THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON Are Ma~onnes Gudder Men Then Odhers?

(Conlinuedfrom page 2)
erence was made to The Free Quakers Meeting
H ouse (where Grand Lodge held its sessions
Issued Every Three Months By
"So1ne 1naconnes a.re not so virtrtou.s as from 1790 to 1799) , described in the Novem-
The Right Worshipful Grand lodge of The Most Ancient
some odher 1nenne; but, yn the 1noste ber issue of this quarterly publi cation. The
and Honorable Fra ternity of Free and Accepted Masons
parte, thay be more gude then thay
of Pennsylvania and Masonic Jurisdiction Thereunto clipping states that the Free Quakers were a
Belonging, through its
woulde be :>1 tha.y u ;ar not 1naco1U1.es."
group of Friends who defied the principles
In other words, while he would not claim
COMMITTEE ON MASONIC CULTURE- William E. of the sect and took up arms in the Revolu-
Yeager, Past Grand Master, Chairman; William E. that Masons are better men than others, and
tionary War. It also conveyed the interesting
Montgomery, G. Edward Elwell, Jr., Frank R. leech, admitted that some Masons are not so vir-
William A, Carpenter, Charles A. Young and Ashby
and welcome n ews that, because the structure
tu ous as some other m en, of one fact he
B. Paul. is a fine r epresentation of Colonial architecture

FREEMASON
could be, indeed, was s ure : that in the m ost
APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED TO BE PRINTED BY and has historical s ignificance, it will be pre-
part Masons are better men than they would
CHARLES H. NITSCH served when the Mall is completed northward
be if they were not Masons.
Right Worshipful Grand Master from Independence Hall.
In this truth we find much of the glory of
WILLIAM A. CARPENTER, Editor
Masonry. Its influence through the centuries
has been such that, in the most part, those Report of Extension Fund Committee AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF PENNSYL VANIA
Mailing Address: The Masonic Temple, who have followed its teachings have become (Continued from page 5)
Broad and Filbert Streets, Philadelphia 7, Po. better men than they otherwise would have VOLUME IV FEBRUARY • 1957 NUMBER 1
as the Treas urer but in the many, many other
been. If this were all that could be said in its
Vol. IV February, 1957 No. 1 ser vices which he cheerfully and willingly
favor , surely this, and this alone, would be a
rendered, including the monthl y statis tics as

Peace 'tS More Than a Word

sufficient excuse for its being.
to the progress of the various Lodges, which
he made up and furnished to the m embers of the
A Message from Our Grand Master
The word peace has been printed billions of
Errata et Addenda Committee. He was also most liberal with his
COMMITTEE ON LANDMARKS the Landmarks for their Jurisdictions. In these tabulations they vary
times uttered in billions of prayers, spoken By WILLIAM E. MONTGOMERY time, efforts and money, and still is continuing
milli~ns of tim es over the radio and voiced with his fine work. I have frequently been asked "What is the Committee on Landmarks?" from as few as three to as many as fi fty -fo ur.
thousands of times by every member of the An amateu r historian such as the present The prevailing idea of the Ancient Landmarks is that ~h ey are those
Brother Richard A. Kern , Past Right Wor- ARTICLE 13, SECTION NINE of the Ahiman Rezon reads, "The
human race in all the languages of earth . And wTiter is dependent to a considerable degree time honored and universal customs of Freemasonry wh rch have been
shipful Grand Master has been a tower of Committee on Landmarks shall cons ist of all the Past Grand
still we have'' wars. upon friends and associates in his effort to k~ep the fundamental laws of the Fraternity from a period so remote that
It is high time to consider that peace is more the fa cts straight and up-to-date. In connectwn str ength and h elp to the Committee, not only Masters, who in conjunction wi th the Grand Master.and the
with the work h e performed in his own Lodge their origin cannot be traced, and so essential that they cannot. be
than a word. It is more than a spot of ink on a with several articles appearing in " The Penn- Deputy Grand Master, shall be a Standing. Committee,. to
piece of paper, or a sound on our lips. but with his counsel and advice to the Com- modified or amended without changing the character of the Fratermty.
sylvania Freemason," it therefore seems which shall be referred all questions touchmg the Ancient The philosophical theory can be applied to s ome fundamental
Peace is everything that · makes life worth mittee in general.
living. appropriate to express appreciation to: Usages, Customs, and Landmarks of the Frater~itX, and the t enet or principle and we can cite as an example, Joseph Fort
Broth er Charles H. Nitsch, the Present Constitution of the Grand Lodge of P ennsylvama.
Peace is God on both sides of the table in a (1) Brother Arthur L. Miller of Pittsburgh Newton's statement that the Landmarks are "The Fatherhood of
conference. Right Wors hipful Grand Master, from the very
who called attention to an error in the arti cle ARTICLE 12, SECTION ONE of the Ahiman R ezon reads: " The God, the Brotherhood of Man, the Golden Rule and the hope of
Peace is goodwill in action. beginning, when he su cceeded Brother Edward
on Capitular Masonry in P ennsylvania, in Past Grand Masters shall be r egarded as the conser vat ors of a life everlasting."
