Freemason - May 2011

The Pennsylvania

May 2011 • Volume LVIII No. 2

The Wind Beneath the Wings of Pennsylvania Freemasonry

The Ladies of the Grand Lodge

Save The Date!

Schedule

10:00 A.M. Anticipated Open Installation of Jay W. Smith as Right Worshipful Grand Master Free Luncheon (Immediately Following Installation; Reservations Requested) 5:30 P.M. Cash Bar Reception 6:30 P.M. Dinner (Advanced Tickets Required)

Tuesday, December 27, 2011 Hershey Lodge & Convention Center, Hershey, PA

The installation, luncheon and banquet are open to the public.

Please invite your spouse, family and friends to attend along with you.

Entertainment Cost: $50.00 Per Person

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ENTERTAINMENT BY AARON KELLY At age 17, Aaron is the youngest contestant to ever reach the top 5 on the popular show, “American Idol®.” For years, Aaron has performed professionally, opening shows for Emerson Drive, Aaron Tippin, Bill Anderson, Loretta Lynn and David Ball. He has sung with Martina McBride, Charlie Daniels and the Marshall Tucker Band, among others. This summer, he and his band will be touring the country while he writes songs for his upcoming album.

Ticket and reservation information will be available in the August issue of “The Pennsylvania Freemason.”

ONLINE PAYMENT OPTION In a move toward modernizing the business side of Freemasonry, the Grand Lodge has put into place a method by which your lodge can now receive funds from members electronically. In his inaugural speech, Grand Master Thomas K. Sturgeon promised that: “In order to bring our dues payment method up to modern times and help with cash flow, every lodge will be able to receive a member’s dues by use of a credit or debit card. For convenience and efficiency, all members will be encouraged to participate in an automatic withdrawal from their credit card each year for their dues.”

As of today, this possibility is in place for those lodges that have signed up to receive payments from credit cards and from Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfers directly from bank accounts. It goes beyond payments for dues. The enrolled lodges also can receive funds for lodge activities and contributions to the lodge and its charitable programs. Additionally, members may make direct payments to any of the Masonic Charities, as well.

Another feature of this program is that members may establish recurring payments on a scheduled basis toward their dues or contributions to lodge and Pennsylvania

Masonic Charities. If your lodge is planning a trip, and is accepting payments toward the balance of the cost of the excursion, this is an ideal way for members to make timed payments toward a larger total cost.

To use this service, lodge members must sign into the MEMBER SERVICES module of the www.pagrandlodge.org website, which can be accessed from the gray button on the lower right-hand side of the Grand Lodge Home page, or by visiting www2.pagrandlodge.org/services.

Members who have already created an identity to use the on-line Masonic Employment Center or the Business Directory can sign in and immediately access the new Payment Center. Members who have NOT yet registered for an account and received a user name and password, can sign in by entering the details requested and creating a Member Services account. To do this, they will need their Grand Lodge-assigned member number, which, for now, must be acquired from their Lodge Secretary.

Beginning in 2012, member numbers will be included on the Grand Lodge-provided Dues Cards which are available to all Secretaries for distribution.

When members enter the Payment Center, they will find an option to make a payment to Pennsylvania Masonic Charities. If their

Lodge Secretary has completed the paperwork to authorize the receipt of payments into the lodge checking account from credit cards and from ACH transfers, the lodge name and number will also appear as an option. If they are members of multiple lodges that have signed up for this service, then multiple lodges may be listed to choose from.

Completing the process is SAFE AND SECURE. When you reach the screen that asks you to enter account details, you will be on a secure server and entering the data directly into MYPRISMPAY.COM, which is our partner in providing this easy and 100 percent secure service. The Grand Lodge does NOT collect or save your account details.

This service is available to ALL members, and every lodge is being encouraged to sign up. This is a method of doing business that many of our members use for their work and for their personal finances. Not everyone will want to take advantage of it, but now that it is available, many members will use it. Lodge Secretaries have received detailed instructions at the Grand Secretary’s annual seminars on how this new program can simplify and speed up the dues collection process.

THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON® VOL. LVIII, MAY 2011, NO. 2

©2011 The R.W. Grand Lodge F.&A.M. of PA

Inside this Issue...

EDITORIAL BOARD Chairman Thomas K. Sturgeon, R.W.G.M. Jay W. Smith, R.W.D.G.M. Robert J. Bateman, R.W.S.G.W. Raymond T. Dietz, R.W.J.G.W. Jeffrey W. Coy, R.W.G.T. Mark A. Haines, R.W.G.S. EDITORIAL STAFF Tina L. Raybold - Production Coordinator Rich Johnson - Graphic Designer Thomas R. Labagh - Executive Director, PMYF, Consultant Masonic Library & Museum of PA Staff (Publication No. USPS 426-140) May 2011 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 The Pennsylvania Freemason ® or e-mailed to pafreemason@ masonicvillagespa.org. Except by special arrangement, all articles, photographs and artwork become the property of the Grand Lodge.

4 Grand Lodge

• Q & A with the Grand Master • June 2011 Quarterly Communication • The Wind Beneath Our Wings • Regional One Day Masonic Journeys • Adopt a Resident • Help for Our Heroes

12 Lodge and District

• PA Freemasonry in the Philadelphia Region • Random Acts of Kindness • Lodge Community Service Initiatives • Happenings Around the State • Mason Receives Blessed Gift of Life • Congratulations to... • Annual Eastern PA Family Picnic • Two Honored as Masons at Sight

Published by the Masonic Villages, owned and operated by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons 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.

23 Pennsylvania Freemason

• Cautions in Estate Planning • Meeting in the Hills • A Modern Day Renaissance Man

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP (Act of Oct. 23, 1962; Section 4369; Title 39, United States Code) May 1, 2011, 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: Thomas K. Sturgeon. 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 134,000 each quarter.

I certify that the statements made by me are correct and complete.

Thomas K. Sturgeon, 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@masonicvillagespa.org.

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

25 PA Masonic Youth Foundation

• Masonic Unity Youth Weekend • More than Just Meetings • PA Rainbow Grows in Several Ways

28 Masonic Villages

• 2011 Wish List Items • PA Masons Reunite in Florida • A Home is Built with Love and Dreams

COVER PHOTO by Bro. Bruce R. Leven. Pictured left-right are Karen Haines, wife of Mark A. Haines, R.W. Grand Secretary; Nancy Smith, wife of Jay W. Smith, R.W. Deputy Grand Master; Joan Sturgeon, wife of Thomas K. Sturgeon, R.W. Grand Master; Joanne Bateman, wife of Robert J. Bateman, R.W. Senior Grand Warden; Jo Anne Coy, wife of Jeffrey W. Coy, R.W. Grand Treasurer; and Lynn Dietz, wife of Raymond T. Dietz, R.W. Junior Grand Warden.

Save a Tree

Subscribe to the online edition! www.pagrandlodge.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 e-mailing pafreemason@masonicvillagespa.org. An electronic version of the magazine is also available online at www.pagrandlodge.org.

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Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

The Grand Master’s

QUESTION: During your term, you appear to have been more inclusive of women. Why do you feel this is an important element of the 21st Century Masonic Renaissance?

ANSWER: We ask our brethren to spend quality time in lodge and doing lodge activities.

Officers invest an even greater commitment to complete their responsibilities. In the process, their ladies make a great sacrifice, whether it be less family time, taking on more household chores or assisting in various capacities. Therefore, I believe we owe it to them to be as inclusive and transparent as possible so they may understand and support the work, charity and goodwill their husbands do in the name of Freemasonry.

In fact, I feel our ladies are such an important aspect of our 21st Century Masonic Renaissance that they deserve to be recognized on the cover of our magazine. The wives of the Grand Lodge officers pictured represent the many thousands of ladies who volunteer behind the scenes by assisting in lodge kitchens, with fundraisers, youth groups, or helping to plan and organize events. As your Grand

Master, I’ve spent about 250-300 nights a year away from home; I’m not ashamed to show recognition to my wife for her support.

The month of May often makes me think of Mother’s Day and those women, some mothers and some not, who mean the most to me. Many of us have supportive ladies who nurture our children, put the love in our homes, support us in our careers and even champion our efforts in Freemasonry. Let’s remember to honor them not only today, but always.

QUESTION: Why are we planning regional One Day Masonic Journey events this year? Are we over-exposing/making entrance into the fraternity too easy?

ANSWER: I am very proud of what I consider to be a very successful One Day Masonic Journey last year, which played a big part in yielding our first membership increase in 50 years.

We have received some excellent feedback and have heard from members “old” and “new” that this convenient option is both

appreciated and rewarding.

We must keep our doors open to men who work nights, or who have tremendous family, work, church or community commitments.

If you know of a quality man who fits one or more of these descriptions, I encourage you to invite him to join either traditionally or through a regional One Day Masonic Journey.

Please refer to p. 7 to see the schedule in progress for these classes.

I continue to be a strong believer in regional degree conferrals performed by all-star degree teams. The most important thing we can do for a new candidate in this fraternity is to honor him with the very best ritual possible.

Finally, it is vital that we continue to build our membership in our fraternity to ensure and sustain our fraternal and financial obligations.

For example, my home lodge, Oakdale Lodge No. 669, gained 39 members last year, so no increase in dues was necessary. This goes to show that an increase in membership makes the lodge more financially stable and more affordable for members, while at the same time welcoming new men, new ideas and new energy into the fraternity.

GR AND LODGE

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

QUESTION: Is it fair to say more men are learning the ritual since we’ve printed it?

ANSWER: I have had quite a few brethren personally thank me for making it easier to learn the ritual, and many have told me they would never have tried to learn it otherwise, because previously it appeared overwhelming.

Bro. Larry Buzzard, Director of Ritualistic Work, has affirmed my expectations. “Yes, there have been more brethren learning the work since the manual was issued,” he said. He obtains this information from the sectional meetings of the Schools of Instruction’s Principal Instructors in each region of the state.

“I have not heard comments about it being easier to learn, but there have been comments about it taking less time because of the flexibility they now have to learn at their own pace,” Bro. Buzzard said. “Just this past weekend at the Harrisburg Sectional School, a brother exemplified a degree on the floor who had learned it from the manual in less than six months, and I might add he only had one mistake in the dialogue.

“The manual is very beneficial to members in the northern part of the state, who sometimes would need to travel long distances to find someone to teach them the work,” Bro. Buzzard continued. “I have also heard, and been told personally, that some of those who already know the degrees are requesting the use of the manuals to make sure they have the work correctly.

“Unfortunately, there is no sure way to know the exact number of brethren it has benefited to this day. In my opinion, the manual is working the way it was intended and is a benefit to the fraternity,” he concluded.

I consider that a successful response!

Grand Master appoints State Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery as an Aide to the Grand Master … Under the watchful eye of Brother Ben Franklin

The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania Announces the June 2011

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION The June Quarterly Communication, open to all Master Masons, will be held at the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center on

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, AT 10 A.M.

Lunch will be provided immediately following the meeting. Masonic dress is required.

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Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

The Wind Beneath Our Wings Let’s face it, brethren. Oftentimes in the name of charity or community goodwill, our lodges undertake large projects only to realize that without our ladies pitching in, they may not have come to fruition. One may liken our ladies to the lyrics in the Bette Midler song, “Wind Beneath My Wings.”        In 1994, the late R.W. Past Grand Master W. Scott Stoner came up with an idea to hold an ox roast to help Casiphia Lodge No. 551, Mount Joy, build up its charity fund. The event was catered at the Donegal Masonic Center for a few years, but the lodge has prepared and cooked its own ox ever since.

Bro. Stoner’s wife, Phyllis, and his sisters, Sharon Stoner and Jocelyn Kline, have assisted with the event over the years, alongside some other mainstay helpers including: Nancy Smith, wife of Bro. Jay W. Smith, R.W.D.G.M.; Nancy Smith, wife of Secretary Bro. Jay V. Smith; Beulah Shank; Doris Wickenheiser; Judy Baker; Rochelle Derr; Peg Hamm; Cindy Jerman; and numerous others.

The ox roast is a two-day event, usually held the first weekend in August. On Friday afternoon and evening, the volunteers prepare the food and on Saturday, they serve approximately 750 meals in the banquet hall and in take-out containers. It takes a lot of helping hands to roast and slice the meat, prep the sweet corn and potatoes, clean off the tables, wash the dishes and ensure the center is kept spotless.

Casiphia Lodge No. 551 has been very fortunate to have these hard-working ladies participate in this event and numerous other lodge activities. Since the first ox roast, the lodge has raised approximately $50,000 toward its charity fund. In 2010, the lodge name changed to Ashara-Casiphia Lodge No. 551 due to a merger with Ashara Lodge No. 398, Marietta.        A few miles away, in the Lancaster Masonic Center, Bro. Willis M. Hackman, MSA, 33°, a member of Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682, Elizabethtown, heads up a bi-annual pie baking fundraiser to benefit the Lancaster Children’s Dyslexia Center housed within its walls.

Just in time for Easter and Thanksgiving, members of Lancaster-area lodges come together to make, bake and sell pies of a variety of flavors and options, including freshly-baked, frozen and even sugar-free.

Volunteers recently completed 1,754 pies for this Easter season. In the fall, baked apple dumplings and chicken corn soup are

a wide variety of worthy charities including: Multiple Sclerosis, cancer research and support, Arthritis Fund, Heart Fund, Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Shriners Hospitals for Children, orphanages, scholarship funds for students going to school for religious training, veterans hospitals, Masonic Villages, Masonic youth groups and many others within the Grand Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania. Proceeds from Caring and Sharing and Homes Committees’ Luncheons and Bazaars provide for members in need through the Fraternal Fund.

For more information about the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania, visit www.paeasternstar.org. available as well. From 2002-2010, the sale of more than 15,000 baked goods and soup generated a profit of more than $141,000 to benefit the Children’s Dyslexia Center.

But it’s not easy.

According to Bro. Bruce H. Jackson, P.M., more than 100 volunteers sign up to help get the enormous job done. It requires man (and woman) power to plan, schedule helpers, solicit sponsors for donations, purchase and mix ingredients, label and pack boxes, promote and deliver the pies, and of course, clean up.

“Brethren bring their wives, children, friends and neighbors to help,” he said. “It’s about 50/50 men and women.” In fact, three of the most instrumental members of the formal fundraising committee are women who take charge of paperwork, analyze orders and make sure supply fits the demand.        While many women quietly champion the values and efforts of Freemasonry behind the scenes, others choose to join Masonic-related organizations like the Order of the Eastern Star, Order of the Amaranth or Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem.

ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both women and men may belong. There are approximately 1 million members under the General Grand Chapter worldwide, and approximately 40,000 members in Pennsylvania alone.

Members strive to exemplify high principles, care for and serve members and others, and learn character-building lessons through ritual work. The organization is charitable, educational and scientific, and is dedicated to charity, truth and loving kindness.

Eastern Star Chapters donate funds to

ORDER OF THE AMARANTH Members of the Order of the Amaranth are reminded of their duties to God, country,and fellow beings. All are urged to portray their belief in the “Golden Rule” and in truth, faith, wisdom and charity, the virtues of the Order, while extending fraternal friendship to those in need.

