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A
Brief History of
Valley
Lodge No. 511, F.& A.M.
VALLEY
STATION, KENTUCKY
Chartered
October 19, 1871
This
program, celebrating the occasion of the One Hundredth
Anniversary Year, is dedicated to all of the Masons who
have founded, brought life, growth, and prosperity to Valley Lodge.
Published
September, 1971
Introduction
In
writing a history of Valley Lodge, it would be well to give a
brief history of the locality in which it is situated, that
being, Valley Station, Ky.
The
community of Valley Station, situated in the southwestern
section of Jefferson County, is an unincorporated city
consisting mainly of subdivisions, shopping centers, and
suburbanite living.However, this is a condition that has come
about in the past twenty years.Prior to that, Valley Station was
very much a rural area whose ties were linked to truck farming,
rose gardening, and old fashioned home cooking.The history
beyond this goes back into the early settlement days of the Ohio
River Valley in which much of the present area of Valley Station
was the home of several Indian Camps.
Throughout
the past 100 years of history of Valley Station, Valley Lodge
has served as a pillar of strength in the development of this
community, and is today one of the most noted landmarks of the
area.From this heritage, Valley Lodge has gained a reputation as
"the lodge where a man is a stranger but once", and is
quite often referred to as "a country lodge in the big
city."
CHARTER
VALLEY LODGE NO. 511, F. & A. M.
IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THEGRAND LODGE OF
KENTUCKY.
TO ALL WHOM THIS MAY COME, GREETINGS:
WHEREAS, it has been duly represented to the Grand
Lodge of Kentucky, that a competent number of Brethren of the
Society of Ancient York Free and Accepted Masons,
residing near Hussey's Mill and its vicinity, in the
county of Jefferson and the State of Kentucky,
have been working under a Dispensation issued to them under the
authority of this Grand Lodge, and their work and
proceedings as such having been reported and confirmed, they
pray that they be granted a charter, and authorized to organize
and work as a regular lodge, and it appearing to be for
the benefit of the Craft in general as well as for
the aforesaid Brethren, that their prayer should be granted: THEREFORE,
KNOW YE, that we the undersigned, as Grand
Officersof the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, by and with the
consent of said Grand Lodge, and in its name, do hereby
constitute our trusty and well beloved Brethren, the worshipful George
W. Miles to be the first Master, Robert H. Stonestreet,
Senior Warden, and John F. Montgomery, Junior Warden,
together with the Brethren lately working under said
Dispensation, and all such true and lawful Brethren as may be
permitted to associate with them, a regularly constituted
Lodge of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons, near
Hussey's Mill, in the county of Jefferson and State
aforesaid, to be designated and known by the name and style
of Valley Lodge No. 511: Hereby requiring and
enjoining all regular Lodges to hold, acknowledge, and
respect them as such.And we do hereby grant and commit to the Master,
Wardens, and Brethren aforesaid full power and authority to
receive Members, enter Apprentices, passFellow Crafts, raise
Master Masons, and to perform all
other work of the Craft, agreeably to the ancient customs
and usage of ancient York Free Masons, and the
constitution, ordinances, and regulations of the Grand
Lodge of Kentucky, and no otherwise.Also to choose a
Master, Wardens, and other officers yearly, on the
anniversary of Saint John the Evangelist and to exact from their
members such fees as they may judge necessary for the
support of their said Lodge, the relief of their Brethren
in distress, and the regular payment of their annual
contributions to the Grand Lodge.And we do hereby require and
command the Master, Wardens, and Brethren aforesaid, and
their successors, to record in their books, along with
this present Charter, their own regulations and by-laws, and
their whole acts and proceedings, from time to time, as they may
occur.And also to correspond with the Grand Lodge whenever
occasion may require; to attend the meetings thereof regularly
by their representative or deputy; and also to pay respect and
obedience to all such ordinances and instructions as they
may from time to time receive from the Grand Lodge, or from the
Grand Master thereof, for the time being.And lastly, the Master,
Wardens, and Brethren aforesaid, in behalf of themselves and
their successors, do, by accepting this charter, solemnly
engage strictly to conform to all and each of the foregoing
regulations and commands, and at all times to acknowledge and
recognize the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, and the Grand
Master thereof, as their superiors, and as such to
obey them, or either of them, in all things pertaining to the
Craft.
