The Tall Cedars of Lebanon stand tall in helping others. For half a century, it has vigorously supported the Muscular Dystrophy Association (M.D.A.); for many years it has awarded three $1,000 scholarships annually among Masonically related youth groups; visited veterans in hospitals and nursing homes as part of the Masonic Services Association Hospital Visita-tion Program; and shared Tall Cedar friendship and entertainment with patients in many hospitals and convalescent homes.

It was in 1951 that the Tall Cedar Foundation was formed and was the first organization to provide assistance to the M.D.A. in its search for the cause of muscular dystrophy and related neuro-muscular diseases. Through various projects, the Tall Cedars have raised more than $14 million for the M.D.A. Each year, a check is presented during the Jerry Lewis Labor Day telethon. In addition, the Tall Cedar forests provide members to answer the telephones in the local telethons. In 1977, the Tall Cedars began to sponsor fellowship grants to teach qualified physicians to diagnose and treat neuro-muscular diseases.

Tall Cedars participate in many civic projects, many by the forests in their local areas. The Supreme Forest is diligent support of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, VA. In 1983, a magnificent Tall Cedars room was dedicated on the top floor of the Memorial. The room, representing King Solomon's Temple, is built with the same kinds of materials that were used in the original structure for which King Hiram of Tyre provided wood from the tall cedar trees of Lebanon.

The Masonically related Tall Cedars of Lebanon was chartered in Trenton, NJ in 1902 and its governing body, the Supreme Forest, was incorporated a year later. Through its history, 200 forests have been chartered, of which slightly more than 100 are active today.

In keeping with the principles that are woven into all Masonic organizations, the Tall Cedars enjoy a ritual of rare beauty and dramatic meaning which is taken from The Bible in I Kings, II Chronicles, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. The forests present "The Prologue and Royal Court," which depicts the building of King Solomon's Temple. They also offer many social activities for the enjoyment of both the member and his family.