from:  steve bratt, master mason, 32* scottish rite Chris Powles (by way of Genealogy Records Service ) wrote: > > Masie, dont be dishearted , there are a few things this guy possible didn't > tell > you  This is the busiest time of the year for both the masons and the Eastern > Star > they have council soon  but in a few weeks if you haven't recieved help you might try contacting the master of the lodge see who he knows that might be the historian of the lodge or keeps the kind of information you are looking for.   this is a position in the lodge "historian". sometimes used sometimes not.   eastern star contact worthy matron or worthy patron.  both the lodge and chapter put out a yearbook. sometime you will see pictures and positions and advertisements. >Call > the > Grand Lodge of the State not Local ask to speak to the grand Sect. tell him if > you > have Proof. what kind and do they do research they use to but I have fond that > they are a little short handed- in my dealing with grand lodges they feel they are not paid to research so therefore dont do it.  in alabama i will gladly research the archives or you can hire anyone from montgomery to research. >if you can confirm the conection also call > the > Eastern Star Grand Lodge eastern star grand chapters > because if he was a mason ,his wife may have been > invited > to join and remember that they are a ""seceret Society"" this is a misnomer.  you can go the library of congress and find anything you would want to know about this "secret society" you have to remember this is fraternity.  not everyone gets to join everything they want to.   the Shrine and Scottishrite donate and over l.2 million a day to free healthcare and make no secret about it. and they plan to keep it > that > way and have manged to since Charles the First   they will help to a certain > point > only. then they have to be mute. Paula > every chapter or lodge is intensely independant in conducting business. the one you called might not have time, etc while the next one across town is extremely courtesy and will give you almost anything you ask. in the late 1890's to early 1960's masons did a lot pr in the papers. you will see a picture when they have new elections, put on a benefit, death notices, etc.   and you still get lucky in some places today. > MaisieAnn@aol.com wrote: > > > Several months ago, after reading about searching Masonic records (used a > > little book that I cannot put my hands on at the moment), I wrote on > DECEMBER > > 7, 1997, to a lodge secretary in a large city. Never got a reply. So two > days > > ago, I decided to follow up with a phone call (used Switchboard computer > > directory)...found his name listed and called. He was very nice, but told me > > that after a year and a half in his post as secretary, the records were > still > > with the former secretary who lives very far away. He hopes to have records > > transported to is home SOON, whatever that is. He said he is very busy, > works > > long hours, etc. etc. etc. > > > > At this point, all I know is that there is potential here but getting > someone > > to actually look at the records is the stumbling block. I plan to wait about > 6 > > weeks then call again. He told me he had two requests pending. On the next > > call, if he does not have the records in his possession, I will ask for > phone > > number of former secretary, who might do the lookup. Has anyone else been > > successful in actually getting the records from various lodges? > > MaisieAnn@aol.com Hudson, OH > > > > ==== GenTips Mailing List ==== > > Family Workings: > <<http://www.familyworkings.com/>http://www.familyworkings.com/><http://www. familyworkings.com/>http://www.familyworkings.com > > > > A site to help researchers break through those brickwalls.  Lots of links, > > subcatagorized, ancestor queries, tips, and cemetary research.  Looking for > > research donations of: Cemetaries, obits, volunteer researchers, and > > anything else that may be of interest to other researchers.  Submit links, > > ancestor queries and tips. Check it out > > ==== GenTips Mailing List ==== > Family Workings: <http://www.familyworkings.com/>http://www.familyworkings.com > > A site to help researchers break through those brickwalls.  Lots of links, > subcatagorized, ancestor queries, tips, and cemetary research.  Looking for > research donations of: Cemetaries, obits, volunteer researchers, and > anything else that may be of interest to other researchers.  Submit links, > ancestor queries and tips. Check it out