Peace is world-wide neighborliness . F. Roberts as an Officer of the Grand Lodge,
which it was asserted that the Royal Arch the Ancient Usages, Customs and Landmarks of Freemasonry, I r epeat, The Ahiman Rezon s tates that " The Past Grand Masters
Peace is co-operation and team -work ; it is was extremely free with his time and effort for
pulling with people instead of pushing them degree was fi rst conferred in this co un try in b y reason of their experien ce . . . . " shall be r egarded as the conservators of the Anci~nt Usa~es, C~,stoms
the benefit of the fund and , in a large measure,
around. Philadelphia in 1758. The s tatem ent was ARTICLE 12, SECTION TWO of the Ahiman Rezon reads in part and Landmarks of Freemasonry, b y reason of therr expenence.
the s u ccess of the fu nd is due t o his interes t.
Peace is sanity and common sense in human correct wh en applied to P ennsylvania but " ... He (The Grand Master) is supreme in all matters con- All our P ast Grand Mas ters are dedicated Mason s. The combined
relations. Every Grand Mas ter, begin ning with Brother
covered too much territory in referring to the cerning the Fraternity. . . . " experience of these Brethren must be used to the fullest extent by the
P eace is open -mindedness. It is a willingness George H. Deike, William E. Yeager, Albert T.
entire coun try. At the Communicati on of the Grand Master presently holding office.
to listen as well as to talk. It is looking at both Eyler and Ralph M. Lehr, assis ted the Com- ARTICLE 12, SECTION THREE of the Ahiman Rezon reads:
sides of a situation obj ectively. Grand Chapt~r of P ennsyl vania in D ecembeT, It is m y desire that mee tings of the Committee on Landmarks be
mittee in every manner poss ible to perform "To him (The Grand Mas ter ) belongs the general supervis ion
Peace is patience. It mea.ns. heping ~ur 1953, the Grand High Pries t of Virginia in his held at r egular intervals and there should be included in these meet-
its job. and government of the Fra ternity . For these purposes h e is
tempers, r ising above petty . Irntatwn, . takmg remarks called attention to the fact that the ings, the Senior Grand Warden, J unior Grand War den, Grand
In addition to the work of r aising the neces- empowered:
the long-look. It means keepmg .our s h~rts on first documentary evidence of the conferring Treasurer and Grand Secr etar y .
and giving time a chance to work Its magic. sary fun ds, the work of the Committee has "To a ppoint Distri ct De pu ty Grand Mas ters, the Subordinate
of the Royal Arch degree is in the possession It is m y desire that the Committee on Landmarks be consulted on
Peace is h aving the courage and humility to brought t ogether m any Masons of the City of Officers of the Grand Lodge, Trustees, Standing Commi ttees
admit mistakes and take the blame when we are of Fredericksburg Lodge, No .4, of Virginia and m atters beyond the "An cient Usages, Customs and Landmarks of the
Philadelphia who have becom e fas t friends and Special Committees whose appointment is n ot oth er wise
wrong. bears the date of December 22, 1753, at which F raterni ty." The Committee sho uld be con s ulted .on all matters . of
because of working together and because of provided for; and all employees who may be necessary in the
P eace is international courtesy . It is good time and place three brethren were " raised policy that would affect the welfare of the Fraterm ty . I do no~ .w1sh
sportsmanship in world affairs. their respect and admiration for one anoth er. conduct of the b us iness of his of-fice ... To issue edicts (Edicts
to the Degree of Royal Ar ch Mason. " to impl y that your present Grand Master is r eluctant to make decJstons .
Peace is tact, and tact has been defined ~s the This by -prod uct , as it were, mu st be co nsidered of the Grand Master have the authority of Masonic Law)
(2) Brother Edward Barth of Philadelphia I t is a m a tter of common sense to combine the opinions of those Breth-
ability to pull the stinger of a bee without just as important to th e welfare of the Free- regarding the action of Lodges, or for the governmen t of the
getting stung. . who was kind enough to send a photograph of
masons of Philadelphia in particular, and the ren who hav~ been Grand Mas ters with the opinions of those wh o
a bronze plaque which was erected just a bout same their officers and members ... To cause Masons to be
Peace is vision. It is being big enough to g1ve Fratern ity in general, as the rais ing of SS00, - will be Grand Mas ters in the fut ure. Surely the Grand Lodge will
a year ago near Benjamin Franklin's grave in made' in his presence at any time and any place, a Lodge being
up small individual advantages for the universal profit by s uch disc ussions .
advan tage of a warless world. 000 or more. opened by him for that purpose, To grant, and a uthoriz.e to he
Christ Church burial gro und at 5th and Arch It is possible that a Grand Master in his en t husiasm, rna! not
Peace is using the Golden Rule as a measuring Possibly at some future time, someone with granted, Dispensations for making Masons, for constit uting
Streets in Philadelphia. The plaque contains always use his power wisely. Let me quote. from an address dehvered
stick in solving world problems. the necessary literary a bility and the inquisitive Lodges, f or passing to the Chair, fo r laying Corners tones, fo r
the unique and witty epitaph which Franklin by the late Senator Reed of Missouri who m an address m the Senate
Peace is the open hand instead of the clenched nature required, will resear ch the work of the forming Masonic processions, and for the burial of unaffili-
fist. It is tolerance and understanding toward wr ote as a young man and which was q uo ted said " He is a foo l, he is every kind of a fool that has ever cursed the
Committee and p roperly evaluate the services ated Master Masons . . . . "
men of everv class, creed and color. in the August 1956 issu e of this publication. earth or cursed himsel f, who thinks that any power will always be
of all of those wh o meri t commendation, in-
Pea ce is ~ mighty faith. It is a radiant belief Broth er Barth cites the fact that the s tone ARTICLE 12 SECTION FOUR reads: " He shall be ex-officio, u sed wisely or justly ."