Done at the Grand Lodge at Louisville, Ky.: IN TESTIMONY
WHEREOF, we, the Grand Officers thereof, have signed
our names, and caused the Sealof said Grand Lodge to be affixed,
attested by the Grand Secretary, this 19th day of October
A.D. 1871, A.L. 5291
CHARLES WILLIAM EGINTON, Grand Master
E.B.
JONES, Deputy Grand Master
D.W.
TURNER, Grand Senior Warden
W.E.
WOODRUFF, Grand Junior Warden
J.M.
McCORKLE, Grand Secretary
History Of
Valley Lodge No. 511, F. & A. M.
1871-1971
Much of the history preceding the organization of Valley Lodge
has been lost in the sands of time.But we do know that in the
early part of the year 1871 several Masons residing in the same
district felt a strong need for the formation of a lodge of Free
and Accepted Masons in their community.There was no hall for
them to meet in, so they gathered at the residences of the
Masons involved.When they felt they were ready, they petitioned
the Grand Lodge of the State of Kentucky, asking that
dispensation be granted to organize a Lodge of Free and Accepted
Masons in their area.This lodge would be known as Valley Lodge
U. D. (Under Dispensation), and was recommended to the Grand
Lodge by Falls City Lodge No. 376, F.&A.M., of Louisville,
Kentucky.
Much credit is due to several devoted Masons who were very
prominent in organizing Valley Lodge.They were Brothers George
W. Miles, Robert H. Stonestreet, and Lyns Dodge.
The dispensation was granted by the Most Worshipful Charles
Eginton, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, and at 4:
00 in the afternoon on the 23rd day of August, 1871, in the
house of Brother Ben J. Kendall located near Hussey's Mill in
Orell, Ky., Valley Lodge was formally organized.Brother W. E.
Woodruff, Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky,
serving under a commission of proxy for the Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge of Kentucky, and assisted by Brother J. M. McCorkle,
Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, appointed these
men to serve as the first officers of Valley Lodge: George W.
Miles - Master, Robert H. Stonestreet - Senior Warden, and John
F. Montgomery-Junior Warden.The following brethren were present
at this historic meeting: Brothers R. C. Mathews, Samuel
Hillman, A. C. Hodges,
H.S.
Burkhart, C. L. Martin, J. F. Davidson, H. M. Hirsh-
field, G. W. Miles, R. H. Stonestreet, J. F. Montgomery, Rev.
D.Spurrier,
L. Dodge, Richard Stinson, Ben J. Kendall,
andJ.
T. Monroe.
The first officers of Valley Lodge were:
George W. Miles---.---- ------------------ Master
Robert H. Stonestreet ------------ Senior Warden
John F. Montgomery -------------- Junior Warden
Lyns Dodge ---------------------------- Treasurer
Rev.Dennis Spurrier . ------------------- Secretary
Ben J. Kendall -------------------- Senior Deacon
J. F. Monroe ------------------ Steward and Tyler
The following business was transacted at that first and most
memorable meeting:
FEES:Fees for the degrees were $25.00 with $10.00 to accompany
the petition, $5.00 before the F.C., and $10.00 on or before the
M.M.
DUES:Dues were $5.00 a year, payable $1.25 each quarter.
NEW BUSINESS: "A committee was appointed to procure a piece
of suitable ground on which to erect a lodge room or to take
steps to procure a deed to make arrangements to build."
"Lodge closed at 51/2 O'Clock P.M."
