The Past Masters of Roston Bullard Lodge No. 708

Sunshine Brotherhood Lodge No. 708, F&AM-PHA
During Brother Roston Bullard’s tenure as District Deputy Grand Master of District No. 17 (now District No. 22), he recommended to the Grand Lodge that a lodge should be established in Altamonte Springs. His recommendation was given because a lodge did not exist between Winter Park and Sanford.

In January of 1981, a petition was sent to the Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge of Florida, F&AM-PHA to open the Lodge under the original name of Sunshine Brotherhood Lodge No. 708, F&AM-PHA. On December 11, 1982, Grand Master Rudolph Bradley approved the petition and issued the Charter for Worshipful Master Rollin Hardey and his officers to open and conduct business.

The first meeting of Sunshine Brotherhood Lodge No. 708, F&AM-PHA was held at New Bethel AME Church located in Altamonte Springs, FL. The meetings were held every 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month. After five years of holding meetings at New Bethel AME Church, the pastor said Masonry was a cult and the Brothers were too secretive. The pastor demanded the Brothers vacate the premises, and the Lodge moved its meetings to Lake Hall Lodge No. 33, F&AM-PHA, located in Winter Park, FL.

·       The Original Charter Members

o   Roland Harvey, Worshipful Master

o   Willie A. Jones, Senior Warden

o   Hillery Knight, Junior Warden

o   Magnus Nelson

o   John Watkins

o   J. C. Mandy

o   Nathaniel Stevens

Roston Bullard Lodge No. 708, F&AM-PHA
During a regular communication on March 01, 2003, Brother Nathaniel “Nate” Jones, Secretary, moved that Sunshine Brotherhood Lodge No. 708, F&AM-PHA change its name to Roston Bullard Lodge No. 708, F&AM-PHA. The motion was seconded by Brother Willie A. Jones, Junior Warden. The Brothers voted and the motion carried. Brother Nate Jones, who joined the Lodge on June 6, 1984, then wrote a letter to the District Deputy Grand Master, James E. Holt, informing him of the motion and affirmative vote.

On September 4, 2003, Grand Master David L. Wright issued the Charter for Worshipful Master Simon P. Jones, and his officers, to conduct business under the Lodge’s new name. The first meeting of Roston Bullard Lodge No. 708, F&AM-PHA was held in the building of Lake Hall Lodge No. 33, F&AM-PHA, located in Winter Park, FL. The meetings were, and are currently, held on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month at 4:00 pm.

·       The Charter Officers

o   Simon P. Jones, Worshipful Master

o   Derek Kegler, Senior Warden

o   Willie A. Jones, Sr., Junior Warden

o   Nathaniel Jones, Secretary

o   Magnus Nelson, Treasurer

At the instruction of Worshipful Master Toney Williams III, Brother Edward Lavant, Secretary, wrote an email to New Bethel AME Church on Sunday, August 6, 2023, in hopes of reestablishing the relationship with the church. On August 7, 2023, the church responded to the email inviting the Lodge to reconnect and become involved in the community. Honorary Past Master Nathaniel Jones, 33°, and Brother Lavant attended an East Altamonte Community Association meeting held at the church on Monday, August 14, 2023.

During the August 16, 2023, Officers’ Meeting, Worshipful Master Toney Williams III, Senior Warden Michael Rozier, Jr., Junior Warden Michael Carroll, Secretary Edward Lavant, and Treasurer Samuel Malone III elected to honor Honorary Past Master Nathaniel Jones, 33° by establishing a Lodge Holiday in his name due to his hard work and dedication to the Lodge. HPM Jones, 33˚ served over 30 years as the Lodge Secretary and has been a pillar of leadership for the Brothers. On August 19, 2023, Worshipful Master Toney Williams III declared June 6 as Honorary Past Master Nathaniel Jones Day, 33°, effective June 6, 2024. The Lodge Holiday is celebrated on the first Saturday of June. June 6 was chosen to commemorate HPM Jones’ day of becoming a Brother in the Lodge.

During the Lodge Meeting on August 19, 2023, the Brothers voted to officially recognize Charter day on September 4th and begin to celebrate the day as an annual Lodge Holiday beginning in 2024 on the 1st Saturday in the month of September. At the same meeting, the Brothers also voted to participate in the Altamonte Springs Adopt-a-Brick program and purchase a brick in Honor of Roston Bullard Lodge #708. A portion of the brick purchase benefited the upkeep of the Historic Evergreen Cemetery. The brick is scheduled to be laid in Spring 2024 at the Alcee L. Hastings Pavilions in the Park at East Altamonte.

 

Dates listed are confirmed years of service

Sunshine Brotherhood Lodge No. 708, F&AM-PHA

1. Past Master Roland Harvey (1982)

2. Past Master Willie A. Jones, Sr. (1986 – 1987, 1993 – 1995)

3. Past Master Simon P. Jones (1996 – 2002)

EverGreen Lodge No. 23, F&AM-PHA (merged on June 17, 2000)

Past Master Rev. Alfred G. Delattebeauiere(listed as a PM in 1985)

Past Master Willie H. King Sr. (1986)

Past Master Theodore “Ted” Davis (1998, 2000)

Roston Bullard Lodge No. 708, F&AM-PHA

Past Master Simon P. Jones (2003 – 2005)

4. Past Master Derek Kegler (2006 – 2009)

5. Past Master Derrick Dunn (2010 – 2011)

6. Past Master Joe Newman (2012)

7. Past Master Howard Britten (2013 – 2014)

8. Past Master T.C. Gilchrist (2015 – 2016)

9. Past Master Benjamin Barnes (2017 – 2019)

10. Past Master Isaac East, Esq., 33˚ (2020)

11. Past Master Robert Stevenson II (2021 – 2022)

12. Past Master Toney Williams (2023 – 2024)

Honorary Past Master Nathaniel "Nate" Jones, 33˚

Roston Bullard Lodge No. 708, F&AM-PHA

Past Master Roston Bullard, 33˚ KYCH
Lake Hall Lodge No. 33, F&AM-PHA

Past Master Kevin Bell

Kissimmee Lodge No. 68, F&AM-PHA

Past Master Peter Bruton, KYCH

Jupiter Lodge No. 22, F&AM-PHA

Past Master Lynwood Loper, KYCH

Jupiter Lodge No. 22, F&AM-PHA

Past Master Howard Maddox

Beehive Lodge No. 779, F&AM-PHA