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Grand Master on the road
submitted by James Varney, Cowen 176. Grand Master
It was a wonderful day of fellowship when the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia and the President of the Rebekah Assembly of West Virginia laid the first wreath at the veterans’ memorial in Charleston, West Virginia on June 8, 2009. This will be an annual event that will be held the second Monday in June of each year. We do believe it to be a great honor for the Odd Fellows and Rebekah’s to honor all of the men and women that has served in our armed forces to make us all free.
The Officers and Members of Cowen Lodge No. 176 I.O.O.F. and Cowen Rebekah Lodge No. 105 observed Veterans Day on June 8, 2009. They all gathered at the I.O.O.F. Hall and marched from the Hall to the city building in Cowen with flags flying. After a short program the Noble Grand’s of each Lodge laid a wreath in honor of all the men and women that has served our country in all of the branches of the armed forces. It was truly an honor to march with the wreaths and flags flying across town.
The Cowen Lodge would like to welcome some new members to our Lodge. Terry McDaniel, A. Ty McDaniel, James “Jimbo” Williams, Eric Bragg, John Chaffin. We are pleased to have each of them.
We are in the process of building a walk up the outside of our building and painting the outside of the hall this year. We would like to encourage new members and to get some of the older ones active again. We eat around 6:30pm every Thursday and the meeting starts at 7:30pm.
The Officers and Members present Brother James E. Varney, Grand Master a hand made and painted light box when he made his official visit to our Lodge on June 1, 2009. Before Lodge we had a wonderful bean, ham, sauerkraut, fired potato dinner with our famous fruit pies along with ice cream. Also visiting with the Grand Master was Larry Collins, DDGM of our District, David Barrier, Grand Marshall, Brian Miller, Warden Cowen 176, and Edward Varney, Noble Grand Cowen 176.
Pictured above is everyone that helped with the instituting of our new Lodge and all of the new members of Marlinton Lodge No. 182 I.O.O.F. We were born on April 19, 2009. We are very happy to have a Lodge back in Marlinton again. If you would like to come visit us please do so anytime on the second or fourth Monday. We are honored to be part of District No. 9 I.O.O.F. along with Cowen 176, Hacker Valley 364, and Craigsville 374. We have asked that the Grand Lodge of West Virginia keep us in the District. We are planning the next District No. 9 I.O.O.F. meeting to be held Sunday October 4, 2009 at 1pm at the VFW Hall in Marlinton, WV. We hope to see many in attendance
Our District Deputy Grand Master Homer Malcomb made his official visit on December 12, 2008 to bring the Grand Masters program and along with him was Brother James E. Varney, Grand Master and he also made his official visit to our Lodge. Along with them were members of Cowen Lodge No. 176 I.O.O.F. Louie Mathews, Douglas Mathews, David Barrier, Grand Marshall, and Michael McCartney.
On July 11, 2009 Brother Homer Malcomb, DDGM came to install our officers for the second term of 2009. Along with him were James E. Varney, Grand Master, David Barrier, Grand Marshall, Edward Varney, PG, James E. “Jimbo” Williams, PG, and Mitchell Kyer of Cowen 176. After we were installed into offices we preceded to do the second and third degree on 2 members of our Lodge. After Lodge was over all enjoyed cake, pie, ice cream, chips, and dip. It was a wonderful night of fellowship in Craigsville Lodge No. 374 I.O.O.F.
James Varney Grand Master and Mary Ellen Stillwagoneer , Assembly President present Governor Manchin with their pin.