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My Brethren :
It is our hope that you have entered into this new millennium without an y Y2K difficulties and you are prepared to pruticipate activel y in the activities of your lodge and of this great Grand Lodge. The pag es of this issue of The P ennsylvania Freemason reflect that our br etlu·en have taken the challenge placed before them at th e Annual Grand Communication - that of continuing service to our Fraternity and our communities.
In this issue, you also will flnd the names of our members who will serve all of us as Grand Lodge electe d and appointed officers, distlict deputies, chaplains, ritualists, aides, important committee memb ers, direc tors, and staff. Th e next time you see any of these brethren, tell them that you saw th eir names and give them "a pat on the back" for their efforts
As we can see, ow· lodges are very active in helping others. We are now going to give you th e opp ortunity to improve yomself which, by yow· participation, will help yow· l odges as well as the Grand Lodge. The opportunity I r efer to will be a series of edu cational self-improv ement programs on Saturday, Mar 11 , on the Masonic Homes campus in Elizabethtown
If you are a l odge eader, Saturday, the 11th, will be wh en the Junior and Senior Ward ens training seminars will return Wardens and their wives are being invited to attend and to l erun what it means to be a l eader. By the end of the day, they will have been given the tools to plan to lead their lodges co mpletely and successfully.
Saturday's session also will focus on ritual when a Grand Lodge School of Instruc tion will take place. This school will be conducted and presented by our Grand Lodg e ritualistic staff. The ritual will be presented by the brethren and principals of the district schools. Come and see th e work presented the way it s intended.
Lastly, we will give you the oppo1tunity to improve yourself by gaining accurate knowledge of the Fratemity, its purposes, goals, and a unique persp ective of your pos ition as a member locally as well as gl oball y. This opportunity will come with the opening session of our Academy of Freemasonry Bro. Thomas W. Jackson, R.W. Past Grand Secretary, has arranged for a dialogue to begin on these subj ects with some of the foremost experts of Freemasonry in the world. This is an exciting challenge for Pennsy vania Masons. Pl ease take that challenge and attend!
Best wishes for a millennia! year. We look forward to seeing you in Elizabethtown.
Ro b ert L . Dluge, Jr. Insta lled 1 1 3t h Grand Master
Rob ert L. Dluge , Jr. was installed as the 113th R.W . Grand Master of Masons in Pennsylv ania on Dec. 27 in the presence of more than 600 brethren in a Grand Lodge staged in the expansiv e Chocolate Ballroom of the Hershey Convention Center.
The Annual Grand Communication was attended by an impressive line of visiting dignitaries from many of the grand jurisdictions in the United States, as well as the Province of Ontario, Canada , and Haiti. The leaders, or their representatives, from most of the appendant and alli ed bodies of Freemasonry attended.
Th e Grand Master's insta llation at noon cl imaxed the adm inistering of ob li gations to the other el ecte d officers: Marv in A. Cunningham, Sr., Deputy Grand Master; William Slater II , Senior Grand Ward en ; Ronald A. Aungst, Sr., Junior Grand Warden; and Donald L. Albert, Grand Secretary. As the incumbent R W. Grand Treasurer, it was not necessary to in sta l Marvin G. Speicher.
After the new Past Grand Master, James L. Ernette, "passed the gavel " of leadership, Grand Master Dluge introduced a new symbolic ceremony during which those retiring Worshipful Masters of Blue Lodges who were present in Grand Lodge "passed the gavel" of their leadersh ip to their successors by transferring to them the collars and aprons of their offices.
Grand Master Dluge introduced another inspiring innov at ion , "The Pennsylvania Charge," which w as de ivered by Homer Jones, P.M., Pocono Lodge No. 780, Cresco. The charge recalls the obligatory va lues, princ iples, and character of a Freemason.
Among his first acts as Grand Master, Bro. Dluge awarded the Pennsylvania Franklin Medal for outstanding, distinguished service to Freemasonry to Past Grand Masters Edward 0. Weisser and James L. Ernette. ( See articles on page 8 of The Pennsylvania Freemason ) \
W ithin two hours of his installation, Rob ert L. Dluge, Jr ., R W. G r and Ma ster, was rec eived i n hi s ho me o d ge, El ysburg L odge No. 414, during an informa l visitation at a sp eci a meetin g in Hershey . Grand M aste r Dluge and the Grand L odge officers are pictured r etirin g from the l o d ge room after the reception.
[ Annual Communi cation Photo <; by K enneth R
Grand Master Received in Hi s Lodge
Within two hours of his installation as the 113th Grand Master of Masons in Pennsylvania , Robert L. Dluge , Jr. , P.M. , was received in his lodge during an informal visitation at a special meeting in Hershey. Accompanying the new R.W. Grand Master for the visitation were the elected and appointed officers of Grand Lodge as well as the R.W. Past Grand Masters, District Deputy Grand Masters, other appointed Grand Lodge personnel, and the dist inguished guests who attended the Annua l Grand Commun cation.
The brethren assured th at Grand M aster Dluge would be we ll eq uipped to command order and govern Freemasonry in Pennsy lvania. In the course of the ceremonies, he was presented with three gavels: the fir st by his father, Bro. Robert L. Dluge, Sr.; the second by the 58th Masonic District; and the third, which was carved in the shape of a model train engine, by Bro. Will am Weisser.
1,300 Enjoy Gala Banquet
Some 1,300 brethren and ladies celebrated the installation of Bro. Dluge at the gala Grand Master's Banquet held that evening in the new Great American Ballroom of the Hershey Convention Center. The gala evening was climaxed by a well received, lively show featuring Mari yn McCoo and Bil li e Davis, Jr., the founding headliners of the Original 5th Dimension.
"t•lJ Awa i ting t h e ope ni n g of the Annual Gra nd Commun i cat on in H ershey are (1- r ): Ronald A Aungst, Sr. , R. W .J C. W .- elect; James L. Ernette, the nR.W. Grand Master; George H H o h ens hildt, R.W.P.G.M.; Drew W. Washabau, Active Member of Supre me Cou n ci l , A.A.S.R.; and Judge C harles F Greevy, Active Emeritus Member of Su pr eme Council, A.A.S.R.
Grand Master Dluge complim ents and thanks Homer Jones, P.D.D.G.M., for a job we ll done in delivering the newly adopted Pennsylvania C harge following the installation in Grand Lodge.
Robert L. Dluge,
Jr.,
R. W. Grand Master
c-n;u Jam es L. Ern ette , then-R.W. G r and M aste r ( l eft) and R obert L. Dluge, Jr. , R W Grand Mast er - e ect, ce eb rat e on th e eve of the in sta llation
lJ Members of the Supreme A A.S R. , Council , N.M.J., gather prior to t h e Annual Gra n d Comm u nicatio n in Hershey. They are
(1-r): Thomas K. Sturgeon, Ac ti ve Member; C. DeForrest Trexl er, D epu ty for Penn syl vania; Robert 0. Ralston, Sove rei gn Grand Commander; and Jud ge C h arl es F. Creevy, Active Emeritus.
THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASO N®, VOL. XLVII, FEBRUARY 200 0, NO. I Publi catio n No. USPS 4 26· 140 Fe bruary 2000 issu e of The Pennsylva nia Freemaso n at lh e Maso ni c Homes, Elizabethtown, Pennsylva nia.
GRAND LoDCE 0FA CERS
Robert L Dluge, Jr., R W. Grand M ascer Marvin A. Cunningham, Sr., R. W. Deputy Gnnd Master WIUlam
In honor of the l ate Bro. Carl Stotz, the Mason wh o f oun de d Little League Baseball in 1939, Robe1t L. Dluge, Jr., R.W. Grand Master announced a m onume ntal p r ogram for the Masons of Pennsylvania to supp o1t the expansi on of the Little League World Series in Williamsport. During a we ll attende d m edia conference on Dec. 30 in t he Little Leagu e Baseball Muse u m in Williamsport, Grand Master Dluge tossed a winning pitc h in t his te am effmt t o be n efit youth by prese n t ing a co n t ribu tio n of $50 0,0 00 to Little League Baseball.
Because of this suppmt, in co r\i unction with the building of another stadium, the Littl e Leag u e comp lex will have a big league-styl e sco r eboard m arked with Masonic symbo ls and de di cated in h onor of the late Bro. St o tz. In a ddition , ther e will be a memorial sculptur e of him p laced at the entrance of the stadium co mpl ex. A Masonic cornerstone laying ceremony for the memorial statu e is also being p l anned for t h e unve iling an d dedication of t h e statue during th e Little League Wo rld Series.
