ST. JOSEPH LODGE No.78

"FROM THE EAST", 
WB Nighram M Johnson

MoCHIP EVENT A HUGE SUCCESS!

A BIG THANK YOU to all who helped make our Missouri Child Identification Program event a HUGE success! We had children showing up at 9:40 (doors opened at 10). And Thank You to the St Joseph Fire Department for bringing their trucks. The ladder truck and the first responders’ truck were great fun – kids of ALL ages had a chance to climb aboard. 93 children were identified thanks to YOUR help.

27 Volunteers on site, plus countless others who helped pass out fliers, posted the event on Facebook, were interviewed on TV, and helped spread the word.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013 our Lodge will host our official visits from our District Deputy Grand Master and District Deputy Grand Lecturer. Refreshments will be offered at 6:15 – Lodge opens at 7:00. Hope to see everyone there.

December 3^rd we will confer a third degree. Please plan now to attend as we need everyone’s help to bring this new Brother to Light. Refreshments will be offered at 6:15 – Lodge opens at 7:00.

December 17^th we will confer another brother’s third degree. This is an exciting time for St Joe #78 with three new brothers raised in three stated communications.

And Mark your calendars – January 7^th will be an open meeting. Bring your friends that are interested in finding out more about Masonry and enjoy a chili feed and some fun and games – more details to come…

For further information, call Nigh Johnson - WM St Joseph Lodge No.78 at 233-0297

LODGE OFFICERS INSTALLED,
MoCHIP EVENT SCHEDULED

On Tuesday September 17th, the 167th year of St. Joseph Lodge No.78's Charter, the Elected and Appointed Officers were installed for 2013-2014.

Pictured above in the 1st row beginning from left are: WB Carl C Jennings, Treasurer; Br Nicholas Tripp, Senior Deacon; Br Ryan S Gerster, Senior Warden; WB Nighram M Johnson, Worshipful Master; Br D Brian Carroll, Junior Warden; RWB Wesley F Revels, Secretary; and RWB Steven O McDermit, District Deputy Grand Master of the 7th Masonic District of Missouri, Grand Lodge Missouri.  2nd row from left: WB LeRoy H Maxwell III, Sitting Past Master; WB Marion H Boydston, Tiler; WB Timothy J Conard, Installing Chaplain and appointed Marshall; Br Michael Clements; RWB Dr. Larry Lambing, Installing Master.  3rd row from left: WB Russell Hollowell Senior Steward; Br David J Hawkinson; Br Phillip H Brooks, Chaplain; RWB Dennis A Bonjour, Installing Marshall; WB William Bangerter.  4th row at left: Br Timothy Lawrence.

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St. Joseph Lodge No.78 Host's It's 2nd MoCHIP Event For 2013, Saturday November 9th, 10:00AM - 2:00PM
Aiding In The Identification & Recovery Of Missing Children, The program is provided Free Of Charge.

The first Lodge Event WB Nighram M Johnson has organized for his year is a MoCHIP (Missouri Child Identification Program) Event scheduled for Saturday, November 9th 2013  The location of this event will be at the Bartlett Center, located at 409 South 18th Street, St. Joseph, Missouri.  With the help of volunteers from local Churches, Schools and Businesses, the Bartlett Center provides community and social services for children and seniors in the St. Joseph area.
Earlier this year on May 18th, WB Carl C Jennings and Br D Brian Carroll organized a MoCHIP event at The East Hills Mall in St. Joseph where 172 children were processed.

What is MoCHIP?
MoCHIP (Missouri Child Identification And Protection Program) is a comprehensive child identification program designed to give families a measure of security against the ever increasing problem of missing and abducted children.

Who Can Participate?
Any child from age 0 - 21.  Whether it be from Missouri or surrounding states, or visiting relatives, MoCHIP will process any child.  Diabetics and those suffering from mental illnesses can also be processed.

