Crafter of Masonic Jewels50-Year Veterans in 2012

The Old Secretary

GRAND LODGE OF MASONS IN MASSACH USETTS ● S U M M E R 2 0 1 2

From the East of Grand Lodge

RICHARD JAMES STEWART

Brethren and Friends,

As you probably know, your Grand Lodge will vote on two important changes to the GrandConstitutions at our June Quarterly Communication.

• Grand Lodge dues would rise from $29 to $60 per member for the 2013 Masonic year.

• The minimum initiation fee a for a new Mason will go up from $50 to $300. This fee stays with the lodge for its own use.

The outline of these changes was presented at our September Quarterly; they were read inDecember; and they were formally discussed in March. During all this time, a great conversationhas been taking place in our fraternity. In lodge rooms, during collation, online, and elsewhere,brothers shared their thoughts and opinions and listened to others. These discussions have beengood for Freemasonry in Massachusetts.

Talking brother-to-brother about our challenges is the right thing to do. During the Grand LodgeListening Tour, we visited nine locations across the jurisdiction. We had a great turnout at all ofthe events and I was moved to see first-hand how important Freemasonry is to our members.Many brothers traveled great distances to participate, and give of their precious time.

A recurring theme during the tour was the value of Freemasonry. This theme lies at the heart ofthe proposals. Freemasonry is a great gift that every Mason has received; it has been handeddown from one generation to the next for more than 275 years. It is our responsibility to give thisgift to our sons and grandsons in a better condition than we received it.

We cannot put a dollar figure on the value of our Masonic experiences: the friendships, theopportunity to serve others, and the life-altering lessons our fraternity teaches. But we can makesure we have the resources to prosper. Our Masonic forefathers understood this value and invest-ed in our fraternity. Now it is our time, and our turn, to pass on this legacy.

My lasting impression from the tour will be the worth of our teachings and traditions. The respectbrothers showed for each other—regardless of where they stood on the issues—amply demon-strated the tenet of Brotherly Love. What other institution brings men together, allows them todisagree, and enables them to part as friends and brothers? How much better would our world beif our leaders acted the same? Doesn’t this demonstrate the value of guaranteeing thatFreemasonry still survives?

My brethren, I know I ask much of you. I need your continued support on our journey “Back tothe Future.” I ask for your support for these proposals on behalf of the fraternity we hold so dear.

Cordially and fraternally,

Richard James StewartGrand Master

Magazine of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts

23 2012 Masonic Veterans 50-Year Past Masters

15 The Order of the Eastern StarThe Synergy of Fraternalism

14 The Wages of a MasonRt. Wor. David Newcomb

10 Grand Lodge EventsThe 2012 Service Fair • The New Wardens Workshop

Vol. 30, No. 2: Summer 2012

4 Crafter of Masonic JewelsBro. Kenneth Westgard

6 Browsing the Proceedings of the Grand LodgeRt. Wor. Walter Hunt

Lodge & District News 3

Grand Lodge Quarterly Communication 5

Chaplain’s Column 9

The Prodigal Mason 11

Living Freemasonry 12

The Old Secretary 13

News from Overlook 16

Ask the Grand Lecturers 27

The Young Tyler 31

R E G U L A R F E A T U R E S

10

15

4

6

The Lodge News Deadlinefor

the Fall Issue of Trowel is

JULY 20Send to

Lodge News EditorLee Fenn

atTrowelLodgeNews@

MassFreemasonry.net

Republican Lodge ServesBreakfast in Greenfield

Cancer Fund-Raiser

Scottish Rite Distinguished ServiceMedal Awarded to RW Henry Rand

Vernon Lodge PM in Afghanistan

N E W SLodge & District

T ROW E L ■ S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 3G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S

Grand Master of Masons in MassachusettsMW Richard J. Stewart

TROWEL Staff

Executive EditorJohn S. Doherty

Design andProduction

David A. Libby

Lodge and DistrictNews EditorLee H. Fenn

Consulting EditorRobert W. Williams III

Editorial StaffStephen C. Cohn

David P. NewcombRichard Thompson

Photography StaffPhilip A. Nowlan

Office StaffGeorge S. FontanaHelena M. Fontana

TROWEL Magazine is an official publication of the Grand Lodge ofMassachusetts, A.F. & A.M. © 2012: all rights reserved. Publishedquarterly for members of Massachusetts lodges. Subscriptions forbrethren of other Jurisdictions and non-Masons are $6.00 for oneyear, $10.00 for two years, and $12.00 for three years in the U.S.only; other countries add $5.00 per year. Mailed at standard A specialrates, prepaid at Manchester NH. Printed in U.S.A.

Trowel prefers electronic submissions and will acceptunsolicited articles, with the right to edit and use whenspace permits. Articles and pictures, unless specified,become the property of the magazine. Submitters arerequested to provide name, address, phone number, e-mail,and Masonic lodge, if any.

Address Changes for Massachusetts lodge members,and notifications of deaths should be sent to the indi-vidual’s lodge secretary, and not to TROWEL Magazine.

All other inquiries should be sent to the Grand Sec-retary’s Office, Masonic Building, 186 Tremont Street,Boston MA 02111

E-mail: grandsec@glmasons-mass.org

Grand Lodge telephone: 617-426-6040

Grand Lodge web page: www.MassFreemasonry.org

E-mail to Executive Editor:johnsdoherty@verizon.net

Telephone: 508-847-9081

E-mail to Lodge News Editor:trowellodgenews@gmail.com

Editorial Board:Richard J. Stewart, Stephen H. Burrall, Jr., Richard H. Curtis,

Jeffrey L. Gardiner, Donald G. Hicks Jr., David A. Libby,Thomas E. Pulkkinen, David C. Turner

2

It has been an interesting year forMasonic education and training. Youmay have noticed the increased num-ber of programs offered this year bythe Massachusetts Masonic Educationand Training Committee. Several newseminars and training sessions havebeen added to the standard curricu-lum; the New Wardens Workshop, revamped lodge ofinstruction formats for candidates and officers, lodge trea-surer training, lodge of research sessions, the May MasonicEducation Day, and the Masonic Leadership Summit havejoined familiar offerings such as the Masonic LeadershipInstitute and the Master’s Path Program.

MMET chairman, Rt. Wor. Ted Morang and his team ofprogram chairmen and staffers believed that there was alatent demand for more Masonic education coming partic-ularly from newer Masons. They were right! These pro-grams have been very well attended—in some cases over-subscribed.

I have had the opportunity to attend three sessionsmyself; the content is fresh, focused, and well presented.Maximum use is being made of contemporary teachingaids and online resources that combine to make the pro-grams highly accessible to interested Masons all over thejurisdiction. Much effort has been expended to enhanceprograms by attracting speakers not seen everyday. ChrisHodapp, author of Freemasons for Dummies, and motiva-tional speaker Travis Roy among others have contributed tothe success of these programs.

If you haven’t yet had an opportunity to try one of theMMET programs, have a look at their web page (massma-sons.org/educate) and find an offering that interests you fornext year. I think you will be pleased.

Fraternally, John Doherty

continued on page 20

The State of Masonic Education

MW Donald Hicks, medal recipient RW Henry Rand, GrandMaster Richard Stewart, and SGC. John William McNaughton.

Wor. Jeff Gordon keeps coffee cups filled.

Canada Lodge members in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Wor.Jonathan Ritter is second from the left.

Sovereign Grand Commander John William McNaughtonpresented the Distinguished Service Medal to Rt. Wor.Henry Rand during ceremonies at the Worcester MasonicCenter.

This award is made at the discretion of the Grand Com-mander for the Scottish Rite’s Northern Masonic Juris-diction, to a Mason or Scottish Rite brother who has ren-dered outstanding, distinguished, and exemplary service tothe Masonic fraternity.

Rt. Wor. Bro. Rand is the third Massachusetts Mason toreceive this important award. He was among the foundersof the Children’s Dyslexia Center of

Wor. Jonathan Ritter was master of Vernon Lodge for twoyears; his term ended this past November. He was one of theyoungest masters in Massachusetts at the time. He is nowonly 26 and is serving at the Kandahar Air Base in Afghan-istan. While stationed here, he attends Canada Lodge.

This lodge was created in a unique arrangement madepossible by the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province ofOntario, which permits Canada Lodge to work under thecharter of Trent Lodge #38 in Frankford, Ontario. Membersview themselves as belonging to a traveling satellite of TrentLodge.

“Masons from around the world meet here—England,Canada, Australia, Scotland, and many different lodges fromaround the United States! Men from many other places alsopass through these doors. Even in a war zone brothers still

come together under one roof to practice the Craft and whatwe as Masons stand for,” says Wor. Jon Ritter.

The lodge has even started a charity called Boxes of Hopefor the local school. These boxes provide school supplies toAfghan children who might not otherwise get a chance to goto school. This lodge brings great morale to the troops. “Ittakes the feeling of being at war and

Republican Lodge in Greenfield hostedtheir fourth annual pancake breakfastin conjunction with American CancerSociety’s Relay-For-Life charity. Re-publican Lodge served more than 150patrons. This is the twelfth year thatRepublican Lodge has been involvedwith Relay for Life. Wor Bro. Vassar,who sponsored the event, has workedtirelessly over the years to build histeam into a Gold Level Team by

achieving a high level of fund-raising.Many thanks go out to the officers andbrothers who contributed to the successof this event. —Bro. Mark Hutchinson

(continued on page 20)

TROWEL NEEDS PHOTOSUpcoming issues of Trowel

will contain features that recognizeindividual Masons

for their achievements.•

Joseph Warren Distinguished Service Awardrecipients in 2011 and 2012.

•Masons celebrating their

60, 65, 70, and 75-year Masonic anniversariesin 2012.

•Send photographs to Lee Fenn attrowellodgenews@gmail.com

or to johnsdoherty@verizon.net

(continued on page 22)

T ROW E L ■ S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 54 G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S

Masonic historians generallyagree that jewels were not

worn in the early days of specula-tive Masonry. After the premierGrand Lodge was formed inLondon, masters and wardens oflodges were required to wear jew-els of their office suspended fromwhite ribbons. Those jewels werein the form of the square, level,and plumb—symbolic tools famil-iar to all Masons.

Attend any Massachusetts Ma-sonic meeting today, and you willsee an array of jewels worn by var-ious lodge, district, and GrandLodge officers. Particularly eye-catching are the jewels worn by past masters. Many ofthese jewels are constructed of gold or silver, elaboratelyengraved with Masonic symbols, and decorated with pre-cious stones. The jewels are a source of great pride for thewearer, who has been rewarded by his brethren for impor-tant Masonic achievements and service to the fraternity.The Mason’s lodge has gone to great expense to present thewearer a handsome jewel created to meet the lodge’s spe-cific design requirements and to match other jewels pre-sented by that same lodge. Lodges usually designate atrusted brother to be responsible for maintaining thelodge’s inventory of jewels, forretrieving jewels of deceasedmembers, for having old jewelsrestored and re-circulated, andfor ordering new jewels whenthe available inventory is de-pleted. The matter of presentingjewels is a serious business for alodge and a significant financialinvestment.

In the jewelry business, aMasonic jewel is just one typeof product that falls into a busi-ness category referred to—notso glamorously—as a “presen-tation piece!” This jewelry cate-

gory is a business of significantsize that employs workmen pos-sessing jewelry design, smithy, orengraving skills. For some of thesemen, producing the Masonic jewelis just another project, but forworkmen that happen to beMasons, the work can often be alabor of love and a great source ofpersonal pride.

One such workman, a Mason for48 years and a master craftsmanfor 53 years, is Brother Kenneth R.Westgard. Many Masons aroundMassachusetts and beyond arefamiliar with Bro. Westgard andhis handiwork. Born in Norwood

in 1942, he learned polishing and finishing skills by watch-ing his father work. The senior Westgard had expected hisson to become a Lutheran minister someday. Instead, at theage of eighteen, Ken Westgard went to work for C. H.Wallbank and Co. Inc. and began his career as a jeweler.After seven years there, Westgard and Wor. David Adam, apast master at Old Colony Lodge, formed a partnership andset up shop in Boston at the well-known Jewelers/Wash-ington Building complex. When the 20-year partnershipcame to an end, Bro. Westgard continued on his own andlater moved his business to his home in Westwood where

he constructed a purpose-builtworkshop on the grounds.

Brother Ken Westgard wasraised by his father-in-law, Wor.Arnold W. Lawrence, in Con-stellation Lodge in 1964, andbecame a member of CelestialLodge after a merger in 2009.Bro. Westgard expanded hisMasonic specialty over theyears. His clients today includedozens of Massachusetts lodges,Scottish Rite bodies, York Ritebodies, Eastern Star chapters,and other Masonic-relatedgroups and organizations. He

also does work for other Grand Lodge jurisdictions, partic-ularly in New England, and even some national groups.However, the elaborate jewels we see in Massachusetts areuncommon. Most other jurisdictions reservesuch valuable jewels for Past Grand Masters.Past masters and district or Grand Lodge offi-cers are more often presented smaller jewelsor rings purchased from catalogues.

Every lodge and Masonic group has itsown distinct jewel design, and Bro. Westgardhas carefully collected each design in hisfour-volume catalogue, assembled over theyears and accompanied by Polaroid picturesthat provide a visual record. “I am not muchof a photographer,” says Westgard, “but thephotos help with remembering details.”Interestingly, three distinct schools of designevolved in Massachusetts: one out in thewestern region, one in Boston, and another inTaunton. Westgard can often identify the ori-gin of a particular jewel just by its design char-acteristics.

Ken Westgard is a goldsmith; he both fabricates andengraves the piece. “Engravers can’t make the jewel, andjewelers can’t engrave them,” says Westgard. The jewel isusually made with either gold or silver. Depending on thelodge’s traditions, engraved nameplates and or monogramsare attached on chains. In the case of the Grand Lodge, thedesign of jewels for each Grand Lodge officer is formallydefined in the Grand Constitutions. Years ago, 14 karat

Masonic jewels are sometimes sold to non-Masonic buy-ers for their intrinsic value. Other jewels are lost to theCraft because arrangements were not made to return thejewels, or families are not aware of the tradition of return-ing jewels to a man’s lodge after he passes.

Wor. Joe Goldstein commented on this subject in his article“Protect Your Masonic Honors” in the fall, 2010 issue of TrowelMagazine. Goldstein said at that time:

“Brethren, when we are called to the Celestial Lodge above,it is a service to our families to have left them clear instructionas to the disposition of our valued items, including tokens ofany Masonic recognitions we may have received. A frank dis-

cussion with our loved ones is in order, and our wishes shouldnot be ambiguous. They should also be made in writing, in ourwills.

“. . . But in all cases I have recommended that their pastmaster’s jewel, jewels of Grand Lodge offices, and also corre-sponding aprons be returned to their Blue lodges, as that isfrom whence these honors came. It is only fitting that theseMasonic treasures be used again to bestow honors upon sub-sequent deserving brothers. Masonic honors are, like the giftof Freemasonry, meant to be passed on. It is heart-wrenchingto see the material decorations of our departed brothers soldand bought like any other commodity.”

Crafter of Masonic JewelsGoldsmith Kenneth Westgard

by John Doherty

gold was used. Today, 10 karat gold is more common.“There is no noticeable difference,” says Westgard. Someolder jewels returned to Westgard for refurbishment were

made with silver; most are blackened by oxi-dation over the years. Westgard offers a freelifetime refurbishment service for these silverpieces as a way of distinguishing himselffrom competitors. Curiously, few people takeadvantage of this guarantee.

What does the future hold for Masonic pre-sentation jewelry? Engraving is a dying artaccording to Westgard. Many companies en-gaged in this business have closed, often forlack of skilled workmen. “Young kids aren’tinterested in learning the trade—no comput-ers are involved!” The rising cost of metalsand the merger of so many lodges have com-bined to reduce the demand for jewels.Stamping is replacing casting in the fabrica-

tion process. Less labor is needed to finish astamped piece. It was once commonplace toinlay precious or semi-precious jewels. Syn-

thetic jewels are often used today instead.For nearly 300 years, pocket jewels have been highly-

prized symbols of achievement in the fraternity. Is it possi-ble that these works of Masonic art could be produced bycomputerized machines someday? Possibly. The next timeyou see a pocket jewel, in addition to reflecting on thewearer’s achievement, take a minute to admire the handi-work of a Masonic craftsman. ■

Left: The Westwoodworkshop.