It was Bro . Stotz, who was a me mb er of John F. Lae dl ein Lodge No. 707, Williamspor t, wh o conceived the idea of organized baseball for yow1g boys. He founde d the flrst progr am in 1939 with only three teams t hat today h as grown to become the wor ld's largest o rgani ze d youth sports program. Nearly three million boys and girls pru.ticipate in Little Leagu e baseball an d softball programs, with on e million volunteers in 103 coun tties.
Grand Maste r Dluge p r esented the check to Stephen D Kemmer, President and C E O of Little League Baseball; Kare n Stotz Myers, daughter of the late Bro. Carl Stotz; and Theodore H. Reic h, Ch airman of Littl e League Baseball International Boru.·d of Directors. In receiving the grant, Pr esident Ke mme r said: "With Little League Baseball continuing to grow and expand, it is approp riate that we take this opportunity to r em em ber Carl Stotz as the founder of our program. We thank the Masons of Pennsylvania for their generosity and their belief in the mission of Little League as they memorialize Mr. Stotz The ir gifts will be of benefit to the childr en aroun d the world."
"It is a great day for the Stotz family, Masons, and the Little League," said Chairman Reich, who also is Chair man, President and Ch i ef Execu tive Officer of Jersey Shor e (PA) State Bank.
Accor din g to Karen Stotz Myers, th e fo unding of Little League was simp ly the result of her father wanting his nephews to p lay baseball. "The Stotz family dreams will be realized when future generations of Little Leaguers know it was Cru.·l St otz who gave them the
oppmtunity," she said at the media conference.
After the conference, Grand Master Dluge commented on behalf of the nearly 150,0 00 Pennsylvania Maso ns, "Our tean1 effor t and contlibution is a 'grand slam' for yo uth, again putting action into the often repeated words that 'Masons care about youth."'
This Grand Maste r 's p r ogram came to this point as a team eff ort among a numb er of Masons, especially Ronald A Aungst, Sr., R. W. Junior Grand Warden, and Richru.·d L Betron, Sr., P.M., Lodge No. 106, WillianlSport, who is an emp loyee o f Li ttle League Headqu ruters, Inc
Th eo Kotj ara pog l us , Exec ut ive Director, Pennsylvan i a Heart Association ( left ), and Robert L. D uge , Jr. , R.W Grand Maste r, d i splay an automatic external defibri l lator (AED), such as the Grand Master is encouraging lodges to ass st the He a rt Association in providing for local police, fire , and ambulance units in their communities. The AED is a device that literally can shock a person back to life. The Grand Master said that help i ng the Heart Assoc i at on attain its goal of p acing 1,000 units across Pennsylvania is a program that l iterally wil l save lives. It i s an exce lent method to apply the Matching Grants Program to good community service. Joining in the presentat i on of the AED story are ( at right): Alvin Blitz , General Counsel of the Pennsy lvania Heart Association, and Earl " Skip " Mordan , Chairman of the Grand Lodge Emergency Safety Committee.
Grand Lodge of
Spirited by the Grand Lodge Matching Charities Grants Program, in two years lodges across Pennsylvania have infused $2,154 ,470 i nto their communities to serve the needs of their neighbors. Along with the funds, brethren have contr ibuted countless hours of personal service to mankind.
In 1998, 326 lodges filed 736 applications and $478,575 were granted. That means with Grand Lodge Matching Grants, nearly a mi l lion dol l ars benefitted mankind i n communities across the state in the first year of the program.
If 1998 was great, then 1999 was superb: 349 lodges fi led 1 ,010 applications of which 911 were granted $598,660. In other words, with Match i ng Grants monies, nearly $1.2 mill ion more made a difference in the lives of persons ac r oss the state in 1999. That s a seven percent increase in lodge participat ion and a 25 percent i ncrease in funding.
R.W. Grand Master Robert L. Dluge, Jr. has said that the Matching Charities Grants Program will continue, adding increased emphasis for lodges and members' persona involvement in community projects a l ong with the funding. Samuel C. Williamson, R.W.P.G.M. will continue to chair the program and adm nister it.
Pittsburgh Proclamation Cites Grant
The City of Pittsburgh issued an official Proclamation resolving that the Counci l " ... does hereby thank the officers and members of East Liberty Lodge No 725, Pittsburgh, and Pennsylvania ' s Grand Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons for their generous and gracious support of the community of Garfield (in Pittsburgh) and for the r efforts, energy, and undying dedication to the principles upon which t he Free & Accepted Masons were founded nearly three hundred years ago. " East Li berty Lodge contributed $1, 000 in support of the Garfie ld Youth Footbal l project to improve its faci lities in Pittsburgh
Azalea Lodge Gives Police Night Vision
With an ITT N ght Quest Monocular device purchased at a cost of $1,500 by Azalea Lodge No. 687, Hazleton , Butler Township police wil l be able to see things more clearly. The equipment , known by police as "night vision, " looks li ke a small hand-held video camera and makes nighttime look al most li ke daylight. Charles Mil ler, W. M ., of Azalea Lodge (right) presented the night vision equipment to Patrolmen AI Demko (left) and Brian Sabatin i
Concordia Lodge Helps Police Dept.
During the annual l adies' n ight of Concordia Lodge No 67 , Jenkintown, Frederick Wichterman, W.M. (Center), presented a check for $6,000 to the Jenkintown Chief of Police, Craig Rickard (right), for the purchase of a mobile data transmitter. The equipment will allow a police officer to access instantly information re lating to the s ituation at hand. Participating in the presentat on was Dale H. Fera (left) , D.D.G.M., Masonic District E. Concordia Lodge has a history of also supporting the local volunteer fire department and the D.A.R.E. programs.
Masons Donate $1,000 for Police Chapel
Andrew H. Hershey Lodge No. 764 presented a donat ion of $1,000 to the Lancaster City's Mayor Charlie Smithga l, and Donald L. Erb, Sr. , at a city hall ceremony for the construction of a chapel in a new city pol ice station to be built. Donald L. Erb, Sr. is the husband of the l ate Carol Erb, for whom the chape will be named. She was the mother of two city police officers , Ch ri s and Donald Erb, Jr.
The chapel will serve as a sanctuary for police officers, employees, victims, families of victims, and the public who are in need of a quiet place for meditation, refl ection, and solitude during times of stress.
Pictured (1 -r) are: front row: George E. Vernau, Jr., P.M. and Past Secretary; Charles I. Fasnacht , P.M., Secretary; Donald Erb , Sr., husband of the late Carol Erb and father of the two police officers; Police Chief Michae l Landis; and Mayor Charlie Smithgall. Also, back row: John P. Anuscavage , Chaplain; Dona ld L. Erb, Jr. and Christopher M. Erb, officers of Lancaster City Police.
"PennsylvaniaAcademyofFreemasonry"ReadyToOpen
ThreeSchoolsofOpportunityinElizabethtownonMarch11
PENNSYLVANIA
The !irst sessions of the "Pennsylvania
ACADEMY
OF FREEMASONRY Academy of Freemasonry" will be conducted at the Masonic Homes and the Masonic Conference Center at Elizabethtown at 9:00 a m. on Mar 11. The second session will be Oct. 14. The Academy will comprise th ree areas of Masonic education, which will be a Schoo l for Ritual, Seminars for Wardens, and an Academy for Masonic Knowledge.
The three-track program, deve loped at the direction of Robett L. Dluge, Jr., R.W. Grand Master, will offer Pennsylvania Masons educational oppottunities U1at are vital to the history, tradition and operations of Freemasonry. The Grand Master said, "As a result of the tra.il1ing, Masons will be able to broaden U1eir knowledge of Freemasonry, its migins, history, and ritualistic work and to impart skills and planning infonnation for tl1eir lodge leadership."
JuniorandSeniorWardens'Seminars
The Masonic Education Committee will conduct tra.ill.ing sessions for Jmuor and Senior Wardens, with Worshipful Masters invited, as patt of the Pennsy lvat1ia Academy of Freemasonry on Mar. 11 and Oct. 14 at the Masonic Conference Center in Elizabethtown. Dlu·ing the next few weeks, all lodges will receive letters inviting those elected officers to the training sessions.
The concise, one-day training is designed particularly to give Junior and Senior Wardens of all lodges in Pennsy lvania the opportunity to Jeat·n what their j obs entail while progressing UU'o ugh the line and to be ab le to plan fully for their service to the Fraternity. The ladies of the wardens and masters >vill be invited to observe the Fraternity in action and enable them to lmderstand more fully their supporting roles.