In 1979, this dedicated philanthropic organization established the Trust Fund, “Amaranth Diabetes Foundation, Inc.,” in order to focus its charity work on one major project. The foundation funds grants for researchers studying the various causes and effects of diabetes. The American Diabetes Association oversees the selection of eligible researchers.

To learn more about The Grand Court of Pennsylvania, visit www.paamaranth.org.

ORDER OF THE WHITE SHRINE OF JERUSALEM The White Shrine is an international not-for-profit organization with Shrines throughout the United States and Canada.

The term “White” refers to the purity of the life of Jesus Christ. Members must profess not only a belief in God, but also in Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of the world.

The Order does not replace the Church, but enriches its teachings.

The White Shrine’s aim is to bring together men and women of high moral and social character to share their desire to spread the Gospel, aid and assist those less fortunate and create enjoyable experiences for themselves.

The White Shrine holds regular meetings, social activities and fundraising projects to assist those in need of rehabilitation, regardless of race, creed, sect or gender.

For more information about the Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, visit www.supremeshrine.org/Pennsylvania.html.

GR AND LODGE

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

Regional One Day Masonic Journeys Planned in 2011 The 2010 One Day Masonic Journey was a great success due to the hard work of all of our brethren who participated and made Pennsylvania Freemasonry stronger. Continuing in this positive growth trend through the 21st Century Masonic Renaissance, R.W. Grand Master Thomas K. Sturgeon is authorizing and encouraging every district to conduct a one-time regional One Day Masonic Journey.

The locations of the One Day Journeys are being determined by the District Deputy Grand Masters (DDGM). Multiple districts are encouraged to join together by geographical region, if they so choose.

Each region/location may select the date of its choice. Only the three Symbolic or Blue Lodge Degrees will be conferred on this day, unless the Scottish Rite or the Shrine wish to participate.

The Scottish Rite may choose to have the same participation as last year or may choose to have a reunion following each One Day Masonic Journey. The Shrine also may choose to have the same participation as last year or may choose to have a ceremonial following this One Day Masonic Journey. The ASSR and the Shrine will be given an allotment of time during the day to make a presentation and show a video, etc.

The Scottish Rite, Shrine, York Rite bodies and Tall Cedars of Lebanon are permitted to have a table in the lobby at the various locations holding a One Day Masonic Journey.

The decision on payment for lunch will be made by the lead DDGM for each location.

A Regional Instructor of the Ritualistic Work will cover each location. The process of selecting the Degree teams will be the same as last year. Proficiency before advancement to the next Degree will not be required; however, lodges are required to have members available to instruct candidates on the day of the journeys.

Lodges will be responsible for the necessary mentors as they were last year. The lead DDGM is responsible for registration of the lodge candidates within his district. Each lodge should be represented during registration. The “host lodge” for each location will open and close the Degrees and perform the courtesy Degrees on behalf of all lodges represented. This will not be a Grand Lodge Communication as it was last year. The Grand Master is encouraging the lodges to have Special Meetings prior to the One Day Masonic Journey to receive and ballot on petitions in accordance with Masonic Law. The petitions must be received by the lodge and read at a lodge meeting, a Committee of Inquiry must complete an investigation and report to the lodge, and a ballot must be held. All petitions must be presented in the usual format by the cut-off date in order to complete the requirements prior to the One Day Masonic Journey.

• Anyone who would like to complete the balance of his Degrees may do so at the One Day Masonic Journey.

• Approved petitioners may be held for the One Day Masonic Journey regardless of their date of approval, waiving the six-month rule.

• The petitioner can receive all three Degrees at the regional location that is most convenient for him, regardless of which lodge he petitions.

• As always, a new petitioner may choose to progress through the Degrees in the traditional fashion, if desired.

Tentative Schedule of One Day Masonic Journeys as of April 26 Date April 30 Sept. 10 Sept. 17 Sept. 24 Oct. 1 Oct. 8

Oct. 15

Oct. 22

Oct. 29

Nov. 5

Nov. 12 Nov. 29

District(s) 2, 3 42, 2, 3 19 17, 22, 33 49 7 16 36 9 13 37 50 1, 60 14 15 18 20 25 31 34 35 41 45 59 24 26, 53 27 30 52 12 46 47, 54, 55 58 21 A, B, C, D, 8

Location Grand Lodge, Philadelphia York Masonic Center Newport Lodge No. 381 Coudersport Consistory To Be Determined Reading Masonic Center Masonic Temple, Towanda Masonic Temple, Springfield To Be Determined Masonic Temple, Scranton St. James Lodge No. 457, Beaver Tentative, To Be Determined Lancaster Masonic Center Salem Lodge No. 330, Hamlin Warren Lodge No. 240, Montrose To Be Determined Masonic Temple, Altoona Masonic Temple, Hollidaysburg Masonic Temple, Meadville Masonic Temple, Uniontown Masonic Temple, Hollidaysburg Caldwell Consistory, Bloomsburg Masonic Temple, Altoona Tamaqua Lodge No. 238 Acacia Lodge No. 579, Taylor Masonic Temple, Erie New Castle Consistory Masonic Temple, Kittanning Greensburg Masonic Center To Be Determined Masonic Temple, Wilkes-Barre Masonic Temple, Sunbury Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center Ashland Lodge No. 294 Clearfield Lodge No. 314 Grand Lodge, Philadelphia

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Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

Adopt-A-Resident: Give a Priceless Gift & Hope

Bro. Rick Fisher with Libby Rothgaber at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown

A Birthday Surprise Amidst an array of photographs adorning the wall and side table, one image stands out from the rest. Bright pink and gold sweep across the image as dozens of women pose in elaborate matching dresses making up Harrisburg’s Sweet Adelines Chorus. Along the right of the group, stands a glowing young Libby Rothgaber. She was a member of this award-winning singing and dancing sensation which took her throughout the United States for 26 years.

Now, many years later, Rothgaber has traded in her performance attire for beautiful jewelry, and her beauty, charisma and poise remain unscathed by the years.

As a resident of the Masonic Health Care Center at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, Rothgaber’s room is a testament to her life. A large photo of her pride and joy – her late son – with a sheepdog puppy hangs on the wall. On the precisely made bed sits Boisee, a stuffed Old English Sheepdog, and Muffin, a smaller stuffed dog, to keep him company. A chiming clock, a birthday gift from her son, gently rings a tune every hour.

Several dolls from her earlier doll collection are on display. A schedule of activities rests on her

table so she does not miss out on the events she loves – bell choir; music classes with Ann and Jen; ceramics class, a newer hobby; wheelchair square dancing; and making flower arrangements for the dining room. A petite floral basket music box sits next to the schedule.

The music box was a Valentine’s Day gift this year from Williamson Lodge No. 309, Downingtown, as part of the Adopt-A-Resident program. When opened, it chimes the melody from the Stevie Wonder song: I just called to say I love you I just called to say how much I care I just called to say I love you And I mean it from the bottom of my heart Bro. Rick Fisher, P.M., commenced the lodge’s initial involvement in the Grand Master’s initiative. “My aunt was a resident at Masonic Village, and she received such wonderful care,” Bro. Fisher said of his inspiration to participate in the Adopt-A-Resident program. “I desired to see that everyone had a family that would visit.”

Rothgaber’s family now consists of a few friends from Sweet Adelines, former neighbors and friends she’s made at the Masonic Village.

Last year on her birthday, a new group of friends showered her with love. Besides “Happy Birthday” sung by the Masonic Village staff and residents in her neighborhood and the joy of picking whatever she wanted from the menu for the day, Rothgaber received some surprises. In the morning, a card came for her from Williamson Lodge. “It was wonderful, but I had mixed emotions,” Rothgaber confessed. She couldn’t figure out who these lodge members were, and why they were honoring her in this way.

Later in the day, the assistant in the neighborhood told Rothgaber that a gentleman wanted to stop by to visit. Rothgaber and Bro. Fisher visited for more than an hour. “He is a very nice gentleman,” Rothgaber said. “I had a good time talking with him.” He even brought Rothgaber a cake with pink icing flowers, a treat that everyone at her dinner table appreciated later that day. As her final surprise, the lodge gave Rothgaber a gift certificate for an extra appointment at the hair salon.

Since Bro. Fisher has given updates at lodge meetings, more brothers have approached him to get involved. Financially, Williamson Lodge cannot support as many charities as it wishes it could, but what it lacks in funds, it makes up for with heart. The Adopt-A-Resident program is a perfect way to give a priceless gift.

“It’s been more about what Libby’s done for me than what I’ve done for her,” Bro. Fisher admits. When he was the Lodge Secretary, Christmastime could be difficult because of the many logistical lodge matters to attend to. “I got the most wonderful Christmas card from Libby.

It turned my holiday around!” Bro. Fisher said.       

Relationships Are Mutually Rewarding In Western Pennsylvania, Masonic Village at Sewickley resident Jim Phipps is busy. “We have a really great activities program here,” he affirmed. Phipps sings in the choir, does some solo work and helps the music therapists plan music programs featuring all types of music including big band, classical, country and Broadway. In his “spare time,” Phipps calls bingo games for other residents and plays bridge.

Recently, he has added a new friend to his repertoire - Bro. Greg Kobasa, P.M., Infinity Lodge No. 546, Verona. As the former Worshipful Master, Bro. Kobasa initiated his lodge’s involvement in the Adopt-A-Resident program last fall. “It was something the Grand Master wanted, and we thought it would be a good idea. Masonic Village isn’t too far from where we live, and we thought it would be a nice thing to do.”

Bro. Kobasa contacted Ann Beck, one of the Adopt-A-Resident program coordinators,

GR AND LODGE

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

Bro. Will Pepperman, W.M.; Jim Phipps; and Bro. Gregory Kobasa, P.M., celebrate Jim’s birthday. and she suggested adopting Phipps. Bro. Kobasa and Bro. Howard McFarland, Lodge Treasurer, learned that Phipps liked the Steelers, so the men took a Steelers blanket and a box of candy for him when they visited. “He’s a very interesting man, and we enjoyed the visit,” Bro. Kobasa said.

The brethren also had the opportunity to meet Phipps’s wife, Anne. When the former Valley Care Nursing Center was being built at the site of the Masonic Village, Anne served on the committee that made it happen. “When the Masons took it over a few years ago, we were sure this was where we wanted to live,” Phipps said. He and Anne moved into a villa in the retirement living area of the campus in 2003.

Years passed, and now Anne lives in the personal care building, while Phipps resides in the nursing services area. Though they no longer live under the same roof, “We’re together a lot,” he said.

“We eat together, attend activities together and play bridge together.”

Since Bro. Kobasa first visited, he has called Phipps several times to see how he’s doing and encouraged lodge members to send cards at Christmas. For Phipps’ birthday, Bro. Kobasa introduced Bro. Will Pepperman, W.M., to Phipps and celebrated with cake and small presents.

“For us, it’s rewarding to be there, to help and to be someone else in Jim’s life,” Bro. Kobasa said.       

Strengthen the Masonic Connection Bro. Tracy Miller, P.M., Myrtle Lodge No. 316, Franklin, and plural member of Doric Lodge No. 630, Sewickley, was shooting clay birds at Castlewood Rod and Gun Club in 2009 when he first met Bro. Robert Grine, Harmony Lodge No. 429, Zelienople. Not long thereafter, Bro. Miller attended a lodge meeting at Harmony Lodge.

When the Grand Master initiated the AdoptA-Resident program, Bro. Allen Householder, the Worshipful Master of Harmony Lodge at the time, and other lodge members decided to adopt Bro. Miller since they had made a connection with him. “I hear a lot of good things about Tracy at Masonic Village,” Bro. Householder said.

During a lodge meeting that Bro. Miller attended, Bro. Householder announced that Harmony Lodge wanted to adopt him and asked if he would accept. “I’m very honored that the lodge would want to do that,” Bro. Miller said.

For Harmony Lodge, adopting Bro. Miller meant befriending him and helping to support his network of connections to Freemasonry.

The lodge sent Bro. Miller and his wife, Sandra, complimentary tickets to its annual ox roast last Labor Day. They presented him with his Grand Lodge Proficiency Pin, and Bro. Householder had dinner with the couple one evening. He also stays in contact with Bro. Miller via telephone.

Bro. Miller’s passion is supporting the men, Masons and non-Masons alike, who live in the personal care and nursing care areas at the Masonic Village at Sewickley. With fellow resident Bro. Dave Rihl, Doric Lodge, Bro. Miller co-chaired the creation of the Enchanted Evening. For this program, the women in the personal care and nursing areas get dressed up for an elegant dinner party while the men gather together for games, pizza and beer. Residents look forward to the special event annually. Last year, Bro. Miller invited Bro. Householder and Bro. Grine to help, and they were happy to offer their support and were astonished by the magnitude of the project.

Bros. Tracy Miller and Dave Rihl at the Enchanted Evening. Grand Master Sturgeon presented them with the Grand Master’s Award of Excellence.

For lodges that might feel they lack creativity when it comes to adopting a resident, Bro. Miller stressed, “Lodges can get involved with existing programs at the Masonic Village.”

For instance, the William Slater II Master Masons Club plans and coordinates programs to give men in the personal care and nursing areas an opportunity to leave the campus and participate in events they have always loved. Activities include a trip the day after Father’s Day to the Ambridge Sportsman Club, where residents can enjoy a picnic and fish with one-on-one support from staff and Masons; a Washington Wild Things baseball game; and trips to restaurants and eateries like Eat’n Park or Bruster’s, among other events and programs.

William D. McIlroy Lodge No. 269, Pittsburgh, and Doric Lodge both hold their stated meetings at the Masonic Village at Sewickley once a year, so Masons who cannot otherwise travel to lodge can be present. The members commit to arriving early and staying late to help Masons with transportation difficulties to attend.

While he’s a resident, Bro. Miller also serves

as a tour guide and volunteer at Masonic Village.

“My role that I play here at Masonic Village is to get the outside lodges acquainted with the Village and show them how they can get involved here for the benefit of the residents,” he said.       

Your Lodge Can Do It, Too! Could your lodge adopt a resident and commit to helping him attend lodge meetings?

Could you visit and participate in an activity on campus with him? Would you stop by on his birthday and ask how Freemasonry has affected his life? Would you make his wife or friends feel special by helping them all attend an event on campus together? As a group, can you fellowship over a picnic lunch or take a walk outside? Can you make the presentation of Masonic pins and awards a special occasion for your adopted resident?

The answer should be a resounding, “YES!” Whether your lodge is financially thriving and full of creativity or you’re keeping your head above water and feeling unsure about how to support residents at the Masonic Village, the Adopt-A-Resident program is one way you can show your Masonic pride and dedication. You never know, you may even get something in return!

“I’ve been to many senior facilities, and in my experience, Masonic Village is one-of-a-kind,” Bro. Fisher said. “It’s a place of hope. I have never, ever, been there for a visit that I haven’t come out smiling.”

If your lodge does not know whom to adopt, the Adopt-A-Resident program coordinators listed below can help you connect with a resident or a resident couple. If your lodge has adopted a resident, but has not contacted an Adopt-AResident program coordinator at one of the Masonic Villages, please contact an individual listed. It is important for the Masonic Village to keep track of who has been adopted so the program coordinators can make recommendations to other inquiring lodges.

