Freemason - August 2016

THE PENNSYLVANIA

VOL. LXIII, NO. 3

AUGUST 2016

Are You Gauging Your Time Wisely?

CONTRIBUTE THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON® VOL. LXIII, AUGUST 2016, NO. 3

©2016 The R.W. Grand Lodge F.&A.M. of Pennsylvania EDITORIAL BOARD Chairman Raymond T. Dietz, R.W.G.M. S. Eugene Herritt, R.W.D.G.M. Thomas Gamon, IV, R.W.S.G.W. Jeffrey M. Wonderling, R.W.J.G.W. Jeffrey W. Coy, R.W.G.T. Mark A. Haines, R.W.G.S.

The Pennsylvania Freemason magazine staff is looking for photographers and writers to contribute their talents!

Please email a link to samples of your work to pafreemason@masonicvillages.org to be considered as a contributor for the publication. Contributors will receive a photo credit or byline. The Pennsylvania Freemason reserves the right to use submissions elsewhere, such as on the Grand Lodge website, Facebook page, as a blog, etc.

16 Masons on the Move

Are Your Gauging Your Time Wisely?

To Masons, the 24-inch gauge symbolizes the importance of spending every day wisely, providing adequate time for serving God and a distressed worthy brother, work, family, refreshment and sleep.

Paul J. Roup, D.D.G.M.-54 EDITORIAL STAFF Tina L. Raybold - Production Coordinator Rich Johnson - Graphic Designer Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation Staff Masonic Library & Museum of Pennsylvania Staff (Publication No. USPS 426-140) August 2016 Issue of The Pennsylvania Freemason ® Published quarterly by the Masonic Villages, One Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022. Articles and photographs to be considered for publication should be sent with local Masonic authority to the address above, to the attention of The Pennsylvania Freemason ® or emailed to pafreemason@ masonicvillages.org. Except by special arrangement, all articles, photographs and artwork become the property of the Grand Lodge.

Published by the Masonic Villages, owned and operated by the Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. of Pennsylvania, as a means of soliciting the physical and financial support of the members, their families and the public in general. Periodical postage is paid at Elizabethtown, PA, and additional mailing offices.

We appreciate the many submissions we receive for consideration.

We apologize, but due to space constraints we are not able to publish every submission we receive.

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP (Act of Oct. 23, 1962; Section 4369; Title 39, United States Code) August 2016, The Pennsylvania Freemason ®, published quarterly by the Masonic Villages, Elizabethtown, PA 17022.

Publishers: The Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania. Editor: Raymond T. Dietz. Owner: The Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania. Known bondholders: none. No advertising handled. Free distribution averages 124,000 each quarter. I certify that the statements made by me are correct and complete.

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Freemasonry Today

Message from the Grand Master • Leading by Example: We Applaud those Brethren Who Are First-line Signers on Three or More Petitions • Upcoming Events • June Quarterly Update • Where Are They Now? • Our Brothers’ Keepers • Bold & Balanced • A Man of Many Passions • In Memorium • Williamson Inducted into Hall of Fame • Outreach Program Seeks Professionals to Provide Assistance to Those in Need

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Masonic Education

Deacons Are from Mars, Wardens Are from Venus • Time Management Tools & Tips • Masonic Book Review • Vintage Book of Mormon Displayed • It’s About Time

22 Philanthropy

Help For Our Heroes • Life is What You Make It • Care When You Need It • Masons’ Member Benefits Program • Founded on Mission • Raising a Reader • Meet Our Masonic Villages • Always Giving Back • Does the Volatile Stock Market Have You Down? • Youth Appreciation Day 2016 • Masonic Villages’ 2016 Wish List

Raymond T. Dietz, Editor Mailing address changes If your address on the back cover of this magazine is not exactly as you have provided it to us, please be aware that addresses are modified through the various mailing process requirements required by the U.S. Postal Service. If you have any questions or would like to inform us of a change in address, please contact the Office of Gift Planning at 800-599-6454 or giving@masonicvillages.org.

Postmaster: Send address changes to: The Pennsylvania Freemason ®, c/o Masonic Village, One Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2199.

Subscribe to the online edition! www.pamasons.org

If you would prefer to receive an electronic version of the magazine for your convenience and/or to save the fraternity printing and mailing costs, please make your request by emailing pafreemason@masonicvillages.org. An electronic version of the magazine is also available online at www.pamasons.org.

Save a Tree

Brethren, It’s hard to believe that eight months have passed since I knelt at the altar of Freemasonry and assumed the obligation as R.W. Grand Master. It has been, and continues to be, a whirlwind.

I have crisscrossed our beautiful state several times for Lodge anniversaries, visits to our Masonic Villages and the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, and had the privilege of awarding milestone service awards to long-standing members of our fraternity.

Pennsylvania’s more than 400 Lodges have already begun to come up with ways to endow their Lodge’s Almoner’s Fund. They have hosted breakfasts and dinners and solicited donations to secure the monies necessary to help our Brothers in need. Lodges have bought food, done repairs and paid bills for Brethren, widows and families who have fallen on hard times. When more help was required, the Masonic Outreach Program has stepped up, as well. Read p. 10 for one example of how this fund made a difference in a Brother’s life.

Helping our Brethren in need is our number one priority. On p. 28, you’ll read a letter from me inviting you to consider a value-added membership benefit making insurance coverage available to many of our Brothers and their loved ones who may not otherwise be able to afford it or qualify to purchase it.

Pages 24-25 highlight some of our recent Help for Our Heroes events. Watch our website for how we will celebrate reaching that $1 million contribution milestone!

We will bring our Raising a Reader program to at least 29 classrooms across Pennsylvania this fall. Training has begun already, and the program will be in full force when the school year begins.

As you’ll see on p. 29, the support so far has been overwhelming!

Our goal is to have the program in at least one school district in each of our seven Masonic regions by the beginning of next year.

Pennsylvania Masons are playing an active part in bringing this

Sincerely and fraternally, Raymond T. Dietz, R.W. Grand Master

much needed literacy program to families who could not otherwise afford it, and for that, we should be proud.

Members are the life blood of our fraternity. They are the hands that do the Masonic labor, and they are what will sustain our future.

So far, the Membership Incentive Program has awarded nearly 300 Masons with points for being first-line signers on a petition, and many have begun to earn points for multiple petitions. On pp. 4-5 are pictures of those who are Leading by Example. This program is our way of saying thank you to our members for bringing another good man into our Fraternity. Some have chosen to donate their rewards to support the Masonic Children’s Home. Remember, our One Day Masonic Journey will be held at 12 locations throughout the state on Oct. 29 (see p. 6 for details). This event is for good, worthy men with busy schedules who could benefit from the accelerated initiation.

As you’ll see in our coverage of Youth Appreciation Day on p. 34, our Masonic Children’s Home in Elizabethtown provides children who are orphaned, displaced or who come from troubled homes a safe place to grow, survive and thrive. I recently had the opportunity to join them for an ice cream party and had a wonderful time with our youth! (See picture below.) Over the past century, thousands of Pennsylvania youth served there graduated better prepared to face life, thanks to our Masonic love and charity. By opening another Masonic Children’s Home in Western Pennsylvania, we can help even more children lead better, fuller lives. I humbly ask you to work with me to help make that dream a reality. I am extremely grateful to Dallas Lodge No. 231 for presenting a $100,000 check toward this vision (see p. 8 for picture). While not every lodge can donate at this level, every contribution helps!

Hand in hand, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish together.

I am humbled to serve in this position and to work with all of you truly on the level. Pennsylvania Masonry is alive and well, and with God’s grace and your help, will thrive for many, many years to come!

FREEMASONRY TODAY

LEADING BY EXAMPLE Inviting new candidates to join Pennsylvania Freemasonry ensures the future of our great fraternity. We applaud these Brethren who are first-line signers on three or more petitions. Each member to do so will have his photograph, name and number of first-line signed petitions printed in this section of the magazine throughout 2016. Once a Brother is a first-line signer on six or more petitions, he will be recognized in the magazine throughout 2016 and 2017. This recognition is in addition to the incentives and ties Brethren can earn as an additional “thank you” for these members’ dedication to our Craft.

Kevin Dumont Lodge No. 716 6 petitions

Robert W. Amend Lodge No. 544 5 petitions

Raymond T. Dietz Lodge No. 657 5 petitions

Alvin E. Just Lodge No. 538 5 petitions

Douglas E. Kauffman Lodge No. 220 5 petitions

James E. Monson Lodge No. 363 5 petitions

Jeffrey M. Wonderling Joseph T. Fisher Lodge No. 346 Lodge No. 52 5 petitions 4 petitions

Thomas Gamon IV Lodge No. 595 4 petitions

Thomas Gamon V Lodge No. 595 4 petitions

Hal S. Gindrow Lodge No. 529 4 petitions

John P. Hayden Lodge No. 347 4 petitions

Rudolph J. Hofbauer Lodge No. 780 4 petitions

David M. Howells Jr. Lodge No. 673 4 petitions

Chad E. Otis Lodge No. 586 4 petitions

George S. Reppert Lodge No. 227 4 petitions

Jeffrey A. Roe Lodge No. 377 4 petitions

Charles J. Sule Lodge No. 440 4 petitions

Rodney Anderson Lodge No. 3 3 petitions

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Larry A. Shaffer Jr. Lodge No. 363 6 petitions

Youssef M. Kabbani Lodge No. 591 4 petitions

Incentives

www.pamasons.org/incentives

Pennsylvania Freemason

Ronald A. Aungst, Sr. Kenneth L. Brier Lodge No. 232 Lodge No. 529 3 petitions 3 petitions

Christian T. Brojakowski Troy A. Burton Lodge No. 531 Lodge No. 799 3 petitions 3 petitions

Jan M. Cechak Lodge No. 341 3 petitions

Jeffrey W. Coy Lodge No. 315 3 petitions

Larry A. Derr Lodge No. 551 3 petitions

Eric W. Ditty Lodge No. 495 3 petitions

James T. Edwards Lodge No. 278 3 petitions

Robert E. Flaharty Jr. Napoleon Garcia Lodge No. 503 Lodge No. 51 3 petitions 3 petitions

