Page 28 - Sojourner Newsletter-Summer 2023 Final

28 THE SOJOURNER

JOE FOSS CAMP, (Chattanooga Chapter #540), Albert E. Piatt, Adjutant. A cool, dry, sunny morning
greeted the Heroes of Joe Foss Camp as they arrived at the lodge down the road from John Brown’s Tavern
and the ferry across the river. The Spring plowing after the late cold spell prevented many of the Camp
members from attending the day’s activities. There was a disturbance outside the doors of the camp which the
Guard reportedly was caused by a strangely dressed Sojourner who was seeking admission to the Camp. He
reported that he had been sent orders to report to the Camp but failed to produce them when questioned,
saying that he had left them at his workplace. He said his name was Brother Terry Johnson and was unable to
produce proof of his Masonic connections for the aforementioned reason. He said he had been working at his
job for the past thirty hours and was tired and forgetful as a result. He required several trips into the “D” to
refresh his failing memory during his examination. After exhaustive questioning by the Camp Commander
and members of the Camp, the Heroes present reluctantly decided to allow him to join their ranks. A bright
sun and increasing temperatures greeted the Heroes as they emerged from their Camp to return to their farms
to the prepare for the Spring planting. With the numbers of new members of the Chapter finally increasing,
the members of the Camp were looking forward to adding more recruits to their ranks after such a long spell
of inactivity.

(L-r) James Perkins (Hermitage Camp), Ron Green, Rick Genter, James Mattingly
(Regional Rep East Tennessee), Camp Commander Robert Mattingly, William Haley,
Recruit Wade Hinson, Dean Grimes (Regional Rep West Tennessee) (Defeated Creek
and Old Hickory Camps), Benny Malone