THE PENNSYLVANIA
VOL. LXVI, NO. 4
NOVEMBER 2019
MASONS MAKING THEIR MARK
THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON® VOL. LXVI, NOVEMBER 2019, NO. 4
©2019 The R.W. Grand Lodge F.&A.M. of Pennsylvania EDITORIAL BOARD Chairman S. Eugene Herritt, R.W.G.M. Thomas Gamon, IV, R.W.D.G.M. Jeffrey M. Wonderling, R.W.S.G.W. Larry A. Derr, R.W.J.G.W. Adam C. Heese, R.W.G.T. Mark A. Haines, R.W.G.S. EDITORIAL STAFF Tina L. Lutter - Production Coordinator Rich Johnson - Graphic Designer Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation Staff Masonic Library & Museum of Pennsylvania Staff (Publication No. USPS 426-140) November 2019 Issue of The Pennsylvania Freemason® Published quarterly by the Masonic Villages, One Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022. Articles and photographs to be considered for publication should be sent with local Masonic authority to the address above, to the attention of The Pennsylvania Freemason® or emailed to pafreemason@ masonicvillages.org. Except by special arrangement, all articles, photographs and artwork become the property of the Grand Lodge. Published by the Masonic Villages, owned and operated by the Grand Lodge of F. & A. M. of Pennsylvania, as a means of soliciting the physical and financial support of the members, their families and the public in general. Periodical postage is paid at Elizabethtown, PA, and additional mailing offices. We appreciate the many submissions we receive for consideration. We apologize, but due to space constraints we are not able to publish every submission we receive.
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP (Act of Oct. 23, 1962; Section 4369; Title 39, United States Code) November 2019, 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: S. Eugene Herritt. Owner: The Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania. Known bondholders: none. No advertising handled. Free distribution averages 124,000 each quarter. I certify that the statements made by me are correct and complete.
S. Eugene Herritt, 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 800599-6454 or giving@masonicvillages.org.
Postmaster: Send address changes to:
The Pennsylvania Freemason®, c/o Masonic Village, One Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2199.
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Freemasonry Today
Grand Master’s Message • Upcoming Events • Annual Grand Communication • Masonic Art Contest Winners • Masonic Artists • Summertime Tours and Degree Conferral at the Masonic Temple
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The Four Noble Truths • Apollo 11, Freemasons and the Moon • 2nd Annual Masonic Charities Sporting Clays Results • Autumn Day 2019 • Spreading the “Lite” of Freemasonry through Podcasting • Brothers in Freemasonry, Friends for Life • Six Generations of Masons
22 Philanthropy
Help for Our Heroes • Committed to Masonry and Charity • Dreaming Big While Having a “Ball” • Join a DeMolay Grand Class • Summer Conferences Give Back • It’s Scholarship Time! • HODEGOS Award Recipients • New DeMolay Executive Officer • In Life, It’s Good To Have A Strategy • Three Ways to Give to the Masonic Charities this Holiday • Masonic Villages’ 2019 Wish List
Correction: On p. 8 of the August 2019 issue, the article erroneously states that the ballot for a candidate must be unanimous for admission into the fraternity. In truth, it requires three black balls to reject a petitioner; therefore, it does not have to be unanimous.
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If you would prefer to receive an electronic version of the magazine for your convenience and/or to save the fraternity printing and mailing costs, please make your request by emailing pafreemason@masonicvillages.org. An electronic version of the magazine is also available online at www.pagrandlodge.org.
Save a Tree
Brethren, As I prepare to I leave the office of Grand Master, I wish to thank the Grand Lodge Officers who have helped me put forth my expectations for the fraternity during my term. The men who will assume this office over the next few years have been kind in sharing both their ideas and suggestions as how I might improve the fraternity. That communication among Grand Lodge Officers has been critical in helping to establish the culture of continuity we are all committed to as we looked to the future of our fraternity here in Pennsylvania. Space does not allow me to mention all the names of the men who chaired and populated our committees. Those aides who traveled with me to lodge visitations to celebrate their milestones have my undying thanks. Regional Instructors and District Deputies were invaluable as we sought to emphasize to our lodges and members their importance in making Freemasonry strong and healthy in Pennsylvania and around the world. My respect for them is immeasurable. In particular, I want to thank R.W. Deputy Grand Master Tom Gamon for his support and active participation in my efforts. I encourage all Pennsylvania Masons to offer that same steadfast, selfless support of his efforts as he moves our fraternity forward during his term. The emphasis placed on our shared Masonic journey in Pennsylvania over the last two years has been on Masonic education and individual leadership development. We have encouraged participation in the Academy of Masonic Knowledge both in person at Elizabethtown and through streaming those bi-annual presentations so brothers could enjoy Masonic learning either at home or in the company of their brothers district wide. Additional learning opportunities have been available through the Pennsylvania Lodge of Research. It has been rewarding to see the social media posts made by the Academy and the Lodge of Research that show the value of our past and yet demonstrate the continued need for strong moral leaders in our society. It is enjoyable to read those offerings as they reach into our Masonic archives to bring us sometimes forgotten tidbits of past leaders in our fraternity, emphasizing their contributions to the craft and to their communities. While social media sometimes encourages controversial replies from readers, it is a pleasure to see those who respond to these educational offerings expressing a gratitude for the information. In many cases, their responses add to the historical background being shared. Those posts have inspired others to further explore and research our rich history and the contributions Freemasons have made to
Sincerely and Fraternally,
S. Eugene Herritt, R.W. Grand Master
society and the advancement of mankind. Their thoughts are finding an additional outlet in social media and in more traditional publication outlets, as well. No matter what the manner of enlightenment, it is refreshing to see the eagerness shown by both our new and our more tenured brethren as they learn what our history reveals and what our future as a fraternity has to offer them as individuals as well as those they interact with in their daily lives. While we take pride in, and talk about, the values taught in our degrees and reinforced in our charges, the talk means nothing if we don’t live those values every day. It is important that we take pride in where we came from as a fraternity and to seek inspiration from those good brothers who preceded us. It is equally important that we understand our own role in continuing both the legacy and the promise of Freemasonry. It is inspiring to look back at our Masonic ancestors with pride in their accomplishments. We must never forget, however, that we have a responsibility to future generations of Masons to maintain the high standards of decency and morality to which we are heirs. The famous Masons of the past were no better than the individual Masons of today. They were good men, and so are today’s Masons. The reason men join our fraternity today is the same reason they have always sought to do so: because they look to the men they know to be Masons as leaders in their community and who hold strong moral values. We have an obligation to keep those historical standards high and to continue to serve as inspirations to the men who petition our ranks. We do that with our continued good behavior, our adherence to doing what is right and by living the beliefs we teach. That makes us strong as a fraternity and as individuals. It allows us to continue to set an example for the world to emulate.
FREEMASONRY TODAY
UPCOMING EVENTS
DECEMBER QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION
Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 10 a.m. • Masonic Temple, One North Broad Street, Philadelphia TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GRAND LODGE:
You are hereby requested to attend the December Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to be held on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 10 a.m., at the Masonic Temple, One North Broad Street, Philadelphia, at which the Grand Lodge Officers and Masonic Villages Board of Directors will be elected. You are also hereby requested to attend the Annual Grand Open Communication of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania at
the Marriott Hotel, Downtown Philadelphia, located at 1201 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19107, on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, at 10 a.m., at which the Grand Lodge Officers will be installed. By Order of the R.W. Grand Master.
Mark A. Haines R.W. Grand Secretary
PENNSYLVANIA LODGE OF RESEARCH
Saturday, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m. • Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center, 3579 Masonic Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 A Stated Meeting of Pennsylvania Lodge of Research, F.& A.M., will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, at 10 a.m., at the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center, 3579 Masonic Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. Scholarly papers on Masonic topics will be presented. All meetings of the Pennsylvania Lodge of Research are open to all Masons. This meeting will be opened in the Entered Apprentice Mason’s degree; therefore, any member who has received the Entered Apprentice Mason’s degree may attend the meeting. The Pennsylvania Lodge of Research is always
Farm Fresh for the Holidays!
looking for presentations on Masonic subjects that would be of interest to the membership. If you would be interested in making a presentation at a future meeting of the Lodge of Research, contact one of the officers. Presenters: Masonic Dress Officers: Tuxedo (no tails, no gloves) Members: Coat and Tie with Member Jewel There will not be a luncheon following the meeting.
