The Masonic Relief Association of The United States and Canada Masonry crossed the seas and became established in the new countries of the United States and Canada. The assistance box became an established fixture in the new Lodges. By 1800 the Lodges had organized themselves into fourteen Grand Jurisdictions along the east coast. By 1830 this number had increased to twentyfive. The restless population pushed steadily westward. A more compl~x system of living developed with a faster pace. It soon became evident that a more comprehensive system of assistance was needed due to local Lodge Members constantly on the The retirement, because of disabil- move. Brothers and their families ity, of Bro. John C. F. K.itselman, Most away from their home Lodge developed Excellent Grand Secretary of The needs in strange communities. Boards Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter of of Relief and Boards of Employment Pennsylvania, effective as of Septem- began to be established. Within a ber 5, 1966, was announced at the short time even this system proved to June Quarterly Communication of be inadequate. The need for an interGrand Chapter, held in Lancaster on national organization to act as a clearJune 10. ing house for calls for assistance beBro. Kitselman will be succeeded in came apparent. the office by Bro. Albert H. Connelly, In 1885 and 1886 the Masonic Reof Keystone Royal Arch Chapter, No. lief Association of the United States 17 5, Philadelphia. and Canada was brought into existence A feature of the June Communica- by representatives of Grand Jurisdiction was an address by Bro. William tions extending from Louisiana to A. Carpenter, Librarian and Curator of Montreal, Canada, and from Nebraska the Grand Lodge Library and Museum to Massachusetts. Today most of the and Secretary to the Grand Lodge Grand Jurisdictions are members of Committee on Masonic Culture, who the Association. Soon after the organization of the stressed the need for leadership and initiative in these days of declining Association it was discovered that some persons were taking advantage membership in Masonic bodies. Bro. W. Irvine Wiest, Most Excellent of the aid offered by presenting illegal Grand High Priest, announced that the requests. The widespread activity of September Quarterly Communication these imposters prompted the Associaof Grand Chapter would be held in tion to publish an official circular, called the "Warning Circular." This McKeesport on September 10.
From time immemorial the Lodge has taken care of its own. The earliest records of the Craft speak of a Box of Fraternal Assistance. Into this box the Members contributed and from it the Worshipful Master dispensed relief and charity. Not charity of the dole kind, but that of loving kindness and assistance.
Bro. John Kitselman, M. E. Grand Secretary, Retires in September
THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON Distribution Office MASONIC HOMES Elizabethtown, Pa. 17022 (Send FORM 3579 fa Above Address)
Second Class POSTAGE PAID AT Elizabethtown Pennsylvania
POSTMASTER: Please include Complete Name, Address and Identification Na. on Retum clipping.
later became the present "Bulletin" which has been enlarged to include items of interest, missing persons, imposters and lost receipts. This bi-monthly publication has reported more than 11,000 imposters since its inception. Full details in each case are reported-name or alias, description, methods of operation, and claimed Lodge affiliation. The "Bulletin" now goes to some 17,000 persons - Lodge Secretaries, Masters, Boards of Relief and all others who might be interested. No community or area in the United States or Canada is free from some sort of need by a Masonic brother. Most of these brothers are transients. A constant stream of communication between Jurisdictions, Lodges, Boards and the Association, aimed at relieving the necessities of transient brothers, flows each day. The "Box of Fraternal Assistance" has expanded into Boards of Relief, Boards of Employment and the Masonic Relief Association of the United States and Canada.
Nine New District Chairmen Appointed
FREE::M:A.SO~ VOLUME XIII
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1966
NUMBER 3
Grand Master Appeals to All Pennsylvania 2 New District Deputy Grand Masters Named Masons to Support 'Guest Fund' for Homes T~e Grand Master has appealed to every Pennsylvania Mason sp~ctal effort to contribute to the Guest Fund of the Masonic
to make a Homes at
Ehzabethtown, operated by Grand Lodge. He deeply apprecia~es the $265,000 contributed by approximately 50,000 Masons last year. Thts represents a 20 per cent participation. Bro. Robert E. Deyoe, R. W. Grand Master, has urged the 50,000 who gave an "av~rage of better than $5.00 each to continue their dedication. He added: Thts ye~r I make a new request. I urge the 80 per cent, or nearly 200 000 Pennsylvanta l";;asons who did not participate last year, to make a special effort to send somethmg to the Guest Fund of the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown." In an effort to ~how the ~gent need for the money, the Grand Master listed some of the posstble reqmrements for 1967:
Of recent months, nine new District Chairmen for the Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Culture have been appointed by Bro. Robert E. Deyoe, R. W. Grand Master. Those appointed to represent the Grand Lodge Committee in their respective Districts are listed as follows:
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MASONIC DISTRICT "A" -B ro. Thomas C. Espieg, Joseph H. Brown Lodge, No. 751. 2nd MASONIC DISTRICT-Bro. Kenneth W. Nebinger, Steelton-Swatara Lodge, No. 775, as Co-Chairman to Bro. James D. Miller, Robert Burns Lodge, No. 464. 12th MASONIC D I STRICT-Bro. Walter H. J enkins, Valley L odge, No. 499. 28th MASONIC DISTRICT-Bro. Horace D. Standbridge, Pittsburgh Lodge, No. 484. 29th MASONIC DISTRICT-Bro. Edward H. Topper, Beallsville Lodge, No. 237. 33rd MASONIC DISTRICT-Bro. J. Howard Sterrett, George Wagner Lodge. No. 639. 41st MASONIC DISTRICT-Bro. William J. Swank, Johnstown Lodge, No. 538. 42nd MASONIC DISTRICT-Bro. J. Warren Graybill, York Lodge, No. 266. 60th MASONIC DISTRICT-Bro. John M. Bolich, Abraham C. Treichler Lodge, No. 682.