The
first few meetings were held at Brother Ben J. Kendall's house
near Hussey's Mill in Orell, Ky.The craft continued to meet
there until such time as the ground was purchased and a lodge
hall was erected.Although they had no official hall to meet in,
our brothers continued with Masonic activity as usual.At their
second official meeting as Valley Lodge U.D. held. on September
4, 1871, the petitions of George W. Archer, John Brown
Alexander, and Oliver William Fisher were presented to the craft
and on the second day of October, 1871, were elected to take the
Entered Apprentice Degree.Oliver Fisher later asked to withdraw
his petition and the lodge voted to return his fee, thus leaving
George W. Archer and John Brown Alexander as the first two men
to petition for initiation into Valley Lodge.
By the third meeting of the newly formed lodge the building
committee had procured a plot of ground to erect their lodge
hall upon.They had already proceeded with preliminary plans for
the building itself and announced that the foundation of the
lodge would be 24' x 40'.After having accepted the committee's
report, the brothers set forth the salaries of the Secretary and
the Tyler.The Secretary would be paid 50c per meeting plus his
dues and the Tyler would receive $1.00 per meeting plus his
dues.Meetings were held on the first and third Mondays of the
month.
On October 19, 1871, Valley Lodge was granted a Charter by the
Grand Lodge of the State of Kentucky, to be known as Valley
Lodge No. 511, F.&A.M. Brother W. E. Woodruff, Grand Junior
Warden of the Grand Lodge of the State of Kentucky and serving
as proxy for the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of
Kentucky, installed the officers.After the installation, the
proxy of the Grand Master proclaimed that Valley Lodge No. 511,
F.&A.M., to be legally constituted and the officers thereof
duly installed.
Valleys first Lodge Room was erected near Hussey's Mill in Orell,
Ky.On March 5, 1872, this Lodge Room was dedicated by Brother W.
E. Woodruff, Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of the State
of Kentucky.
To somewhat exemplify what life was like one hundred years ago
in a country lodge like Valley No. 511, let us examine a couple
of motions that were voted upon and accepted during the year
1873.For example: January 4, 1873, much discussion centered
around changing the nights that lodge would meet on.The nights
had already been changed from the first and third Monday to the
first and third Saturday nights.Now there was a motion on the
floor that would change the meetings from the first and third
Saturdays of the month to the Saturday on or preceding the Full
Moon.The motion carried.Today this would seem rather absurd to
most of us.But to our brothers some one hundred years ago, it
was a serious matter, for the moon provided them with enough
light that they could easily see the dirt roads on which they
made their, way to and from lodge-on horseback, the speediest
and most economical mode of transportation of the day.And on
July 5, 1873, the lodge voted to spend $2.40 and purchase
onehalf dozen spittoons and enough tin to go around the flues.
The lodge was more or less prosperous from its inception until
December 27, 1876, growing financially and adding steadily to
its roll of membership.It was 1875 before the first blackball
was thrown.Beginning with the year 1877 very little was done for
the next four years, the Lodge being in a more or less dormant
state.Yet history was still being made when on September 18,
1880, George W. Miles became the first life member of Valley
Lodge No. 511.
At the election in December, 1880, a live set of officers were
placed in the chairs and the Lodge took on a new life.James A.
Sanders, the Master, with the aid of A. P. Steel, Ellis
Mitchell, and several other prominent members of Miles Lodge,
rejuvenated Valley Lodge, bringing in new members and adding
materially to the treasury.After reading the minutes of Valley
Lodge for this period it is easy to see how proud these men were
of their accomplishments, especially when in 1882 the old oil
lamps were taken out and lighting installed with the purchase of
two chandeliers.This good work continued in fine fashion until
December 27, 1892.We have very little information regarding the
affairs of Valley Lodge from the years 18921904, due to a fire
which destroyed several years' records.As much as can be
ascertained from the small amount of information that we do have
leads us to believe that most of these years were times of
hardship for Valley Lodge, both financially and materially.In
the fall of 1904 Valley Lodge No. 511 met for the first time in
16 months.
