'Agnes' Victims Given $614,850 In Flood Relief The Committee on Flood Relief's final report shows Grand Lodge provided $614,850 in cash grants and loans to victims of tropical storm Agnes which ravaged Pennsylvania last June. The three-member committee. which was appointed by Bro. W. Orville Kimmel, R. W. Grand Master, presented its final report at the March Quarterl y Communication. The committee. it.s work completed, was dissolved as of March 7 after recommending such action to Bro. Kimmel. UNDER THE chairmanship of Bro. Rochester B. Woodall, R. W. Deput:v Grand Master, the committee had met regularly and administered the flood relief program since last July 5. The committee received and processed 592 applications for assistance up to Dec. 31, 1972. Bro . Kimmel had declared the flood emergency period over as of that date, in accordance with a resolution by Grand Lodge. The flood relief program was carried out in four phases. Under the first phase, Grand Lodge gave $111,850 in cash gifts to Brethren who needed help immediately in the disaster. The second phase saw Grand Lodge approve $476,500 in low interest loans to help flood victims get a new start. CASH GIFTS totaling $ 12,300 were given under the third phase to local organizations which did outstanding work during the emergency. In the program's fourth phase, Grand Lodge provided $14,200 to help restore Masonic Temples damaged by flood waters.
AN
OF THE RIGHT WORSH IPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF PENNSYLVANIA
VOLUME XX
MAY
•
1973
NUMBER 2
Dedication Crowns Fun-Filled Day 3rd Woods Brother Gets Emblem A highlight of Sharpsville Lodge No. 517's tOOth anniversary celebration came when Bro. W. Orville Kimmel, R. W. Grand Master, presented Bro. Ralph A. Woods, the Lodge's oldest living Past Master, with his Grand Lodge Fifty Year Masonic Service Emblem. Proudly look· ing on are Bro. Woods' two brothers, Bro. Frederick H. Woods and Bro. Charles H. Woods (left to right), who also are 50-year members of Sharpsville Lodge. T heir late brother, Bro. George M. Woods, had served as Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1933.
Thousands to Tour Building
Dedication Crowns Fun-Filled Day (Continued from Page I)
tish Rite Choir, under the direction of Bro. James E. Sawyer, and three top bands from Shrine Temples across the state. Zembo Temple in Harrisburg will send its Concert Band to perform under the baton of Bro. Lincoln B. Fogelsanger; the String Band of Lu Lu T emple, near Philadelphia, will be directed by Bro. Henry Yerkes; and the "Million Dollar" Brass Band of Syria Temple in Pittsburgh will be led by Bro. John G.
THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON
Second Class
Distribution Office MASONIC HOMES Elizabethtown, Pa. 17022
POSTAGE
(hnd FORM 3S79 to Above Address)
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
PAID AT Elizabethtown Pennsylvania
POSTMASTER: PleaS<! Include Complete Imprint cf Address on Your Postal Return Clipping.
Stephens Jr. W hile they will have no part in the dedication ceremony, about 20 rednosed, baggy pants characters from Zembo Temple's Clown Unit will be especially busy most of the day. THE CLOWNS, laden with plenty of balloons for the youngsters, will be performing their slapstick routine throughout the grounds. From morning to dusk, the cavorting clowns will certainly bring joy to young and old alike. Ten shuttle buses will travel a fixed route in touring the grounds from 9 a.m. to 5 :30 p.m. The buses w ill be plainly marked and no other transportation will be permitted to tour the Homes' area. Parking space is available to handle more than 3,000 cars and at least 200 chartered buses which will bring Lodge groups to the dedication. About SO DeMolay members will assist with the parking, while 65 members of the Rainbow Girls and Job's D aughters will serve as tour guides. FOR THE convenience of visitors. water dispensers and comfort stations will be placed in various picnic sites. Soft drink stands also will be conveniently located. First aid stations will be staffed at the hospital and Grand Lodge Hall. Several ambulances will be available if needed. A fleet of cars will be marked to take visitors to the first aid stations.
Everything is set for a fun-filled day July 28 when thousands of Brethren and their famil ies converge on Elizabethtown for dedication of the "Masons Care Building" at the Masonic H omes. The full day of activities will get underway with morning tours of the new 116-bed , $3.5 million building. Tours also will be conducted throughout the Homes and grounds. THERE WILL be entertainment bv award-winning bands, a choral grouo and clown unit from various Masonic Bodies. Much of the beautiful 1 ,600 acres of the Homes will be set aside as picnic areas for Lodge groups and visitors from all sections of the state. They will pack their own basket lunches and bring card tables and folding chairs to set up outdoors. Bro. W. Orville Kimmel, R. W.
Grand Master, and other Grand Lodge officers w ill dedicate the "Masons Care Building" at 2 p.m. ceremonies. Principal speaker at the dedication will be Bro. Conrad Hahn , who has served since 1964 as executive secretary of the Masonic Service Association of the United States. He is a Past Grand Master of Masons in Connecticut. AFTER THE dedicatory address the "Masons Care Building," one of the most modern of its kind in the nation. will be presented officially to Grand Lodge's Committee on Masonic Homes. Accepting the building on behalf of the committee will be one of its members, Bro. William E. Yeager of Warren, a Past Grand Master of Pennsylvania. Bro. Yeager will make brief remarks in accep ting the key to the threestory, air conditioned building. The dedication program will be held
in the parking area of the new building, which is adjacent to the Philadelphia Freemasons' Memorial Hospital. A STAGE WILL be erected for the ceremonies and thousands of folding chairs placed to handle the audience. Taking part in the festivities will be the Valley of Harrisburg's 35-voice Scot(Continued on Page 8)
$885,000 Bequest Creates Memorial The second floor of the "Masons Care Building" will be dedicated as a memorial in honor of a Philadelphia Mason who bequeathed $885,000 to Grand Lodge. Bro. Joseph D . Wilson, who was a member of Franklin Lodge No. 134 in Philadelphia, created a residuary trust under terms of his will. Bro. Wilson died Nov. 19, 1922. Under the will, funds from the recently liquidated trust were " for the erection of one or more buildings, or parts of buildings, at the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown ... the said money to be expended under the order, direction and care of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania." A plaque inscribed as "The Joseph D. Wilson Memorial" will be placed on the new building's second floor.
Quarterly Meetings Set Grand Officers and Their Ladies Highlr pleas.ed over tremendous turnout at the March Quarterly, the Grand Lodge Officers and the1r Lad1es prepare to warmly receive their guests in Founders Hall at the beautiful Milton Hershey School. Left to right are Bro. Ashby B. Paul, R. W. Grand Secretary and Mrs. Paul; Bro. Art~ur R. Diamond, R. W. Grand Treasurer, and Mrs. Diamond· Bro. Walter P. Wells, R. W. Jumor Grand Warden, and Mrs. Wells; Bro. John L. McCain, R. W. Senior Grand Warden, and Mrs. McCain; Bro. Rochester B. Woodall, R. W. Deputy Grand Master, and Mrs. Woodall; and Bro. W. Orville Kimmel, R. W. Grand Master, and Mrs. Kimmel. Other pictures at Hershey on Pages 3 and 5.
The June Quarterly Communication will be held June 6 in the Masonic Temple, Philadelphia. Grand Lodge's Committee on Finance will meet at 10:30 a.m. in the Grand Master's Reception Room. There will be a 2:30p.m. meeting of District Deputy Grand Masters in the Grand Banquet Hall. Grand Lodge will convene at 7 p.m. in Corinthian Hall. All Master Masons are invited to attend.