Jeff P. Greim Lodge No. 406 3 petitions

Mark A. Haines Lodge No. 549 3 petitions

S. Eugene Herritt Lodge No. 315 3 petitions

Daniel J. Hinds Lodge No. 115 3 petitions

Joseph M. Jensen Lodge No. 482 3 petitions

Mark A. Jones Lodge No. 265 3 petitions

William L. Kingsbury Lodge No. 295 3 petitions

James C. Lewis Sr. Lodge No. 526 3 petitions

John F. McCombs Lodge No. 49 3 petitions

Robert T. Pawlowski Lodge No. 59 3 petitions

Michael W. Rabinowitch Bruce A. Robinson Lodge No. 19 Lodge No. 331 3 petitions 3 petitions

John B. Rowlands Lodge No. 291 3 petitions

Joseph W. Schanck Lodge No. 684 3 petitions

Ted E. Shumaker Lodge No. 464 3 petitions

Richard W. Storms Lodge No. 553 3 petitions

Dean C. Zug Lodge No. 355 3 petitions

William Paul Weber Lodge No. 561 3 petitions

James West Lodge No. 578 3 petitions

August 2016

Daniel J. Welch Lodge No. 45 3 petitions

Incentives

Shane F. Connor Lodge No. 540 3 petitions

Dennis E. Cottrell Jr. Lodge No. 649 3 petitions

www.pamasons.org/incentives

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UPCOMING EVENTS

ONE DAY MASONIC JOURNEY Saturday, October 29, 2016

by Jeffrey M. Wonderling, R.W. Junior Grand Warden The time of year has come to take a vacation, harvest fresh tomatoes and corn, or spend a warm evening in the pool; and yet, we must have in the periphery the falling of leaves, maybe the making of sauerkraut and the 2016 One Day Masonic Journey. It will be here before we know it!

My Brothers, there is much work to do, and I am asking for your help. Now is the time to identify quality men and give them the opportunity to become a Mason. I cannot think of a more valuable gift you could give to your friend. I remind you to approach only those men whom you would trust in your home or with your family.

Brethren, we must guard the West Gate and only allow honorable, trustworthy men to enter.

In recognition of the sacrifices by our men in the armed services, all active and retired military will be given the opportunity to become a Mason at a $50 reduction in initiation fees from both Grand Lodge and the Lodge they join, for a total savings of $100.

In addition, any Master Mason will be eligible to become a 32° Mason absolutely free of the normal fees. The day will conclude with the opportunity to become a Shriner.

This is indeed a historic event. We each need to do our part in making their Masonic experience memorable. A new member in any of our organizations should be invited to Lodge. We should insist on picking him up and taking him to the meeting. He should not be left alone but should be made to feel valuable and welcomed.

That’s the fraternal thing to do. Along the same line of thought, we each should fellowship with all present and make everyone feel at home. That, my Brothers, is how you build an organization. Simple, but too often neglected practices go a long way in making events and meetings places where men would want to be. Information 6

How To Join

www.pamasons.org/join

about Freemasonry and how to join can be found on the Grand Lodge website: www.pamasons.org/join/. Petitions for Blue Lodge can be accessed at www.pamasons.org petitions/.

The 13 locations for the one-day event will include: Valley of Allentown, Valley of Altoona, Valley of Bloomsburg, Valley of Coudersport, Erie Masonic Temple, Valley of Harrisburg, Valley of New Castle, Lu Lu Shrine Center, Pittsburgh Soldiers & Sailor, Valley of Reading, Scranton Masonic Temple, Connellsville Senior High School and Valley of Williamsport.

SCHEDULE

6:00 – 7:45 a.m.

Registration of Candidates 7:45 – 8:05 a.m.

Grand Lodge Opens 8:05 – 9:05 a.m.

Entered Apprentice Lodge 9:05 – 9:25 a.m.

Entered Apprentice Education 9:25 – 9:40 a.m.

Break 9:40 – 10:25 a.m.

Fellowcraft Lodge 10:25 – 10:40 a.m. Fellowcraft Education 10:40 – 11:50 a.m. Master Masons Lodge Benediction 11:50 – 12:30 p.m. Lunch 12:30 – 12:50 p.m. Master Masons Education 12:50 p.m.

Grand Lodge Closes 12:50 – 1:10 p.m.

York Rite 1:10 – 2:55 p.m.

Scottish Rite 2:55 – 3:10 p.m.

Break 3:10 – 4:00 p.m.

Scottish Rite 4:00 – 4:15 p.m.

Break 4:15 – 4:45 p.m.

Shrine

Pennsylvania Freemason

COMMUNITY FESTIVAL & OPEN HOUSE Saturday, September 17, , 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Masonic Village at Sewickley • 1000 Masonic Drive, Sewickley, PA 15143

Autumn Day

Saturday, September 24, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

2016

·· Food available for purchase ·· Musical guests Donna and Mark Groom and the Quaker Valley School Marching Band, as well as Disc Jockey Phil Lenz ·· Kids’ activities like a petting zoo, bounce house, face painting and more ·· Guest appearances by Anna and Elsa from Frozen with a possible sneak peak of Olaf, compliments of the Sewickley Heights History Center ·· A vendor show with crafts, handmade items and wholesale vendors ·· Participation by local businesses, fire and rescue and Masonic groups ·· Tours of the active 60+ retirement community and the new Sturgeon Health Care Center Some walking required for this event.

A u t umn D a y 20 16

Join members and friends at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, featuring entertainment, information, food served from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., farm market stands, children’s games, music, model trains, classic cars, farm animals, Masonic family organization booths and much more.

Autumn Day provides the perfect opportunity to visit with family members, reunite with friends and tour parts of the 1,400-acre campus.

The Masonic Village is unable to provide wheelchairs, so please bring your own, if needed. Handicapped parking is available; however, you must advise the Masonic Village on the coupon below if handicapped parking is needed, so a special parking pass can be forwarded to you in advance.

The Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank will be holding a blood drive to benefit Masonic Village residents on Autumn Day. Donations will be taken at the blood bank stand from 9 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. Anyone 17 years of age or older, who is in good health and weighs at least 100 lbs., is eligible to donate blood. Anyone interested in donating blood should make an appointment by calling 1-800-771-0059 between 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Please do not call the Masonic Village for these appointments.

August 2016

For Handicapped or Bus Parking Only

Name_________________________________________________________ Lodge No._____________________________________________________ No. of Adults_____________ No. of Children______________ Address _____________________________________________________________________________ City_______________________________ State____________ Zip__________________  Need Handicapped Parking*  Charter Bus Complete and return to: Autumn Day, Masonic Village One Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022 * Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope with this coupon. We will send you a special parking permit, if needed, which must be presented upon arrival.

Masonic Villages

www.masonicvillages.org

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FREEMASONRY TODAY

JUNE QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION UPDATES • Master Pillar Award recipient: Brother Dennis R. McClanahan, Acacia Lodge No. 586, Waynesboro • Master Builders Award recipients: Brothers John Stewart, St. John Lodge No. 260, Carlisle; Christopher Rhody, Chartiers Lodge No. 297, Canonsburg; Daren Mauck, Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 300, Huntingdon; Robert D. Nichol, Avalon Lodge No. 657, Pittsburgh; and Daniel J. Welch, Lodge No. 45, Pittsburgh • Grand Master’s Award recipient: Cassia-Mount Horeb Lodge No. 273, Ardmore • Academy of Masonic Knowledge Award recipients: Brothers Christopher Rodkey, Mt. Lebanon Lodge No. 226, Lebanon, and Christopher Rhody, Chartiers Lodge No. 297, Canonsburg On June 25, 234 members, representing 136 Lodges, attended the Quarterly Communication at the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center. The following information was provided:

• Dallas Lodge No. 231, Pittsburgh, presented a check in the amount of $100,000 toward a future Masonic Children’s Home in western Pennsylvania (see picture).

• Effective July 1, Emporium Lodge No. 382 merged into Driftwood Lodge No. 532 to be known as Driftwood Emporium Lodge No. 532.

• T he Grand Master accepted contributions totaling $121,611.78 for The Masonic Library & Museum of Pennsylvania, Help for Our Heroes, Raising a Reader and Masonic Charities.

• T he membership total as of Dec. 28, 2015, was 101,745.

• A Lodge Room Dedication of Palestine-Roxborough Lodge No. 135, Philadelphia, will be conducted at Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill on Oct. 8.

• T he Grand Master recognized five District Deputy Grand Masters for showing a membership gain in their respective Districts: Joseph M. Jensen - District A, Daniel R. Scheetz - District C, John D. Cook - District 3, David L. Moore District 29 and Robert W. Amend - District 47.

• Grand Master’s Outstanding Service Award recipient: Brother Byrl J. Johnson, P.D.D.G.M., Regional Instructor

• T he December Quarterly Communication will take place on Dec. 7 at the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia.

For more photos from the June Quarterly Communication and the Oldies Dance, visit www.pamasons.org

The Oldies Dance was a Hit! See scenes from the festivities at

pamasons.org 8

Online Edition

www.pamasons.org/magazine

Pennsylvania Freemason

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

George H. Hohenshildt, R.W. Grand Master (1994-1995) R.W. Past Grand Master George H. Hohenshildt sums life up quite simply: “It’s all about being in the right place at the right time.”

For a high school dropout who worked for over 40 years as a professional engineer and served in the highest offices within Pennsylvania Freemasonry and numerous appendant bodies, this piece of advice might appear to be true.

And yet, there’s more to his 87-year story.

Brother George didn’t drop out of high school because he couldn’t do the work. He did it because he witnessed the horror of the D-Day invasion on the big screen at a local Harrisburg theater and decided he had to do something about it. So at age 17, he joined the Army. Over the next one and a half years, he received medical training in San Antonio, Texas; played the trumpet in a commemorative band; and attended vo-tech school to complete his high school equivalency.