It seemed to have been customary for Masters to succeed
themselves for several years.Whether this was due to lack of
material, or to the confidence and love of the Craft for the
Master, is difficult to decide.We find such men as George W.
Miles (lst lifetime member), Robert H. Stonestreet (wrote the
lst By-Laws), Ben J. Kendall (wrote the lst By-Laws),
John F. Montgomery (wrote the lst By-Laws), John B. Alexander (lst
petitioner), and James A. Sanders serving the lodge in the most
efficient manner during their several long terms.
One of the most prominent and active members of Valley Lodge No.
511 was Dr. S. S., Foss, having served as Master during the
years 1906, 1907, 1908.During his second term as Master of
Valley, on October 16, 1907, the Eastern Star was chartered,
with Dudley C. Blanton, Worthy Matron, Dixie J. Burnett,
Worthy Patron, and Mary E. Carter as Associate Matron.Dr. Foss
took an unusually
active part from the time of his initiation, filled the
subordinate offices creditably, and while Junior Warden acted as
Master during the illness of the Master, Brother J. B.
Alexander.
At this same time Valley Lodge No. 511 was going through a
period of depression, but with the zeal and fidelity of Doctor
Foss, who was elected Master of Valley Lodge No. 511 on December
27, 1905, and assisted by several Past Masters and enthusiastic
Masons of Louisville, Valley Lodge was pulled out of a pit and
placed in a flourishing condition.Among those who aided Dr. Foss
in restoring Valley Lodge were Past Master John W. Cowles, of
Louisville Lodge No. 400; J. H. Shrader, George L. Pope, and J.
P. Downs of Shibboleth Lodge No. 750; William Frohmiller of
Excelsior Lodge No. 258; Ike T. Woodson of Daylight Lodge No.
760; Mock of Abraham Lodge No. 8; Cockrell of Robinson Lodge No.
266; Charles Gipe-Tyler;
J.T.
Adams-Grand Senior Warden; and Past Master
D.
W. Gray.
To see just how deplorable the conditions were at this time is
contained in a letter written to Valley Lodge by Dr. S. S.
Foss.This letter is contained in the minutes of Valley Lodge No.
511 and is recorded from the meeting of December 26, 1908.It is
written below exactly as it appears in the records.
"TO THE MEMBERS OF VALLEY LODGE NO.511, F.&A.M.
Dear Brethren:
SadlyI retire as Master after having served
this lodge the last four years.I beg leave to make
this report on my stewardship.Sometime during the fall
of 1904 Brother George Kelley and I were lamenting on
the deplorable condition of Valley Lodge.There had not
been a meeting for 16 months and I told him that if the lodge
would elect me to to the office of Senior Warden I would
try with the assistance of the brothers to see what
could be done to get the lodge in a prosperous condition.
How well we succeeded, the following will show.Nineteen
members reported from Valley Lodge to
the Grand Lodge on August 31, 1904.September 27, 1904,
there were present Brothers Past Master R. H. Stonestreet,
L. A. McCullough, George B. Kelley, and myself.Brother
Past Master Stonestreet was elected Master, S. S. Foss as Senior
Warden, George B. Kelley-Junior Warden, and L. A.
McCullough--Secretary.Owing to sickness Brother
Stonestreet was never installed.Brother Al Kempner, Past
Master of Lewis Lodge installed the other officers.Owing
to the continued sickness of Brother Worshipful Master J. B. Alexander,
he had not been able to attend the lodge for 16 months. There
was no one else who could try to open a lodge of
Master Masons.We did not have a meeting during that time,
nor had there been but 3 meetings held in 3 years and 8 months.The
lodge room was in a bad state of repair, the
roof leaked, the plastering was off of the large part of
the ceiling and walls, 17 window lites had been broken, no
carpet on the floor, and very little paraphernalia.
