THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON Issued Every Three Months By The Right Worshipful Grand lodge of The Most Ancient and Honorable Frate rnity of Free and Accepted Masons of Pen11sylvania and Masonic Jurisdiction Thereunto Belonging, through its COMMITIEE ON MASONIC CULTURE- William E. Yeager, Past Grand Master, Chairman; William E. Montgomery, G. Edward Elwell, Jr., Frank R. leech, William A. Carpenter, Charles A. Young and Ashby 8 . Paul, Grand Secretary. APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED TO BE PRINTED BY
SANFORD M. CHILCOTE Right Worshipful Grand Master
Moiling Address: P.O. BOX 688, WARREN, PA. WILLIAM A. CARPENTER, Editor Change of Address: Notify above address, your Lo dge number must be included.
Vol. VI
August, 1959
No. 3
Freemasonry m The Netherlands By R. w. wARD K. ST. CLAIR Chairman of Museum and Library Committee R. W. Grand Lodge of New York Freemasonry was firs t introduced into The Netherlands from England in 1731, when a delegation visited The Hague for the purpose of conferring the First and Second Degrees on the Duke of Lorraine, afterwards the Emperor Francis I. He received the Third Degree subsequently in England. There is a legend that there were several Dutch and English Lodges operating in The Hague prior to 1735 but this legend has not been confirmed. On September 30, 1734, a Lodge was opened by Bro. Vincent de la Chapelle, who may be considered as the originator of Masonry in The Netherlands. This lodge received a patent from the Grand Lodge of England in 1735 and proceeded to establish several other Lodges. On November 30, of that year the States General issued an edict prohibiting all Masonic meetings. Most of the Lodges ceased to function but the Lodge in Amsterdam continued to operate in secret. This action by the Lodge was soon discovered by the government authorities. The resulting action led to the cancellation of the edict and the Lodges again resumed their activity. On December 25, 1756, fourteen Dutch Lodges assembled and form ed the Grand Lodge of the United Netherlands. Negotiations were soon started with the Grand Lodge of England for an independent Grand Lodge. Accordingly an agreement was finally signed on April 25, 1770 which established the Grand Lodge of the United Netherlands as an independent body. To become a Mason in The Netherlands requires patience and perseverance. First the
applicant must obtain the recommendation of a Master Mason. During the next twelve to eighteen months he is examined very closely in all ways, by various Brethren of the Lodge as well as by the Council of the Lodge. The Council gathers all the information it can concerning the candida te. This is done severely and accurately. His entire li fe's record is scrutinized; if the verdict is favorable he receives the first degree. For a year the Entered Apprentice receives instruction nearly every week. After passing a thorough examination, he is passed to the degree of Fellowcraft. Another year of instruction follows. The Brother is again judged, and when the results are according to the aims of Masonry he becomes a Master Mason-two years, with systematic in~truction between the First and Third Degrees. In addition to the Craft Degrees there are practiced in The Netherlands the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Rite and the Royal Arch degree. Originally the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Rite (to us in the United States the "Scottish Ri te") were conferred under the control of the Supreme Council of Belgium. However, in 1912 a Supreme Council of the Rite was organized in The Netherlands. Official recognition of this body was given by both the Northern and Southern Supreme Councils in the United States in 1913. The Supreme Council of The Netherlands was formed under the authority from the Supreme Council of Belgium. The First Degree of the Rite conferred is the Rose Croix of the 18th. The other degrees of the Rite which are worked are the 22nd, 26th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd, and 33rd. Membership in the Rite is by invitation and the degrees beyond the 18th are controlled by the Supreme Co uncil. The Royal Arch Degree has been introduced since the end of World War II. A number of Dutch Masons made a journey to England where they were initiated into the Royal Arch. They then obtained a Charter for a Chapter to be held in The Hague and have since that time worked in their own country. They use the English method of work and only confer the Royal Arch Degree in their Chapters. Neither the Cryptic Rite nor the Order of the Temple operates in The Netherlands. Netherlands Freemasonry is a great charitable organization. The amount of its charity far exceeds that of many countries with a larger membership. They maintain schools and orphanages for the children and orphans of Masons.
Additional Institutes Being Conducted by Committee on Masonic Culture The new series of pamphlets, which are to be used primarily for the instruction of the Members as well as Initiates in the fascinating and inspiring fundamentals of Masonic history, tradition and symbolism, have been dis· tributed to the Lodge Officers and Members of the Lodge Committee on Masonic Culture. These new pamphlets will amplify the instruction contained in the presen t booklets ("On the Threshold," et al.) , the use of which will be continued. To indoctrinate the Members of the Lodge Committee on Masonic Culture and Lodge Officers in the aims, objectives and procedure of the Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Culture, Institutes will be held in various sections of the Jurisdiction. These Ins titutes generally embrace the Lodges in two or more adjacent Districts. The first of these Institutes embracing the Lodges which comprise the 30th, 39th and 41st Districts was held in the Masonic Temple, Johnstown, at 3 P.M. on Saturday, May 2nd. The twenty-three Lodges were represented by a total of one hundred fifty-five Officers and Committee Members. Following a meeting of one and one-half hours in duration, conducted by Brother Will iam E. Yeager and Brother William E. Montgomery, Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of the Grand Lodge Committee, those present parti cipated in a delicious dinner. The second Insti tute was held at 8:30P.M. on Monday, June 1st in the Masonic Temple at Erie. Each Lodge in District No. 24 was represented by the Worshipful Master and other Officers and Members of the Committee on Masonic Culture, a total of ninety-four Brethren being present. Institutes have been scheduled for: August 29th- New CastleDistricts No. 26, 27, 37, 53 and 54. September 5th- AltoonaDistricts No. 20, 21 and 34. September 12th- Oil CityDis tricts No. 23, 25, 52 and 56. The meetings will convene at 3 P.M., followed by a dinner at 5:30P.M. It is hoped that arrangements may be made which will enable all of the Districts in Philadelphia to participate in an Institute which is to be held on a Saturday in October.
