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| Worshipful
Master |
Robert
Margalotti |
| Senior
Warden |
Quinton
Cooke III |
| Junior
Warden |
Robert
Smith |
| Treasurer |
Edward
E. English, PM |
| Secretary |
Tony
King, PM |
| Senior
Deacon |
Andrew
Moomy |
| Junior
Deacon |
Jeff
Sawyer |
| Senior
Steward |
Don
Krombach, PM |
| Junior
Steward |
to
be announced |
| Chaplin |
Joe
Hartley, PM |
| Tyler |
Ed
Medlin |

| Apex
Lodge Stated Communication Monday, February 13, 2012 7:30 pm All brother Master Masons are invited to attend the stated communication. Supper is served at 6:30 and anyone interested in learning about the Apex Masonic Lodge is invited to visit for supper. We will be glad to give you a tour of the lodge, honestly answer your questions about Freemasonry and provide an application for membersh |
(By David S.
Nyce June,
2007, including many excerpts from "A History of Apex Masonic Lodge
#584”,
Sept. 8, 1986, by C.E. Stephens, Alan L. Bruner, Melver C. Minton III)
Apex #584 is the second
lodge to be formed in Apex, NC. The first
lodge was issued a dispensation on Oct. 29, 1875. That was Apex
Lodge
#349, which had eight officers and four members. Brother T. J.
Passmore
passed away on Sept. 9, 1876. Four members were admitted in 1879,
and two
withdrew.
Apex Lodge #584
was issued a dispensation on June 1, 1909, and granted a charter on
Jan. 12,
1910. Listed on the charter, as the first Junior Warden, was brother Q.
I.
Hudson. He was also a charter member of Apex Lodge #349.
With no
permanent home, the earliest records of the lodge have been lost.
At a
stated communication in April of 1961, a committee was formed to
investigate
the possibility of building a Masonic Temple in Apex, NC. Brother
Harvey
Johnson was the committee chairman. Fund raising methods were
discussed
in April of 1962.
In March
of 1964, WM G.W. Truelove formed a new committee with himself as
chairman,
having a mandate from the brethren to pursue the matter as quickly as
possible.
Brother
Johnson reported in May, 1964, that desirable building sites were
available,
and that a decision must be made on the type of structure to be
built.
The choice was between a Temple, or an office building with a lodge
located
within it. WM T.O. Seawell continued the committee for thirty
days.
Brother John
Gaster Sr. donated a lot to the lodge in July, 1964, stipulating that
the
Temple be built. The committee was directed to provide two sets
of plans:
one for a single story and the other for a two story structure.
A fund was
established to build the Temple. It was decided by the end of
July that
the Temple would be a two story building. In August, Brother John
Newcomb
of the Masonic Services Commission was contacted to ascertain the
requirements
of building a Temple. By the end of December, 1964, $2,463.00 had
been
collected by the brethren. Brother Truelove, being elected to a
second
term as Master, donated the cost of his Past Master jewel. Papers
were
filed with the Masonic Services Commission in April of 1965.
Final
approval was obtained in May, 1965. Construction began in early
July,
1965, and the cornerstone was laid on July 31 by Grand Master Samuel
Andrew
Hennis, Jr. Entertainment was provided by the Salem Church
Quartet.
The
bricklayers were on the site in August. Brother John Gaster Sr.
and
others sought a donor for seating to be installed into the Temple. Mr.
W. G.
Enlow, acting for Carolina Theaters, Inc., donated the seats.
There were
many other donors, but the ones recorded include: Brother J. E. &
Sister
Atlantic Mann donated the stove, the letter “G” in the East, and with
Brother
L.E. Johnson of Cary Lodge #198 donated a 60 place setting of stainless
steel
tableware. Brother E. T. Sears donated the concrete walk in front
of the
Temple. Brother Dwight & Sister Reba Johnson donated the
water
fountain. Brother Alex McAllister donated the light outside over the
stair.
The last
meeting at the old lodge hall took place on January 24, 1966. The old
lodge
hall was on the second floor, above the Merchant & Farmers Bank, on
Salem
and Chatham streets in Apex.
The bakery now at
Salem & Chatham used to be the Merchant & Farmers
Bank.
Although the second floor was one of the locations used by Apex
#584
before building the Temple, there may have been other earlier meeting
places in
Apex (still researching). The sidewalk in front of the bakery
shows a
portion of the Merchant & Farmers Bank name that still remains in
the
sidewalk in front of that site.
The first
meeting in the new Temple on Williams street was an open house and
installation
of officers held on March 4, 1966. Brother L. G. Jordan had
memorized
the entire installation ceremony, which was an outstanding achievement
according to Right Worshipful Brother Charlie Harris, Past Grand Master
of
North Carolina and Grand Secretary Emeritus, who was present on that
night.
Refreshments were served by Apex Chapter #272 of the Order of the
Eastern Star.
Many additions
and improvements to the Temple have been made since its
completion.
Paving of the driveway and parking lot was donated by our neighbor at
that
time: Dr. , Brother, and Past Grand Master Eddie P. Stiles. MWB
Stiles
was 1976 Grand Master of North Carolina during the bicentennial of the
Grand
Lodge of North Carolina. Some other additions and improvements
made over
the years include:
A public
address system was given by Sister Arlene Barker and her husband
Alpha. A
North Carolina state flag was presented by Sister Charlotte Hall.
A
Christian flag was presented by Sister Atlantic Mann.
Since the
completion of the Temple and paying of the debt, a new roof has been
added, and
the first floor was transformed into a more cheerful fellowship hall.
Some
recent improvements include repaving in 2004, while Brother Stanley
Young was
master. Also in 2004, in accordance with the Apex sign ordinance,
the
lighted sign was removed from the lawn and mounted to the
building. In
2006, WB Joe Hartley donated a section of highly durable flooring
material
& installation at the first floor entryway. The cost of a
canvas
awning with aluminum frame was donated by Cary Lodge #198, being
procured and
installed by David Nyce, James Dority and Patrick Medlin.
In 2007,
the fellowship hall was named for WB LeRoy Goodwin, in recognition of
his great
efforts to take care of the lodge, teach and guide the members.
This was
done in loving memory of Brother Goodwin after his passing in March of
2007. A plaque now hangs in the fellowship hall, with a photo of
WB LeRoy
holding a catfish. A dedication ceremony is planned for December
2007 or
January 2008.
Apex Lodge #584
will celebrate its centennial in the year 2010. There is
currently a
Centennial Special Committee, which is making preparations for the
celebration. Additional improvements to the lodge are planned, as
well as
a parade and rededication ceremony.