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When ordering a gift box:
• Please choose fruit butters & preserves from catalog listings. • We will select the best apple varieties available, unless otherwise specified. • Jarred goods may be replaced with many of our other products. Prices may vary; please call for details. • Gift certificates available. Customized gift boxes are available year ‘round. However, those containing fruit are only available September - March. Shipping costs vary by destination. For details, please call 717-367-4520, or order online at www.MVFarmMarket.com
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Pennsylvania Freemason
Annual Grand
COMMUNICATION
Friday, Dec. 27 Philadelphia, PA
10:00 a.m. Anticipated OPEN Installation of
Thomas Gamon, IV
as Right Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, at the Marriott Philadelphia Downtown 1:30 p.m. Special Meeting of Perkiomen Lodge No. 595 at the Masonic Temple, Philadelphia (Masons only) 3:00 p.m. Cash Bar Reception, at the Marriott Philadelphia Downtown 4:30 p.m. Banquet Dinner with Entertainment by Lights Out, a tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Lights Out, a four-part vocal group, has been entertaining audiences for years with a fully choreographed show, including many of the hits that Frankie Valli himself still sings, along with acapella songs tied together with witty banter, comic relief and audience participation. Tickets: $100 per person (advance tickets required)
FOR TICKETS AND RESERVATIONS, PLEASE CONTACT:
Your District Deputy Grand Master or Brother Sam Wandzilak, P.M., via phone 610-223-6554 or email spwandz@comcast.net. Reservations are due by Nov. 15.
November 2019
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FREEMASONRY TODAY
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MASONIC ART CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED On Oct. 4, Grand Master S. Eugene Herritt welcomed brethren and guests to the Grand Exhibition Gala. This event was held at the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia to celebrate the opening of the juried art show sponsored by The Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania. All artwork entered displayed a visual interpretation of Freemasonry in Pennsylvania. All artwork was reviewed by a jury of their peers composed of
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Brother Alvin E. Just, DDGM-41; William Scott Noel, Painter; and Moe A. Brooker, Painter. Grand Master Herritt announced the winner in each category, who received $200 each. The Grand Master’s Prize winner was awarded $500, and the Best in Show winner was awarded $1,000.
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Oil1 - Brenda Bechtel for Masonic Temple Philadelphia, 2018 Three-dimensional2 - Kathleen McSherry for Faith, Hope, and Charity Drawing and Print-making3 - Steve Lemak for Wisdom Seeks Water-Based Medium4 - Mark Schreiber for The Masonic Temple of Philadelphia, 2019
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Digital Imagery5 - Michai Morin for The Demiurge Grand Master’s Prize6 - Adam Osman for his Masonic Themed Folk Art Chess Set Best in Show7 - Hayato Matsushita for The Ratio of the Flag of the United States of America.
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FREEMASONRY TODAY
MASONIC ARTISTS When Brother Joseph Shawn, Thomson Lodge No. 340, Paoli, first learned about the “Embodying Masonic Values” art
– Freemasonry and Modern Art in the Handbook of Freemasonry
than 700 portraits. Brother Ames was an active Freemason, which brought him a number of commissions from his brethren. Russian painter Marc Chagall, also a Mason, synthesized
contest last year, he was both thrilled and surprised. Thrilled because he’d get the opportunity to combine his love
“Art provides an expression of the spiritual life of man, and it prophetically establishes what is to be expected in that respect in the future. Moreover, art enhances the beauty of life and the joy of man. Freemasonry has always been very attractive to visual artists.”
the art forms of Cubism, symbolism and Fauvism, which gave
of painting with his commitment to Freemasonry. Surprised by the
rise to surrealism. Brother Chagall was associated with several
fact that so many of his Masonic brothers were artists, too.
major artistic styles and created works including paintings, book
“I’m a graphic designer by trade, and I don’t get to paint a
illustrations, stained glass, ceramics and fine art prints. Other notable Masonic artists include William Hogarth,
lot, so this art competition really gave me the ‘boost’ to get in the studio and paint something,” Shawn said. “Masonry means so
Alphonse Mucha and German painter and graphic artist Lovis
much to me, so to be able to paint with that theme in mind was
Corinth, who created the iconic painting, “Lodge Brothers.”
really rewarding.”
Brother Grant Wood, one of the greatest American painters,
Shawn won an award in 2018 for his abstract acrylic painting
produced “The First Three Degrees of Freemasonry,” his only
of the Worshipful Master. The painting, which displays a lot of
known Masonic-themed painting, when he was a member of
“movement,” was inspired by Shawn’s own experience as the
Mount Hermon Lodge No. 263 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Back in Pennsylvania, Brother Steve Lemak, New Temple
most senior officer for his lodge. “The painting was my take on being a Worshipful Master,
Lodge No. 720, Allentown, said he is continually inspired by
because there is so much to think about and pull together to have
Masonic artists, particularly Alphonse Mucha. Like Shawn, he
a successful year in the lodge,” he said. “I was pulled in so many
also participated in last year’s “Embodying Masonic Values”
different directions and my brain was constantly going. But it was
art competition. A tattoo artist by trade, his 2018 winning piece
definitely one of the best experiences of my life.”
was an acrylic painting that featured several different Masonic
Ever since Freemasonry came to exist, it has counted a fair
symbols, including the book of the law, the hourglass and the
number of sculptors and even more painters among its members,
skull. The piece was created as a collaborative artwork with
including American painter Charles Willson Peale, Belgian painter
another Masonic tattooer, Brother Daniel Paone, of Mariner’s
Felicien Rops and Spaniard Juan Gris. The work of American
Lodge No. 150, Barnegat, N.J. This year, Steve won the contest’s
artist and Brother Matthew Barney has recently attracted
Drawing and Print-Making category for Wisdom Seeks.
attention. In his piece “Gesamtkunstwerken,” which includes film,
“As I’ve gotten further into my Masonic lifetime, I do gravitate
photos and collage, he refers to Masonic rites and alchemy. Also,
more toward those eternal symbols, because they are pretty
his film series Cremaster is full of Masonic symbolism.
powerful,” Steve said. “The fraternity is supposed to have an
American Ezra Ames, a prominent and popular portrait painter during the late 18 and 19 centuries in Albany, N.Y., created more th
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appreciation for the fine arts or the seven liberal arts. It’s an aspect of the fraternity that should be celebrated and explored further.”
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Pennsylvania Freemason
SUMMERTIME TOURS AND DEGREE CONFERRAL
Brothers Ronald L. Reed, grandfather; R. Clem Malot, W.M., Cumberland Valley No. 315; Chandler K. Small, candidate; Keith C. Small, father; and Drew S. DeWalt, W.M., Orrstown Lodge No. 262
On Saturday, Aug. 17, hundreds of brethren and their loved ones from across the state toured the Masonic Temple upon invitation from Grand Master S. Eugene Herritt. Coming from the other direction was another bus from the Masonic Village at Burlington, N.J., to tour the world-renowned national historic landmark. “The guides and Grand Lodge employees put in a long day to make it a great experience,” Grand Master Herritt said. On the same day, two lodges from the Shippensburg area, Orrstown Lodge No. 262 and Cumberland Valley Lodge No. 315, chartered a bus to host a joint special meeting, under special dispensation, in Egyptian Hall. The purpose was to confer the third degree on Chandler K. Smith, a third generation Mason scheduled to enter the Air Force in September. Brother Chandler’s first and second degrees were conferred by Special Dispensation during a special meeting in June since his high school graduation fell on the same day as Orrstown Lodge’s extra meeting in May. Grand Master Herritt met the candidate in the preparing room, explained the rarity of the event and imparted words of wisdom for the soon-to-be Master Mason. He then attended the opening of the
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lodge, where he spoke with the members before departing to greet the other visitors touring the Masonic Temple. Chandler was assisted in his degree by his father, Brother Keith C. Small, and his grandfather, Brother Ronald L. Reed. Also in attendance for the degree were Brothers John D. Cook, DDGM-3; and John E. Nixon, DDGM- 50. As is a new tradition in Orrstown Lodge, at the end of the third degree, the Bible on which the candidate took all three oaths and obligations was presented to him. Brother Chandler’s Bible was especially meaningful because it was signed before
Enjoying a tour with Grand Master S. Eugene Herritt: Brothers Victor Enriquez, Tom Ferguson, Rick Fetzer, Drew Rand, and John MacEwan and his wife, Missy.
the meeting by Grand Master Herritt, the candidate’s father and grandfather, Brothers Cook and Nixon and all those in attendance, which included brothers from four lodges of District 3 (George Washington Lodge No. 143, Chambersburg, and Acacia Lodge No. 586, Waynesboro, in addition to Orrstown and Cumberland Valley), two lodges of District 42 (Good Samaritan Lodge No. 336, Gettysburg, and Patmos Lodge No. 348, Hanover), and Whitfield Lodge No. 662, Tatamy, of District 50. The group also enjoyed a tour of the Masonic Temple.
