Under Construction at present

October 25, 2008

Seven members of Union Lodge # 75 received their Shrine Degree in Gaffney, SC. They are now members of the Hejaz Shrine Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Bottom: Scott Malone, Billy Lawson, James Lancaster, David Valentine Back: Robert Malone, Mike Lancaster (red tag), Chris West (red tag).

On hand to "help" them were the W.M. of Union Lodge # 75 Jimmy Kimbrell, The Treasurer of Union Lodge # 75 Butch Kimbrell, and The Secretary of Union Lodge # 75 Roger Gregory

Worshipful Brother Jimmy Kimbrell received an award for being the top line signer for all 7 candidates.

October 21, 2008

Our Worshipful Master Brother Jimmy Kimbrell presents Honorary Life Membership in Union Lodge # 75 to our District Deputy Grand Master Right Worshipful Brother Jim Parks. Brother Parks has served the 12th. Masonic District composed of Newberry and Union County for the last two years. His term will end in April of 2009.

The S.D. Brother Trey Arrington, the W. M. Brother Jimmy Kimbrell, and the Secretary Brother Roger Gregory are shown with Mrs. Amy Austin of the Dept. of Social Services. Members of Union Lodge # 75 "passed the hat" and raised enough to purchase 48 Bibles. DSS will be giving the bibles to children as they
enter foster care.

Palmetto Forest # 206 Tall Cedars of Lebanon

Initiation Ceremonies

April 19, 2008 Greenwood Masonic Temple

On Saturday, April 19, 2008. Ten members of Union Lodge # 75, Twenty one Brothers in all became Charter Members of Palmetto Forest # 206 Tall Cedars of Lebanon. Union Lodge 75 members were Jerry Willard, Roger Gregory, Butch Kimbrell, Zack Arthur, Dean Tollison, James Lancaster, Grady Lanier, Trey Arrington, Jimmy Kimbrell and Mike Lancaster. The Degree was conferred at the Greenwood Masonic Temple.

Front Row seated are Past Grand Master, Present Grand Tall Cedar The Most Worshipful Jack A. Marler, The The present Grand Master of Masons of South Carolina The Most Worshipful Brother Gerald L. Carver, and Gareth G. Diem, Past Supreme Tall Cedar

A Mason for 60 years !

November 20, 2007

Brother Henry I. Vaughan, 84 received his 60 year service award. The award was presented by Right Worshipful Jim Parks District Deputy Grand Master of the 12th Masonic District with the assistance of our W.M. Brother Robert Hines. Standing with Brother Henry are his sons David and Terry, who are also members of Union Lodge # 75. We express our congratulations to Brother Henry for this remarkable achievement and wish him many more years of service to the craft.

A Mason for 50 years !

November 20, 2007

Shown are W.M. Brother Robert Hines with his Grandfather Brother Henry Johnson and Right Worshipful Jim Parks District Deputy Grand Master of the 12th Masonic District. Brother Johnson received his 50 year service award. We express our congratulations to Brother Henry for this remarkable achievement and wish him many more years of service to the craft.

November 20, 2007

Brothers C. Odean Fowler, Ronnie Knox, Robert Merchant, Richard Stalnaker, and Freddie Shirley receive their 40 year Life Membership awards from Right Worshipful Jim Parks District Deputy Grand Master of the 12th Masonic District. Assisting RW Parks was our W.M. Robert Hines

L-R Butch Kimbrell, New Noble Jimmy Kimbrell, Chris Sanders, Roger Gregory, and Jerry Willard. Brother Jimmy Kimbrell was made a Noble in Piegon Forge, Tennessee 10-27-07. His friends from Union were there to "Help" him. All except Jimmy are Past Masters of Union Lodge # 75.

03-15-2005

Brother Jerry A. Willard, Worshipful Master presents Honorary Life Membership in Union Lodge # 75 to Most Worshipful Brother Jack A. Marler Grand Master of Masons of South Carolina 2005-2006.

03-15-2005

Brother Roger W. Gregory, Secretary of Union Lodge # 75 presents a plaque of appreciation to Most Worshipful Brother Jack A. Marler Grand Master of Masons of South Carolina (2005-2006) for his service to the craft and to Union Lodge # 75 A.F.M. especially.

02-21-2006

Receiving their 40 year Life Member Awards are Buck Butler, Gus P. Diamaduros, and Gene Y. Tollison. Presenting the awards were Right Worshipful Brother A.T. Buck Sprouse, D.D.G.M. of the 12th. Masonic District and Worshipful Brother Chris Sanders, W.M. of Union Lodge 75.

02-21-2006

Brother Henry (Bud) Sanders receives his 50 Year Award from Right Worshipful Brother A.T. Buck Sprouse and Worshipful Brother Chris P. Sanders W.M. of Union Lodge 75 A.F.M.

Brother Gene Y. Tollison is shown wearing the Jewel of the

Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest.

Brother Tollison received the Priestly Order of the Temple on December 8, 2004 in Cana Tabernacle No. XLIX

Brother Tollison has the distinction of being the first and only Mason from Union County to receive this prestigious degree. Membership in this order is by invitation and limited to Knights Templar who have served a full term as Commander, and attained the honor and distinction of Past Commander. Invitations can be issued only after unanimous ballots have been taken at a gathering of Knight Templar Priests.

The Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest is an honorary and invitational organization with membership limitations and cannot be applied for. Members are selected and extended invitations based on outstanding Masonic performance. The order has historic roots in England that trace back to 1786, with references back to 1686, the traditional year of the Revival. There are records of the conferral of this Order in the United States during the 1800’s. The Grand College of America, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests was formed in the United States in 1931. South Carolina has one Tabernacle with membership limited to 33. For the Tabernacle to consider a new member, death of one of the 33 must occur, and then only one member is allowed from any Masonic District. This means that only one Mason from all of Union and Newberry Counties can belong to this prestigious order. Only after Brother Tollison’s death will anyone ever be considered from Union County.

The Officers and Members of Union Lodge # 75 are very proud of Brother Tollison and wish him many more years of service to the craft.

August 15, 2006

Receiving 25 year pins and certificates are Brothers Terry J. Gregory. Robbie D. Littlejohn, and Roger W. Gregory. Presenting the awards were Worshipful Brother Chris P. Sanders W.M. and Right Worshipful Brother A.T. Buck Sprouse, D.D.G.M. of the 12th. Masonic District.

August 15, 2006

Brother Milos (Mickey) Crane receives his 40 Year Life Membership from Worshipful Brother Chris P. Sanders- WM, and Right Worshipful Brother A.T. Buck Sprouse-D.D.G.M. of the 12th. Masonic District

The Most Worshipful Ronald C. Mitchum, Grand Master of Masons of South Carolina (2006-2007) is shown receiving a plaque from Worshipful Brother Chris Sanders W.M. of Union Lodge # 75 for his service to the craft and to Union Lodge # 75 Especially.

Union Lodge # 75 Lodge Hall before remodeling started.

The New Lodge Hall

The Senior Warden Brother Jason Gregory receives a Masonic Bible from the lodge for him to take to Afghanistan.

Pictured are the J.D. Trey Arrington, the W.M. Brother Robert Hines, Brother Gregory and his son Jacob.

Brother Gregory has been deployed with the Headquarters, 1st. Battalion 118th Infantry Mechanized for 18 Months Active Duty in Afghanistan.

Brother Jason has returned to us safe and sound. He and we want to thank everyone for the prayers that kept him safe during his stay in Afghanistan

May 15, 2007

Shown here are Most Worshipful Gerald L. Carver, Grand Master of Masons of South Carolina, R. Rodney Lawson, Past Master of Union Lodge # 75, and Robert M. Hines, Present Master of Union Lodge # 75. Brother Lawson receives his 25 year pin and certificate from our Grand Master.

Rededication Ceremonies August 11, 2007.

The Union Masonic Temple located on the Duncan Bypass in Union, SC was built in 1957. It was built and owned by Union Masonic Lodge # 75, Rutledge Masonic Lodge # 351, and the Union York Rite Bodies who pooled their resources to build the building. The Grand Master of Masons Most Worshipful Thomas H. Pope (deceased), who was an attorney in Newberry held a ceremony in 1958 to dedicate the building to serve the community. Humphries Willard was Worshipful Master.

In the last few years, Rutledge Lodge # 351 along with two other lodges in Union County John A. Fant # 334, and Santuc # 227 merged with Union Lodge # 75. These mergers caused the membership to increase to over 400 members. Members of the Temple Board, (a five-member board that oversees the building and grounds) had a vision of a modern updated lodge that the members could be proud of and that could be used and serve Union County into the next century. In October 2006, the members of Union Lodge 75 and the Union York Rite Bodies approved major renovations to be made to the lodge hall including hardwood floors, ceramic tile, carpet, special lighting and new furniture including spectator seating, officer chairs and desks. The renovations were completed in early August of this year, and the end result was far beyond what was visioned and expected by everyone.

On Saturday, August 11, 2007 the lodge was re-dedicated by the Grand Master of Masons of South Carolina, the Most Worshipful Gerald L. Carver who assisted by Grand Lodge Officers opened the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of South Carolina in Union for the purpose of re-dedication. One quote from the Grand Master described the lodge as a “ beautiful edifice”.

There were approximately 135 Masons and their families in attendance including Loyd Thompson who was present at the original dedication in 1958 and is the only surviving participant of the original dedication.

The present Worshipful Master of Union Lodge # 75 is Robert M. Hines who is a Lt. with the Union Sheriff’s Office.

Roger W. Gregory , Secretary Union Lodge # 75 A.F.M.

Rededication Ceremonies August 11, 2007.

The Most Worshipful Gerald L. Carver Grand Master of Masons of South Carolina opens Grand Lodge in Union Lodge # 75 A.F.M. Also seen are Right Worshipful Barry A. Rickman-Deputy Grand Master, Robert M. Hines-W.M. Union Lodge 75, Zachary Arthur-S.D. Union Lodge # 75, and M.W. Jack A. Marler-PGM-Grand Treasurer

Rededication Ceremonies August 11, 2007

Roger Gregory, Secretary presents the Plumb, Square and Level to M.W. Grand Master Carver and says the following:

Most Worshipful, having been entrusted with the superintendence and management of the workmen employed in the construction of this edifice, and having, according to the best of my ability, accomplished the task assigned to me, I now return my thanks for the honor of this appointment, and beg leave to surrender up the implements which were committed to my care, when the foundation of this fabric was laid, humbly hoping that the exertions which have been made on this occasion will be crowned with your approbation, and of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge.

Rededication Ceremonies August 11, 2007

Most Worshipful Brother Gerald L. Carver Grand Master of Masons of South Carolina standing with the building committee. F.Dean Tollison, Jerry A. Willard, Grady L. Lanier, G. Allen Owens, Roger W. Gregory, Absent: Gene Y. Tollison, Chris P. Sanders

Rededication Ceremonies August 11, 2007