The Program Consists Of 5 Major Components:
Digital Photographs
Digital Fingerprints
Child Information and Emergency Contacts
Dental Bite Impression
Two (2) Laminated ID Cards

Misconceptions:
We do not use Microchips or any other invasive "Chips" devices.  No information is retained. PERIOD!  After each MoCHIP Event, all computers are "WIPED CLEAN" of all gathered information using specialized software.  No internet connections are used and no information is transferred to any other database anywhere.  THE ONLY COPY OF DATA IS IN THE POSSESSION OF THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN OF THE CHILD PROCESSED.  All data collected is placed on a Mini-CD computer disk given to the parent or legal guardian.  If a child is missing, the parent or legal guardian takes the MOCHIP packet to the law enforcement for the Amber Alert Program.

Since the program's inception in August 2005, 179,700 children have been processed. MoCHIP is a Recognized Partner of the National Center For Missing & Exploited Children.

Internet Links

MISSOURI CHILD IDENTIFICATION AND PROTECTION PROGRAM

IN LOVING MEMORY OF THE SANDY HOOK VICTIMS

THE CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN

Submitted by RWB Wesley F Revels, St. Joseph Lodge No.78

Heroes And Patriots Remembered

Br James M Hower Sr., 9/21/1921 - 11/1/2011

Br James M. Hower, Sr., 90, was born September 21, 1921 in Lincoln, Kansas to George and Luella Hower. He graduated Fort Hays State College and was a member of Phi Mu Alpha fraternity.  He married Velma Marie Portschy in 1944.  Following the war he completed his degree and was the Band Director at Russell, Kansas High School.  Br Hower was an Equitable Life Insurance agent and district manager for the company retiring after 50 years service.

Br Hower, was a U.S. combat Air Corps pilot serving as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot in the 8th Air Force, 384th Bomb Group. He flew 30 missions and attained the rank of First Lieutenant. He received the Army Air Medal and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for flying the lead ship during an 8th Air Force combat mission over NAZI Germany.  He was a member of the 8th Air Force Historical Society serving as president of the Missouri chapter and national president.

The above video is the WW2 8th Air Force Documentary, "All The Fine Young Men", From the Human History Archive. This video published Jan. 17th 2013 on U-Tube.  This video includes the disastrous "Black Thursday" bombing raid on Schweinfurt, Germany in October 1943.

Missouri Grand Lodge records show Br Hower was initiated into the Mysteries of Freemasonry on February 5th 1948 at the Hayes KS Masonic Lodge, Passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft on March 5th and Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on May 27th of the same year.  After relocating to St. Joseph, Missouri  through a promotion as District Manager of the Equitable Insurance Company, he transferred his membership to St. Joseph Lodge No.78, September 21st, 1971. Br Hower was awarded recognition for 50 continuous years as a Freemason June 25th 1999.

In St. Joseph, he was active in the Pony Express Council, Boy Scouts of America for many years, serving as Robidoux District Chairman on multiple occasions, and the Council Executive Board. He was awarded the Silver Beaver Award for service on the Council level. He was a Chieftain in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, honor camping society at Camp Geiger.

Submitted by RWB Wesley F Revels, St. Joseph Lodge No.78

MEMBERS OF ST JOSEPH LODGE NO.78
BEFORE 1900

John Curd (18?? - 186?) Born in Goochland County, Old Virginia, U.S.A. John Curd was the fourth of ten children of Dr. Isaac and Jane Watkins Curd.  He and his family moved to Fulton, MO, where he became a merchant.  By 1843 he and his brother, Isaac, became pioneer businessmen when they opened a dry goods store in St. Joseph, Missouri on the corner of Levee and Jules Streets.  Curd was a charter member of St. Joseph's first Masonic Lodge under Dispensation named DeWitt Lodge on October 16th, 1845.  At the next Missouri Grand Lodge Proceedings, the DeWitt Lodge charter was granted and its name changed to St. Joseph Lodge No78.