Right: Bro. Westgardwith Senior Past

Grand Master Albert T.Ames, who has been afrequent visitor to Bro.

Westgard’s workshopover the years.

Above: Bro. Westgard at his bench.

Below: Individual lodge requirements have beencarefully catalogued and photo records created.

A New Hampshire GrandMaster’s jewel awaits

refurbishing.

6 G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S T ROW E L ■ S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 7

from Merrimack and SaggahewLodges in Haverhill. Rt. Wor. Scott Jareo presented a giftof $500 on behalf of Golden Rule Lodge in Wakefield. Fi-nally, a distinguished group of Masons from Mount Leb-anon Lodge joined their master, Wor. Christian Parker, inpresenting a $5,000 donation for MMRL.

Background ChecksIn January, the Grand Lodge instituted a new proceduredesigned to assist lodge investigation committees; all ap-plicants for the degrees are now required to consent to andpay for a background check performed by the private firm,infoCheck USA. Details of the procedure and pertinentforms were distributed to all lodges in January. GrandMaster Stewart reported that 186 background checks havebeen completed to date and six checks have reported priorcriminal activity. The Grand Master stressed that thesechecks do not replace the conscientious work of investigat-ing committees, but are meant to augment lodge efforts tofamiliarize themselves with applicants. Early resultsdemonstrate the usefulness of the new background checkprocedure.

SuspensionsGrand Lodge ratified theGrand Master’s decisionto suspend or expel tenmembers for un-Masonicconduct. In announcingthese actions the GrandMaster said:

“As Masons, we expectour members to behave ina civilized, lawful, andneighborly manner at alltimes. This applies to ourbehavior in everyday lifeas well as within the con-fines of the Craft. We want

The Grand Master’s Addressat the March 2012 Quarterly Communicationof the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts

Grand Master Stewart welcomed an overflow crowd ofMasons to the March Communication. In addition to

distinguished leaders of the various appendant bodies inMassachusetts, the Grand Master was pleased to introducerepresentatives from the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Mass-achusetts including Rt. Wor. Raymond Coleman, grand his-torian; Rt. Wor. Wilbur Evans Sr., grand marshal emeritus;and Rt. Wor. James Whitehead, grand marshal. Out-of-statedignitaries attending were the Past Grand Master of NorthCarolina, Most Wor. Lewis Ledford accompanied by GrandSecretary Rt. Wor. T Walton Clapp, and Connecticut GrandMaster James T. McWain accompanied by Rt. Wor. SeniorGrand Warden Simon LaPlace.

Presentations This DayRt. Wor. and Rev. Richard E. Haley received the JosephWarren Distinguished Service Medal for his long service toEssex Lodge, where he was raised in 1976 and has servedwith distinction for 35 years. Bro. Haley has also servedGrand Lodge since 2001 in the office of grand chaplain.

Grand Master Stewart was delighted to receive severaldonations for the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory—the Grand Lodge’s premiercharity. The Grand Masterand several Grand Lodgeofficers had recently trav-eled to Utica, New Yorkfor additional orientationson the MMRL’s programsfor cardiac and stem cellresearch.

The first presentationwas made by Wor. JeffreyStoller of The Consoli-dated Lodge, who deliver-ed a $2,000 donation forMMRL. Next was Wor.Peter Greelish who pre-sented a joint gift of $150

For the past few years I’ve been working on a researchproject which involves a study of those blue-bound

books you find on dusty shelves in every Masonic hall: theAbstracts of Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Mass-achusetts. From 1733 to the present they chronicle thework of our Grand Lodge: communications; financial state-ments; tables of organization for lodges, districts, and offi-cers. Many have photographs and illustrations of eventssuch as cornerstone layings, building dedications, awardsand medals, and memorials to prominent brethren.

There are nearly 150 volumes in the complete set. Thereis no index for the entire collection, but some volumes havean index and most have a table of contents. Two completesets are maintained at Grand Lodge in Boston. Many lodgehalls probably have a set. A few volumes stand out as par-ticularly interesting and no collection should be withoutthese five.

#5: 1875. This was the year that Past Grand MasterWinslow Lewis, Jr., died, and the Proceedings devotesmore than 250 pages to an exhaustive study of his life.Brother Lewis was a strong advocate for the establishmentof a library at Grand Lodge; much of his efforts after hisretirement as Grand Master were consumed by the terribleWinthrop House fire of 1864 and his work to rebuild thelibrary. This volume has a long section on the Feast of St.John, including speeches by Grand Master Percival Ev-erett, five Past Grand Masters, and two future ones. Eachdistrict deputy grand master wrote an official letter to theGrand Master, all of which are reproduced.

Grand Lodge members receive Grand Master Richard Stewart.

#4: 1933. Grand Lodge celebrated its bicentennial underthe leadership of Most Wor. Curtis Chipman (an event thatcarried on for nearly a week in June). This volume of theProceedings contains many speeches by nearly every livingPast Grand Master, as well as prominent Masons frommany other jurisdictions. This volume also contains adescription and picture of Brother Paul Revere’s personalseal, which was presented to Grand Lodge by one of hisdescendants.

#3: 1873. A number of important events occurred thisyear, including the establishment of guidelines for lodgebylaws, and the death of Grand Secretary Bro. Charles W.Moore, who was elected honorary Past Grand Master onhis deathbed. Setting this volume apart are the extensivebiographies of every Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodgethrough 1873, prepared and compiled by Past GrandMaster John T. Heard.

#2: 1916. Grand Master Melvin Maynard Johnson’sthird year featured a huge volume of the Proceedings con-taining biographies (many with pictures) of more than 40Past Grand Masters. In some cases, these short essaysremain the definitive biographies. This book also containsthe complete text of his work Freemasonry In AmericaPrior to 1750, and the text of the Masonic Lecture Seriespresented in March and April 1916 by Past Deputy GrandMaster Roscoe Pound and Grand Chaplain R. Perry Bush.

#1: 1871. My favorite volume of the Proceedings wasproduced in 1871 when William Sewall Gardner wasGrand Master. The speeches at the Feast of St. John theEvangelist are outstanding, featuring six Past GrandMasters including the last public speech by Bro. GeorgeRandall. The most important component however, is GrandMaster Gardner’s detailed and extensively documentedessay on Henry Price, our first Grand Master, a spiriteddefense against certain calumnies put forward by somebrethren arguing against the Grand Lodge of Massachu-setts’ claim of antiquity and authenticity.

Honorable mention goes to the books from the 1920sthat include many fifty-year anniversaries and lodge histo-ries; Grand Master Perry’s detailed essays on membershipand Grand Lodge organization from 1938–1940; the termof Samuel Crocker Lawrence (1881–1883); The war yearsof 1941 and 1942; The two volumes for 1970 and 1971containing the addresses by Grand Master Herbert Jaynes,who took the first tentative steps toward the fraternal com-munion we now enjoy with our Prince Hall brethren; final-ly, the years 1975–1977 have several outstanding speechesby Grand Master Stanley F. Maxwell.

Wherever your study leads you, and whatever your moti-vation for delving into the collection of Proceedings, theaccounts of the work of our forebears should remind us thatas they were, we now strive to be. And as we are, they oncewere. These are our stories, and help bring those past timesand those faded portraits back to life once more. ■

Browsingthe

ProceedingsThe Top Five

VolumesRt. Wor. Walter H. Hunt

Many of us belong to a couple of organizations:not within the fraternity, but in addition to the

fraternity. Here I am referring to any group within theMasonic family as the fraternity. I am obviously activein the life of the church I serve. I am a Lion. I havebeen a Rotarian. You might be an Elk or anEagle. You might belong to the VFW orAmerican Legion. You might serve as aleader for the Scouts or another type ofyouth activity. I think you get the idea.What I am reflecting upon are the differ-ent expectations each organization asksof its membership.

There are some organizations that havevery few expectations of its membership. I amthinking about groups like the Sierra Club or theUSGA. Their primary purpose is to promote and raiseawareness of the issues they care about. You don’teven have to attend a meeting or speak to a member ofthe group to join. You send a small donation and theysend you a gift, a member card, and even an emblemfor your vehicle proclaiming your membership. Theyare interested in quantity over quality. The more mem-bers they have the greater the impact they can have ontheir issues.

Another type of group consists of the country club,health club, and similar institutions. The primary pur-pose of these organizations is to provide services tomembers. Some of these groups allow you to simplywalk in and ask to be a member. Others you will needto be sponsored by a member to gain admission. Theremay or may not be a trial period where they get toknow you if you need to be voted into membership. Inmost cases you will be required to pay some form ofan initiation fee. You then are required to pay someform of dues and sometimes minimum amounts forsome of the services whether you partake of them ornot. These groups really do not expect you to do any-thing but pay your dues. As long as you are current inyour obligations, you stay a member in good standing.

A third type of group is one where the membersshare a similar unique characteristic. These groups are

special because not everyone can join them. The SAR,Mayflower Society, or the VFW would fit into this cat-egory. You have to have a bloodline connection, mili-tary service, or share some other type of bond. Youwill be required to financially support the organiza-

tion, but again your level of involvement is yourdecision.

A fourth type of group is the serviceclub: the Rotary, Lions, etc. You do need asponsor to join these groups. They sitdown with you before you join andexplain what is expected of you as a mem-

ber. Some of them have attendance re-quirements. Some have minimum expected

contributions to their charitable fund-raisingevents. The expectations are much higher than the

previous groups I described.Where do the Freemasons fit into this picture?

Where should we be? We do have some prerequisitesto joining. You need to have a sponsor. You need tohave an interview. You have to provide references andyou are investigated. There is an initiation fee andyearly dues. But after we become members what arethe expectations? In general I don’t see many at all.Yes, there are some lodges that stress certain things.Overall, however, as long as you have a current duescard, you may call yourself a Freemason.

It is kind of strange when you think about it. Weconsider ourselves to be brothers. We take a detailedobligation to care for not only one another but our wid-ows and orphans as well. We speak of bonds betweenourselves that cannot be broken. And yet, you canwalk out of lodge after having received the MasterMason Degree and never participate in anything again.

What would happen if we dared to take seriously thevows we took upon ourselves at that altar? Just thinkof the impact we would have on the world! Even morethan we do now! Maybe it is time we raised the expec-tations we have of one another. ■

Bro. Wissell is a past master of Bay Path Lodge andMount Lebanon Lodge, and has served as a grandchaplain since 2001.

Greater Expectations?by Rt. Wor. and Rev. Matthew J. Wissell

T ROW E L ■ S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 98 G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S

our members to be good members ofsociety and useful in the community.

We have a strict code of conduct andwe hold our membership to a highstandard. However, when the actionsof any member are not in accordancewith these principles, our disciplinaryprocedures are firm. If a brother con-ducts himself in an anti-social or dis-honest manner, not only is his behaviorunacceptable to society in general, buthe also brings disrepute upon Free-masonry.”

Boston University LodgeGrand Secretary, Rt. Wor. Jeffrey Gardiner announced thata petition has been received to restore the charter of BostonUniversity Lodge. This lodge was originally chartered in1925, but suffered from lack of members and the charterwas suspended in 1999. Efforts to restore the lodge have

Changes to the Grand ConstitutionsProposal changes to two sections of the GrandConstitutions will be voted upon at the June 13, 2012Quarterly Communication.

Section 330 – Grand Lodge Dues, which contains theformula for calculation of annual dues owed to GrandLodge, would be changed. This change if approved,would result in a dues amount of $60 for the fiscal year2013, which begins in September 2012.

Section 400 – Initiation Fees, which establishes a min-imum amount that must be charged by lodges for initiat-ing, crafting, and raising a Mason. This change, ifapproved, would establish a fee of not less than $300.

Formal notice of these proposals was sent to mastersand secretaries of all lodges and to permanent membersof Grand Lodge by the grand secretary in January.

been underway for three years. Plansare being made for Grand MasterStewart to re-dedicate the lodge laterthis year.

Discussion of ProposedChanges to Constitutions

Time was set aside for a discussion ofthe changes to the Grand Constitutionsthat were formally proposed inDecember, and will be voted upon inJune. The discussion was partitionedinto two segments: the Grand Lodge

dues increase, and the increase in initiation fees. Threespeakers opposed and three speakers in favor of each pro-posal were invited to speak and were recognized randomlyby the Grand Marshal. No one spoke against the increasein Grand Lodge dues.

Speakers opposed to the increase in lodge initiation feesstressed the poor economic climate, difficult recruitingconditions in the rural areas of the State, the potential lossof new members due to the increased cost, and the difficul-ty potential applicants have in recognizing the value ofjoining the fraternity. Those speakers in favor of the initia-tion fee increase mentioned the importance of lodgesrecovering their real costs of new members, the value ofbelonging to such an historically important fraternity, andthe comparatively low cost of obtaining the privileges ofMasonry.

Grand Master’s AddressIn giving his closing address, Grand Master Stewart reflect-ed on his recent Listening Tour. This series of nine visitsended in Pittsfield. The Grand Master found the meetingsto be very helpful in clearing up some misconceptions

about Grand Lodge and the proposed changes to the GrandConstitutions. He also benefited from the many discussionswith members from around the state. Feedback has beenvery positive and additional sessions are being planned for

next year. “We spend the evening discussing—sometimesheatedly—many topics, then we sit together for a collationbefore parting as friends. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if allour democratic institutions worked this peacefully.” ■

Below: The Consolidated Lodge presents gift to GMStewart. L to R RW Dave Newcomb, Bro. Anthony Nunziato,Wor. Jeff Stoller, RW Ernie Pearlstein, RW DDGM LudwigAlban. Center L: RW Scott Jareo presents a gift for MMRL toGM Stewart on behalf of Golden Rule Lodge. Center R: GMStewart thanks Wor. Peter Greelish for Merrimack Lodge’sgift to MMRL. Bottom: DGM Robert Jolly and a group of Mt.Lebanon Lodge members present MMRL gift.

GM Stewart presents the JosephWarren Distinguished Service Medal toRW and Rev. Richard Haley.

T ROW E L ■ S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 11

Richard Thompson is a past master and a member ofMerrimack Valley Daylight Lodge in North Andover..

The Prodigal Mason

I am coming to the end (Ihope) of a rather intense peri-

od in my life. But it was also atime when I was reminded aboutwhat is the real strength of ourfraternity.

My wife Janet and I spent theentire month of December inEngland. Both of our childrenwere living there at the time. Mydaughter Shelley is still in Eng-

land but my son, Bro. Jarrod, has moved to Italy. While inEngland, he met an Italian girl named Anna; they willmarry at the end of this month. They decided to live in Italy,at least for some time. Jarrod’s Masters Degree is in historicpreservation and let’s face it, there is a lot of history in Italy.

Although we went to England to spend the holidays withour children, the real attraction was a little girl namedPenney. On November 24 our daughter and her husbandBrian presented us with our first grandchild.

I developed what I thought was a severe cold during ourstay. I was coughing and finding it almost impossible tomove any distance without having to stop to catch mybreath. To be honest, it was a bit frightening, so frighteningthat I ended up in a British hospital. We returned to theUnited States on January 7, and it was on that flight Ilearned the meaning of the phrase “respiratory distress.”Breathing became so difficult I was put on oxygen. In justa few minutes after landing, I was in an ambulance on myway to Massachusetts General Hospital.

It must have been an emergency! Have you ever been ona plane and had to stay seated until someone was helpedoff? This time I was the one holding everyone up. And I’venever gone through customs so fast. An agent met us on thegangway, asked Janet a couple of questions and then said,“You are now officially back in the United States!”

So, I was in Mass General from January 7 to January 10.I did not have a severe cold. I had a severe case of bronchi-tis.

