Dallas Morning News

Friday, 28 July 1922, Section 1, Page 4

Dallas Masons assisted Forney Masons Thursday afternoon, in a special session of the Grand Lodge of Texas, in laying the cornerstone of the Lewis High School, a $60,000 structure, occupying the center of a city block at Forney. Mike H. Thomas of Dallas, deputy grand master of the Grand Lodge of Texas, represented Grand Master Johnson of Brownwood, who could not attend. Stations were filled by his brothers, Joseph P. Thomas, D.S. Thomas and Fergus D. Thomas and W.G. Kelly of Dallas. Dr. Bailey, master of the lodge at Forney, with 100 other Masons, aided in the ceremonies and marched in the parade.

At the building, Mike H. Thomas delivered an address, commending the people of Forney for their enterprise in voting bonds for the school, and for their vision in preparing for the proper training of the youth. At the lodge rooms he made a talk to the Masons of Forney urging their active interest in all matters of education, declaring this to be the greatest duty of the older generation to the younger.

J.N. Andrews, Superintendent of Schools at Forney, explained that the three-story building, on a lot given by Mr. Lewis, for whom the school is named, is to be a civic center, with a large auditorium on the ground floor. It will be completely equipped for high school work, with laboratories for home economics, physics and chemistry and a gymnasium. The building will be ready for use about Oct. 1. Schools will open Sept. 4. The older building has been remodeled and will be for grade classes. With the negro school, this makes the third building for the Forney school system.