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MEMBERSHIP
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS by Brother Larry M. Miller, P.M., George Washington Lodge No. 143, Chambersburg
While studying Oriental philosophy and eastern religious thought during graduate school, I learned about the Buddhist concept of the Four Noble Truths. This is the standard by which a Buddhist measures the quality of his life, whether or not he is following the tenets of his religion. I believe there are also Four Noble Truths in Freemasonry by which we can measure how well we are doing. How healthy is the craft? Are we doing what we are supposed to be doing? I suggest that our very future depends on whether or not we can attest to complying with the following Four Noble Truths of Freemasonry.
1. Are we traveling on the level?
We are all equal in the fraternity. Freemasonry is not about being better than someone else; Freemasonry is about being better than you used to be. In ancient Masonry, all members in their several stations were equal. Even the Master was only one among equals who was charged with certain special duties and who always acted only for the good of his lodge. Each lodge was its own final authority and was permitted to enact whatever rules it decided were for the good and protection of all the members, and any laws enacted applied equally to all the members. In the ancient lodge, there was not a proliferation
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of Masonic bodies, each claiming to be superior to the ones under it. There were no so-called “higher bodies” or “invitational bodies” to which only a select few were invited. There were no so-called “honors” in original Masonry. How many of us belong to many more Masonic bodies than we can support by being active?
2. Are we acting upon the square?
In the ancient lodge, truth in all things was the rule by which Masons worked. There was no higher virtue than truth. A man’s word was his bond. A contract amounted to a handshake; when a member gave his hand on a matter, it was the equivalent of a sacred oath. In any dispute that might arise, the matter was resolved based on what was true, not what someone may wish was true. In the teachings and practice of Freemasonry, we must always remember that we live in the moment but have only the moment. Nothing more is promised. The cares of today are just that: temporary. The whole point of the third degree is that the Master Mason dies. If Masonry is doing its job, it is never failing to remind the brethren that each one of us has an expiration date, a date with destiny. In our mortal existence, we are but fellows of the craft. Our true masterpiece is in the Celestial Lodge toward which we move
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at a steady pace. Are we hearing the truth being taught in our lodges?
3. Are we living life by the plumb?
According to our Masonic forefathers, a man’s character was his most precious possession. He was required to walk uprightly in life, conducting himself in a moral and ethical manner. Having done harm to a fellow member of the lodge, or to his family, was a most serious matter. When a member was in need, it was the duty of every other member to address that need and relieve it, no matter the cost. Our brethren practiced “give until it hurts” as a divine imperative when there was a need. The ancient lodge was never about money; in fact, the lodge itself held no money. Any funds acquired through members were distributed to the needy, and each lodge controlled its own finances according to the will of most of the members. Character, not wealth, determined fitness for membership in the early lodges. In some lodges, this truth remains. In August 2005, Magnolia Lodge No. 120, in Biloxi, Mississippi, a three-story building which sits one block from the Gulf of Mexico, was leveled to the ground by Hurricane Katrina. The first night I attended lodge there, the treasury reported a balance of $8,000. A request of a Masonic widow in need was given $800 from the treasury, and in addition, another $500 from 32 members present. While these members are not wealthy, they are people with the heart of Freemasonry lived by the noble truths. In a perfect world, every Masonic lodge would end the year with a zero balance in the treasury. Detractors to this philosophy may say, “But you can’t do that! What if an emergency occurs?” My answer: “O, ye of little faith.” If an emergency occurs, I believe that the true Masons in every lodge would step forward and underwrite the emergency. Perhaps I live in a dream world - but I hope not.
4. Do we live between two pillars?
Until recently, Freemasonry has been the most selective institution on earth. “The way is narrow, and few are chosen to travel it” was the guiding principle throughout most of the history of the craft. Originally, it was a most monumental thing to be chosen as an apprentice in a craft guild. Only the best and most promising were admitted. Nothing made ordinary
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parents prouder than to have a son selected to become a member of a craft guild. Our brethren of former years never celebrated numbers. But, of those who were qualified and therefore selected, the guild was justly gratified. The space between the two pillars of yesterday was narrow indeed. Even if many were called, few where chosen. All who walked through those two pillars knew that they were signing on for a life of service. Some years back, a small group of Masons, including myself, went to Ireland to visit Masonic lodges. The Dublin experience was unique in that all 57 lodges are intentionally kept small. When the membership of an Irish lodge exceeds 40, another lodge is formed. In Ireland, it is possible for a Mason to know every other member of his lodge personally. Roll is taken at every meeting, and those not present have given a reason for their absence. There are no mega lodges, which, because of their size, are elevated to a position of power over the smaller lodges. The emphasis, in foreign lodges, is fellowship. They call it harmony. It works this way: First, there is a meeting, which is short and to the point. After this, everyone retires to the social room for feasting and toasting. They spend most of their time around tables and in gentle conversation.
How, in your opinion, is contemporary Freemasonry measuring up?
In the end, it is not about money, honors or advancement in the temporal lodge. The true meaning of Freemasonry is that all our labors must reflect our belief that life is eternal. We go on from here. Therefore, we ought to love one another and live as brothers. Love and brotherhood are not popular concepts today, but if they do not still exist here, then we are simply another organization laboring at molehills and believing they are mountains. The real mountains of our existence are: respect for all living things, brotherly love, relief of distressed brothers and the practice of truth. A student of Freemasonry for more than 50 years, Brother Larry M. Miller is a member of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania’s Speakers’ Bureau.
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MEMBERSHIP
APOLLO 11, FREEMASONS AND THE MOON On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man ever to walk on the moon. He was one of three men who were chosen from a pool of America’s finest pilots to be part of the Apollo 11 mission, including Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot and Brother Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin. Brother Aldrin became the first Freemason and the second person to set foot on the moon, 19 minutes after Armstrong first touched the surface. He is still an active Mason today and a member of Clear Lake Lodge No. 1417, Grand Lodge of Texas. On the crest of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, the Grand Master of Texas approved Aldrin’s request to open a representation of the Grand Lodge of Texas on the moon and establish Masonic territorial jurisdiction there, resulting in the creation of Tranquility Lodge No. 2000. The lodge currently meets in Texas “until such time as the lodge may hold its meetings on the moon.” A Scottish Rite Mason, Aldrin took a handmade silk flag on his space journey to the moon and back, donating it to the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C.
