Hiram Lodge No. 5
Worshipful Master’s
Stewardship Report
June 7, 2010
Submitted by W.B. Michael A. Wiggins, WM 2009-2010
To MW Thomas R. Hughes Sr., GM, RW Jonathan Lumpkin, Senior Warden, Brother Carlyle S. Riche, Junior Warden, Past Masters, RW Gerald G. Hamm Jr., DDGM 1st, RW Raleigh Drennon, DGL 1st, RW King I. Shabazz, Assist Grand Historian, other Right Worshipful Brothers, Visiting Brothers, Brothers of Hiram Lodge No. 5, Good Evening;
It seems like only a short time ago when I first stood before you as your Worshipful Master. I began with reading from the Holy Bible; 1st Corinthians 13 where the constant themes were love and charity. I talked about an agenda that promised to re-establish our roles and responsibilities in our communities as men and as Prince Hall Masons. How did we fare? Did we receive a passing grade? Did we meet the expectations?
However eager we were to get started and regardless of what plans we may have had, early on our resolve and courage were tested. Hiram Lodge and the Prince Hall family experienced the lost of one of our sages, Brother Arthur L. Taylor. Together, with the support of the 1st Masonic District, we paid our respects to Brother Arthur L. Taylor to the satisfaction of the Taylor family. On a personal level, I experienced the lost of my brother and grandfather, the Elder George Williams, Senior. My grandfather inspired me to become a Prince Hall Mason. The passing of my grandfather was especially difficult to handle and changed my perspective on life. It made me value the time we have with our loved ones. It made me say things like “thank you” and “I love you” a little more often. It made me a more appreciative man, a more loving man, and a better Master Mason. I would like to again thank everyone that shared kind words with me. I would like to personally thank one individual for attending to my family’s needs, being a pallbearer at my grandfather’s funeral, and being that brother that my grieving family needed to lean on. Brother Keith Horne, thank you.
So it was time to finally to get to work. It started with reaching out and establishing a relationship with Dr. Patricia Montgomery, the Superintendent of the Lawnside School District. We collected and contributed school supplies. This would be the first time the Lodge engaged in a charity for the school. It was a remarkable effort and the donation was graciously received. We are a blessed Lodge.
We enjoyed successful events like the Fall Fight Party, Halloween Cabaret and the Valentine’s Day Dance. The focus of these events were not to turn a large profit but to give the brothers opportunities to fellowship with each other, their families and friends, and to send a message that we are honorable people that can work hard and play hard.
Throughout the year, we had another mission that we were undertaking. We challenged ourselves with providing food to at least one family per month. We’ve always been accustomed to providing charity during the holidays but this year from September 2009, we were challenged to push the envelope even further. In addition to our other holiday season charities, we were able to provide fairly large food baskets to eight special families throughout the year. This was a humbling experience. I would like to thank everyone that contributed goods, identified a family, and participated in the deliveries. We are truly a blessed Lodge.
We celebrated our 2010 Class Promenade of which proceeds were allocated to the Arthur L. Taylor Scholarship fund. This new initiative exemplifies our dedication to the youth.
We established a world-wide web presence with the emergence of www.HiramLodge5.org.
These are only some of the many charities and events we participated in this past year. This administration prided itself on reaching farther and settling for nothing. I believe we took advantage of every opportunity. When asked, we offered our facilities for repasts to local residents that experienced deaths in their families. We tried a new approach to our Annual Community Breakfast by reaching out to the community and going door to door with flyers. This effort resulted in one of the largest turnouts in recent years. I believe our community appreciates us. We are a blessed Lodge.
Perhaps the most telling accomplishment is one that’s non-Masonic in nature. Hiram Lodge is now the sponsor of two independently ran and operated youth programs: the Young Marines and the Hiram Junior Apprentice Mentoring Program (HJAMP). As the Director of the Hiram Junior Apprentice Mentoring Program, I want to personally thank Hiram Lodge for supporting us. Because of this Lodge, our program is a self-funded and self - governed charitable program. The program thanks you.
With all the activities and moving around this past year, I somehow found time to expand my horizons. I am a new member of Arbor Vitae Chapter No. 40, Order of Eastern Star and a new member of Joshua Council No. 2 of the Arthur L. Taylor Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters. Last and certainly not least, I got married on July 3, 2009 and enjoyed an eight day cruise to the Bahamas.
In conclusion, I must say that I absolutely enjoyed every minute of everyday serving you. There is no greater privilege than that of servicing your Lodge as Worshipful Master. Even though I will miss my time carrying the gavel, I am extremely optimistic about my future. After all, I am a husband to my beautiful new wife Monique and a proud father of three beautiful daughters Deja, Kyanna, and Devynn. I am a brother, a son, a mentor, and a member of Hiram Lodge No. 5. I am certainly blessed. With so many blessings around, certainly there is plenty of work for me to do.
I humbly request of the next administration that I would like to see the “Feed a Family” program continue. With new ideas and resources, such as the Lawnside Food Bank, we can certainly improve upon and increase our impact by providing assistance to many more families. I would like for the Lodge to continue supporting the Lawnside School District. I would like for the Lodge to continue and expand the support offered to dialysis patients that required assistance with transportation. I would like for the Lodge to be diligent and aggressive with securing scholarship funds and eligible recipients. These are all programs initiated within the past year that require us to give openly of our time and resources.
As to the answer to the original questions: How did we fare? Did we receive a passing grade? Did we meet the expectations? I say the jury is still out. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of what we can do. Let’s not be complacent. Instead, let’s seize every opportunity to do good work, true work, square work and continuously strive to improve ourselves in Masonry. Ultimately, only the Grand Architect of the Universe, God Almighty, can grade us or judge us. HE knows whether or not we made the mark by the plumbline HE laid in the midst of us. HE knows our intentions and HE knows our hearts.
I leave you with these words from the Holy Bible: 2nd Corinthians 9: 6-8
6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Again I say, WE ARE A BLESSED LODGE.
Fraternally submitted on
June 7, 2010,
Brother Michael A. Wiggins
Worshipful Master of Hiram Lodge No. 5 (2009 – 2010)
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