If, at any time, your present mailing address is changed, please reme':"b~r MUST be 1nd1t hat in addition to your new address, your Lodge Number . F recmason. " cated, if you wish to continue receiving "The P e nnsy1van1a In mailing in a "Cha n ge of Address Card," it is vitally important to process one card only and to be certain tha t your Name, New Address and Lodge Number are so noted.
.•. YOUR NAME .. . YOUR NEW ADDRESS AND LODGE ~ ARE MOST IMPORTANT, IF AND WHEN YOU MOVE
FREEMASON AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF PENNSYLVANIA
VOLUME VI
AUGUST • 1959
NUMBER 3
Pennsylvania Freemasons Have Part in Pittsburgh Bicentennial A Message from Our Grand Master NE OF THE outst anding Communications of the Grand Lodge
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of Pennsylvania in recent years will be held in the City of Pittsburgh on September 1s t, 2nd and 3rd, 1959. The City of Pittsburgh is celebra ting its Bicente nnial year and it is mos t fitting that Freemasonry be r epresen ted as an integral part of the many ac tivities in connec tion with the Bicentennial. A grea t deal of thought and plan ning is involved in bringing the September Quarterly Communication of our Grand Lodge to Pittsburgh. For the firs t time in the hi s tory of the Grand Lodge of P ennsylvania a Quarterly Communication will be held away from the City of Philadelphia . It is urged that ever y Mason make careful n ote of what is said here. E specially, we call th e attention of all Masons in the Pittsburgh area a nd so uthwestern Pennsylvania to note well the program hereinafter discussed. If yo u can plan to be present at some or all of the various activities we feel quite certain that you will be well rewarded. On the even ing of September 1, 1959, at 7:30 o'clock, P.M. , in the Masonic T emple l ocated at Fifth, Ly tton and Tennyson Avenues, a most prominent citizen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be made a Mason At Sight. He will receive his Degrees in Verona Lodge No. 548, which on that evening will meet in the Masonic Temple. We are certain tha t you will desire t o be present and be a part of the events of the evening. At 9:30 o'clock, A.M., on September 2, 1959, a Special Communication of th e Grand Lodge of P ennsylvania will be held in th e Maso nic T emple. The purpose of t his Communication is to Constitute a n ew Mason ic Lodge to be known as the Col. Henry Bouquet Lodge No. 787 of wh ich Hiram P. Ball will be th e Warrant Mast er. We know that man y Masons will look fo rwa rd to the Constitution of this Lodge as a part of Masonry's con tri bution to the Bicentennial. All of the Grand Lodge Officers will be present to participa te in this activity.
At the conclusion of the Constitution of the Col. Henry Bouquet Lodge No . 787 and at 12 o'clock Noon s h arp, a Memorial Plaque will be dedicated. This plaque is in memory of all Mas ons wh o have by their individual efforts con trib uted to the growth and development of the City of Pitts burgh during the past two hundred years. This plaque has been beautifully designed and arranged and will be so located on the Fifth Avenue side of the Masonic Temple that it will be viewable a nd readable by all who will in futur e time walk on the Fifth Avenue sidewalk abutting the Temple propert y. The proceedings in connection with this dedication will b e televised and broadcast in the Pitts burgh area. Following the dedication of the Memorial Plaque luncheon will be served to all Masons present, in the Dining Room of the Masonic Temple and also in the Dining Room of Syria Mosque l ocated nearby. At the conclusion of the luncheon a Special Communica ti on of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania will be h eld in Syria Mosque a t which time many distinguis hed Masons fr om all over the United St ates and Canada will be received and introduced 'by the Grand Mas ter. At the conclusion of this Special Communication Dinner will be ser ved to all Masons present, in the Dining Rooms of Syria Mosque and the Masonic T emple. At 7 o'clock, P.M. , the Sept ember Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania will be held in Syria Mosque. As a part of the September Quarterl y Communication the Oration will be delivered by the Honorable Brother Clyde S. S humaker, President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Butler Co unty, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylva nia Mason Juvenile Court Institute will hold its Tenth Anniversar y Dinner on the evening of September 3, 1959 at the Masonic T empl e. The Grand Master has invit ed all of the Judges of all of the Courts in Allegheny County to be his (Continued on page 2)