The Masonic Education Committee that is p lanning and conducting the training is chaired by Edward 0. Weisser, R. W. Past Grand Master, and comptises Ronald A. Aungst, Sr., R.W.J.G.W. ; Stephen Gardner, P.D.D.G.M.; Jay W. Smith, P.D.D.G.M.; Dr. E lvin Watfe l, Newtown Lodge No. 427, Woodside; and WiJJ ian1 Wetterau, P.M., Lodge No. 806,Southampton-Radiant Star Lodge No. 896, Hatboro.
SchoolForRitual
In the Grand Lodge School of Instruction, Regional Instructors and Ptincipals of the Schools of Instruction will exemplify tl1e ritualistic work. Bro. Dluge emphasized, "Through tile Grand Lodge Schoo l of Instruction, we m·e striving for the excellence in our ritualistic work that is so vital to the philosophy, motivation and tradition of our Fratermty. Brethren involved in ritual will be ab le to witness tJ1e degrees the way they are intended to be exemplified."
This school, which is one of the Uu·ee tracks of the Pennsylvania Academy of Freemasom-y, will rep lace several of the Regional Schools of Instruction
TheAcademyofMasonicKnowledge
In presenting the plans for the newly conceived Academy of Masonic Knowledge, its c hairman , Thomas W. Jackson , R.W. Past Grand Secretat-y, noted: "For a considerable mm1ber of ycm·s it h as been a concern of many in the Fraternity that Freemasom-y in North America has been fai lin g to provide t he proper stimu lus to develop Masonic scholm·s and to provide an envirorunent for those who wish to lea111 about Freemasonry and its impact and receive guidan ce in understanding and cmmntulicating it."
This has been a particularly great concern for Brother Robert L. Dluge, Jr., and rectifying that deficiency has become one of the major causes to be addressed during his tenure as the R. W. Grand Master. For that reason, he has had the "Academy of Masonic Knowledge" created as part of the Pennsylvania Masonic Academy. The co mmi ttee that is directing the Academy of Masonic Knowledge is composed of some of the most know ledgeable and interested Freemasons in Pen nsy lvania.
The Academy of Masonic Knowledge has been designed spec ifically to present a learning opportunity based on the "Academy of Ancient Greece " It will be open to all who truly have a desire to lea111 more about Freemasonry, its origins, its em·ly pmposes, accomplishments and reasons for being. Bro. Jackson exp lains that it is recognized that this will not be a program that will interest all members, but it should be a program that, in the end, will have an impact upon the quality of the Craft in gene ra l through the improvement of t hose wh o will carry the information into the lodges.
It will meet twice this year, Mar. 11 and Oct. 14, as part of the Pennsylvan ia Academy of Freemasonry. Each meeting will featu re a pronune nt Masonic scho lar wh o will deliver th e keynote address. The Masonic scholar who will address the first meeting is Bro. Jolm Hamill, noted author and scho lm· who served as the Librarian and Cmator of the United Grand Lodge of England for 16 years and currently is the Director of Conumutications for that Grand Lodge. There will be written materials distributed, along with s uggested read ing lists for those seeking more light on the topic of discussion.
In addition, i t is intended th at the Academy will provide through thls material a "Horne Study Guide" for those interested in expanding U1eir knowledge. It also is the intent tl1at the Academy will develop a home study comsc t hat, upon a patticipant's comp letion of it, will designate the individual as a graduate ol' the Academy of Mason ic Knowledge.
Press Conference Kicks Off Dramatic "Every Thirty Minutes" Program
Then -Grand Master James L. Ernette (left) and State Police Commissioner Paul J Evanko pre sent an oversize replica of the $50,000 check from The Pennsylvania Masonic Foundation for Children to Angela Sagetti, S.A D D. Director
On Dec.17 , then-R.W Grand Mast er James L. Ern ette and severa l members ofthe Grand Lodge, the Executive Director Bro. Joseph L. Witte and members of The Pennsy lvania Maso nic Fo und ation for Children, along with Bro. a nd Co l. Paul J. Evanko, Commissioner of the Pennsy lvania State Pol ice, atte nd ed a press conference in the Rotunda of the State Capito l for th e kick-off of the " Every Th irty Minut es" program. Grand Maste r Ernette presented a check for $50,000 to the Program Coordin a tor to s how the support for our youth by The Pennsylvania Masonic Foundation for Ch il dr e n and the 150,000 Pennsylvania Mas ons.
Run by the PA DUI Association in conjunction with the State Police, the Ma so ns and Students Against Decis ions (S.A.D.D.). the "Every Thirty Minutes" program instructs students in area h1gh schoo ls about the consequences of dnvmg under the influence." Dur ing the press conferences, speakers from two hi g h schools that had part icipated in the pilot program spoke about the imp act that it had on the ir whole student bodies.
In the dramatica lly instruct iona l "Every Thirty Minutes " enactment, the "Grim Reaper" goes into the classroom e very 30 minutes and removes previously chosen students t o de monstrate that's how often someone is killed as a result of an auto accident involving driving while impaired. When th ey are returne d to the c lassroom , those stude nts are not allowed to communicate with anyone in the schoo l while their fel low students writ e letters expressing their thoughts about the departed students.
The students who were chose n and removed from the c lassroom s tay with the staf f in a local hote l overnight , where they write letters to their pare nt s about the ir "death." Parent s are also part of the program and t hey, too, write letters to their ch ildren e xpress ing their fee li ng s of loss and gr ief Visi t s to the emergency room and morgue also are part of t he program.
Donald B. Cm·lson (left), C. William C arlson (m iddl e ), and Thomas W. Carl s on are three broth e rs who were made Masons toge ther 50 years ago in Butler Lodge No. 272, but they never atte nded lodge together again until they receiv e d their 50-Year Emb lems of Gold in 1999. The emblems were presented by David A. Teorsky, D.D.G.M., 27th ,Mason ic Dis trict, ass isted by Frank Goephatt, W.M .
Th e three grew up in Butler an d all se rv ed the ir country during World Wm· II Bill was in th e Army and Don was in the Air Force, both in t h e China-Burma-India Theater. Tom was in the Navy serving on t he battleship, USS Iowa. After the war, Bill statted in the newspap er busin ess, but soon followed his father to becom e th e Credit Manager of the '!):outma n Departm e n t Store in Butler, then later of the Laza rus chain of sto res in Columbus, OH, from wluch h e retired. After being g raduated from Grov e City Co lle ge, Don be cam e Busin ess Manager for Allied Ne wspapers , moved to sales manag e me n t pos it ions with large ins mance c ompani es, then to Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. in Pittsburgh and Chi cago, where he retired as Senior Sales Represe ntative in t h e Mid west area Tom attended Rob er t Morris Colleg e and began a retail career in the Troutman Dep rutment S tore in DuBoi s . His advancements led to that of Manager of the Pomeroy Department Store in Reading , wh er e h e retired. All three m e mru-ried a11d reside in the areas where they retired
Quarterly in March To Be In Irem Temple, Wilkes-Barre; Evening Show by Hampton String Quartet in Scranton
The Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania will be held Saturday, M arch 25, 2000 , at 10 o'clock a.m. In the lrem Temple Shrine Center, 59 N. Franklin St. , Wilkes-Barre. Luncheon for members will follow the Grand Lodge meeting.
That evening there wil l be a specia l Quarterly Communication show beg inni ng at 8 p.m. by t he Hampton String Quartet In the Masonic Temple at the Scranton Cultural Center, 420 Washingto n St., Scranton.
The Ju lliard-trained and Grammynominated Hampton String Quartet performs unplugged renditions of rock from The Rolling Stones to Led Zeppe lin. They have played in concert and broadcast venues such as t he Town Hall, Madison Square Garden, and United Nations in New York City , Queen El izabeth Hall in London, Civic Center in Hong Kong; and on ABC , BBC , CBS, and NBC. The quar t et comprises Jon Reed, ce llo; Regis landiorio, first violin; Richard Maximoff, vio la; and Richard Hendrickson, second violin.
Price for tickets to the entertainment will be $20 per adult and $15 per student. Tickets can be purchased at the Scranton Cultural Center Box Office by ca lling 570-344-1111, or the toll -free number, 1-888-669-8966. There also is a web site, www.Ticketmaster.com.
FranklinMedalPresentedtoTwoPastGrandMasters
After his installation as R. W. Grand Master, Rob e rt L. Dluge, Jr., presented the Pennsylvania Franklin Medal to the two immediate Past Grand Masters , Edward 0. Weisser and James L. Emctte.
Th e Franklin Medal is the most distinguished honor awarded by the Grand Lodge of P ennsylvania to those who have rendered outstanding service to the Craft It is nam ed for Bro. Benjamin Franklin who served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in 1734 and 1749.