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The Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Culture is most appreciative for the services of the District Chairmen, many of whom have been devoting much effort since the appointed office of District Chairman was established in early 1963.
AUGUST
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$9~,000
to provide $1 ~.00 a month spending money for every Guest, includ ing the ch1ldren, at the Mason1c Homes. $50,000 f~r Christmas pr?grams, activities and gifts for every Guest. This represents an expenditure of approx1mately $6.60 per Guest. $30,000 f or an occupational therapy program. A report on this program is in another story in this edition. $20,000 for special entertainment throughout the ye ar, not at Christmas. $5,00~ .for religious se~vices . Are a ministers provide church services, prayer meetings and v1s1ts to the hosp1tal. '
$2,500 to repair televisions, radios and organs. $7,500 to repair hearing aids and provide batteries. $2,000 to repair Guests' watches. $2,0,0~ to ~rovid e a summer vacation for Masonic Homes' children who have no place to v1s1t dur1ng the summer. • $1 0,000 for th e ath letic program at Patton Masonic School. • $~00,0b00 k ( approxi~ately) for such programs and activities as beauty parlor, barber s ~p, . 00 s, maga:z:1.nes and papers, razor repairs, music lessons for the childre n SWim":'lftg · ~O.o! repa1r and' operation, special bus trips, bus operation and repai,' athletic. ~ctiVItles, tobacco, school activities in which the Homes' chi ldren are expected to parhc1pate, and other activities too numerous to mention.
!he
above totals more than $300,~00. However, the Grand Master expl;ined: . W,e can only SJ?end what we recetve. We also should have a sizeable reserve m thts account, smce none of us knows what the economic situation will be from year to year. "We must continue the majority of the services listed in this article, regardless of the economic situation. :;rherefor~, I am m_aking a special appeal this year. I ayf~ec~ate the gtfts fr?m th~se who have participated. I sincerely hope yo~ wt n a way to contmue thts generosity again this year. h No~ I urge f?r. a gr eater participation. Surely many of the 80 per cent w o ~hd not .parbctpate last year can find a way to send something this year to thts very tmportant fund. "It has been said in truth that the Guest Fund makes the Masonic Homes a '~orne' and not just another institution. Please help me to continue the servtces we provide."
The Grand Master has appointed two new District Deputy Grand Masters to replace two Deputies who passed away since the first of the year. Bro. Clarence Conrad Reineke, Past Master of Hawley Lodge, No. 305, Hawley, Pa., was appointed District Deputy Grand Master of the 14th Masonic District. Bro. John K. Young, R. W. Deputy Grand Master, acting for the Grand Master, attended a Special Meeting of Hawley Lodge No. 305 on June 25 accompanied by several Elected and Appointed Officers, to officially present Bro. Reineke to th e Lodges of his District. Bro. Reineke succeeded Bro. Clyde M . Canouse, Past Master of Milford Lodge, No. 344, Milford, Pa., deceased. Bro. E. Ellsworth Deemer, Past ~aster '?f Prosperity Lodge, No. 567, Rtegelsvtlle, Pa., was appointed District Deputy Grand Master of the 9th Masonic District. Bro. Young, representing the Grand Master, will officially present Bro. Deemer to t he Lodges of his District at a Stated Meeting of Lodge No. 567 on Friday, September 9. All Master Masons are invited to attend. Bro. Deemer succeeded Bro. Forrest W. Hunt, Past Master of Chapman Lodge, No. 637, Northampton, Pa., deceased.
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE For your annual contribution to the "Guest Fund" and for your convenience, your Lodge Secretary has been supplied with special self-addressed postage-paid envelopes and ha~ been directed to insert them with your September Lodge Notice.