The first business transacted was to notify all
members in arrears of dues.They must either pay up or be
suspended.Four failed to do so and were suspended, that
left only 15 members.According to the Grand Lodge report of that
year there were only 22 lodges who had a like or less
number and 465 that had a greater number. 31st day
August, 1905, Valley reported to Grand Lodge 28 members. 31st
day August, 1906, 56 members. 31st day August, 1907,
78 members. 31st day August, 1908, 90 members.There
are only 81 lodges that reported more than 90 members
at that date, 422lodges smaller than Valley.Thus Valley
Lodge in 3 years and 8 months had passed 400 lodges.Four
years ago the lodge was over $100.00 in debt.At
this time, we have received from all sources $2,361.06. We have
paid all debts, furnished our lodge room with all necessary
paraphernalia, furniture, carpet, stove, lights,
dishes, etc.To all necessary calls $1,742.18.
We now have $618.88 in our treasury.In the four years I
have been present 91 regular meetings and 15 called
meetings.I have been absent 4 regular meetings and 3 called
meetings and during this time the lodge failed to meet at
5 regular communications.The reason I was absent was due
to the duty to my church and professional duties.I wish
to call your special attention to the kind and generous aid that
has been extended to us by the brethren of a number of
Louisville lodges.Without this, we would never have been able to
accomplish what we have."
In 1913 Past Master Foss demitted from Valley Lodge, leaving it
one of the most prosperous and active lodges in Kentucky.He had
brought the membership from 15 to 90 during his term of
office.He demitted to aid in the organizing of Plumb Lodge U.
D., later named Plumb Lodge No. 862, F.&A.M. After serving
as Master of Plumb Lodge for the years 1913 and 1914, he then
demitted back to Valley Lodge on January 22, 1915, and served in
the capacity of Secretary for the years 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918,
1919, and 1920.
Valley Lodge continued prospering and increasing their
membership to such an extent that it found itself in a position
necessary to enlarge its hall,.On October 18, 1921, Valley Lodge
celebrated its 50th anniversary.At this time there were 209
members on the rolls as compared to 10 at that date 50 years
prior.The members decided to build a new Lodge Hall, erecting it
as a monument to the Craft.In 1924 a lot was purchased in what
was then Johnstown, Ky., (the present Valley Station, Ky.), and
the present lodge hall was erected.The funds for this project
were borrowed from the Masonic Widows and Orphans' Home.The
resolution read as follow:
"Resolved, that Valley Lodge No. 511,
F.&A.M., at stated meeting Feb. 21, 1925, authorize
its Master and Secretary to have drawn and signed in
favor of Masonic Widows & Orphans' Home and
Infirmary, Inc., Louisville, Ky., a mortgage for $2,500.00
against lodge lot and new hall at Johnstown, Ky. (under
construction).Payable $500.00 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th
year respectfully, interest payable semiannually from date of
note at 6,Olo per annum."
The cornerstone was laid in 1924 by the Most Worshipful Al.E.
Orton, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, with Jesse
C. Hardy, Master of Valley Lodge No. 511, presiding.The members
of the committee were Brothers A. M. Kelley-Past Master Valley
511, G. F. Miller,
G.W.
Gagel, W. F. Hardy, and C. A. Terry.
Once again we draw upon one of those sad moments
in
Masonic history where the records are incomplete and there are
no minutes to rely on.The minutes for the years 1911-1942 were
destroyed in a fire along with those covering the years
1892-1904.We do know that Valley Lodge continued to grow and
prosper as they had in the years preceding these.Although,
during the Depression years, Valley had their problems, as did
the vast majority of Masonic Lodges throughout the country.Then
with the outbreak of World War II in the early forties, we find
reflected in the minutes the tone and anxiety of the day, not
only for Valley Lodge and its members, but for all of America as
well.
