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"Who's Carroll? 2011 " Who are our civic/service clubs?
www.starnewsga.com StarNews MARCH 6, 2011 Page 17
MARCH/APRIL 2011 • If your club is missing from March’s “Who Carroll?” email suehorn@bellsouth/net for inclusion in April’s “Who’s Carroll? 2011”
The Villa Rica Masonic Lodge
story and photo by Prissi Sullivan
A lodge of Freemasons was organized in
Savannah on February 21, 1734 under “old
customs” (without warrant). On December
2, 1735 the Lodges was warranted by the
Grand Lodge in England and entered on the
engraved list as “The Lodge at Savannah in
Ye Province of Georgia.” The Lodge became
Solomon’s Lodge in or prior to 1770 and was
the second duly constituted Lodge in
America.
The Villa Rica Masonic Lodge #72 F&AM
began in October of 1848, as a chapter of the
worldwide Association of Free Masons.
Currently, there are 433 lodges with over
47,000 members in the State of Georgia. The
society is a charitable, benevolent,
educational, and religious society, devoted to
the promotion of the welfare and happiness
of mankind. Freemasonry seeks to improve
the community through the improvement
and strengthening of the character of the-
individual man. The stated mission of Lodge
#72 is to provide an environment for youth
to develop themselves-physically, mentally,
and spiritually.
The Lodge has sponsored the Masonic
Home of Georgia, a non-profit organization
that is funded by the Masons of Georgia,
since June 14, 1905. This is a residential child
care facility that provides basic care to
children in need whose care cannot be
provided in their own home or for whom
group care is a positive alternative. The
Home has served over 2,100 children
throughout the State of Georgia. It is located
on 650 acres in Macon, “the Heart of
Georgia.”
Another endeavor of the Lodge is the
Georgia Masonic Child Identification
Program (ChIP). The Masons have held 554
such events -and identified 55,110 children,
with voice analysis, dental impressions,
fingerprints, pictures and DNA. All records
are turned over to the parents or guardians.
There is no charge for this service to the
community.
The Lodge receives funds from the fact
they rent part of their facility to a local
business-the Tin Roof Cafe. According to
Worshipful Master J. Pilkonis, “The freedom
from fund raising allows our members time
to engage in other community activities, so
we feel very lucky to be in this position.”
Lodge #72 has ninety members, who meet
the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at
7:30 p.m. (dinner is served at 6:30 p.m.) in the
Lodge, 110 Main Street, Villa Rica, Georgia.
Membership dues are $50.00 per year. Degree
fees are $100.00. Freemasons do not solicit
members. If anyone is interested in becoming
a Mason, contact a Mason. (2 B 1 Ask 1). For
further information, contact Worshipful
Master, J. Pilkonis at 404-993-6682.
Standing front are Keith White and
David Sullivan. Back row left to right are
Alan Rakestraw, J. Pilkonis, and John
Rakestraw.
Kevin
Cooke
State Representative
District 18
-\
Sincere thanks to each and
every member of the many
service and civic clubs in the
West Georgia area.
kevin.cooke@house.ga.gov
404-656-0325
612 Coverdell Legislative Office
Building, Atlanta, GA 30334
We are conveniently located north of
Carrollton on Highway 27. We are just off
1-20 at exit #11 between Bremen and
Carrollton. We are 1 mile south of the
interstate on Highway 27 at the traffic light.
Complete Line of Animat Feeds
Animal Health Products * English and Western Tack
Complete Line of Pet Foods and
Pet Supplies and so much morell
Vegetable Plants • Vegetable Seeds
• fertilizer - Lime - Grass Seed
• Potting Soil and Soil Additives
