Mackenzie Masonic Lodge Awarding Scholarships on Saturday

The Mackenzie Masonic Lodge of Lubbock will host a Scholarship and Community Builder Award Program on Saturday May 14th.

The event starts at 2 p.m. in the Scottish Rite Building, located at 1101 70^th Street.The event is open to the public and free to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

The event features Pete Laney, former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, as master of ceremonies. Laney, a Hale Center resident and Mason, served as House Speaker from 1993 to 2003.

From the Press Release:

"For the first time, Mackenzie Masonic Lodge will award four $1,000 scholarships to local high school seniors in recognition of their academic and social achievements. These four students were chosen out of many qualified applicants from the Lubbock area.

Also, The 2016 Community Builder Award for Mackenzie Masonic Lodge will be presented to Lubbock County Sheriff Kelly Rowe. The Community Builder Award may be given annually by each lodge to recognize outstanding non-Masons who have distinguished themselves through their service to the community, and followed the same precepts, ideals, and standards that have been established for Masonic behavior."

The Masonic fraternity have a rich history in the fabric of Western culture as they were once known as "Stone Masons" and were builders. Masons were organized into lodges to teach building skills and to teach moral living from the Holy Bible.

Millions of men in the United States have joined Masonic lodges. There are several hundred thousand Masons in Texas. The Masons had deep influence in the independence and establishment of the United States of America and many were among the founders of the Republic of Texas.

Sixteen U.S. Presidents were Masons, including George Washington, Harry Truman, and Gerald Ford.