from a distance and I am happy now that I received the opportunity that I did.
Freemasonry was well-represented as around 30 brethren came out to be a part of this. Brother Bean was only 26 years old, but it was easy to see how much of an impact he had on his lodge and the craft in general as there were at least 6 different lodges represented and men of all ages among the Craft. I had sat in Lodge with this brother on several occasions and I knew this young man to be a good brother and good for his Lodge, but to those non-Masons in attendance, it was easily understood this was a well-respected and well-liked young man who had a bright future in the Lodge and was important to the Lodge.
Seeing the service from the outside looking in gave me the chance to see firsthand how impressive the service really is. Brother Melvyn Luhrs conducted the service and did a wonderful job. I have long respected Brother Luhrs and seeing his work in this service only increased my respect for him and his work tremendously. As I watched the service, I tried to look at it from an outsider's viewpoint. If I were not affiliated with the Lodge and knew very little or nothing about its purpose, I would have still found this service to be extremely impressive. I tried to consider the impact this type service would have on someone who might have never considered Freemasonry or who maybe have an interest but never pursued it. Actually, it was the Masonic service for my grandfather, Earl Ragland, that finally convinced me to petition the Lodge, so I know it has an effect.
I left the funeral home last night with an even greater appreciation for many of the things I have learned from Freemasonry and having been introduced to several men whom I did not know as brothers. I also left with the hope that through Brother Bean's passing, and the work of our fine brethren in this service, we might find some new candidates for the three degrees of Freemasonry. There were many young people in attendance and it is my hope that some of these young men might have made the same realization last night that I did at my grandfather's service. When you have as many good men assembled in one place paying a very solemn and sincere final respect to one whom they consider as their equal, their brother; Freemasonry - whatever it is - cannot be a bad thing.
Tim Roberson - Worshipful Master -Bethpage Lodge
Mr. James Harlin BEAN
Past Master
Hartsville Lodge #113 Age 26
August 8, 1979 - January 21, 2006