in the potential goodness and greatness of men. marking the graves of Benjamin and De?~rah
cluding officers and members of individual chairman of ~ny Committee, whose sessions he m ay think To make a beginning of what I hope will res ult in regula r s tated
It is a dynami c confiden ce that war can be Lodges . proper to attend ... "
aholished forever. Franklin is in accordance with the p r ov1s10n s meetings of the Committee on Landmarks, the Past Gran? Masters ~ nd
P eace is a thing of the heart as well as the of Franklin's will . . . " a marble stone, 6 ft. Footnol.e by t.lr e R. JTI. Grand Mast.cr: Thus from the above, the Grand Mas ter is ves ted wi th tremendous the Grand Office rs will s hortly be invited to attend a sesswn some trme
Hrot.lr c r Jl'lorris Ru.b e r g, Past;. Mas ...cr of / .odge
head. It is warmth, a magnetism, that reaches long, 4 ft. wide, plain; with only a small No. 9 1, rvho wrote t.h e abot;c artr c lc, l .S too urodest authority . duriTJg the mon th of March at which time matters of great importance
out and draws people together in a co mmon molding a round the upper edge ." t o credit hirnsc lf wi th tire t.retncnc~ons cun~unt of The Grand Master is charaed to keep, s upport, maintain and abide by will be brought up for discussion.
pur pose. work Ir e lw s done iu u ss i.s t.ing i n ru tsiug t.lus J.und.
(3) Bro ther W illiam J. Paterson, Grand / Is S ecretory oft ltc 1-lospi t.al E:'Ctensiott Co~nnu.ttee, all of the Ancient Usages, Cus toms and Landmarks of the Fraternity .
P eace is top-level thinking, feeling, acting. It Ire /Jn s wrii.Lett hu.urlrer1s of lc t. t.ers, 1net. wtl.h tn._any

~~~~
is r ising above tanks, planes and atom bombs Lodge's effici ent Librarian and Curator, wh.o grou.ps fro n t. vuriou.s J...o d pcs antl s u gges te~l vora'!rts How does one define Ancient Usages, Customs and Landmarks?
as a way of settling disputes. forwarded a clipping from The Phdadelphm ute t.h ods of p rocedrtre: Tire ~reern~sou.s ut PJJ_tla- Much has been written on the subject. Great Mason ic scholars h ave
dclplria are fort u.uat.e 1n.c/ccd ttt llavtug tire serv1ccs
Peace is a way of living. -W.A.C. Inquirer of October 24, 1956, in which ref- of t his clcdicat.e d llfasou.. delved deeply into this s ubject. Some Grand Lodges have enumerated CHARLES H. NITSCH, Grand Master
 list of Dis trict Deputies only Warner R.
Royal Arch Masonry Is Our Face Red? only ten of whom had been members of West Report of Philadelphia Freemasons' Memorial Heston remains as District Deputy of District
Shore Lodge. Only four were absent when
By FRANK R. LEECH It is wisely said that "error is the force that Brother George A. Avery, R. W. Grand Secre- Hospital Extension Fund Committee "F" and the other District Deputies are as
follows : J ohn K. Young, " A;" Rochester B.
M. E. Grand Treasurer welds men together; truth is communicated tary, called the roll that afternoon .
to men only by deeds of truth." Woodall , " B;" William Gauer, "C;" Albert A.
West Shore Lodge, No. 681, not only By MoRRIS RuBERG, Secretary of the Committee
Royal Arch Masonry, as a separate and in- After three years of publishing, we have Baner, " D ;"Herbert S. Mullen, "E;" George C.
dependent organization, is of comparatively sponsored the new Lodge, but also offered the Flannigan, Jr. , " G;" William G. Thomas, "H;"
experienced some rather unfortunate errors in use of its Masonic Temple to the new group. January 3, 1957 was a red-letter day for the Though these starts did not bring any real
modern date. The Royal Arch is founded upon William H. Van Voorhees, "F;" and John Har-
our efforts to do justice to the many phases of A large number of Masons attended the members of our Fraternity, affiliated with the results, a great deal of the ground work and
and is but a part of the Master's Degree, as the
service performed in our Jurisdiction. ninety-six Lodges located in the City of presentation of the need for an enlargement per, "J." Brother John H. Doherty has served
Mark is but an appendage of the Fellow Craft. ceremonies, conducted by the R. W. Grand as Chairman of the Committee wi th credit and
A most recent error in the columns of " The Master, Brother Charles H. Nitsch and the Philadelphia, because on that date the Phila- of the facilities of the Philadelphia Free-
The separation grew out of, and was one of the distinction since the death of Brother Roberts.
