An Exposé – First Master of Gulf Beach Masonic Lodge in Madeira Beach

George Frederick “Fred” Clark was born November 22nd 1890 in Moira, New York and attended school in Brooklyn where he finished his education at New York University.

At an early age he entered business and finally was put in charge of a large corporation, which ultimately sold out to the Borden Company. Fred then joined the sales department of the Burroughs Adding Machine Company. Later he became an executive in the building industry, ultimately going into real estate business in Sparta, New Jersey. 

Wintry blasts in 1932 sent Fred and his wife to Florida where sunny climate and the beauty of the gulf beaches prevailed upon him to make this locality his permanent home. He purchased a beautiful home in 1933 on Indian Rocks and an Apartment building at 7204 Gulf Blvd. on St. Petersburg Beach. Fred became a well-known realtor on the gulf beaches and member of the St. Petersburg Realty Board, and first president of the Gulf Beach Board of Realtors. He was a charter member, and president, of the Gulf Beach Lions Club, director of the Gulf Beach Chamber of Commerce, treasurer of the Indian Rocks Beach Association, member of the Clearwater Elks, member of the American Legion Post 273, Past Master (1945) of Star Masonic Lodge No. 78 in Largo, member of St. Petersburg Chapter No. 31 Royal Arch Masons, Selama Grotto, Sunshine Commandery No. 20, and Egypt Temple Shrine.

It was late in 1949 when a handful of Masons, primarily from St. Petersburg Masonic Lodge and Nitram Masonic Lodge, who were living on the gulf beaches, decided to ask the Grand Lodge of Florida for dispensation to begin a Lodge in that area. None of these Masons however had ever served as Master of a Lodge and needed to find someone with that experience to sign on as the Worshipful Master U.D. (Under Dispensation) to lead the Lodge in the process of earning a Charter.

Enter Fred Clark, local gulf beach resident, Past Master of Star Lodge, and strong proponent of civic and community growth on the gulf beaches. Brother Clark, agreed to sign on and help the beach community get its own Masonic Lodge, under the name of “Gulf Beach”.

To this end, it was necessary that Brother Clark agree to dimit from Star Lodge No. 78 if, or when, Grand Lodge granted a charter to Gulf Beach Lodge U.D. Brother Clark did take the reins while the Lodge was “under dispensation”, during which time the Lodge had to demonstrate that they were able to confer degrees, run the general lodge business, and confidently do what a functioning Lodge must. The Lodge did earn its Charter on April 19, 1950.

Fred Clark at this time let it be known that although he was Worshipful Master while Gulf Beach Lodge was under dispensation, he had no intent on being its first Master under full charter. The members respecting his wish elected Brother Carl Schaefer as the first Master of Gulf Beach Lodge No. 291. Fred Clark was a deacon at Church by the Sea in Madeira Beach and was instrumental in 1950 in getting the Church to allow Gulf Beach Lodge U.D. to hold their Lodge meetings there before a Temple was built and opened in 1952. Brother Clark stayed a member of Gulf Beach Lodge

No. 291 until 1952 and then took a dimit back to Star Lodge No. 78.

On January 22, 1953, shortly after dimiting back to Star Lodge, Brother Clark suffered a stroke and died five months later on June 30, 1953, at age 63.

Masonic services were held at Beach Memorial Funeral Home on St. Petersburg Beach by Star Lodge No. 78 assisted by Gulf Beach Lodge No. 291 and Brother Clark was laid to rest at Seminole Cemetery, 50th Ave. No & 109th Way. Brother George Frederick “Fred” Clark loved the gulf beaches and worked civically to help build a better, stronger, community. Without the direction and leadership of Fred Clark, Gulf Beach Lodge would not exist today.

Gulf Beach Masonic Lodge No. 291 was chartered in 1950 and has been an active force on the Gulf Beaches for over 68 years. Its members have included bankers, contractors, teachers, Congressmen, soldiers, pharmacists, police, firefighters, and a myriad of men from all walks of life. Freemasonry is open to men ages 21 and above and offers an opportunity to be proactive in the community as well as to be a part of a fraternity that dates back three hundred years. Some notable Freemasons were George Washington (and 15 other US Presidents), Ben Franklin, Henry Ford, Red Skelton, and General Douglas MacArthur. Those interested in more information about Freemasonry can visit the Lodge website at www.gulfbeachlodge.org.

By Howard Knapp
Provided by – Howard Knapp

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