Seek and Ye Shall Find
Informed Masons Are Better Masons The making of a Freemason consists in a continued course of education, of training, and of character forming. While it may be accepted that it is an innocent desire, followed by obligations that makes one a member of the Craft, yet in a truer form and better sense, a man is never a Freemason until he truthfully and loyally lives up to his obligations. And he cannot do that until he understands them, and eventually knows their scope and real meaning. Freemasonry can very well be divided into many phases. Its landmarks, its customs, its constitutions and its laws-just to mention a fewif studied and mastered, can provide a most interesting course for the Master Mason seeking Masonic knowledge. Its historical background can provide a most interesting program of investigation to the Member attracted to a desire for research. One peculiarity about Freemasonry is that it will stand investigation. The deeper the research, the more extensive the knowledge of its hidden art and mysteries, the more highly it is appreciated. A Member of the Craft who merely takes his D egrees in a listless, careless sort of manner, and then remains as just a spectator at Lodge Meetings, may hold to the opinion that Freemasonry differs little from other societies. To the contrary, the Master Mason who delves deeply into Masonic literature, takes a lively interest in every part of the Ritualistic and Lodge Work, and learns the origin,
AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF PENNSYLVANIA
VOLUME XV
meaning and moral bearings of its symbols, cannot possibly fall into such an error. To him, Freemasonry has a refining and elevating influence not to be found in the ordinary run of societies. The philosophies of Freemasonry, when d iscovered and practiced, provide that simple but profound solution to the problems of human relationships. May it be accepted that Freemasonry is a way of living to the Master Mason who is interested enough to appraise and value the wealth that is his, and his alone, by virtue of his Masonic membership. The best informed Master Mason, is the Master Mason who reads and studies. Consequently, if we want Freemasonry to be of practical usefulness and cultural attainment, we, as Freemasons, must not neglect our Masonic reading, our Masonic study and our search for more Masonic Light.
THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON Diatrlbutlon Office MASONIC HOMES Elizabethtown, Pa. 170ll <Send FORM 3579 to Above Address)
n"eTU.AeYIC:D . Dl.._ .... ........ .~.. ,..""'""· · · · lmnrint of Aclclress on Your Postal Return
Second Closs POSTAGE PAID AT Elizabethtown Pennsylvania
Clipping.
HAVE YOU PAID YOUR DUES? Your Lodge Dues for 1968 should be paid on or before the Annual Meeting of your Lodge. Why not forward your check to your Lodge Secretary and preserve your good Masonic standing? If your 1967 Dues are still unpaid, avoid suspension by prompt payment. We do not want to lose YOU! Freemasonry needs the support of all of us!
Over 500 Attend Two Sectional Meetings of School of Instruction Bro. Raymond H. Grimm, Instructor of Ritualistic Work, and his six Regional Instructors, have been highly pleased with the interest and p articipation evidenced in the seven Sectional Meetings conducted this year. The registered attendance at Meadville was 121 with eight Districts being represented by 43 Lodges. Attendance at the Sectional Meeting held for the Philadelphia Area reached 424 with 15 Masonic Districts represented. Thirteen of the 15 District Deputy Grand Masters involved were present and participated. Bro. W. LeRoy McKinley, R. W. Past Grand Master, was pleased to visit the Philadelphia Sectional M eeting and delivered an inspiring and informative address during the closing session.
e
1968
'GUEST FUND' If you have misplaced, or have not
~he Peters Township High School, East McMurray Road, McMurray, W~sh
received, a seH-addressed envelope for your annual contribution to the Guest Fund for the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown, send your check direct to: Masonic Homes, Elizabethtown, Pa. 17022. Please indicate your name, address and Lodge number. Thank you.
mgton County, at a Special Communication of Grand Lodge. There will be approximately 130 Warrant Members, making it one of the largest Lodges to be constituted in recent years. Bro. Walter L. Sykes, District Deputy Grand Master for the 29th Masonic District, has been working with the Brethren from the McMurray area for initiated and assisted most of the new the past eight months. Masonic Lodges in Western PennsylLodge No. 807 will hold its Stated vania for the past 30 years, has made Meetings in the Elm Grove Elemen- it possible for the Lodge to receive the gavel used by Bro. George H. tary School in McMurray. Bro. Benjamin S. Barbour, Past Dis- Deike when he was Grand Master. trict Deputy Grand Master, who has Bro. John K. Young, R. W. Grand M aster, will use Bro. Deike's gavel to constitute the Lodge. Chartiers Lodge, No. 297, Canonsburg, voted to sponsor Lodge No. 807 and donate the $100 necessary for the Warrant fee. Bro. Sykes reported: "The members of Chartiers Lodge, No. 297, have opened their hearts and Lodge facilities, as true Brothers and Masons, to assist the Officers and Warrant Members of the new Lodge." The Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Pittsburgh, donated $1,000 to Lodge No. 807 to be used for the purchase of Lodge paraphernalia. Other Masonic groups have also contributed most generously. The Grand Master complimented and thanked the Scottish Rite Bodies for their continued .interest and their financial support of new Masonic Lodges in Western Pennsylvania. The Officers Select of Lodge No. 807 are: Bro. John C. Moore, Worshipful Master; Bro. Walter F. Long, Sr., Senior Warden; Bro. Robert P. L app, Junior Warden; Bro. William A Edwards, Treasurer; and Bro. William C. McMurray, Secretary. The Special Communication of Bro. John K. Young, R. W. Grand Master, Grand Lodge will be followed by a with trowel in hand, symbolically preparing Constitution Banquet at 5 : 30 p.m. in the cornerstone he placed at the new Masonic Temple of Vaux Lodge, No. 406, near Ham- the Peters Township High School. burg, Berks County. Admission will be by ticket.
McMurray Lodge, No. 807, will be constituted on Saturday, December 14 in
Three Cornerstones Placed and Five Lodge Rooms Are Dedicated by Grand Officers Grand Lodge placed three cornerstones and dedicated five Masonic Lodge Rooms in the past three months. On September 14 the cornerstone was placed and the Lodge Room dedicated for the Lower Bucks Masonic Temple, Woodside, Bucks County. The new building is the meeting place of Newtown Lodge, No. 427, Penn-Morris Lodge, No. 778, and Levittown Lodge, No. 788. On October 4 the Lodge Room for Forbes Trail Lodge, No. 783, Export, Westmoreland County, was dedicated. On October 12 the cornerstone was placed and the Lodge Room dedicated for the new Masonic Temple near Hamburg, Berks County. It is the meeting place for Vaux Lodge, No. 406. On October 19 the cornerstone was placed and the Lodge Room dedicated for the new Masonic Temple at Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County. It Is the new meeting place for Eureka Lodge, No. 302. On November 16 the Lodge Room for Cressona Lodge, No. 426, Cressona, Schuylkill County, was dedicated.
I
NUMBER 4
Newest Lodge to be Constituted December 14th in 29th District
Let's Not Forget Four Members of Warren Lodge, No. 310, held at Collegeville, are shown as they met in the home of Bro. F. Wallace Beltz, Sr., (second from right) at Bradenton, Florida, when he received his Grand Lodge Fifty Year Masonic Service Emblem from Bro. Robert M. Bronson, Past Master and former Trustee. Bro. Raymond T. Beltz, Past Master, (left) and Bro. John H. Beltz, (second from left) both former recipients of this coveted award, were on hand to make this presentation a real family affair for Warren Lodge.
NOVEMBER