Let me give you a bit of background information. I am aneight and one-half year lung cancer survivor. I was diag-nosed in the fall of 2003. Two months after the diagnosis, I

had a lung removed. Since that time I have been cancer free.Being cancer free for as long as I have been is a feat initself. The five-year survival rate for lung cancer is just 15percent.

Despite the good fortune about surviving lung cancer, itis frightening when I have any form of respiratory problem.And when the problem is severe, the fear that accompaniesthe illness becomes much more intense. I keep thinking Ihad better get over this illness fast—I don’t have a sparelung any longer.

I wasn’t cured when I left the hospital; but I didn’t needconstant care either. The doctor wanted to get me out ofthere before I picked up one of those bugs that seem to wan-der around our hospitals. So I left the hospital with somenew friends. For two and one-half months, my constantcompanions were an oxygen cylinder and a nasal cannula.Wherever I went they were with me.

And everywhere I went, be it to a lodge meeting, aScottish Rite meeting, an Eastern Star chapter or anAmaranth court, those I met greeted me with expressions ofwhat I saw as genuine concern. Everyone I spoke to want-ed to know what happened to put me in this fix and if theoxygen was a permanent or temporary addition to my life.I told them the story and assured them it was temporary,even though I wasn’t really convinced of that myself. WhenI reached that point where I carried the oxygen cylinderwith me but was not hooked up to it all the time, they wereequally overjoyed to see I was progressing. And as I con-tinued to improve, their joy seemed to become greater.

We join the Masonic fraternity for a variety of reasons.As I have said before, I joined because I grew up around it.My father was a Mason. My grandfather was a Mason.Most of the men in my family are Masons.

When I think of this event in my life and others like it, Irealize why I have stayed active in our fraternity for morethan 40 years. I know I am, and I honestly believe the vastmajority of our brethren are, concerned for each other’swelfare and try to show it when we can. We are trying tolive up to the promises we made at our lodge’s altar.

I’m feeling much better now and I’m getting ready foranother trip. We are heading to Italy for our son’s wedding.It is comforting to know that when I step into that airplaneI will have the best wishes and concern of my brethren withme. And I sure hope when I return home I will not be car-rying another metal cylinder. ■

by Richard Thompson

10 G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S

The 2012 Service Fair was held on March 31, and EventChairman Rt. Wor. David Newcomb was very pleased

with attendance. “I believe we created an event that will betalked about for a long time and our next one will not besoon enough.” He added, “The room was alive with enthu-siasm and positive energy all day long. Smiles were every-where!”

This first-of-its-kind event was produced by the GrandLoge Service Department as a way to share ideas for ser-vice projects and activities in our lodges. Morethan 80 Masons from around the state cametogether for four hours of brotherhood andMasonic Service education.

The Service Committee staffed tables withexperienced personnel and provided education-al literature and equipment displays for the topten areas of Masonic service as well as for ourGrand Lodge’s newest charity: the MasonicMedical Research Laboratory. Attendees wereable to talk with knowledgeable Masons aboutsuccessful programs. CPR equipment, myCHIP programs,hospital equipment loans, widows programs, blood drives,home and hospital visitation programs, family services,troop support, and the Masonic Healthcare System wereamong the programs represented.

Service Department Director, Rt. Wor. Ernie Pearlstein

On Saturday, March 24th, approximately 90 Masons from across Massachusetts, repre-senting almost 70 lodges and 26 districts, converged on the Masonic Lodge in Marl-

borough to attend the New Wardens Workshop, a program designed to pass along importantMasonic information to appointed officers as well as Masons who have not yet entered theofficer line but are thinking about it.

This year, the program offered presentations on Masonic finances, presented by Rt. Wor.Steven Cohn; investigations, presented by Wor. Peter Ham; Masonry in the 21st cent-ury/massmasons.org by Rt. Wor. Elliot Chikofsky; ritual and exemplification by Rt. Wor.Kevin Willis and Masonic protocol by Rt. Wor. Ted Morang.

Most Worshipful Grand Master Richard J. Stewart opened the program, offered insight tothe up-and-coming officers throughout the morning and assisted Rt. Wor. Kevin Willis inunveiling new Master’s carpet tracing boards. Be on the lookout for the New WardensWorkshop to return next year with all new presentations. ■

commented, “I’m very proud of the fair committee; it lookslike another great year for the Service Department.” GrandMaster Richard J. Stewart spent the day and spoke brieflyabout how busy our jurisdiction is with great programs forbrothers to get involved with at their own lodges. Rt. Wor.Deputy Grand Master Robert Jolly also spent the day greet-ing attendees and showing his interest in Masonic service.

The event was held at the Marlboro Masonic buildingand United Brethren Lodge members added to the service

atmosphere. A volunteer team of brotherswashed the car windows of the attendees.“This small effort helped make attendees feelwelcome and treated like VIPs.” SaidChairman Newcomb, “It showed us all thatdoing something for our brothers is not onlyeasy but the rewards are great.”

There is now some discussion about possi-bly bringing this Fair event to other locationsin the jurisdiction in the future. Brothersseemed eager to bring ideas and information

back to their lodges and districts. Visitors left with ideasand information and , thanks to the refreshment team, thor-oughly content. Bro. Newcomb summed up the day by say-ing, “Congratulations to everyone on a great event andthank you to all the coordinators and brothers who staffedthe tables for your continued service and support.” ■

The New Wardens Workshop by Rt. Wor. Geoffrey Kromer, Chairman

The FirstMasonicService

Fairby John Doherty

Grand Master Stewart andRt. Wor. Kevin Willis unveilnew Master’s carpet tracingboards.

T ROW E L ■ S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 13

grand steward in England in 1735. Bro. Gross says thereare a lot of tantalizing hints that Masons and their lodgesprovided the kernel for the general emancipation of theJews, and he is doing additional research on that subject.

He finds that “candidates are demanding a rigorousMasonic education. They know that the fraternity is not aclub, nor a series of dinner engagements, but rather a seri-ous brotherhood that traces back to antiquity.” Masons arereading! Much Masonic material is being written.“Freemasonry is compelling and attractive once again.”

Hello my friends and brothers,It was one of those days that frequently occur when the

calendar indicates late winter or early spring in NewEngland. Patches of snow were interspersed with lakes ofmud. The sky was dark gray and the wind blew from thenortheast. The temperature hovered slightly above freez-ing and steady rain was frequently interrupted by periodsof big, mushy snowflakes. My dad would say that it wasa day not fit for man or beast. Oh yes, and one morething: tonight was lodge night. Yes, it was lodge nightand we had three candidates taking their Third Degree.

As I stood gazing out the living room window I wasthinking how nice it would be to just build a fire in thefireplace and settle in with that book I was reading aboutsailing ships in the West Indies. I could almost smell therum in the sea air and hear the wind in the rigging. Icould just imagine the sailors who had escaped the dark,cold, and rainy days of an English winter to bask in thewarm sun of the tropics.

My daydreaming was suddenly shattered by a tap onthe shoulder from my wife. “Isn’t tonight lodge night?Hadn’t you better get changed into your tux?”

Reluctantly, I put aside my tropical adventures andwent into the bedroom to change. It was very tempting tostay home and let someone else take the minutes but Ireally couldn’t do that. You see, my duty and responsi-bility for tonight was to be the secretary of the lodge andI take that duty and responsibility very seriously. When Itook my obligation as a secretary, there was no clauseabout “only when it is convenient” or “only in goodweather.” I knew that I had an important function to per-form in the lodge and I had promised to do my best. Forme, that is part of who we are as Masons.

It seems today that some folks never learned that les-son. They want to know: “What’s in it for me?” I remem-ber that two weeks after taking my Third Degree, I wasto exemplify the Candidates Lecture at the district exem-plification. When I awoke that morning, it was snowingand it snowed all day. The lodge where the exemplifica-

tion was to be held was somemiles away and the roadswere very slippery. I asked anolder past master who workedwith me if they would call theexemplification off.He said, “No, theywon’t call the exem-plification off andwhether you go willdepend on the length of yourcable-tow.”

Now I was faced with a real dilemma. My wifethought that I must be crazy to go out to a lodge meetingon such a stormy night. It would have been so very easyto just stay home but I kept hearing my friend asking,“How long is your cable-tow?”

That was many years ago and my old friend has longsince gone to the celestial lodge above. He probably soonforgot our conversation, but, for me, that was an impor-tant Masonic lesson applied to a real situation.

Needless to say, I went to the exemplification thatlong-ago evening, and I went to lodge on that morerecent cold and rainy night. Over the years, I found thatmy personal cable-tow was usually long enough toenable me to meet my Masonic duties and responsibili-ties. I am certainly not suggesting that I am the perfectashlar. I have a lot of rough edges that could be smoother,but I found that “what was in it for me” was the appreci-ation of my brothers and my own satisfaction and, in thewords of the immortal poet, Robert Frost, “That made allthe difference.” —The Old Secretary

Editor’s Note: This is the third installment in the revivedOld Secretary column. This very popular column appearedin Trowel for the first time in the summer of 1991 and con-tinued for 11 years. The last of 42 columns was publishedin the winter, 2001 issue. The Old Secretary preferred toremain anonymous and so does the new Old Secretary.

The Old Secretary

Authors that nearly disappeared, like Reverend Oliver andRoscoe Pound, are coming back into favor. He is “delight-ed that Henry Bromwell’s great book—Restorations ofMasonic Geometry and Symbolry—has been reprinted andbrothers are reading it with fresh eyes.”

Worshipful Jeremy Gross may be a recent Mason, but heis taking his Masonic education quite seriously. By tyinghis Masonic background with his newfound religious back-ground, he hopes to become what all Masons profess to be:a better man and a better Mason. ■

12 G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S

As a young child, Wor. Jeremy L.Gross would travel to Massa-

chusetts to visit his grandmother. Hisgrandfather had passed away beforeBro. Gross was born, but many people

remembers they were still doing degree work at 1:30 a.m.When he told his stepfather in Australia about becoming aMason, the response was “I think you’ll find they are alovely bunch of blokes!” Bro. Gross says he was right!

When Samuel Crocker Lawrence Lodge was reconstitut-ed in late 2010, he affiliated and became an officer. Hiswork took him to Norway in 2010, and he attended St.Olaus til den hvide leopard Lodge. Founded in 1749, this isthe oldest lodge in Norway and meets in the Grand Lodgebuilding, which Bro. Gross says is exquisite, larger and

more magnificent than the Parliamentbuilding just across the street. Bro. Grosssaid, after learning more about the historyof Masonry in Norway, “If they can bringMasonry back to Norway, then SamuelCrocker Lodge can bring Masonry back toMedford.”

Bro. Gross was an English major and isa prolific writer. His parents, both pub-lished writers, encouraged him to writedown his thoughts from the time he was asmall child. In 2010, Brother Gross waspublished in the Philalethes Society Mag-azine; his paper on the 47th Problem ofEuclid was published in the first AnnualProceedings of the Massachusetts Lodgeof Research.

He is currently working on two pro-jects: a Masonic Western novel, andresearch into Torah studies as they areapplied to Freemasonry. He finds similar-

ities between Torah and Kabbalah and many Craft andScottish Rite degrees. The degrees touch upon many subtlepoints of the Bible and other books of Hebrew religious lit-erature. He says when he describes these points from aJewish perspective, he finds he has a large audience amongMasons. He is also researching the extent of Freemasonry’scontribution to Jewish Enlightenment, or the Haskalah.Freemasonry welcomed Jews into the fraternity beforemost cities in Europe allowed Jews out of the ghettos. Hehas found that not long after the beginnings of the GrandLodge era, Jews were emancipated, could vote, and hadcivil liberties granted to them. Many of the earliest Jewsprominent in Freemasonry were men involved in thatEnlightenment. For example, Dr. Meyer Schomberg was a

fondly remembered Dr. Louis Barron. The surgeon wastrained at Harvard Medical School and later served in theArmy Medical Corps under General George Patton. Hereturned home after the war and cared for Jewish immi-grants in Salem and Lynn. As busy as he was as a surgeon,Dr. Barron always found the time to studythe Torah and Talmud every week—a traitwhich has passed on to Bro. Gross.

Bro. Gross’ grandfather was a seriousJewish scholar. His parents on the otherhand were entirely secular. When he wasten, Bro. Gross was asked if he wanted BarMitzvah lessons or to play ice hockey. Hechose ice hockey! He says he had absolute-ly no idea how to be Jewish. So, he went toa local bookstore and then visited abouteight different synagogues. He is now part-nered with the rabbi of Temple B’nai Brithof Somerville for study. When Bro. Gross’term in the East of Samuel Crocker Lodgeis over, he says he wants to have an adultBar Mitzvah and will begin that arduousundertaking as a past master in order to doit properly.

Jeremy Gross’ grandfather was a Masonand so was his stepfather in Australia. Bro.Gross is proud that his mother is the daughter, wife, andmother of Freemasons! He asked his grandmother manyquestions about his grandfather’s involvement withMasonry. He says his “grandfather embodied all the tenetsof the Craft so beautifully, he made me want to be a Masonas well, because maybe by learning the secrets ofFreemasonry, I could glean some of what made him such agreat man.”

After one particular conversation with his grandmother,he noticed a Ben Franklin TV ad. He googled “MasonicLodge in Somerville” and found two lodges. The KingSolomon Lodge secretary gave him a tour of the buildingand an application and Bro. Gross was on his way. He wasraised in June, 2008, in a class of thirteen candidates! He

Living Freemasonry by Rt. Wor. Steve Cohn

Meet an Active Massachusetts Mason

Wor. Jeremy L. Gross

14 G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S

What is it that makes men want to beMasons? What’s in it for us? An

actor portraying Brother BenjaminFranklin poses this question in commer-cials, “Is there greatness in you?” Well,whether there is greatness in you or not,Freemasonry is available for those whoseek it, as well as for those seeking “some-thing else.” A wise man once said, “You’llget out of it what you put into it.” Free-masonry gives back in excellent propor-tion, a valuable return to the time investedby its members. Therein lie the wages of aMason.

The reputation we enjoy as Masons has beenearned over 275 years by ongoing works in thiscountry. We take care of each other as brothers should, andwe take care of others through the charitable endeavors ofour several branches and the variety ofinterests in which we participate. Weare a service organization. Service issimply what we do. Here are someexamples of things that benefit fromMasonic services: lodges are involvedwith community projects; supportyouth programs and organizationssuch as the Order of DeMolay and theOrder of Rainbow; Freemasons sup-port Little League teams, school func-tions, food pantries, and elderlygroups; programs support Americantroops and their families; hospitalequipment programs offer essentialequipment to people in need; CPRprograms offer instruction to thosewho wish to prepare for emergencies; blood donation pro-grams are responsible for a majority of the blood donationsto the Northeast region of the American Red Cross.

When the Masonic degrees have concluded, the businessof Masonry becomes a way of life: enjoying the fatherhoodof God and the brotherhood of Man. The rewards are par-ticularly demonstrated to those who earn them. To mem-bers who join our fraternity only to sit idle while othersinvest time and effort, the rewards are not fully realized.But for the workers, surely their rewards are received inabundance. In order to receive the wages of a Mason, sim-ply find your niche and get busy earning your wages.

Carl Claudy (whose books are distributed to everyMassachusetts Mason) explains the rewards of member-ship with historical insight. Claudy recalls that in one ofthe degrees, we learn of corn, wine, and oil. These were thewages that our ancient brethren received for their labors

during the building of King Solomon’sTemple. Back then, corn was consideredan emblem of plenty and a sign of wealth.Wine brought joy and gladness and wassymbolic of wealth and comfort. Oil wasused for food and for lighting and, mixedwith perfume, was used for ceremonies ofanointment. Basically, these commoditieswere coins of the realm. In modern times,wages are no longer paid this way. Ma-sonic use of corn, wine, and oil is primari-ly symbolic.