Masonic Village at Elizabethtown: Cynthia Hollinger: (717) 367-1121, ext. 33175 or cholling@masonicvillagespa.org Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill: Lynn Christ: (610) 825-6100, ext. 1271 or lchrist@masonicvillagespa.org Masonic Village at Sewickley: Ann Beck: (412) 741-1400, ext. 3200 or abeck@masonicvillagespa.org Cindy Stefl: (412) 741-1400, ext. 3600 or cstefl@masonicvillagespa.org Masonic Village at Warminster: Anne Maher: (215) 672-2500, ext. 112 or amaher@masonicvillagespa.org Joyce Wadsworth: (215) 672-2500, ext. 116 or jwadswor@masonicvillagespa.org

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Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

Left-right: Dania Sargent, Executive Director of the March of Dimes, Southern New Jersey; Betsy Zicari, Family Support Services Consultant at McGuire Air Force Base assisting with the baby showers under the direction of TSgt Kevin Casciano (sitting next to her); R.W. Grand Master Thomas K. Sturgeon; Col. and Bro. Harris Brooks; Kathy Boggan, Sr. V.P. for March of Dimes; and Rebecca Smith and Laren Perlmutter, also from the March of Dimes.

HELP FOR OUR HEROES Through your faithful generosity, Pennsylvania Freemasonry’s support for our troops has evolved to respond to their changing needs.

While we continue to provide calling cards to those deploying for and serving overseas and to those being cared for in the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, the overall demand for the cards has decreased. The need for support in other ways, however, has been brought to our attention.

And in true Masonic fashion, Pennsylvania Freemasons are stepping up to the task.

The Help for Our Heroes program has expanded to include three exciting new programs.

Baby Showers for Expectant Military Families Imagine the thrill of receiving the news that you’re going to be a parent! Ahead of you lies a lifetime of hopes and dreams for this new member of your family. What will you name her? Will he look like mom, dad or a combination of both? Wonder what sport he’ll play? What will she be when she grows up?

Your next thought brings you back to reality.

Your job, your duty to your country, requires you or your spouse to be hundreds or even thousands of miles away while that precious child is growing in his mother’s womb.

While on assignment, communication will be limited.

You may or may not be able to be present for the miracle that is birth.

Filled with a mix of worry and excitement, you embrace your responsibilities, understanding and accepting the many risks and hardships the military life entails.

But always at the forefront of your mind is: Will our baby be healthy?

How will we be able to afford to provide our baby food, clothing and other necessities?

What an incredible sacrifice!

And yet, many of our troops and their families face this reality every day.

“Having a baby is a joyful experience, but it also can be stressful,” said Bro. and Col. Harris Books. “Being in the military, either as a serviceperson or as the spouse of a serviceperson, can cause extra stress.

During pregnancy, excessive stress is a major contributing factor to premature birth. We want to do all we can to educate mothersto-be to reduce that risk.”

In addition to heading up the Help for Our Heroes program for the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Bro. Brooks also serves on the national board of trustees for the March of Dimes. He knows that support for pregnant military moms is a major area of need. To

devise a way to fulfill this need through the Grand Lodge Help for Our Heroes program, he worked with the Family Support Services personnel at McGuire Air Force Base, the same people he works with to help distribute the calling cards.

Parenting classes are regularly scheduled at McGuire Air Force Base for expectant mothers every other month; families of those serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines are eligible. Following each parenting class, the March of Dimes will help coordinate a baby shower.

“One of the missions of the March of Dimes is to provide education to expectant mothers about healthy lifestyle choices during pregnancy, Bro. Brooks said. “These baby showers offer the perfect opportunity to address important issues such as proper nutrition, not smoking during pregnancy, etc.” The first shower is planned for June.

Your donations will provide each family $1,000 worth of baby products. This will include enough formula and diapers to last a year, as well as grooming products, basic clothing, and even a stroller and two car seats to accommodate the baby as he grows.

And that’s just the beginning.

Since many of their husbands are deployed and therefore not at home, many of these mothers-to-be live alone. Therefore, 20

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Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

Air Force sergeants will be on hand to put everything together for the women. Fire police will certify that the car seats are properly installed in each woman’s vehicle.

“We’re going to provide them with basically everything they need to be ready for when the baby comes,” R.W. Grand Master Thomas K. Sturgeon said. “It’s a meaningful way to show our appreciation for the sacrifice these families are making for our freedom. It’s only right that as our troops are fighting for us overseas, they have comfort in knowing those of us back home are taking care of their loved ones.”

“While our military are serving overseas in harm’s way, our goal is that they will not have to worry financially for the first year of the child’s life,” Bro. Brooks said.

Pennsylvania Masons Support Veterans Courts The Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom wars are now the longest in the U.S. history, and have yielded many veterans who return with instances of drug dependence, post traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and related problems. Like the veterans of prior eras, the transition from military to civilian life can be a challenging adjustment. As a result, veterans are overrepresented when it comes to psychosocial problems such as substance abuse, unemployment, homelessness, economic hardship and suicide. They are also overrepresented in our jails, as one out of 10 people incarcerated is a military veteran.

Many of Pennsylvania’s one million veterans are not aware of their eligibility for medical or mental health benefits provided by the government. Feeling helpless as a result of their struggle with drug abuse and/or mental health issues, some come into contact with the criminal justice system.

In recognition of our veterans’ service to our country and their unique risks upon

returning from duty, veterans courts are a growing movement in Pennsylvania as well as across the United States. The Pennsylvania statewide task force on veterans and the criminal justice system in Pennsylvania is co-chaired by Bro. and Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Seamus P. McCaffery, a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, former U.S. Marine and Philadelphia police officer, and Michael E. Moreland, Director of Veterans Integrated Services Network.

Veterans courts are specialized courts reserved for non-violent veteran defendants charged with misdemeanor or felony offenses.

Once a veteran offender is accepted into the program, he is referred to Veterans Affairs’ care and is paired with a volunteer veteran mentor, who can help him through his criminal case and help him gain a more productive place in the civilian world. During this rigorous probation sentence, veterans receive intense supervision from probation officers and are required to appear at frequent intervals before a judge.

Veterans who are ready, willing and able to abide by the court sanctions and make the necessary changes in their lives through intervention, services and treatment, may have their charges dismissed upon successful completion of the program. Others are assured of an alternative sentence to prison upon conclusion.

The program has already seen success.

Its recidivism rate is only 15 percent, much lower than that of traditional court models.

It also helps curb overall costs by providing an alternative to costly taxpayer-funded incarceration.

Funding is always a key concern. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania has agreed to provide $20,000, through Help for Our Heroes, to implement a statewide online training program for volunteer veteran mentors who desire to help other veterans through their struggles.

Left-right: Bro. and PA Supreme Court Justice Seamus P. McCaffery, Bro. Sam Freeman, P.M., R.W. Grand Master Thomas K. Sturgeon and Col. and Bro. Harris Brooks. Not pictured: Bro. Anthony Stefanski. Bros. McCaffery and Brooks served together in the Air Force Homeland Defense and have come together again to provide Help for Our Heroes. Bros. McCaffery, Freeman, Brooks and Stefanski are all members of Brotherhood Lodge No. 126, Philadelphia.

Another significant concern is the courts’ ability to provide quality mentors for the project. Any Masons who are qualified are strongly encouraged to consider becoming mentors for this program. More information about this opportunity will soon come through the District Deputy Grand Masters.

Bringing Telemedicine to Military Families Since Dover Air Force Base in Delaware does not have its own hospital, it has partnered with several community hospitals and the A.I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Del., to provide pediatric care and services to the families residing there. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, through Help for Our Heroes, has committed to providing a $40,000 grant toward a telemedicine program to facilitate high quality, lower-cost and more convenient services.

Once the telemedicine system is in place, a primary care physician at the base will be able to communicate remotely with a specialist at the A.I. duPont Hospital through interactive audiovisual media. Together, the physicians can consult, complete examinations and sometimes even perform medical procedures.

The technology, developed by the military to guide the hands of surgeons caring for injured military in the field, will improve access to healthcare for patients at the Air Force Base since they can be seen by a specialist without having to travel. It also increases healthcare efficiency through better management of chronic diseases, shared health professional staffing and fewer or shorter hospital stays.

“Freemasons have a fervent love for our country and most especially for those willing to lay down their lives to protect us,” Grand Master Sturgeon said.

Left-right: Aleks Caskper, State Director for March of Dimes in Delaware; Jay Greenspan, M.D., Director of Pediatrics for A.I. duPont Institute and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; R.W. Grand Master Thomas K. Sturgeon; Amanda Young, Executive Director of the March of Dimes in Eastern PA; and Eric Gibson, M.D., Associate Professor for Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at A.I. duPont Institute and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

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LODGE AND DISTRICT

Pennsylvania Freemasonry in the Philadelphia Region

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011 Egyptian Hall

“Every Pennsylvania Mason is a part owner of the world’s greatest Masonic structure at One North Broad Street in Philadelphia.” – Thomas K. Sturgeon, R.W. Grand Master

Corinthian Hall

Norman Hall

Renaissance Hall

Ionic Hall

LODGE AND DISTRICT

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

In November 1682, William Penn created the first three counties in Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester. The people and Masons of this region shaped our country. These resilient Masons, grounded in patriotism and brotherly love, helped to lay the cornerstone of Freemasonry in the Western World.

Bro. Benjamin Franklin published the earliest authentic record of the introduction of Freemasonry in the United States. “The Pennsylvania Gazette” for Thursday, Dec. 3 to Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1730, stated that Masons had erected several lodges in this Province.

Indeed, Philadelphia became the mother city of Freemasonry as the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was the first formed in America in 1731. It declared its independence from the Grand Lodge of England in 1786.

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY

Philadelphia was one of the first planned cities in the new world and served as the county seat and capital of the Province. The “City of Brotherly Love” was the most economically-sound city in America until New York City surpassed it around 1830. However, it retained its leadership in transportation and manufacturing textiles, shoes, ships, trains and machinery.

Since its constitution on Aug. 3, 1780, Lodge No. 9 has never gone dark. During that time, it has cared for children of deceased members, financially supported widows, provided firewood and food for the needy and assumed burial expenses in cases of financial distress. During its 150th anniversary, the lodge’s membership reached 980. From the crash of the stock market in Oct. 1929 to the onset of World War II in Sept. 1939, the lodge disbursed more than $16,000 for benevolent purposes, which has about $230,000 in buying power today.

After 99 years of meeting in the Masonic Temple, on Sept. 1, 1972, Lodge No. 9 held its first meeting in the Tacony Masonic Temple, where it meets today. “Sharing a building with other lodges makes it easy to visit each other’s lodge meetings,” Bro. Philip Batula, Secretary, said. The lodge is now home to about 290 members and provides a scholarship program for members and donates to various local charities. To support the Masonic Children’s Home, Lodge No. 9 hosts a banquet and silent auction in June, and throws an annual holiday party for the children.

Of the 32 lodges in Philadelphia County, 24 meet at the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia. Bro. James H. Windrim, Philadelphia-Potter Lodge No. 72 (constituted Jan. 14, 1797), designed the Masonic Temple, which was dedicated on Sept.

26, 1873. A year later, on July 4, 1874, then-R.W. Grand Master Alfred R. Potter laid the cornerstone of City Hall across the street from the Temple. Bro. John McArthur Jr., assisted by Bro. Thomas U. Walter, designed this prominent landmark featuring a statue of William Penn at the top of the tower.

Columbia Lodge No. 91, constituted on Sept.

7, 1801, weathered the anti-Masonic sentiments, sometimes called the Dark Age of Freemasonry, that flooded the nation from 1826 to the mid-

1830s. Masons who remained part of the lodge during this period were called “Adhering Masons.”

Columbia Lodge provided three Grand Masters to Pennsylvania Freemasonry – Bros. Samuel Badger, Samuel H. Perkins and Samuel C. Perkins. Bro. Julius F. Sachse served as librarian, curator and historian of the Grand Lodge at the turn of the 20th century and was recognized as one of the nation’s premier historians on Freemasonry. He gathered many of the items now in the Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania.

On Feb. 19, 1810, 13 members of Washington Lodge No. 59 (constituted June 24, 1793) consecrated St. John’s Lodge No. 115. During the Dark Age of Freemasonry, the lodge considered joining Lodge No. 2, but after World War I, 116 men were initiated. In Dec. 1985, Perkins Lodge No. 402 merged with St. John’s Lodge. “St. John’s is in many ways very unique. We draw our membership mostly from the people who work in Philadelphia, so our lodge is very diverse. We form very strong bonds of fraternity among our members, and we have strong connections with other lodges,” Bro. David Director, P.M., Secretary, said. “Masonic education and the discussion of Masonic philosophy and how it relates to our lives and the making of good men are of great importance.”

St. John’s Lodge provides financially for both the Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation and Shriners Hospitals. “We’ve had a tremendous revitalization of the lodge in recent years,” Bro. Director said. In 2010, the lodge celebrated its 200th anniversary and initiated 31 new members – a lodge record since the end of World War II. This year, the 200 members have embarked on the exciting challenge of integrating new members and mentoring them to become active participants in the lodge.

Robert A. Lamberton Lodge No. 487, constituted March 1, 1871, the smallest lodge in this region, was named after Bro. Robert Lamberton, R.W. Grand Master in 1869-1870. It focused on charity by aiding brothers affected by the 1871 Chicago fire and the 1889 Johnstown flood. The lodge became famous for its elaborate celebrations and, after World War I, its musical showcases. The lodge recovered from the Great Depression’s financial strain and continued the lavish celebrations through the 1950s when the lodge had 600 members. By the 1970s, with the social trend of families moving to the suburbs, the lodge had fewer than 350 members and could no longer afford to hold extravagant banquets. As of 2010, membership stood at 70.

Fernwood Lodge No. 543 was constituted Dec. 9, 1875, on the second floor of a schoolhouse.

When it outgrew the space, Masons and community members alike helped to fund the construction of a lodge building where the members met for 21 years until a fire destroyed it. The records, which were at the secretary’s home, were the only items saved. Beginning in 1898, the lodge met at the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia. At the climax of its membership in the 1930s, Fernwood Lodge had 1,150 members. During World War II, the

lodge formed the Fernwood Masonic Military and Naval Service Committee, which sought to provide comfort to 35 members and sons of members serving in the war. The committee sent letters with newspaper clippings and/or “The Fernwood Newsletter” every week. In 1943, District B collected 725 radios, and before they were sent to hospitalized veterans, a member of Fernwood Lodge repaired the broken ones. Last year, about 10 new men were initiated, and the lodge now has approximately 200 members. “We have men of a variety of ages in our lodge, and in coming years, I’d like to see more young people coming out and joining the fraternity,” Bro. Ronald Laub, Secretary, said. Most recently, members of Fernwood Lodge participated in a 5K run/3K walk to support an organ donor charity.

Only eight lodges in Philadelphia County meet outside of the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia. Those lodges include Hiram Lodge No. 81, constituted May 24, 1800, and Palestine-Roxborough Lodge No. 135, constituted April 16, 1813. Meeting at the Tacony Masonic Temple, the other six are: Lodge No. 9; Widener-Apollo-Kensington Lodge No. 211, constituted April 30, 1827; Frankford Lodge No. 292, constituted Dec. 19, 1854; Jerusalem Lodge No. 506, constituted March 23, 1872; Tacony Lodge No. 600, constituted Nov. 27, 1893; and Joseph H. Brown Lodge No. 751, constituted Oct. 9, 1929.