Upon being honorably discharged, he returned home to marry the love of his life, Lena, and graduated from the Smith Technical Institute and Wilson Engineering Corporation, and took Penn State Engineering-in-Training courses.

Having been involved in DeMolay as a young man, he naturally returned to the Masonic Temple, where Pilgrim Chapter and the local Harrisburg Lodge met. He was raised in what is now Harrisburg-Snyder Lodge No. 629, in 1953.

“I never even dreamed of becoming Grand Master,” Brother George said. And yet, he went on to serve as the 102nd Grand Master of Pennsylvania Masons.

One of the hallmarks of his administration was the “Friend to Friend” membership initiative to encourage Masons and worthy candidates to learn more about Freemasonry and inspire good men to seek membership in the world’s greatest fraternity.

Between his professional and Masonic career, Brother George and Lena traveled to 48 states (all except Hawaii and Alaska) and into Canada.

“I’ve been here a wonderfully long time with a wonderful wife, who left me way too soon,” Brother George said. His “dear, dear Lena” passed away after 52 years of marriage.

Nowadays, Brother George enjoys watching television and soaking up the sun from his balcony. While he can no longer attend Masonic meetings and functions, as much as he would like to, he remains a steadfast Mason at heart.

August 2016

Past Grand Masters

www.pamasons.org/pgm

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FREEMASONRY TODAY

OUR BROTHERS’ KEEPERS Brother Dave (not his real name) was at his wits’ end, and for the first time in his adult life, he was truly scared.

Six months ago, he was laid off from his job, and he was still unable to find steady work. His wife, who had quit her job to stay at home and raise their 4- and 2-year-old children, even began to look for work.

“The bills kept coming in, and the little bit we saved kept going out. It terrified me to know that in less than a month, we would have a hard time putting food on the table,” Dave said.

Gary (also not his real name), Dave’s brother-in-law, was also a Mason, though not from the same Lodge. With the help of his Secretary, Brother Gary contacted Brother Dave’s Lodge and explained the situation. “Dave is a pretty proud guy. Most of us are,” he said. “He would have been furious if I had let him know what I was doing.”

When Lodge members learned of the situation, they were eager to help. The Almoner, the Worshipful Master and Brother Gary exchanged several emails to determine the proper course of action. Afterward, the Almoner presented it to the Lodge, which agreed wholeheartedly.

The following Saturday, the Worshipful Master and Almoner showed up at Brother Dave’s door.

“I hadn’t been to Lodge since I was laid off,” Brother Dave said. “I saw these guys show up at my door, and I thought to myself, I guess I’m going to get suspended.” He couldn’t have been more wrong. “They asked my wife to join us and proceeded to tell us that they were going to pay our gas and electric bills for the next three months,” Brother Dave said. “I couldn’t say a word. I just started to cry.”

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Almoner’s Fund

www.pamasons.org/almoner

That wasn’t the end of the surprises, though. After a lot of tears and a few grateful hugs, the Worshipful Master explained that there was more. He reached into his pocket and pulled out $500 worth of grocery gift cards. “We know how hard you guys are trying, and we want to help,” he said, as he handed them to Brother Dave and his wife. “And don’t worry about your dues this year.”

They visited for a while, then Brother Dave and his wife walked them to their car for one more tearful round of thank yous.

The Almoner and Worshipful Master rode back to the Lodge in silence, both just letting the moment sink in.

“We spent a good bit of the seed money we had in the fund, but the Deputy agreed that it was the right thing to do, and after seeing the looks in their eyes, I can’t agree more,” the Almoner said. “Our goal for next year is to grow the fund more than we are required to, just in case we need to make that kind of decision again. We were planning on using the proceeds from this year’s fund raisers, but when we reported about it in Lodge, a couple of the guys wrote us checks and told us to use it as we needed.”

“It was the single best thing I think I’ve done as a Mason,” the Worshipful Master said. “To take a Brother who was a little bit broken and help make him better ... I can’t describe how great that felt. It’s what Masons are supposed to do.”

If you know of a Brother in need, contact your Lodge or the Grand Almoner. After all, we are our Brothers’ keepers.

Pennsylvania Freemason

“To take a Brother who was a little bit broken and help make him better ...

I can’t describe how great that felt.

It’s what Masons are supposed to do.”

August 2016

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FREEMASONRY TODAY

BOLD AND BALANCED

Brother Josh Parmer, P.M., Lodge No. 43, Lancaster Positive influences in the life of Brother Joshua D. Parmer, P.M., include faith, family and the fraternity.

Found slightly lower on this list, Marty McFly and Indiana Jones have also impacted the man he is today.

His interest in history and religion led him to two important aspects of his life: Freemasonry and a career in teaching. After reading about the Craft, he became intrigued. In 2009, he discovered a friend who was a Mason who connected him with Lodge No. 43, Lancaster. He served as Worshipful Master in 2015 and belongs to several fraternal organizations.

“The commitment and influence comes from the inspiration I get from my Brothers who are doing great things,” Brother Josh said.

After graduating college 16 years ago with a history degree, Brother Josh applied for a substitute teacher position at J.P. McCaskey High School in Lancaster. He soon found teaching was his true calling.

“I get to work with really cool people, especially the students,” he said. “I also get to teach social studies classes, so it’s a little bit like being Indiana Jones, who was my childhood hero.”

Brother Josh wears his Masonic pins to work, which leads to inquiries from students.

“The question is usually, ‘What is it?’ which a lot of Brothers might agree is a difficult thing to summarize,” he said. “So I just start with ‘What do you know about it?’ and go from there and try to emphasize its good points and dispel the misconceptions.

I get all kinds of questions – it’s great really.”

He appreciates their curiosity, although he is fully aware that sometimes their questions are a distraction technique to avoid covering the lesson of the day.

Brother Josh finds the time to commit to Freemasonry, work and extracurriculars thanks to his family, including his wife, Holly,

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Online Edition

www.pamasons.org/magazine

and 3 1/2-year-old son, Josh.

“I have a really understanding and loving wife who is supportive of all my endeavors,” he said. “Without her, I couldn’t do all that I’m involved with. Also, both sets of our parents live close by and have really helped out and been supportive, my mother and mother-in-law especially. Grandmothers and grandfathers help, too.”

Brother Josh even finds time for one of his favorite pastimes: skateboarding.

After watching “Back to the Future,” where lead character Marty McFly zooms around on a hovercraft, he became enamored with skateboarding. He finally received a skateboard for Christmas in fourth grade.

“I always thought surfing and skiing looked really fun and stylish, but those activities were harder to do living in Lancaster,” he said. “So when I saw skateboarding, it just looked really cool and I wanted to do it. Then it just turned into this thing I’ve done my whole life.”

Skateboarding isn’t embraced by everyone. Brother Josh makes a point of being respectful and staying off streets. He also believes while some skateboarders get into trouble, the activity can help keep others out of trouble. He sees it becoming increasingly mainstream and hopes more legal skate parks are built to provide a positive outlet for kids.

“I am completely aware of how the image is sometimes viewed by outsiders,” Brother Josh said. “It’s often very much the same for the Craft. People don’t do it, so they don’t understand it. And just like Freemasonry has inspired men through the ages to be better, to be truly great at whatever they do, it’s no different with me and whatever I do.

“God has put a creative Spirit in man. You know we are made in His own image. So was the moon made for man to walk on? Was Mount Everest designed for man to summit? Even our Illustrious Brother Arnold Palmer was a creative revolutionary in my book. He helped make a whole profitable industry out of a leisure activity. He’s a genius. They say ‘Fortune favors the bold.’”

While age is admittedly slowing him down a little on his skateboard, Brother Josh doesn’t plan to retire his board soon.

Whether standing on four wheels, in front of his classroom, beside his Brothers or with his family, he has found a good balance in life.

Pennsylvania Freemason

“I think [the fraternity] is helping make us all be successful at whatever we do if we really work at it.

I’m getting out of it a lot of positive things for my own life. Who wouldn’t want to be committed to that?”

- Brother Josh Parmer August May 2016 2016

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FREEMASONRY TODAY

A MAN OF MANY PASSIONS

Brother Mike Marcus, P.M., Dallas Lodge No. 231, Pittsburgh

by D. Todd Ballenger, District Deputy Grand Master - District 55 Mike Marcus is a passionate man. Or perhaps more aptly put, a man of many passions. A Past Master of Dallas Lodge No. 231, Pittsburgh, Brother Mike finds himself pursuing any number of avocations that have sparked his interest over the years. These include woodworking, studying history and teaching, all measured carefully with an abiding sense of family and faith. “Everything that I spend time on, I have a passion for,” he said.

Originally from Saint Mary’s County in southern Maryland, Brother Mike discovered his love of carpentry early. “I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands. I grew up in farm country between tobacco farms and crab boats,” he explained, which is fortunate given that his family home backs to an Amish farm. “It’s as truly rural as you can get.”

After studying political science and mass communications at Frostburg State University before launching a career in marketing and public relations, he still enjoys the craftsmanship and creativity of woodworking. Once he and his wife of 16 years, Amy, moved to Pennsylvania, Brother Mike turned their garage into a workshop. He even worked as a carpenter and handyman for Soergel Orchards in Pittsburgh’s North Hills doing custom furniture work.

Brother Mike and Amy share a love of history. While working public affairs for the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C, constantly surrounded by history, he found a path to Freemasonry. “I

had always been interested,” he said, and Amy encouraged him. Still, he wanted to wait until they were more settled as a family. Finally, after moving to Pittsburgh, Brother Mike joined the fraternity in 2010. “I really enjoy doing Degree work and mentoring. It’s not just steps and procedures,” he stated. “There is meaning behind every piece of it, and I enjoy passing that along and teaching that as well.”

Brother Mike leads a special project as the chairman of the museum and library for the Masonic Fund Society at the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center. “I enjoy the concept of preserving the history and the lessons and being able to pass that along,” he said. He hopes to turn the enormous number of books and artifacts housed at the Masonic Center into teachable exhibits and a research library for Masonic scholars.

