Hendersonville Masonic Lodge #359

HHS graduate Marissa Izikoff received a certificate of recognition from Worshipful Master Kevin Herring for being selected as the 2026 recipient of the $1000 Hendersonville Lodge "Randall Williams" Memorial Scholarship! Congratulations!!!

https://www.springhillfh.com/obituaries/buster-penick?obituaryTab=obituary&modal=obituary

Buster Eugene Penick's Obituary, Visitation & Funeral Information Read the obituary of Buster Eugene Penick from Nashville, TN. Leave your condolences and send flowers to the family to show you care.

Brethren, Long time member Eugene "Buster" Penick has joined the Celestial Lodge. Currently no details, but if/when I hear I will post here and in other places. Keep him and the family in prayer during this time.

Today, we remember.

On Yom HaShoah (April 13–14, 2026), we pause in solemn reflection to honor the six million Jewish men, women, and children who were murdered during the Holocaust, along with the millions of other innocent victims of N**i persecution.

This day is not only about remembrance—it is a call to vigilance. A reminder of what can happen when hatred, antisemitism, and intolerance are allowed to grow unchecked.

As Freemasons, we stand in solemn remembrance, reflecting on one of the darkest chapters in human history and the profound loss of life that occurred. We honor the victims, we reflect on the stories of survivors, and we recommit ourselves to standing firmly against hatred in all its forms.

For Freemasonry, this history is deeply personal.

When the N**i regime rose to power, Freemasonry was declared an enemy of the state. In 1934, Wilhelm Frick, the Reich Minister of the Interior, openly threatened the elimination of Masonic Lodges. Lodges across Germany and occupied territories were forcibly closed, their property seized, and their members excluded from society. Freemasonry was not only suppressed in N**i Germany, but also in Fascist Italy, Spain, and Soviet Russia.

An estimated 80,000 to over 200,000 Freemasons were persecuted, imprisoned, and murdered under totalitarian regimes. Many of our Brethren were sent to concentration camps, where they were classified as political prisoners and forced to wear the inverted red triangle. Yet even in the face of unimaginable suffering, many remained steadfast in their commitment to the principles of brotherhood, equality, and truth.

The threat Freemasonry posed to these regimes was clearly understood. In 1938, Reinhard Heydrich, head of the N**i secret police, described Freemasonry as a “supra-national spiritual movement” that promoted unity across race, religion, and politics—values fundamentally opposed to fascist and communist ideologies.

And yet, even in the darkest times, light endured.

A quiet and powerful symbol emerged among German Freemasons—the blue forget-me-not flower.

Originally adopted in 1926 by the German Grand Lodge of the Sun, the forget-me-not pin replaced the traditional Square and Compasses. In 1938, the same flower design was used by a N**i charity campaign—ironically allowing Freemasons to wear the symbol discreetly without drawing suspicion. What appeared ordinary to others became a silent act of defiance, a hidden bond of identity, and a symbol of resistance among the Brethren.

Despite persecution, imprisonment, and death, Freemasonry endured.

After the war, in 1947, the Grand Lodge of the Sun reopened in Bayreuth. In 1948, the United Grand Lodges of Germany formally adopted the forget-me-not as an official emblem. Today, Freemasons around the world wear this small blue flower as a powerful symbol:

• Of remembrance for those who perished
• Of solidarity with all victims of genocide
• Of resilience in the face of oppression
• And of an unbreakable commitment to the principles we hold dear

We remember the six million Jewish lives lost.
We remember the millions of others who suffered and died.
We remember our fallen Brethren.

We remember not only their suffering—but their courage, their resilience, and their unwavering dedication to the ideals of Freemasonry.

As we reflect on the Holocaust, let us recommit ourselves to the principles of brotherhood, compassion, and justice. Let us stand firmly against hatred, prejudice, and intolerance wherever they exist. Let us ensure that the voices of those who suffered are never silenced, and that the lessons of history are never forgotten.

Because remembrance is not passive—it is a responsibility.

Never Again.

He’s relatively quiet, behind the scenes, but anything ever needed, he’s the Brother to call, and his exemplifying the qualities of a Mason that the Grand Lodge award our own Bill Woodward the Andrew Jackson Award for his outstanding contributions to Masonry!!

Be sure to congratulate him!

And as rare as it is for a lodge to have one member receive this, our own John Lawson Weaver III also received this just a few years ago!

Congratulations!!!

A great time was had by all as we held our 2nd Annual Jolly Good Festive Board tonight at the Lighthouse on the Lake. Shrimp cocktail, green salad, sweet potato casserole, seasoned vegetables, salmon or chicken, rolls, strawberry cheesecake, cheese/crackers/fruit for toasting. Door prizes, songs and fun. Plus raised $543 for the Masonic Widows and Orphans fund of Tennesse.

Brethren and Prophets! I sent out late-dues notices recently to both Tooba Grotto and my Blue Lodge, Hendersonville #359. Trying to keep records straight and so far have had a couple from both groups that 1) thought they'd paid, or 2) I didn't log them in, so please double check on YOUR end if you got notice and let me know so we can figure out things and reconcile the books! Many thanks!
Jeff Phillips, Secretary/PM Tooba Grotto and Secretary/PM Hendersonville #359 F&AM (because I LOVE PAPERWORK!!!)

February Trestleboard just sent to your email (if you don't get it, we don't have your current email), hard copies mailed to those that have previously requested it later this week, OR you can go read it under the Secretary's Newsletter on our website

Hendersonville Masonic Lodge 359 2026 Hendersonville Lodge 359 Worshipful Master Kevin HerringBUILDING BROTHERHOOD, ILLUMINATING CHARACTER, AND SERVING COMMUNITY. What is Freemasonry? Freemasonry is a brotherhood of men who share one common goal: To help each other become better men. It is the oldest, largest and most widely known....

Brethren, Brother David Blankenship joined the Celestial Lodge today.

Masonic Service for David Blankenship, Friday, 6:30pm, please be there by 6:00 (visitation 12-7; actual funeral Saturday 2:00). Your attendance requested; coat/tie; you may wear your own apron, however we will have those available.

Wilkerson and Wiseman, 715 S. Broadway St, Portland