Tacony Lodge No. 600 owns the Tacony Masonic Temple, which was built in 1963. Since then, many Masonic bodies have begun to use the building and partner together to improve it, build Masonic bonds and impact the community. The temple is used for the stated and extra meetings, fundraisers, dances and activities of the lodges and appendant organizations that meet there, including the Masonic District D officers; the Tacony School of Instruction for Masonic Districts A and D; Philadelphia Rainbow Assembly No. 47; Northeast DeMolay; and the Order of the Amaranth.

“The building has brought all of our lodges together, and we have given back to the community in many ways,” Bro. David Tansey, District Deputy Grand Master of District D and member of Jerusalem Lodge, said. “The lodges that have the wherewithal to financially support functions will often support the lodges that do not have money. The lodges without great financial means are heavily involved in the volunteer efforts. We work together as one common organization. … We do good acts, and people see that our fraternity is comprised of good people. This shows how Freemasons love one another and endeavor to contribute to the happiness of others.”

A sampling of the lodges’ community involvement includes hosting a District D canned food drive, holding a neighborhood picnic; collecting and handing out candy to residents at the Masonic Villages in Elizabethtown and Warminster, visiting local VA Medical Centers, supporting the Masonic Youth programs however possible and hosting a Dorney Park picnic. Jerusalem Lodge also donated

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LODGE AND DISTRICT to the Ill. Joseph E. Trate, 33° Fund through the Children’s Dyslexia Center; gave a $40 gift card to each child at the Masonic Children’s Home for Christmas and supported members of the lodge who suffered financial hardships from the current economic climate.

“My hope would be that our whole thought process and everything we’re currently doing will continue to grow,” Bro. Bill Harner, W.M., Tacony Lodge, said. Membership stands at 266 men, and in 2011, the lodge has already received 12 petitions.

BUCKS COUNTY Named for Buckinghamshire, England, this county boasts fertile farmland; a dairy industry; textile, pottery and decorative tile making; and a U.S. Steel Company plant which increased the county’s population after World War II. In 1810, several German-speaking Masons formed a lodge where German would be used for all proceedings. On Jan. 25, 1811, Hermann Lodge No. 125, Philadelphia, was constituted.

Due to the anti-Masonic sentiments of the time, the lodge grew slowly, but with waves of German immigrants moving to America, the lodge reached 125 members in 1859. With a 2002 merger with Humboldt Lodge No. 359, constituted in 1866, the lodges became Hermann-Humboldt Lodge No. 125. The more than 180 members still conduct the proceedings in German (along with English) and speak the language at gatherings and meetings at Frey Southampton Masonic Center, located at the Masonic Village at Warminster.

On Aug. 27, 1850, Doylestown Lodge No. 245 was constituted. (Previously, there had been a Doylestown Benevolence Lodge No. 168, from 1819-1837.) With an average of 30 new members per year and a membership expected to tip 600 this year, it has grown to become the largest lodge in Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester counties. The lodge’s young leaders emphasize outstanding ritual, fellowship and being a part of the community.

Doylestown Lodge hosts an annual golf outing, pancake breakfast and spaghetti dinner. It opens its doors on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Sharing and the town’s First Friday, when local merchants remain open into the evening. Through these initiatives and additional funding, the lodge provides for the Masonic Villages, Scottish Rite Children’s Dyslexia Center and the LuLu Center golf outing.

In 1768, Lodge No. 11 was warranted in Newtown. After the Revolutionary War, the lodge received warrant No. 57 from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Decades later, in 1806, the lodge went dark. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania constituted Newtown Lodge No. 427, Woodside,

New London Lodge No. 545

Frey Southhampton Center

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

as it is now known, on Nov. 6, 1868. From 1880 to 1900, the construction of a local electric trolley system allowed Masons from a larger region to attend meetings. On March 1, 1899, the hardware store where the lodge met burned to the ground.

After its reconstruction, the lodge continued to meet there until 1955 when the lodge decided to construct a new building. It created the Lower Bucks Masonic Hall Association with several lodges, including Fairless Hills-Levittown Lodge No. 776, Fairless Hills, to build the Lower Bucks Masonic Hall where it still meets.

Fairless Hills Lodge No. 776 was constituted Sept. 25, 1954, with 190 warrant members – the largest warrant membership of any Pennsylvania lodge constituted at the time. It is also the youngest lodge in the Philadelphia/Bucks/Chester County region. “It has nothing to do with age,” Bro. Ronald Meredith, Secretary, admitted. “Our active membership provides a more intimate, one-on-one experience. The object is to build a better man, and it’s an ongoing learning experience that builds integrity and morality.”

A 2002 merger with Levittown-Brittingham Lodge No. 778 resulted in the name Fairless Hills-Levittown Lodge. For years, the members of the lodge have partnered with many local organizations and individuals to provide services to the community through the Lower Bucks Masonic Hall Association, including helping a local woman provide Thanksgiving dinners to those who cannot afford them. The local DeMolay and Job’s Daughters use the facilities for meetings and the local Pennsbury School District takes students there for training. The Shriners hospitals also use the facilities to meet with and examine children who may be good candidates for the medical services the hospitals provide.

CHESTER COUNTY Chester County is named in tribute to the homeland of many of the earliest settlers–Cheshire, England. Chester County’s industries include iron works; textile, paper and brick making; and farming.

It is home to portions of Valley Forge National Historic Park and Brandywine Battlefield, as well as the institute that became Lincoln University, founded in 1854 to educate African Americans.

On Feb. 6, 1837, at the height of anti-Masonic conflicts, Downingtown Lodge No. 174 went dark after just 17 years. Two decades later, Williamson Lodge No. 309, Downingtown, was constituted on Nov. 21, 1857. The lodge now has more than 200 members and participates in the Masonic CHIP program, supports the March of Dimes and began an annual pancake breakfast in 2010.

In 1869, eight members withdrew from the Lower Bucks Masonic Hall

lodge and petitioned the Grand Lodge for a new warrant. As a result, Mount Pickering Lodge No. 446, Upper Uwchland, was constituted July 23, 1869. Bro. J. Benner Evans, the first Worshipful Master of the lodge, wrote the first 16 years of its history from memory after a mysterious fire destroyed the records on Aug. 15, 1894, a day before the lodge building was to be torn down. In 1895, the members started using the brick building they constructed on Byers Road where they still meet.

New London Lodge No. 545, West Grove, was constituted April 10, 1876. During its early years, members contributed to relief funds for yellow fever sufferers, the Chicago fire and the Johnstown flood. The lodge meetings often closed at 11 p.m., even though the brothers did not use electric lights in their meeting place until March 1896 and had to travel home at night by foot, horse or wagon.

OTHER REGIONAL LODGES & CONSTITUTION DATES BUCKS COUNTY Bristol Lodge No. 25...................................... 1780 Quakertown Lodge No. 512.......................... 1872 Prosperity Lodge No. 567..............................1886 Harry A. Houseman Lodge No. 717............. 1922 PHILADELPHIA COUNTY Hackenburg-Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 19........ 1787 University Lodge No. 51................................ 1791 William Penn-Harmony Lodge No. 52......... 1924 Brotherhood Lodge No. 126.......................... 1811 Richmond Lodge No. 230.............................1848 Shekinah Lodge No. 246............................... 1850 William L. Elkins Lodge No. 271.................. 1853 Melita Lodge No. 295.................................... 1855 Williamson-Corinthian Lodge No. 368........1866 Richard Vaux-Ivanhoe Lodge No. 384......... 1867 Athelstan Lodge No. 482.............................. 1870 St. Alban Lodge No. 529............................... 1874 Equity Lodge No. 591.................................... 1892 Thomas R. Patton Lodge No. 659.................1908 Pilgrim Lodge No. 712................................... 1921 CHESTER COUNTY Phoenix Lodge No. 75................................... 1798 West Chester Lodge No. 322......................... 1858 Thomson Lodge No. 340..............................1860 Skerrett Lodge No. 343................................. 1862 Oxford Lodge No. 353................................... 1865 Brandywine Goddard Lodge No. 383........... 1867 Howell Lodge No. 405...................................1868 Kennett Lodge No. 475................................. 1870 Spring City Lodge No. 553............................ 1878

Mount Pickering Lodge No. 446

Tacony Masonic Temple

LODGE AND DISTRICT

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

Two Honored as Masons at Sight Very rarely does the Grand Master make a Mason at Sight. In fact, only 91 Pennsylvania brethren have been declared Masons at Sight since 1842 – making the honor all the more prestigious.

During the December 2010 Quarterly Communication in Philadelphia, R.W. Grand Master Thomas K. Sturgeon selected two men to be made Masons at Sight – that is – to have all three Degrees of Freemasonry conferred to them at one session of the Grand Lodge and in the Grand Master’s presence. They were the Honorable Bro. Keith R. McCall, former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and currently a Commissioner on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, and the Honorable Bro. David N. Wecht, Judge, Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County.

Honorable Bro. Keith R. McCall “It is certainly an honor not bestowed on many, and for that I am humbled,” Bro. McCall said. “The opportunity to receive the Degrees guided by one of my closest friends, R.W. Grand Treasurer Jeff Coy, and to do so within the Pennsylvania Masonic Temple, was an amazing experience that I will treasure all of my life.

“I certainly was aware of all of the positive influence the Masonic lodges have in their communities and the significant influence that Masons have had in the building of our nation,” he continued. “At the same time, I was not fully aware of the brotherhood that exists between Masons and the complex and intriguing symbolism used in the fraternity.

These are things that are just now coming to light to me.”

A former student at Harrisburg Area Community College and Penn State University, Bro. McCall followed in his father’s political footsteps. Thomas McCall preceded his son in representing the 122nd State Legislative District from 1975 until his passing in 1981.

Since entering politics, Bro. McCall has built a rapport with members of both parties as someone who works hard to get things done.

From 2007 to 2008, he served as the Majority Whip, and from 2009 to 2010, Bro. McCall was the 136th Speaker of the House. In 2009, “Pennsylvania Report” named him sixth in the top 100 people who were most likely to impact government and politics throughout the Commonwealth during the year.

“Serving the people of the 122nd State Legislative District was an honor day in and

Honorable Bro. David N. Wecht day out, including the day that I was sworn in as Pennsylvania House Speaker. I can tell you, however, that my greatest accomplishment was the opportunity to wed my wife, Betty, and to later share in the birth of my two children. …

Nothing compares to the moments associated with family.”

At the end of his 14th term in 2010, this Coaldale, Pa., native retired from the strenuous work of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to spend more time with his family. Since then, he has joined Carbon Lodge No. 242, Jim Thorpe, and accepted an appointment as Commissioner of the Gaming Control Board.        Bro. Wecht also expressed great humility at the honor of being made a Mason at Sight.

“It was a special experience to go to Philadelphia and become a Mason at Sight in the presence of so many outstanding men,” he said. “It is a great honor, humbling, and indeed a privilege.”

He has since joined Dallas Lodge No. 231, Pittsburgh.

“I’ve learned much about the wonderful services Freemasonry provides to children, the aged and needy citizens,” Bro. Wecht said. Even before joining the fraternity, Bro. Wecht heralded a long and impressive history of serving the community through membership in and service on various political, non-profit and religious organizations and boards. He currently serves on the executive committee of the Pennsylvania State Conference of

Trial Judges.

Bro. Wecht grew up in Pittsburgh where he and his wife, Valerie, now raise their three sons and daughter. “My children are my greatest accomplishment, and they always will be,” Bro. Wecht added.

Prior to taking the bench on the Court of Common Pleas in 2003, Bro. Wecht was elected twice as Allegheny County’s Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphan’s Court. In that role, he provided justice for citizens and pioneered efforts to assist seniors with their wills and protect family members of slain victims. He was also a partner in The Wecht Law Firm at that time. His desire is always “to do justice fairly and equally on a daily basis and in all cases,” Bro. Wecht said.

Bro. Wecht has always been a leader. In the late 1990s, he was honored in Pittsburgh Magazine’s “The Fabulous Forty Under Forty” and received the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s “Fifty Finest” award, both which feature young and up-and-coming leaders.

This Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Yale University was selected as the notes editor of the “Yale Law Journal” at Yale Law School. Bro. Wecht gives to the next generation as an adjunct professor of law at Duquesne University School of Law and University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. He has shared his knowledge and experience through speaking at dozens of events and has written articles in numerous publications, most recently including, “Pennsylvania Family Lawyer.”

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Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

Bro. Von Ketelsen of Iowa, as he prepared to embark on a bicycle journey that showed him the true meaning of Freemasonry.

Random Acts of Kindness How Pennsylvania Masons Showed Me the Meaning of Freemasonry I became a Master Mason shortly after graduating from Iowa State University in 1985.

Through the years, I often gave presentations at lodges. I’m a communications professional, and I would offer coaching to Masons on how to best get their message across to the media.

Downsizing is an unfortunate reality of being in the media business. I experienced this firsthand in the early 2000s. As a result, I was focused on finding employment. Freemasonry took a back seat in my life. I decided to stop paying Masonic dues.

It wasn’t just the cost of paying dues that made me stop paying them. I became a Mason to experience fellowship, not sit through business meetings that took an entire evening.

I’m an avid bicyclist, and I had a dream of seeing the United States by bicycle. In 2007, my mother passed away from cancer, and I was between jobs. I decided to do a

solo self-contained bike ride across the United States, in memory of my mother.

About that same time, the Grand Lodge of Iowa was helping the American Cancer Society raise money to build a Hope Lodge in Iowa City. Hope Lodge is like a Ronald McDonald House for adults with cancer.

By this time, I had stopped paying Masonic dues, but I respected the fraternity and still had friends in Freemasonry. I made a trip with some Iowa Masons to Rochester, Minn., to visit the Hope Lodge there. After seeing the help being provided to cancer patients and their caregivers, I knew I wanted to be a part of helping to build a Hope Lodge in Iowa.

In June of 2007, I embarked from Iowa to Washington, D.C. I was quite a sight, on my Trek 520 bicycle, pulling a cargo trailer, complete with my guitar strapped onto it.

By the time I was in Pennsylvania, I was feeling fatigued. I was on a long stretch of bike trail outside of Pittsburgh, and it was pouring rain. The trail I was on was unpaved and muddy. The mud got into my gears and made it hard to pedal.

I needed help, and I knew no one in

Pennsylvania. I decided to call the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and see if there was a local Mason who could help me.

The person I spoke with gave me the phone number for Bro. James I. Raupach, Meyersdale Lodge No. 554. Since Bro. Raupach had no idea who I was, I didn’t know what to expect when he answered the phone. I explained who I was and the situation I was in. He simply said, “I’ll be there in 20 minutes with my truck.”

Bro. Raupach helped me load my muddy bicycle into the back of his truck and arranged a place for me to stay that rainy night so I didn’t have to sleep in my tent.

The next day, I woke up to blue skies.

Br0. Raupach picked me up in his truck and took me to breakfast at a small café. Bro. Raupach’s brother, Bro. Guy A. Raupach, Sr., also of Lodge No. 554, was there to meet us. The pangs of homesickness quickly disappeared, as I enjoyed the fellowship of Bro. Ralph and Bro. Guy, fellow Masons.