In 1945, the kitchen was added to the lodge hall and the first
fans were installed to cool the building.On June 6, 1946,
Valley's chapter of Rainbow Girls were chartered with Elizabeth
Cliff as their first advisor.Pete Cliff, her husband, was very
instrumental in the formation of this chapter.During this same
year Valley Lodge granted permission to a number of brothers to
organize a Masonic lodge in Fairdale, Ky.
An amusing anecdote appears in the minutes during the latter
part of the year 1946.It seems that there had been a small
problem with the working tools of the lodge they kept
disappearing.As was recorded in the minutes of Valley Lodge No.
511:
"The Master really 'Bombed Out' the members for
the disappearance of the working tools. The Master directed
Brother Secretary to buy a truckload of each type and prefer charges
against any person caught walking out of the Lodge Hall with
any of the tools on him."
The Master's "Bombing Out" must have been effective
because as the Secretary reported several meetings later:
"There hasn't been the first working tool found missing
since the Master's bombing out session."
Valley Lodge No. 511 celebrated its 75th anniversary on October
19, 1946.There were 209 members on the books, including officers
and trustees, and they had $1,250.00 in the Treasury.The meeting
opened at 7:30 p.m. with the newly formed Assembly of Rainbow
Girls providing the entertainment.Highlights of the evening were
a short talk by the Master of Valley Lodge, Brother T. T. Cliff;
a brief history of the 75 year span by Brother Clarance R.
Blandford, Junior Past Master of Valley Lodge No. 511;
presentation of 25-year buttons by Junior Past Grand Master
Brother Charles Johnson; and the keynote address being delivered
by Brother Charles Johnson, Junior Past Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge of the State of Kentucky.
In November of 1947, Valley Lodge's DeMolay was conceived from a
motion on the floor of the lodge, and on the first day of
December the Chapter was organized.Our DeMolay received their
charter on March 7, 1949.
The decade of 1950-1960 was both a sad and a happy one for the
members of Valley Lodge No. 511.The early years began with the
outbreak of the Korean War, a small war compared to that of our
previous World Wars, but yet still a war in which the lives of
many of America's young men were called upon to defend, and to
die for their country.As a result of this war, Valley's DeMolay
Chapter folded, not to be re-organized until 1963.In August,
1963, Valley Lodge 511 was host Lodge to the annual meeting for
District No. 16 of the Grand Lodge.The meeting was held in the
Western High School Gymnasium with over 800 Masons in
attendance.This was the largest meeting in Grand Lodge history
and Brother Roy Clifford Wilder, Past Master of Valley Lodge in
1959 was then serving in the capacity of District Deputy Grand
Master for the Grand Lodge of the State of Kentucky.
Those responsible for the re-organization of the DeMolay Chapter
in 1963 were Brothers R. Cliff Wilder, Past Master of Valley
Lodge and the present Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the
State of Kentucky; Plenge "Neb" Rosenberger, a Past
Master of Valley Lodge; and Walter Sipes, also a Past Master of
Valley Lodge.Gene Snawder was Chairman of the Board, and the
Advisory Council consisted of Brothers R. Cliff Wilder,
William H. Miller, John Sturgeon, Walter Sipes, Jim Rowe, Conrad
Decker, Edward Adams, Plenge Rosenberger, Ray Robards, Ray
Watkins, Bob Frank, Ed Heady, and Jack Farley.
The latter half of the decade brought happiness and prosperity
to our country and to Valley Lodge.Some of the highlights of
these years were as follows:
* By the year 1955 a membership of approximately
450.
*The installation of a new heating system in the lodge hall.
*Valley Trowel Club had their first fish fry.
*A very large increase in the property evaluation of the lodge.
*For the year 1958, Valley's Degree Team raised 38 brothers to
the sublime degree of a Master Mason.
*A new sign was erected in front of the Lodge Hall.
*The Trowel Club of Valley Lodge initiated an Apron Program as
an added incentive to encourage the brothers to take an active
part in the degree work.