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As America marks the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, we remember the thousands of men and women, civilian and military, who contributed to the success of the space program, many of whom were Freemasons. In fact, two Masonic Village residents and Masons were involved behind the scenes with getting humans to space – Brothers Herb Ridyard (top right) and Ken Bleiler (top left). Brother Herb, Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682, Elizabethtown, became an aeronautical research scientist at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in Virginia, eventually earning his master’s degree in aeronautical engineering. He conducted aerodynamic research on the North American X-16, a hypersonic rocketpowered research aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force, NACA and later by NASA as an experimental aircraft. “The aircraft helped us understand what materials a spacecraft should be made of,” he said. Brother Ken, Lodge No. 9, Philadelphia, was hired by General Electric (GE) as an analytical chemist with the Space Division, which worked closely with NASA. His job was to
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take samples of the environment of capsules prior to their launch into space and upon their return. Other astronauts who are/were Masons include: John Glenn, Concord Lodge No. 688, Concord, Ohio. Brother Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth aboard Friendship 7 on Feb. 20, 1962, on the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission. He circled the globe three times during the flight lasting four hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds. Glenn went on to become a U.S. Senator for Ohio in 1974, serving until 1999. Donn Eisele, Luther B. Turner Lodge No. 732 in Columbus, Ohio. Brother Eisele completed 11 days in Apollo 7, orbiting the earth 163 times in October 1968. Walter Schirra, Jr., Canaveral Lodge No. 339, Cocoa Beach, Florida. One of the original seven astronauts chosen for Project Mercury, Brother Schirra flew the six-orbit, ninehour Mercury-Atlas 8 mission on Oct. 3, 1962, becoming the fifth American, and the ninth human, to venture into space. Schirra was the first person to go into space three times, and the only person to have flown in Mercury, Gemini and Apollo, logging a total of 295 hours and 15 minutes in space. Thomas Stafford, Western Star Lodge No. 138, Weatherford, Oklahoma. In his career, Brother Stafford made six rendezvous in space, logging 507 total hours of space flight. Until the launch of STS-94 in 1997, Stafford held the record for the briefest duration between spaceflights, at five months 19 days. Edgar Mitchell, Artesia Lodge No. 29, New Mexico. As the Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 14 in February 1972, Brother Mitchell spent nine hours working on the lunar surface in the Fra Mauro Highlands, collecting almost 100 pounds of lunar samples. Notably, Mitchell took the iconic photograph of Al Shepard raising the American flag on the lunar surface; Mitchell’s shadow can be seen in the frame. Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr., Lodge Tejon, No. 104, Colorado Springs, Colorado. An American aerospace engineer, test pilot and U.S. Air Force pilot, Brother Cooper was one of the original seven astronauts in Project Mercury, the first manned space program of the United States. The first American to sleep in space, in 1965, Cooper flew as Command pilot of Gemini V. He carried with him an official jewel of the 33° and Scottish Rite flag. Paul J. Weitz, Lawrence Lodge No. 708, Erie,
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Pennsylvania. Brother Weitz was an American naval officer, aeronautical engineer and test pilot who flew into space twice. He was a member of the three-man crew who flew on Skylab 2, the first crewed Skylab mission. He was also Commander of the STS-6 mission, the first of the Space Shuttle Challenger flights. Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Mitchell Lodge, No. 228, Mitchell, Indiana. Brother Grissom, piloting Liberty Bell 7, became the second American to go into space on July 21, 1961. The sub-orbital flight lasted 15 minutes and 37 seconds and nearly killed the veteran test pilot when explosive bolts prematurely detonated, sinking the capsule. On Jan. 27, 1967, while training for what would be the first Apollo mission, a fire was sparked in the oxygen-rich capsule, which killed Brother Grissom and his two fellow astronauts. That mission was re-dubbed “Apollo I” in honor of the crew. Masons have contributed substantially to the space program, and who knows what the future will hold? The sky is the limit!
ront) and rmstrong (f A il e N r e d practice ma n Aldrin (rear) ecraft Com . c E a p in S w 1 d 1 E o r Houston. the Apoll ilot and Bro ned Spacecraft Center, P le u d o M r L u na t the Man e mobility a lunar surfac
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GRAND LODGE OF PA, F. & A.M.
2ND ANNUAL MASONIC CHARITIES SPORTING CLAYS RESULTS
l-r: Adam Heese, Jacob Heese, Ken Heese and Christopher Heese (front).
Seven Springs Event Results
Thanks to our generous sponsors, these events netted $15,238.65 for the Masonic Charities!
Shoot Sponsor
High Overall Winner with a Score of 96: Ken Heese Mill Creek Capital Investments Runner-up: Mark Altomari High Overall Female with a Score of 87: Lisa Frederick Breakfast Sponsors Bernzott Capital Advisors Winning Team: Joe and Lisa Frederick Runner-up Team: Ken Brooks, Paul Means, Jeff Christenson Investment Partners Conko and Nate Lilly Kennedy Capital Management Konica Minolta Lehigh Valley Event Results RBC Wealth Management High Overall Winner with a Score of 92: Charles Marone River Road Asset Management Runner-up: Tie - Steve Biello and Lee Marsh Winning Team: John Hunsberger, Kurt Hunsberger, 5-Stand Sponsors Stephen Hunsberger and Tom Hunsberger National Investment Partners Runner-up Team: Gregory Isabella, Joseph Pilla, Robert F. Dunkle, PDDGM Charles Marone and Steve Biello Timothy L. Pletcher, 40th Masonic District
SAVE THE DATES for next year’s events: SEVEN SPRINGS Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020 LEHIGH VALLEY Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020
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Station Sponsors
5th Masonic District School of Instruction 30th Masonic District School of Instruction Bruce A. Robinson DDGM Class of 2019 Firing Line Inc. Flynn’s Tire Group Gamon Electric Graft Oil Company Harry Rutter John T. Brobst, DDGM 58th Masonic District Joshua L. Freeman, DDGM 30th Masonic District King Solomon’s Lodge No. 346 Koehler-Marvin Reality - Chad Fitzinger Mosebach - Electric Supply Industrial Solutions Network Smith Elliot Kearns & Co. Unity Printing
Pennsylvania Freemason
Save the date for next year’s event Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020.
2019
Autumn Day
Approximately 6,000 visitors enjoyed the beautiful Masonic Village at Elizabethtown campus and spent quality time with members, friends and residents on Sept. 21. Festivities included musical entertainment, traditional Autumn Day fare, Zembo Shrine clowns, farm market stands, sales of crafts and hand-carved items made by residents and Masonic organization booths. Masonic Children’s Home residents and Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation youth groups offered activities for kids. The Masonic Blood Club hosted a blood drive in conjunction with the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank. In the Masonic Health Care Center, residents enjoyed food, music and games. Ubar Grotto’s debut Pumpkin Roll fundraiser raised $220 to benefit the Masonic Children’s Home. Children enjoyed decorating their pumpkins and watching them race down the hill!
November 2019
Masonic Villages www.masonicvillages.org
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MEMBERSHIP
SPREADING THE “LITE” OF FREEMASONRY THROUGH PODCASTING Four years ago, Brother Pete Ruggeri, P.M., Christiana Lodge No. 417 and Lamberton Lodge No. 476, Lancaster, had never listened to a podcast. Now, along with Brothers Larry Merris, Lamberton Lodge No. 476, Lancaster; Jack Harley, P.M., Ephrata Lodge No. 665; Josh Lyter, Lamberton Lodge No. 476, Lancaster; and Tim Dedman, P.M., EurekaWest Shore Lodge No. 302, Mechanicsburg, he co-hosts Pennsylvania’s most successful Masonic podcast: “The Masonic Lite Podcast.” With so many podcasts available to listeners as the medium has boomed, the most popular ones have distinguished themselves with distinctive personalities behind the mic and a unique or unusual theme. “The Masonic Lite Podcast” has found popularity thanks, in part, to the way the hosts’ personalities play off each other and the topics they
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cover, albeit in an unstructured manner. Unlike other big names in Masonic podcasting, such as “The Winding Stairs,” “Whence Came You?” or “The Masonic Roundtable,” which are more overtly educational, “The Masonic Lite Podcast” takes a simpler approach. According to Brother Tim, “just imagine four to five guys talking about some Masonic topic.” They end up talking about a lot more than that. The “Goose and Gridiron” weekly breakfast meetings that Pete attended partly inspired him to create the podcast with Larry. Over 10 years ago, a small group of mainly retired Masons and non-Masons got together every Thursday for breakfast and conversation on topics both Masonic and non-Masonic. The group has grown to include a rotating cast of brethren from seven different blue lodges, but the basic vibe of their breakfast conversations hasn’t changed.