Pennsylvania Freemason" was, of all things, an Grand Lodge Officers, marking the consecra- delphia Freemasons' Hospital Fund Committee masons' Memorial Hospital at Elizabethtown
results of the schism in England, which omission of a name in the listing of The Phila- During the period when George H. Deike
tion and constitution of the new Lodge. A paid over to the Grand Secretary a check in the was put in print and a vote of thanks was
occurred in the forepart of the 18th century. delphia Freemasons' Memorial Hospital Medi- was the Right Worshipful Grand Master, it
banquet attended by over 500 was held imme- s um of $15,000, thereby bringing the total of extended to AI Paul Lefton for the creation of
This schism was not completely harmonized became evident that the Hospital at Elizabeth-
cal Staff. And of all the names, it was Dr. E. J. diately following the ceremonies. monies paid over to the Grand Secretary, out the brochure under date of March 31, 1949,
there until 1813. The remembrance of it is of contributions and other funds received by town would have to be enlarged and inasmuch
Stein's, of Lancaster, that was omitted. "Lowther Manor" was the name given this and the statistical information under date of
embedded in the phraseology of our ritual, in Dr. Stein is a Member of Huguenot Lodge, the Committee up to that date, to a grand sum as the original buildings for this purpose were
area about 1750 by the P enn fami ly. October 29, 1948, and the pleuge forms
the term "Ancient York Mason." No . 377 of Kutztown, Pa. , and just recently of $500,000. named the Philadelphia Freemasons' Memorial
The Warrant Officers of the Lodge, which probably prepared by Horace N. Barba and
The earliest mention of the Royal Arch as a Hospital, it was felt that the Masons of the
received his Fifty Year Masoni c Service Em- will meet on the Seco nd Tuesday, are: W or- The actual amount of contributions received H. W. Schweizer, and the printing was done
separate degree, is in 1740. It is noticed as one from the various Lodges aggregated a total of City of Philadel phia should assume the respon-
blem in that Lodge. Dr. Stein is the Dean of shipful Master, MAURICE W. HYKES, Senior under the supervision of George Townsend,
of the results of the schism in England, and as approximately $483,000, and from Special sibility of raising at least a part of the funds
the members of the Consulting Staff of The Warden, RAYMOND A. MYERS, Junior W arden, connected with Dunlap & Company.
a difference between the work of the two Gifts an additional sum of approximately required. The figures at that time were esti-
Philadelphia Freemasons' Memorial H ospital, JACK B. KNORR, Treasurer, JoHN L. W ITMER Immediately following the Organization
opposing bodies. The seceders from the Grand having served continuously even pr ior to the $26,500 was received. Included in the Special mated as follows : For Hospital additions a
and Secretary, NEWTON C. LANDIS. -A.B.P. Meeting, the fund moved its office and its
Lodge of England called themselves "AN- total of $1,500,000, covering the costs of the
erection of the present hospital buildings. He Gifts was the sum of $16,300 from Benjamin activities to the Masonic Temple and engaged
CIENTS," and stigmatized the Grand Lodge Frankli n Cons istory (Valley of Philadelphia), actual building additions including alterations
has performed practically every tonsillotomy the services of a part time clerk.
and its adherents as "MODERNS." They or- Are Maconnes Gudder and equipment in the old buildings, and SS00,-
at The Homes and Th e Th omas Ranken Patton $1,050 from Mary Commandery No . 36, Knights Numerous meetings were held by the Com-
ganized as " The Grand Lodge of ALL England," 000 fo r the N urses' Home. Grand Lodge, after
Masonic Institution fo r Boys since 1921, and Men Then Odhers? Templar, $528.46 from Scott S . Leiby, 33 mittee, for the purpose of putting into effect
and cut off the Royal Arch from the Master's Class 1953 Scottish Rite, $5,000 from Lodge allocating certain funds from gifts and legacies,
is still at it. the various plans and ideas that were promul-
Degree. They say "To err is human. " But what can By GEORGE A. AvERY No. 9, specificall y fo r the Dispensary, and determined that there was still a balance
The first Royal Arch Chapter ever opened gated. Reports were made to the General
be said of such bad errors and big errors except Right Worshipful Grand Secretary various amounts fro m $15.00 up to $300.00 needed of $500,000. At that time there were
in America, of which any account has been Meetings on several occasions .
to offer our sincerest apologies to Dr. Paul R. were contributed by a h ost of Square Clubs approximately 50,000 Masons in the City of
published, is that of No. 3, in Philadelphia, This thought-provoking question is found in The Meeting which was held on the first Philadelphia and, therefore, it was determined
Evans, Resident Medical Director at The and individuals. day of April, 1949, which can be referred to as
meeting under the Lodge Warrant, about the an old English manuscript which claims to that if an average of $10.00 was contributed
Homes, and through him to Dr. E. J. Stein, a The Committee is not satisfied to rest at this the Organization Meeting, elected the follow-
year 1758. The Grand Chapter of Virginia have been written by the hand of King Henry by each Mason in the City of Philadelphia the
prominent member of his staff. And at the poirit but will continue in its elforts. As of ing Officers: Brother Edward F. Roberts,
records the first documentary evidence of the VI, and seems to be a transcript of a n oral $500,000 would be raised. The matter was
same time we' ll make a memo to have a December 31, 1956, 57 of the 96 Lodges R.W.D.G.M., Chairman, Horace M. Barba,
conferring of the Royal Arch Degree to be examina tion taken by a member of the Brother- presented to a meeting of representa tives of
session with our printer and proofreader. reached the suggested quota or an excess of Executive Chairman, William H. Betz, Treas-
found in the world as being in possession of hood of Masons, possibly in the presence of the various Lodges and the campaign was
that quota, 39 Lodges have not yet reached urer, Morris Ruberg, Secretary, and William
Fredericksburg Lodge, No . 4, a t Fredericks· the King. launched for the raising of the funds, with
To what exten t Henry was influenced by their quo ta but out of these 39 Lodges 15 R. Mooney, James W. Alexander, James L.
