Fort Honored For 70 Years of Membership

Ulysses Masonic Lodge number 435 celebrated a major milestone recently with their rededication after 100 years of service in the Ulysses community.

Along with that rededication which took place March 11, members honored some of their own. 

William "Bill" Thane Fort was presented with a 70-year membship pin, Robert Annis, 65-year; and Larry Bort, 60-year.

Fort received his pin just prior to the rededication ceremony at the local lodge.

Grand Master of Kansas Mike Johnson  of Louisburg, Kans., spoke with Fort about his time in the Ulysses lodge.

"You have quite a few years in the fraternity," Johnson said. "What got you inspired to be a Mason in the first place?"

Fort responded that 70 years ago, it was a "bit different" than it is now.

"Our social life was different," he added. "Masonic Lodge was very active. My father had gone in just a few years before I did. It was in the 50s and he got in it hook, line and sinker. He said there was nothing better. He would visit any lodge that happened to be open during the week that he could get to. He encouraged (involvement in Masons). My brother just older than I went in at the same time. That was part of what got me in to it."

Johnson told Fort it was "exciting that his entire family coalesced around free Masonry about the same time." 

According to Fort, his oldest brother did not become a Mason.

"He would have been a good one, though," he added. "His life's work was in the Middle East and various places so he knew a lot about Masonry." 

Fort said his father assisted him and his brother with working through the necesssary "proficiencies"  in the Lodge.

"It was an interesting thing," Fort noted, "because in order to answer a question, you have to know what the question is. It seemed to come fairly easy."

When asked if he had any favorite memories over the years, Fort said "there are a lot of them."

"I felt good about myself when I was able to give back to the Lodge what had been given to me," he said. "The instruction and all. The first time I was in the East we brought candidates in - I did all the work. I had a brother or two say, 'you don't have to do all that', but read the book - the Master is supposed to be doing all of that."

Johnson replied to Fort that he "wasn't wrong - not at all" about duties of the Master Mason.

"I try to do that today as Worshipful master - exactly what you were doing," Johnson said. "It is a great precedent to set and it's hard to do because it's so much to learn, but you did it." 

Fort also noted that he had "taken to heart" the part where it says Masonry isn't meant to "interfere with your necessary vocation."

"I farmed, had irrigation, cattle, a lot of family..., there was a period of time when I wasn't attending Lodge regularly," Fort said.

His busy life did not keep him from answering the call when he was needed.

"Brother Bob Welch called and wanted me to take a position in the Lodge," Fort said. "There was a lot of cramming (to get ready) and a lot of work - but we got it done. We did alright."

Johnson noted a big part of Masonry is in the relationships that are formed.

"And spending time together and learning," Johnson added. 

Fort replied that "anything I gave back to the Lodge was much less than what I received."

"It takes a few years to understand that too," Johnson said. "That's one of the secrets they don't tell you."

In the beginning, some things did not make sense to Fort.

"After 70 years a lot of the stuff earlier that didn't make sense does make sense now," he said. "Ecclesiastes and the third degree - that's making a lot more sense to me now."

Johnson expressed his appreciation for Fort's service to the Ulysses Lodge.

"It's certainly an honor and a priviledge to be able to sit here and get to know you a little bit and to be able to present these emblems to you," Johnson said. "It's a very humbling for me.  Your experiences - that's a lot of years. You have so much to teach and you have taught so much. And, you have gone about it in a very humble manner. Thank you so much from myself, the Grand Lodge and I'm sure all the brothers and family in this room. You've done a lot. I look forward to the great things you are going to continue to do, too."

Bort and Annis were honored earlier in the day at a special luncheon at Shelton Memorial Church in Ulysses. 

Fort was initiated in to the Masons January 21, 1953 at the Ulysses Lodge. He was passed on February 18, 1953, and made Master Mason on March 25, 1953. 

The offices he has served as are Senior Deacon, 1992; Junior Warden, 1993; Senior Warden, 1994; Worshipful Master, 1995; Tyler, 1996; Junior Steward, 1998 and 2006; Treasurer, 2007; Worshipful Master, 2008; Tyler, 2009; Masonic Foundation Chairman, 2014; and Junior Warden, 2015-2017. 

He was presented his 25 year service pin March 25, 1978; 50 year, March 25. 2003; 60 year, March 26, 2013; 65 year, March 24, 2018.

His son, Paul, pinned one of his emblems he was presented March 11 on him. Johnson also presented some of the emblems to him.

"I would like to give you one of mine," Johnson said. "It is a simple star and symbolizes light and knowledge. It is a symbol of hope. And this one (another emblem) makes it official - 70 years of continuous membership - Ulysses Lodge 435."

Following the recognition of Fort, Lodge members proceeded with the rededication of the Symbolic Lodge. See more on the rededication, page 7, today's Ulysses News.