Thedecade of the sixties was a period of rapid growth
for
the "country lodge" in Valley Station, Ky.It ushered
in an era of rapid change, as well as an era of growth and
prosperity.Valley Lodge No. 511 became even further known for
her excellent degree teams, and their willingness to travel,
aid, and assist their sister lodges when called upon.Many
tangible assets were added to Valley Lodge during this
decade.Some of which were: the purchasing of steam tables for
the kitchen, creation of a prep room, remodeling the restrooms,
the additions of a side entrance to the fellowship hall and
closets in the front lobby, centrally air-conditioning the lodge
(the Trowel Club members sold candy bars to finance this
project), and each new member upon receiving his Master Mason
Degree being presented with a personal copy of the Kentucky
Monitorcompliments of Valley Trowel Club.
In 1967 Valley Lodge had 1,336 members and visitors to
sign the register, not including funerals, for an average
of 51.4 per meeting.December 27, 1967, Valley Lodge went on
record as favoring and supporting Brother Past Master Roy
Clifford Wilder, Grand Marshal of the Grand Lodge of the State
of Kentucky, for Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of the
State of Kentucky for the year 1968.A committee was appointed to
send out letters and assist in any other manner to promote the
record of Past Master Wilder.
There were 29 called and stated communications during
1968.During this same year at Valley Lodge No. 511 the Entered
Apprentice Degree was conferred 10 times, the Fellow Craft
Degree 7 times, and the Master Mason Degree 8 times.The records
show that the Master Mason Degree was conferred on 24 brothers,
13 Master Masons were admitted by transfer, 1 was admitted for
dual membership, and 1 was reinstated for a total of 39.Two of
the very special events of the year were a reception for Brother
R. Cliff Wilder, who was being installed as the Right Worshipful
Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of the State of Kentucky,
and an exchange trip to confer the Master Mason Degree with Fred
M. Gross Lodge in Westwood, Ky.This has become an annual event
for both lodges today.During this same year Valley Lodge's
Degree Team conferred the Master Mason Degree in 13 other
lodges, some of which were out in the state, and raised 51
brothers to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.
Valley Lodge saw the Entered Apprentice Degree conferred 9 times
on 39 candidates, the Fellow Craft Degree 9 times on 34
brothers, and the Master Mason Degree conferred 8 times on 30
brothers during the year 1969.Fourteen members were accepted by
affiliation and two by dual membership for a total of 46.The
Degree Team conferred the Master Mason Degree for sister lodges
12 times on 34 brothers in 1969.An exchange trip with Hanselmann
Lodge No. 208 in Cincinnati, Ohio, to confer the Master Mason
Degree was made.The fellowship among the brethren of these two
lodges was so dear that both lodges agreed to make this an
annual event in their respective lodges.
In 1970 Valley's Degree Team conferred the Master Mason Degree
24 times - 8 times in their own lodge and 16 in sister lodges in
Kentucky and other Grand Jurisdictions.They raised a total of 57
Master Masons (24 for Valley Lodge and 33 for their sister
lodges).Three brothers were reinstated and six demitted to other
lodges.There were also 9 beloved brothers who were called home
to the Grand Lodge on high during the year 1970.
One century has now gone by since that small group of dedicated
Masons became known as, and were chartered, Valley Lodge No.
511, Free and Accepted Masons.From the day of October 19, 1871,
when there were only 10 members and $8.30 in the treasury, to
October 18, 1971, Valley Lodge No. 511 has grown to a membership
of 687 members and now has $15,000.00 in the treasury.
There have been times of hardship and strife as well as times of
growth and prosperity.The memories of those many men, both
living and dead, whose hearts were instilled with the very basic
tenets of American Freemasonry and whose endless efforts,
sacrifices, and deeds have made Valley Lodge No. 511,
F.&A.M., as "A house built upon solid rock", shall
never be forgotten.May the brethren of today take this heritage,
and as they walk down the pathways of tomorrow continue to the
progress being made today, and make Valley Lodge No. 511,
F.&A.M.,
the same source of pride in the future that it has been in the
past.
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