burg, Virginia, and bears the date of De- Lowther Manor Lodge, No. 781 this examination we shall never know. How- Lodges need amounts of $1,000 or less in Fawley, George C. Flannigan, Jr. , and Morris
the result as already stated.
cember 22, 1753. The major expenses of the Committee cov-
Recently Constituted ever, in 1450, he was initiated into the order that their respective quotas may be Scheinfeld, Trustees. These Trustees, together
The Grand Chapter of P ennsylvania is the reached. ered the cos t of prin ting, postage, stationery,
oldest on this continent, having been formed mys teries of Masonry, and immediately put a with the then Dis trict Deputies, the Officers
Fifteen states, the Canal Zone and 97 The Lodges in District " A," with Brother auditing, sign maintenance and clerk hire.
by our Grand Lodge on November 23, 1795, Lodges in P ennsylvania are represented in s top to the persecution of the Craft, whose elected, with Richard A. Kern, Past R.W.G.M.,
John K. Yo ung as District Deputy have the For the greater portion of the time, the Com-
with William Ball, then Grand Master, as the membership of Lowther Manor Lodge, No. assemblies had been prohibited by Parliament and Henry S. Borneman, Pas t D.D.G.M., com-
outstanding distincti on of every Lodge in the mittee was served by t wo very capable clerks,
Grand High Priest. A communication was 781 which was cons tituted on February 9, since 1425. prised the committee.
Distri ct, having contributed at least the sug- one by the name of J. Robert Patterson, who
immediately addressed to the Grand Lodge of 1957, in Zembo Mosque, Harrisbu rg, wi th 203 The ques tion we have quoted as our head- The District Deputies for Districts " A" to served until he en tered the Service, and the
line is the eleventh of a series of twelve which gested quota . Several Lodges have performed
ALL England and a reply from that body was Warrant Members . " J" inclusive were as follows : George A. other is Gerald F. W ilson, Sr., who is still
touch on the origin and nature of Masonry, remarkably, as, for example, Philadelphia
r eceived and read in our Grand Lodge May 30, West Shore Lodge, No. 681, of Camp Hill Avery, John H. Doherty, Frank R . Leech, W . serving the Committee faith fully and well
and on the character of its members. Lodge No. 72 with a quota of $2,640.00 has
1796. The Grand Chapter continued under which was con stituted in 1915 with twenty- LeRoy McKinley, Louis Bacharach, Warner H. down to the present time.
contributed $5,450.20, and William B. Hack-
the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge until1824, two members quickly grew in membership in Are ma~onnes gudder 1nen then Heston , Philip 0. Widing, Ralph W. Welsh ,
enburg Lodge No. 703 with a quota of $6,890 During the period of the fund collections,
when the Grand Chapter was made an in. forty-two years to 800 and its officers and odhers? Roy G. Wolff and John H. H. Morrow.
has contributed S18,625. No doubt Brother and up until the time the Grand Secretary
dependent body, electing its own officers members were in agreement that this rapidly There can be no denial of the fact that at During the period of the Committee'~ activi- fo und it necessary to make a call for funds to
William R. Mooney is responsible for the
as at present. growing area could well s upport a second first thought the question seems to be a fa ir ties, the following Brethren have passed to the pay the contractors, the money was on deposit
performance of Lodge No . 72 and Brother
At the election in Grand Chapter, held Lodge. While this idea had been given con - one, especially if asked, whether five hundred " Great Beyond" : Brother Edward ' Fos ter with the Beneficial Saving Fund Society, in a
E. Marx Schwerin is responsible for the out-
December 6, 1956, the following Grand Offi. sideration for some time, it was not until last years ago or in our own day, by one who is Roberts, August 31, 1951, Brother Jacob K. Special Account, which brought some income
standing contribution to the Fund by Lodge
cers were elected: May that the projec t was given the final trying to make an honest appraisal of the Miller, June 7, 1951, Brother Henry S. Borne- into the fund. It should be remembered that
703. It is hoped tha t at some future time a
M. E. Grand High Priest impetus that resulted in the formation of the Craft. study will be made of the work of the Com- man, January 12, 1955, Brother Horace M. t he monetary condition during 1949, 1950,
WALTER D. FERREE new Lodge. Brother Harry L. P arson , then Are Masons better men than others? mittee in order that all persons who merit Barba, January 15, 1956, and Brother Morris 1951 and 1952 was much different from that of
M. E. Grand King Worshipful Master of West Shore Lodge, and Upon more ma ture deliberation it becomes commendation will receive proper recognition Scheinfeld, March 27, 1956. the present time. The banks then were paying
JoHN R. AsHER the Committee appoin ted by him, approached patent that it is a question which no th ought- of their efforts. Certain changes likewise have occurred, as very little or no interest on sa ving deposits. It
M. E. Grand Scribe the many Masons living in this section whose ful Mason would dare to answer by a mere It sh ould be remembered that the Committee follows : Louis Bacharach is now Grand T reas- is, therefore, due to the excellent judgment,
MAURICE T. WHITE home Lodge was at least fifty miles away, and " Yes," or "No." There have always been, and, began its work in earnes t with the Organization urer, George A. Avery is now Grand Secretary, infl uence and management of Brother William
M. E. Grand Treasurer the response was so enthusias tic that by early no doubt, will always be many good men, and, Mee ting, held in Corinthian Hall on the first Charles H. Nitsch is now Right Wors hipful R. Mooney tha t the arrangement with the
FRANK R. LEECH last Fall fifty of these Masons, many of them alas, some evil men, both in and out of the day of April, 1949, after two inauspiciou s Grand Master, and Frank R. Leech , Ralph W. Beneficial Saving Fund Society was made
M. E. Grand Secretary fr om other states, had agreed to petition Fraternity. Our unknown Brother, who stood starts. The two inauspicious starts were Welsh , Phi lip 0. Widing, Roy G. Wolff and possible and a hearty vote of thanks is due
J oHN C. F. KITSELMAN Grand Lodge for a Warrant. before the King and answered the questions brought abou t by the fact that Brother Albert John H. H. Morrow are now P ast Distr ict Brother Mooney.