When it came time to pay for the delicious breakfast I devoured, Bro. Ralph said to me, “That’s already taken care of.”

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Bros. Ralph and Guy grew up on a family farm just outside of town. When they offered to drive me to their homeplace and show me around, I knew it was worth taking time for.

They also showed me around Meyersdale Lodge.

A week later, I rolled into Washington, D.C. Seeing the Washington Monument, dedicated to Bro. George Washington, stirred in me a deep feeling of pride in being a Mason.

I’ll always remember that sunny day I arrived in Washington.

And, I’ll always remember the rainy day

in rural Pennsylvania, when Masons from that state helped a distressed brother from Iowa.

The fellowship I experienced during my time with Bro. Ralph and Bro. Guy showed me the real meaning of Freemasonry. I vowed that I would start paying Masonic dues again.

Since then, I’ve appeared at numerous Masonic lodges and talked about how I found the spirit of Masonic brotherhood that goes back to Bro. George Washington. I sing a few songs with my guitar and talk about the future of Freemasonry.

One thing that hasn’t changed since Bro. George Washington’s day is the dedication of Freemasons to the actual tenets of the fraternity – charity, relief and brotherly love. I experienced them first-hand on a rainy day in Pennsylvania, compliments of Bro. Ralph and Bro. Guy. Bro. Von Ketelsen is host of the “Power Lunch,” which airs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on AM 540 KWMT, in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

You can hear his broadcasts worldwide at www.kwmt.com.

“The most effective way to interest men in Freemasonry is through the good deeds we do for our fellow men.”

-Thomas K. Sturgeon, R.W. Grand Master

Additional Random Acts of Kindness A random act of kindness is an affordable, one-size-fits-all gift ideal for friends and strangers alike. The past holiday and winter season presented many opportunities to help others in big and small ways, whether it was shoveling snow, helping a stranded motorist or spreading holiday cheer.

Don’t forget to record your good deeds on the Random Acts of Kindness Registry at www.pagrandlodge.org/rak. Just click on “Submit a Random Act of Kindness or a Community Service Initiative” and fill in the fields that appear. Once you are done, click the button “Add Your Report to the Registry,” and you will see your submission within several days.       

A Handy Man with a Heart of Gold & a Love for Masonry The morning after a snowstorm, neighbors often see Bro. Frederick Ruderick, J.W., Hackenburg Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 19, Philadelphia, snow blowing their entire block.

According to neighbor and lodge brother Bart Davis, P.M., he has done this as long as he has been able to borrow or own a snowblower.

He also helps many brothers with projects and repairs.

“He moved onto my street about 11 years ago and has been helping his neighbors ever since,” Bro. Davis said. “He is truly a man who believes in acts of kindness. I just think that it makes him feel good to help others.

He goes out of his way to help his friends and neighbors and even strangers.”

“I’m motivated by the satisfaction of

helping someone,” Bro. Ruderick said. “It’s just in my nature. I just do it. I don’t think about it. If someone needs help, it’s not a big deal.”

Bro. Ruderick is a retired Philadelphia Gas Works supervisor and has many skills: plumbing (pipe repair), figuring out and repairing electrical problems, house heater repair, carpentry, molding around new flooring, hardscaping (brickwork) around flower beds, gutter cleaning and removing ice jams from gutters. He has also learned a great deal from trial and error.

“I am proud to be a Pennsylvania Mason because of the wonderful men that I have met in my Masonic journey,” Bro. Davis said. “We often say that ‘Freemasonry makes good men better.’ I am proud to say that I have close friends in my lodge who range in age from 82 to 34 (I am 63). Many of these men have taught me important life lessons, and I, in turn, have mentored many of our younger members.”

“I’ve met people from all walks of life through the fraternity,” Bro. Ruderick said.

“I enjoy being with other men. It’s making me a better man.”       

Keeping Youth Safe & Preparing Them for the Future As part of the Gang Resistance and Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program, Bro. Daniel J. Richmond, Richard Vaux-Ivanhoe Lodge No. 384, Philadelphia, instructed a gang prevention program for inner city youth once a week (approximately one hour) for 13 sessions.

“It’s much easier to mold a child than rebuild an adult,” Bro. Richmond said.

“Children are going to be other people’s husbands and wives, teachers, Masons, police officers and parents of our grandchildren. Who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to develop and shape them for our future?”

He also volunteers his services at the Philadelphia Youth Study Detention Center, Philadelphia Police Academy, community centers and local high schools to promote better relations and communications between police officers and youth, breaking down stereotypes between the two groups and eventually saving lives.

“After home, family, education and career, community service is the point of destination on the journey of life,” he said.

“It’s the mission of all humanity.”       

Teaching Cyber Safety

Bro. Chris Harrington, Reading Lodge No. 549, West Reading, recently coordinated efforts with the local police department, chamber of commerce, public library, Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and Verizon Foundation to organize and conduct a series of free Internet safety workshops for children and adults. There were approximately 12 to 15 adults and three to five children in attendance at each of the three workshops.

A fourth one was scheduled for April.

“As a technology leader within the community, I witness first-hand the dangers to students and adults in an online environment,” said Bro. Harrington, who serves as the Quakertown Community School District’s

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LODGE AND DISTRICT director of technology and director for the school district’s in-house cyber school. “Some of the most significant dangers that exist through the Internet include financial scams, identity theft, cyber bullying and sexual crimes. Without a sound understanding of the potential risks, individuals may utilize online resources in ways which could make them more vulnerable to such dangers. Our workshops are designed to help community members minimize these risks.”

For much of his life, Bro. Harrington desired to serve other people. When he learned about the ideals and beliefs of Freemasonry, he joined to surround himself with like-minded individuals. “I am very proud to quietly serve others without drawing significant attention to myself,” he said. “I believe that this style of service is certainly shared by many Freemasons around the world – service without the expectation of accolades or compensation.”       

Making a Difference, One Family at a Time Bro. Ray Riggleman, Waynesburg Lodge No. 153, has always been passionate about changing the lives of children. He joined the Masonic fraternity after learning how much members are willing to help out within the community, and especially how the charities of the appendant bodies, such as Scottish Rite’s Children’s Dyslexia Centers and the Shriners Hospitals for Children, play a key role in issues about which he feels deeply.

Bro. Riggleman recently received an e-mail about a single mother who was looking for clothes and shoes for her three daughters. He suggested to his wife, knowing how school-age kids can be, that they contact the mother and purchase a new pair of shoes for each of the girls for school.

“Whenever we hear that a family is in need, especially for children, we want to help as much as possible,” Bro. Riggleman said. “I can’t stand the thought of a kid having to go

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

to school wearing shoes that are second hand … I try, if I am able, to provide new clothes or shoes for those who may need them.

“As I do this myself, I hope to inspire my son, Austin, age 12, and my daughter, Ashton, age 8, to do the same thing if they are able to later in life. I feel we must start now while they are young and still learning life lessons themselves.”       

Anonymous Kindness While out to lunch with his 8-year-old son Colby, Bro. Jeffrey Yadzinski, Harry A. Houseman Lodge No. 717, Bristol, noticed a frail, older woman walk into the restaurant.

“She looked very tired and weary to say the least,” Bro. Yadzinski said. “My son pointed out to me that she looked sad to be alone.

At that moment, we both decided we should surprise her … anonymously.”

He called the waitress over and instructed her to give him the woman’s check when she finished eating, but not to mention anything until the woman was done or tell her who was paying. “We saw the waitress explain to the woman what transpired and she instantly gained a glow of joy and happiness, seemingly knowing once again, she is never unnoticed or uncared for,” Bro. Yadzinski said. “My son was amazed at how such a small act of kindness could lift the spirits of another.”

This wasn’t the first time Bro. Yadzinski had paid for a stranger’s meal anonymously, but it was the first time he made his son a part of the experience.

“My son is normally very compassionate and giving; however, I have noticed a deeper caring within him,” Bro. Yadzinski said, since that afternoon. “Every time we see someone homeless or in need, he will comment as to how we can help them. We speak of how he has the power to change the world by establishing good morals within himself now and sharing them with everyone whose life he touches.

I am proud to be a Pennsylvania Freemason because of the integrity, honor and respect

it establishes within the fraternity and its individual members, and further emits to the community through its kindness worldwide.”       

Celebrating National Kindness Week at Masonic Village Nov. 8 to 14, 2010, was National Kindness Week. Residents of the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown selected Nov. 12 as Random Act of Kindness Day. A letter sent to residents encouraged them to make an extra effort to do something nice for someone else, and some wore stickers to remind one another to participate. Included in the letter was a list of ideas ranging from paying for a cup of coffee for a stranger to sending a complimentary e-mail.

“We’re trying to raise the consciousness on campus,” Bro. and Dr. George Simms, Chairman of the resident wellness committee and member of Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682, Elizabethtown, said of the event, which the committee would like to see become an annual tradition. “Part of wellness is the capacity to give of one’s self in the service of others.”

“It is a scientific and medical fact that it makes one feel better when one does an act of kindness,” said Rev. and Bro. A. Preston Van Deursen, Director of Pastoral Care for the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, and a member of the resident wellness committee and Ashara-Casiphia Lodge No. 551, Mount Joy. “It builds self-esteem, makes one gentler and more joyful, decreases stress, and can even decrease physical pain. There is the old Jewish proverb that states when our mind is focused off of ourselves, we forget our troubles.”        “Let’s put in motion the positive benefits that kindness offers our community and our fraternity,” Grand Master Thomas K. Sturgeon said. “May we be on our way to making EVERY day a Random Act of Kindness Day!”

Lodge Community Service Initiatives Many lodges recognize the value of helping others in the community as a way to do what is right, while exposing the public to the good works of Freemasonry. The following are some of the ways lodges are fulfilling the needs of friends and neighbors.       

Masonic Battle of the Bands Bro. Sam Newsham, WilliamsonCorinthian Lodge No. 368, Philadelphia,

started playing music when he was 7 years old. He has played in a number of bands and has found one of the hardest obstacles to overcome is finding opportunities to showcase original material in front of a live audience.

“When Right Worshipful Grand Master Thomas Sturgeon called on each lodge to make an extra effort to raise an additional $2,000 to help fund the Masonic Villages, I could think of no other way to do it than combining my two biggest passions: music

Bro. Sam Newsham (right) with his band, Ashes of Phoenix, at the Masonic Battle of the Bands.

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and Freemasonry!” he said.

After three months of planning, Bro. Newsham organized a Masonic Battle of the Bands last July featuring eight live groups ranging in all genres of music. A local Guitar Center loaned $8,000 worth of amplifiers for the day and Studio 609 donated free live recording time to the winning band. The Decepticide, a band who has opened for a number of national acts, volunteered their time to judge the bands based on originality, stage presence, song writing and overall performance. Bro. Newsham reached his goal of raising $2,000 and is planning a second Battle of the Bands for June 11.

“One of my biggest goals was to promote the fraternity,” he said. “The musicians involved were able to see that not only were they helping a worthy cause with their talent, but that the Masons are moving into the 21st century with charity ideas which are fun and exciting. Our lodge has been working very hard to fundraise and increase our membership. All the bands that performed were male and, except for Wake the Sleeper’s bassist, between the ages of 18 and 35. That’s a lot of ‘new blood’ that could help us move into the future.

“Since joining the lodge, I have met and befriended many of my fellow brothers from across the world – thanks to social networks online. I love everything that I have been able to be a part of since becoming a member of this fine fraternity.”       

“Pollock Lodge was able to serve pancakes, but more importantly, its community and a leader of it in need, at a high level of visibility,” Bro. Hugh Rumbaugh, S.W., said.

Helping People through Fundraisers & Hard Work

Spreading Holiday Cheer throughout the Community

The brethren of Pollock Lodge No. 502, Tarentum, bonded together by serving more than just pancakes to help a community member in need. In November 2009, Brackenridge Police Officer Mike Duffy and another firefighter ran into a burning home and rescued a woman and her two children. For their efforts, the Pennsylvania State Firemen’s Association honored the two men with awards for valor. When members of Pollock Lodge heard Officer Duffy was recently diagnosed with cancer, they wanted to help this local hero.

Each month, the lodge hosts a pancake breakfast to raise money for various community service projects and special needs, as well as to offset lodge costs. Members decided to use January’s pancake breakfast as a community outreach and benefit for Officer Duffy. The group pulled together their talents and people to spread the word and succeeded in serving more than 200 breakfasts, about four times as many as they typically serve each month.

The event raised $1,400 for Officer Duffy and his family.

“We are very excited about the gala since we feel this is what Freemasonry is all about,” Bro. Bob Thomas, P.M.,Secretary, said. “We bring our community together in the way we, as Freemasons, unite for a common good and the betterment of all.”       

News of Good Deeds Travels Fast!

Left-right: Bro. Jim Tomson, W.M.; Officer Mike Duffy; and Bro. Hugh Rumbaugh Members are organizing another pancake breakfast to assist the family of a local man who went missing and was later found dead.

Other lodge community services include sponsoring car cruises and cutting grass, trimming trees and clearing brush at the Harwick Miners Mass Grave in Springdale, Pa. The lodge donated money to Prospect Cemetery and plan on helping with a clean-up day at the cemetery later this year. “[Freemasonry] is something my family has been part of, and it means a closer connection to those who have gone before me,” Bro. Rumbaugh said. “I owe it to them – my family and my Masonic family – because they paved a path to lighten a load, and I must try to do the same for others.”       

Through an annual gala, Pulaski Lodge No. 216, Pottsville, works with others in the community to spread holiday cheer to local families while encouraging visitors to learn more about Freemasonry. For the last three years, lodge members have gathered 25 trees donated by local tree growers, reached out to community groups to decorate the trees and displayed them at the Pottsville Masonic Building.

Throughout the two-week gala, the brethren hosted a CHIP program, featured live musical entertainment from local high school and church groups, gave lodge room tours and collected items for Toys for Tots and canned goods for a local food bank. At the end of the gala, the lodge distributed the trees to needy families. Among the community groups involved were Girl Scout troops, St. Joseph Centre for Children, St. Nicholas School, St. Catherine’s Medical Centre for Employees, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Grand Chapter of PA, O.E.S. Chapters, American Legion, two local historical societies and several churches.

The Temple Association of Tacony Lodge No. 600, Philadelphia, held a pancake breakfast/food and toy drive to benefit the Feast of Justice Food Cupboard at St. John’s Church in Philadelphia. Organizers asked each attendee to bring a canned good and/ or a toy for those who need it most. With the help of approximately 400 people, including young men from the Northeast Chapter Order of DeMolay, two Rainbow Girls Assemblies, and brethren from Harry A. Houseman Lodge No. 717, WidenerApollo-Kensington Lodge No. 211, William Penn-Harmony Lodge No. 52, Lodge No. 9, Frankford Lodge No. 292, Jerusalem Lodge No. 506, and Joseph H. Brown Lodge No. 751, they succeeded in feeding 1,200 families.