Brother Mike works as a Public Affairs Specialist at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

An Army veteran, he is the spokesman for the VA and in Congressional relations. It is a duty that requires him to be on call at all times, ready to handle a crisis or the needs of veterans in the area.

How does Brother Mike shoulder such a heavy burden on an already busy schedule? Answer: he adds more weight! An avid power lifter in the CrossFit training system, he spends, on average, five to six hours a week at the gym.

“It is definitely a way for me to turn off for a little while and not worry about what else is going on or what needs to be done later that day or that week and focus on each lift as a particular moment,” he said. He also finds that a physical workout is good for the psyche, and the sense of community that goes along with CrossFit is the closest thing he has found to his physical training in the Army.

But as much time as he spends with others at work, in his shop, at the gym or in Lodge, Brother Mike finds his greatest passions to be in his family and his faith. “I take

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Pennsylvania Freemason

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Member Spotlight

great pride in the fact that I am one of only a handful of active Jewish members in what was Solomon Lodge [a predominantly Jewish lodge that merged with Dallas Lodge in December 2005] and also in terms of helping to pass that history along to new members,” he said.

He has made efforts to educate his Lodge in the history and symbolism shared between his faith and the fraternity, such as hosting a Passover Seder meal as an optional Lodge program for those interested in learning about one of the most important Jewish holidays. While

his faith keeps him rooted spiritually, it is his wife, Amy, who helps him stay grounded at home. “Amy keeps me balanced,” he said. “I have a habit of when I really get into something, I go all in. [Amy] keeps me connected with time and what I have going on. It’s something I recognize has been a challenge for me; actually, something that Masonry’s helped me with. Finding moderation is something I try and keep in mind in a lot of the things I do.” ... Passionate words from a man of many passions.

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FREEMASONRY TODAY

IN MEMORIUM DONALD L. ALBERT R.W. PAST GRAND SECRETARY FEB. 25, 1943 - MARCH 15, 2016 Born in Millersburg to the late Clarence and Thelma Albert, Brother Don resided in Boothwyn for the past 16 years with his wife of 17 years, Kathleen. He is also survived by his four children and five grandchildren.

Brother Don graduated from Millersburg Area High School and the Industrial Management Institute, an affiliate of Penn State University. Brother Don was employed by AMP, Inc., Harrisburg, as an engineer and project manager, retiring after 35 years of service.

He was a former member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hummelstown.

Brother Don was made a Mason in Euclid Lodge No. 698, Harrisburg, in 1968, where he served as Worshipful Master in 1974 (the lodge merged with Robert Burns Lodge No. 464 in 2001). He served as the Lodge’s Representative in Grand

Lodge for many years, and as District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District 2 in 1979. Brother Don served as Most Wise Master of Harrisburg Chapter of Rose Croix, A.A.S.R., 19821983, and was a member of many other appendant bodies.

He was coroneted a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33°, Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, in Boston in 1987.

In 1994, Brother Don was appointed to serve as Grand Marshal. He then served as R.W. Grand Secretary, 2000-2005.

He oversaw the creation of the first online data management service for the Lodges and was deeply involved in streamlining the petitioning process and recording system to fully capture the benefits of our first one-day Man-to-Mason Class in 2004.

He also created a simpler process for men to be easily restored to good Masonic standing after being suspended for nonpayment of dues.

Brother Don brought his love of history, tradition and research to the lessons and customs of Freemasonry during his service to the Grand Lodge, and he will be dearly missed.

SAMUEL C. WILLIAMSON INDUCTED INTO DEMOLAY HALL OF FAME

R.W. Past Grand Master Samuel C. Williamson (left) and fellow Hall of Fame Inductee Jim Steeg (right), best known for growing the Super Bowl into the world’s premiere sporting event.

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R.W. Past Grand Master Samuel C. Williamson was inducted into the DeMolay International Hall of Fame during the youth organization’s annual session, June 16-18, in San Diego.

During his term as Grand Master, 1982-1983, Brother Sam founded the Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation, which operates to support and promote leadership training to the Masonic-related youth groups. He has since served as chairman of the board of directors for the foundation.

In 1985, Brother Sam founded the Key Man Conference, a DeMolay leadership conference that brings members together from multiple jurisdictions to learn the basics of DeMolay. He was elected as an Active Member of DeMolay International in 1986, and in 1987, he became the Executive Officer for Pennsylvania DeMolay, a position he held until July 2000.

Brother Sam became the first recipient of the HODEGOS award in 2005, an award for distinguished adult service to youth presented by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. He remains very active with Pennsylvania DeMolay to this day.

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Pennsylvania Freemason

OUTREACH PROGRAM SEEKS PROFESSIONALS TO HELP THOSE IN NEED A substantial number of people who contact the Masonic Outreach Program need legal or financial advice (such as help with budgeting) and either are not sure how to obtain it or are not financially able to pay for services. The Outreach Program has coordinated professional panels who are available to give direction to distressed Brethren, their spouses, widows and other family members who are unable to retain these types of services.

Individuals with the ability to retain legal counsel or more extensive financial services may also be referred to the program for resources.

The panels have been very helpful over the past decade, and we thank those who have served in this capacity. Now, we need new members to continue this good work.

How Does it Work?

Calls are initially screened through the Outreach Program Office. If determined appropriate, they are referred to a professional on a panel based on the area of specialty needed and region of the state. The professional decides if he/she wants to work with individuals on a case-by-case basis.

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What Can YOU Do? We need attorneys and financial planners who are members of the fraternity, Eastern Star or family and friends of the Masonic Villages to seriously consider becoming a member of one of these panels to serve those in need of assistance.

Attorneys must be properly licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania to be enrolled in the program. We are requesting a two-year commitment, and depending on the number of panelists, we anticipate volunteers be asked to do one or two consultations a year.

Which Specialties are Needed?

1. General practice attorneys and attorneys in all specialties, including, but not limited to: eldercare, foreclosure and real estate, employment law, commercial transactions, bankruptcy, adoption, child support, Social Security and disability, insurance and benefits, wills and estates, personal injury 2. Financial planners If you are interested in learning more or volunteering, please provide your name, profession/specialty, Lodge or Chapter, address and phone to: outreach@masonicvillages. org or 1-800-462-7664.

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MASONIC EDUCATION

DEACONS ARE FROM MARS, WARDENS ARE FROM VENUS MANAGING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FREEMASONRY

by Seth Anthony, W.M., Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682, Elizabethtown It’s a fairly good bet that every member of the Fraternity in Pennsylvania, within the first 30 days of his membership, heard someone say, “You’ll get out of Freemasonry what you put in to it.” It’s a phrase that has become so cliché that it elicits groans from the sidelines and reminds one of purchasing a sack of fast food with the ubiquitous, “Have a good day” singing from the drive through window as you speed off. Yet, the phrase remains popular because it contains more than a granule of truth. Freemasonry, at its core, is a relationship. Like all relationships, it can be healthy or toxic. It remains your duty to manage it so that it’s a positive in your life, rather than a negative one.

One of the best analogies regarding a new, headstrong Mason is that of a young man with his first college girlfriend. You met her in a class with an interesting professor, you studied with her a couple of nights a week and finally, you started dating. She’s incredibly attractive, and you are protective of your relationship with her. You want to spend as much time as possible in her presence. Your infatuation with her is intense. Yet, like all relationships, the polish begins to wear off. You notice that she leaves her socks all over the floor. You wonder if she flirts with other men. Then you take a break for the summer, and you don’t see her for a couple of months, leaving you to wonder if the magic is gone. Where once a fiery passion burned, you now find yourself doubting and

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looking around for things to fill your time; the relationship has fizzled.

Every Brother comes to Freemasonry for a different reason. Some are enamored by the history and philosophy of the group. Others join because their friends are involved, and they see it as a great social outlet. Maybe your father or grandfather was a member and you’re looking to reconnect with them. Often times, it’s a combination of all of these factors. Whatever brought you to the fraternity, it becomes your duty to find what will keep you interested without burning yourself out.

More than one Lodge is guilty of taking that new, doeeyed Brother and plopping him into an officer’s station in hopes that he’ll move up. For some, this is exactly what they want – to feel involved and needed. For others, it’s a terrifying experience that they had hoped to avoid. While the Lodge means well, it’s a selfish institution at times, just like that college girlfriend could be. She wants you to go to her formal dance, but doesn’t understand why you want her to come to the game on Sunday. It’s up to each individual Brother to find the relationship that he wants to have with his Lodge and cultivate that.

Like any relationship in life, the interactions that you have with your Lodge are going to go up and down.

Perhaps you’ve been very involved, but suddenly your job changes, requiring you to work the evenings your Lodge meets. Obviously, this is going to impact your

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ability to be involved. How you personally manage these events is the key to keeping a positive relationship. If you just disappear and don’t let your Brothers know, they are obviously going to be concerned and probably hurt. They felt they had a bond with you, and then you disappeared.

Just as a girlfriend might react poorly to suddenly being shunned, so your Lodge might feel abandoned. But, if you take the time to explain to your Brothers your situation, then they will understand and can even support you during this transition. Just as with anything in life, openness and transparency will go a long way.

On the other hand, we can find Brothers who are so devoted to their Lodge, that they let their other relationships become affected by their zeal. Returning to the college girlfriend analogy, these are the guys who suddenly find themselves so wrapped up in their relationship that they stop doing things with their friends.

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No longer are there weekend outings or sports viewing parties. Rather, they are always with their girlfriend and let their other friends suffer in the process. Many a Mason has fallen into this trap, as well. If you want to be out every night each week at a Masonic function, the Fraternity will happily oblige. It will even fill up your weekends if you let it.

But, as the old saying goes, too much of a good thing can be just as unhealthy.

Every Brother must find the right mix between fraternal time and the rest of his life. Treat your relationship with your Lodge and your Brothers just as you would any other in your life, with trust and care, and you’ll have a long and proud career in Freemasonry.

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MASONIC EDUCATION

TIME MANAGEMENT TOOLS & TIPS

by Dennis J. Snedden, P.M., Centennial-Lafayette Lodge No. 544, Carnegie Whether you are a highly organized individual or just in need of a time management tune-up, this article is for you.