Companion KITSELMAN appointed Com. With the petition formally approved last put to him, was well aware of this fact. He Thatcher Hanby, R. W. J. W., died on July 13, Deputies. Likewise, in the interim, E. Paul Brother W illiam H. Betz has performed out-
panion J. EDWARDS SMITH, JR. as A ssist- December the list of Warrant Members grew dared not say that Masons are better men than 1947 and Brother Raymond M. Remi ck, Kitchen and James W. Frey served as District standing services for the Commi ttee, not only
ant Grand Secretary and the appoint- so rapidly that by February 9, the date of the others . What, then, was his reply? R. W. S. G. W., died on October 12, 1948. Depu ties for a sh ort time . Out of the original (Continued on pag e 6)
ment was confirmed by Grand Chapter. constitution, the number had reached 207, (Contin ued on page 6)
 From Our Grand Secretary's Office Master, and to Brother George A. Avery,
Grand Secretary, all three of whom had been
Brother George Washington in Pennsylvania have made us happy, preserved by the virtue
of our children, shall bless the remotest
previously elected to Honorary Membership By WILLIAM E. MoNTGOMERY generations of the time to come."
OUR DECEMBER COMMUNICATIONS Certified Public Accountants, examined the in the National Juvenile Court Foundation. After victory had been attained, it soon
The December Quarterly Communication accounts and records of the Grand Lodge, its became evident that a more stable and effective
Although citizens of all States should honor this time as the aide to General Forbes, when
of Grand Lodge was held in Town Hall on Committees, Trusts, Bequests, Funds, etc., the Corner Stone form of government was absolutely necessary,
George Washington, it is particularly appro- the English forces captured Fort Duquesne
W ednesday, December 5, 1956, and the accounts and vouchers of the Grand Treas - The Right Worshipful Grand Master, if the nation was to survive. In answer to this
priate for Pennsylvanians to pay tribute to and renamed it Fort Pitt. Although interesting
Annual Grand Communication in the Masonic urer and the Grand Secretary, and found the Brother Charles H. Nitsch , reported that on call, Washington came again to Pennsyl vania
his memory, for though a native of Virginia, himself to some extent in local affairs, Wash-
Temple, Philadelphia, on Thursday, Decem- same to be correct. Saturday, September 22, 1956, with the in May 1787 as one of Virginia's Deputies to
yet during the major portion of his public ington's next service on the national scene was
ber 27, 1956. Receipts during 1956, available for the assistance of the Officers of Grand Lodge, he the Constitutional Convention, over which
career, he was bound closely and inseparably in 1770 when he journeyed to Fort Pitt and
maintenance of the Masonic Homes and for had laid the cornerstone of the addition to the he presided until the Constitution of the
to the Keystone State, to an extent even thence for a dis tance down the Ohio in con-
Annual El ection and Installation the operation of Grand Lodge, were $1,905,- Colestock High School in Titusville, Penn- United States was finally approved by the
greater in many ways than to the Old Domin- nection with the land bounties which had been
292.04, the expenditures $1,789,806.34, leav- sylvania. Convention on September 15. New York City
At the Quarterly Communication the fol- ion in which he was born and reared. promised to the soldiers but which had never
ing a balance of $115,485.70 as of November was designated as the capital of the new-born
lowing Brethren were elected to serve Grand He had scarcely reached his majority in been deeded to them. Irt referring to this land,
15, 1956. nation and Washington was inaugurated there
Lodge for the Masonic year beginning Decem- 1753, when he was sent by Governor Din- it should be mentioned that about the same
The budget for the fiscal year ending Novem- as the first Presiden t. However, the seat of
ber 27, 1956. widdie to Western Pennsylvania to warn the time, Washington purchased the land upon
ber 15, 1957 included estimated receipts of government was soon transferred to Phila-
Brother CHARLES H. NITSCH, French to cease building forts and to vacate which Fort Necessity was located, and con-
$2,353,985.70, and estimated expenditures of delphia and thus the greater portion of Wash-
R. W. Grand Master the territory which they were obviously en- tinued as a Pennsylvania land-owner until his
$2,214,131.38, leaving a reserve of $139,- GEORGE A. A VERY, Grand Secretary ington's two terms was spent in Pennsylvania.