Bro.Edward0.Weisser
Bro. Weisse r served as lhe 11l th Grand Master of Pennsylvarua Masons in 1996 and 1997. lie served as Worshipful Master of Newtown Lodge No. 427, Woodside, in 1972 and as District Deputy Grand Master of the 8lh Masonic Disllict from 1973 through 1983. He had se1ved Grand Lodge as Chairman of Masonic Ed ucation in 1989 unW he became Gr and Master and has return ed to that service in 2000, was a driving force and committee member for the Friend to Fri e nd program, and instigated and chaired the program to resto re the Memorial Arch at Valley Forge.
In York Rite bodies he served Abington Royal Arch Chapter No. 245 as Most Excellent High Ptiest in 1989 and is a member of Philadelphia Co uncil of Royal and Select Maste rs, No. 11 ; Mizpah Commandery No. 96, Knights Templar; Excelsior Mark Lod ge No 2 16, Phil ade lphi a; Liberty Bell York Rite College; Joshua Association of Cap itul ar Masonry; Grand Masters' Council Number (A) of Allied Maso nic Degrees; and Philadelphia Conclave, Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine and Appendant Ord ers. He received the Or der of the Purple Cross for York Rite Sover eign Co llege of North America. In Scottish Rite, he is a m e mb e r of Reading Lodge of Perfection; C. Gilbert. Steffe Counc il , Princes of Jerusalem; Francis Mruion Highley Chapte r, Knights of Rose Croix; and Reading Consistory. Originally, his Scottish Rite membership was in the Valley of Abington which merged into the Valley of Reading. He setved as Most Wise Master of the Chapter of Rose Croix in Abington in 1990. Bro. Weisser was coroneted a 33" Mason in 1992. Bro. We iss e r is a S hlin er in Lu Lu Temple , Philadelphia and has served on the Youth Committee. He also is a membe r of the Royal Order of Scotland, Bel.\iamin Franklin Chapte r of the National Sojourne rs, the Delaware Valley Iligh Twelve Club No. 593, and several Masonic Research o r garuzations. He has always been known for his concern fo r yo uth and the suppon he has r e nde re d th em through the Fraternity and hi s own life. In r ecognition thereof, h e has received the Honorary DeMolay Legion of Honor and has been e lected to the Grand Cr oss of Color of the International Order of Hainbow for Girls. He has been invo lved personally as a Big BroU1er and, as Grand Master, encouraged lo cal lodge s upport of the Big Brother/Big Siste r programs.
Bro. Weisser was born in Langhorne where he has resided his entire life. He is married to U1 e former Barbara E. Banks a11d they have two daughters, Robyn Rowlands and Kim Stoc kburge r There a re three grandchildren, George, VI and Matthew Stockburger and JUlian Rowlands. He has a twin brother, William , who serve d as the Grand Swo rd Bearer through his term as Grand Maste r.
He was educated in tile Lowe r Moreland Sc hool District. He received an Associate of Science d egr ee from York College; a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Cheyney University; and a Master of Education degree from Temple University. He taught. in the Neshaminy School District for 11 years, lhen owned and operated a family campgrotmd for 14 years. CmTe nt ly, h e is Vice Pres ident and Secretary of Eastern Dawn Mobile Home Park, In c. He remains an active m ember of Langhorn e United Methodist Chw·ch and through the years has served as a church school teacher, Chairman of Education, and Trustee.
Bro. Weisser is well known for his favorite hobby, music. He p lays lhe accordion and has been a member of a su·ing band for 5 1 years and marched in the Philade lphia Mmnmers' Parade for 46 years. He has been a member of the Greater Kensington St ring Band since1954, served as its president, treasurer, trustee, and currently is its business manager.
Bro.JamesL.Ernette
Bro. Ernette served as t he 112th Grand Master of Pennsylvania Masons in 1998 and 1999. He served as Worshipful Master of Westmoreland Lodge No. 518, Greensburg in 1980 a11d as District Deputy Grand Master of the 30th Masonic District from 1987 through 1991. In addition to the years served as Junior and Senior Grand Wardens and Deputy Grand Master, he had served Grand Lodge in the a ppoin ted office of Senior Grand Deacon. He se tved as President of Th e Pennsylvarua Masonic Foundation for the Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Among Children, now The P ennsylvania Masonic Foundation for Children, a nd on the Board of Directors of the National Masonic Foundation for Children. As R. W. Gr an d Master, he intr oduced the very successful Grand Lodge Matching Charity Grants Program.
In York Rite Masonry, he is a member of Valley Royal Arch Chapter No. 289; Oliver Co uncil No. 13, Royal and Select Masters; Kendron Commandery No. 18, Knights Templar; Constans Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, Johnstown; York Hite College, Go ld en Triangle No. 32, Pittsburgh; and Excelsior Mark Lodge No. 2 16, Philadelphia.
He is a member of the Scottish Rite bodies in ti1e Valley of Pittsburgh including Gomgas Lodge of Perfection, Pennsylvania Council of Princes of Jerusalem, Pittsburgh Chap te r of Rose Croix, and Pennsylvania Consistory. He was co r o neted a 33° Mason in 1996.
He is a Shriner in Sytia Temple, Pittsburgh; a member of Caravan Eight , A.A.O.N.M.S.; and The Royal Order of J esters, Pittsburgh Cowt No. 2. He is a member of the PIN Club, Pittsbtu·gh, L.AM.A.S. Club in Latrobe.
He is the Provincial Deputy Grand Master of tbe Royal Order of Scotland, Provincial Grand Lodge of the U.S. In 1987, he was the Gr a nd Tall Cedar of Westmoreland Forest No. 77, and is a member of Islam Gr otto, M.O.V.P.E.R., Pittsburgh.
He was awarded the Honorary Legion of Honor from the Order of DeMolay. He also is a member of tile National Sojourners No. 130, Carlisle; Alli ed Masoni c Degrees; and Grand Masters Council "A."
Bro. Ernette is the Owner and President of Unity Printing Co., LatTobe. He was a P ennsylvania State Police 1rooper from 1967 to 1984. He is a graduate of Hempfield Area Senio r High Schoo l; Point Park College, Pittsburgh; and the Pennsylvarua State Police Academy. He a11d his wife , Brenda (Sm ith) have a daughter Lisa, the wife of Joseph Frederick, who served as the Grand Sword Bearer during Bro. Ernette's tenure as Grand Master. There are two g rand childr en, Ashley and Cole Frederick. The Ernettes are members of The Chatter Oak United Methodist Church, Greensburg.
Chester County Masons Dare to Care
A very successfu l "Dare to Care" Drug and Alcoho l Awareness March and Expo was sponsored by severa l l odges from Mason i c District 5. Goddard Lodge No. 383, Coatesv ille, and Williamson Lodge No. 309, Down ingtown, j oined together to involve the community in a fund-raiser to benefit various drug and alcohol prevent ion an d treat ment programs. The program ra i sed more than $10,000, and with match ng funds of $7,900, it was a huge success It received excellent newspaper coverage, two-hours of live radio coverage, and several television newscasts.
The program was coordinated by Bros. Ed Stumm and Ed Dazio, w ith the support of Russell W. Baker, D.D.G.M., 5th Masonic District. Participants included hundreds of sponsored marchers, l oca l township and Chester County commissioners, a State Representative, a State Senator, Ronald McDonald, and several crash test dummies. Nineteen local substance abuse agenc ies presented displays at the Expo, which also included a Masonic Awareness Booth. Addit iona l support for the program was provided by Coatesville Lodge No. 564; West Chester Lodge No. 322; Thompson Lodge No 340, Pao li; Skerrett Lodge No. 343, Cochranville; Oxford Lodge No. 353; Howe ll Lodge No. 4 05, Honey Brook; Kennett Lodge No. 475, Kennett Square; New London Lodge No. 545, West Grove; and Keystone Lodge No. 569, Parkesburg
Bros. Ed Stumm ( left) and Ed Dazio ( right ) address the assembled onlookers and walkers at the start of the Awa rene ss March .
P.M. Confers Degrees For Three Sons
"For three months, I have enjoyed some of the proudest moments of my life, " said Past Master W. Randall Kegerise (rear) when he welcomed his three sons as Masons in Ephrata Lodge No. 665. He was a recommender for all of them and conferred one of the degrees on each of them (1-r): the Master Mason 's Degree on Kim Randall in October, Fellow Craft on Jon Edward in September, and Entered Apprentice on Noe l Patrick in June.