My intention is to: 1. Reaffirm your good habits/skills.

2. Remind you of what you used to do.

3. Point you in the right direction for improvement.

Top Six Time Management Working Tools Like any job, you need to have some working tools.

Here are my Top Six picks for you. Do you have and use: 1. A task list, a.k.a. an activity or to-do list? Without one, you are just kidding yourself if you want to do and be more.

2. A monthly calendar? I sure hope so. A monthly calendar is used for one thing and one thing only: your precommitted activities. Sometimes known as “Where your butt is going to be.” ... More on this later ...

3. A daily and/or weekly schedule? Generally speaking, daily schedulers need more details (and thus, more space to write) to operate effectively, while weekly schedulers generally need fewer details to operate at the same level of productivity.

4. A communications section/place to plan what you are going to say to someone or to a group and to record their responses? This is especially important if any follow up is needed by either party.

5. A system for planning, implementing and following up on all of the projects that you have going on? For all of your

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promises and commitments? This is especially important if numbers or dollars are involved.

6. One place to keep all of your contact information up to date? We all have lots of ways to get ahold of each other.

Do you know how the people you deal with most frequently prefer to be contacted?

Now, like some grocery stores, you are probably asking yourself, “paper or plastic?” “Should I use a paper based system or an electronic one?” With 30 years in the time management training business, my best insight is, “It depends, and it doesn’t matter.” Let me explain. It depends on the goals you have set for yourself, how committed (or over committed you are) and your projected timelines for achievement. And the best time managers I know usually use a combination of paper and electronic tools. What does matter is standardizing where you put what information.

The same types of information need to go to the same parts of your “system.” Tasks go here, contacts go there, and so on. We get in the most time management trouble when we use multiple input areas for the same information.

Top Five Time Management Tips 1. It is most useful to have monthly goals/targets, weekly plans and daily tasks. Given our Stated Meetings, those are easy to do in Freemasonry. A large part of the planning is done for us. If you are progressing through the chairs in Blue Lodge or any of the appendant bodies, what is required is pretty much mapped out. Mentor Program – same thing. Master Builder – same thing.

2. Most of us have a daily, two-hour window when we are the most productive. Once identified, be mindful of who and what you give that time to. Schedule your important, high payoff tasks then. You’ll cross off more of the right things more often. And it always feels good to cross things off.

Pennsylvania Freemason

3. Set Priorities. Separate what must get done from what should get done. Setting priorities isn’t about figuring out what to do, it is about figuring out what not to do. Setting priorities reduces the distractions of low value/low payoff tasks, and in a way, gives us permission to focus on those tasks that matter most that day/week.

4. Scheduling beats procrastination. Having tasks that matter identified, prioritized, sequenced and scheduled is the secret to personal productivity. Under scheduling, there are two types of “time,” clock time and event time. Clock time says, “Ding, it is now time for your 2 p.m. task.” Event time says, “I check my email right after lunch.” One is tied to a specific time, the other is tied to a specific activity.

Either way, you are taking action and crossing things off.

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5. Plan the day/week ahead of time. Give yourself the gift of a daily/weekly list. Getting it out of your head and clearly identifying what action you need to take and when is like having it 50% completed. Written down works best, followed by keying it in. As the wise man said, “You can’t do what you can’t remember.”

Brother Dennis has worked with groups and individuals to improve their productivity and personal organizational skills since 1986. A time management trainer, he is also an active adult leader in both the Rainbow and DeMolay programs.

Email contact preferred at snedden@aol.com.

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MASONIC EDUCATION - Masonic Temple & Masonic Library and Museum

MASONIC BOOK REVIEW “Managing the Future of Freemasonry: A book of optimism”

by Brother David West Reviewed by Cathy Giaimo, Assistant Librarian, The Masonic Library and Museum of PA Many books have been written on the future of Freemasonry and how to stem the flow of membership loss.

These are written to encourage Brothers to seek alternatives to the tried and true methods that no longer work to rebuild their lodges and engage others who may be interested in joining the fraternity. “Managing the Future of Freemasonry”

by Brother David West is similar to those books, but he digs deeper in examining the reasons for the decline in membership and the changes that need to be made for a lasting effect.

Brother West, a British Freemason, is primarily concerned with the state of Freemasonry in the United Kingdom. That being said, his book will be of interest to anyone wishing to engage in this matter and give his ideas serious thought. Brother West examines the social changes

that Britain went through beginning in the 1800s through the 20th century to the present day and the impact they had on Freemasonry. The rest of his book details how Freemasonry must remain true to its core values. Brother West also challenges the reader on the need to rethink traditions if the fraternity wants to attract a younger membership whose ideas and lives are not the same as those of the older generation.

Brother West has written a thoughtful, yet thoughtprovoking book on Freemasonry. He cites many matters that have troubled the fraternity in the past and the concerns he has for its future. Yet, he is optimistic that Freemasonry will ultimately adapt to change – one brother at a time.

If you are interested in “Managing the Future of Freemasonry” or other books by Brother West, please contact the library at 1-800-462-0430, ext. 1933 or visit the online catalog at www.pamasons.org.

VINTAGE BOOK OF MORMON DISPLAYED

by Glenys A. Waldman, Librarian, The Masonic Library & Museum of PA On the occasion of the opening and dedication of the new temple of the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) in Philadelphia in August and September, Brethren may be interested to know that The Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania has a 1842 Nauvoo (Illinois) printing of the Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith (1805-1844), founder of the Church. Originally published in 1829, this is a reprint of the third (1839) edition, using the same stereotype plates. It was the last one printed before Joseph Smith’s death in 1844. It is claimed that many of the symbols and ceremonies used by the Mormon Church are of Masonic origin. The angel Moroni is said to have revealed the Book of Mormon to him, written on golden plates, which he was able to transcribe by the use of “Urim and Thummim,” instruments of magical power. Smith was a Mason; he officiated as Grand Chaplain at the installation of the Nauvoo Lodge of Freemasons at the Grove near the Temple, where he received the first degree in Freemasonry. www.phoenixmasonry.org Many LDS members know the Library and Museum has a copy of the book and are thrilled to be able to hold it and have their pictures taken with the Volume of the Sacred Law. Some years ago, the Book was removed from display to be repaired and conserved; it now resides in a special box. We have been told that every other vintage copy is under lock and key. The Book of Mormon was donated to the Library in 1908 by Brother Edward R. Plankinton, P.M., Rising Star Lodge No. 126.

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Pennsylvania Freemason

IT’S ABOUT TIME

by P.J. Roup, District Deputy Grand Master - District 54

There are numerous ways to describe what we can do with our time. We can find time, make time and give time. We can also take time and spend time. As enamored as we are with these frequent aphorisms, have we ever paused to ask ourselves if any of them are really true? If we are honest, we aren’t really making it, we can’t really give ours to anyone else, and we certainly can’t take it from someone or spend it like currency.

In the end, we are all given the same allotment – 24 hours, or 1,440 minutes – to use as we see fit; a perfectly level playing field upon which each of us can build a life. It is in the choosing of how we use that allotment that determines our own satisfaction. Notice that I said satisfaction and not success. There are far too many ways to measure success, and each is too subjective. Success to one may be wealth; to another a large and happy family; still to another it may be easing the suffering of others. Your success and mine may be divergent, but in the end, if we’ve done it properly, we can both look back on our lives with some sense of satisfaction – grateful for the hours that we used to build a legacy, raise a family or help the needy.

We live in an age where we try to cram as many things as possible into every minute of the day. We sit around a table with friends while simultaneously chatting with other friends on our smartphones. We return emails while both talking on the phone

and watching our children compete at their chosen sports. Has that helped us to live better, fuller lives? I’ll leave that to you to decide for yourself, but I certainly think there is value in simply being present.

It amazes me that 300 years ago, early Freemasons saw the need to use the 24-inch gauge to remind men how best to organize and to use their time. With the comparatively slow pace of life, it hardly seems that it should have been necessary. Today is an altogether different story.

Take a moment and imagine how much better we would be if we spent eight hours a day at work, eight for rest and refreshment, and still had eight left to serve God and our fellow men. We would have more balance, more time to pursue our passions. In short, we would have more time to make a life.

Since it is not man’s fortune to know how many tomorrows he has, it’s important to begin now. Make every effort to order your time by the gauge. Increase your service to others. Endeavor to make the world better. Use the time you have to the fullest. Not by jamming multiple activities into every minute, but by being an owner of every minute. Instead of watching your granddaughter dance in the 3-inch screen of the iPhone you’re holding up to record it, watch her.

Instead of tweeting the scores of your son’s soccer game, enjoy it.

Don’t you think it’s about time?

ACADEMY OF MASONIC KNOWLEDGE

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Deike Auditorium, Freemasons Cultural Center, Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, PA Registration will open at 8:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 9:30 a.m. A lunch (requested contribution of $10) will be served at noon, and the program will be completed by 3 p.m. All Masons are welcome to attend. Dress is coat and tie.

Pre-registration is required. To pre-register, please send your name, address, Lodge number and telephone by email to: AMKSecretary@pagrandlodge.org. If you do not have access to email, please make your reservation through your Lodge Secretary. Please recognize that a cost is incurred to the program for your registration. If you pre-register and subsequently determine that you will be unable to attend, please have the Masonic courtesy to cancel your reservation by the same method and providing the same information.

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PHIL ANTHROPY - Help For Our Heroes

HELP FOR OUR HEROES CARING FOR BABY RILEY On April 7, Josh Osborn was on the way home from his final clinical before graduating from physical therapy school when he got a call that would change his life forever. His wife, Megan, pregnant for the first time with twins, was at home waiting with dinner made. Megan told Josh she was bleeding and needed to get to the hospital right away. Upon arrival, the couple was told Megan was in labor due to an abrupted placenta, and their twins were on the way at just 23 weeks and 6 days, nearly four months premature.

The next morning, Finley Rogue and Riley Joy were brought into the world by emergency c-section, weighing approximately 1 pound 5 ounces each.

