At its first stated meeting of the new Northeast Council No. 74, U.D. Knight Masons of the U.S.A. on Jan. 8 in Hazleton, R.W. Grand Master Robert L. Dluge, Jr., was initiated by Sir Knight Errol T. Betzenberger, the Excellent Chief. He and the other brethren in the "R.W. Grand Master Robert L. Dluge, Jr., Class" became charter members of the Council. Sir Knights of Penn Council No. 13, Philadelphia, conferred the Degrees of Knighthood under the direction of Matthew Dupee, Senior Knight-Elect.

Among those in the honor class were Luther J. Black, the Grand Sword Bearer; Patrick J. Connor, Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Pennsylvania; and Donald J. Panichi, Grand Governor of York Rite Sovereign College of Pennsylvania.

Present to welcome the R.W. Grand Master was Douglas L. Jordan, R.W. Grand Scribe of the Grand Council of Knight Masons of the U.S.A., accompanied by Ronald L. Pennell, Grand King of Grand Chapter. Also attending from the Grand Council of Pennsylvania were Grand Master William N. Feilke, Deputy Grand Master Freeman Z. Frey, III, and Grand P.C.W. Meredith Gold, III, and from the Grand Commandery of Pennsylvania William E. Clepper, Grand Commander, and numerous present and past officers of all of the bodies.

Grand Master Dluge has been active in York Rite Masonry, having served as a presiding officer of the four York Rite bodies, as well as Gallicantu Tabernacle No. LXXV, H.R.A.K.T.P., and Gen. John Sullivan Council No. 84, Allied Masonic Degrees. In recognition of his service as a past presiding officer of the four bodies, he was inducted into Penn Priory No. 6, Knights of the York Cross of Honor. Bro. Dluge was honored with the rank of Knight, York Grand Cross of Honour with One Quadrant, an honor bestowed only on York Rite Grand Presiding officers who have attained the Knight of the York Cross of Honor distinction.