But, Claudy says: If the work done in alodge is paid for only in coin of the heart,

such wages are no less real. They may sustainas does the grain, refresh as does the wine, and

give joy and gladness as does the oil. How much we receiveand what we do with our wages depend entirely on our

Masonic work. To receive the Masonicequivalent of the ancient corn, wine,and oil, a brother must labor. He musttill the fields of his own heart or buildthe temple of his own house not madewith hands. He must give labor to hisneighbor or carry stones for his broth-er’s temple.

The sense of accomplishment, suc-cess, and pride are evident to thosewho serve others. Masons experiencesatisfaction and honor by keeping trueto their vows and being involved withservice. To Masons, it’s not about thecertificates of merit or medals ofrecognition. Devotion to service is itsown reward.

Brother Benjamin Franklin expressed it with the follow-ing: Masonic Labor is purely a labor of love. He who seeksto draw wages in gold or silver will be disappointed. Thewages of a Mason are earned and paid in their dealingswith one another. Sympathy begets sympathy. Kindnessbegets kindness. Helpfulness begets helpfulness. These arethe wages of a Mason.

My Brothers, are you being paid the wages you deserve?Have you offered to assist and serve a fallen brother

or friend?Have you called or visited a brother whose age or

health is in decline?Have you offered to assist a Masonic widow with her

daily errands or needs?Have you thought to rake leaves or shovel snow for an

older brother or lodge widow or an elderly neighbor?

THEWAGES

OF AMASON

by Rt. Wor. David P. Newcomb

T ROW E L ■ S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 15

Freemasonry and the Order of the Eastern Star worktogether, synergistically, to promote and strengthen

each organization. The Order of the Eastern Star (OES) isthe largest fraternal organization to which both men andwomen belong. Dr. Robert Morris, the poet laureate ofFreemasonry, founded the Order of the Eastern Star in1850, while confined to his home following an accident.Morris wrote the initiatory degrees of the order. He first ini-tiated his wife and daughters and expanded to otherneighborhood ladies. The signs and modes ofrecognition given to them, he freely commu-nicated to Masons so that they would beable to recognize the newly initiatedwomen.

OES Ritual LessonsRobert McCoy joined in 1860 andwrote the rituals of the Order that arein use today. These degrees centeron the lives of five biblical heroines,each one representing one of the fiveprinciples of the order—Fidelity,Constancy, Loyalty, Faith, and Love.The figure of Adah represents fidelityand admonishes to be faithful to ourconvictions of right and duty. Ruth repre-sents constancy and admonishes thatpatient industry shall not go unrewarded.Esther represents loyalty and admonishes us toemulate the virtues of the heroic Queen Esther.Martha represents faith and admonishes that the deepestsorrow is relieved by a trustful faith in God. Electa repre-sents love and the virtues of charity and hospitality incul-cated by the teachings of the Order.

Membership in OESOnly men who are Masons in good standing are eligible tobelong to the order. Wives, or other female relatives ofaffiliated Master Masons are also eligible. These relation-ships include daughters, mothers, widows, aunts, sisters,granddaughters, grandmothers, great granddaughters,nieces; or mothers, sisters, or daughters related by mar-riage. Additionally, members of the International Order ofthe Rainbow for Girls or of the International Order of Job’s

Daughters, who have attained at least the age of eighteen,are also eligible to join.

OES Goal and MissionThe Order’s goal is to offer an organization where womenand men with good moral and social character can reflectthe spirit of fraternal love, and the desire to work togetherin charity, truth, and loving kindness for the benefit of all

mankind. OES’s particular mission is to help, aid, andsupport the widows, mothers, sisters, wives, and

daughters of Freemasons; to aid and supportmembers in time of need and to give cheer

in their happiness and sympathy in theirtime of sorrow.

Statewide FocusChapters around Massachusetts areorganized under the Grand Chaptercomposed of eighteen officers led bya worthy matron and worthy patron,and including an associate matron,associate patron, secretary, treasurer,conductress, associate conductress,

chaplain, marshal, organist, Adah,Ruth, Esther, Martha, Electa, warder,

and sentinel. A Master Mason shares theEast and West, but is also able to serve in

seven other positions. The MassachusettsGrand Chapter participates with the national

General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star,located in Washington, D.C.

The state Grand Chapter is involved in numerous frater-nal, educational, and charitable endeavors. The organiza-tion supports local International Order of Rainbow forGirls assemblies and DeMolay chapters. The GrandChapter awards general education scholarships and alsogrants scholarships to those pursuing religious educationspecifically. The Isadore Forbes Benevolent Fund givesfinancial assistance to members who have had a cata-strophic event or illness that has placed then in suddenfinancial distress. Eastern Star of Massachusetts CharitableFoundation, Inc. provides assistance for the various needsof elder members, such as wheel chairs, eyeglasses hearingaids, home health care, etc. The Worthy

T H E S Y N E R G Y O F F R AT E R NA L I S MFreemasonry and the Order of the Eastern Star

by Rt. Wor. James W. Spurrell, OES Grand Chaplain

(continued on page 19)(continued on page 31)

France’s Highest Honor

G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S16

On November 29, 2011,eleven veterans from

Massachusetts were awardedthe Chevalier de la Legiond’Honneur, France’s highesthonor, for bravery and valorduring World War II. One of therecipients was independent liv-ing resident Dorothy Barre.

The medal was created in1802 by Napoleon Bonaparteas France’s most distinguisheddecoration for civil or militaryconduct. American militarymembers can be eligible for themedal if they fought in at leastone of the four major campaigns of liberation of France:Normandy, Provence, Ardennes, or Northern France. Thehonored men and women served in many capacities: asmechanics, messengers, riflemen, clerks, artillery men,radio operators, and nurses. Only veterans with the mostdistinguished of records are considered for the honor.

Dorothy signed up for service in July 1943 as a 24-year-old registered nurse. She was sent to Camp Edwards onCape Cod, then Fort Devens for basic Army training.Dorothy received her medal for nursing wounded soldiers10 miles behind the lines in Belgium and France. She wasin the 16th General Hospital, which consisted of tents. Sheremembers a lot of buzz bombs and being strafed onChristmas Eve. Dressed in paratrooper boots and fatigues,she and another nurse tended to men, who came to themone hundred at a time, washed them and medicated them.“Those patients were so grateful to be warm and fed andcleaned up,” she added.

Christophe Guilhou, Consul General of France, inBoston presented the medals. He stated, “Without these

eleven men and women, wewould not enjoy the freedomwe have today. Their sacrificeand courage liberated our coun-try from the Nazis. The medalthey receive is for exemplarybravery and is the highest honorin France. They put their livesat risk and we will not forgettheir acts of courage. Theychanged the course of historyand stood for values whichstand today: justice, tolerance,and freedom”. ■

NEWS FROM

(continued on next page)

Making the smallest wishes and desires come true is a primary goal of the Overlook Health Center at

Northampton. Employees connect with residents on manylevels beyond providing health care, meals, therapy andengagement. Employees develop close relationships withresidents and their families and those relationships cantranslate into fulfilling a new wish or helping a residentease the transition of relocating into a new, unfamiliar, andsometimes scary place. Here are a few stories that reflecthow Overlook is not like other nursing homes.

Mrs. Margaret Harvey and her family made the difficultdecision to move Mrs. Harvey into Overlook. Althoughthey knew it was the best option, Mrs. Harvey was veryanxious about leaving two things: her home and her cat,Eloise. As the time drew closer for her move, Mrs. Harveywas already feelingthe loss of herbeloved pet. Mrs.Harvey’s daughterdecided to take achance and ask ifthere was any pos-sibility that Eloisecould move in withMrs. Harvey. Therequest was metwith a lot of enthusiasm, but some concern. Questionsabout the daily care of the cat, how other residents wouldreact, how Eloise would react to other people, and the over-all question about how this might work surfaced.

In a short time, employees and other residents came tothe decision that Mrs. Harvey and Eloise were a team andthis move should not separate them. So, both moved intogether and over a year later, both are doing well andspend every day together. They have both met new peopleand many people, staff and residents alike, enjoy visits withMargaret and Eloise.

In the fall of 2011, Mrs. Janette Branch came into theOverlook for what she believed to be a short term rehabil-itation stay. During her stay, her medical condition changed

T ROW E L ■ S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 17

SMALL WISHESStories from Northampton

Person Centered Careby Jude Rabig

O V E R L O O K

and she, with the help of her family, made the difficult deci-sion to remain at the Overlook for hospice care. Mrs.Branch and her family became comfortable with the deci-sion but there was one big request that the family was hes-itant to bring up to the facility. Was it at all possible forMrs. Branch’s cat, Betsy, to join her? Well this time therewas not even a hesitation to consider the request, and with-in a day Betsy had moved into Mrs.Branch’s room and assumed herrightful place at the foot of the bed.During the last week of her life,Janette told her daughter, “I amafraid of dying but excited aboutwhat’s next.” Betsy stayed atJanette’s side for the remainder ofher days. So many employees cameto know Janette, Betsy, and the fami-ly. There were many offers from staffto adopt Betsy and she now lives witha nurse from Overlook who reportsthat she is doing well.

Residents wishes go beyond theirpets joining them in the facility tosomething that many of us may takefor granted. Mrs. Virginia Lyman had

been staying on the rehab unit and having a challengingtime reaching her daily goals. As the Christmas holidaysapproached, she expressed her wish for a white Christmasor at least a dusting on Christmas morning! There was nosnow in the forecast for our location in Leeds, Mass-achusetts. However, it turns out that snow was in the fore-cast for one of the nearby hill towns and staff member DebCleveland woke up to snow on the ground on December23rd. Deb was aware of Mrs. Lyman’s wish so she prompt-ly put on her slippers and went straight out in the snow onher deck to make a snowman. Deb stored her creation inher freezer. Her family decorated the snowman onChristmas Eve with a carrot and a hat that was donated byanother staff member. The snowman made it to Overlookand the staff hid it away as a surprise for Mrs. Lyman’s

Christmas Day breakfast; they pre-sented Mrs. Lyman with “a whiteChristmas” along with her eggs andbacon! Mrs. Lyman was over-whelmed with the kind gesture of allthe employees on the rehab unit.Everyone throughout the facility wasinvited to see the tiny snowman thatgave one resident such a big boost onChristmas.

One goal of the Northamptonfacility is to ease the stress of movinginto a nursing home. Sometimes itcan be as challenging as how toaccommodate a pet into communityliving or sometimes it can be as smallas creating a tiny man made out ofsnow. ■

Is it possible to have good quality of care without goodquality of life? Yes! Elders may be well cared for in

terms of their healthcare, hygiene, nutritional needs, andhousekeeping, but be unhappy that they consume food thatis unappealing, have to bathe in the morningwhen they prefer an evening shower, awaken tovacuuming in the middle of the night becausethat is when there is the least amount of foottraffic, or are lonely for companionship.

Person Centered Care (PCC) positivelyaffects quality of life and quantity of care forelders with the goal of transforming from effi-ciency based, medical, or paternalistic modelsof care to consumer directed models that honorelders’ life experiences, choices, routines, and

the natural rhythms and spontaneity of daily life. The goalis to promote purpose and meaning and support well-beingfor individuals in a relationship based, home environment.

This relationship-based culture places value on knowingthe individual. The PCC model of care brings balance to allthe components of a person: psychological, spiritual, soci-ological, physical, and medical. What we are trying toestablish is rampant normalcy by moving away from aninstitutionalized approach and progressing toward the rou-tines experienced within the home environment.

This is achieved by getting to really know theperson being caring for. What was their patternof worship? What did they enjoy doing in theirspare time? Who did they socialize with? Arethose people still available to them? The goal inPCC is to attempt to replicate these patterns tofacilitate a home environment tailored to theindividual.

What would be an example of restoring pat-terns a person performed in their home? Whenthe staff asked a resident what she enjoyed to do

Dorothy Barre wearing herChevalier de la Legiond’Honneur. Bottom: In uni-form during WWII.

Mrs. Harvey’s Eloise

PCC DirectorJudy Rabig

Mrs. Lyman and her Snowman

Grand Matron’s and Worthy Grand Patron’s charity ofchoice is also supported during their year of service.

The Grand Chapter maintains an active calendar ofsocial and fraternal events including an annual family andfriends cookout to which all fraternal bodies are invited.

They join with the Scottish Rite in their Canobie Lakefamily event, and participate in the annual Grand Master’sFair in Charlton. Four balls or dances are sponsored eachyear and proceeds are used for scholarships or benevo-lences. A holiday party with dinner and dancing is spon-sored annually. The Worthy Grand Patron sponsors two funtrips during the year including a winter trip or cruise towarmer climates! The Grand Chapter also assists theMuscular Dystrophy Association by holding an annualwalk around Lake Quinapowett in Wakefield and staffsphones during MDA’s Labor Day Telethon.

Local ChaptersThere are 57 chapters, located in 56 towns around theState. Most chapters meet once per month. Visiting otherchapters is encouraged. Each chapter has a vision state-ment, usually involving a commitment to participation inthe community in which they exist. And local chapters areactively involved in the community. They participate in

Contact Grand Secretary Karen Grabau for moreinformation: 617-964-0312

or e-mail at maoessec@verizon.net.The Grand Chapter website, www.oestar.org

contains chapter web pages.

and modification, guid-ance on returning to sportsactivity, shoe-wear recom-mendations, and fall pre-vention/assessment. Therehabilitation center alsoprovides education onnutrition, get-back-to-golfclinics, balance assess-ments, and fitness assess-ments. In addition, weparticipate in communityevents through informa-tional seminars and healthfairs and we partner withlocal retail businesses andphysicians to promote ahealthy lifestyle.

Outpatient Rehabilitation is located on the Charltoncampus in the Davenport / Williams Building. Most majorinsurances are accepted including Medicare, Blue Cross,Harvard Pilgrim, Cigna, and Fallon. Speak with your doc-tor and call us for an appointment at (508) 434-2010. ■

T ROW E L ■ S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 1918 G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S

Small House Design Outpatient Rehabilitation at Charlton

The design of a new home usually includes the input ofthe owners. The same goes for small house! The

Northampton small houses are beingdesigned by the architectural firmPerkins Eastman in part under thedirection of the people who will live(and work) in the houses. The processbegan with an intense planning sessionwhere staff, residents, and designerscreated a vision for the houses and theland to serve as the basis of the design.Next, the internal team went to workover many months with the designteam to capture that vision in an actualdesign. Vice-president George Senerthorganized the efforts which haveresulted in some preliminary drawings.

The most important component of

Person Centered Care continued from previous page

with her time, she replied “I enjoyedplaying cards with my bridge club.”The staff learned that the group offriends were still available. In order torestore this socialization pattern,arrangements were made for thefriends to come on a regular basis toplay bridge. Prior to the card game,the woman prepared a snack to offerher guests. She was thrilled to host herfriends in her new home.

Visitors may have seen the dry eraseboards located on each nursing unitand wondered what the boards areused for. The purpose of the boards, entitled “PersonCentered Initiatives,” is to make every resident, familymember, and staff member aware of the patient centeredinitiatives that are being focused on.

What person centered care initiatives are going on in thecenters? The pain initiative has been fully implemented inboth the Northampton and Charlton health centers. Allnurses and nursing assistants havebeen educated on pain assessment.Special education on identifying painin cognitively impaired residents wasprovided to the whole team (includinghousekeeping, hairdressers, diningstaff, nursing, activities, rehab.) Bothsites have identified residents with

Overlook’s Outpatient Rehabilitation service offersphysical, occupational, and speech therapy to inde-

pendent living residents and to patients throughout centralMassachusetts.

If you have pain, decreased balance, or a sports injury,physical therapy may be able to help. Speech therapy canhelp someone who has difficulty swallowing or talking orwho is experiencing memory problems. Occupational ther-apy can help you participate in the things you want andneed to do through the use of everyday activities. Supportis also available for older adults experiencing physical andcognitive changes.

We conduct a thorough 60-minute evaluation and devel-op an evidence-based, individualized treatment program.Treatment sessions vary from 30 to 60 minutes. You areone-on-one with your therapist, which allows both clientand therapist to build a relationship. You will receive an e-mail with your home exercise program and education onself-care techniques, body mechanics, and postural aware-ness.

