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History
A Brief History of
Elmer O.
Smith Lodge No. 307, F.&A.M.
Current Lodge
The founding fathers met
at the Pinellas Park Feed store to practice the work necessary
to constitute a Lodge. When they gained sufficient proficiency
they applied to the Grand Lodge of Florida for a Charter.
The Lodge first met in the
Bailey Building on Park Blvd. Leon A. "Gus" Thomas was the first
Worshipful Master under dispensation from the Grand Lodge of
Florida in 1952.
First Masonic Temple used
from 1955 until 1962. It was located on the South side of 75th
Ave across from current Temple. Fortune Federal purchased the
land and the monies were used to build the current Lodge.
Bailey Hall November
19,1951
An occasional Lodge U.D. of Master
Masons was opened by R.W. Brother Robert W. Clark D.D.G.M. at
7:30 PM with 66 Master Masons present.
Officers
L.A. Thomas W.M.
..............................................
Jack Garvin S.D.
R.A. Smith S.W.
...................................................W.E.
Miller J.D.
W.F. Acker J.W.
...................................................John
Cockroft Stew
Geo. Marsh Trea
..................................................F.L.
Prince Stew
C.L. Thayer Sec'y
.................................................Geo.
Thornburgh Tiler
F.M. McKee Chap
R.W. Brother Clark presented the
Disposition to the Lodge which was read to the Assembly by the
Secretary.
Brother Thomas explained the reason
for the name of our Lodge (The Elmer O. Smith Lodge, U.D.). In
honor of the Senior Warden's father, who was a 50 year Mason
before passing on.
It was announced that 80 aprons were
donated the new Lodge by the Pinellas Park Order of the Eastern
Star #234.
Bailey Hall November 26,
1951
The Secretary of the Lodge was
instructed to write to the First Presbyterian Church thanking
them for the use of the Church prior to our U.D., and offering
to pay for the use of it.
It was announced that the St.
Petersburg Scottish Rite Club was donating the Officers Jewels
to Elmer O. Smith Lodge U.D
Baily
Hall May 5, 1952
An occasional Lodge of Master Masons
was opened on the Master Mason Degree in due form for the
purpose of Dedicating and Constituting a Regular Lodge of Master
Masons.
M.W Perry R. Marsh, Grand Master of
the M.W. Grand Lodge of the State of Florida was introduced.
The Grand Secretary read the Charter
to those assembled.
The Lodge was consecrated by the M.W.
Grand Master.
Interesting Facts
Elmer
O. Smith's son Russell A. Smith was the Lodge's
first elected Worshipful Master.
Elmo
D. Burns PM, was the Lodge's first Gold Card holder.
Lawrence L. Hill PM, was the Mayor of Pinellas Park
for eight years.
James
H. Justice PM, the fifteenth Worshipful Master was
the youngest to serve at that time.
Donald
J. Minor PM was the first Worshipful Master to be
elected to serve twice.
Daniel
Harris PM served as Lodge Secretary for 24 years.
Carlyle L. Thayer PM served as Lodge Secretary for
10 years.
John
B. Hemphill PM was a carpenter by trade and helped
do the framing for our lodge.
John
C. Bowman PM was the Fire Chief Station #2 in St.
Petersburg and started the para-medic program for
St. Petersburg.
Brother George Muller drew the blue prints for the
Lodge. He was a retired Admiral. He was fluent in
seventeen languages. As a result he was recalled to
active duty during the Vietnam War to act as an
interpreter.
Brother George Llamsa was an archeologist who spent
his last 23 years before retirement in the Jerusalem
area, searching for the remains of King Solomon's
Temple. He translated the bible on display by the
Tiler's post.
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