On Dec. 3, th e n -Gr a nd Maste r Jam e s L. Ernette vis ited t h e P en n State-Altoona Chapter of t h e Acacia Fr aternity meeting in the Alto ona Masonic Temp le to witness the initiatio n of 12 tmde r gradu ates and tlu·ee Maso n s in th e co ll eg iate Frate rnity. The Masons, w h o will se r ve as adviser s are: David B Smith, P. M , J uniata Lodge No 282, who will be Chapter Adviser; George Greiner, ill, S.W. Logan Lodge No. 49 0, Assistant Adviser; and Dale A. De Lozier, D.D.G.M., 20th Maso nic Distric t.
At the c o nclus ion of t h e ce r emonies, the Venerable Dean of the c hapter presented t h en-Gr an d Master Ernette with a $100 contrib u tion t o be applied to the Gr and Master's Law Enfor ce me nt Sch ol ars hip Fun d. To raise tl1e m o n ey, t h e Acacia m e mb e r s worked for a p izza s h op h anging fl yers o n n eig h borhood doors. A b anq uet was h e ld in ho n or of then -Grand Master Ernette, w h o is a me m ber of the F r anklin Chapter of the Acacia Frate r nity at t he University of Pennsylvania. Th e Gran d Mas t e r s p oke of his desir e to see an even str o n ger r elati onship gr ow between Freemaso nry and th e Acacia Fr aternity as a result of t h e initi ation of th e a dvise r s into tl1e c h apter. He th e n p r ese nte d the c h apter with the Grand Master's Me da lli on.
The Acacia Fraternity was founded in 1904 at the Univer sity of Michigan by 14 Master Masons. Tod ay, t h e F r aternity h as chapters tlrro u ghout th e c otmtry and in Canada, with nine c h apte r s a n d t wo c olo nies in the Comm o nwealth.
Would you er\ioy the beauty, convenience, companionship, and caring services offered at th e Masonic Homes but have questions? Now is the tin1e to visit the Masonic Homes to discover the facts that have alleviated many of om residents' concems and encomaged th em t o join th e Maso ni c Ho mes' famil y to ef\ioy the many convenie n ces offe r ed in t h e residential living, assisted living, or health care se r vices area.
Fictio n : R esidents must tu?n ove1· assets to t he M asonic Homes.
Resident room In th e Freem a son Building . (Assisted Living)
Fact: Residents retain own e rship of the i r assets. Residents will be billed monthly by the Masonic Homes for services rendered to them while they reside at the Masonic Homes.
Fictio n : .Residents must ha ve a m inimum amo·unt of assets to be elig i bl e j'o1· admiss ion to the Masonic H omes' R esidential Living, Assisted Diving, and H ealth Ca1·e Cente1· m·eas.
Fact: Th e re is no r e quir e d amOtmt of m on ey necess ary to enter the Masonic Hom es' Res id ential Living, Assist e d Living , and H ealth Care Center are as. However, the Masonic Hom es doe s require that all applicants maintain e ligibility for Medical Assistance, Medicare , and other third -party payers by not tran s f erring or giving away assets.
Fiction: If Tesidenls' .fi.mds a1·e depleted, they will be asked to leave the Mas onic H ornes.
Fact: As long as residents maintain t h eir eligibility for Medical Ass i stance and oth e r third -party reimbursement, they will not b e r e quired to leave.
Eastern Star Festival
On Nov. 20, 1999, Eastern Star
Fic ti o n : When residents pass away, lhe 1·esidual of thei1· estate will be given to the Masonic Homes.
F a ct: Tl1e Masonic Homes e n cow·age all r esi dents to have a will. Fuuds and personal b e longings r e maining upon their d e mi se will b e distribute d according to th e ir \viJ.l ,
Fic tio n : Residents may rwt come and go as they please.
Fact: Residents are encouraged t o go on trips and visit with fri e nds and relatives. The Masonic Homes a s ks that residents l et staff m e m -
b ers k now t h ei r whereabouts, so that staff can locate them in the e ve nt of a n e mergency.
Fic tio n : .Residents may not keep their au tomo bil e Fact: R esid e n ts may maintain their automobile, as long a s they f ollow the guidelines establishe d under the Automobile Policy. The policy indicates that a reside nt mu st h o ld a va.lid Pe1msylvania driver 's license, auto r egistration , a uto insp ec tion , a nd auto insurance. Res id e n ts ar e fmancially responsible for all costs associated with a motor vehicle.
Now are you ready to visit o ur cruing community? The Masonic Homes arc ready to serve you! To schedule a personal appoint mcnt or a tom with one of the Admissions reprcscnt.ativcs, for additional information about the Masonic Homes, or for questions r egarding availability, call toll-free: 1 -800-422-1207
residents, and their families
for
Annual Eastern Star Festival and Luncheon at the Masonic Homes in Elizabethtown.
Eleven Eastern Star chapters participated in the festival, themed "Sweets for the Sweet." Visitors had the opportunity to take bus tours of the campus and purchase a variety of items, including homemade baked goods, handicrafts and baskets full of edible treats, and other products.
The Eastern Star Festival raised approximately $7,000 for the Masonic Homes. Those funds will be used to purchase items to enhance the quality of life for the residents.
Proceeds from last year's festival went toward the purchase of a new computer for the Adult Daily Living Center and a magnifying reader for the Grand Lodge Hall library, among other gifts.
Fol l owing the festival, 288 guests attended the so ld-out Eastern Star Luncheon.
The Gran d Lodge and R W Grand Mast er Robert L. Dluge, Jr. and his w i fe Debra , invite you along with your family and friends to a once in a lifetime deluxe vacat ion to Germany with an option to attend the "Passion Play," an event that only happens every ten years.
Price: (Based only on double occupancy)
$3,900 per person attending pl ay $3,700 per person not att ending play
Featuri ng: Exclusive charter jet, Frankfurt, Kob lenz, cruising the Rhine to St. Goar, win e tasting, Munich, Rothenburg, Weimar, Leipzig, Berlin, the "Passion Play," and much morel
"Passion Play"
Th e quaint vi ll age of Oberammergau is set amidst a mountaintop backdrop and is the perfect setting for this show of pageantry that has been held throughout the centuries. Oberammergau will delight you with its beauty, breathtaking scenery, and crisp air. The uPassion Play," an outstanding cultural event and a testimonial of religious fa ith, w il l enthral you.
Includes: Round trip air from Philadelphia to Germany on an exclus ve charter jet • Deluxe hotel accommodations including taxes • Round trip airport transfe rs in Germany • Breakfast da ly and tw o dinners • Full-time professional escort(s) • "Passion Play" tickets (for those attending) • Special events with our brethren who live in Germany.
Mrs. Virginia A. Colestock, res ident of t he Musonic Ho mes, ei\i OlS t he En tem Star Festival ni th friends and re latives.
July 21 - Depart Philadelphia on your own Pflvate chartered Jet.
July 22 • Frankfurt · Mainz: Arrive in Frankfurt in the morning and be met by your DER escort( s). You will board your deluxe motorcoach ano travel to Bingen to see the Mouse Tower. OVernight at the Hyatt Regency 1n Ma1nz.
July 23 - Mainz • Koblenz- St. Goarshausen Oberammergau: After breakfast at your hotel, you will enjoy a two hOur cruise on the Rhine River to St Goar After your cruise you will be transported via motorcoach to Rudeshe1m where you wil experience wine tasting at George Breuer Vineyard. This afternoon you will be traveling to Oberammergau's surrounding area. This evening you will check into your hotel and have dinner (included).
July 24 - Oberammergau and the Passion Play: You will enjoy breakfast at your hotel this morning and be transferred to the Passion P ay which Is a show of pageantry and an outstanding cultural event surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the mountains. There wi ll be a two hour lunch break After the play, enjoy dinner at your hotel this even ng.
July 25 - Oberammergau - Munich - Nuremberg: This morning you will travel to Munich to enjoy sightseeing in Bavaria's lively capital. EnJOY a City tour includ1ng the Olympic Park, Marienplatz, the Glockenspiel, and the Rathaus. This afternoon you will have a relaxing ride to Nuremberg This afternoon you will have a half day sightseeing tour of this town of children's toys and gingerbread houses. Admire the impressive med1eval ramparts and visit St. Sebald Church which is a reconstruction as a monument to peace of wartime destruction. Tonight we'll check 1nto the LeMeridien Grand Hotel.
July 26 Nuremberg · Rothenburg - Weimar : Today you w111 travel to Rothenburg and have a city tour of the ·chocolate-box· medieval town 1nclud· ing the Alstadt, t own hall, 14th century St. James Church, and the Herrngasse with 1ts lovely 16th century mansions Today you will be travel · ing to Weimar, known as the "German Athens.· Overnight at Hilton Hotel.