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Pennsylvania Freemason
“Our group is diverse and our discussions are real and heartfelt. Everyone is relaxed and isn’t there to out-Mason and one-up each other,” Pete explained in his introductory post on “The Masonic Lite Podcast.” His and Larry’s goal was to bring the authenticity of “Goose and Gridiron” to the podcast. Masonic Lite has had several different homes, recording episodes at Lancaster Podcast Studios and in Pete’s basement (aka “Monarch Studios”) before moving to their current location, a custom-built podcast studio in the basement of Ephrata Lodge No. 665. They’ve shifted strategies from just Masonic conversations among the hosts to also featuring guests on the show and discussing Masonic topics with them. “We try to be conversational and light, and we’re upfront that we don’t know everything, but we want to know more,” Pete said. “What we’re doing here is what we wish was happening at lodge,” Jack said. “This podcast gives people an opportunity to just sit down at their convenience and meet new people and have that chat.” Jack jokes that they’ll take “anybody with a pulse,” as a guest on the show, but it’s usually “Masons who have an interesting story” (or Masonically-connected people, since they have had a few women on the show). “We just try to visit with guests and find out who they are and get to know them a little bit and what their involvement in Freemasonry has meant to them. I don’t think anybody else is doing that,” Jack said. While they once tried to keep their podcast under the radar (even though, as their podcast introduction states, “This podcast is not endorsed by any Grand Lodge and the ridiculous ramblings of the hosts are their own”), they have since had several Grand Lodge representatives on the show, including Grand Tyler Ed Stumm and Grand Almoner Russell Baker, both of Howell Lodge No. 405, Honey Brook; and even R.W. Grand Master S. Eugene Herritt. “I really believe the Grand Master being on the show gave the podcast legitimacy within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Tim said. “People who normally would not have listened to the podcast, listened because the Grand Master was on it. We now have people from all over the state who never listened before who have been listening since the Grand
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Master was on.” Their reach has expanded outside of Pennsylvania. A highlight for the Masonic Lite team was when they interviewed Jim Gavin and Peter Oko, the writers for the AMC TV show “Lodge 49,” which is about a fictional fraternity. “It was very cool that they would come on and spend 2030 minutes with us,” Jack said. They have had some international guests on the show as well, including brothers from the Australian Masonic podcast “Brought to Light” and Worshipful Brother Nicholas Laine, Master of Castle Island Virtual Lodge in Manitoba, Canada. In the future, they would like to have more out-of-state guests; a big name on their wish list is Brother Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neil, Widow’s Son Lodge No. 28, P.H.A., Boston. “We usually think about the podcast at about five o’clock on the day of the podcast. If we had more volunteers, more people sending us money and more people writing content, we could do a better job,” Pete said. Yet, Masonic Lite’s casual, seat-of-the-pants approach feels apropos to its founding. “I think the show is based on a bunch of guys sitting around a table just having a conversation, and that’s the way we record it,” Larry said. “In Freemasonry, you can have fun, and you can laugh.” Listen to The Masonic Lite Podcast at http://www.masoniclite.com/ and https://soundcloud.com/ masonic-lite-podcast, or become a Patreon* supporter at https://www. patreon.com/MasonicLitePodcast. *Patreon is a membership platform that provides YouTube videographers, writers, podcasters, musicians and other creators who post regularly online with tools to run a subscription content service, build relationships and offer exclusive experiences to their subscribers, as well as receive funding directly from their fans, or patrons, on a recurring basis.
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MEMBERSHIP
BROTHERS IN FREEMASONRY, FRIENDS FOR LIFE This is the story of five friends who found a sense of community when they joined Freemasonry. Together, Brothers Ed Clifford, Ryan Steele, Andrew Lightfoot, Matt McGovern and Michael Ernst are leading the revival of University Lodge No. 51 in Philadelphia – one day at a time. “The membership had been declining and there were not a lot of younger, active members,” said Michael, 42. “The five of us have been crucial to bringing in new people and cultivating a good atmosphere of camaraderie.” The five men all joined University Lodge within the past five years. Before that, the lodge had suffered a “dry spell” of only one or two initiations a year for several years, Ed said. Since 2016, the lodge has initiated 20 new members and there are nearly 200 members today.
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“The average age of our petitioner today is around 33,” Ed said. “They are younger, and we get a better response out of them. They come to meetings, they are friends outside the lodge and they participate in activities. They really enjoy it.” Ed, the Lodge Secretary, is the “unofficial leader” of the group, according to Michael. A Mason for the past 16 years, he belonged to another lodge before making the switch to University Lodge. Michael calls himself the “motivator,” who gives everyone encouragement and advice. Ryan is the “brains that keeps us from making rash choices by thinking things through,” he said. Andrew is a “walk-in-off-the-street” Mason who was fascinated by the symbolism and history of Masonry. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, he moved to Pennsylvania with some of his friends and decided to join the lodge.
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Pennsylvania Freemason
“The Marylanders saw the Freemasons regularly showing up at Andrew’s parties and began to ask us questions about Masonry,” Michael said. “They all ended up joining one-byone, and we added them to our friend group.” Matt, who knew Ed since they served together as Boy Scouts, brought other scouts into the lodge once he joined. “Pretty soon, a lot of the members began to see the growing camaraderie among our group and started joining us for dinner and drinks after meetings, thus extending the feeling of brotherly love to the whole lodge,” Michael said. “In addition to the camaraderie is a general love of knowledge and learning more about Freemasonry – everything from history to semiotics to ritual – and we all learn from each other,” he added. “Because success breeds success, we’ve continued to attract many new members who are helping to breathe life and vitality into University Lodge.” Over the past five years, the brothers have taken road trips to the Academy of Masonic Knowledge, joined Scottish Rite and Royal Arch together, played board games on Friday nights, attended weddings, navigated graduate school
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together, shared each other’s burdens and come together to help each other out. Michael said, “Becoming a Mason is one of the best choices I’ve ever made, and I know these friendships will last a lifetime.”
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When you become a Shriner you become part of a brotherhood of men committed to family, engaged in ongoing personal growth, and dedicated to providing care for children in need. While our backgrounds and interests may be diverse, what binds us together are shared values and a desire to have fun, do good, and build bonds that can last a lifetime. Becoming a Shriner is easier than you may think. The rewards can be far more than you expect. For membership information, please call one of our seven Pennsylvania Shrine Centers or visit:
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November 2019
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MEMBERSHIP
SIX GENERATIONS OF MASONS It was Christmas Day in 2018 when Brother Glenn Kurzenknabe had one of his favorite conversations in his 72 years. His 18-year-old grandson, Brother Connor Kurzenknabe, expressed his desire to join the fraternity that Glenn has enjoyed for nearly 50 years. “He dropped the bomb on me, and I was shocked, thrilled and excited,” Glenn recalls. “I thought it would come later, after Connor started college, but I was happy it came when it did.” Immediately, Glenn inquired about the possibility of three degree conferrals in one day for Connor, who was balancing a hectic school schedule while playing competitive ice hockey in Connecticut. Glenn contacted Brother David Weiser, P.M., Secretary of Robert Burns Lodge No. 464, Harrisburg, and Brother Jonathan Nalepka, W.M., Robert Burns Lodge No. 464, Harrisburg. Together, they made it happen and overcame the challenge of the lodge going dark in the summer months. On June 3, Connor became a member of Robert Burns Lodge No. 464, with his grandfather, father and uncle by his side. Five out of the six generations of Kurzenknabe Masons
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belonged to that lodge, so it felt like there were others watching over him as well. Connor’s great-great-great-grandfather, Brother Monroe Lehr, P.M., Ashlar Lodge No. 570, Lykens, became a Mason in 1889. His great-great-grandfather, Brother Charles Kurzenknabe, became a Mason in 1915. His greatgrandfather, Brother John Kurzenknabe, became a Mason in 1944. The Kurzenknabe family has often been associated with Masonic music. Charles served as conductor of the Harrisburg Scottish Rite Consistory Orchestra for decades and directed the Harrisburg Forest No. 43 Tall Cedars of Lebanon Band. His son, John, played in both groups, as well as in the Zembo Shrine Concert Band. In addition, the Kurzenknabe family owned a printing company in Harrisburg that printed materials for local lodges and other Masonic bodies. “I grew up hearing about Masonry, and I knew I would have the opportunity to associate with some wonderful men,” Glenn said. “When I asked my father in 1968 what I had to do to become a Mason, he said ‘You just did.’”