Four hours later, just after meeting her parents, Finley Rogue went to Heaven. At that exact moment, the oxygen levels in Riley Joy’s blood began to drop. Caught in the midst of grief over losing Finley, Josh and Megan began to worry now for Riley’s life. Soon, she began hemorrhaging from her lungs and brain, but Riley kept fighting for her life. Over the next three weeks, Josh and Megan ate, slept and prayed at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Boardman, Ohio. Riley went through brain bleeding with clots, lung bleeds, a hole near her heart, kidney failure, a liver bleed causing increased jaundice, severe lung damage and had no digestive system activity.

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Two months later, Riley’s kidneys, digestive system and liver were all working perfectly, and her lungs had made significant improvements!

However, she was transferred to the Akron Children’s Hospital for a temporary shunt to be placed to stop the bleeding in her brain. She continued to require ventilator support for her lungs, and there was still a hole near her heart. Josh and Megan remained with their daughter each day, waiting and believing that she will be healed.

Hearing of their plight, First SGT Brother Scott A. Felentzer, P.M., Marion Lodge No. 562, Connellsville, contacted Col. and Brother Harris Brooks to see if Help for Our Heroes could assist his fellow Air Force Reservist. On June 17, Brother Scott visited the NICU to celebrate the family and the staff caring for Riley. The Osborns received the following gifts from Help for Our Heroes: clothing, toys, grooming products, diapers, a stroller with infant car seat, a toddler car seat, and a $400 gift card to a baby store. Through the March of Dimes, the Philips Company donated a breast pump and baby monitor.

To learn more about their story, follow “Riley Updates” on Facebook.

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SUPPORTING VETERANS IN THEIR TIME OF NEED Brother Matt Dohner, Brownstone Lodge No. 666, Hershey, recently presented an envelope full of grocery store cards to Sgt. Bonnie Henry, an Iraq War veteran suffering from a bone marrow disease. Sgt. Henry is receiving platelet replacement infusion at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in preparation for the extended treatment road ahead. The funds for the grocery cards came from Help for Our Heroes.

Sgt. Henry said she greatly appreciates the support because it will help her family make ends meet while she’s unable to work.

Veterans are Invited to Join the PA Masons Veterans Incentive Program www.pamasons.org/incentives Freemasons recognize that our freedom isn’t free. Every male veteran, including those servicemen who are in Active Duty, Reserves and/or Honorably Discharged, will have his initiation fees reduced by $50 from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and the Lodge he chooses to join, for a total savings of $100.

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PHIL ANTHROPY - Masonic Villages

“LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT” “Life is what you make it,” says the lovely white-haired woman as she basks in the afternoon sun.

At first glance, one might not guess that this well-dressed woman with manicured nails and stylish jewelry worked for decades in a factory during a time when most of her contemporaries stayed home to raise their children. “I’ve always liked nice things, and I didn’t like to ask anyone for them,” she stated. Her personal care suite is decorated with antique furniture and adornments.

Margaret moved to the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown with her husband, Henry, or “Roy” as most people called him, from Schwenksville in October 2014. They lived in a retirement living apartment until they decided they could use some extra help with daily needs. But just as they moved into their new suite last winter, Roy’s health declined. After a couple visits to the hospital, it was determined surgery was not an option, and Roy returned to the Masonic Village’s Transitional Care Unit in the Masonic Health Care Center.

Masonic Village Hospice started caring for him.

“It was the best experience you could have, if you have

to deal with something like that,” Cheryl Gamon, the Fritz’s daughter, said. “It was wonderful. From start to finish, the staff were there.”

Cheryl was most impressed with the Hospice care team.

“From the time we got there that night, they went over everything.

They were there every step of the way,” she recalled. Staff continually checked Roy’s pain levels and changed his positioning to make sure he was comfortable. “They brought a cart with drinks and snacks because we stayed there,” she said. “The chaplain came in, and he was great because he sat with mom and comforted dad. He even visited with mom after dad passed, and the bereavement counselor still checks on her and sends us literature [about the grieving process],” Cheryl added.

This wasn’t the first time the Fritzes experienced topnotch service. After a previous hospital stay, the driver who brought the couple back to their apartment delivered them dinners since they had missed the regular mealtime. It was during a snow storm, yet the following day, a nurse arrived in her daughter’s 4-wheel drive to check on Roy.

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Pennsylvania Freemason

“This is my new

life. I have a lot of

friends. I’m getting very good care.”

- Margaret Fritz

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Losing Roy was difficult after almost 63 years of marriage, but according to Cheryl, Margaret has always been a strong woman. “Mom is remarkable … she’s always been a social butterfly,” she said. The support she has received has also helped. “The nurses and everyone are great to her; anything she needs, she just asks, and they get it for her,” Cheryl attested.

Margaret likes her room, which she has filled with her own pictures, mirrors and decorations. “It makes her feel like she’s at home having all of her belongings,” Cheryl said.

Margaret now enjoys dining with friends and sitting outside afterward, browsing the gift shop, making crafts, gardening in the outdoor courtyard, taking trips to the café for ice cream, attending various social activities and visits from family. She’s also trying some exercise classes.

“It’s beautiful … mom loves this area, the charm and character of the old style buildings … and so do I.” Other family members do, too. Cheryl’s Aunt Kitty lives in retirement living and helped make the transition easier. Her Uncle Charles also resides in the Masonic Health Care Center.

“This is my new life,” Margaret Fritz said confidently. “I have a lot of friends. I’m getting very good care.”

CARE WHEN YOU NEED IT

With the recent extensive renovations to the nursing and personal care areas of the Masonic Health Care Center and Freemasons Building at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, resident suites and amenities have been greatly enhanced. While these areas have traditionally had long waiting lists, individuals now can often be accommodated within relatively short time frames. Anyone interested in these services/living areas, now or in the near future, should call 1-717-361-4552 or toll-free 1-800-422-1207 or email MVEadmissions@masonicvillages. org. (Note: Hospice contact information is different.)

Nursing Care Personalized around-the-clock nursing care; may include memory care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias within a secure environment. Assistance with personal hygiene, bathing, dressing, medication administration and activities of daily living 24 hours a day, as well as meals, recreational opportunities and social events.

Personal Care Limited assistance with personal hygiene, bathing, dressing, medication administration and activities of daily living 24 hours a day, as well as meals, recreational opportunities and social events.

Transitional Care Short-term rehabilitation after a hospitalization or extended illness with the goal of returning patients to their home on or off-campus as soon as possible. Specialized care for orthopedic conditions (hip fracture, total joint replacement, amputation); cardiac events (congestive heart failure, heart attack, coronary artery bypass grafting); strokes; respiratory conditions; diabetes complications; infections; and bariatric care.

Hospice Care Individualized care for patients with a life-limiting illness focusing on pain management and comfort at end-of-life.

Bereavement support is available for loved ones. Services are available at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, as well as in Lancaster, Dauphin, Lebanon and eastern York counties.

Call 717-367-1121, ext. 18449 or email MVHospice@ masonicvillages.org.

August 2016

Masonic Villages

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PHIL ANTHROPY - Masonic Charities

Dear Brothers, I recently heard of a brother who passed away, and sadly, his family could not afford his funeral costs. Fortunately, his Brothers paid for his service and burial through the Lodge’s Almoner’s Fund. It’s for situations like these that I’m pleased to announce the launch of the Pennsylvania Masons’ Member Benefits Program to ensure all our brethren can afford the coverage they need. The program makes insurance and other products available to many of our Brothers and their loved ones who may not otherwise be able to afford or qualify for them.

The Program offers a comprehensive product portfolio to Pennsylvania Masons. Through the program, Pennsylvania Masons will gain access to products that are not available to the general public at group negotiated rates. For example, all Pennsylvania Masons will soon have the opportunity to activate an Accidental Death benefit at no cost. Additionally, Pennsylvania Masons will have access to a variety of life insurance and travel assistance products and solutions. While we realize that not all Pennsylvania Masons will need these, I hope the program will be a valuable membership benefit for many Pennsylvania Masons.

You will start to receive member communications in the mail and through email in the coming weeks and months which will outline and explain the different products and services available through the program. I hope you will evaluate the benefits offered and consider whether they would be helpful to you and your family.

Sincerely and fraternally,

Raymond T. Dietz R.W. Grand Master

Endowment Campaign Benefits Masonic Charities Through bold vision and a steadfast plan for “securing our future,” the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania has launched an endowment campaign to raise $60 million in new, current and planned gifts through the Masonic Charities. The income generated by the endowment will be used to meet ongoing expenses, cover capital expenditures or fund special projects or programs.

Initially inspired by the fraternity’s historic values of responsibility, action and philanthropy, the mission and work

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of the Masonic Charities has now spanned centuries. Despite tremendous changes and constant challenges, this commitment to excellence and service has remained unchanging.

The Masonic Charities encompasses five distinct charitable organizations created to support the needs of the fraternity, its members and their families, as well as men, women and children of all ages, means and circumstances.

Today and for years to come, lives are changed through the benevolence of the Masonic Charities which are: Masonic Temple/Library and Museum of Pennsylvania Masonic Villages Masonic Children’s Home Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation Masonic Charities Fund As of May 31, more than $33 million has been raised. If you would like to be part of making history to secure the future for those served by the charities and future generations, please call the Masonic Charities Office of Gift Planning at 1-800-599-6454 for a brochure or to speak to a Gift Planner about gift options that work for you to support this campaign.

www.masoniccharitiespa.org

Pennsylvania Freemason

PENNSYLVANIA MASONS

Improving Literacy in PA through Family Involvement Through the generosity of Pennsylvania Masons, the Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation and the Masonic Villages’ Outreach Program, children in classrooms throughout the Commonwealth will benefit from the nationally-acclaimed Raising a Reader (RAR) program. This early literacy program provides books, materials, parent training and engagement support and library connections for vulnerable children and families. In this way, it strengthens families and empowers a generation of children to read, learn and succeed.

Based on a thorough review of need for and interest in the program, it was decided that RAR will be provided for 11 classrooms in the Woodland Hills School District (Masonic Region 4), six in the Mount Union School District (Region 3) and 12 in the Wilkes-Barre School District (Region 7).