Bros. John Bauhof; Walter Jeranek; Otis King; William Whartenby, Jr.; Christopher Elliott; Timothy Kinelly; Joseph Marcille; Leonard Juliani, Jr.; John (Norm) Welsh; Fred Fedak; Edward Budman; Richard Hughes; District Deputy Grand Master David Tansey; Perry Ferrara, Jr.; Brian Leventhal; Paul Knapp; Joe Brunelle; Gerald Linert; David Brett; William Glassmeyer; Gregory Hample; Scott Hilsee; and David Kolmetzky “The whole day was a great pleasure to see,” Bro. William Harner, W.M., said.

“We were able to collect more than enough food to serve families for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We also feel it has raised awareness of the fraternity within the community. People can see what we’re doing rather than just read fictitious accounts of our organization in the media. The event brought back the vigor we all have for the fraternity and livened all of our interest in doing new and better things for society.”

The lodge asks its members to bring canned goods to each meeting to support St. John’s Church, and the effort has spread throughout District D. Several lodges in

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LODGE AND DISTRICT the district also take extra food from their meetings that they would otherwise throw out, to a local soup kitchen.

After hearing word of Tacony Lodge’s contributions, a local hospice provider found the lodge’s contact information online and asked them if they would donate food to a local family. Members delivered a month’s supply of food to a man, who just lost his job and whose wife was ill, and their two children.

In addition to non-perishables, Bro. Harner also picked up milk, eggs and bread.

“They were more than happy to receive it,” Bro. Harner said. “You could see the relief on their faces.”

The hospice provider, in turn, helped a lodge member whose wife had a stroke. His wife was his primary caregiver, so the hospice provider helped him find a place to live where he could receive assistance. “Helping hands go both ways,” Bro. Harner said.       

Supporting Youth & Promoting Fellowship Members of La Belle Vallee Lodge No. 232, Jersey Shore, have hosted several successful events for the community, including a spaghetti dinner for the Jersey Shore Area High School varsity football team and coaching staff. It was a night filled with fun, great food and fellowship with the young men. It was also a good opportunity to meet the boys and tell them about La Belle Vallee Lodge and what Freemasonry is all about. The cheerleading squad thanked the members of the lodge with an original song and dance performed by the team. Lodge members made a donation of $300 to the booster club to help the young men and to show them Freemasons are here to support the youth of Jersey Shore.

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Providing Needed Funds & Blood Donations

Members of La Belle Vallee Lodge No. 232 present a check to the Jersey Shore Area High School booster club.

Another event members organized was a community block party held in conjunction with Homecoming Week in Jersey Shore.

The lodge was buzzing with youth and adults from all over the area. A DJ entertained the crowd; the Jersey Shore Area High School cheerleaders provided games for the children to play, and the lodge members provided hot dogs, drinks and plenty of snacks. The event was a huge success with more than 200 community members attending. Following the event, several men asked for petitions.

Lodge members also coordinated a Super Bowl Sunday wing sale and donated a portion of the proceeds to the Jersey Shore Area High School football team and booster club.

At the lodge’s February Stated Meeting, they hosted the local school administration and Board of Education and gave an antibullying presentation.

“This is just the beginning of numerous community activities planned,” Bro. Ronald Aungst, Sr., W.M. and R.W.P.G.M., said.

“We’ve got a great group of officers and Past Masters who stay involved in these and similar activities. For a lodge with just barely 200 members, we are quite active which is heart-warming for me as Worshipful Master.”

At Duquesne-McKeesport Lodge No. 731, Duquesne, members held a fundraiser in September to raise money for several charities in the Mon [Monongahela] Valley, including a food bank, A Woman’s Place, the City of Duquesne Appreciation Day and the Humane Society. The donations were well received and greatly appreciated. Also in September, lodge members took part in a replenishment blood drive for one of the brothers. The Blood Bank used the lodge’s hall to collect the donations.

“The brethren and people of the area made it a great success,” Bro. John Warhold, S.W., said. “It’s wonderful to be part of such a great organization as the Masons.”

Bro. John Warhold presents a check to Ivy Ero of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

Community CHIP Celebration This CHIP event was a real community effort since it was co-sponsored by Fulton County Parks and Recreation Commission with assistance from Orrstown Lodge No. 262; Job’s Daughters Bethel No. 16; Fulton Chapter No. 519, O.E.S.; Martha Custis Chapter No. 342, O.E.S.; Fulton County Partnership; Fulton County Center for Families; and Tri-State Community Health Center.

We were very pleased to provide parents with 86 ID kits for their children.

Several volunteers at the event posed with Santa Claus, including: Bro. Robert C. Snyder II, D.D.G.M. of District 34; Bro. Paul M. Johnston, P.M., W.M., Mount Zion Lodge No. 774; Debra Buterbaugh, Fulton Chapter No. 519, O.E.S.; Jack Elvey, Tri-State Community Health Center (behind Santa); Jamie Taylor, Fulton County Center for Families; and Bros. Randall Clever, S.W., John Daniels, S.D., and Richard Buterbaugh II, Tyler, all of Mount Zion Lodge No. 774. Seated upon Santa’s lap are Job’s Daughters volunteers Dora Housekeeper and Jenny Buterbaugh.

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Harrisburg Area Masons Gather On Nov. 17, 2010, Robert Burns Lodge No. 464, Harrisburg, hosted a Special Meeting for lodges of Masonic District 2 and Harrisburgarea Prince Hall Masonic lodges. Bro. Scott T. Matincheck, District Deputy Grand Master for District 2, made the special meeting part of his official visitations. Nearly 100 Masons participated in the meeting, which included a presentation about Prince Hall Masonry.

Front row, left-right: Bros. William Hunter, Paxton Lodge No. 16; John D. Witmer, Jr., P.D.D.G.M., William S. Snyder Lodge No. 756, Harrisburg;

S. Eugene Herritt, D.D.G.M. of District 3; Scott T. Matincheck, D.D.G.M. of District 2; Paul L. Hibner, W.D.D.G.M.; and James Murphy, Jerry Waters, P.M., Douglas Johnson, Sr., and Don Kenney, P.M., all of Paxton Lodge No. 16.

Middle row, left-right: Bros. Osborne Malvern and Linwood Fielder, P.M., both of Paxton Lodge No. 16; Timothy Hibner, P.M., and Jonathan Hibner, Grand Orator-Central, both of Letort Star Lodge No. 18; William Pollard III, Nathan Stanton, and Darren Effinger, P.M., all of Paxton Lodge No. 16; J.D. Gregory Antley; and Robert Williams.

Back row, left-right: Bros. Dan Wright, P.M., Paxton Lodge No. 16; Michael P. McGinnis, W.M., Robert Burns Lodge No. 464, Harrisburg; Tracy A. Bitner, J.W., Perseverance Lodge No. 21, Harrisburg; Douglas J. Coleman, W.M., Susquehanna Lodge No. 364, Millersburg; Gary D. Hinkle, W.M., Prince Edwin-Spring Creek Lodge No. 486, Middletown; Richard L. Wenner, P.M., W.M., Steelton-Swatara Lodge No. 775, Steelton; J. Matthew Seagrist, W.M., West Shore Lodge No. 681, Camp Hill; and Carl Johnson, Jr.

Mason Receives “Blessed Christmas Gift” of Life Bro. Harry J. Beers, P.M., Whitfield Lodge No. 622, Tatamy, could not believe his good fortune this Christmas. After 16 failed matches for a kidney transplant, finally on Dec. 22, 2010, he received the call that changed his life. A successful kidney transplant was completed the very next day at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest. Four days later, Dec. 27, 2010, St. John’s Day, Bro. Beers returned home a very happy and grateful man.

Bro. Beers has a long history of involvement with the Masonic fraternity.

His journey began in Whitfield Lodge No. 622 in 1969. He progressed through the chairs, including Worshipful Master. He also became involved in numerous York and Scottish Rite bodies, and served as Commander-in-Chief of the Valley of Allentown from 2005-2007. In 1999, Bro. Beers received the 33° at Atlantic City, N.J. Bro. Beers began his journey to the transplant on Nov. 10, 2006, when he was diagnosed with a rare disease, microscopic polyangitis, which destroyed his kidneys.

Less than a year later, in September 2007, he began peritoneal dialysis, a daily 10-hour

procedure required to stay alive. By October 2007, he was officially placed on the transplant list. Mrs. Beers and a few Masonic brethren volunteered to be tested as potential kidney donors, to no avail. Finally, after nearly four years, a successful match became available.

Just a few weeks after the transplant, Bro. Beers described his status as “splendid!”

Bro. Beers’ journey highlights the continual need for organ donations. The Masonic Organ Donor Program began in 1996 during the term of R.W. Past Grand Master Edward O. Weisser. Each succeeding Grand Master has actively endorsed this program.

What a great opportunity for Masons to help their fellow man! If you have never signed an organ donor card, please consider doing so as soon as possible. Lives depend on viable transplants. Help others by becoming an organ donor.

For more information, contact Bro. Rick Knepper, Masonic Organ Donor Chairman 1461 Hospitality Drive Chambersburg, PA 17202 Phone: (717) 263-1189 E-mail: rknepper@embarqmail.com

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LODGE AND DISTRICT

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

Congratulations to...

On Dec. 5, 2010, 18 Masons from District 6 traveled to Abramson Center for Jewish Life in North Wales, to perform a Masonic ceremony. A presentation was made to Bro. M. Leonard Friedman, P.M., of a 70-year Service Emblem of Gold. Bro. Friedman has been a member of Norristown Lodge No. 620, since 1940. A certificate commemorating this Masonic maturity was received from R.W. Grand Master Thomas K. Sturgeon and presented by David K. Beaulieu, District Deputy Grand Master of District 6. Bro. Friedman’s son, Manny, family and friends were also in attendance. After the presentation, Bro. Friedman, in his closing remarks, recited the blessing of the Priest from the Ancient Temple, both in Hebrew and in English. Refreshments and fellowship followed the presentation.

Right photo, left-right: Bros. David K. Beaulieu, D.D.G.M.-6; Manus J. Friedman, son of 70-year recipient; and John N. Seeton, P.M. (W.M. at time of presentation). Seated is Bro. M. Leonard Friedman, P.M., recipient of the 70-Year Masonic Service Award.

Bro. Gregory P. Pappas, W.M., William S. Snyder Lodge No. 756, Harrisburg, recognized Bro. Alvin S. Goodman, 33°, P.M., for his induction as a charter member of the new Century Club at the December stated meeting of the lodge. This certificate of membership and lapel pin were first presented to Bro. Goodman by Bro. Scott T. Matinchek, District Deputy Grand Master for District 2, at the 231st Anniversary Banquet of Perseverance Lodge No. 21 on Nov. 10. The club honors those who have conferred 100 or more Masonic degrees. At the time of his induction, Bro. Goodman had conferred 133 degrees in five lodges during his 45 years as a Master Mason.

Left: Bros. Gregory P. Pappas, W.M., and Alvin S. Goodman, P.M.

Annual Eastern Pennsylvania Masonic Family Picnic at

Dorney Park 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Wildwater Kingdom 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Saturday June 11, 2011 Rain or Shine “All You Can Eat” menu served 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Fried Chicken, Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Soda, Ice Cream, Condiments and more!

Adults $35.00 Age 3 Years to 48 inches tall $27.00 Children ages 2 years and under are admitted free of charge.

ADMISSION PRICE PAYS FOR BOTH PARKS Covered pavilion for meals

Mail your ticket requests to: Linda Matthews, 139 W. Richardson Ave., Langhorne, PA 19047-2827

Make Checks Payable to “Masonic Picnic” __ _______ No. of Adult Tickets @ $35.00................ $_________ _________ No. of Child Tickets @ $27.00................. $_________ Name___________________Total Amount Enclosed $_______ Address____________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Absolute Deadline for Ticket Reservations - May 31, 2011

FREEMASON

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

Cautions in Estate Planning

REPLY FORM

For all of you who have planned your estate, a few cautions are in order. There are a number of common unforeseen problems that are easily overlooked, and can quietly derail your intentions in your Will.

A prime example is something in nearly everyone’s estate: titled assets. These include such things as IRAs, investment accounts and insurance policies. Caution here is warranted because the named beneficiaries in these assets override your Will.

This means that if your estate’s value is mainly in titled assets, your Will in fact may not determine the distribution of most of your estate. Family and charitable heirs

may not receive what you want.

There are other potential problems as well. They can reduce gifts to heirs, reduce the size of your estate, put a big smile on Uncle Sam’s face, or have other adverse effects.

In some cases, Masonic Charities can help. For persons considering including the Masonic Charities in their estate plan, assistance is available. A licensed attorney with a focus in estate planning is on staff. He can provide a complimentary review of your estate plan, and offer guidance which may help you avoid unforeseen problems. (Please note that Masonic Charities does not provide formal legal advice, and in most cases it is necessary

to meet with your own independent attorney to complete final documents.)

Such a review also may save you money.

It can reduce your overall legal costs for your estate plan. This is because you will be better prepared to discuss with your attorney your personal estate planning documents necessary to attain your goals.

If you are considering including Masonic Charities in your estate plan, and would like suggestions on how best to accomplish your goals for estate and charitable planning, please call us at the number below or return the Reply Form. Our sincere thanks for your charitable intentions.

Complete and mail this form to: Office of Gift Planning • Masonic Charities, One Masonic Dr., Elizabethtown, PA 17022 Telephone: (800) 599-6454  I am planning or considering a bequest to Masonic Charities.

Please call me regarding assistance in planning my estate.  I have already included Masonic Charities in my estate plan.

Please let me know the benefits, including membership in the Franklin Legacy Society.

Name____________________________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________________ Phone___________________________________________________________________

14th Annual Meeting in the Hills - Friday, June 24, 2011 Held Outdoors at Christner’s Grove near Dawson, PA Casual Dress – No Shorts, Blue Jeans or Collarless Shirts • All Master Masons Welcome

King Solomon’s Lodge No. 346, Connellsville, will host this annual outdoor event at Christner’s Grove. A delicious 12 oz.

New York strip steak dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Following dinner, a special meeting of King Solomon’s Lodge will be held.

Tickets are $25 and may be ordered from Bro. Richard E. Bigley, P.M., at 107 Ashton Drive, Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666.

Please send a self-addressed stamped envelope with payment. Checks should be made payable to: CDS Building Corporation.

All ticket orders must be received by June 17, 2011.

Phone: (724) 547-2367 or E-mail: bigs@zoominternet.net. Directions will be included with your return ticket order.

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FREEMASON

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

A Modern-Day Renaissance Man Finding a passion makes us men. Striving for perfection in every aspect of life makes us Freemasons. When a man embraces his Masonic journey and makes the most of it – we reserve one title for him: Renaissance Man. Bro. George Kehm, Oakdale Lodge No. 669, businessman, family man, man of faith and man of his word, lives up to that ideal.

“There are two things a man can miss in life: if you don’t experience living on a farm and if you don’t become a Mason,” Bro. Kehm said. His life has been enriched by both.

Bro. Kehm, named after his father, George, was the youngest of five children in a close-knit family. At age 8, Bro. Kehm was milking cows and by age 12, he helped his father with the thrashing on their farm and neighboring farms. At age 14, in a moment of accomplishment and pride, Bro. Kehm drove the tractor thrasher for the first time.

As he grew older, he took evening classes at the University of Pittsburgh while working during the day.

At age 20, Bro. Kehm began working in operations for Texaco, where several of his bosses, including Tom Rathburn, A.J. Hawkins and Bob Fisher saw his potential and helped him grow within the company.

