Lincoln Masonic Lodge honors Brother Bill Gossett at 75 year membership anniversary

 

[April 26, 2022] 

Sunday afternoon members of the Lincoln Masonic Lodge 210 hosted a special event in honor of Bill Gossett who has been a member of the Lincoln lodge for 75 years. The event began with a brief service when Gossett was presented with a certificate acknowledging his years of membership as well as a 75 year anniversary lapel pin.

Following the service, refreshments were served and an open house event was held.

In the largest meeting hall at the Lincoln Masonic Lodge, Gossett was accompanied onto the stage by Lincoln Lodge Worshipful Master Casey Hoag and the Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. Most Worshipful Grand Master Michael Jackson.



Hoag welcomed everyone and acknowledged the reason was to honor and celebrate Gossett as he reaches his 75th year of membership with the Lincoln Masons. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, he asked that all Masons in the room stand and introduce themselves. There were many members of the Lincoln lodge on hand as well as members from the Atlanta and Mount Pulaski lodges and others from outside the county.



Jackson presented the certificate and pin to Gossett. He said that it was rare for a member to reach the 75 year anniversary, though there have been a few recently.

Jackson began, “This is one of the highlights of being a Grand Master. It is always an honor to present a pin to a 75 year member, especially an active member. He (Gossett) told me just today that he designed this floor.”

Gossett had shared that information as he was escorted into the room by Atlanta Mason Bill Horn. Gossett’s wife Jean had never been inside the lodge meeting room and noted the floor right away, as many folks do, and had learned for the first time that it was all Bill Gossett’s doing.

As Jackson spoke, he commented to Gossett that when he signs the certificates he is providing the membership with an autograph of Michael Jackson. The comment drew a few chuckles from the audience. He added that in presenting these 75 year certificates, it occurred to him that at the 50 year anniversary, members are no longer required to pay membership dues. However, at 75 years, the lodges have nothing to offer. He then added that perhaps that was the time when the Mason should start paying dues to the member.

After his brief comments, Gossett was given the opportunity to speak.



He began by saying that his father who was also a member of the Lincoln lodge would never have believed when Bill was a youth that his son would make it to 75 years, “because the odds were he was going to kill me some time before that.”

Gossett went on to say, “This is an honor for an old man. I look around and I see people I know really well, some who are acquaintances, but you are all here to honor an old man and I want you to know how much I appreciate it.”

He said that those who belong to orders such as the Masons and others like the Moose and Eagles have made our communities better.

Gossett went on to relate a couple of stories from his days with the lodge. He recalled a time when a man had sought membership and he was not one that fit into the definition of a good Mason. Gossett said that the members were not impressed and Gossett recalled thinking that the fellow was going to have a hard time getting in. He explained the voting process for new members. Each member casts a vote using either a white ball for yes or a black cube for no. Gossett said that he knew how it was going to go, and decided he was not going to cast a vote. However, other members did. When the voting was in process, suddenly the one responsible for monitoring the vote announced that there were no more black cubes in the basket. “They all lost it then,” Gossett said.

Hoag then read a poem entitled the Train of Life. The poem speaks of life being a train ride we start with our parents. At some point in time our parents depart the train and we journey on alone. On our journey we grow and achieve our own milestones, from adding a wife to raising children. The poem, which Hoag said he modified slightly to include the Masons goes on to talk about creating an impression on the people who travel that train with us, doing good, loving, forgiving, and making good memories.

As the service began to wind down, Gossett stood once again and said that in expressing his appreciation for the day, he had left someone out. He commented, “I have to drive home, and it will be awfully silent if I didn’t acknowledge my wife of 73 years.”

Bill’s wife Jean received a round of applause from the group. She then added, “I will have to say it has been quite a journey. Seventy three years, and as our boys say, ‘you haven’t killed him yet.”



Hoag finished saying that he wanted the Mason membership to gather together for one photo with Gossett, then all were invited to go back into the dining hall for refreshments.







A cake, prepared by Peggy Place in Lincoln was set out along with coffee and punch. Peggy Payne was on hand to cut and serve up the cake and the first two pieces went to Bill and Jean. The open house continued throughout the afternoon with friends of the Gossetts' making visits to congratulate Bill and wish the couple well.

At age 98, in addition to being a 75 year Mason and a husband of 73 years, Gossett is a father, a World War II veteran, and retired Lincoln business owner. He received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Lincoln College in 2020, then went back to school, and in 2021 received his Associate Degree from LC. He currently co-hosts the radio talk show “Viewpoint” with long-time family friend Judy Busby on WLCN radio, and he and Busby were the Grand Marshals at the 2021 Lincoln Christmas Parade.

Congratulations Bill (and Jean) for another milestone event.

[Nila Smith]