The school districts were extremely thankful for PA

Masons’ support. “Oh my gosh, I am speechless!” wrote Al Johnson, Superintendent of Schools for the Woodland School District. “This is such a wonderful opportunity, and the Masons are such a legendary charitable organization.

In preparation for the new school year, training began in June for the school staff and Brethren volunteering to assist.

If your Lodge or District would like to support this program, please complete the donation form below and send to: Masonic Charities, Office of Gift Planning, One Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022. Please also share this opportunity with any businesses in your community that would like to provide support.

Please be sure to indicate your support is for the RAR program.

For additional information, contact the Masonic Outreach Program at 1-800-462-7664 or outreach@masonicvillages.org.

RESPONSE FORM Lodge, District or Individual Donor Name: __________________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________ City:_______________________________________ State:_________________ Zip:_______________________ Phone:________________________________________ Email:__________________________________ Donation Amount: ________________________________ Date:___________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Method of Payment:  Credit Card  Check (payable to: Masonic Charities)  Visa  MasterCard  American Express Account No.:________________________ Expiration Date: ____________ 3-digit Security Code:_______ The official registration and financial information of Masonic Charities may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

RAR-2016

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Raising a Reader

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PHIL ANTHROPY - Masonic Villages

MEET OUR MASONIC VILLAGES Living the Good Life: One Glass at a Time The Masonic Villages are home to more than 2,832 residents across the state. Each person brings a wealth of life experiences to share with others.

In a series of articles, we’ll highlight some of these unique individuals and how their move to Masonic Villages has changed their lives.

When life gives you grapes, make wine! At least that’s Brother Dick and Donna Brandt’s motto.

For nine years, the Brandts have been perfecting their wine making process, from fermenting to bottling to labeling – and with wine comes family, friends, gatherings and fun, of course.

After selling their home, the couple has continued their love for entertaining well into their retirement at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, inviting their friends weekly for drinks on the patio.

When the Brandts moved into their apartment in July 2014, they knew they wanted a spacious place to store and make wine, so they turned one of their guest room closets into a mini winery. Nestled beneath racks and a large fermenting bottle reads a sign, “Women do not live by

chocolate alone. That’s why there’s wine.”

“That sign symbolizes my retirement,” Donna said.

“It’s just fun to be here and be carefree.”

Neighbors have joined the Brandts in living carefree, as well.

“Our friends are getting to know our ‘Sycamore South Winery’ pretty well, and we love it,” Bro. Dick said. “We joked about moving here to keep all the old people young, but that certainly didn’t need to happen!”

Not only is there fun at Masonic Village, but the Brandts have a sense of security, too.

“People always ask what they can do for you. Staff are great, and if something should happen, you know you’re in good hands,” Donna said.

“When we tell people we moved to Masonic Village, we always get ‘Why, what happened?’ The answer is nothing happened,” Brother Dick said. “We advise people to come here when they’re young enough to enjoy it and continue their hobbies.”

The Brandts have never sold a bottle of their wine, and they’re not planning to, either. Their homemade wine is only given out for free, especially their favorite bottles of Liebfraumilch. In the future, the couple hopes to start a

EXPLORE THE MASONIC VILLAGE OF YOUR CHOICE MASONIC VILLAGE AT DALLAS 36 Ridgway Drive, Dallas, PA 1-570-675-1866 or 1-866-851-4243 MVDmarketing@masonicvillages.org

MASONIC VILLAGE AT LAFAYETTE HILL 801 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA 1-610-828-5760 MVLHmarketing@masonicvillages.org

MASONIC VILLAGE AT ELIZABETHTOWN One Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 1-800-676-6452 MVEmarketing@masonicvillages.org

MASONIC VILLAGE AT SEWICKLEY 1000 Masonic Drive, Sewickley, PA 1-412-749-6862 or 1-866-872-0664 MVSmarketing@masonicvillages.org

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Masonic Villages

www.masonicvillages.org

Pennsylvania Freemason

wine making club on campus.

When they’re not making wine, Brother Dick and Donna enjoy volunteering and working out at the wellness center on campus. They also visit local attractions such as Hershey’s GIANT Center, where they attend various shows.

“We’re just so happy here,” Brother Dick, a member of Brownstone Lodge No. 666, Hershey; Zembo Shriners and

the Hershey Shrine Club, said. “Masonic Village is truly based on Masonic values.”

Come join the Brandts while they enjoy the sweet taste of retirement. The wine is always good, and the people are always friendly.

Where Caring is a Tradition The Masonic Village at Warminster’s Masonic Eastern Star Home provides residents with comfort, companionship and a life of dignity and security. The staff is dedicated to providing each resident a gratifying lifestyle while accommodating individual needs.

Offering quality nursing care and personal care services, the mission of the Masonic Village at Warminster includes serving individuals in Philadelphia County who are day-one Medicaid recipients.

For a tour or for more information, call 215-672-2500, or email MVWadmissions@masonicvillages.org 850 Norristown Road • Warminster, PA 18974

August 2016

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PHIL ANTHROPY - Masonic Charities

ALWAYS GIVING BACK

Brother Luther A. Zarfoss, II, P.M., Red Lion Lodge No. 649, and his wife, Kim, are always on the move … always giving back.

Both retired teachers after more than 30 years in the profession, the Zarfosses volunteer at the York County SPCA and are active in St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, York. Kim also volunteers at the Kaltreider-Benfer Library, York County, and is an active member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International York Chapter, which promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. They were long-term volunteers with public broadcasting station WITF and charter members of its endowment club, and Brother Luther also helped with the United Way of York County’s capital campaign during part of his tenure with Glatfelter Insurance Group, an eight-year career he began after teaching. When the Zarfosses aren’t lending a helping hand, they can be found golfing, walking and hiking, and Kim enjoys her book club.

An active Mason whose father and uncles were also members of the Craft, Brother Luther knew that when he and Kim started looking at places to move after living in their Dallastown home for 38 years, the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown would be at the top of their list.

“Having been a Past Master and dealing with Masonry, I’ve always had the impression things are done well and thoroughly, and that builds a sense of trust,” Brother Luther

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said. “If I’m moving somewhere, I feel most comfortable dealing with this organization. Living nearby in York all these years, I’ve noticed that nothing about the campus has deteriorated over time – it’s the same or improved, and you can’t say that now about a lot of places.”

“It’s a beautiful campus, and there’s lots to do,” Kim added, noting the couple’s excitement about the new wellness center.

“I also like the fact that once we move in, no matter how our health may deteriorate, we can stay here.”

The Zarfosses are anticipating a move into a cottage sometime in 2017. “We want to come and enjoy it while we can; we don’t want to wait too long,” Kim explained.

Just as the Zarfosses give back to their community in various ways, they also support the Masonic Charities.

Members of the Franklin Legacy Society*, they have disclosed a bequest for the Masonic Villages. They also support the Masonic Children’s Home. “We’ve seen what can happen with kids if they’re just given a chance,” Kim said.

If you would like to plan for a future that reflects your values, interests and priorities, consider including one or more of the Masonic Charities as a charitable beneficiary in your Will or living trust. Please contact the Office of Gift Planning at 1-800-599-6454 or giving@masonicvillages. org. The bequest can be structured in a variety of ways: you can elect to leave one or more of the Masonic Charities a specific dollar amount, a set percentage of the total value of your estate or the remainder of your estate after you have provided for family and friends. A Masonic Charities Gift Planner would be happy to assist you with specific wording. *A society of visionaries whose benevolence ensures the continuation of the mission of the Masonic Charities. Members are recognized through invitations to special events, naming on a special donor wall, receiving of distinctive lapel pin and book clock, etc.

www.masoniccharitiespa.org

Pennsylvania Freemason

DOES THE VOLATILE STOCK MARKET HAVE YOU DOWN? Feeling Uneasy About Your Financial Circumstances?

We work hard to save all our life for retirement, and as we reach our golden years, the volatility of the stock market can be unsettling. What can we do to find some certainty in our financial lives? If you are charitably inclined to help one of the Masonic Charities and want a stable income for life, a charitable gift annuity may be just the ticket for you.

The answer lies, first and foremost, in the reason for any charitable gift: the donor believes in the charitable organization. He or she also realizes the charity needs the support even more during tough times.

The other reason, though, is surprising: it is the bad market that causes some people to take action in charitable giving. The financial uncertainty in recent months makes a guaranteed lifetime income stream at very attractive rates look mighty good. Such an income stream is offered by charitable gifts of $5,000 and above – permanent, guaranteed, fixed income at very appealing rates.

Sound too good to be true? Not at all. This income stream has been available in charitable giving since the 1850s, and hundreds of Masonic donors are now enjoying it. The charitable gift annuity offers rates often 4% to 6% higher than CDs, stock dividends or some other common investments. Even better, much of the income is tax-free.

Additional benefits include a substantial tax deduction and capital gains tax savings if an appreciated asset is used.

A gift annuity is primarily a charitable gift made by philanthropic people. But for those who want a guaranteed stable lifetime income as part of their financial picture, it is a very rewarding type of gift in more ways than one. Gift annuities can benefit one or two people.

What about the many people who can’t part with any money now, but still want to support Masonic Charities? A bequest is the ideal solution. They keep all their assets for their lifetime, and then only after they pass on does Masonic Charities benefit.

For more personalized information regarding the benefits of a gift annuity, at no cost or obligation, please call the Masonic Charities at 1-800-599-6454, or mail the reply form.

SAMPLE GUARANTEED LIFETIME RATES For One Life

Age 70 75 77 81 85 90+

Rate 5.1% 5.8% 6.2% 7.0% 7.8% 9.0%

For Two Lives

Age 70 & 75 75 & 80 78 & 81 83 & 83 85 & 87 85 & 90

Rate 4.8% 5.3% 5.6% 6.3% 7.0% 7.3%

Note: This is a partial listing. Rates exist for any combination of ages. Minimum contribution $5,000. Minimum age 65.

