Questions & Answers Question: When and where was George Washington made a Mason? Answer: On November 4 , 1752, in the Lodge at Fredericksburg, Virginia. Question: What was the first printed reference to M asonic Lodges in Pennsy lvania? Answer : In the issue of The Pennsylvania Gazette, dated December 8, 1730, its editor, Benjamin Franklin (not then a Mason) refers to "several Lodges of Freemasons" having been "Erect ed in this Province. " Question: What is t he oldest Masonic Lodge record in America? Answer: The account book (from 1731 to 1738) of St. J ohn's Lodge of Philadelphia, now owned by the Pennsylvania Historical Society. An artist's dra wing of the Masonic Pavilion b e ing financed and provide d by the Masons of New York. It will occupy n1ore thnn 25,000 square fee t of_ space a nd is located at the Avenue of the An1ericas and E urasia Avenue, a short d1stance from the U nisphere. l\'luch of the construction cost is being financed b y the sale of Gen eral Adnlission tic k e ts to the World's ~·'air ~Y. New York Lodges. There will b e no charge for admission to the Masomc Pav1hon.
The Masonic Press Time was when the principles and ideals of Freemasonry were spread by word of mouth, but the great growth and progress of the Craft has required more than this. Masonic literary gems have contributed much to the expansion and advancement Freem asonry has enjoyed for over two centuries. F ew organizations have withstood the test of time as has Freemasonrysteeped as it is in the ancient legends of the Operative Craft whose traditions and fundamentals we have had the good fo rtune to inherit. Freem asonry can well count among its m embers great leaders in science, art, industry, church and state. All have contributed to the sum total of Masonic Culture. Without the medium of the Masonic press, · however, the teachings and philosophies of. our learned Breth ren would have remained THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON Di stribution Office MASONIC HOMES Elizobethtown, Pa. 17022 (Se nd FORM 3S79 to Above Address )
unknown, save to a few of their close associates. The Masonic press, beyond all doubt, provides a wonderful means by which the wealth of cultural material may be broadcast and absorbed by Freemasons seeking more Masonic Light.
Chain Letters Are Prohibited The recent epidemic of the so-called chain letters a mong Masons is unfortunate, indeed. M embers of P ennsylvania Lodges are not "permitted to circulate chain letters. This useless and time consuming practice is not only in violation of the United States P ostal · Regulations but is emphatically prohibited in Decisions N o. 157 and 159 of our Digest of Decisions of the Grand Lodge and Grand M asters as revised to M ay 1, 1956. Second Class POSTAGE PAID AT Elizabethtown
Question: What is lawful Masonic information w h en vou ching for a Brother?
Answer: Lawful information that a person is a Mason may be secured by sitting in Lodge with him, by a known Mason vouching for him as such, and by his passing an examination by an Examining Committee appointed by the Worshipful M aster. Questio n: Name the five largest Grand L odges in the United States giving their approximate memberships? Answer: New York with approximately 190,500; Ohio with nearly 280,000; Pennsylvania w ith approximately 257,000; Texas and California with approximately 245,000 each. Question: Will F reemasonry be r epresented in a ny way at the N ew Y ork World's F a ir in 1964-65? Answer: Yes. The Masons of New York are financing and ·building a beautiful and spacio us M asonic Pavilion. Question : What do A.D. and A.L. mean a nd why? Answer : A.D. means "Anno D omini," in t he year of our Lord and is the Christian method of designating the number of years followin g the birth of Christ. Freemasons' nomenclature in this r espect comes from the old belief (entirely erroneous) that the world was created 4,000 years b efore Christ and therefore indicates t he date as 4,000 years p lus the c u rrent year , for insta nce
1964 A.D. or 5964 A.L. (Anno Lucis- in the year of Light) t he present year. E dito r's Note: I£ yo u bavc a ques tion on Freema s onry, s hare it w ith u s . We wi ll make eve r y effort to answer h. If permissible, we wi ll include both the <tucs tion and the ans wer in this Question an d
Answer column for others to read.
Pennsylvania
CORRECT ADDRESS MOST IMPORTANT It costs ten cents each time you fail to give us your change of address: One at a time, these changes do not seem much, but multiplied by thousands they make a large sum. You can save us the expense by notifying your Lodge Secretary im mediately when you change your address. By so doing, you will assure yourself of future copies of The Pennsylvania Freemason. POSTMASTER: Please indicate Name, Address a nd Key on Return clipping.
F R E E :M:A.SO~ AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF PENNSYLVANIA
VOLUME XI
FEBRUARY
•
1964
NUMBER 1
A Message from Our Grand Master eted by the Communist than the minds of youth. T he Communist knows that he who controls the youth controls the future. If every Masonic Lodge in this J urisdiction sponsored and actually supported a D eMolay Chapter, I would have no fear about th is country tomorrow, nor would I have any question about the future of Freemasonry. I know that DeMolay work takes valuable time, dedicated leaders and some financial assistance. H owever, my Brethren, this is a cheap price to pay for the future of this country and Freemasonry.
I take this opportunity to express my sincer e appreciation for the honor which you conferred upon me on December 27, 1963-affording me the opportunity to take my place in the long succession of Grand Masters of M asons in Pennsylvania. I have accepted this tremendous undertaking and will meet the r esponsibilities of Grand Master to the best of my ability. As Grand Master, I am governed by Usages, Customs and L andmarks. Therefore, there will be no major changes in policy. However, I do have some suggestions and directions. It is my purpose, in the next year, to administer the affairs of Grand Lodge with due regard to economy, consistent with the dignity and high character of our F raternity. It is my desire that during this coming year true Masonic fellowship will be experienced throughout the Jurisdiction.
R ecommenders and Committee of Inquiry R ecommenders should be more selective of the men they are willing to r ecommend. They should know the man, his r eputation and his standing as a citizen. Do not put your signature t o a r ecommendation for a man unless you would be proud to call him "My B rother." No greater responsibility can be placed upon a member of a Lodge than a careful scrutiny of the fitness of those who knock at our door. The investigation of the Committee of Inquiry should be thorough, searching, allembracing. Use of the Blackball I have no sympathy for the Brother who uses the blackba ll to accomplish a personal victory, or to reject an outstanding petitioner on n on-Masonic reasoning.
Bro. Earl F. Herold R. W. Grand Master If I have definite proof of a Brother using the blackball unMasonically, I will do everything in my power as Grand Master to correct the problem. F reemasonry must continue to seek, both by precept and example, to elevate and ennoble mankind. W hile it is not a religious organization, it is essentially religious in character. Obedience to its precepts means m uch in our M asonic life- upright living- pure morals-and brotherhood. Let us be true to these precepts and practice in our daily lives the lessons we have learned at the sacred altar. There is no prize today more cov-
Church and Freemasonry In Freemasonry we have various religious beliefs, but, basically, we must all be religious to be Masons. Therefor e, I now urge M asonic Lodges in this Jurisdiction to attend divine services as a M asonic body. While we cannot be clothed in Masonic dress, I urge you, now, to make visits to various temples of worship as a Masonic group and thus bear testimon y to our common belief and faith in God. I also will permit the an nouncement (Continued on Page 2)
A REMINDER Contr ibutions to the "Guest Fund" appeal for the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown, Pa., is in excess of $240,000.00 at this writing. If you h ave not made your contribution, please do, so that we may r ea ch our goal of 8250,000.00 b y March 15, 1964, the closing date of this annual appeal. Make your contributions payable to the " Guest F und" a nd mail to the Masonic Homes, Elizabethtown , Pa. 1 7022.