As Related by John M. “Mac” Westbrook, PM, Billie Mosse Lodge # 1152,
and Edited by Bob Rhoden, PM, Billie Mosse Lodge #1152
James W. Johnson – WM 1976 – 1977
The officers and members of Billie Mosse Lodge decided there was a need to move from the building of Lone Star Lodge # 403, and petitioned the Grand Lodge for approval. Grand Lodge approved provided the note for the building be guaranteed by members of the Lodge. James W. Johnson contacted several companies with Masonic employees to help get started.
Brother Johnson was one of the best recruiters for getting Billie Mosse Lodge # 1152 into the new building. He wasn’t able to do manual labor, but he was able to get people to help in the construction of the building, and to get companies to donate materials for the building. Some of the companies that donated were Pillsbury, Foxworth Galbraith (lumber), and Latimore (concrete).
The members helped as laborers, carrying haydite blocks and so forth. L.C. Russell (WM 1972 – 1973) was a building contractor. He donated all his work and expertise to erect the building. Jerry Culpepper (WM 1975 – 1976) donated all the electrical wiring and air conditioning units, and installed them. Lon Smith (WM 1966 – 1967) put the tile and carpet on the floor.
L – R: L.C. Russell, Jerry Culpepper, and Lon. R. Smith.
Mrs. Johnson, James’ wife, called all the members wives and they fed us while we built the Lodge and continued while we got the Lodge going.
After the building was finished, the wives (headed up by James’ wife) painted the inside of the building and directed the planning of the kitchen and the restrooms. There was no money in the budget for this, so the work was done totally through donations and contributions.
Money was tight, so Bros. L.C. Russell and Jerry Culpepper each paid several month’s bills early on. We also passed the hat for the extra things while we built the building.
Mrs. Johnson said we needed to have a fundraiser like a BBQ. She got Harold Rogers’ wife at TMC to do the coleslaw and beans. James got the VFW and AMVETS to BBQ the meat at the lakeside for a fifth of whiskey. We had our first BBQ in the kitchen and dining room and it was a success. We had two a year after that, and Mrs. Johnson was in charge of those.
James worked for the next twenty years selling tickets for the BBQ and other fundraisers.
John M. “Mac” Westbrook was Initiated 8/13/1965, Passed 9/17/1965, and Raised 10/22/1965, in Billie Mosse Lodge. He served as Master of the Lodge from 1972 – 1973, received the Golden Trowel Award in 2006, and received his 50 Year Masonic Service Award in 2017.