COMPLETE AND MAIL THIS FORM TO:

Office of Gift Planning, One Masonic Dr., Elizabethtown, PA 17022 I would like more information, with no obligation. Please:  Let me/us know my/our rate, income and other benefits from a Masonic Charities Charitable Gift Annuity.

(There is no obligation.)  Send me a benefits illustration using the following information: My birth date____________ Spouse’s birth date____________ (if a two-life annuity) Dollar amount(s) _________________ ($5,000 minimum) If you are considering using appreciated stock for a gift annuity, estimate your cost basis in dollars__________________________  Please call me to answer my questions.

My phone (

) _________________________

 I /we need to hold onto my/our assets during my/our lifetimes(s), but may consider a bequest in my/our will. Please send me/ us information on this.  I/we have already included a Masonic Charity in my/our will.

Please let me/us know the benefits of having done so.

Comments or other instructions __________________________ ______________________________________________________ Name(s)_______________________________________________ Address___________________________________________ City___________________ State_______ Zip______________ Telephone:( )_________________________________ Email:_____________________________________________

Financial information about Masonic Charities can be obtained by contacting us at 1-800-599-6454. In addition, Masonic Charities is required to file financial information with several states. Colorado: Colorado residents may obtain copies of registration and financial documents from the office of the Secretary of State, (303) 894-2680, http://www.sos.state.co.us/. Florida: SC No. 00774, A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-HELP-FLA. Georgia: full and fair description of the programs and activities of Masonic Charities and its financial statement are available upon request at the address indicated above. Illinois: Contracts and reports regarding Masonic Charities are on file with the Illinois Attorney General. Maryland: For the cost of postage and copying, documents and information filed under the Maryland charitable organizations laws can be obtained from the Secretary of State, Charitable Division, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401, (800) 825-4510. Michigan: MICS No. 11796 Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Masonic Charities may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 1-888-236-6167. New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY CALLING (973) 504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ocp.htm#charity. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT. New York: A copy of the latest annual report can be obtained from the organization or from the Office of the Attorney General by writing the Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-888-830-4989. Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Masonic Charities may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999.

Virginia: Financial statements are available from the State Office of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218. Washington: The notice of solicitation required by the Charitable Solicitation Act is on file with the Washington Secretary of State, and information relating to financial affairs of Masonic Charities is available from the Secretary of State, and the toll-free number for Washington residents: 1-800-332-4483. West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. REGISTRATION IN THE ABOVE STATES DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION OF MASONIC CHARITIES BY THE STATE.

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PHIL ANTHROPY - Masonic Villages

YOUTH APPRECIATION DAY 2016 At the 93rd annual Youth Appreciation Day, held on May 20, the children were honored for their hard work and accomplishments. Recognized for their athletics, citizenship, creativity, scholarship and vocation, each of the 38 children were called to the stage to receive awards.

Donors, children’s home staff and school officials were also recognized throughout the day for the large role they play in the children’s lives.

Grand Master Raymond T. Dietz spoke of the ripple effect the children’s home creates: “What we do for these children passes along. They, in turn, give back. Thousands of children have been affected by the good things we do here. Knowing that Pennsylvania Masons have had the opportunity to impact so many lives over the past century makes me extremely proud to be part of this great fraternity.”

Alumni and 2016 college graduates Brother Michael Moyer (pictured above, left) and Charity Hess (pictured above, right) spoke about the effect the children’s home staff and donors’ generosity had on their futures.

A graduate of Drexel University with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, Brother Michael has accepted a position at Lockheed Martin, a global security and aerospace company, in King of Prussia. Although he has had many successes, things weren’t always easy for the 2011 children’s home graduate.

Thinking back to his 9-year-old self, Brother Michael questioned not only his future, but his confidence and abilities.

Fortunately, his life turned around after moving to the children’s home.

“To those of you who are Brothers and donors, I thank you with all of my heart,” Brother Michael said. “I have reached the potential that could not have been realized without the children’s home you support.” He advised the youth: “Study hard, because education is truly the key to success. Don’t ever let anyone tell

you that you are unable to do something, because the only thing limiting what you can accomplish is your own mind.”

Brother Michael is already taking steps to give back to the community through the same organization that gave him the resources to excel. He is a member of Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682, Elizabethtown, because of his experience at the children’s home. “Masons are capable of helping make a better foundation for children’s futures and significantly impacting the community,” he said.

Charity, a 2013 graduate, arrived at the children’s home in 2005 as a nervous and concerned 6-year-old.

“Growing up, I didn’t think college would ever be an option for me.” Charity said. “I’ve always been a big dreamer, and the children’s home made those dreams a possibility. Now, I’m beginning to make them a reality.”

During her time at the children’s home, Charity focused on school, enjoyed friends and created lasting memories. She was a member of Job’s Daughters, Bethel No. 15, Elizabethtown, and volunteered in the community. Upon graduation, Charity attended Delaware Valley College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in biology with a specialization in zoology.

She plans to join the Coast Guard and earn a master’s degree in marine science.

“The house parents and tutors held me accountable and pushed me to excel in everything I did, but always remained supportive when I fell short,” she said. “Everyone became a second family to me, and I will always have those relationships to lean on.”

Curious about the Masonic Children’s Home? Check out our latest video at MasonicChildrensHome.org to hear what the kids, staff and community members have to say about the opportunities and memories the program creates daily.

www.masonicvillages.org

Pennsylvania Freemason

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Qty Item Masonic Village At Elizabethtown 5 Annual wellness memberships 4 Puzzle tables Trees - gifts in memory of loved ones 4 Storage cabinets for games, activity supplies, etc.

10 Isolation carts 11 Bose stereo systems 5 Electric lift recliners 3 Chair scales 13 Vital signs machines (automated) 2 Beds - specialty for resident mobility 1 Dining room table & chairs 1 Ceramic kiln/nursing & personal care residents 1 Patio furniture set for personal care residents 2 Gazebos for memory care residents 1 Pharmacy delivery vehicle Children’s’ Home 2 Computer desks 11 College books (stipend) Barnstormers game Hersheypark trip Camps/excursions Wildwood, N.J. shore trip Hospice 5 Donations for transportation costs 5 Gift cards to local spa 5 Hospitality cart supplies 2 Special events bus trip cost Week at the shore Bleiler Caring Cottage 8 Adirondack chairs Folding chairs for gatherings New fire pit New office furniture New window blinds New family/living room furniture Masonic Village At Lafayette Hill Allentown band 1 LifePack CR Plus Harvest Ball event Masonic Village At Sewickley 1 Hand rail tilt and roll scale 1 Camel lift 1 4 Channel E Stimulation (electric) Masonic Village At Dallas 1 Cot or roll away bed 1 Sound system 2 Awnings (retractable) Masonic Village At Warminster Needs Phillies game trip 1 Raised garden bed 1 Rock-n-Go wheelchair 2 Digital vital sign monitors 1 Broda wheelchair 1 Pergola with awning August 2016

Unit Cost $120 $150 $250-500 $300 $800 $1,100 $1,200 $2,000 $3,500 $3,700 $4,500 $5,000 $5,000 $8,000 $15,000 $200 $1,000 $1,500 $2,250 $3,500 $5,950 $100 $100 $100 $150 $1,500 $100 $300 $300 $1,500 $2,500 $3,500 $1,400 $1,900 $2,500 $1,550 $3,000 $4,400 $250 $600 $2,300 $600 $1,200 $1,400 $1,864 $2,550 $6,000

MASONIC VILLAGES’

2016

WISH LIST ITEMS OFFICE OF GIFT PLANNING

1-800-599-6454

Thank you to the following individuals who have provided for the following items since the last issue: Masonic Village at Elizabethtown Julie Bitzer: Musical instruments Brother Richard Holt: Electric lift recliner D. Jane Kurtz: Various items Brother Lester Sutter: Silent alarm systems Hospice Brother Samuel Cole: Gift cards to local restaurants/diners, tickets

to local baseball game Brother Joseph P. Darlington, Jr.: Tickets to local baseball game Vicky Gillmore: Hospitality cart supplies Kathleen Ziegler: Tickets to local baseball game Masonic Children’s Home Boyd Watterson Asset Management: Sponsor for the Phillies game Christenson Investment Partners: Sponsor for the Phillies game Brother Mason and Joy Crawford: Soccer net Brother Wayne and Nancylee Garafola: Various items Kennedy Capital Management, Inc.: Sponsor for the Phillies game Woody and Louise McDaniel: Soccer net Brother Richard and Judi McKnight: Various items Brother George and A. Lucille Meissner: College books Mill Creek Capital Advisors, LLP: Sponsor for the Phillies game Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, LLP: Sponsor for the

Phillies game Retirement Living Craft Group: Various items Charles T. Rodgers, III: Musical instruments Brother Frederick and Mary Jane Sample: College books Leatrice Warner: Computer desks Bleiler Caring Cottage Creations by Open Hands (Elaine Bleiler): Future camp trips for residents There is an all-inclusive wish list posted on the Masonic Charities website at www.MasonicCharitiesPA.org, or feel free to contact the Office of Gift Planning at 1-800-599-6454. Please note that if funds donated for any item listed are over- subscribed, the funds will be used for additional wish list items or needs in the same service area.

Masonic Charities

www.masoniccharitiespa.org 35

Thousands of Reasons

to Invite Good Men to Be Masons!

And a Special Gift For You

New Member Incentive Program www.pamasons.org/incentives

Invite a worthy man to become a Mason, and not only will you offer him the gift of membership, but you will be rewarded for your efforts, as well! After your candidate receives his First Degree, you, as the firstline signer, will be credited with 60 points through the new Pennsylvania Masons’ Incentive Program.

You can choose to do one of three things: 1. Accrue your points to receive a specific gift, 2. Immediately receive merchandise displayed on the incentive program website or 3. Donate your points to the Masonic Children’s Home, where the points will be used to select gifts for the youth who reside there!

In addition, a member will receive a new Masonic tie for each of the first four petitions on which he is a first-line signer once the candidate receives his Third Degree!

Join us for a One Day Masonic Journey October 29, 2016 www.bapamason.com