To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. - Worshipful Brother Theodore Roosevelt
From the Grand Secretary’s Desk
Louisiana Freemasons in Their Communities:
JENA MASTER MASON SAVES THE LIFE OF A PARALYZED MAN
O
n August 21, 2022, a Louisiana Master Mason, Brother (Officer) Aaron Boyette came to the rescue of a man in a truly desperate condition. Brother Boyette, a member of Michael Dempsey Lodge No. 327, entered a burning apartment complex and rescued a paralyzed man who unable to get out of bed and escape the flames. The account is detailed here: "Town of Jena Police Officer Aaron Boyette has certainly lived up to his duty of protecting and serving on August 21 when he was called upon to enter a burning apartment building and rescue a local man. According to the Jena Police Department's incident report, the fire was reported at 2:43 a.m. at 1010 Hemps Creek Street in Jena. LaSalle Parish 911 dispatcher called the Jena PD, the Jena Fire Department and the LaSalle Parish Sheriff's Office. The Jena PD was the first to arrive on scene. Upon arrival, Officer Boyette reported to LPSO dispatch to notify Entergy electric company since the flames were reaching the power lines. When exiting his police unit, residents of the complex yelled there was a paralyzed man still in his apartment unable to get out. Officer Boyette entered the structure that was on fire to find a male in his bed unable to get up. Officer Boyette picked up the man, placed him in his wheelchair and removed him out of the complex.
VOL. 48, NUMBER 2 • FALL 2022
by M∴W∴B∴ Steve Pence, P∴G∴M∴ Grand Secretary, G∴L∴Louisiana
T
he last week of August was very busy for your Grand Lodge office. The Training Retreat in Woodworth had the entire office staff in attendance. Preparations were made several months in advance of the August 27th event, and during the week of August 22nd packing for the retreat began in earnest. The retreat was well attended, with 179 Wardens, Secretaries and other Lodge officers gathering for a time of fellowship and education. Oh, and the lunch was excellent!
Officer Boyette (left) w/ Jena Chief of Police Scott McLendon (right) are both members of Michael Dempsey No. 327.
The Jena PD and Police Chief Scott McLendon are proud to recognize Officer Boyette for all of his hard work and dedication to the Town of Jena. Boyette graduated from the Alexandria Police Academy on May 20, 2022 and has been employed by the Jena PD since January of 2021." From “THE JENA TIMES” VOL. 118 NO. 35, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2022 Brother Boyette first petitioned Michael Dempsey No. 327 in 2019, and was Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in 2021, and no doubt his lodge brethren are very proud to call him brother.
Looking ahead for the next training retreat, a few tweaks and changes will be put in place. We will adhere to the schedule; we will reduce the number of presentations; and we will insure the secretary training allows for questions and concerns from the participants. W: Brother Jim Wingate, Chairman of the Secretary Training Committee and I have discussed having virtual (Zoom) meetings for Lodge Secretaries during the year, especially with the new programs and enhancements to the Grandview Database that have been uploaded and are ongoing in Louisiana. Jim Wingate, Michelle Dempsey, along with Deas Dempsey, and I attended the Grandview ...continued on page 3