Fraternity Restores 'Lost' Brother Found in Hospital
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Pennsylvania when the Brethren learned about his case. THE MEMBERS of Silver Gate Lodge No. 296 in San Diego voted last August to remit his dues. Similar action by the Bloo~sburg Consistory and Lu Lu Temple m Pennsylavnia soon followed. And joy finally came back last Sept. 10 to a Brother who had been "lost" for more than 39 years. On that day Bro. Portman 's heart was surely gladdened when the Grand Master of Pennsylvania presented him current d~es ~ards reinstating him to men;bersh1p m the three Masonic Bodies. Bro. Roy I. Burtner (seated) thoughtfull ufT h' · In the special program at Lebanon candles on his cake at his 96th birthda y b s . JS PFPll as he prepares to blow out the Veterans Hospital, Bro. Kimmel told the party for the hospitalized war veteri'n c~h r~tJOn. e bw Mfasons who helped organize 0 15 the Masonic officials who had gathered from left, Bro. William B Brown a mem er o Butler Lodge No. 272, are .' (MSA); Bro. Lewis R. Hog~n an MSA FJeld Ag~nt for the Masonic Service Association to honor Bro. Portman: "In this 'lost' Brother the Craft has secretary of Butler Lodge No' 2 72 . Bro v~~~eE, :;-o. rarryf M. Hays, a Past Master and f. th uhp y, the Scottish Rite, Valley of Pittsburgh, and Bro Lynn c Burtn~r a ~eph fo~nd a ~earl, and do we ever cherish of Lorraine Comm~ndery No. g 7 i~ Butler~w 0 e onore guest and a Past Commander this occasiOn. This day is a highlight in Freemasonry and we're so happy all of you are here to enjoy it with us." . THE HEARTWARMING presentation of Bro. Portman's dues cards that took place Sept. 10 came, ironically, on the very day he was made a Master A Spanish-American War veteran sonic Bodies were present to salute him. Mason 57 years ago. Maybe this was coincidence or could who has been a Pennsylvania Mason for Bro. Burtner became a Mason in Butthe Supreme Architect's hand have been more than 69 years was honored with ler _Lodge No. 272 on Oct. 22 , 1903. behind the timing of such a rewarding a party on his 96th birthday in the He Is the oldest living Past Commander Veterans Administration Hospital at moment? of Lorraine Commandery No. 87 in But. Among those who accompanied Bro. Butler, Pa . ler, having served in that office in 1914. Th~ party for Bro. Roy I. Burtner Kimmel on his visit to the hospital were Bro. Burtner was honored by Grand Bro. Conrad H.ahn, ex~cutive secretary \\;'as. given by the Masonic Service Asso- L~dge ii?- October, 1953 when he reof the Masomc Serv1ce Associatiow Ciation (MSA) and other volunteer ceived h1s 50-year Masonic Service EmBro. George P. Leigh Jr., Suprem~ groups at the hospital. Bro. William B. blem. Grand Tall Cedar of North America· Brown, of nearby Portersville, is Field During the Spanish-American War and ?fficers of Masonic Bodies in th~ Agent for the MSA at the hospital. Bro. Burtner served in the 15th Regi~ Harn.sburg, Lebanon, Lancaster, York, WHEN BRO. BURTNER blew out m ent of Pennsylvania's National Guard Readmg and Shippensburg areas of the candles on his birthday cake last He was stfltioned at Camp Athens, Ga: Pennsylvania. July 12, representatives of many Ma- before bemg honorably discharged in January, 1899. AFTER HIS military service, Bro. THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON B~rtner worked as a field man for an Second Class Distribution Office 01l company in Jefferson Township POSTAGE MASONIC HOMES Elizabethtown, Pa . 17022 Butler County. For many years he oper~ PAID AT (Send FORM 3579 to Above Address) ated the Park Hotel in Butler, and then Elizabethtown Pennsylvania ~orked at Spang's until his retirement m 1943. Bro. Burtner has been a resident in the Nursing Home Care Unit of the hospital for the past 10 years.
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Craft Salutes Butler Mason With Party on 96th Birthday
AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF PENNSYLVANIA
VOLUME XIX
NOVEMBER
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1972
Hershey Hosts March Quarterly The March Quarterly Communication in 1973 will be held in Hershey at the Milton Hershey School, which takes in 10,000 acres of beautiful land in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. In announcing the site and program for the gala affair March 7, Bro. W. Orville Kimmel, R . W . Grand Master, said a new concept for Quarterly Communications will be introduced. THE MARCH Quarterly, Bro. Kimmel said, will be highlighted by six events which will be open to the Ladies. The District Deputy Grand Masters will be urged to encourage the Ladies from every area of the state to form groups, charter buses and come to Hershey. The magnificent Founders Hall, which is the hub of the Milton Hershey School complex, will be the center of activities during the Quarterly. The
hall is an architectural gem and a major attraction in itself. It was built and named as a tribute to the memory of Milton S. Hershey, great industrialist and humanitarian, and his wife, Catherine, the founders of the school. Both the Brethren and Ladies will enjoy the March Quarterly program, which features an open house, reception, dinner, entertainment and a dance . All these events will be held in Founders Hall, which has a beautiful rotunda and reception area for visitors, a banquet room, chapel and auditorium, social center, closed circuit television studio and administrative offices. AND WHILE the Brethren are attending Grand Lodge, the Ladies will be shown the movie, "Milton Hershey School Story," in the Heritage Room of Founders Hall. Grand Lodge will convene at 7 p.m.
Grand Lodge 3rd Oldest
POSTMASTER: PleaS<! lnclud
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comp1ere Imprmt . of Address on Your Postal Return Clipping.
The. Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvama worked by authority of the Grand Lodge of England as early as 173 1, thus .m aking the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvama the third oldest in the world. I t is preceded only by the Grand Lodges of England ( 1717) and Ireland (1729).
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Founders Hall, an architectural jewel, is the hub of Milton Hershey School. Built as a tribute to the school's founders, Milton S. Hershey and his wife, Catherine, the hall will be the center of activities during Grand Lodge's March Quarterly Communication on March 7, 1973. Other school pictures on Pages 5-7.
in the gymnasium of Catherine H all, which is the classroom and recreational facility for boys in the Intermediate Division of the school. Catherine Hall is almost on the doorstep of Founders Hall. The Quarterly program will begin with an open house from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by a reception. A dinner for 1 ,200 Ladies and Brethren will be served at 5:30 p.m. in the Camelot Room, elegantly furnished in Arthurian decor. THE DINNER tickets will be $7.50 each and will be sold on a first come basis until the 1 ,200 seating capacity is reached. If you plan to attend dinner, be sure to get your tickets early by sending in the coupon which appears in this (Continued on Page 5)
Amendment Affects District Deputies The election of Grand Lodge officers and the Committee on Masonic Homes will highlight the December Q uar terly Communication in Philadelphia. G rand Lodge will convene at 10 a.m. Dec. 6 in Corinthian Hall of the Masonic Temple, One N. Broad St. A 12:30 p.m. luncheon will be held for the Brethren in the Grand Banquet Room. At 2 p.m. Grand Lodge will resume its labor. Action also will be taken on the following proposed amendment to the Ahiman Rezon: Resolved, that Article XII, Section 13, the first sentence of which reads, "A District Deputy Grand Master, having served as such for a period of ten years or more, may retire from that office as a Past District Deputy Grand Master," shall be amended to read as follows: "A District Deputy Grand Master, having served as such for a period of five years or more, may retire from that office as a Past District Deputy Grand Master."