Open installation on Jan. 15, 1951, Charles D. Griffel, Past Master, Installing Officer, and Harvey L. Roy, Past Master, Master of Ceremonies. At the March 5 stated meeting, the lodge voted to purchase new officers' aprons and jewel cords, working tools and case, and five new top hats. On April 2, a Life Membership resolution was adopted, calling for the sum of $300 each membership. On Oct. 1, the lodge voted to agree in principle with a resolution adopted by San Jose Lodge No.10 that a committee be selected to investigate the possibilities of erecting a new Masonic Temple on recently acquired property at Fifth and St. James Streets. Bro. Charles Everett Bradley was elected as Master for 1952 at the Dec. 3 stated meeting. Sixty- one degrees conferred; membership, 607. (Bro. Freeman added personal remarks about his year and mailed them to Secretary Allen, as follows: "Dear Leon -During my year ( 1951-'The Fifty-One and Onlies') I made up a fancy award and presented it at a stated meeting to Ben Farrin, Chaplain, 'Chevalier of the Order of Bum Steers, , on the grounds that he used to give me and others in the second section of the Third bum steers when we bobbled our lines. "Whole year was without a single blackball. No lodge member during the whole year ever failed to show up to fulfill a degree assignment. Degree work was so heavy, the lodge on several occasions during 1951 had special meetings on Saturdays to ram through FIVE Third Degrees. Sometimes we crowded the midnight hour to finish the work. "Club dues delinquencies were practically nil. Attendance all but filled : every seat, even during First and Second Degree conferrals. For Golden Rule, this can be said of Golden Rule Lodge. 'It was a mighty good year' ( to quote a line from a popular song later.)" (Another note later to the Secretary: "Golden Rule family barbecue in 1951 at Alum Rock Park dragged in an attendance of about 350. Not a single kid broke leg or arm. or fell into the creek. or was stung by a yellow jacket. Eddie Quinnell was chief chef Attendance included many widows of deceased G.R. members. ")

Back to the Home page