The Julian Feild Players

THE JULIAN FEILD PLAYERS

By

C. Steve Wolfe, P.M.

The Julian Feild Players began in 1957 (1957-1958 Masonic year) with the Worshipful Master Ben Winder’s idea of providing a program for his lodge, during his year as Master. The thought occurred to him about performing a Masonic play and using lodge members for the cast. He asked George Jackson, his Senior Warden, to select a play and to organize a cast to perform it.

Brother Jackson selected two plays, “A Rose Upon the Altar” and “Greater Love Hath No Man” for the Master to select the one he liked best. Brother Winder told Brother Jackson he liked them both and instead of doing one; why not do both of them? Both plays were performed at Julian Feild Lodge that year and the visiting Brothers, who saw them, asked the Lodge to perform the play at their Lodges.

These plays were written and originally intended to be performed only for Master Masons at called or stated meetings. The plays were eagerly received and enjoyed by all. The Fraternity had a program they could be proud of because of the Masonic message it portrayed. At every performance of these plays, members approached Brother George Jackson, the director of the players, as he had already become known as, to see if there was some way to perform these plays for their families and non-Masonic friends? The Play “Rose Upon the Altar” was chosen and the Masonic Ritual was removed and was presented at open meetings for all to see. Thus it was with a simple idea for a program for his lodge during his year “The Julian Feild Players” was born.

The members of the Julian Feild Players were, in the beginning, entirely comprised of members of the Julian Feild Lodge No. 908. Now they are comprised of members from several lodges in the Fort Worth area. Every member of “The Players”, then and now, has a special dedication to Masonry. The active members now are:

Alvin O. Eudaly Past Master Deer Creek Lodge No. 510

Kenneth Griffin Past Master Julian Feild Lodge No. 908

Melvin T. Hagood Past Master River Oaks Lodge No. 1311

Henry B. Hash Past Master Tabernacle Lodge No. 1195

E. R. “Rollie” Hjorth Past Master Handley Lodge No. 1140

Miles R. Hutchison Past Master Handley Lodge No. 1140

Richard Jernigan Past Master Julian Feild Lodge No. 908

Don A. Peterson Handley Lodge No. 1140

Sam C Reid Past Master Julian Feild Lodge No. 908

Joseph D. Rush Past Master Tabernacle Lodge No. 1195

Denver R. Scott Past Master Julian Feild Lodge No. 908

David Sebastian Past Master Julian Feild Lodge No. 908

Charles "Steve" Wolfe Past Master Julian Feild Lodge No. 908

The Directors of “The Players” have been:

* George B. Jackson Past Master Julian Feild Lodge No. 908

* Truiett B. Smith Past Master Tabernacle Lodge No. 1195

*A. T. Grimes Past Master Handley Lodge No. 1140

*D. Oliver Sutton Past Master Julian Feild Lodge N 908

Charles “Steve” Wolfe Past Master Julian Feild Lodge No. 908

* -Deceased

The “Players” have performed these two plays all over Texas and as far as Kansas City, Kansas, for over 46 consecutive years. Since the play is performed by invitation only, it must have filled a spot in the lives of all who have seen it.