John Curd belonged to the Democratic Party and for most of the years between 1846 and 1862 he was the St. Joseph City Treasurer.

John Curd was one of the signers of the contract for the Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company which was the parent company of the Pony Express.  Formed by William Russell, Alexander Majors and William Waddell as a freighting company supplying goods to the Western U.S. Territories, the company was originally called the Leavenworth & Pikes Peak Express Company.  The "COC&PPEC" made its first journey from Westport, Missouri toward Denver, Colorado on March 9th 1859.  In May of 1860 it absorbed the Stagecoach and Freight Lines running from Westport, St. Joseph MO; and Leavenworth, Atchison, KS to Denver Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah.  The company's president William Russell, launched the Pony Express which carried mail by horse and rider from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California from April 3rd 1860 - October 1861.  The Pony Express became the American West's most direct means of communication before the telegraph was introduced to the Western Territories of the U.S.

John Curd was also one of the original directors of the first railroad built west of the Mississippi River, the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad.  The Locomotive "Missouri" is said to have carried the first letter to the Pony Express in 1860.  Construction on the Hannibal & St. Joseph Line, formed in 1846 at the Hannibal Office of John Marshall Clemens, Father of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) and began construction in 1851 from Hannibal in the East and St. Joseph in the West.

It is not known when John Curd passed away, but it was sometime during the beginning of the Civil War.


Source: St. Joseph Public Library Digital Collection

Lozo-Needles Photo Album Volume 1 

Abstract:The Lozo-Needles Photo Album collection contains photographs of prominent citizens from St. Joseph, Missouri during the late 1800's.  Alexander Lozo had a photography studio during the years 1871 to 1889 at various locations in the Downtown area.  Lozo passed away on April 23, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois.  John T. Needles had a photography studio during the years 1874 to 1882 at various locations in the Downtown area.  Needles passed away in 1891 in Colorado.

SAVE OUR CHILDREN

ST. JOSEPH LODGE No.78

HOSTS MOCHIP EVENT

Saturday May 18th 2013

East Hills Mall at the Center Court

St. Joseph, Missouri

10:00AM - 2:00PM

Who Can Participate?

Any child from the age of 0-21.  Whether it be from Missouri or bordering states, or visiting relatives, MOChIP will process any child.  Diabetics and those suffering from mental illnesses can also be processed.

WHAT IS MOCHIP?

MOCHIP (Missouri Child Identification and Protection Program) is a comprehensive child identification program designed to give families a measure against the ever increasing problem of missing and abducted children.  MOCHIP stands for MissOuri CHild Identification and Protection Program.

THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF FIVE MAJOR COMPONENTS:

Digital Photographs

Digital Finger Prints

Child Information and Emergency Contacts

Dental Bite Impression

Two (2) Laminated ID Cards.

MISCONCEPTIONS:

We do NOT use Microchips or any other invasive "Chips"

No information is retained. PERIOD! After each Mochip event all computers are "WIPED" clean of all gathered information using specialized software.  No information is forwarded to law enforcement or other agency. No internet connections are used.  THE ONLY COPY OF DATA IS IN THE POSSESSION OF THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN. All data collected is placed on a mini-CD computer disk given to the parent or guardian.  If a child is missing the parent or guardian takes the MOCHIP packet to the law enforcement for the Amber Alert Program.

MOCHIP SUCCESS STORIES!
Police Find Missing Popular Bluff Girl

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS MISSING!

For More Information About MOCHIP Go To The Following Website:
MOCHIP

MISSOURI CHILD IDENTIFICATION and PROTECTION PROGRAM

This event organized by WB Carl C Jennings and Br D Brian Carroll

The sole sponsor of MOCHIP is the Masonic Children's Foundation of the Grand Lodge of Missouri recognized as a 501(c)(3) Not For Profit Corporation.

JOIN THE CAUSE!
MOCHIP ON FACEBOOK