Other therapy services available include GrastonTechnique (an augmented form of soft tissue mobilizationto treat scar tissue and tendonitis), gym program design

that design—the residents bedroom—exists in mock-upform at the MHS Institute in Northampton. The room isbeing tested and evaluated by residents, staff, and familymembers. Training Director Don Rabig, at the Small HouseInstitute, is conducting sessions which provide informationabout small house and then leads participants through atour and trial run in the actual room and bathroom. The

purpose is to gather data on the userfriendliness and acceptability of thespaces.

Approximately 140 residents, fami-ly members, and staffers have partici-pated and completed evaluation ques-tionnaires. All seem excited about thenew space. Staffers says they believethey will be able to give care more eas-ily and residents unanimously respondto the potential for private space andstorage. Families look forward to aprivate place to visit with their lovedones. The design appeared to promoteeasy access and maneuverability with-in the room. ■

chronic pain and are treating it effec-tively.

A dining initiative is currentlyunderway. The objective of this initia-tive is to create the patterns of diningexperienced at home where people eatwhen they are hungry, eat what theyfeel like eating, and consume as muchas they want. Nursing has worked withthe dietician to develop new policiesand to liberalize diets. The health cen-ter in Northampton no longer has pre-scribed diets in place. Charlton hasfewer prescribed diets in place and has

food available on the units.In Northampton, lunch is served family style one or two

days per week. In Charlton, the Wake-to-Dine Program isin place on the skilled nursing floor, with plans to expandto the other floors as well. The residents wake and come tobreakfast when they want. Each resident’s routine mayvary. They have the option of coming to dine in a robe, or

after they are dressed. The breakfastbuffet is available between 8 a.m. and11 a.m. And residents can choose thefoods they want, and serve themselvesor ask for assistance.

The next initiative will shift focusfrom large-group activities to small-group and in-room activities. ■

Visiting the small house concept display.

local food banks, contribute to local homeless shelters, ringthe bell at Salvation Army kettles, put on dinners forMasonic lodges, participate in myCHIP events and blooddrives, hold monthly breakfasts for the community, hostfamily outings and themed table chapters (including a year-ly Halloween theme) and sponsor mystery dinner theatersand theme fun nights.

Freemasonry and the Order of the Eastern Star have a lotin common. Both organizations hold similar values, ashared purpose, and want to enjoy their lodges and chap-ters. The distinguishing feature that appeals to members isthat in the Order of the Eastern Star, men may interact withtheir wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, thereby help-ing to strengthen the family and promote the fraternal life.OES invites and welcomes Master Masons and a familymember to join the Order of the Eastern Star and partici-pate in the synergy of fraternalism. ■

Freemasonry and the Order of the Eastern Star continued from page 15

Rookie Awards atMount Olivet LodgeBros. Nate Blake, Mike DeWitt, andMike Penta, all from Mount OlivetLodge, received their Master Mason’sRookie award at the 2nd District’sLodge of Instruction in March. Pre-senting the awards was Rt. Wor.District Deputy Grand Master PhilipNowlan of the 2nd Masonic District,accompanied by Rt. Wor. TomO’Shaughnessy, and Bro. Nicolas Bet-zell, the first 2nd District RookieAward winner.

The three rookies worked togetheron their awards and plan to worktogether on the Master Builder’sAward. —Wor. Lee H. Fenn

T ROW E L ■ S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 21G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S20

N E W SLodge & Districtcontinued from page 3

puts it aside. We all may be in uniformready to fight at a moments notice butinside this building there is a differentfeeling.” Masonic servicemen might sitin lodge with a general, colonel, staffsergeant, airman, sailor, marine, or sol-dier. “We all are brothers regardless ofthe rank and all alike inside. This is thetrue meaning of Masonry. The lodge

Past Master in Afghanistan continued from page 3

Boston University Lodge to be Reconstituted

50-Year Past Master Recognized at Chicopee LodgeNew Reenactor Regiment Named for Joseph Warren

Celestial LodgePlatelet Donor Honored

Wor. Jay Reynolds with Rt. Wor.Robert O’Neill, DDGM 27th District,presented Wor. Willard A. McKinstry(at right in photo) with his 50-year pastmasters certificate at Chicopee Lodge.Wor. Bro. McKinstry, a pillar in Chic-opee Lodge, occupied the master’schair on two occasions, in 1958 and in1981. He is also a recipient of theJoseph Warren Distinguished ServiceMedal. —Rt.Wor. Robert O’Neill

As first mentioned in the winter, 2011issue of Trowel, a new Masonic reen-actor regiment was in the process ofbeing formed to honor Masons of theRevolutionary War Era. A name hadnot yet been chosen for the new regi-ment.

The new group will be named theJoseph Warren Regiment to commem-orate the achievements of Bro. Warrenand to honor other Masons who foughtin the Revolutionary War.

The regiment is open to all Masonsand will be comprised of various unitsorganized in districts from all overMassachusetts. A wide variety of op-portunities for participating memberswill be offered including celebrationsof Flag Day, educational presentations,trips to parades in Concord, participa-tion in the Grand Master’s Fair, and apossible trip to Williamsburg, Virginia.Musket training may also be available

It’s not entirely clear when Masonry first arrived inLexington. Legend has it that the first Masons met up on thehill behind Munroe Tavern. Hiram Lodge—the town’sfirst—was chartered in 1797. Three of the ten charter mem-bers belonged to Captain Parker’s militia company: WilliamMunroe, James Brown, and Joseph Smith, Jr. Both Bro.Munroe and Bro. Brown are known to have been on theGreen on April 19, 1775, and were participants in the battle.

Bro. Mike DaRu, who is the junior deacon of Simon W.Robinson Lodge in Lexington, reenacts Bro. James Brown,one of a handful of 16-year-olds who had fought that day.“Little was known about him so it became my mission toreconstruct his life to the best of my ability. Ten years laterand I’ve compiled mountains of information on his life, butthe work continues. In fact, it wasn’t until about two yearsago that I found out he had also been a Freemason,” recountsBro. DaRu. “The excitement of learning that he had been acharter member of Lexington’s first lodge and the town’sfirst junior warden is something that still brings a smile to

BU Lodge Members (L to R): Bros. Jehan Hamedi, A. David Brown, Richard Brooks,James Howard, Rt. Wor. Herb Lewis, Bros. Jacob Koshy, Jamie Gorton, Wors. ScottSherman, Roland Akl, Bros. Ariel Anchondo, Jeffrey Cox, Jonathan Sym, YotamMendlinger, Andreas Thanos, Robert Skinnion.

Grand Lodge has approved the petition to reconstitute Boston University Lodge.The ceremony will be held at Grand Lodge at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 23, 2012.The event will be open to members of the lodge and their families. Other Masonsinterested in attending will be able to purchase a ticket. The proceeds will coverthe cost of the event’s collation, as well as a small donation to the lodge.The organizers expect that attendance will be 150 to 200 people. Register atwww.bulodge.org. —Wor. James J. Howard III

even has the ability to perform degreework; we are very active with candi-dates here!”

Wor. Bro. Ritter adds, “A great thankyou goes out to Trent Lodge #38 andthe Grand Lodge of Ontario Canada,who allow this to happen for our ser-vicemen in Freemasonry from aroundhe world.” —Bro. Keith McHaffie

Bro. Charles Liftman of CelestialLodge, shown here with N.E. PatriotsRob Ninkovitz and Kevin Faulk, wasrecently honored at the Kraft FamilyBlood Donor Center RecognitionBrunch at Gillette Stadium. Bro.Liftman was recognized by the KraftFamily and Dana Farber CancerInstitute for his dedication to theplatelet donation program in 2011.Bro. Liftman has made nearly 500platelet donations over the last 20years. —Bro. Jeff Jarvis

Masons at the Battle of Lexington

my face. I take tremendous pride in being the living repre-sentative of Bro. James Brown, a Freemason and a patriot.”

Bro. John Nichols, junior warden of Simon W. RobinsonLodge, reenacts Sgt. William Munroe, a past master ofHiram Lodge. “The first role I took when joining the Lex-ington Minutemen was Rt. Wor. John Lowell. In doing re-search into his life and his story I fell upon multiple sourcestalking about his involvement with the Masons and GrandLodge. On April 19th, 1775, he joined with Most Wor. PaulRevere to retrieve a trunk of John Hancock’s documents leftbehind at Buckman Tavern. At first I thought they had justmet that day by chance. Come to find out, they lived rightnext door to each other, were both raised in the same lodge,and both attended the Grand Lodge Quarterly just a fewmonths prior.” Bro. Nichols concluded by saying, “Masonsplayed such a role in our country’s past; one can only hopethey will be as significant in its future.”

—Bro. Lee Fenn

Minuteman James Brown (Bro. Mike DaRu ) stoops to help fel-low Mason, Sgt. William Munroe (Bro. John Nichols) onLexington Green.

The Joseph Warren statute at the BunkerHill Monument.

for interested parties. A tavern trip ortwo may be organized along the way,knowing how important those tavernmeetings were to the early patriots.Contact Bro. Ken Sutcliffe at kensut-cliffe@hotmail.com.

—Bro. Kenneth Sutcliffe

T R O W E L D E A D L I N E SFall issue: Articles due by June 22

Lodge news items by July 20

Winter issue: Articles due by September 21Lodge news items by October 19

Spring 2013: Articles due by December 21Lodge news items by January 18

St. Martin’s Holds DerbySt. Martin’s Lodge in Chatham held itsfirst Masonic Derby Challenge inMarch. The event’s entry fee paid for ablock of wood, four nails, four wheels,and a meal ticket. Nineteen entrantscompeted for prizes in three divisions.The prize for overall winner SkipWoods (a relative of Bro. Jeff Woods)was to select thecharity that wouldbenefit from theevent. He namedWomen of FishersFamilies, an organi-zation that has been raising funds forthe Liska family of Chatham.

Wild game appetizers, wild boarribs, scallops, elk tips, pheasant stew,venison stew, squid, and clams wereserved before the races and a dinner ofshepherd’s pie made with wild boarafter the races. The event was a greatsuccess for the lodge and a successfulfund-raiser for the Woman of FishersFamilies. —Bro. William Benoit

G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S

Central Massachusetts in 2000 andserved on the board of governors forten years, holding the role of chairmanfrom 2007 until 2011. He has also beenan active member of the board of man-agement for the YMCA of CentralMassachusetts and a prolific fund-rais-er for their Strength of the Youth andCapital programs, for which he wasnamed volunteer of the year in 2009.

Bro. Rand began his Masonic in-volvement when he joined DeMolay in1944; he has been active ever since inthe Scottish Rite, Melha TempleShrine, Worcester County Shrine Club,and his own lodge. He served as mas-ter of Athelstan Lodge in 1968 (mergedwith Guiding Lights Lodge in 2003)and received the 50-Year Veteran’sMedal in 2004. He was presented theJoseph Warren Distinguished ServiceMedal in 2011. He serves the GrandLodge as the Grand Representative forGeorgia. —John Doherty

Rand continued from page 3

Ballroom Dancing atGuiding Lights LodgeGuiding Lights lodge in Auburn spon-sored the third annual BallroomDancing Lesson in February. This is apopular event. The instructor, HeleneHannan, has been giving dance lessonsfor over 25 years and is a consummateprofessional, who is also a witty, hu-morous, and entertaining instructor;she keeps her students on their toes!

Men from five different Masoniclodges and their partners participated

T ROW E L ■ S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 23

Veteran’s Medal Recipients in 2012

1962 2012

Alpha Lodge Bro. Charles Reginald Van Anden Jr.

Amicable LodgeWor. Roy Wesley JacksonBro. Richard Alvin SteedR.W. Charles Henry Taylor

Amity-Mosaic LodgeBro. Marshall Russell BowdenBro. Robert Henry Marshall Sr.Bro. John Albert MorleyBro. John William NewburyBro. Edward Leroy ParkBro. Kendall Willard ParkerR.W. Philip Pergola Jr.Bro. Douglas Maheu PerkinsBro. Howard Curtis RemonBro. Louis Hyman ShoerWor. Robert Sinclair Wall

Ancient York LodgeBro. Gilbert Arliss BurnsBro. Albert Sidney Dodge

Ancon LodgeWor. Fredrick Nelson BoaltBro. William BrawnerBro. James Duel ButlerBro. Wade HuffmanBro. Roger James Million

Aurora LodgeBro. John Sahag Chicknavorian

Azure LodgeBro. Mario Albert Boragine Jr.Bro. Walter Bennett RussellBro. Lester Leroy Stewart

Baalis Sanford LodgeBro. Carl Frederick HelanderBro. Charles Louis KahlerR.W. Carl William Landerholm

Berkshire LodgeBro. John Anthony Ashton

Bethesda (W) LodgeBro. Ronald Leo HovsepianBro. Peter JomidesWor. William Mckinley Tennant

Beth-horon LodgeBro. Robert Paul BrodyBro. Charles Eaton HeitmanBro. David John MaakestadR.W. Peter Gordon Richter

Blue Hill LodgeBro. Clifford Ludwig Towner

Boylston LodgeBro. Loring Stanley CorkumBro. Alan Adams Creamer

Bro. Richard William JohnsonBro. Henry John ScottBro. Steve Chris Zoulas

Brigham LodgeBro. Donovan Eugene CornishBro. Herbert Charles Jackowitz

Bristol LodgeBro. Richard Allen Breed Jr.Bro. Lloyd Andrew Jensen Jr.

Budleigh LodgeBro. Ralph Hanford HardyBro. Norris Edward Kenyon

R.W. Harry Alzirus PowersWor. Robert Henry Sanders

Caleb Butler LodgeBro. Hurshel Kent Marshall

Caribbean Naval LodgeBro. Uwe Schneider

Cawnacome Sunshine LodgeBro. William Giffin Locke

Celestial LodgeBro. Jacob Robert BrickmanR.W. Richard OgilvieBro. William Bruce TalanianBro. Roger Rupen Talanian

Charity LodgeBro. John Angelo ChirbasBro. Donald Prescott DickinsonWor. William Frank HarnumBro. George Ross MacKinnonR.W. Stewart A. Swinamer Jr.

Charles River LodgeBro. George Gillmore HerseyBro. Julius Jerry RosenBro. Richard Ernest Wood

Charles W. Moore LodgeBro. George Alvin FunnellBro. K Stanford JohnsonWor. Charles Einar KoskiWor. James Richard PollockR.W. Richard Stanley Sleeper

Chicopee LodgeBro. Maxim BoshkoBro. Harvey Stanford Mandel

Cincinnatus LodgeWor. Richard Earl Watson

Cochichewick LodgeBro. Robert CurrenBro. Charles Henry Foster Jr.Bro. Carl Weston Knightly Jr.Bro. Charles Irwin LeavittBro. Earl Edward Simon

Converse LodgeBro. Richard Arthur BerryBro. Robert Linwood ClarkBro. Philip David FixmanBro. Ralph Rosewell FountainBro. Marvin H MargoliesBro. Paul Neal PolshukBro. Robert Norman SiegelBro. Edward Irving SwerdlickBro. Norton Gilbert Zieff

Corinthian LodgeBro. Charles William BarrettBro. Donald Truman FairburnBro. Hollis Robert HoldenBro. Gordon Thomas IrwinBro. Thomas John Williamson Jr.

More than 500 Masons will be eligible to receive theirVeteran’s Medal this year. This medal is awarded to

men who have been Master Masons for 50 years. Anyoneraised at any time during 1962 will be recognized in 2012.

Whenever possible, the award is conferred in lodge by dis-trict deputy grand masters. Sometimes it is more convenientfor the Mason to receive his medal at home; men living out ofstate receive it by mail. This listing includes a number of pho-tographs depicting presentations made so far in 2012 and gen-erously sent on to Trowel Magazine. Thank you to all themasters, district deputies, and their photographers for takingthe time to share these pictures.

The high point of membership numbers was reached inMassachusetts in the years 1961 and 1962, when the fraterni-ty had over 133,000 members throughout the state. The num-ber of medal recipients this year is only slightly less than thealmost 600 awarded in 2011.