Brother SANFORD M. CHILCOTE, deavoring to annex. Upon his return with the death. The tract is mentioned in the se ttling
854.32 for contingencies. Maintenance of the From the foregoing recital of even ts, it
R. W. Deputy Grand Master report that the French were determined to of his estate as comprising 234 acres at an
Masonic Homes was set at $1,273,440.00. would appear certain that alth ough Washing-
Brother MAX F. BALCOM, continue their encroachment on soil claimed estimated valuation of $6.00 per acre.
Brownstone Lodge, No. 666 by the English, a military expedition was Again coming to P ennsylvania in nation- ton was a loyal son of Virginia, yet Pennsyl-
R. W. Senior Grand Warden Pennsylvania Freemason vania seems entitled to adopt the major por tion
Brother W . LERoY McKINLEY, Dedicates New Temple formed to prevent them from putting their wide ser vice, Washington was a delegate to the
The Committee on Masonic Culture, in its designs into effect. Washington declined the First Continental Congress meeting in Phila- of his public career. Although the purpose
R. W. Junior Grand Warden
Annual Report, called attention to the growth The new Brownstone Masonic Temple, home leadership of this force, but accepted a com- delphia in Carpenters Hall in 1774. Then in the of this article is to emphasize George Wash-
Brother LoUIS BACHARACH,
of the circulation of the P ennsylvania Free- of Brownstone Lodge, No . 666, was dedicated mission as Lieutenan t Colonel as second in following year while a member of the Second ington's activities within the boundaries of
R. W. Grand Treasurer
. mason, which has reached 95,000, or about on January 26, 1957, by the R. W. Grand Mas- command. The senior officer, Colonel Fry, Congress, he was elected as Commander-in- the Keys tone State, it does not seem amiss to
Brother GEORGE A. AvERY,
three eighths of our entire membership ; and ter, Brother Charles H. Nitsch, and the other was later incapacitated and never got beyond Chief of the Continen tal Army . If his military mention that, even from a Masonic standpoint,
R. W. Grand Secretary
also, to the increased use of the circulating Grand Lodge Officers in impressive ceremonies. Wills Creek, now Cumberland, Maryland. And career during the next eight years is carefully Pennsylvania has a claim to Brother Washing-
Conunittee on lHasonic Hornes library. During 1956 twice as many books were Brownstone Lodge which was constituted in so it was that in 1754 Washington came again studied, it will be noted that (with the excep- ton by reason of his membership in a Pennsyl-
Brother ScoTT C. REA borrowed as were requested in 1954. 1910 had been meeting in cramped rented to P ennsylvania in an official capacity. tion of the siege of Boston and the battles of vania Lodge over a period of several years. He
Brother RoBERT E. WOODSIDE, JR. quarters in Hummels town. The Lodge Room In the course of about two months his little Long Island and Yorktown) almost all of the was made a Mason in the Lodge at Fredericks-
Brother ScoTTS. LEIBY, R.W.P. G.M. Grand Master Honored by the on the third floor was entirely too small for the army of about four hundred men reached the principal field engagements, in which Wash- bu rg, Virginia on Novembe r 4, 1752 several
Brother C. H owARD WITMER Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan membership of over 500, while the Bank which so-called Great Meadows, a comparatively ington himself was personally in command, months pri or to his reaching the age of
Brother W ILLIAM E. YEAGER, R.W.P.G.M. owned the building desired the Lodge space for clear area in the wilderness, located about nine were fought primaril y for the purpose of twenty-one, and continued as a member of that
A commun ication was read from Brother Lodge. However, after his return to Virginia
Brother FRANCIS H. MILLS its own needs. This prompted Brother Donald miles southeast of what is now the city of obtaining or retaining possession of the city of
Robert A. Tate, Grand Secretary, stating that following the termination of the Revolution, a
Brother ELLIS E. STERN
the Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan , Canada,
J. Diffenbaugh while Worshipful Master in Uniontown. There Washington constructed Philadelphia, although admittedly not all were
1954 to revive the Building Committee. The some entrenchments, the beginning of Fort dinner was held in his h onor by Alexandria
The Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, at its Fiftie th Annual Communication, had on Pennsylvania soil.
