William G. L. Turner, 33°

The 2005 Boy Scouts of America Jamboree was the site of a unique Masonic meeting. WM Steve Sanford, 32°, of Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4. opened an Entered Apprentice Lodge at Ft. A. P. Hill on August 1, 2005, to receive those sojourning Brethren attending the Jamboree. And what a wonderful experience it was!

After hours of coordination by the Master and Secretary Bro. Dan Thompson, 32°, Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 received some 70 Brethren from 28 Grand Jurisdictions in the United States and overseas. These Brethren are clearly the cream-of-the-crop when they devote their time to these thirty-two thousand young and future leaders of our country while still serving their Lodges and Grand Jurisdictions. Bros. Steve and Dan acknowledged the Grand Lodge of Virginia, the Boy Scouts of America, and RW Wayne Sirmon, 33°, Chair of Masonic Education and Public Relations for the Grand Lodge of Alabama, in putting together this great moment in history for Masonry. It was a truly special occasion for Bro. Wayne—the first time he sat in Lodge with his son, William, an Eagle Scout, who had just days earlier been initiated.

Highlights of this very special Entered Apprentice Lodge included the Toast to the Flag by Ill. Bill Turner, 33°, Sr. Deacon for the evening, a moment of silence for the Scout Masters killed earlier in the Jamboree, and a talk about “Young George Washington” by Bro. Dan Thompson. His presentation captured significant highlights of Bro. Washington, including his receiving of the Degrees in Freemasonry in Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 in 1752–1753.

The Master then recognized those present, and each shared their continued service to the Craft in responsible positions. Among the leaders present were a sitting Master, and many prominent members of the Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shrine, youth organizations, National Sojourners, as well as others. Rev, Terry L. Tilton, PGM in Minnesota for 2002–2003, received a statuette of George Washington at Prayer at Valley Forge.

One of the most prestigious awards anyone can receive in Scouting is the Daniel Carter Beard Award, sponsored by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and at least a dozen recipients were at the meeting. Many of the Brethren were pleased to announce that they were Eagle Scouts, but they were even prouder to announce that their sons had achieved this pinnacle in their Scouting career. WM Sanford said, “I am humbled to be in the presence of such honorable and successful members of the Craft,” as he received each and every one present.

As the meeting concluded with the Good of the Order, an inquiry was made, “Has this ever been done before?” None of the Brethren present recalled that it had, but all agreed it was one of the finest experiences of their Masonic careers. This will be researched, and—if it is a “first”—it will be recorded as such in the historical archives of the Boy Scouts and Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4. In that spirit, another Brother suggested that Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 should do this again in 2010, the date of the next Jamboree and the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. WM Steve Sanford said, “I’ll do everything in my power to make it so, my Brother.”