Rev. and Bro. Charles H. Lacquement, D.D., Director of Pastoral Care, will retire on Sept. 1, 1999. Although he has many plans for his free time, Bro. Lacquement is not looking forward to leaving after his 26 years of service. But, he says, he has to do it sometime.

"I have truly enjoyed the privilege of serving the residents of the Masonic Homes of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania," Bro. Lacquement said. "My work as Director of Pastoral Care has been a satisfying and rewarding ministry." When Bro. Lacquement came to the Masonic Homes on June 15, 1973, he was the Home's first full-time pastor. Prior to that, the Masonic Homes had visiting pastors deliver the worship services.

But pastoral care was only one aspect of Bro. Lacquement's responsibilities at the beginning. At one time, Bro. Lacquement said his peers joked that he had the longest title at the Masonic Homes. For 14 years, he served as the Director of Spiritual Services, Social Services, Therapeutic Recreation, Volunteers, and Resident Services -- which included the Beauty/Barber Shop and transportation services. At the same time, he was performing the weekly worship services and up to three funerals a week. As the facility grew, many of the disciplines under his direction became their own departments, and Pastoral Care evolved into a department of four employees dedicated solely to spiritual services.

Upon his retirement, Bro. Lacquement plans to stay active as a Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Grand Pryor of the Council of Deliberation, and Chaplain of the local High 12 Club. He and his wife, Connie Jo, also look forward to traveling to see their son in Greensburg, NC, who is a pilot for US Airways. The Lacquements also have three daughters in the Harrisburg area, and stay busy with their ten grandchildren.

One of the most rewarding aspects of Bro. Lacquement's career has been his preaching. After 45 years as an ordained minister, Bro. Lacquement says he feels like he's been a preacher all of his life. "I find real joy and fulfillment in preaching, from its spiritual and social benefits," he said.

He would like to keep his preaching skills sharp by becoming active in a small church.

Bro. Lacquement is also an old car enthusiast. He has three classic cars. He keeps his "babies" so clean that you can see your reflection in them.

Bro. Lacquement said it will be extremely difficult to say "goodbye." In fact, he does not plan to give a farewell sermon, but has asked Pastor A. Preston Van Deursen, Associate Pastor, to do it for him.

"There is no relationship on earth that is closer than a pastor and his congregation," Bro. Lacquement said. "As a pastor, people see you as a representative of God, and are at ease to bare their very soul. This rests heavily on a pastor to know that individuals hold you in such high esteem." Bro. Lacquement says that the key to being a successful pastor is one's ability to identify with people... to touch them emotionally and spiritually with words, but also physically, with compassion. "I've never offered a prayer without laying my hand on a person's shoulder," Bro. Lacquement said. "I think it would be hard to pray without the ministry of touch; otherwise, you're showing the compassion of an iceberg."