Brownstone Masonic Temple Association was Necessity. His first actual contact with the And what patriotic citizen is likely to forget Lodge No . 39 (working under a warran t fr om
Sen ior and Junior Grand Wardens, Grand conferred Honorary Membership on Brother the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania) , on St. John
Treasurer and Grand Secretary were duly Charles H. Ni tsch , Right Worshipful Grand then chartered and the beautiful Masonic enemy in this expedition occurred about four the s tories of those darkest days of the Revolu -
Temple in Hershey is the result of that activity. miles north of the Great Meadows, where tion during the terrible winter spent upon the the Baptist's Day, June 24, 1784, at which
installed at the Annual Grand Communication Master , with the rank of Most Worshipful time Washington accepted membership in that
on December 27. P ast Grand Master. A Certificate of Honorary The new Temple, located on a spacious plot Washington with a detachment of Virginians hallowed ground of Valley Forge! Those
for ample parking at the intersection of accompanied by some Indian allies met and indeed, in the words of Thomas Paine, were Lodge. Several years later, this Lodge sur-
Membership, which accompanied the letter, was rendered its Pennsylvania warrant and received
Gifts and Bequests then presented to Brother Nitsch by Brother Governor's Road and Hockersville Road on defeated a group of French under the command the days "that tried men 's souls ;" and it is
the southern outskirts of Hershey, is 52 feet of Ensign Jumonville. At one time there was doubtful whether the soldiers of this or any a new one from the Grand Lodge of Virginia
At the December Quarterly Communication Avery, Right Worshipful Grand Secretary, as Alexandria Lodge No. 22. On this warrant
acting on behalf of Brother Tate. wide and 120 feet long with a projecting • considerable dispute among local historians other land ever met the challenge more
the Right Worshipful Grand Master an- Washington is designated as the Worshipful
entrance lobby 20 feet by 35 feet. whether this should be designated as Wash- heroically. The fate of America was hanging
nounced that during the fiscal year ending Master and served as s uch. There is some
The building, which was designed by ington's first battle. After a bit of controversy, in the balance, depending upon the courage,
November 15, 1956, Grand Lodge received Pennsylvania Mason confusion with regard to the dates pertaining
Brother Claude R. Greiner, a well known the conclusion was reached that, since less the fortitude, the loyalty of a few thousand
gifts and bequests in the amount of 8466,- Juvenile Court Institute to this change of allegiance, and the belief has
Registered Architect and a Past Master of than one hundred men were involved and the ragged, poorly-armed, underfed Collltinentals
010.70. It is of interest to note that the been expressed that Washington was actually
The Committee on Children's Service re- Brownstone Lodge, is arranged with the Lodge action only lasted about fifteen minutes, it who looked with confid ence and devotion to
smallest bequest amounted to $2.68, and the I
installed while the Lodge was still working
ported t hat at the conclusion of the fourth Room and associated rooms on the second could hardly be called a battle, but merely a their great commander. By the force of his
largest, 876,487.07. under its Pennsylvania waJTant. T he writer,
sess ion of the P ennsylvania Mason Juvenile floor and the Social or Banquet Hall on the skirmish . Although it was at this place that character, by his unconquerable will , by the
Court Instit ute, to be held in Pittsburgh from ground floo r. The Temple was erected by Washington was first under fire, it seems to be strength of his courageous soul, the spark of however, has been able to find no indisputable
Gift of George H. Deike evidence of this. It is correct, however, that
Sunday, December 9, 1956 to Friday, December Brother Martin L. Haldeman, also a member of agreed that his first real battle was at Fort liberty was kept alive. W hen the wri ter goes
At the Annual Grand Communication the 14, 1956, 92 judges, representing 40 different Brownstone Lodge. Necessity several days later, on the 3rd and to Valley Forge, he invariably pauses at the Brother Washington was serving as Worship-
R. W . Grand Master, Brother Charles H. states and 24 of the 59 judicial dis tricts in The dedication ceremonies, attended by 4th of July, 1754. Deserted by his Indian National Arch to read thereon the sublime ful Mas ter when he became President of the
Nitsch, informed Grand Lodge that Brother Pennsylvania, will have become Fellows of over 300, were held in the new Lodge Room, allies, outnumbered three-to-one, with no hope passage comprising the end of the oration of United States in April 1789. Al th ough about
George H. Deike, R. W . Past Grand Master, for the Institute. wh ile the banquet following the dedication was of expected reinforcements arriving in time, Henry Armitt Brown at the Centennial Cele- one-half of the Presidents have been members
the seventh consecu ti ve yea r had presented a Following the reading of the report by the also held in the Temple. Washington consented to the terms offered bration of 1878 : " And here in this place of of the Masonic fra ternity, Washington is the
gift of 85,000.00 to Grand Lodge, to be applied Chairman of the Committee, Brother William Brother William H. Earnest, Warrant Mas- by the French that both sides leave the sacrifice, in this vale of humiliation , in this onl y one who has been Master of a Lodge
to the cost of the erection of the Recreational E. Yeager, Brother Gu stav L. Schramm, Direc- ter of Brownstone Lodge, attended the cere- battlefield with all the honors of war. valley of the shadow of that death , out of during any part of his term as President.
Bu ilding at the Masonic Homes at Eliza- tor of the Ins titute, and Chairman of the monies, while Brother Robert M. Miller, P. M., However, Washington was by no means which the Life of America arose, regenerate
bethtown. Salva tion Army-Juvenile Court Children's who had been President of the Temple Asso- through fighting in Pennsylvania. In the fol - and free, let us believe with an abiding faith Being persuaded that a just application of the
principles on which the Masonic Fraternity is
Fund, presented "on behalf of troubled chil- ciation until he became seriously ill was also lowing year, 1755, he was with Braddock at the that to those who are to follow, Union will founded, must be promotive of private virtue and
Committee on Finance dren , a certificate of appreciation" to Brother able to attend. defeat and death of that brave but obstinate seem as dear, Liberty as sweet, and Progress as public prosperity, I shall be happ,Y to advance the
The Committee on Finance reported that it George H. Deike, Past Grand Master, to The Temple with its furnishings cost approx- Englishman. Three years later, Washington glorious as they were to our fa thers and are to interest of the Society, and to be considered by them
had, with the assistance of Main and Company, Brother William E. Yeager, Pas t Grand imately $125,000. - A.B.P. again came to P ennsylvania in military service, you and me, and that the institutions which as a deserumg Brother. GEORGE WASHI NGTON