What Can We Say?
Freemasonry Is a Way of Life What should we tell our non-Masonic friends when they ask questions about Freemasonry? When these questions arise, and they often do, our response will undoubtedly influence the mental attitude of our friends toward ourselves and the Craft in general. · We should not take a timid approach being true to God for His gracious and to our answers. We should not indi- numerous blessings. cate a desire to "change the subject." Be proud to proclaim that FreeWe should not reflect a "mum's-the- masonry is a band of men bound toword" attitude. gether in the bonds of Brotherly Love Instead, we should be prepared to and Affection that extends throughout speak with ease, pride and authority. the World. What do we have to hide? Make it And to sum it all up, Freemasonry known that Freemasonry 1s a way is kindness in the home, honesty in of life. business, courtesy in society, fairness Freemasonry is fraternal in organi- in work, pity and concern for the unzation, religious in character, based on fortunate, resistance toward the wicked, the belief in the Fatherhood of God, help for the weak, trust in the strong, Brotherhood of Man and the Immor- forgiveness for the penitent, love for tality of the Soul. one another and, above all, reverence Be prompt to make known that Free- and love for God. masonry is not a "secret society" as These and many other answers can many surmise. Freemasonry is a volun- be applied to questions your friends tary association wherein the interested may ask about Freemasonry. one comes of his own free will and We have nothing to hide-save that accord. which pertains to our estoteric Work. Indicate that Freemasonry is not a Freemasonry is a way of life. religion as many claim. Discussions on religion or politics have no place Wages of a Mason in our proceedings. Masonic labor is purely a labor of Proclaim that Freemasonry, in its love. He who seeks to draw Masonic every effort and purpose, strives to do wages in gold and silver will be discharitable work within its membership appointed. The wages of a Mason are and for society, and through its teach- earned and paid in his dealings with ings, seeks to make good men better others. Sympathy begets sympathy; men. helpfulness begets helpfulness-these You can proudly state that basic are the wages of a Mason. ethical principles, as exemplified in Cooper a Mason our Ritual and Lodge Work, are such Astronaut Leroy Gordon Cooper is as are most acceptable to all good men. They are lessons based on the Golden a Member of Carbondale Lodge, No. Rule, tolerance toward men, respect for 82-Ancient Free and Accepted M aone's family, charity towards all and sons of the Jurisdiction of Colorado. THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON Distribution Office MASONIC HOMES Eli:rabethtown, Pennsylvania (Send FORM 3579 to Above Address )
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~ Question: When and where was the first Grand Lodge established? Answer: In London on June 24, 1717. Ques tion: What was the first Grand Lodge in America? Answer: The Grand L odge of P ennsylvania.
JULY
VOLUME X
•
1963
NUMBER 3
Question: What Pennsylvania P ast Master and P ast District D eputy Grand Master became P resident of the United States? Answer: J ames Buchanan of Lodge No. 43, Lancaster, P a. Question: H ow many Lodges are there in Pennsylvania at present? Answer : As of June 1963 there are 605 Lodges. A new Lodge, P lum Creek Lodge, No. 799, will be constituted October 12, 1963. Question: What is the total membership of the Lodges in Pennsylvania ? Answer: As of December 27, 1962, the total membership of the Lodges in Pennsylvania was 256, 133. Qu es tion: What were Military Lodges? Answer: D uly con s tituted L odges which had no permanent place of meeting but traveled with regiments or other military organizations to which they were attached. Editor's Note: If you have a ques tion on Freemasonry, sh a r e it with us. We will make every e ffort to answer it. If p ermissible, we will include both the question and the answer in this Qu es tion and An s wer colun)n for others to r ead.
Looking East in Corinthia n H all, the m eeting place of the Grand Lodge of P e nnsylvania.
Corinthian Hall
CORRECT ADDRESS MOST IMPORTANT Once again we remind you that it actually costs u s te n cents each time you allow the Post Office D e partment to notify u s of your change of add•·css. You can save u s tha t unnecessary expe nse by notify ing your Lodge Sec· r e tary immediately whe n you change your address. Your Secretary h as sp ecial forms for k eeping our Distribution Office notified of new M e m· be r s, Dea ths, Changes, e tc. Your coope ration in this respect will also a ssure you of staying on our mailing list for future issues of The Pennsylvania F r eemason.
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One of the Most Beautiful Lodge Rooms in the World The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania holds its Quarterly and Annual Communications in Corinthian H all, Masonic T emple, Philadelphia. M asonic scholars claim it IS one of the most beautiful M asonic rooms m the world. The f eatures of this magnificent room are in strict conformity with the principles of G recian classical architecture and the best known examples of the G reek Corinthian Order. Columns and capitals are molded
aft er the perfect type found in the historic monument of L ysicrates at Athens. T he paneled ceiling in the apse of the east end of the room, together with the Caryatides supporting it, depicts the Portico of the Caryatides of the Erechtheum at Athens. Seats on t he circular platform in the east are in accordance with those in the T heater of Dionysus, also at Athens. Various subjects for the bas-relief (Contin ued on Page 6)
In This I ssu e This issue of T he P ennsylvania Freemason lists the names of the District Chairmen to the G rand Lodge C ommittee on Masonic Culture. Be sure to read about the M asonic Ancients of P en nsylvania.