“I owe so much to so many people,” he said.

As a 25-year-old, Bro. Kehm went with some friends from church to check out Oakdale Lodge, and he and his friend, Bro. Jimmy Cooper, both joined.

A year later, Bro. Kehm became a hero.

As a Texaco employee, he had almost finished helping to pump a barge when someone was careless with an open flame. The result was catastrophic as the barge exploded, shooting fire 20 to 30 feet high. Bro. Kehm threw two injured men from the barge into the river.

Later, he visited them in the hospital. Both suffered from severe burns, but they had Bro. Kehm to thank for their lives. He was lucky to sustain no injuries from the incident.

After the explosion, he entered into sales with Texaco. While many people strive to give 100 percent in their careers, Bro. Kehm gave 200 percent. Within his first year, Bro. Kehm won a national sales award. The next year, he was promoted to fuel representative.

As a fuel rep, Bro. Kehm had the opportunity to visit many facilities, see how they were run and evaluate how they could have been managed more efficiently. To succeed at Texaco, Bro. Kehm would have had to commit to traveling and moving.

Partially because he wanted to remain close to his parents, who had been instrumental in his life, Bro. Kehm decided to move on from Texaco. “They made me a great offer

to stay, but I resisted,” Bro. Kehm said. “I was very close to my parents. They were a huge help to me.”

1960 was a big year for Bro. Kehm. He moved out of his parents’ house when he married his wife, Eleanor Ann. He tried out for the Pittsburgh Pirates and learned that his fast pitch was slightly below speed for the major leagues. He also founded his own business. Bro. Kehm’s friend, Bill Yeckley, was selling two used 1,000-gallon Chevy trucks.

Yeckley held the trucks for six months while Bro. Kehm earned $6,500 to buy them, and with the purchase on Nov. 1, 1960, he started Kehm Oil Company.

“I was very, very, very fortunate. You have to be in the right place at the right time,” he said.

At first, Texaco paid Bro. Kehm to haul their products. He started supplying service stations with gas, and homes and commercial companies with heating oil. At the time, he put in 10- to 14-hour work days. When a service station in Oakdale was for sale, Bro. Kehm’s sister wrote him a check to purchase it and expand his business. “She always watched out for me,” Bro. Kehm said. “She was like a second mom to me.”

To further Kehm Oil Company, “My parents were fantastic to me. They gave me 4.5 acres to build the facility,” Bro. Kehm

FREEMASON

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

said. When he accidentally built one of his buildings five feet too close to a road, Bro. Kehm’s father, at age 76, showed him how to roll back the entire building.

Kehm Oil Company has evolved greatly over the years. In 1982, Texaco pulled out of the greater Pittsburgh market, and Bro. Kehm purchased all 17 of its service stations. He wisely paid off the buildings in just 18 months.

At the same time, he started Golden Oil Company as a holding facility for Kehm Oil Company’s growing needs and distribution.

Kehm Oil Company now consists of three buildings, including a lube facility constructed in 2000, on the 4.5 acres of farmland that Bro. Kehm’s parents provided. The facility also includes a storage capacity of 60,000 barrels of fuel and 300,000 gallons of bulk oil. In 2011, Kehm Oil Company will supply other facilities with about 360 bulk loads of oil and make approximately $50 million. “We have a very nice place here,” Bro. Kehm said.

“I keep everything very neat and very clean. … We hose the trucks down every night. If you don’t hose your truck off, don’t bother to come back the next day.”

A total of 45 employees make Kehm Oil Company, along with service stations and four TJ’s Deli Marts (named for Bro. Kehm’s daughter, Terri, and son, Jerry, member of Oakdale Lodge No. 669) productive. The company now delivers heating fuel to residential and commercial customers and loans necessary equipment to the businesses it works with. It stores gasoline and diesel fuel; fuels barges, which typically require 40,000 gallons of fuel or more; distributes motor oil to all of the Ford dealers in the greater Pittsburgh region, including areas in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland; and provides petroleum products for Shell service stations.

In 2004, three feet of water flooded two of the company’s buildings. While the top of Bro. Kehm’s desk was still visible, the water saturated even the top drawers. The damages came in at a whopping $2 million.

While others expressed doubt, “It never crossed my mind that the business wouldn’t survive,” Bro. Kehm said. On Sept. 17, just days after the flood, they started cleaning up.

By Feb. 18, 2005, the facility was ready for operation again. However, a buildup of salt in the furnace caused by the flood and lack of use started a fire the following Monday.

It was fairly contained to the furnace and nothing Bro. Kehm couldn’t overcome.

That’s the kind of leader Bro. Kehm is –positive thinking, hardworking and expectant of those around him to put forth their best effort.

“It’s awful hard to get people to work,” he said. But he credits Kathleen Popivchak, secretary/treasurer, for the important role she’s played in the business for the past 37 years. “Kehm Oil Company may not have survived without her,” he said. Kathleen works six days a week and always arrives at 6 a.m. She is known for getting the job done. “You always give work to people who are busy because they’re the ones who get it done,” Bro. Kehm emphasized.

He sets the bar high when it comes to work ethic. His official title is owner, president AND truck driver. Bro. Kehm drives an average of five days per week and estimates that he’s driven 5.5 to 6 million miles in an 18-wheeler during his lifetime. On weekdays, Bro. Kehm arrives at his office at 5:50 a.m., and on Saturdays, he pushes that back to 7 a.m. He normally leaves around 6 p.m. and checks in every Sunday after attending church.

“From 1960 to May 2008, I probably hadn’t missed three days of work,” Bro. Kehm said.

In 2008, he suffered from a back infection and underwent surgery. “My back is better now than ever before.”

“People tell me, ‘you work too hard.’

I tell them, ‘show me someone who’s ever died from working too hard. … Find a guy who’s 80 and can do what I can do, and I’ll do what he’s doing.’”

His work ethic must be hereditary because Bro. Kehm’s son, daughter and son-in-law, Alan Conoshuto, P.M., Centennial Lodge No. 544, Carnegie, all work for him. “If anything, I expect more out of them than others,” he admits. “I always told them I’d educate them by paying for their school and build them a house.” Now, his children and five grandchildren (Colby, Cameron, Chloe, Erica and Maggie) live by Kehm Oil Company in houses built on the farm where Bro. Kehm grew up. Bro. Kehm cannot help but praise his grandchildren for their accomplishments. They are creative, smart, talented and accomplished at young ages.

Family remains important to Bro. Kehm.

Kehm Oil Company only closes one day a year: Christmas. However, one year, Jerry told Bro. Kehm that there was a problem and that a Shell station in Cincinnati, Ohio, needed two loads of oil the day after Christmas.

Bro. Kehm had his son stay with his young children and got everything ready himself.

He left for the city at 2 a.m.

That level of service is what makes Kehm Oil company so unique. “Everyone has fuel.

Everyone has this or that, but we give service,” he said. Kehm Oil Company has a party room that can seat 150 to 200 people. Every spring,

Bro. Kehm invites all of the local Ford dealers for a gathering, just to show appreciation for their business. He also hosts an annual Christmas party for his employees.

Even with such an active business and family life, Bro. Kehm has found ways to make community service a priority. Besides Oakdale Lodge, Bro. Kehm also belongs to Syria Shrine and Royal Order of Jesters Court No. 2. “Freemasonry grows with you and helps you along,” he said. “Tom [Sturgeon] and I are great friends. I look up to him even though he’s younger than I am. He has accomplished a lot.”

Bro. Kehm has been active in his lodge.

He installed the air conditioning and heating in the lodge building, and put his excellent memory to use by helping a fellow brother memorize the rituals. In 2005, a flood swept through the lodge hall. So the next stated meeting could proceed uninterrupted, Bro. Kehm hosted the meeting in his party room.

“If I have one regret, it would be that I didn’t spend more time with the fraternity,” Bro. Kehm admits. “Masons play hard, and they work hard. They give an awful lot. …

I would have liked to go on and become Worshipful Master.”

Nevertheless, Bro. Kehm’s impact on the community is significant. He served on the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association. As the president of the Parkway Authority, Bro. Kehm led a team of people in planning the construction of schools in eight local school districts. The project was completed on time and within budget. He also served as the president of the board of trustees at Oakdale United Presbyterian Church for 26 years, a position Jerry now holds. The church has a special place in Bro. Kehm’s heart because as a child, he was the first person baptized there.

In regard to “free time,” Bro. Kehm indicated: “I’m down to 24 hours in a day.”

However, he still likes to follow sports, especially baseball, golf and football. He belongs to The Club of Nevillewood, and goes golfing with friends and his son two or three times a week when the weather is nice. He and Jerry still have a winning team.

Despite his busy schedule, Bro. Kehm always remembers what it means to be a Mason – to be a Modern-Day Renaissance Man. “You need to have some people who really enter into your life and help you,” he said.

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PENNSYLVANIA MASONIC YOUTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

Masonic Youth Unity Weekend Our Masonic youth learned recently that making history doesn’t always have to be a dramatic or patriotic event, such as signing the Declaration of Independence or ringing the Liberty Bell.

On Feb. 25-27, 2011, more than 100 young men and women and 40 adult leaders from five Masonic youth groups came together at the Masonic Conference Center – Patton Campus in Elizabethtown for the first-ever Masonic Youth Unity Weekend.

The program was planned by the youth leaders of the five youth groups: Kaitlin Nemec, Grand Worthy Advisor of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls in Pennsylvania; W. Thomas Moyer, State Master Councilor of Pennsylvania DeMolay; Cecile Madonna, Miss Job’s Daughters of Pennsylvania; Robert Williams, Grand Master Knight of the Prince Hall Grand Council of Knights of Pythagoras in Pennsylvania; and Charmaze Banks, State President of the Ruth Mitchell Tucker Girls Youth Department of the Deborah Grand Chapter, OES, P.H.A. Also attending was Jay W. Smith, R.W. Deputy Grand Master.

The program included the customary “get-to-know-you” exercises, and a long session in which each group described their purpose, their beliefs, their structure, their program, their activities and their charities. Each participant was given a white t-shirt with a design created by CeCe Madonna, and had the opportunity to tie-dye it during the weekend. Other sessions included an examination of the stereotypes about boys vs. girls, led by DeMolay State Chapter Advisor Louis Grow and Mrs. Jan Harms, Past Grand Guardian of Job’s Daughters. Bro. Brent Richards, P.M., Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682, Elizabethtown, facilitated a fun exercise in improvisational comedy, and Mrs. Deborah McCoy presented a dramatic program on why bystanders must step in to prevent bullying wherever possible.

The program included plenty of time for swimming, board games, volleyball and Rock Band, and Saturday evening closed out with a dance, followed by a trivia and wings game presented by “Fezzy and the Brain” (DeMolay advisors Seth Anthony and Greg Schaeffer). Sunday morning’s Chapel service was led by Miss Kathryn Webster, Grand Chaplain for Rainbow, from Morrisville Assembly No. 107.

The program was a hit with the youth and adults, and they all agreed that they needed to get together and support each other’s activities during the year. Visitations and interaction with all of the youth leaders is planned to continue throughout the year.

Top: Participating Masonic youth group members gathered for a group photo with R.W. Deputy Grand Master Jay W. Smith (front row, fourth from left) and Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation Executive Director Bro. Tom Labagh (front row, fourth from right).

While the youth were participating in the planned program, the adults were also learning to work together by joining in for some group decision-making games. In the photo, this group of “pirates” had to choose which island to establish their hideout on, while R.W. Deputy Grand Master Jay Smith monitored their discussions.

An interactive session had the boys and girls answering questions and advancing on a giant game board to dispel stereotypes about the opposite sex.

There were a lot of smiles as the youth groups shared information and compared their organizations in fun and creative ways.

PENNSYLVANIA MASONIC YOUTH FOUNDATION

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

More Than Just Meetings Masonic youth groups enjoy having visitors at their stated meetings. On Jan. 10, 2011 Job’s Daughters Bethel #15, Elizabethtown, added a little “twist” to their regular Bethel meeting and held a “Shadow Night” with the lodge officers of Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682, Elizabethtown. The lodge officers sat side by side with the girls on the Bethel floor.

After each Bethel officer gave her station’s charge, the lodge officer sitting next to her introduced himself and gave a brief description of what his duty is in a lodge meeting. Brooke Spence, Honored Queen of Bethel #15, said she really enjoyed seeing both the sidelines and the Bethel floor filled that night and found it very interesting how the lodge offices compare to the offices in Job’s Daughters.

Orrstown Lodge No. 262 invited the members of Bethel #16, Chambersburg, to join them for dinner prior to their stated meeting on Feb. 17. After dinner, the girls performed an exemplification for the lodge officers and members, which included a brief explanation of

their Job’s Daughters regalia, and then performed the Closing Cross Ceremony. Afterwards, the girls introduced themselves and shared why they enjoy being members of a Masonic youth group. The men in attendance then had a chance to ask the girls questions about Job’s Daughters. James W. Sleighter, W.M., said he was impressed at the effort the girls put into exemplifying their ritual work and was very thankful the girls were willing to take time out of their schedule to share Job’s Daughters with his lodge.

These are just two examples of how you can make a meeting more than just a meeting.

Visiting Masons always make a Job’s Daughters Bethel meeting more meaningful to the girls since they have an audience for which to perform. A visit from Job’s Daughters can make a lodge meeting extra-ordinary by sharing their customs and rituals. Consider having a Masonic youth group visit one of your lodge meetings … or better yet, visit one of theirs!

After the meeting, Bro. James Sleighter, W.M., Orrstown Lodge No. 262, presented a check to Bethel 16 Honored Queen Jenny Buterbaugh.

PA Rainbow Grows In Several Ways

or for PA orthy Advis blies this W d n ra G ec, em Kaitlin Nem a goal to visit all the Ass embly in ss s A a h h , it a w F bo Rain l Visit” to ia ic ff e of her “O so is oto with m ph year. At th a r fo d pledge girls e pose Wexford, sh s, Assembly members, er Grand Offic members. e iv ct pe os pr d an Pennsylvania Rainbow is growing with new members and also with potential future members, by the development of Rainbow Pledge groups. Pledge groups are for girls ages 6-10. Pledge groups meet once a month at a lodge building for about an hour. The girls wear short white dresses, white shoes and white socks for their meetings.

There is a Pledge Ritual and the officer parts are read by the girls, not memorized.

The main officers are: Pledge Sister, who presides in the East; Assistant Pledge Sister; Sister of Happiness; Sister of Confidence;

Sister of Kindness; Sister Chaplain; Sister Drill Leader; and Sister Guardian. There are additional offices when the group is larger than eight. In addition, there is a Pledge Mother, who is usually a Rainbow Girl, and a Pledge Advisor, who is usually an adult and also on the Assembly Advisory Board. The Pledge Sister wears a tiara and plans her term, similar to the Worthy Advisor of an Assembly. The Pledges have their own sign and their Pledge song is “Blessed Be the Tie That Binds.”

The ritualistic part of their meeting night lasts between 10-15 minutes. Then it is time for fun and fellowship. There is usually a snack and a craft, which can be for themselves or as a service project for others.

The Pledges are sometimes assisted at their meetings by the members of the Assembly, and Pledges sometimes participate with the older Rainbow Girls at selected activities and fun events.

