Worshipful Masters corner/ June
The worshipful master’s corner:
Greetings Brothers,
As we enter the month of June, it is hard to believe that we are already halfway through the year. Time has a way of moving much faster than we expect I guess. It seems like only yesterday we were welcoming in a new year, and now summer is already upon us. In many ways, this serves as a reminder of how quickly life itself passes. The days, months, and years move swiftly, and it is important that we do not take them for granted.
Each day we are given is a blessing and an opportunity. As Masons, we should strive to make the most of each moment by showing love, compassion, kindness, and the true spirit of Masonry in our daily lives. Sometimes the smallest acts of encouragement or support can make the greatest impact on someone else’s life. Let us continue to be examples within our homes, workplaces, churches, and communities of the values we proudly profess within the Lodge.
At our last stated meeting, we had the privilege of presenting the Hendersonville Lodge Randy Williams Scholarship to our finalist from Hendersonville High School, who plans to attend The University of Tennessee and pursue a degree in chemical engineering. It was truly an honor to recognize such a promising young individual as they prepare to begin the next chapter of life.
Seeing this student reminded me of that stage in my own life before heading off to college. It was an exciting time, but also one filled with uncertainty and many unknowns. Thankfully, I was blessed with a strong support system growing up that helped guide and encourage me along the way. Because of that, I am especially grateful that we as a Lodge are able to support our youth through opportunities such as this scholarship. My hope is that it provides encouragement and reassurance to these young men and women, reminding them that even though they may travel miles away from the community they have known for so long, they still carry with them the support, care, and pride of the community they call home.
Brothers, thank you for all that you continue to do for our Lodge and our community. Your dedication, fellowship, and commitment to Masonry do not go unnoticed. As we move into the summer months, I encourage each of you to enjoy time with your families and loved ones, make lasting memories, and continue spreading light wherever you go.
Please stay safe this summer, and I look forward to seeing each of you in Lodge soon.
Fraternally,
Kevin Herring
The worshipful master’s corner: MAY
Brethren,
As we enter the month of May, I want to take a moment to reflect on the strength and unity of our lodge. The coming of spring serves as a reminder of renewal, progress, and the value of nurturing the foundation we have built together. Just as the working tools of our craft require care and attention, so too does our commitment to one another and to the principles we uphold. Let us continue to approach our meetings and labors with purpose, respect, and a shared dedication to improving ourselves and our community.
It is important that we approach our labors with purpose and intention. Whether you attend every meeting or are able to join us only occasionally, your presence matters. Our lodge is at its best when we come together in fellowship, support, and genuine care for one another.
Outside the lodge, let’s keep doing what we can to make a difference. The way we carry ourselves day to day matters just as much as anything we do in meetings. Whether it’s helping out a brother, lending a hand in the community, or just being a decent person when it counts, it all adds up. I’m looking forward to spending time with you all this month and continuing to grow together as a lodge.
Fraternally Yours,
Kevin Herring
The worshipful master’s corner: APRIL
Brethren,
As we enter the month of April, we are reminded that spring is a season of renewal, growth, and new beginnings. Just as the world around us begins to bloom and come back to life, so too should we seek to renew our commitment to the work of our lodge. Let this season inspire each of us to be present, engaged, and active, strengthening the bonds that unite us as brothers. With Easter upon us, we are also called to reflect on its deeper meaning. Things such as hope, sacrifice, and the promise of new life. These values align closely with the principles we strive to uphold in our daily lives.
I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the brothers who so generously contributed toward the replacement of our lodge carpet. Your willingness to give and support our shared space is a true reflection of the charity and brotherly love that define our fraternity. It is through acts like these that we continue to build not just a better lodge, but a stronger brotherhood. Thank you all for your dedication, your kindness, and the spirit of unity you bring, and may we continue to walk together in harmony and appreciation for one another.
Fraternally Yours,
Kevin Herring, Worshipful Master
February
Greetings Brethren!
As we enter the month of February, I want to extend my sincere thanks to each of you for your continued dedication to our Lodge. Our most recent stated meeting required us to gather in the dining hall due to necessary repairs in the main Lodge room. I greatly appreciate the patience and flexibility shown by every Brother, which allowed our work to continue in harmony. It is moments like these that remind me of the strength and adaptability of our Fraternity.