Masons are listed in their current lodge, which may or maynot be the lodge where they were raised in 1962. If you haveany concern about being included in the listing, or any ques-tion about your membership status, please contact your lodgesecretary, who will consult your membership records for you.

DDGM RW Bruce ThorntonMarshall congratulates Bro. RogerTalanian of Celestial Lodge on hisVeterans Medal.

Bro. Thomas John Williamson, Jr.receiving his 50-year medal fromWor. Michael Doherty and RWDDGM Geoffrey Kromer.

Bro. Harvey S. Mandel, receiveshis Veteran’s Medal from (L) Wor.Jay Reynolds of Chicopee Lodge,and (C) RW DDGM Robert O’Neill.

22

New William Sutton Lodge Room Dedicated

Two Warren Medals at Sinim Lodge50 Years PlusOn December 20, 2011, Wor. John Clarke and Bro. KenjiNakano of Sinim Lodge in Tokyo were honored with theJoseph Warren Distin-guished Service Medalby Rt. Wor. Brian Nor-man Watson, DistrictDeputy Grand Masterfor the China District.Wor. Bro. Clarke hasserved as Master ofSinim Lodge for threeconsecutive terms and has been a volunteer for a wide num-ber of Masonic functions. Bro. Nakano has supported thelodge consistently for over 30 years. —Wor. Jack Witt

Grand Master Richard J. Stewart presided over a dedication ceremony in Novem-ber to consecrate the newly created and beautifully appointed lodge room ofWilliam Sutton Lodge in Saugus.

In the course of constructing the new lodge room, members became aware of anexisting bust of Rt. Wor. William Sutton (33rd.degree conferred in 1862 and Sr. Grand Warden1866) presented to Grand Lodge in 1875. Sadly, ithad been damaged (large hole in rear of head) andbecome quite tarnished with age. It had been rele-gated to the basement storage area at GrandLodge. William Sutton Lodge trustees felt that thiswould be a most fitting object to add as a capstoneto the decor of their new lodge room.

After considerable negotiations with the boardof directors of Grand Lodge and with the assis-tance of the Grand Secretary, Rt. Wor. JeffreyGardiner, the bust was repaired at the expense ofthe lodge and is now on permanent loan fromGrand Lodge to William Sutton Lodge. This bustof the lodge’s benefactor will be an attractive addi-tion for the future proceedings of the lodge in aroom that the Grand Master has aptly called “oneof the most beautiful lodge rooms in the state.”

—Rt. Wor. Amos F. Cutter, Jr

The restored bust of Rt. Wor.William Sutton. Photo courtesyof Rt. Wor. Phil Nowlan.

Two 50-year-plus mem-bers of lodges in the23rd Masonic Districtwere visited by theDistrict Deputy GrandMaster, who presentedthem with Veteran’sMedals due them fromearlier years.

Bro. Richard Emil Strniste (L) of Boylston Lodge receivedhis 50-year Masonic Veteran’s Medal at his home from Rt.Wor. Robert A. Johnson, Jr, DDGM. Bro. Richard W.Lindgren (R), of Matthew John Whittall Lodge, also receivedhis medal at home, presented by Rt. Wor. Bro. Johnson andWor. H. Bradford White, of Matthew John Whittall Lodge.

in the 90-minute lesson which focusedon the waltz and the fox trot, which aretwo “go to” dances for couples at wed-dings and dances. This event will beheld again next year in late January orearly February. —Bro. Michael Parent

A Veteran’s Medal was presented toBro. Earl H. Streeter at HampshireLodge April 5th. Bro. Streeter (L) wascompletely surprised, as he actually is

60 years a Mason. His younger brotherWilliam, 82, (R) who received hisVeteran’s Medal last year assisted inpinning on his lapel pin and presentedhim with a 32° Scottish Rite pin.

Surprise Medal Presentationat Hampshire Lodge

(Lodge and District News continues on page 25.)

Three Generations atMumford River LodgeIn January at Mumford River Lodge inDouglas, Bro. Attila Benjamin Kara (atcenter in photo below) was raised byhis father Wor. Attila Kara (left) and hisgrandfather Rt. Wor. Stuart Glass(right). Rt. Wor. Deputy Grand MasterRobert V. Jolly Jr. represented theGrand Master and was accompaniedby Rt. Wor. Senior Grand WardenRichard A. Gesualdo, Rt. Wor. JuniorGrand Warden James C. Holmes, andother members of Grand Lodge.

Beard Scouting Awardat Hayden Lodge

In March, Rt. Wor. District DeputyGrand Master Walter J. Golden, Jr.(25th Masonic District) awarded Wor.Francis Hart of Hayden Lodge theDaniel Carter Beard Masonic ScouterAward for his many years of dedicatedservice to the Boy Scouts of Americaand his dedication to the fraternity.This award exemplifies the ideals ofMasonry and Scouting.

Elm-Belcher Lodge HostsCancer Benefit Dinner

Elm-Belcher Lodge hosted a benefitdinner for the American CancerSociety in April. Two thousand dollarswere raised for the fight against cancer.Shown above: Wor. John Fedier (atright), chairman of the building associ-ation, presents check to Wor. DennisCote, chairman for the dinner event.

—Bro. William Bessette

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Major General Henry Knox LodgeBro. Fredley BermanBro. Johnny Wyatt HuntBro. Bertram Gilbert SallenBro. Richard Pemberton Spurr

Manchester LodgeBro. David Leslie CraneWor. Edward Roper Parsons

Matthew John Whittall LodgeBro. Thomas David Renaldo

Meridian LodgeBro. Wade Roger ChaviousWor. Raymond Elton HigginsWor. Robert Atherton Howatt

Merrimack LodgeBro. Richard Charles GleedBro. Stuart Edison Jeans

Middlesex LodgeWor. Leonard Albert Wilson

Milton LodgeBro. Christos Peter AlexBro. James AlexBro. George Couper HarrisonBro. James Tsakalas

Morning Star LodgeBro. Richard Mahlert DavisBro. John George FashjianWor. Wayne Allan GranatBro. Sam Henry HokkanenBro. James John LukesBro. John Helge NordquistBro. Stephen Westerman

Moses Michael Hays LodgeBro. Melvin Irving AlmanBro. Shepard Milton ArkinBro. Marshall Joseph ArkinBro. Abraham BaronBro. David Harvey BermanBro. Eliot ConviserBro. Lawrence William GorinBro. Robert Charles GorinBro. Bennett Miller HeffronBro. Wallace Harold HellerBro. Gary Simson JacobsonWor. Robert David KaplanBro. Aaron Samuel PrelakBro. Irwin Jules RosenstonBro. Burton Alvin SageBro. Joseph Alan Zimmerman

Mount Carmel LodgeR.W. Dean Edwin BenedictBro. Donald Kenneth Fine

Bro. Jimmy Hunter RogersBro. Robert Ernest Westcott

Mount Hermon LodgeWor. Colin Odell Ward

Mount Hollis LodgeWor. Gilbert Leo Schofield

Mount Holyoke LodgeBro. Elmer Stuart BaillyBro. Joseph Donald DesjeunesBro. Raymond Joseph Miner

Mount Horeb (D) LodgeBro. Lothrop Smith

Mount Horeb (W) LodgeBro. John Albert Nelson

Mount Lebanon LodgeBro. Sidney AylaianBro. Donald Moffat

Mount Moriah LodgeBro. Donald Ernest ClowesBro. Dexter Edwin Farnham Jr.Bro. Maurice Edson NelsonBro. Roger Allen NelsonBro. Roger Sterling Oltsch

Mount Orthodox LodgeBro. Donald Franklin GauntBro. Albert Joseph KopinskyBro. Bruce Fox Perkins

Mount Tabor LodgeBro. Robert Sumner FishmanBro. Bernard LechturBro. James George PetersBro. Richard Arthur Waugh

Mount Tom LodgeBro. George Alan Parsons

Mount Vernon-Galilean LodgeBro. Robert Augustus MaltaisBro. Gordon Raymond ParsonsBro. Wilton Nevan Thunell

Mountain LodgeBro. David James BlackBro. Robert Frank Rodovich

Mystic Valley LodgeBro. Kerney Winter BoltonBro. William Henry Charles BoltonBro. James Alfred Carlan Jr.Bro. Charles Haig ChudigianBro. Robert Lawrence Sullivan

Noquochoke LodgeBro. Siegfried Fritz Stiegler

Norfolk LodgeWor. James Lewis BondBro. James Melvin ColmanBro. Lawrence Delano Osborne Jr.Bro. Philip Stone Rand

Norfolk Union LodgeWor. Harry Lane

North Quabbin LodgeBro. Richard Vernon MinnsBro. William Lyall Robertson

North Reading LodgeBro. John Avard GreeneBro. Philip Allan KeaneWor. Edson Mitchell LarkinBro. Thomas Alan NaegeliBro. Peter Richard Olsen Jr.

24 G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S

Cosmopolitan LodgeBro. Milton BaratzBro. Jack DunklessBro. Barry Norton GlassBro. Irving Eliott GlickBro. Barry Herbert ShanlerBro. David SteinBro. Melvin I Wartel

Crescent-Pittsfield LodgeBro. Robert Earl CooperBro. Robert Louis DiOrio

Dalhousie LodgeWor. Ruane Desteiguer CrummettBro. Julian RobertsWor. Robert Boyden Webber

Day Spring LodgeBro. Sidney Sutcliffe Letter

Delta LodgeBro. Robert William HansonWor. Morris James HarrisonBro. Wallace Franklin NewcombR.W. Robert Davis ParkerBro. Donald Edward PetersonBro. William Henry StovoldBro. James P TheodoreWor. Stewart Francis Webb

DeWitt Clinton LodgeBro. George Walter HullWor. Robert Franklin JonesBro. Stuart Neil MittsBro. Kenneth Elmore Norton

Eastern Star LodgeBro. Carl Stephen Berghman

Elm-Belcher LodgeBro. Larry Wade BrownWor. Chester Edwin ButlerBro. William Babe Kenyon Jr.Bro. Donald George SansomBro. John Robert Sharpe

Esoteric-Sherwood LodgeBro. Michael Feiner BaderBro. Marvin Bernard LevittBro. Robert Victor RapisardaBro. Jordan Herbert Rosenkrantz

Euclid LodgeBro. Herbert Lee Levin

Evening Star LodgeWor. Gordon Earle LeemanBro. Harold Clifford MacDonaldBro. Paul Carter Smith

Excelsior LodgeBro. John Frank Barnes

Ezekiel Bates LodgeBro. Thomas Ramsay RichardsWor. Steven Clarke RobinsonBro. Robert James Russell IIBro. Nabil Najib Saaty

Fellowship LodgeBro. Robert Merton BishopBro. Robert Vernon ChisholmBro. Thomas Malcolm Chisholm IIIBro. Charles Clinton Leonard

Fidelity LodgeBro. David Fisher HoyleBro. Theodore Dwight Stanton

Frank W. Thompson LodgeBro. George Leon Hall Jr.

Fraternal LodgeBro. Ralph Manfred Krau

Friendship LodgeBro. Vernon Lloyd RandellBro. George James Webber Jr.R.W. Willis Browning Whalen

Garden City LodgeBro. Joel CormanBro. Sumner DarmanBro. Kenneth George ElkinsBro. Paul GreensteinBro. Stanley Alan Schwartz

Gatun LodgeBro. Peter Shea LangBro. Samuel Harvey Rowley Jr.

George H. Taber LodgeBro. Elmer Dean Durst

Globe Unity LodgeWor. Vernon LeRoy Campbell

Golden Fleece LodgeBro. Michael Joseph Ahern IIIBro. Joseph Paul KavanaghBro. Richard Herbert Unsworth

Golden Rule LodgeBro. Arthur Alton AndersonBro. Henry Chester BurgessBro. Warren Thomas KearnsBro. Donald Edward MacCuishBro. Leonard Gordon Whitford

Good Samaritan LodgeBro. Robert Charles CutterBro. Paul Richard MarlinBro. Frederick Payne

Guiding Lights LodgeBro. Paul John AndonianBro. Arthur Hugo ForsellWor. Everett Aaron HultquistBro. Thomas Francis JonesBro. Samuel Mayer Laipson

Bro. Viljo Olavi NumminenBro. Robert Henry Richards

Hampshire LodgeBro. Robert Earl Starr

Harmony LodgeBro. Donald Richard Loveland

Hayden LodgeBro. George Clarence Howland Jr.

Hope LodgeBro. Franklin Eugene GwynnBro. Avery Eliot Newton

Howard LodgeBro. Arthur Martin BernsteinBro. Peter Warrington Rice

Huntington-Federal LodgeBro. Richard John Trusty

Indian Orchard Masonic LodgeBro. Richard Emerson AverillBro. Charles Daniel BrownBro. Henry Bruce Crossman Jr.Bro. George Thomas GoehlertBro. Leslie Joseph Hood Jr.Bro. Joseph Peter LatifWor. James Richard LeeteWor. Ralph James MarraBro. Leo Tarpinian

Joel H. Prouty LodgeBro. Raymond Stanley OdgrenBro. Andrew Robert Petro

John Cutler LodgeBro. Lloyd Errett French

John Hancock LodgeBro. Robert Alton AndrewBro. Edward Warren HaysBro. John Wentworth Lewis Jr.Bro. Albert William White

John T. Heard LodgeBro. Stanley Neill BakerBro. George Duncan EricksonBro. Nicholas GeorgeBro. Robert Arthur HarringtonBro. Arthur Sleight HeardBro. Joseph Ralph Pugia Sr.

John Warren LodgeBro. Arnold Robert McLean

Jordan LodgeBro. Raymond William BrownBro. Walter Steven GoldsteinBro. Angelo Metaxatos

Joseph Warren-Soley LodgeBro. William Burwell Crosby Jr.Bro. Charles William HillBro. Paul Wesley Tyler

Joseph Webb LodgeBro. Robert James CookWor. Richard Elwin MonroeBro. William Irving Monroe III

King David LodgeWor. Ronald Milton BrownBro. John Thomas GeorgeBro. Charles Herbert Rose

King Philip LodgeBro. Bruce Erwin Hutchinson

Lafayette-Greylock LodgeWor. Edward John Konopka Jr.

Lawrence United LodgeBro. James Aloysius KerrBro. Robert Thomas Uttley

Level LodgeBro. Frederick ChafitzBro. Conrad William Fisher Esq.Bro. Edward Malcolm GlickBro. Harvey Allan JacobsonBro. Michael KyritsisBro. Melvin Irwin PorterBro. Leon Asher ResnickWor. Bernard Philip SchultzBro. Edward Alan Siff

Liberty LodgeBro. Murray Wendell ObearBro. James Ernest Osborne

Lynnfield-Zetland LodgeBro. Perley Goodick Burrill

Macedonian LodgeBro. Robert Edward Blair

Our New 50-Year Brothers1962–2012 continued

Bro. George Clarence Howland Jr.receives his Veteran’s Medal atHayden Lodge. L to R: RW DDGMWalter J. Golden Jr., son Bro.James Howland, Bro. Howland,son-in-law Wor. Francis Hart.

Grand Master Richard J. Stewartpresents a 50-year Medal to Bro.Raymond W. Brown at JordanLodge.

Bro James A. Kerr receives hisVeteran’s Medal from RW DDGMThomas O’Shaughnessy at Law-rence United Lodge.

Joseph Warren - Soley Lodge:Wor. John Crockett, medal recipi-ent Bro. Paul Wesley Tyler, RWDDGM Geoffrey Kromer.

Wor. Edward R. Parsons wasraised in 1962 by Wor. Lloyd E.Wilson, Manchester Lodge.

T ROW E L ■ S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 27

Simonds LodgeBro. Frederick Robert GrahamBro. David Arthur HutchinsonBro. Robert Brandau RichardsonBro. Richard Noel SheppardBro. Richard Marvin Wing Sr.

