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| Soapy paying Prentiss |
Your all just a little tired of seeing Mackinac Bridge Pictures on my Facebook page, but you have to admit, I do spend a fair amount of time on that marvel of engineering. While making remarks recently at the York Rite Tri-ennial in Buffalo, New York, I was asked to elaborate on "The Bridge". It has come to fruition, and you can now read most of my remarks in the February 2015 Short Talk Bulletin published by the Masonic Service Association of North America. For those who enjoy my Blog, here is, as Paul Harvey would say, page 4. Prentiss M. Brown, a member of St. Ignace Lodge 369 was determined to see the Bridge become a reality. He worked hard to secure financing for the project, and just literally a few days before it appeared the project may have to be abandoned because nobody would back the bond sale, the Fraternity once again smiled on the project. Charles S. Mott a member of Flushing Lodge 223 stepped forward and purchased the initial set of bonds to finance the Bridge, which lead to increased faith that the project had merit, the gates opened, and the sale of bonds were completed.After the completion of the Bridge, Masonry again held its membership in the spotlight as G. Mennen (Soapy) Williams a member of Livonia Lodge 586 was to be the first passenger to cross the new Mighty Mackinac Bridge. Prentiss Brown, being the shrewd financier, refused Governor Williams passage across the superstructure, until he paid the first toll.
And that my friends, is the rest of the story............... Good Day.