Pledge meetings are open by invitation to families and those who are interested in attending. Currently 17 of our 31 Assemblies have Pledge groups. Pledge groups are listed with their home assembly on our website, www.parainbowgirls.org, in the roster section under the Assembly name. There are many creative group names that the girls have chosen themselves for their group. As the Pledges turn 11 years old, our hope is that they will continue their involvement and join their home Assembly.

RAINBOW BY THE NUMBERS: as of Dec. 31, 2010

To say that Pennsylvania Rainbow is improving is one thing, but to prove it is another. But with numbers like this, it is obvious that the Order is experiencing some significant growth!

29

Number of Active Assemblies

31

Number of Total Assemblies

17

Number of Pledge Groups

28 Number of Girls in the Largest Assembly (Reading #33) 25 Number of Girls in the Second Largest Assembly (Pitcairn #90) 323

Number of PA Rainbow Girls

83 Number of Girls Initiated Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2010 24.9% Percentage of Growth in 2010 1 Number of Re-opened Assemblies in 2010 (Johnstown #35) 2 Number of Assemblies Constituted in 2010 (Altoona #188 & Aurora #189) 2 Number of Assemblies Re-opening in 2011 (Kittanning #39 & Philadelphia #47) 1 Number of new Assemblies working toward Institution (Lehigh Valley in Macungie

For further information on how to bring Rainbow to your Masonic community, contact Mrs. Helen Snedden, Supreme Deputy, at hsnedden@aol.com or (412) 953-9455.

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MASONIC VILL AGES

MASONIC VILLAGES’

2011

WISH LIST ITEMS OFFICE OF GIFT PLANNING

(800) 599-6454

Thank you to those who have provided for the following items from last issue’s Wish List: Lodge No. 2: 1 Portable Digital Wheelchair Scale for Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill - $2,000 Masonic Village at Warminster Advisory Committee: 20 Lounge Chairs for the Masonic Village at Warminster - $3,000 Anonymous Donors for the Masonic Children’s Home: 11 Counter Stools - $1,100 5 Porch Gliders - $1,500 3 Medicine Cabinets - $1,500 Anonymous Donors for the Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill: 3 Recliners - $2,028 Theatrical Therapy for Residents: $3,000 Plants/Planters - $3,375 Anonymous Donors for the Masonic Village at Sewickley: 1 Shuttle Bus for Residents - $166,000

TOTAL: $183,503!

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

Qty. Capital Need Children’s Home 5 Bathroom Vanities and Counters 2 Medicine Cabinets 2 Carpet for Enclosed Porch Carpet for Offices Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill 3 Recliners Lobby Face-lift (furniture, lamps, drapery, etc.)

1 ID Card Printer 1 It’s Never Too Late - computer systems that empower individuals to connect, engage & enjoy life 1 Van with Lift Masonic Village at Warminster 12 Over-Bed Tables Masonic Village at Sewickley 1 Photosmart Compact Printer w/ Extra Cartridges 1 Set of 12-Note Choir Chimes 1 Hand Rail Tilt and Roll Scale 1 ARJO Sit-to-Stand Lift 1 4 Channel E-Stimulation (electric) 1 Computer and Printer for Retirement Living Window Tinting for Main Dining Room 1 Large-Screen TV for Personal Care Residents 3 Computers for Valley Care Masonic Center 1 Printer for Valley Care Masonic Center 2 Outdoor Tents (size 20 x 20) 1 All-in-One Music System Masonic Village at Elizabethtown Renovations to the Bleiler Caring Cottage 1 Portable Sound System for Resident Chorus Group 1 Wii Clinical Needs 87 APM2 Mattresses 80 x 35 - Prevents skin breakdown 3 Bariatric Bed & Equipment - Used for larger residents 9 Lifts (full) - incl. est. shipping 9 Lifts (sit-to-stand) -incl. est. shipping 5 Low Electric Beds 1 Nurse Call Bell System - Wireless 1 Security System 5 Wheelchairs - Broda - Comfort seating at end of life 15 Wheelchairs - Specialty 10 Whirlpools (tubs) 1 Wireless Internet Access Quality of Life Needs 49 Ceiling Panels (ocean, sky, etc.)

3 Furniture for Resident Balconies 10 Horticulture Gardens - Raised - Depending on the size and materials used 1 It’s Never Too Late - computer systems that empower individuals to connect, engage & enjoy life 2 Keyboards - Digital 10 Massage Chairs - Heated 2 Rock & Go Gliders 3 TVs - Big Screen & Brackets

Cost per Item Total Cost $950 $500 $1,415

$4,750 $1,000 $2,830 $6,412

$676 $28,000 $11,300 $24,000

$2,028 $28,000 $11,300 $24,000

$45,000

$45,000

$265

$3,180

$250 $530 $1,550 $4,100 $4,400 $1,250 $4,000 $3,000 $875 $100 $1,800 $500

$250 $530 $1,550 $4,100 $4,400 $1,250 $4,000 $3,000 $2,625 $100 $3,600 $500

$5,100 $2,502 $500

$5,100 $2,502 $500

$1,200 $5,000 $3,700 $3,800 $5,000 $100,000 $100,000 $2,100 $1,000 $20,000 $20,000

$104,400 $15,000 $33,300 $34,200 $25,000 $100,000 $100,000 $10,500 $15,000 $200,000

$215 $1,000 $500-$1,000

$10,535 $3,000 $500-$1,000

$24,000

$24,000

$2,500 $2,000 $3,000 $2,000

$5,000 $20,000 $6,000 $6,000

MASONIC VILL AGES

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

Autumn Day 2011 Mark Your Calendar

Saturday, September 17

Masonic Village at

WARMINSTER

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 e-mail MVWadmissions@masonicvillagespa.org.

850 Norristown Road • Warminster, PA 18974

PA Masons Reunite in Approximately 625 people attended the Florida Masonic Reunions held in March in Tampa, Sarasota and Palm Beach Gardens. Pennsylvania Masons, their wives and widows who reside permanently in Florida or who visit there during the winter months were invited to receive information on services provided at the Masonic Villages. R.W. Grand Master Thomas K. Sturgeon presented eligible members in attendance with their years of service emblems and awards.

Left: Bro. Richard H. Cherry, Lodge No. 9, Philadelphia, received his 60-Year Masonic Service Emblem from R.W. Grand Master Thomas K. Sturgeon and R.W. Past Grand Master William Slater II. Bro. Cherry and his wife, Theresa, are residents at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown.

Right: The only Pennsylvania Mason who received his 70-Year Masonic Service Award during the reunions was Bro. Harvey L. Noyes, Fraternal Lodge No. 483, Rouseville, who attended the Sarasota event with his wife, Lorena.

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MASONIC VILL AGES

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

A Home is Built with Love and Dreams When you reach your golden years, you may choose to begin a second career, travel, volunteer or even go back to school. Even so, there’s always no place like home. Find the freedom to experience the opportunities this time of life presents without worrying about the headaches of home maintenance. Masonic Villages provides retirement living options to fit your lifestyle, amenities to enhance your life, financial security with one basic monthly service fee, and peace of mind knowing that health care services are available, if needed.

Each of our locations has a unique atmosphere focused on creating community, building respect and serving you. Masonic Villages takes care of life’s details so you can dream big during retirement!

setting,” they agreed.

“A continuing care retirement community is unique in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Noah Davis, executive director for the Masonic Village at Dallas, said. “You get it all here – a beautiful home, secure living, friendships, dining and events at the clubhouse, entertainment in local cities and priority access to health care facilities, if needed.”

If you’re not quite ready to consider retirement, stop by the Irem Country Club Restaurant or Pub next time you’re in town.

We blend modern elegance with premier cuisine and exemplary service so every visit exceeds your expectations.

Open Houses: May 17 at 10 a.m. in the Irem Clubhouse June 14 at 10 a.m. in the Irem Clubhouse August 9 at 10 a.m. in the Irem Clubhouse Evening Luau: June 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the Irem Clubhouse For more information about Retirement Living: (570) 675-1866 or (866) 851-4243

Masonic Village at Dallas Ned and Lois Hartman moved to the Masonic Village at Dallas in 2009. They enjoy hiking and travelling and share a passion for dancing. As residents of the Back Mountain for many years, they wanted to retire close to friends, family and their church so they could stay active in the community. The Masonic Village provided the perfect fit. “It has the right amount of social and entertainment opportunities … we were very fortunate to be able to move to such a quiet and serene

Masonic Village at Elizabethtown This campus may be 100 years old, but it features many new options. The Masonic Health Care Center is preparing for a major renovation to make its comfortable

neighborhoods even more home-like. Across the campus, brand new retirement living cottages are under construction, and there are a few that can still be reserved. Call soon!

The Village Green area now offers retirement living options at reduced rates, with the same great guarantee of service, amenities and peace of mind.

Bro. Clarence Cox, P.M., dual member of Ephrata Lodge No. 665 and Lodge No. 43, Lancaster, has enjoyed getting to know what it means to be a part of the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown since he moved to the campus last September. He is now helping other new and inquisitive people by giving tours at the Visitors Center several times a month. “[My family] tells me that I can’t be at a better place, and I agree with them,” Bro. Clarence said.

“I’ve found out that whoever you stop and talk with is very friendly and willing to help. It’s just a great group of people!” he continued. “You have all of the basic medical facilities you need right here, and they’re very helpful. The place is well-kept and clean, and I give the staff credit for keeping on top of the information they give to residents. The food is great!” With a wry smile, Bro. Clarence added, “I credit the Masons for that – we love to eat!”

Open House: June 1 at 10 a.m. in the Deike Auditorium For more information about Retirement Living: (800) 676-6452 For more information about Personal Care and Nursing Services: (800) 422-1207

MASONIC VILL AGES

Pennsylvania Freemason • May 2011

Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill

Nursing Services: (610) 825-6100

For Marge Johnson, living at the Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill is somewhat of a family tradition. Her mother moved to Masonic Village in 1998 and lived there for 10 years. In 2004, her brother and sister-in-law moved there. After Marge’s husband passed away in 2008, she wanted to be surrounded by people she loved, so she also moved to Masonic Village. “It was the best decision I could have made for myself at the time,” Marge said. “I have my own apartment, but when I want to see people, I can just go out into the hall. There are so many people you can talk to here. I feel like I’ve made a lot of good friends.”

Marge and her friends and family enjoy eating in the Bistro and dining room together.

She has joined a knitting group and volunteers in the gift shop and at a local hospital. “I am very content,” Marge said.

“One of the nicest things for me is that I never wanted to be in a home by myself. Here, when it snows, I don’t have to worry about the cold, shoveling or the furnace. I can just look outside and appreciate the snow. … I love it here! I can’t sing [Masonic Village’s] praises enough.”

Open House: May 26 at 10 a.m. in Kenneth Mills Auditorium July 14 at 10 a.m. in Kenneth Mills Auditorium The Sounds of Pete Cannella: June 15 from 6–8 p.m. in Kenneth Mills Auditorium Drop In Open House: August 17 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. in Kenneth Mills Auditorium For more information about Retirement Living: (610) 828-5760 For more information about Personal Care and

Masonic Village at Sewickley Bro. Bob Herbert, Chartiers Valley Lodge No. 725, Pittsburgh, and his wife, Paige, will move to Masonic Village at Sewickley in May with their miniature poodle, Teddy. “We’re looking forward to living there. Everything meets with all of our wants and expectations.

The facility is gorgeous and the people are friendly,” Bro. Bob said. “We want to be somewhere where if we need [personal care] or nursing services, they’re available.”

“When you own your own house, something is always breaking. At Masonic Village, you just make a phone call, and it’s fixed. We don’t need to worry with the mundane issues of life,” Paige added.

“I look at it as carefree living. There’s no more grass to worry about, snow to worry about or maintenance to worry about,” Bro. Bob said. And that leaves more time for traveling; social activities with professional societies and the fraternity, including Syria Shrine, where Bro. Bob is an officer, and enjoying the company of new friends.

“We went over to meet some residents at the Cocktails with Santa Party. Some of the people we know who live at Masonic Village were there to meet us. It was like the word spread throughout the room that we had arrived. They all wanted to meet us and called us ‘the new kids’ because of our young age,” Bro. Bob said.

“It was a lot of fun,” Paige echoed. “I think we were the last ones there because we were all still sitting and talking at the end of the night. Everyone was very welcoming.”

Drop-In Ice Cream Social: May 31 from 4–7 p.m. at Masonic Village at Sewickley Clubhouse Open House: June 30 at 10 a.m. at Masonic Village at Sewickley Clubhouse Lifecare Seminar: July 28 at 10 a.m. at Masonic Village at Sewickley Clubhouse John Delano Presentation: August 23 at 10 a.m. at Masonic Village at Sewickley Clubhouse For more information about Retirement Living: (412) 741-1400, ext. 3530 or (866) 872-0664 For more information about Personal Care and Nursing Services: (412) 741-1400, ext. 3600

Masonic Villages’ Admissions Policy

Admissions to the Masonic Villages are governed by the Committee on Masonic Homes, members of which are elected by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. The Committee on Masonic Homes approves or disapproves applications for admission primarily on the basis of need.

Decisions concerning admission, the provision of services and referrals of residents are not based upon the applicant’s race, color, religion, disability, ancestry, national origin, familial status, age, sex, limited English proficiency (LEP) or any other protected status.

Regardless of your financial situation, you can afford to move to a Masonic Village! When you choose to live at the Masonic Villages, you are not required to turn over your assets; you maintain complete control of them. Fraternal support enables the Masonic Villages to serve all eligible individuals as part of our Mission of Love.

Please contact the Admissions or Marketing Office at the Masonic Village of your preference for information on the living area desired. For more information, visit www.masonicvillagespa.org.

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Lifetime GUARANTEED

INCOME

WHAT IS IT?

• A special type of charitable gift that pays donors for life.

SAMPLE GUARANTEED LIFETIME RATES For One Life

For Two Lives

Age

Rate

Age

Rate

70

5.8%

70 & 75

5.5%

75

6.4%

75 & 80

5.9%

77

6.7%

78 & 81

6.2%

81

7.4%

83 & 83

6.7%

WHY?

85

8.1%

85 & 87

7.3%

• Benefits the donor and Masonic Charities!

90+

9.5%

85 & 90

7.5%

WHAT ARE THE MINIMUMS?

Note: This is a partial listing. Rates exist for any combination of ages.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? • Guaranteed, fixed lifetime income.

• Tax savings.

WHO HAS PARTICIPATED? • Hundreds of Masonic and non-Masonic donors.

• $5,000 gift in cash or appreciated securities.

• Age 65.

WHERE CAN I GET INFORMATION?

Call Masonic Charities at 800-599-6454, or mail attached reply form.

COMPLETE AND MAIL THIS FORM TO:

Masonic Charities, Office of Gift Planning One Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022 • Phone (800) 599-6454

I would like more information, with no obligation. Please:  Send me a benefits illustration.

Name(s)__________________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________ E-mail:___________________________________________________________ My birth date_______ Spouse’s birth date_______ (if for two lives) Dollar amount(s) to be illustrated (up to three amounts)____________________ If using appreciated stock, estimate cost basis_____________________________  Call me to answer my questions. Phone: (

)_____________________

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.