July 27 Weimar - Buchenwald- Leipzig: After breakfast at your hotel, you will have a walking tour of Weimer and hear about the giants of German litera· ture as you visit Schiller's House and stand in front of Gooth's residence. You will stop at Buchenwald and see the concentration camp en route to
Leipzig. evening you will have free lime in Le1pzig after you check into the Renaissance Hotel.
Jul y 28 Leipzig - Berlin: You will enJOY breakfast at your hotel this morning. Today you will have a tour of th1s wonderful med1eva1 c1ty that was an important center since the m1ddle ages. See 1ts Renaissance buildings, the 13th century St. Thomas Church - where Bach Is buried, and the Battle of the Nationals Monument. After your city tour you will travel to Meissen to see the famous China factory. This evening you will check Into the Grand Esplanade Berlin for your next four nights.
July 29 Berlin: Enjoy a hotel buffet breakfast at your hotel this morning before enjoying "The Gateway To The East" and expe r ience what it has to offer. Today you will have a guldo of this wonderful city Including Brandenburg Gate, Char ottenburg Palace, Kaiser W ilhelm M emorial Church, Schoenberg City Hall, and the new government Rcichstag Building. You will pass through "Check point Charlie", where you will see the remains o the Berlin Wall. In East Bertin, we will dnve along Unter Den Linden and see Alexanderp aU, the German Opera House, and Museum sland.
July 30 - Berlin- Potsdam · Berlin: After your breakfast at your hotel you will enJOY a scenic ride to Potsdam by crossing the River El be, the one-time home of the Hohenzollern Dynasty, and visit one of Europe's most impressive Baroque palaces, Fredrick the Great's Sans Souci. This evening you will enjoy a dinner at the Grand Esplanade hosted by the Grand Master and his wife.
July 31 - Berlin: Enjoy all the wonderful city has to offer at your leisure today. There are plenty of options: shopping, sightseeing, entertainment district of Kufurstendamm. or visit the Pergamon Museum which houses one of Europe's most precious collections of art treasurers.
August 1 - Berlin- USA: This morn1ng you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home on your private jet.
For Information and reservations call Stacl, King Coal Travel , Rt 61, P.O. Box 446, Mount Carmel, PA 17851, (800)
members,
gathered
the Second
Families "Come Home for the Holidays" ... but
Volunteers are Needed Year-Round
Santa gives a candy cane to res id ent Alfred Mash during his visit to the Masonic Health Care Ce noo r
Using the theme " Come Home for the Holidays," this year's annual holiday celebration at the Masonic Homes in Elizabethtown for resid ents in the Masonic Health Care Center and the Freemasons Building, along with their families and friend s, was held on Saturday, Dec. 11.
This year, th e residents in each un it of the Masonic Health Care Center c hose and helped to arrange the programs they shared with the i r loved ones that afternoon - from the music and food they desired to the decorations and activities they enjoyed. Residents in the Freemasons Bui lding ce lebrated their holid ay get-together in the Roo sevelt Building Assemb y Room. As predicted, Santa appeared to share lot s of hugs and cheer, but this year, he was accompanied by "Rudolph " and an elf or two.
While the holidays are wonderful times to experience fun and fellowship with residents, the Masonic Homes would like to encourage brethren and their families to be a constant part of the "Mission of Love" prevalent at the Masonic Homes every day.
Volunteers are integral to providing for some of the residents' dai ly needs, such as servi ng as a courier at resident care units by freshening ice pitchers, distributing and reading ma il t o res dents, escorting residents to medical appointments, assisting with therapeutic recreation programs, escort ing residents on shopping trips, visit ing residents, staffin g the gift shop and the information desk, and escort ing re sidents to and from church services on Sunday afternoons. Volunt eer opportun ities may vary at each M aso nic Homes loc ation.
If you would like to exper enc e the fulfillment that voluntee rin g can bring to your life, don't hesitate. Call today to discover opportunities that cou ld enri ch your life! At the Masonic Homes in Elizabethtown, call (717) 367-1121, extension 33175. For opportunities at the Masonic Eastern Star Home-East in Warminster, call ( 215 ) 672-2500. In the western part of the state, c all either the Masonic Eastern Star Hom e-West in Pittsburgh at (412) 931-8300 or the Valley Care Masonic Center in Sewickley at (412) 741-1400.
MasonicHomes'ServicesinWesternPA
Santa an d Rudolp h the Vol unteer Rei ndeer (Sue Tickey) roam through tlte Masonic Health Care Cenwr visiting residents.
WillComeTogetherandExpand
The m aster plan for the Valley Care Masonic Center, Sewickley, to be expanded into a 47-acr e co ntinuing care retirement commwtity is being developed by th e archltectw·al firm , Perkins Eastman, and bei ng pr esente d to various govenunental officials for review and approval.
The 60 assisted living accommodations planned f or th e camp us ar e expec ted to open for r esidents in summer 200 1 w hen the r esidents and staff at the Masonic Eastem Star Home-West, Pittsbmgh, will move to the new facility. Plans for the existing Masonic Eastem Star HomeWest facility are unde tennined at this time. The Committee on Masonic Homes, with input from the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvartia, Ord er of Eastern Star, has chosen the name for lhe new assisted living building at Sewickl ey to be "Star Points Building" to reflect the strong tradi tion th e r esiden ts and sta ff of the Masonic Eastem Star HomeWest wil l bring with t hem to their new home. Since Jtme 1 when t he Valley Care Maso ni c Center be came prut of the continuum of care provided by the Masoni c Homes of the Grand Lodg e, th e Valley Care Masonic Center and the Masonic Eastem Star· Home-West have worked tog eU1 er to provide services to the membersltip in western Pennsylvania. This transition will bring the Masonic Eastern Star Home- West's assisted living and nursing expertise together with Valley Car e Masonic Center 's quality nursing services to ease the transfer of r esidents between the two l evels of cru e.
Dependu1g upon inl<.'rest, up to 235 independent living apartments and 28 independent li ving cottages ar·e expected to op en in Sewickley for r esidents il1 summer or fall 2002. Plans for the camp us also may include such conve ni ences as a wellness center, day care ar ea, medical clinics, a pool, and a clubho use, among other desired featw·es. Th e communi ty in i ts en tirety will be known as the " Masoni c Village at Sew ckley."
Res ervations to the Priority List for the independent living areas ar·e cunently being accepted. To ensure t11at you get your first choice of a premi er apartment or cottage at the new M asonic Village at Sewickley, contact one of th e following now:
Marketing M anager, Masoni c Homes, One Masonic Drive, ElizabeU1town , PA 17022 or Exec utive Director, Vall ey Care Masonic Center, 1190 M erl'iman Road, Sewickley, PA 15143.
RainbowGirlsofPAJoinin"MakeADifferenceDay"
Rainbow Girls of Pennsylvania were a part of the Ninth annual "Make a Differ ence Day," the nation's lar gest day of helping others sponsored by USA Weekend along with 550 ocal newspapers that distribute the magazine. The Points of Light Fmmdation and its natio nwide network of 501 vo lunteer centers ar·e prutners in this project. Millions of Americans reach out to help oth ers on the fomth Saturday of October
Assemblies across th e state worked to "Fil Up Our Food Banks" by contacting stor es in their areas for permission to set up co llection tables. Rainbow Gil'IS worked throughout the day in approximately 40 locations. Well over 300 persons put in a cumulative total of 320 hours and collec ted more th an 6,000 non-perishabl e items and more than $500. Many of th e food banks were overwhelm ed wjth t11e contributions. Th e Rainbow Girls feel good !mowing that at l east 500 frunili es, if not more, would be h elped.
D.D.G.M.GivesandGetsAwrds
1\u n -about w as fair play when Jay W. Smith, D.D .G.M., 1st Masonic Distlict, presented 70-year and 50-year· service awards dwing a quarterl y lun cheon of Masons at t he Will o w Valley Retirem ent Community sou th of Lan caste r. Bro. Smith was r ecognized with a ce rtifi cat e of appr eciation for being " a brother tried ar1d true and h as made all of us feel welco m e in the district.." The 70-yeru· award was presented to Paul Reidl er of Schuylkill Lodge No. 138, Orwigsbmg, and the 50-year award was presen ted to Gilbe1t Bohn, Harry A Houseman Lodge No. 717, PhHadelpltia.
The M ason s who live at Willow Valley and take part in th e luncheon club come from all pru·ts of Permsylvania and fi·om oU1er jwisdictions. They en,joy the Fraternity and have visited and were wrumJy w elcomed in every l odge in the distlict. Pictmecl at the award presen tations arc O-r): Woody Kirk, P.M. , Washington Lodge No. 156, Quarryville; Bro. Reicllcr; Bro. SmiU1; Bro. Bohn; and Bro. and Rev. A William Ar ch er, P.M., Iligh Noon Lodge No. 38, Newport, DE.