I would like to offer special thanks to Brother Bill Woodward for the time and skill he devoted to repairing the Lodge floor. I also extend my gratitude to Brother James and Brother Jason Gerock for their efforts and hard work in the renovation of the Secretary’s office. Their willingness to give of their time exemplifies true Masonic labor. Because of Brothers like these, our Lodge continues to improve both in form and function.
During our last meeting, I shared a reading from scripture, 1 John 1:5–7, which reminds us that walking in the light brings fellowship and truth. This passage closely reflects our Masonic obligation to live uprightly and to support one another as Brothers. I also ask that you keep Brother Andy Baldwin and his family in your thoughts and prayers as they recover from the devastating house fire they recently endured. Any donations or assistance, of any kind, are deeply appreciated as we come together to support a Brother in need.
Fraternally yours,
Kevin Herring
Kevin Herring 2026 WM
I am sincerely grateful and honored to serve as Worshipful Master of Hendersonville Lodge #359 for 2026. Thank you for the confidence you have placed in me. I am mindful that I follow a long line of dedicated Past Masters, and I am proud to continue the work they have done in building and strengthening our Lodge.
I would also like to congratulate our newly installed officers. I look forward to working alongside each of you as we serve the together. My thanks as well to all who were able to attend the installation ceremony. Your presence and support made it a memorable occassion. A special note of appreciation goes to Roy Etherton and Bill Woodward for their participation and assistance with the installation ceremony; your efforts were greatly appreciated.
We are fortunate to be members of such a strong and respected Lodge, and I am excited about the year ahead. I encourage each of us to reach out to Brothers we have not seen in a while and invite them to return and take part in our meetings and activities. Our Lodge is at its best when we support one another and share the fellowship that makes Masonry meaningful.
As we move forward, let us keep in mind the words of Brother George Washington: “So far as I am acquainted with the principles and doctrines of Freemasonry, I conceive it to be founded on benevolence and to be exercised only for the good of mankind.” May that spirit guide us throughout the year, and I look forward to working with each of you to make it a great one.
Kevin Herring
2025 in review
It is at this time of year, when the cold is settling in and the trees turn bare, that we gather with our friends and families to celebrate and cherish another year of life. Thanksgiving is just past and soon Christmas will see us come together again. For many, there is no better season. We are blessed to live here in Hendersonville, Tennessee; neighbors do for one another, and we are kept safe by our first responders, whom we hold in the very highest regard.
There are those among us, however, who do not have the benefit of nearby kin and loved ones. For many, a phone or video call will have to do. Technology has been invented to bridge the miles, but there is no substitute, no smartphone or webcam or technological wonder, that can replicate the benefits of an embrace, or a handshake between friends.
Again, we here are fortunate. Hendersonville Lodge #359 has a reputation for producing some of the finest Masons in the state. If, by some happenstance, any of us find ourselves alone this season, I encourage you to reach out. Each and every Brother is welcome now and always at my table, as I am confident I would be at theirs.
In addition to our gatherings and festivities, this is also a time to look back and take stock of the year. Brother Benjamin Franklin was fond of this annual activity, as he believed a man should not seek perfection, but rather should improve himself by assessing, correcting and addressing his own weaknesses. He is said to have begun each morning by saying “What good shall I do this day?” and in the evening would ask “What good have I done this day?”
Brother Franklin set a fine example, and as I look back on 2025, I can’t help but take pride in our Lodge and our Brothers. This year has been one of many trials, and just as many victories. For a time, we seemed to experience one setback after another, but in each instance, volunteers immediately took on the task. We have run the gauntlet with attorneys and contractors, fought wind and floods, scraped, cleaned, polished and replaced. We have battled insurance companies and code compliance inspectors, made deals to enhance our property, and even got our official name change taken care of after a minor 60-year delay.
The officers that I have had the privilege to lead this year are of the finest quality, and I will be forever grateful for their hard work and dedication. If not for them, this year would not have been the great success that I believe it to be. I would especially like to thank Treasurer Dustin Jones PM and Chaplain David Butler PM, who both agreed to take on daunting jobs at difficult times.
We lost three cornerstone Masons this year with the passing of Brothers Don Woodard, Tommy Henly and Randy Williams, past masters all. Let us honor their memories by living as just and upright men and Masons.
Finally, I would like to thank Secretary Jeff Phillips PM for guiding me through the year and for being the backbone of the Lodge. His invaluable contributions have made a great difference in all our lives.
Jason Gerock