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Pennsylvania Freemason
Glenn was proud to pass down the tradition to his son, Connor’s father, Brother Mark Kurzenknabe, who asked him about joining the fraternity in 1997 when he was 22 years old. A few years after Mark became a Mason, Connor was born. From the time he could walk, Connor remembers being brought to Masonic family events like pancake breakfasts, holiday parties and the Grand Prix at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown. “It was the family history that encouraged me,” Connor said, “and the chance to make myself a better person.” Mark has worked as the Assistant Director of Children’s Services at the Masonic Children’s Home in Elizabethtown for 15 years, and has occasionally enlisted Connor to help with children’s home events. Connor also remembers visiting both his great-grandmothers at the Masonic Health Care Center in Elizabethtown. “The way he was exposed to the Masonic Charities showed him the good that Masons do for individuals and their communities,” Mark said. “I get to see it every day, too. Our Masonic Charities run on Masonic values.” In addition to the fact that Connor is carrying on the family tradition, Mark and Glenn are always happy to see young men joining the fraternity. “Having young people keeps the fraternity going,” Mark said. “It keeps things fresh. Sometimes it’s easy for lodges to get stalled in their way of thinking.” As a young Mason, Connor says he would be attracted to events that feature food, live music and opportunities to involve the rest of his family and friends. He believes his friends (without the family history) may consider Freemasonry if they got to see what it’s all about. For now, Connor is still figuring that out himself. Glenn proudly served as his Guide and mentor. “I just want to make sure he understands everything that he has experienced,” Glenn said. “During degree conferrals, no candidate is going to understand exactly all of what was said to him.” Glenn’s and Mark’s friends have also stepped in to help. Several of their friends came from other lodges to attend Connor’s degrees and to show their support. Some of them participated in conferring Connor’s degrees with the support of the members of Robert Burns Lodge.
November 2019
Since becoming a Mason in June 2019, Connor has started studying civil engineering and playing ice hockey at Drexel University in Philadelphia. He was also awarded an educational scholarship by Brownstone Lodge No. 666, Hershey. He hopes to find a Masonic-based college group or fraternity to continue developing friendships and making Freemasonry part of his everyday life. “You never know who you’re going to wind up sitting next to,” Glenn said. “There are politicians, teachers, carpenters, doctors. Freemasonry represents all sorts of vocations, but the beauty is, we all meet as equals.” For the younger generations, Masonic meetings are a place where men can come together, turn off their phones, close the doors and dedicate time to being better versions of themselves. For Connor, the fraternity was attractive not only because of his long line of family history but because of the opportunity to find camaraderie, learn from others and add qualities to his character that he has seen in his father and grandfather. “Each day, you can conduct your life in a Masonic way,” Glenn says, “with high standards. Freemasonry can kind of serve as the little voice in your head that asks you if you’re doing the right thing. It teaches you how to treat your fellow man – Mason or non-Mason.” Glenn and Mark hope Connor understands that Freemasonry is more than just a social organization. Its rituals and lessons spell out a structured code that all good men are to live by. Most importantly, Masons pledge to take care of one another and their families for life. Photo, l-r: Brothers Scott Fogle, P.M., Eureka-West Shore Lodge No. 302 (who conferred the Entered Apprentice Degree); Jonathan Nalepka, W.M., Robert Burns Lodge No. 464 (who conferred the Master Mason Degree); Connor Kurzenknabe, Robert Burns Lodge No. 464; Glenn Kurzenknabe, Robert Burns Lodge No. 464; Mark Kurzenknabe, Robert Burns Lodge No. 464; Paul Kurzenknabe, Robert Burns Lodge No. 464; and Tyler Imschweiler, P.M., Harrisburg-Snyder Lodge No. 629 (who conferred the Fellow Craft Degree).
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PHILANTHROPY
HELP FOR OUR HEROES
WITNESSING THE IMPACT Over the years, Brother Thomas C. Long has helped hundreds of military families through the Help for Our Heroes program, and he is eager to see it help many more. Thomas first got involved when he was preparing for his second deployment to Iraq. He went to a Help for Our Heroes assembly, which was then called, “Change for the Troops.” Participants in the program were handing out calling cards to soldiers that were purchased with donated funds. That day, Thomas met Brother and Col. Harris Brooks, a highly active participant in the program, and they became friends. When Thomas came back from Iraq, Col. Brooks asked him to assist with some aspects of the program. Thomas agreed, and has now been involved with Help for Our Heroes for just over 10 years. Since then, the program has evolved
to aid not just soldiers, but their families as well, especially those of the lower enlisted. For Thomas, some of the most extraordinary experiences during the years he has been involved are the baby showers they put on for mothers. “Every baby shower has been phenomenal in this program,” he said. “Earlier on, we got to hand the gifts to the mothers … and we got to see their reactions.” Thomas said the program is especially meaningful to him, as he is both a Mason and a veteran. He was glad for each time he was able to give back to fellow veterans. “To see the joy and the happiness we are bringing them is unmistakable, and the relief of some of the parents,” he said, “it’s life-changing.” The program helped Thomas to see what could be done when a group of Masons come together. It allowed him to understand just how generous his fellow Masons are and how much they can impact the world in a positive way. He sees the similarities between Masonic brotherhood and the camaraderie and fellowship he experienced while serving in the military. “Taking a proactive role in my fellow soldiers’ and veterans’ lives has been life-changing for me and has given me a purpose,” Thomas said. “I just want my fellow brothers to see what it is that we are doing and the lives that we are changing by investing in this program.” Thomas feels he and other Help for Our Heroes participants display the values of Freemasonry by doing what they can to make the community better and helping those in need. Whether it’s financial help or just advice, Thomas said there is nothing else he would rather do than assist those in need, and he hopes, along with his fellow brothers, to continue bringing the program into the spotlight to help more active soldiers, veterans and their families.
Please, keep those donations coming in support of our heroes! 22
Help For Our Heroes www.pagrandlodge.org/heroes
Pennsylvania Freemason
COMMITTED TO MASONRY AND CHARITY Brother Nathan William “Bill” Sheff, a member of Easton Lodge No. 152, prides himself on never missing a lodge meeting. So when he had to miss a meeting in May, his brothers were naturally concerned about his whereabouts. “I was on a trip to Asia with my son,” Bill said. “We visited Vietnam to see where I was stationed during the war. It was a very rewarding trip. I thought it was a legitimate excuse [to miss the meeting.]” Indeed, it was. An active Mason for the past 66 years, Bill, at age 90, has earned the right to do whatever he wants. But he continues to give back to the fraternal organization that has given him so much. A Franklin Legacy Society member, Bill recently made an extremely generous planned gift to benefit the Masonic Villages. On June 11, 2019, a large plaque was dedicated in his honor at the Oriental Hall within the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia. “We had a nice lunch and the Grand Master came to the event,” Bill said. “It’s good for people to see that the basic tenet of Masonry is charity. I believe in this organization and think it’s a worthwhile cause.” So much so, that during his time as a Mason, Bill has belonged to three different lodges: one in Florida, where he spends the winter months with his partner of 28 years, Virginia, also known as “Ginger”; one in Brooklyn, NY, where he lived for 50 years and served as District Deputy Grand Master; and the
November 2019
lodge in Easton, Pa., where he currently lives. “I’ve contributed over the years to Masonic charities in New York, Florida and Pennsylvania,” he said. “I always give what I can.” A retired Army veteran who served in the Korean War and did two tours in Vietnam, Bill has traveled all over the world and visited Masonic lodges in such faraway places as Athens, Greece. He said he has “Masonic friends” in many countries, some of whom he still keeps in touch with today. “There’s always the same sense of camaraderie wherever I go,” he said. While in the Army, Bill attended night classes through a University of Maryland program. After leaving the Army, he completed his degree in economics and business from Pace University. He spent 17 years working for an information technology company in New York before retiring. While many aspiring Masons are invited to join a lodge by an existing member, Bill’s circumstances were slightly different. His mother, a member of The Order of the Eastern Star, asked a lodge member from New York to grant Bill a petition for membership when he returned home from Korea in 1953. “I always like to joke that my mother got me into the lodge, but it’s true,” Bill said. “It [being a Mason] slowly grew on me, and I started getting more involved. There are a lot of good memories there.”
