Education Conferences Highlight Grand Master's Program The Grand Master has scheduled a series of 12 conferences throughout the state during 1978 in keeping with his theme of "Freemasonry through Education." In his inaugural address Bro. Walter P. Wells said, "In knowledge there is power, and once membership becomes more meaningful one better understands what he has heard, and knows more of the fraternity he has joined. Our slogan may well be 'Let's be Masons - not just members.' Better knowledge should increase our Brothers' interest in their fraternity and hopefully their desire to become officers.'' To that end, the conferences will be attended by the District Deputy Grand Masters; the Masters, Wardens, Treasurers and Secretaries of the Lodges, and Chairman of each Lodge Committee on Masonic Culture The conference schedule, including date, place and districts involved, follows: February 25, Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown, Pa., Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 19, 42 and 60. March 11, Washington , Pa., Districts 29, 30, 31 and 43. March 18, Mansfield, Pa., Districts 16, 17, 18 and 44. April 15, Pottstown , Pa., Districts 5,. 6, 36 and 40. April 22, Bloomsburg, Pa. , Districts 11 , 21, 35, 45, 46 and 58. May 27, Philadelphia, Pa. , Districts A, B, C, D , E, 8 (and possibly 6 and 36). THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON Distribution Office MASONIC HOMES Elizabethtown, Pa. 17022 (Send FORM 3579 to Above Address)
June 24, Philadelphia, Pa., Districts F, G, H, I, J, 9 and 10. September 9, Scranton, Pa., Districts 12, 13, 14, 15, 50 and 59. September 16, Meadville, Pa., Districts 22, 23, 24, 25, 33, 52, 53 and 56. September 30, Pittsburgh, Pa., Districts 47 , 48 , 49, 51 , 54, 55 and 57. October 14, Butler, Pa., Districts 26, 27, 28, 32, 37, 38 and 39. December 9, Bedford, Pa., Districts (and may serve as a 20, 34, 41 catch-up for those not able to attend prior meetings) . The education conferences are, in most cases, being coordinated with oth-
Bro. Thompson Named Regional Instructor Bro. James K. Thompson, Past Master of Johnstown Lodge No. 538, Johns· town, has been appointed Central Regional Instructor by Bro. Walter P. Wells, R. W. Grand Master.
A long-time instructor of the ritualistic work, Bro. Thompson served as assistant principal and principal of the 41 st Masonic District School of Instruction at Johnstown. He was named to replace Bro . William L. Seabury of New Alexandria, who has been appointed District Deputy Grand Master for the 39th Masonic District. Second Class POSTAGE PAID AT Elizabethtow n Pennsylvania
FREEl\IIASON AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF PENNSYLVANIA
13 Brethren Created Past District Deputies Under Masonic Law Thirteen Brethren have been created Past District Deputy Grand Masters in accordance with Masonic law. They are: Bro. Robert W . Castner, Past Master of Covenant Lodge No. 456, Philadelphia, Masonic District "G." Bro. George Nichols, Past Master of Radiant Star Lodge No. 606, Philadelphia, Masonic District "I." Bro. Charles A . Achey, Jr. , Past Master of Lodge No. 43, Lancaster, 1st Masonic District. Bro. fohn E. Nieweg, Past Master of New London Lodge No. 545, West Grove, 5th Masonic District. Bro. David f. Godschall, Past Master of Shiloh Lodge No. 558, Lansdale, 6th Masonic District. Bro. Robert M. Klinger, Past Master of Valley Lodge No. 797, Valley View, 11th Masonic District. Bro. William G. Farrell, Past Master of Friendship Lodge No. 247, Mansfield , 17th Masonic District. Bro. Everett J_ Elliott, Past Master of Leechburg Lodge No. 577, Leechburg, 27th Masonic District. Bro. Kryl W. Richards, Past Master of Laurel Lodge No. 651 , Uniontown, 31 st Masonic District. Bro. Frank F. Troup, Past Master of Homewood-Fort Pitt Lodge No. 635 , Penn Hills Township, 38th Masonic District. Bro. D . Eugene Losasso, Past Master of Kiskiminetas Lodge No. 617, Vandergrift, 39th Masonic District. Bro. Byrl f. Johnson, Past Master of Tyrian Lodge No. 644, New Kensington, 54th Masonic District.
POSTMASTER: Please Include Complete Imp rint of Address on Your Postal Return Clip ping.
The PENNSYLVANIA
er Masonic activities in the areas. Responsibility for the coordination has been assumed by the Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Culture through its chairman, Bro. John K. Young, R. W. Past Grand Master.
Bro. Gregory L. Christ, Past Master of Mahanoy City Lodge No. 357, Mahanoy City, 58th Masonic District.
FEBRUARY
VOLUME XXV
e
NUMBER 1
1978
Bro. Wells Takes Office As State's Grand Master Bro. Walter P. Wells of Coudersport, senior judge of Pennsylvania's 55th Judicial District, Potter County, has been installed as R. W. Grand Master of Masons in Pennsylvania. The installation to the highest office in Freemasonry in the state took place during the Annual Grand Communication held in Founders Hall at the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, on December 27, 1977. He succeeded Bro. John L. McCain of Pittsburgh. A graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Dickinson School of Law, Bro. Wells first entered the practice of law in Coudersport with his late father, John Walter Wells. Admitted to the bar in 1931, he was elected district attorney for Potter County in 1933 and served .in that post until 1952. Bro. Wells became president judge of the 55th Judicial District in 1952 and served in that capacity until 1975. A member of Eulalia Lodge No. 342, Bro. Wells served as Worshipful Master in 1940. He is a Past High Priest of Coudersport Royal Arch Chapter No. 263; a member of Coudersport Council No. 63, Royal and Select Masters, and a member of Potter Commandery No. 69, Knights Templar. He was Commander-In-Chief of Coudersport Consistory from 1963 to 1966 and has been a trustee of the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Coudersport, for more than 30 years. A Past Most Wise Master of the Coudersport Chapter of Rose Croix, he was coroneted an honorary Thirty-Third Degree Mason in 1955. His other Masonic affiliations include membership in the
Bro. Walter P. Wells R. W. Grand Master
(Continued on .Page 3)
Details: Pages 5-8 and 9-11
Grand Master Schedules Summer Travel Program The Grand Master has scheduled a summer travel program designed to take into consideration the varied amounts of time members of the fraternity and their fri ends may be able to devote to vacations. To accomplish that goal, two separate trips have been planned - a two-week tour of the Scandinavian countries and a one-week trip to Switzerland . Details of the Scandinavian tour, covering nine departure dates from
earl y May to late September, are presented on pages five through eight, a nd details of the Switzerland trip , with four departure dates in August and September, are presented on pages nine through eleven. Plans are now being made to have Grand Lodge Officers host each of the individual trips and efforts are being made to provide the opportunity to visit places of Masonic interest and engage in Masonic fellowship when possible. For example, plans have already been
established for tours of the Masonic Temple in Stockholm. The Grand Master will host the Scandinavian tour departing July 20 and the Switzerland tour departing August 14. It is suggested that reservations for all trips be made as soon as possible because of limitations on the amount of travelers that can be accommodated on individual trips. Applications will be processed on a first received basis.