Sinim LodgeBro. Donald Preston Maury

Sojourners LodgeBro. Charles Robinson Miller

Somerville LodgeBro. James Arthur HinesBro. Anthony Arthur Nasson

Star In The East LodgeBro. Ralph Albion BrownBro. Charles Willis Gunning Jr.Bro. Robert George Sherman

Star of Bethlehem LodgeWor. William Alexander FarquharBro. Edward Albert HuntBro. George William LingosBro. Paul Henry Podlesny

Starr King LodgeWor. Richard Eliott Currier

Tahattawan LodgeBro. Bruce Morse CampbellBro. Charles Henry Elwood Jr.

The Consolidated LodgeBro. Marvin EdelsteinBro. Lionel KlinowBro. Richard Myron OberBro. Robert Parthow RubinBro. Harvey Harris Shore

The Harvard LodgeWor. William Reid Morrison Jr.

The Meadows LodgeBro. Arthur Andrew Booth Jr.Bro. Donald Edward Haraty

Wor. Gilbert HunterBro. Charles Raymond Melville Jr.

The Tyrian-Ashler-Acacia LodgeBro. Earle Francis GreenwoodBro. Ronald Michael LaceyBro. Clifford Henry Lane IIIBro. George Bennett Nichols

Thomas LodgeBro. William R Faulkner Jr.

Thomas Talbot LodgeBro. Paul Donet AllardWor. Robert George ParsonsBro. Lewis Burpee Sponagle Jr.

Trinity LodgeR.W. Frank Oren CollinsBro. Frank Malvin MorrisWor. George Wayne Stoddard

Union Lodge (N)Bro. Lawrence Joseph BrackettBro. Clifford Joseph Taylor

United Brethren LodgeBro. Robert Earle GroteBro. James Darwyn Wicker

Universal LodgeBro. George Friedrich Handel

Vernon LodgeR.W. Kenneth Willard Rhodes

Waltham Triad LodgeBro. Vahan Leon BarmakianBro. George Ellis ColgateBro. Warren Sigvard EdwardsonBro. Clifton George FalconerBro. Joseph GraziosiBro. Vartkes KaroghlanianBro. Robert Douglas Knowlton

Wamesit LodgeBro. Roger Allen CurrierBro. Thomas Winder DaviesM.W. Donald Gardner Hicks Jr.

Wampatuck LodgeBro. Raymond Augustus ReidBro. Donald Richard Smith

Webster LodgeBro. James Nicholas

Wellesley LodgeBro. Wayne Alvah CunninghamBro. Robert Jack Ricci

West Roxbury-Dorchester LodgeBro. Charles Samuel Anderson

26 G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S

Norumbega Fraternity LodgeWor. Fred William Fogg Jr.Wor. Christopher Jordan KohlerWor. Richard Luther LindenBro. David Lewis MurrayBro. Clay Frederick StevensonWor. Malcolm Alexander Stone

Occidental LodgeWor. Robert Charles Etman

Olive Branch LodgeWor. John Walter DavidsonBro. Robert Gustaf ElbeBro. Jack Harold GunnarsonBro. Raymond Robert Hanson

Orient LodgeBro. Kenneth BibbyBro. Loftin Eugene ElveyBro. Walter Willis WhitneyBro. Edward Campbell Williamson

Oriental-Martha’s Vineyard LodgeBro. Herbert Paul GolubWor. Ronald Howard Tolin

Oxford LodgeBro. Donald Trefry DunhamBro. Richard Thomas HarringtonBro. Clifford Frederick LarssonBro. Alvin Ellsworth Stone

Palestine LodgeBro. Paul Richard Burkart

Paul Revere LodgeBro. John Simpson Jr.Bro. David Acton Williams

Pentucket LodgeBro. Donald Irving Edwards

Pequossette LodgeR.W. Robert Mallory BlakeBro. William John Green

Perfection LodgeBro. Melvin BloomsteinBro. Leonard James GordonBro. Norman Wolf Resnic

Philanthropic LodgeWor. Jonas Howard ChavesBro. Donald Stacey GlassBro. Paul Donald JohnstonBro. Howard Mason KnightBro. Sidney Kenneth QuintBro. Arnold Spector

Phoenix LodgeBro. David CorsonBro. Roger Alvin LeslieBro. Charles Ronald MesheauBro. Horace Emrold Upham

Pilgrim LodgeBro. Kenneth Warren O’Brien

Prospect LodgeBro. Robert Edward NordgrenBro. Socrates Vrattos

Puritan LodgeBro. Richard Allen Davis

Pythagorean LodgeBro. Weston Warren Eames

Quaboag LodgeBro. John Drury HathawayBro. Dean Thomas Toepfer

Quinebaug LodgeBro. Horatio Sharpe Ridout

Quinsigamond LodgeBro. Ara Paul Heroian

Republican LodgeBro. Roy Philip Hothan

Richard C. Maclaurin LodgeWor. Charles Henry Briggs Jr.Bro. Reed Campbell FultonBro. Melvin Leo Stone

Rising Star LodgeBro. Harry Burtman

Rufus Putnam LodgeBro. Paul Franklyn AdamsBro. Edward Averant Berube Jr.Bro. Carl Eugene BesseBro. Amasa Gerald CondonBro. Russell Paul Swanson

Rural LodgeBro. Richard Earl BentonBro. Robert Arvid BjelfBro. George KechesBro. Robert Allan MasticoWor. Jon Silver-FeatherWor. William Wallace White

Saggahew LodgeBro. Jacques Daniel AquillonWor. James Edward BradleyR.W. James Henry HastingsBro. Gordon Lewis Stone

Saint John’s (N) LodgeWor. Donald Patoel Lippoldt

Saint Mark’s LodgeBro. Peter Brigham DeMaranvilleWor. James Francis HarveyBro. Fred Caswell Hunt

Saint Martin’s LodgeBro. David Elmer HowesBro. Robert Ernest Starkweather Jr.

Saint Matthew’s LodgeBro. Shirley Ralph BelloirBro. Donald Vernon DownesBro. Kenneth Brooks HolmesWor. James Floyd Johnson

Saint Paul LodgeBro. Ralph Alfred Straitiff

Saint Paul’s-Algonquin LodgeBro. Fred Victor AlexanderBro. William Elliot Winsloe

Satucket LodgeBro. Robert Waldemar Holton

Satuit LodgeBro. Norman Scott MacEwenWor. Roger Clark TruebloodBro. Irl Huntley Von Iderstein

Siloam LodgeWor. William Spaulding Brower Jr.

Simon W. Robinson LodgeBro. John Howard AtchisonBro. Robert Clayton BradshawBro. Larry Fon Jin DooBro. Roy Chesley GreenlandBro. Paul Edwin HirtleBro. William Dale HoodBro. Edward Rudge Ingham Jr.Wor. Arthur Holder Post Jr.Bro. John Loring RamseyR.W. Paul William RolstonBro. Jack WhitezellBro. Robert Ernest Wilson

Our New 50-Year Brothers1962–2012 continued

Orient Lodge: above, Bro. KennethBibby was presented his VeteransMedal by RW Bruce T. Marshall;below, Bro. Edward Campbell Will-iamson and his family during the pre-sentation of his Veterans Medal .

Bro. Roger Leslie was presented hisVeteran’s Medal at Phoenix MasonicLodge. (L to R) Wor. John Hyland,son-in-law Bro. Bob Terman, Bro.Leslie, son Bro. Chip Leslie, DDGMRW Joseph DeNicola.

Wor. James E. Bradley, DDGM RWThomas O’Shaughnessy and RWJames H. Hastings at SaggahewLodge.

RW DDGM Thomas O’Shaughnessypresents Bro. Peter B. DeMaranvillehis Veteran’s Medal at St. Mark’sLodge.

Wor. Charles Francis Jr., SatucketLodge, Bro. Robert W. Holton, andDDGM RW Peter D. Dorr

Photo Wor. Robert C. Farrell

In back: DDGM Joseph C. DeNicola,18th District, and Wor. Jack Richard-son, master of Satuit Lodge, with 50-year members (in front) Wor. RogerTrueblood, Bro. Irl Von Iderstein, andBro. Scott MacEwen.

Four 50-year Vets at Simon WRobinson Lodge: RW Paul W.Rolston, Bros. Larry Doo, Ed Ingham,and John H. Atchison.

Wor. William R. Morrison, Jr., TheHarvard Lodge, received his Vet-eran’s Medal from Grand MasterStewart while in Florida.

At Simonds Lodge: Wor. DouglasDodge, Bro. Richard M. Wing, Sr.,Bro. David Arthur Hutchinson; andRW DDGM Geoffrey Kromer.

RW Kenneth W. Rhodes, VernonLodge, received his Veteran’s medalwith his wife Dorothy from RW DDGMRobert O’Neill.

RW Robert A. Johnson awardsVeteran’s Medals to Wor. G. WayneStoddard and RW Frank O. Collins atTrinity Lodge.

As many of you know Rt. Wor.Robert Johnston has retired as chair-man of the grand lecturers after 28years of outstanding service. He hasleft us a set of shoes which areimpossible to fill. Enjoy your retire-ment, Bob, and we will do our bestto follow your example.

Q May a ritualist use a cipher during degrees forprompting purposes?A No. A cipher may not be consulted in any lodge ofexemplification while in session nor by any candidatefor the degrees. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Q What is the proper sitting position for lodge officers?A The proper position is upright with both feet placedflatly on the floor. Hands should be on the arms of thechair or on the top of the legs. Crossing of legs, ankles,or arms, leaning on one’s elbow, or slouching is notappropriate while serving in station.

Q When is applause appropriate during degree work?A If the lodge officers have done a good job, it isappropriate to give them a round of applause at theconclusion of the degree. A standing ovation is unnec-essary. It is never appropriate to interrupt the degreework with any applause.

Q When is the use of a gavel appropriate in a publicceremony?A Only in conjunction with the lodge marshal pro-claiming the lodge officers regularly and duly installed.If necessary, the presiding officer may indicate adesired action by using his hands or by giving verbalinstructions.

A S K T H E G RA N DL E C T U R E R S

by Rt. Wor. Robert F. DohertyChairman of Grand Lecturers

Listing continues at bottom of next page.

MW Donald Hicks was given his 50year pin by his grandson, Bro. E. A.Brandon Thorne, with MW RichardStewart looking on.

I sometimes wonder what it would have been like to be aMason in the late 1500s in Scotland, when the rebirth of

Masonry as a Speculative Craft from the Operative Craftwas happening.

The Scots, to their credit, are known as very conservativeof fundamental values. What must a craggy old warden of aLodge thought when he saw men joining the Lodge who hadnever set one stone atop another in their entire lives; menwho worked with pen and parchment, not their hands; andspent their time talking about ideas and theory. It must haveoffended his practical soul.

Yes, it must have been hard on that Operative MasonicWarden. It must have seemed to him that the whole worldwas turning upside down. How could a man call himself aMason and not work stone? How could he claim to be amember of a Lodge and not live in a Lodge? “I dinna kenwhat it is,” he might have said, “but it’s nay the Masonry.”

And yet, of course, it was. It was Masonry about toemerge with renewed strength and life; speculative Masonryabout to change the emotional and cultural world as surely

as operative Masonry had changed and shaped the physicalworld by building cathedrals, fortifications, and castles. Theoperative Masons had dreamed dreams of faith and securityand safety, and worked with skill and sweat to bring thosedreams to reality. The Speculative Masons would dreamdreams of humanity, liberty, fairness, and intellectual liber-ty, and they would labor with skill, and often with sweat andblood and tears to bring those dreams to reality.

The operative Mason had only a little ritual—enough todefine the few officers of the Lodge, set basic rules of con-duct, and instruct in the practical work-place rules whichkept people from getting hurt. The Speculative Masonsseized upon ritual as a means of instruction and thought, andexpanded it to meet their needs.

In some ways, the two Masonrys were very different—butin all the important ways, they were the same. They were themeans by which dream-driven men could accomplish thosedreams.

As those dreams have changed over the centuries,Masonry has changed. Freemasonry has always been a liv-ing, breathing, dynamic thing. The Light Masonry cele-brates is the light that shines in the eyes of dedicated andthoughtful men, engaged with life; not the chilled glint oflight reflected from the dusty glass of a museum displaycase.

Pancakes Support Pacific’s Angel Fund

Eagle Scout and DeMolay is Honored

Pacific Lodge held a pancake breakfast in March as a fund-raiser for their angel fund. The angel fund has been thelodge’s special project for some years and they have beenvery successful. This year’s breakfast had a significantmeaning because photographers and representatives fromthe Discovery Channel were present and recorded the break-fast activities. Later in the day the Discovery reporters andfilm crew interviewed Wor. Kirk Whatley for a futureDiscovery Channel program on Masonry.

(Front row, L. to R) RW Robert O’Neill, Bro. Rob Ferris,Wor. Ray Frenkel, and Bro. Seth Grey; (Second row, L to R)Bros. Bill Just, Ron Archer, Chase Whatley, Jimmy Burgoff,and Wor. John Mathews; (Back row, L to R) Bro. WayneShaw, Wor. Kirk Whatley, Wor. David Hentz, and Bro. AvoShahverdian. Not pictured: Bro. Father Randy Calvo.

—Rt. Wor. Robert O’Neill, DDGM 27th Dist.

Members of the Massachusetts Masonic Eagle ScoutsAssciation and The Scouters Lodge presented a certificatefrom Grand Master Richard Stewart to Eagle Scout MichaelGregory Bowe. Michael is a member of John ElliotDeMolay Chapter, and serves Massachusetts DeMolay as astate representative.

(L to R) Bro. Matthew Niedermeier, Wor. Thadeus Owoc,Eagle Scout Michael G. Bowe, and Rt. Wor. Geoffrey Kromer

—Rt. Wor. Geoffrey Kromer

T ROW E L ■ S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 29

Weymouth United Masonic LodgeBro. Frederick Arthur Alexander Jr.Wor. George William GlazerBro. Keith Roderick MacLeod Sr.Wor. Renaldo William MauritsonBro. Patrick Joseph McCueBro. Bruce Bell Orcutt

Wilbraham Masonic LodgeBro. Donald Madison Safford

Wilder LodgeBro. Marshal Alvin PressBro. Richard George Smith

William North LodgeBro. Roger Hackett ConantWor. Ernest Frederick Mackness Sr.Bro. William David Michaels

William Parkman LodgeBro. Andrew Crawford

William Sewall Gardner-Kilwinning LodgeBro. Spiros Peter FlompBro. Arthur Leo Provencal Jr.Bro. Nicholas John RabiasBro. Henry George SykesBro. Peter Tay Wetherbee

William Sutton LodgeWor. Bruce Albert CarterBro. Kemon Amos DukasWor. Ronald Clark Sawyer

Williams LodgeBro. David Gere DamonBro. Burritt Royce LarsonBro. Ronald Allen Moon

Wisdom LodgeBro. David Arthur Reynolds

Wyoming LodgeBro. David Sheffield GilsonBro. Leon N HeatonWor. Keith Wishart Lidback