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PHILANTHROPY
DREAMING BIG WHILE HAVING A “BALL” Arthur Quaye believes in paying it forward. Arthur, 24, a 2014 Masonic Children’s Home alumnus and 2018 Bloomsburg University graduate, currently works as an inside sales representative for the Philadelphia Union soccer team in Chester, PA. In August, he invited children’s home youth to attend a home soccer game against the Houston Dynamo at Talen Stadium, where they mingled with residents from the Masonic Villages at Elizabethtown and Lafayette Hill and enjoyed delicious food and drinks on the pre-game party deck. “I reached out to Joe Murphy (Masonic Villages’ CEO) about doing this event,” Arthur said. “He was really receptive to the idea and helped me set it up with the help of Bill Kingsbury (CEO-Elect). It was my way of giving back. I thought the kids could use some advice and encouragement. Like, ‘this kid graduated from the same place as you and he’s
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out chasing his dreams. You can do that too.’” In 2009, Arthur was living with his father in Philadelphia when he moved to the Masonic Children’s Home based on a teacher’s recommendation. While there, he attended Elizabethtown Area High School, where he was a student athlete, excelling in track and field, football and baseball. While moving from the big city to Elizabethtown was an adjustment, his interest in sports made things easier. “I made a lot of my closest friends through sports,” he said. “Some of my best friends to this day are from Elizabethtown.” Arthur went on to attend Bloomsburg University (of PA), where he played football and track and field, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications with an emphasis in public relations (PR) and a minor in political science. When it came time to choose a career, Arthur knew he
Masonic Children’s Home www.masonicchildrenshome.org
Pennsylvania Freemason
wanted to do something with sports. Bloomsburg didn’t have a sports management program, so he thought it was best to pursue PR. After college, Arthur completed an internship with a PR firm in Philadelphia and also with the Penn FC soccer club (PFC, formerly known as the Harrisburg City Islanders) to gain additional sports industry experience. “I would go to a bunch of events all around Lancaster County, trying to grow the brand of PFC, because it was their inaugural year,” he said. “That was my first experience with professional sports. I stayed five months, and once I saw the job posting at the Philadelphia Union, I applied for it.” Arthur has been working with the Philadelphia Union since March 2019. He and several other sales representatives sell various types of tickets (group tickets, season tickets, etc.), while at the same time trying to drum up new business. The job aligns with Arthur’s career goals because he loves sports and always wanted to work in a high-paced, dynamic industry. “Building a background in sales is important because I want to work in business, and generating revenue is a good background,” Arthur said. “My dream job would be to work for a sports management agency (as a marketing representative or in sponsorship sales).” Down the road, he hopes to earn his master’s degree in sports business or law.
November 2019
For now, Arthur is enjoying his time spreading the word about the game of soccer in Philadelphia. “We haven’t been around as long as the other Philadelphia sports teams (2010) so we’re still growing our fan base,” he said. “A lot of what we do is reaching out to people through cold calls and events, getting people to learn about Union soccer.” Arthur works five days a week and attends every home match on weekends and sometimes during the week. There are two home matches a month, from March through October, and 18 home games per season. “On match day, I get to the stadium early, meet up with groups, do seat visits and work the ticket headquarters, as well as different sales tables around the stadium,” he said. “It’s very busy.” Arthur credits the children’s home with instilling in him a solid work ethic. “Balancing my time and putting enough time into academics and studies was heavily emphasized there,” he said. “Also, growing up with people from different backgrounds helped me to communicate with different types of people and personalities, which definitely prepared me for what I’m doing now.” He said he also learned the value of hard work, persistence, determination and enthusiasm. “If you’re putting your all into it, you’re getting your all out of it. You’re not just talking the talk, but walking the walk.”
Masonic Children’s Home www.masonicchildrenshome.org
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PHILANTHROPY
JOIN A DeMOLAY GRAND CLASS
On Saturday, Dec. 7, Pennsylvania DeMolay will hold a full Membership Induction in honor of R.W. Grand Master S. Eugene Herritt. The class will be held at the Masonic Conference Center-Patton Campus in Elizabethtown, starting with the formal opening at 10 a.m. and concluding by
3:30 p.m., with group photos of the class with Grand Master Herritt. In between, the Initiatory Degree and DeMolay Degree will be conferred and a formal luncheon held. This is a great opportunity for a young man, between the ages of 12 and 21, to join the Order of DeMolay. He can affiliate with one of the 19 chapters statewide or as a DeMolay-at-Large if there’s no chapter close to his home. All Masons and their spouses are invited to attend the class; anyone over the age of 21 is welcome to see the Order of DeMolay induction ceremonies. For more information on Pennsylvania DeMolay or to attend the DeMolay induction ceremonies, contact Executive Secretary Dave Berry at 800-266-8424, ext. 4, or dwberry@ pademolay.net.
SUMMER CONFERENCES GIVE BACK The PA Masonic Youth Foundation’s LifeSkills Conference and the PA DeMolay KeyMan Conference conducted service projects during their week-long summer programs to help provide food for those in need. They assembled 20,000 pre-packaged meals for distribution by the Elizabethtown Community Cupboard, Central PA Food Bank and other area agencies. All of the Masonic youth groups give back through their outreach to many charities, such as Make-a-Wish Foundation, Children’s Dyslexia Centers, Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment Fund and various others.
IT’S SCHOLARSHIP TIME! The newest edition of the Masonic Scholarship Resource Guide lists more than 50 scholarships and is a valuable resource for any PA Masonic youth group member, PA Master Mason or the child, grandchild or sibling of a Pennsylvania Mason who is enrolling in college or a trade school as a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior in 2020. Also available
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is the PA Masonic Youth Foundation Educational Endowment Fund Scholarship Application, which must be submitted by March 15, 2020; other scholarships in the booklet may have earlier or later deadlines. To obtain a copy of the guide and/ or application, visit https://pmyf.org/scholarships/masonicscholarship-resource-guide/.
Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation www.pmyf.org
Pennsylvania Freemason
HODEGOS AWARD RECIPIENTS
The HODEGOS Award recognizes the outstanding efforts of volunteer leaders for the Masonic youth groups in Pennsylvania. Recipients, nominated by the youth group, must have a minimum of seven years of service to Rainbow Girls, Job’s Daughters or DeMolay in Pennsylvania. This year, in recognition of their outstanding long-term service to the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation and their ongoing work on behalf of our Masonic youth, four additional youth leaders will receive the HODEGOS Award (pictured left-right above): Brother Glen R. Grell, P.M., St. John’s Lodge No. 260, is a Senior DeMolay and a former Advisor of Carlisle Chapter. He is the Executive Director of the Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS), a former member of the PA
State House of Representatives and an attorney. Brother William J. Prazenica, Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682, is a long-time DeMolay Advisor. He retired as Chief Financial Officer of the Masonic Villages. Brother Kim W. Jeffreys, Western Star Lodge No. 304 and PDDGM-25, is a retired construction manager and a partner of Weber Murphy Fox Architects. Brother William L. Kingsbury, P.M., Melita Lodge No. 295 and PDDGM-C, is the CEO-Elect of the Masonic Villages. Previously, he was an attorney in the firm of Montgomery, McCracken, Walker and Rhoads of Philadelphia. For a full list of past recipients and a complete description of the nomination process, visit www.PMYF.org.
NEW DeMOLAY EXECUTIVE OFFICER
On May 21, Brother Rodney E. Boyce, P.M., Westmoreland Lodge No. 518, Greensburg, and PDDGM-30, became the Executive Officer of Pennsylvania DeMolay. In this role, he will represent the DeMolay Grand Master as he supervises the activities and growth of the DeMolay Chapters in Pennsylvania. Rodney, a Senior DeMolay who joined Westmoreland Chapter in 1980, holds the Representative DeMolay Award, the Past Master Councilor’s Meritorious Service Award, Degree of Chevalier, Advisor’s Honor Key, Blue Honor Key and Active Legion of Honor. He became an Active Member of DeMolay International in 2018. Rodney’s primary goals in his new position are to improve membership recruitment and retention techniques and “to help, guide and inspire young men to become better sons, better leaders and better men” within a fun, safe learning environment.
