THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON Issued Every Th ree Months By The Right Worshipful Grand lodge of The Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity o f Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania and Masonic Jurisd iction Thereunto Belonging, through its COMMITIEE ON MASONIC CULTURE - William E. Yeager, Past Grand Master, Chairman; William E. Montgomery, G. Edward Elwe ll, Jr., Frank R. l eech, William A. Carpenter, Charles A. Young and Ashby B. Paul. APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED TO BE PRINTED BY
SANFORD M. CHILCOTE Right Worshipful Grand Moster Mailing Address: P.O. BOX 688, WARREN, PA.
WILLIAM A. CARPENTER, Editor Change of Addre ss: Notify ab ove address, your Lodge number must be included.
Vol. V
November, 1958
No. 4
Your Circulating Library By WILLIAM J. PATERSON
Grand Librarian and Curator The Circulating Library of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania consists of interesting books on Freemasonry and new editions are constantly being added to the collection. Two pamphlets, one containing a list of these books and the other the Rules and Regula ti ons will be sent to a member upon request. After receiving these pamphlets please refer to the last page of the Rules and Regulati ons, and you will see a " Form of Application" which you fill out to become a member. When you request a book of your choice be sure to send the Librarian the name and number of the Lodge to which yo u belong. To know more about Freemasonry from its beginning up t o the presen t time is essential to every Master Mason, whether he be young or old, so why not take advantage of this op· portunity, and become enlightened on the subject. The books are well-written by au thorized Masoni c scholars. There is no charge fo r borrowing books, and they will be loaned to you for a period of three weeks. It is impossible to lis t here all the ti tles of the various Masonic books on hand, therefore we can only mention a few, namely: I NTRODUCTION TO FREEMASONRY THE B UILDERS T HE NEWLY-MADE MASONS
Did You Remember the Christmas and Entertainment Fund for The Homes? The Christmas and Entertainment Fund for our Guests at The Masonic Homes, Elizabethtown, not only provides for the Ch ristmas and other Holiday entertainment but it also provides fo r chapel and religious services, motion pictures, picnics and other social functions and spending-money from time to time. Th is Fund has proven invaluable in carrying ou t the necessary ath letic and social programs for our children at The Homes and our boys at The Pa tton School, located directly opposite The Homes. As has been proven, time and time again, the Christmas and Entertainment Fund is a most worthy undertaking of the many phases of Freemasonry in Pennsylvania and should well command the support of each and every Member of our Grand J urisdic tion. If you haven't made ou t the postage-free envelope, enclosed in your September Lodge notice and addressed to Brother Arthur E. Myers, Superintenden t, The Masonic Homes, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, please do so. Your thoughtful generosity will be richly rewarded by the grateful apprecia tion of the ch ildren and our aged Guests at Elizabethtown. Your check or money order should be made payable to Arthur E. Myers, Superintenden t.
Officers of Hospital Extension Fund Cited for Their Efforts " Duty makes us do things well, But love makes us do them beautifully ." PHILLIPS BROOKS
The above lines were part of the Citations recently given Brothers William R. Mooney, Wi lliam H. Betz and Morris Ruberg at the Victory Celebration in connection with the successful campaign to raise funds for the Ph iladelphia Freemasons' Memorial Hospital Extension. Largely through the untiring, valiant efforts of these three Brethren, the members of the Philadelphia Lodges have raised over $560,000
for the much needed and already fully occupied Hospital Extension at our Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown. Brother William R. Mooney acted as Chairman of the Trustees fo r the Fund, Brother Will iam H. Betz was the Treasurer, while Brother Morris Ruberg was the Secretary. If three Masons ever worked harder on a Masonic ven ture to insure its s uccess, we have not heard of it. More complete details of this endeavor will be available later.
Masonic Reading and Research One peculiari ty about Freemasonry is that it will lend itself to investigation. The deeper the research, the more extensive the kn owledge of its hidden art and secret mysteries, the more highly it is appreciated and accepted. The man who merely takes the degrees in a listless, careless sort of manner, and who remains a mere spectator at Lodge meetings, and then considers the customary refreshmen ts after Lodge is closed as the best part of the proceedi ngs, may well th in k tha t Freemasonry differs very li ttle from othe r fraternit ies. On the other hand, the Member who dives deeply in to Mason ic literature, takes an inter· est in the Ritualistic and Work of the Lodge, attempts to learn the origin and meaning and moral bearing of the symbols, cannot possibly fall in to such an error. To him , Freemasonry has a refining and elevating influence n ot to be found in th e ordinary run of organizations or societies. To bring this type of influence to bear on every Member of the Craft, and to direct them to the systematic study of Freemasonry, should be the great aim of every true Master Mason who has the welfare of the Fraternity and his Brethren at heart. -W.A.C.
"Aides" to Committee on Masonic Culture (Continued/rom page 5)
particularly " The P ennsylvania Freemason," it is urged that each Secretary make arrangements to have this name printed on his Lodge notices beginning in 1959. In this way each member can readily get in touch with the " Aide" in his Lodge.