Blood & Organ Donor Poster Winners
Renee Spence, a member of Rainbow Assembly No. 19, Frank li n , wo n first place and received $300 in the Masonic Blood and Organ Donor annual poster contest Her prize-winning poster depicts a cheerleader calling for people to "Give the gift of life! Donate blood & your organs."
Laura Dunlap, a member of Job's Daughters Bethel No. 6, Blairsville, won second place and received $200. Tanya Sutcliffe, a member of Job 's Dau g ht ers Bethel No. 4, Shippensburg, won third place and received $100.
Masons Take Pa..t in Recognizing o ..gan Dono ..s
Through the Masonic Blood Bank and Org an Donor Committee, Masons of Pennsylvania participated in two Gift of Life donor programs in which 38 families were recognized for the donation of organs from loved ones who had died within the past year.
On Sunday, Nov. 7 in Zembo Temple , Harrisburg, then-R.W. Grand Secretary Thomas W. Jackson welcomed the donor fami lies and recip ients. In remarks , he recalled the support which Masons have been giving the program since its inc eption fou r years ago. The next Sunday in the M asonic Temple, Philadelphia, A. J. " Bud " Garvey, Chief of Staff for Grand Lodge Operations, spoke of the Masonic Fraternity's dedication to assist ing the program of organ donations.
The Grand Lodge Committee Cha rman F. Rick Kn epper presented $500 to th e Gift of Life Donor Program to ass st in the purchase of organ donor med al s.
NewShieldBeSquare ClubGrowingStrong
More than 70 bretlmm with common interests in aw enfo r cement attended the first general meeting of the newly fo rm ed Permsylvania Shield and Square Club h el d Nov. 15 in the Grand Banquet Hall of the Masonic Templ e, Philadelphia Guest speaker for the evening was then-R.W. Grand Maste r Jrunes L. Erncttc (second from left in picture bel ow) who spoke of the need to unify those brethren in l aw enfor cem ent to work with the Grand Lodge in providing secmity at special events across t h e Commonwealth , in assisting symbolic lodges in creating interesting education programs, and in providing a forum for brethren with conunon inter ests to inLcrac t.
The Pr esident of the n ew club i s William T. Bergman (at ectern), f om1er Deputy Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department and c urrently a VicC' President at Templ e University. Bro. Bergman honored those brethren present, at the banquet wiU1 certificates of appreciation in recognition for being chatte r members of the newly fonned club. Dignitaries attending included Bro. and Col. Paul J. Evanko Oeft), Conunissioner of the Pennsylvartia State Police; Bro. and Lt CoL Joseph H. Westcott (at tight), Deputy Commissioner of the Pennsyl vania State Police. Not pictUl'ed are Bro. and Lt. Col. Thomas K. Coury, Deputy Commissioner of t h e PelUlSylvartia State Police and Bro. V incent J. Borelli, Cltief of the Delaware River Por t Autl101ity.
Membership of tl1e Shield and Square Club comprises brethren who are ac tive in, or r etired fi·om, PelUlSylvania law enforcement, but limited to those who have held arrest powers granted by the Corrunonwealth. CW'rent membership is almost 300 brethren fi·om across the state.
The next scheduled meeting will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Mar. 20, in the M asonic Temple. Any brethren meeting the membership requirements who are interested in joining th e Shie d and Squru·e Club should contact Bro. Raymond G. Brown, n·easurer, at 215-988- 1978.
The members of the Order of DeMolay in Penn sylvania recently learned that Mickey Mouse and his friends were members of Bamyard Chapter Their "DeMolay experience" was chronicled in a series of comic strips developed by Walt Disney for the Order of DeMolay's national publication, at the request of "Dad" Frank S. Land, Founder of the Order and Disney's own Chapter Advisor in his youth.
Walt Disney's legacy to DeMolay, and to children around the world, was commemorated by a statewide initiation class held at the Masonic Conference Center on Saturday, Dec. 4, 1999. Thirty-two candidates received the degrees of the Order of DeMolay. The Initiatory Degree Team consisted of State Officers and all-star ritualists from several Chapters, and the DeMolay Degree was performed by the championship ritual team of Reading Chapter Bro. Russell W. Baker, D.D.G.M. of the 5th Masonic District, provided wigs, beards, and make-up for the dramatic portion of the DeMolay Degree.
TwoLodgesMeetingin
SameHallHaveFathers
InstallTheirSons
Edenburg Lodg e No. 550, and AJ!egheny Valley Lodge No. 552, both of Knox, meet in the same lodge hall. Within a week of each other, both lodges had fathers install their sons as Worshipful Masters.
Carl J. Sherman, P.M. (left in picture), presents a gavel to his son, Randall A., after he installed him in Allegheny Valley Lodge on Dec. 14. The elder Shennan served as Master twice, in 1972 and 1976.
Bro. Louis Grow, State Master Councilor, presided over the progrrun , under t h e direc tion of " Dad" Samuel C. Williruuson, R.W.P.G.M. and Executiv e Officer of DeMolay in Pennsylvania.
HonorsFor"Doc,The ManBehindTheMan"
DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTERS
Jerry A. Cobler, Sr., P.M., (left in photo) presents a gavel to his son, Jerry A., Jr. after he installed him in Edenburg Lodge on Dec. 7. Th e eld er Cobler was Master in 1946.
Past State Master Councilor of DeMolay Made A Mason
Professional golfer, Bro. "Arnie" Palmer Cleft) with Bro. ''Doc" Giffin, his "one-man army."
Popular professional golfer Arnold Palmer has th e rousing support of the thousands who ru·e "Arnie's Anny" on the golf course, but he has a "one-man ru1ny" by the name of "Doc" Giffin as "the man behind th e man."
On Oct. 21, Donald W. "Doc" Giffin was honored at the Tri-State annual Champions of Golf dinner as the 1999 Distinguished Service Awru·d wilmer for his outstanding, lifelong contributions to the sport, adding his nan1e to an honor roll that includes his close fri end and employer, Arnold Palmer The two hav e be en involved with each other in the world of golf at some l evel for more than 40 years and both have been M as ons for longer than that. "Doc" was made a Mason in Crafton Lodge No. 653, Ingram, in 1953; Arnie in Loyalhanna Lodge No. 275, Latrobe, in 1958.
THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON IS ON-LINE
Those who spend t me with quality young people can't help but become impressed w ith their ent hu siasm and ab il ity. Such was the case when then-Grand Master James L. Ernette was w ith the State Master Councilor of DeMolay. From July 1998 to June 1999 Rakesh Kumar served as State Master Councilor of the Order of DeMol ay for Pennsy lvan i a. The wellspoken and energetic 19-year-old member of Allentown DeMo ay Chapter is a student at Penn State University. A Dispensation was granted by the Grand Master to Jordan Lodg e No. 673 in Allentown to accept a pet tion for n itiat ion and membership from Rakesh. Bro. Kumar (center) was accepted and rec eived the Entered Apprentice Degree in October, and both the Fellowcraft and Ma ster Mason Degrees in November The Degrees were confe rred by his father, Prabhat Kumar, S.W. (left) of the Lodge. He was guided by his grandfather, Eugene We der, (second from left). The thenGrand Master (second from r ght) was present fo r the Master Mason Degree. Also participat i ng in the program were Marvin A. Cunn ingham, Sr., the n-R.W.S.G.W., Samue l C. Williamson, R.W.P.G.M. (right), and Thomas R. Labagh, Executive Director of the Pennsy vania Youth Foundat ion.
In an in-depth story about the award, Th e Trib u n eReview r eported that "Doc" Giffin's renown " goes beyond the boundaries of Westem Pennsylvania. His nruue is a familiar one to media members across the United States and even throughout the world." His career was traced from being sports editor of The Pi tt News, to the Pittsburgh Bureau of United Pres s International (UPI), to Th e PittsbU?yh P1"ess, then as press secretru:y for the PGA Tom, and to his cmTent position for 30 years as Assistant to Arnold Palmer.
As Bro. Palmer's right hand, he's th e stabili zing force in a very busy operation that reflects the en ergy and vitality of "the man " Asked about his job, Bro. Giftin is quoted ilt the newspaper: "I'm working for the great est player of all tin1e.... I met my wife here in Latrob e (Bernadette Horwat) It's b een a drean1. "
Also quoted in the news article, Bro. Palmer mixed in an appropriate golf reference to express his personal feelings, saying: " Doc' has tmned out to b e a gem in the rough. He has tak en on a great d eal of r esponsibility in tunning the office and shouldering it over the last 30 years. He's been t errific and continues to be my confidant and friend."
