D. W. Brown

As the originator of TheBlueLodge.org, I'm going to take a little liberty here to place a short memorial about a Great Man and an even better Mason, my father.

L.H. Brown was born on March 1, 1923 just outside of Brookhaven, Mississippi to Sidney and Nadine Brown. He grew up living with his grandmother helping her work the farm. When World War II broke out he joined the Navy as a Pilot and trained in Pensacola Florida before shipping out to the South Pacific. After World War II he spent the rest of his working career as a bus driver for Continental Trailways driving out of Jackson, MS.

L.H. joined the masons in Sept. 1951 and shortly afterwords he joined the Shrine. The stories he told me of the many fun and noble things they did was the reason I became interested in joining the Masons myself, albeit many years later. One of the stories that really sticks in my mind was the time he was in New York City with the Shriners and they started directing traffic. The local police, whom many were Freemasons themselves, just stood back and let them go at it. I guess by the time they were done they had every car bumper to bumper for blocks in all directions. He said it must have taken them hours to untangle the mess they had made (on purpose of course). This and the many heartbreaking stories he told me about the children in the burn centers and crippled children's hospitals, was what first peeked my interest in joining the fraternity. Unfortunately I moved away from home when I was 21 and had hoped to wait until I moved back close to him to join myself, so he could be a part of it but this did not happen as he was too sick when I finally moved close enough. He never gave up faith or hope for the organization he so dearly loved and I now will carry on that faith and fight for its rejuvenation in his honor.

My father passed away this past Saturday, May 13th, 2006 at the V.A. Nursing Home in Bay Minette, AL. He was my father, mentor, advocate but most importantly My Best Friend. Good Bye and rest in peace Dad, you deserve it.

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Dale Brown, 3°
TBL Staff
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Must Reads for Every Mason:

A Peculiar System of Morality | Laudable Pursuit | The Ancient Landmarks
The Truth About the Antients and the Moderns | It's About Time
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Must Visit Links for Masons:

Grand Orient de France | Grand Orient of the United States of America
The Burning Taper | Halcyon Lodge | The Philalethes Society