Four Generations in Same Lodge
Bro. Kenneth W. Van Wert, Past Master of Oriental Lodge, No. 588, Peckville, shown on the right, has been busy in the East. He has conferred degrees on his relatives (left to right) Bro. George H. Van Wert, his son; Bro. Thomas G. Taylor, Sr., Past Master, his sonin-law; Bro. Thomas G. Taylor, Jr., and Bro. Kenneth G. Taylor, his grandsons. Bro. Van Wert's father, the late Bro. Herman M. Van Wert, a fifty year Member of Oriental L~dge, lived to see four generations of the family as Members of the Lodge.
A Worshipful Master, a Ritualist, a Visitor, a Real Brother Bro. Kenneth G. Wyant, when he was Worshipful Master of Dallas Lodge, No. 396, Easton, in 1979, had the rare privilege and pleasure of Entering, Crafting and ·Raising his father over recent months. After making his father, Bro. Kenneth J. Wyant, a Mason, Bro. Wyant also assisted greatly in the proficiency procedure. Sometime later Bro. Wyant, accompanied by his Lodge Officers and a bus full of Members, attended a meeting of Abraham C. Treichler Lodge, No. 682, h eld at the Masonic Homes and while there Bro. Wyant conferred the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason upon his brother-inlaw, Bro. William F. Adams. Bro. Wyant was recently honored for his dedicated service in Freemasonry highlighted by untold hours devoted to visiting a record number of the Members of Dallas Lodge in their homes, many of them at quite a distance from Easton. The lack of attendance and interest in Symbolic Lodges indicates there are a great number of things more popular among Masons than Freemasonry.
June 1981 is Our Time to Celebrate! Although it is but nine-months into the future at this writing, it is not too soon to announce that a great event has been in the planning and designing stage for several months for the dates of June 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th of 1981. On those five dates our Grand Lodge will celebrate 250 years of Freemasonry in Pennsylvania. An elaborate celebration was planned and conducted back in 1931 in commemoration of two hundred years of Freemasonry in Pennsylvania. So, it is both fitting and proper that we set aside a few days to commemorate another fifty years of Masonic activity in our great Commonwealth. Bro. Joseph E. Trate, R. W. Grand Master, and his 1981 Committee, have already devoted many hours of deliberation and effort with the hope and purpose of making this coming celebration one of the greatest Masonic events of our time. A Special Communication of Grand Lodge is planned for Wednesday, June 24, 1981, which happens to be St. John the Baptist's Day, truly a Masonic date. A wreath-laying ceremony will follow at the grave of Bro. Benjamin Franklin who was Grand Master of our Provincial Grand Lodge in 1734 and 1749, following which a Church service will be conducted in Old Christ's Church, Philadelphia. Honored guests will be entertained on Thursday, June 25th and provided with a tour of the Masonic Homes on Friday, June 26th. On Saturday, June 27th a Masonic Parade is scheduled in Philadelphia from the
Art Museum to the Masonic Temple following which will be the unveiling and dedication of a statute to be placed directly a,cross Broad Street in front of the Masonic Temple. A banquet is planned for Saturday evening, June 27th. A religious service on Sunday morning, June 28th, will conclude the formal celebration. In due time a set of six recommended programs for use at Stated Meetings of the Symbolic Lodges January through June of 1981, will be distributed. Medallions, coins and special literature are also being considered for those interested. More information and pertinent details as to how you can help make this coming celebration a successful and memorable occasion will follow.
THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON Distribution Office MASONIC HOMES Elizabethtown, Pa. 17022 (Send FORM 3579 to Above Address)
Second Clan POSTAGE PAID AT Elizabethtown Pennsylvania
Recent Appointments By R. W. Grand Master Recent Grand Lodge appointments made by Bro. Joseph E. Trate, R. W. Grand Master, included the following Brethren: Bro. Howard E. Vaughan, Past Master of Newtown Lodge, No. 427, Woodside, Pa., has been appointed the Philadelphia Regional Instructor, vice Bro. Maurice A. Singer, deceased. Bro. Ernest C. Hunt, Past Master of Lewisville Lodge, No. 556 Ulysses, Pa., has been appointed District Chairman for the Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Culture for the 44th Masonic District, vice Bro. Charles H. Catlin, deceased.
POSTMASTER: Please Include Complete Imprint of Address on Your Postal Return Clipping.
•
The PENNSYLVANIA.
FREElWA.SON AN OffiCIAl PUBliCATION Of THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUl GRAND lODGE Of FREE AJID ACCEPTED MASONS Of PENNSYLVANIA VOLUME XXVII
AUGUST • 1980
NUMBER3
What Should We Say if Asked About Freemasonry? What should we tell our non-Masonic friends when they ask questions about Freemasonry? When these questions arise, and they often do, our response will undoubtedly influence the mental attitude of our friends toward ourselves and the Craft in general. We should not take a timid approach to our answers. We should not indicate a desire to "change the subject." We should not reflect a "mum's-the-word" attitude. Instead, we should be prepared to speak with ease, pride and authority. Make it known that Freemasonry is a way of life. Freemasonry is fraternal in organization, religious in character, based on the belief in the Fatherhood of God, Brotherhood of Man and the Immortality of the Soul. Be prompt to make it known that Freemasonry is not a "secret society" as many surmise. Freemasonry is a voluntary association wherein the interested one comes of his own free will and accord. Indicate also that Freemasonry is not a religion as many claim it is. Discussions on religion or politics have no place in our ·proceedings. Proclaim that Fr!3emasonry, in its every effort and purpose strives to do charitable work within its membership and for society, ahd through its teachings, seeks to make good men better men. You can proudly state that the basic ethical principles as exemplified in our Ritual and Lodge Work, are such as are most acceptable to all good men; they are lessons based on the golden rule, tolerance toward men, respect for one's family, charity towards all and being true to God for His gracious and numerous blessings. Be proud to proclaim that Freemasonry is a band of men bound together in the bonds of Brotherly Love and Affection that extends throughout the World. And to sum it all up Freemasonry is kindness in the home, honesty in business , courtesy in society, fairness in work, pity and concern for the unfortunate, resistance toward the wicked, help for the weak, trust in the strong, forgiveness for the penitent, love for one another and, above all, reverence and love for God. These and many other answers can be applied to the questions your friends will ask. Speak up. What do we have to hide - save that which pertains to our esoteric Work? Freemasonry is a Way of Life!
SITE OF SEPTEMBER QUARTERLY - The Rajah Tern• ple, located at 136 North Sixth St., Reading, Pa., where the September Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge will be held on Wednesday evening, September 3, 1980.
September Quarterly To be Held at Reading The September Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge wql be held in the spacious Rajah Temple Auditorium, Reading, Pa. , on Wednesday evening, September 3, 1980. The' procession of Grand Lodge Officers will begin at 6:00 o'clock, 55 minutes, P. M. (E.D.T.) This will be the first time a Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge has been scheduled for the 7th Masonic District which comprises the city of Reading and surrounding communities. The purpose of scheduling Quarterly Communications in various cities throughout the Jurisdiction is to provide every opportunity for more Pennsylvania Masons to experience a Grand Lodge Communication. Bro. Joseph E. Trate, R. W. Grand Master, is hopeful that a large number of Pennsylvania Masons will make every effort possible to attend the September Quarterly at Reading. It is not necessary to be a Lodge Officer or a Past Master to attend a Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge. All Master Masons are eligible and invited to attend. There are many motels in the Reading area and several parking lots within a few blocks of Rajah Temple.