M ORE ABOUT M ASONRY THE GREAT TEACHINGS OF M ASONRY SHORT TALKS ON M ASONRY FAMous MAsoNs AND M ASONIC PRESIDENTS
FREE~tASONRY AND ITs HIDDEN MEANI NG FRATERNAL SERMONS AND ADDRESSES A HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY SYMBOLISM OF THE THREE D EGREES M ASONIC SPEECH M AKI NG
Education in Freemasonry will develop and cultivate your mind which will give you the proper impression of its teachings. Why not read one or two books on Freemasonry during your spare time, and I know you will be well rewarded.
•• YOUR NAME YOUR NEW ADDRESS AND LODGE NUMBER ARE MOST IMPORTANT, IF AND WHEN YOU MOVE
If, at any time, your present mailing address is changed, please remembe r that, in addition to your n ew address, your Lodge N umber MUST b e indicated if you wis h to continue receiving "The Pennsylvania Freemason." In mailing in a "Change of Address Card," it is vitally important to process one card only and to b e certain that your Name, New Address and Lodge N umber are so noted. ---
FREEMASON AN OFFIC I AL PUBLICATION OF THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL G RAND LOD GE O F FREE AND A CCEP TED MASONS OF PENN S YLVANIA
NOVEMBER • 1958
VOLUME V
NUMBER 4
A Message from Our Grand Master PRESSING TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE (A Meditation for Freemasons)
The Apostle Paul, in the use of these words, was thinking of his past life and of his resolutions for the future, in the terms of a race. His mind was harassed by the afterglow of the past. T he challenge of the future lay ahead. A changed man, he was undertaking a new life. He did not comprehend everything involved but defini tely concluded one thing-he would forget the past, look ahead to the future and " press toward the mark for the prize." Now he would run a race with certainty. He would follow new rules. He would strain every muscle and sinew as he pressed forward. P aul turned his back to the past because of the bitterness of its memories. T he good athlete prepares and steels himself to win the next race regardless of the outcome of the last one. T he victories or defeats experienced by him are a part of the effort in the past which is really onl y a stage in his developmen t and equipment for future achievements. As we go through li fe all of us have from time to time experienced the discou ragement and disappointment so closely associated with living. There have been bright days and dark days . James Russell Lowell stated it so well in 'The Vision of Sir Launfal" where he said: "Not only around infancy Doth Heaven w ith all its splend ors lie; Daily, with soul s that c ringe and plot; We Sinais climb and know it not."
The artist does not paint his best picture on his first attempt. By constan t application to his work he will some day produce his masterpiece. The au th or will throw away many pages before he produces the final lines fo r publication. It is, therefore, a good thing to be able to forget, as Paul resolved to do, and run the best race that we can each day. Each day we live is a stepping stone to the next and to all of the tomorrows of life. By the daily application and practice of the true principles of Freemasonry which we have learned, we have within our grasp the tools wh ich we can use to run a successful race. The moral and spiritual virtues of Freemasonry must be practiced outside of the Lodge, be absorbed into and become a part of our daily adventurous living. By practicing Freemasonry we are able to climb the "Sinais" of everyday living and in the radiance of Masonic Light we courageously face the fu ture. The day which has become a part of the past together with all that entered into the living of it, conditions us for tomorrow when the race is renewed in our effort to reach the " mark" wh ich has been set.
The idea of "pressing toward the mark" is a challenge to all of us. In the busy bustle of modern living it sometimes becomes most difficult. The spirit of competition which is involved in an a thletic contest of any type is also encountered by us from day to day as we run the race of life. One of the secrets of success may be found in the idea of "pressing toward the mark." Every man should have his "mark" and press for it with all his energy. To successfully run the race of life which involves all of the phases of life' s activity every man must have his "mark" for each of these several phases. A business cannot operate successfully unless the challenges are met with well -planned programs. The same can be said with regard to successful living. It means competition and expenditure of effort after careful training and wise planning. After all of this has been done, the race must still be run in the course of which the contestant will get "roughed up a little." By following the rules, however, and keeping in mind the goal, he can and will be successful. The experience of Paul on the Damascus Road was a crisis or turning point in his life. Suddenly there shone 'rou nd about him a Light from H~aven which felled him to the earth and blinded him for several days. Freemasonry also has its Damascus Road. All Masons have experienced the contrast between Darkness and Light. This lesson and the part which it shou ld play in our everyday life should be ever before us as we press forward in the race of living. The lesson of the difference between Darkness and Light affords all of us the opportunity to set a proper goal or mark. It enables us to develop a purposeful life. It enables us to reappraise life's values from day to day. Sometimes \ve may fi nd ourselves like "wrong way" Corrigan who became fam ous by reason of his Hight in the wrong direction, or we may be like Roy Reigels of Rose Bowl fame, who "took off" with the ball toward the goal line of the opponents. There can be no substitute for the establishment of true values which must be determined early and checked constantly to the end that a purposeful li fe results . Sound values of correct living will result in renewed energy rather than fatigue and complete exhaustion in the course of the race. Evaluations and re-evaluations must be made constantly. We must have due regard as Masons fo r our religious beliefs, and tolerance in connection with them, our civic and social responsibility, our professional and business obligations and our duties as good citizens. Each of us should establish the highest possible standards for ourselves, remembering our responsibilities as good citizens. Good living involves steadfastness of purpose based on true values, honest moti ves, a high regard for our fellow man and a routine process of clear thinking as we proceed to press fo r the "mark." What about the prize? The mark and the prize are two different (Continutd on page 2)