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 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.
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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] |