November 2019
Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation www.pmyf.org 27
PHILANTHROPY
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Masonic Villages www.masonicvillages.org
Pennsylvania Freemason
In Life, It’s Good To Have A Strategy Make plans for your future with Masonic Villages. In life, it’s good to have a plan for the future. Those who are proactive when considering retirement options are more likely to be able to select their ideal home at their first choice retirement community when they’re ready to move. Those who don’t plan aheadmay find themselves waiting for years, only to have to settle. Whether you’re a planner or not, Masonic Villages will help you make your plans and dreams become a reality. Take the first step and contact us today to join our waiting list. MASONIC VILLAGE AT DALLAS features villa homes and spacious apartments, surrounded by the splendor of the Back Mountain of Northeast Pennsylvania. Call 570-446-5658 to arrange for a personal tour. At MASONIC VILLAGE AT ELIZABETHTOWN, residents can choose from more than 13 different floor plans, ranging from studio apartments to two-bedroom/den cottages. Call 717-473-0614 to arrange for a personal tour.
wellness center. Learn more about life at Masonic Village! Call 484-535-3119 to arrange for a personal tour. MASONIC VILLAGE AT SEWICKLEY offers apartments and villas situated on a picturesque hillside with the skyscrapers of Pittsburgh rising in the distance. Our newest neighborhood of 10 villas are now complete! Call 724-242-5099 to arrange for a personal tour.
MASONIC VILLAGE AT LAFAYETTE HILL offers one-bedroom, one-bedroom den and twobedroom apartments, amidst the quaintness of the Philadelphia suburbs. Upcoming renovations include the bistro, Village Restaurant (featuring a new pub, as well as enhanced outdoor dining), auditorium, common spaces, bowling alley and
November 2019
Masonic Villages www.masonicvillages.org
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PHILANTHROPY
Three Ways to Give to the Masonic Charities this Holiday!
1.
Make the Season Brighter for Those in Need
GIVING CATALOGS
Purchase items to benefit residents of our Masonic Villages and Masonic Children’s Home. Visit MVGivingCatalog.org and MCHGivingCatalog.org to view and purchase items. Items include books, games, clothing, holiday gifts and more. Consider purchasing an item as your gift to a loved one this season!
Choose from more than 50 items!
2.
AMAZONSMILE
When you shop at AmazonSmile for your holiday gifts, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the Masonic charity of your choice. Bookmark one of the following links, so all your eligible purchases will benefit your selected charity every time you shop!
3.
CORNERSTONE CIRCLE FOR MONTHLY GIVING
Authorize a specified amount of money to be electronically transferred directly from your checking account or credit card monthly. This is the easiest form of giving - plus, there are no worries of checks getting lost, stolen or destroyed, and you will receive a year-end statement of monthly giving for easy tax preparation. You can cancel your authorization at any time. To join the Cornerstone Circle, call 1-800-599-6454 or visit MasonicCharitiesPa.org.
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Masonic Charities www.masoniccharitiespa.org
Masonic Charities Fund: smile.amazon.com/ch/23-2720910 Masonic Villages: smile.amazon.com/ch/23-0846955 Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation: smile.amazon.com/ch/23-2188997 Masonic Library and Museum: smile.amazon.com/ch/23-2608317
Pennsylvania Freemason
Qty Item Masonic Village at Dallas 1 3-tiered cart 1 Gazebo Masonic Village at Elizabethtown Tickets to local baseball game for Hospice patients 50 Special meal service events for residents Mobility shuttle rides Fluoride treatments Local restaurant gift certificates Hair care service gift certificates Home Care gift certificates Clothing gift certificates Massages or Healing Touch™ for pain 20 Wheelchair ponchos 12 Portable CD players Transportation for Hospice patients Hospitality cart supplies for Hospice Wellness membership Special events trip for Hospice patients WiFi (semi-annual service fee) 10 Jigsaw puzzle spinners with stands 1 Wheelchair for Adult Daily Living Center 8 iPads Week at the shore for Hospice patients 2 Blanket warmers Camping trips for Bleiler Caring Cottage 1 Health Services Response Team vehicle Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill Drama lessons/activities for residents Masonic Village at Sewickley 10 Beds and mattresses 1 “It’s Never 2 Late” computer system technology Masonic Village at Warminster 1 Wheelchair scale 1 Stand-up/Hoyer lift with built-in scale 1 Enlarge small pond in courtyard Masonic Children’s Home 1 Flag and stand for indoors 1 Electronic equipment 1 Sports equipment 1 Basketball court
November 2019
Unit Cost $75 $5,000 $13 $15 $15 $20 $20 $25 $50 $50 $65 $75 $85 $100 $100 $120 $150 $180 $200 $400 $500 $1,500 $2,800 $5,000 $15,000 $3,000 $2,500 $9,000 $2,500 $9,600 $35,000 $300 $500 $500 $2,000
MASONIC VILLAGES’
2019
WISH LIST
OFFICE OF GIFT PLANNING
1-800-599-6454
Thank you to those who have provided for the following items for residents between June 1 - Aug. 31, 2019:
Masonic Village at Elizabethtown Anonymous: Hospitality cart supplies, hair care gift certificates and a DVD player Culp Family Foundation: Blanket warmers Richard A. Holt: Blanket warmer Sherwood L. and Jean A. Kneebone: Hair care gift certificates and tickets to a baseball game Marlene Roth: Transportation for hospice patients Dorothyann M. Rowland: Week at the shore for Hospice patients Washington Lodge No. 59: Tickets to a baseball game Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill Anonymous: Transport wheelchair, isolation cart and chair scale Dorothyann M. Rowland: Winter Ball event Masonic Village at Sewickley Anonymous: Trash/linen cart Robert W. Glenn: Ping pong table Bleiler Caring Cottage Anonymous: Folding chairs Elaine Bleiler: Activities Joseph Calabro: Activities Washington Lodge No. 59: Internet service and Sharp sweepers Masonic Children’s Home Christenson Investment Partners: Day trip to Philadelphia Union soccer game National Investment Services, Inc.: Day trip to Philadelphia Union soccer game Logan Lodge No. 490: Day trip to Philadelphia Union soccer game Boyd Watterson Asset Management: Day trip to Philadelphia Union soccer game Wayne M. and Nancylee Garafola: Various items Ronald A. and Judy A. McKnight: Various items There is an all-inclusive wish list posted on MasonicCharitiesPA. org, or feel free to contact the Office of Gift Planning at 1-800-5996454. Please note that if funds donated for any item listed are oversubscribed, the funds will be used for additional wish list items or needs in the same service area.
Masonic Charities www.masoniccharitiespa.org
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Increase Your Retirement Income Did you know you can make a gift to one of the Masonic Charities of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and actually increase your retirement income? If you have CDs that are maturing, and you are reluctant to take out another one because of the low rates, a charitable gift annuity may be for you. Consider the attractive gift annuity rates listed on the table to the right. For a minimum gift of $5,000, you can receive income for life. What’s more, because a gift annuity is irrevocable, you will receive a federal income tax deduction, receive a portion of your payments tax-free for a period of time and receive satisfaction in the knowledge that you have provided a gift that will strengthen and enhance the important work of the Masonic Charity you have selected. You will be making a difference in the lives of others! Depending on your circumstances, you may find a gift annuity to be an ideal way for you to realize important personal, as well as charitable, objectives. For more personalized information regarding the benefits of a gift annuity, at no cost or obligation, please call the Masonic Charities Office of Gift Planning at 800-599-6454, or mail the reply form to the right.
Age 70 75 77 81 85 90+
Consider the following sample payment rates: For One Life For Two Lives Rate Age Rate 5.6% 70 & 75 5.2% 6.2% 75 & 80 5.7% 6.6% 78 & 81 6.1% 7.5% 83 & 83 6.8% 8.3% 85 & 87 7.6% 9.5% 85 & 90 8.0%
Note: This is a partial listing. Rates exist for any combination of ages.
COMPLETE AND MAIL THIS FORM TO:
Office of Gift Planning, One Masonic Dr., Elizabethtown, PA 17022 Telephone 800-599-6454 □ Send me your brochure on charitable gift annuities. □ Send me a sample charitable gift annuity illustration based on the following information: Age(s) ________ Amount*: $________ *If you are considering a gift of appreciated stock, please estimate your cost basis: $_____________________ Name(s)________________________________________________________________________ Address________________________________________________________________________ Telephone: (
)_________________________________________________________
Email:___________________________________________________________________________
www.MasonicCharitiesPa.org
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.