You can read The Pennsylvania Freemason "on-lin e" at the web site of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Alm ost the fu ll text of the magazine is ava il ab l e in specia format, just for the Wor d Wide Web. It can be reached from "The Pennsylvania Freemason" button on the Grand Lodge home page.
Th e text and photographs are the same in the magazines and on -line, but ther e are advantages to using the on-line edition. It is different from the magazine, in that it inc lu des hypertext inks to related informat ion, and e-mail contacts to appropri ate people and organ zations. In add ition, you can reproduce artic les on your computer printer that you want to share with your friends and fam i ly, without c lipping your file copy of the printed magazine.
The Pennsylvania Freemason is a va luable communications tool for the Fraternity today. It is al so a wonderful historical resource for those who are interested in what happened in the pa st. Future plans of the Internet Services Comm ittee include the posting of archiva l stor i es from previous issues of The Pennsylvania Freemason that have historical and general purposes.
"Dad" Williamson and the State Officers are pictured with the newest members of Pennsylvania DeMolay.
with many honors including the National Citation from The National Federation of Music Clubs of America (1989). Miss Bish was the first organist to receive this award for "t h e highest honor for d _llfVtJ distinguished ((! '' J service to th e • r musical, artistic, and c ultural life of the nation." She tJY ' shares this rare distinction with such legends as Leonard Bernstein, Eugene Onnandy, Van d0. 0 , Cliburn, Robert Shaw, Irving (j f\1" Berlin, and Fred Waring.
Diane Bish, renowned organ vittuoso and host of The Joy of Music televis ion series, wil l present a solo r ecital at the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia on Sunday, Apr. 9, at 2 p.m.
.Diane Bish has displayed her vittuosity and unique showmanship the world over. Her performances have b een hailed by ctitics as "stunning , vi r tuoso, fiery, and astonishing." Through numerous recordings, concerts, and weekly television appearances, Diane Bish is considered by many to b e the most visib le organist in the world today Miss Bish is best known as the host of the international te levision series, The Joy of Music, that is available to over 300 million viewers weekly. It features Miss Bish playing fam ous organs in solo and with other classical musicians in cathedrals , churches, and co ncert halls from around the world. The Joy of Music is broadcast on several cabl e networks. (Call your local cable company for listings.)
Miss Bish's performances have received rave reviews in the United States and abroad. She is an internationally acclaimed musician
Masons of Note
&. Bro.andDr.CharlesWilliam
• LeVan was proud to serve as the guide for all three degrees in Chandler Lodge No. 227, Reading, when WilliamCharlesLeVan was the fourth generation of the family to become a Mason. The Master Mason 's Degree was conferred by JohnJTumolo, Ill , S.W., himself a third generation Mason .
On Apr. 9, Miss Bish will literally "pull out all the stops" with a concer t of thrilling organ favo rites, tr aditional classics, and some of her own hymn arrangeme nts to demonstrate the full resources of the three-manual 950 Rodgers organ.
Due to the number of persons anticipated attending this recital, tickets will be required for this performance. Because of the limited number of seats, requests will be honored on the basis of the date the requests are received. Attempts will be made to honor the number of tickets requested by each person, but it may be necessary to limit those requesting large blocks of tickets. Your understanding in this s ituation is greatly appreciated. Tickets may be secured by writing and enclosing a self-addressed stamp ed envelope to:
Music at The Masonic Temple Masonic Temple One Nmth Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19107-2520
Only one tour of the building will be available at 12:30 p.m. on the 9th because of the earlier time of the recital.
Fifty-two years ago, 21year-old
WilliamH.Shafer, P.M. (third from left) , Apol lo Lodge No. 4 37, decided to wait two years before petitioning the lodge so that he and his broth· er, JamesC (second from left), could travel the same road together. They were entered in June 1949, passed in Sept. and raised in Oct. Fifty years l ater at a banquet attended by 90 persons, the brothers were honored to receive their 50-Year Emblems of Gold from HarveyF. Fishel,DDG.M. ( l eft), 39th Masonic District, and RandyW Miller,WM
&. Now that JohnJ.Tumolo, Ill , has been installed as Worship fu l Master of Chandler Lodge No 227, Reading , he is the third of his family to pres ide over a Masonic lodge using a gavel that has been passed from one generation to the next. The new Worshipful Master was installed by his father, JohnJ.,Jr., who was Master of Golden Rule Lodge No. 748, Philadelphia , in 1965 and 1966 and Is a dual member of Chandler Lodge. The gavel was first used by John , Ill 's grandfather, John,Sr. when he was Worshipful Master of Golden Rule Lodge, Philadelphia, in 1932. Golden Rule Lodge merged with Independence Lodge No. 723 n 197 4, wh ich then merged into Harmony Lodge No. 52 in 1987.
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Robert L Dluge, Jr., R.W Grand Master, has a great love for mod el train collecting So it is only fitting that he would have created a Pennsylvania Masoni c Train It was unveiled Dec. 27 at the Annual Grand Communication in Hershey.
The train , manufac tured by Weaver Models of Northumb erland, PA is an "0" Gauge, three-rail set con s is ting of a C-1 Atlantic engine with t ender, five cars , and caboo se . Eac h piece is mar ked with Masoni c symbols representing a majmity of the organizations that comp r ise the Family of Freemasonry and the app endant charit ies. The charities will benefit from every set sold.
For orders place d on the initial run of 1,5 00 sets by June 1, 2000, delivery will be guaranteed to you on or about Dec 15, 2000. Th e cost per set is $500 A separate option of 18 sections of 045 track and transform er als o will b e availabl e for the additi onal cost of $ 105
In additio n to the train and for the serious collector, a s p ecial limited-run Pennsylvania M-1 engine will be manufactured at a cost of $1,100 per unit if orders for 300 or more engin es can be obtained.
Another t rain-r elate d produ ct will be made availabl e t o each lo dge. This is a specially painted and dec orated boxcar that will de pict the name an d numb er of any lodge or de ring at least 200 cars. Each lod ge has been informed of th e pr oced ures for obtaining this sp ecial car
Orders fo r the P ennsy lvania Masonic Train, trac k, and transfo rmer, or M- 1 engin e s hould be s ent to the Office of th e Gr an d 'Ii·easurer, us ing .._.. the accompanying order form
Grand Master Initiated into New Council of Knight Masons
At ts first stated meeting of t he new Northeast Counc il No 74, U.D. Kn ight Masons of the U.S.A. on Jan. 8 in Hazleton, R.W. Grand Maste r Robe r t L. Dluge, Jr., was init iated by Si r Knight Errol T. Betzenberger, the Excellent Chief. He and the other brethren in the "R.W. Grand M aster Robe rt L Dluge, Jr , C ass" became charter membe rs of t he Counc l. S r Knights of Penn Counci No. 13, Philade l phia, confe r red the Deg r ees of Kn ighthood under the direct ion of M atthe w Dupee , Sen or Kn ight-Elect.
Among those n the honor class were Luthe r J. Black, the Grand Sword Bearer; Pat ri ck J. Connor, Gr and Senior Warden of the Grand Com mande r y of Knights Tem pl ar of Pennsy van i a; and Donald J. Panichi, Grand Governo r of York Rite Sovereign College of Pennsy lvan i a.
Pres ent to we lcome the R.W Grand Mast er was Douglas L. Jordan, R.W. Grand Scribe of the Grand Counc il of Knight
Masons of the U.S.A., accompanied by Rona ld L. Pennell, Grand King of Grand Chapter. Also attending from the Grand Council of Pennsylvania were Grand Maste r Will ia m N. Feilke , Deputy Grand Master Freeman Z. Frey, Ill, and Grand P.C.W. Mered th Gold, I ll , and from t he Grand Co mmandery of Pennsylvania Will am E. Clepper, Gr and Commander, and numerous present and past officers of all of the bodies.
Grand Master Dl uge has been act ive in York R te Masonry, having served as a pres ding officer of the four York Rite bod ies, as we ll as Ga ll icantu Tabernacle No. LXXV, H.R.A.K.T.P., and Gen. John Sullivan Counc il No 84, All ed Masonic Degrees. In recognition of his serv ice as a past presiding off cer of the four bod ies, he was nducted into Penn Pr ory No. 6, Knights of the York Cross of Honor. Bro. Dluge was honored with the rank of Knight , York Grand Cross of Honour with One Quadrant , an honor bestowed only on York Rite Grand Presiding officers who have attained the Kn ight of the York Cross of Honor distinction