28 G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S

WOR. GREGORY HARRY ADAMIAN

Past Master of Putnam Lodge

WOR. RAYNOR GRAY ADAMS

Past Master of The Tyrian Lodge

WOR. ROBERT LOUIS ALLEN

Past Master of Netop Lodge

R.W. WILLIAM ANTONOPOULOS

Past Master of Rabboni Lodge

R.W. STEPHEN BAKER, JR.Past Master of Dorchester Lodge

WOR. ROBERT EDWARD BEAN

Past Master of Paul Revere Lodge

R.W. MALCOLM FREDERICK BORDEN

Past Master of Alfred Baylies Lodge

WOR. BENJAMIN MALLORY BREWER

Past Master of Paskamansett Lodge

WOR. WILLIAM GAITHER CARPENTER

Past Master of Faith Lodge

R.W. DAVID ERNEST CHAFFEE

Past Master of Fellowship Lodge

WOR. WILLIS ALFRED CLARK, JR.Past Master of Pentucket Lodge

R.W. RALPH SOBELMAN COHEN

Past Master of Noddle’s Island Lodge

WOR. NORMAN LAWRENCE CROSBY

Past Master of Euclid Lodge

WOR. EDWARD NORTON DECKER, JR.Past Master of Evening Star Lodge

WOR. DONALD FRANCIS ELDREDGE

Past Master of Saint Martin’s Lodge

WOR. EDWARD JAMES FITZGERALD

Past Master of Galilean Lodge

WOR. CLAYTON RICHARD FOOTE

Past Master of William Sutton Lodge

WOR. ELMER WILLIAM GAMBLE

Past Master of Budleigh Lodge

WOR. NEILSON COPELAND GASS

Past Master of John Warren Lodge

R.W. FREDERICK LEE GILCHRIST

Past Master of Simonds Lodge

WOR. HAROLD ADDISON HAM, JR.Past Master of Winthrop Lodge

WOR. WILLIAM HANNA

Past Master of Oriental Lodge

R.W. JOHN HENRY HART

Past Master of Corinthian Lodge

R.W. ROY EDWIN JOHNSON

Past Master of Wollaston Lodge

WOR. GERALD DANIEL KAPLAN

Past Master of Wamsutta Lodge

WOR. KENNETH CROSSMAN KNIGHT

Past Master of John T. Heard Lodge

WOR. BEATIE CRUME LAMB

Past Master 1961 and 1962,Martha’s Vineyard Lodge

WOR. PETER PHILIP LANE

Past Master of Baalbec Lodge

WOR. WILLIAM ETSELL LARSSEN

Past Master of Waltham Lodge

R.W. MAX LUDWIG, JR.Past Master of Kilwinning Lodge

WOR. EARL MACPHERSON

Past Master of Nehoiden Lodge

WOR. MELVIN ROSS MCLEOD

Past Master of Sagamore Lodge

R.W. MELVIN BERNARD MILLER

Past Master of Shawmut Lodge

R.W. PAUL ARLON MOORE

Past Master of Occidental Lodge

WOR. HEWITT MORGAN, JR.Past Master of The Harvard Lodge

WOR. HERBERT CARLETON NICKLESS

Past Master 1961 and 1962Thomas Talbot Lodge

WOR. CLARENCE ELMER NORCROSS

Past Master of Mount Horeb Lodgein Dennis

WOR. WALTER LEONARD RICHTERPast Master of Roswell Lee Lodge

WOR. EDWARD WILLIAM RICKETTS

Past Master of Oxford Lodge

WOR. GORDON JOSEPH SMITH

Past Master of Mount Moriah Lodge

R.W. ALVA CHARLES STACY

Past Master of Morning Sun Lodge

WOR. BUD MANNING TALPEY

Past Master of Puritan Lodge

WOR. BURTON LINWOOD TIBBETTS, JR.Past Master of Saint George Lodge

WOR. CLIFTON J. TOOTHAKER, JR.Past Master of Warren Lodge

WOR. LAURENCE ALBERT WESCOTT

Past Master ofAbraham H. Howland, Jr. Lodge

WOR. ARNOLD BURTON WILSON

Past Master of Henry Price Lodge

WOR. LLOYD EUGENE WILSON

Past Master of Manchester Lodge

WOR. WENDELL STRATTON YOUNG

Past Master of Saint Alban’s Lodge

F I F T Y - Y E A R P A S T M A S T E R SThe following Masons served their lodges as master in 1962.

Their names are in alphabetical order and the names of the lodges served are also shown.In many cases the lodge indicated is not the lodge in which the Mason is a current member.

These past masters are recognized in 2012 with certificates of service from the Grand Master.

F I F T Y- Y E A R PA S T D I S T R I C T D E P U T Y G R A N D M A S T E RRt. Wor. Scott Louis Allen Brookfield 21st Masonic District 1962–1963

New 50-Year Brothers continued

Freemasonry’s Rebirthby James Tresner

(continued on following page)

T ROW E L ■ S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 31G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S30

Have you offered to serve on a lodge committee orassist on a lodge or community project?

Have you visited another lodge or a neighbor in yourcommunity and enjoyed their company?

Let’s put our focus on service. Remember the lessons ofour degrees and persist in our serviceable purposes. Doingso will benefit our fraternity with renewed interest and par-ticipation, create stronger ties among the lodges and dis-tricts, and serve our communities and our fellow man.That’s the way it was in the beginning. That’s the way itshould be. ■

The Wages of a Mason cont’d from page 14

Prince Hall Memorial Gifted to Cambridge

Norfolk & Norumbega Fraternity LodgesHonor Members at Joint Table Lodge

In April, M. Wor. Hon. Frederick B. Summers, Grand Master of Prince HallMasons, made remarks in front of the Cambridge City Hall on the occasion of turn-ing over the deed to the Prince Hall Memorial to the City of Cambridge.

The monument was installed on the Cambridge Common on May 15, 2010.Handing over the deed was a culmination of fund-raising, designing and buildingthe Memorial. Along with the deed, Prince Hall Masons supplied a sum of moneyfor the upkeep and maintenance of the monument in the future and the memorial becomes city property.

This ceremony was attended by Mayor Henrietta Davis, Vice Mayor E. DeniseSimmons, former Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves, and City Manager Robert W. Healyrepresenting the city. Most. Wor. Bro. Summers was accompanied by Rt. Wor. RedMitchel, Chairman Education Committee, Grand Historian Rt. Wor. Raymond T.Coleman, and Cambridge Masonic Hall Curator Wor. Keith MacKinnon.

In addition, representatives from the Cambridge lodges and Prince Hall lodgesfrom Arizona to Florida were present. —Bro. Lee Fenn

The annual joint table lodgebetween Norumbega Fraternityand Norfolk Lodges was held inMarch in Needham with over 60brothers in attendance. The tradi-tion of breaking bread betweenthe two lodges started almost tenyears ago after the masters andwardens had spent the wintertraveling together on official visits

with the district deputy grand master. Since both lodgesmeet on the second Monday of the month they would missthe opportunity to visit each other’s lodges. From this wasconceived the idea of a joint table lodge between the twolodges, promoting friendship, harmony and brotherly love.

Lodge honorees are selected each year. This year’s hon-orees were Bro. Robert C. Davenport of NorumbegaFraternity and Rt. Wor. Herbert G. Dunphy of NorfolkLodge. Bro. Davenport, known as General Davenport, wasattired in his dress blues, cap, white gloves, and saber. Bro.Davenport led the response to the toast in honor of thosewho have served in the armed forces by brandishing his

And so Masonry changed again,after the battles and revolutions whichreshaped society. It became, essential-ly, a charity. We found new philan-

Five Eagle Scouts Recognized by Grand Lodge Five Eagle Scouts from Troop 47 of the Boy Scouts of America were presentedcertificates of merit from the Grand Lodge of Masons during their joint Court ofHonor held Saturday, March 3, 2012 at Sandwich Town Hall. Troop 47 inSandwich is sponsored by DeWitt Clinton Lodge

Shown above are (L to R): Bro. and Scoutmaster Ritchey Guild, Wor.Allen P.Hoyt, Matthew Paul Johnson, Spencer Pietryka, Harrington (Max) Drake, PaulDavid Gannet, Jr., Justin Pannell, and fellow Eagle Scout Rt. Wor. DDGM DavidW. Catten. —Bro. David Catten

thropic causes, and devoted time andenergy to them. We solved problemsfor the society and the culture.Philosophy became less important, andritual became more so. Masons, per-

haps, became less distinguished bywhat they thought than by how theythought. It was very comfortable, andvery rewarding. And we hardly noticedthat the comfort was that of a well-made coffin. That is the Masonry intowhich I was initiated, passed andraised.

And so I have a certain fellow-feel-ing with that old Scots operativeWarden, because Masonry is changingagain. I rejoice in that—because Iknow the alternative is death, and Ilove Masonry too much to watch it die,or to know that it will die shortly afterI do. And I know that any organizationwhich does not reflect the needs of itsliving members is not long with us.When was the last convention of theNational Association of Buggy WhipMakers?

We have been given a second chanceat life, and only the profoundly un-grateful would turn their backs on it.Social and cultural changes have re-sulted in young men looking for asource of spiritual and ethical values invenues other than religion.

The age of candidates seekingadmission into Masonry is growinglower and lower. Only a few years ago,the typical candidate was in his mid-forties. Now he is in his early 30s.

He comes having researchedMasonry on the Internet. Often hecomes after having read the rituals, Hecomes knowing much about what he isdoing, and he often comes with manyquestions. And he comes expectinganswers.

As some of our Lodges have discov-ered, statements such as “you don’tneed to worry about that,” “don’t askquestions until you have learned thelectures,” “the ritual has everythingyou need to know,” don’t fall on deafears—they are heard and treated withthe contempt they deserve.

It’s important to understand thatthese Masons do not come looking fora fight—that’s the last thing they want.They want brotherhood. They wantintellectual stimulation. They want tohave someone at their back in the bat-tles of life. They want to be with mendedicated to making a difference. Theywant to be with those who have

subdued the ego and focus on thatwhich is real and not on “petty piquesand quarrels.” They want to be in anassociation with older men who havepromised to mentor and to share wis-dom and experience.

Freemasonry’s Rebirth continued

Freemasonry’s Rebirth continued In other words, and rather embar-rassingly, they come looking for exact-ly what we have been telling the worldwe have to offer. In some ways,Brothers, we are in the position of anautomobile dealership which adver-tised luxury cars for sale because we

used to have them, and now have buy-ers on the sales floor wanting to pur-chase—and some Lodges are having tosay, “wouldn’t you rather have a nicegolf cart instead.” Monty Python fansmay be reminded of the cheese shopsketch.

saber for the “right hand to arms”portion of the toast, with no fail-ure of his weapon this time (sev-eral years ago his saber snapped)as he placed it at rest. R.W.Dunphy, who served as grandsteward in 1970, and has been agrand representative since 1980,thanked those in attendance forthe honor and expressed how much he has enjoyed the jointtable lodge over the past decade and that he looked forwardto attending many more. —Wor. Ethan W. Gilson

35th Annual Grand Master’s FairAt The Overlook Life Care Community ◆ 88 Masonic Home Road, Charlton

Save the Date! ◆ Sunday, June 24, 2012 ◆ Rain or Shine! ◆ Free Admission!

7:00 a.m. Pancake Breakfast Begins • 9:00 a.m. Booths and Rides Open • 10:30 a.m. Grand Master’s Parade

BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR SOME GOOD OLD-FASHIONED FUN!

Great Food • Children’s Amusement Park

Blood Drive • MyCHIP Child ID • ToursMagician • Clowns • Music • Dunk Tank

4H Display • Alpacas • Tag & Craft Sales

(continued on following page)

G R A N D L O D G E O F M A S S AC H U S E T T S32

The Young TylerBro. David Riley

The young tyler sat on a bench in the lodge room, hiscipher book open in his lap and his lips moving silent-

ly as he stared into the middle distance. Occasionally, hewould pause and look down, checking a word or twobefore moving on. A past master entered andsmiled warmly at the young officer. “Goodevening, brother. How goes the work?” heasked.

The young tyler looked up, his eyes slightlyglazed. “Just working on memorizing, Wor-shipful,” he said, standing and extending hishand.

“Better to start now than to wait until thenight before you have to do the part,” the pastmaster said with a laugh. “The more you get downnow, the easier your life will be when you get there,”he continued, cocking a thumb at the chair in the East.

“It would be easier if we could just read it,” the youngtyler said, slapping his cipher book against his palm, “Imean, we have these books . . . .”

“Easier, perhaps, but not as good. First, memorization isthe tradition of this Grand Lodge. Secondly, it makes agreat impression on candidates when they realize that menhave taken so much time and care to memorize their parts.And lastly, it’s good for you,” the past master said, takinga seat on the bench and leaning back.

“Good for me?” the young tyler asked, “You meanbecause I learn to memorize things faster?”

“Well, maybe. But that’s not what I meant,” the pastmaster said as he leaned forward. “By memorizing the

lectures, you absorb the lessons of the fraternity.They will return to you again and again at appro-

priate moments of your life and will slowlybecome the standard against which you judgeyourself.”

“I have noticed that I remind myself to sub-due my passions in traffic,” the young tyleradmitted.

“That’s a beginning. But slowly, you’llbuild your lodge in here,” the past master said,

tapping his head, “with each item in its place andthe officers in their stations. And the various

lessons of the fraternity will reside in that interiorlodge. And when you listen to the lessons of that lodge, youcannot help but begin to be a better man.”

The young tyler looked at his cipher book and then at thepast master, “I best get back to work.” ■

There is no question that Masonry issupposed to be all the things they arelooking for. Our ritual says it. OurMasonic heroes have written about it.We have all knelt at the altar andpromised to make it real. So we canhardly blame them for expecting tofind it.

They are willing to cut us quite a bitof slack. They understand that no oneknows everything. I have not yet foundone who became angry when I said, “Idon’t know the answer, but I’ll findout.” or even better, “I don’t know theanswer, but let’s find out together.”

What they don’t like is “Go awaykid, ya bother me!” And what happens,far too often, is that they do go away.And they tell their friends, “don’t takethe trouble to look at Masonry, it does-n’t have what we want.”

Really, they are not asking for much.They are only asking for what weshould be able to give in civility, letalone fraternity. “Don’t ignore me,share with me, treat my questions andconcerns as important, help me learn,

From the Short Talk BulletinMarch 2010

Reprinted with permission from theMasonic Service Association

of North America,8120 Fenton Street, Silver Spring,

Maryland 20910-0785.Tel. (301) 588-4010 www.MSANA.com

let me help with the Lodge.” And, per-haps most important, “Understand thatI am dream-driven, too. And mydreams are important just as yoursare.”

And it is true. Just as the old opera-tive Masons were driven by dreams, asthe first speculative Masons were dri-ven by dreams, as the Masons who cre-ated the great charities were driven bydreams, as we are driven by dreams, soare the young Masons. And they aredreams, not the nightmares they mayseem to those of us who are long in theMasonic tooth. And they are our future.

For years, in speaking to Masonicgroups, I told the audience that I wascertain Masonry would survive—thatsomething that “right” and that ancientsimply could not die.

I can admit to myself, now, that Iwas whistling past the graveyard. Iwanted it to be true, I thought that if Itold myself often and strongly enough,it would come true.

And I know it IS true. Dream-drivenorganizations can never die . . . unlessthey kill the dream.

You see, my Brothers, in the life ofevery organization there comes a pointof choice—a point at which circum-stances, fate, even the dreams them-selves culminate in a moment of deci-sion. When that point is reached eachperson must make a choice. It isn’tpossible to avoid it; for not choosing isa choice. One choice leads on to newgrowth, strength, vigor, power and rel-evancy, with all of the effort and evenpain that growth always entails. Theother choice leads to the ease of deathand the comfortable warmth of decay.

The fraternity is at that point, andeach of us must choose!

You may choose life; or you maychoose death; but you must choose! ■

Freemasonry’s Rebirth continued

TROWEL Magazine—Masonic Building186 Tremont Street, Boston MA 02111

Boston native and internationally known comedian, entertainer, and humanitarian, Norm Crosby “TheMaster of Malaprop,”will be feted on the occasion of his 50-yearanniversary as PastMaster of Euclid Lodge.Net proceeds of theevent will be donatedto the Masonic MedicalResearch Laboratory.

6:00 p.m. Social Hour

7:00 p.m. Dinner ofTenderloin Steak and

Baked Sea Scallops

Entertainment byBill Sbrogna and the

Solid Gold Singers

8:30 p.m.PresentationCeremonies

Dress for the ladies isevening wear; for the men,

black tie or dark suit.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

An Evening at Grand LodgeHonoring Wor. Norm Crosby

Sponsored by Euclid Lodge

Cost is $50 per person and includes free parking at Millennium Garage

Seating is limited • Tables of 8 are available • Reservations are neededand may be made up to June 13 at the Grand Lodge Quarterly Communication.

Make reservations at www.MassMasons.org or phone

Rt. Wor. Ernie Pearlstein (H) 781-324-3703 (C) 781-820-8192