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This Grand Master's message is the prepared text for his Inaugural address
My Brethren:
It has been historic for all of us to participate in the events of yesterday and today and to look forward to tomorrow, most especially, those events that will transpire in just a few days of welcoming a new millennium. At this point though, you probably are wondering where are we going from here. What's this new administration all about?
First and foremost, it is necessary to answer the most burning question you have, other than when's lunch. And that, I'm sure is, "Where's Elysburg?" The best answer to that is to look due north from this room in Hershey approximately 60 miles and you will find Elysburg. With that out of the way, your next burning question probably is, "What is this administration going to do?" Perhaps the best description is that which it is said a bride should bring to her wedding and, with three daughters, one of whom was recently married, I have some firsthand knowledge about that!
This administration is going to offer to the Fraternity "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue."
Something Old: The old, tried and true principles of the Fraternity of Freemasons. We all have a rich history and heritage in Pennsylvania as being the oldest Grand Lodge in America. We intend to preserve these traditions, but also to remember the current age and world in which we live.
Something New: Yes, we have a few ideas that will bring a new view to things. I assure you, though, that this will be done in the context of the historical background in which we have been raised.
Something Borrowed: Over the last number of years our Past Grand Masters, to whom we have paid respect and who so richly deserve it, have individually and collectively had the wisdom, the foresight, and the fortitude to engage in programs that recognized the importance of Freemasonry internally and externally. We will try to continue this type of activity as well.
Something Blue: Everything that we do is based on the time-tested principles of Freemasonry that we learn in a lodge that we call "Blue." We have done a fair amount of research into this Fraternity what it is, what it means, what it does. All that we have planned will be conducted within that context, utilizing the principles of Freemasonry.
How are we going to do this? Over the years, you have told us, your Grand Lodge officers, two things. First, that every two years all new programs take place and you can hardly keep up with one until it changes again. Second, that you will only utilize those programs that you feel apply to you. As a result, we are going to try to respond to what you have told us.
We are going to emphasize the programs of our Past Grand Masters that you have told us, or shown us, that you will support. Many of you have asked and, our friends on Wall Street permitting, Matching Grants will continue, but with an additional level of charitable giving. That is, the Matching Grants Program is one of the finest programs conceived for this Grand Lodge in many years a tribute to Past Grand Master James Ernette and also Past Grand Master Samuel C. Williamson, who has administered the program and will continue to do so. It has allowed us to show our communities that "Masons do care."
We ask you to continue that caring, but expand it by actually giving of yourselves and your charitable funds. This was the goal of the Partners in Progress and will continue to be our goal as well. We want you to roll up your sleeves and donate your time and work, as well as giving funds to support charitable efforts for the benefit of our members and our communities. While we are not a service organization, we do pledge ourselves in service to those in need of assistance. What better way to fulfill our obligations than by not only giving of your funds, but also your time and yourselves, as well. Help the members who, for some reason, cannot mow their lawns or shovel their snow. How many times have we actually done that in recent memory.
To recognize your service, the Grand Lodge will provide a visible tribute to those who engage in outstanding service when participating in a Matching Grants or service program. Nominations will be made by a District Deputy to the Matching Grants Committee, who will then select truly outstanding members for Grand Lodge Service Awards. This evening at our banquet, the first three of those Grand Lodge Service Awards will be presented.
We also are going to ask that you consider a particular method of support for your Matching Grants activities. We have entered into an understanding with the Pennsylvania affiliate of the American Heart Association to support a program that literally saves lives. This program involves working in cooperation with your local emergency services agencies, including the police, fire, and ambulance units to provide an automated external defibrillator (AED), to your community.
The defibrillator is a device that can literally shock a person back to life. The Heart Association's goal is to have 1,000 of these units in Pennsylvania. At a cost of $3,000 to $5,000 a piece, we obviously cannot meet the benchmark; but we can galvanize a community to get together to try to make it happen. Your District Deputies will be provided with further information tomorrow to assist you in learning how to participate in this program.
To assist our lodges, the mission of the Lodge Loan Program will be enhanced. Under the guidance of R.W. Past Grand Master W. Scott Stoner as chairman, lodges will be surveyed to determine critical needs. Interface will then take place with a new committee to be known as a District Deputy Resource Committee, to develop strategies dealing with those needs. These committees will serve our lodges directly in helping them not only to exist, but to excel.
A major program of the past also will return in a slightly different fashion. I speak, my Brethren, of none other than FRIEND TO FRIEND. That program will be under the tutelage of its creator, R.W. Past Grand Master George Hohenshildt, and allow us to feel comfortable with our membership in the fraternity and to utilize a simple brochure to tell others about Freemasonry. Most important though, this committee will conduct an in-depth analysis of our members, their strengths, weaknesses, and how to improve membership generally.
Next, we have had many excellent educational programs and opportunities for our lodges; but, frankly, have found that many of them have sat idle on the shelf. In recognition of this, the word "OPTIONAL" will become "OPERATIVE." Masonic Education is meant to benefit you as a member in better understanding your membership in the fraternity, the fraternity itself, and even in learning the ritual. We are establishing a new concept that will allow you to accomplish this. In March and October, a one-day Academy of Freemasonry will take place at our Masonic Homes campus in Elizabethtown. This Academy will have three tracks wherein you, as a member, can participate and enlighten yourselves while enhancing your knowledge.
The first track will be a Grand Lodge School of Instruction, replacing several regional schools. It also will be a school conducted by the Ritualistic Instructors and the principals of the various District Schools of Instruction. We want to emphasize EXCELLENCE in our work to make it meaningful, not only to the candidate, but also to those who confer the degrees. Ofttimes, we don't intentionally trivialize the work, but also we don't do it at our best. The Ritual portion of the Academy will showcase the best of our ritual and ritualists and will be an excellent opportunity to see the work performed the way it is supposed to be.
We also will be announcing guidelines for member and officer proficiency that will be a little different than that currently required. We recognize that some work more than one job and that we can't continually require time when it just can't be given. This is not to say we will require less. But, we will seek quality of knowledge as opposed to rote memorization. One-day classes will return, but on a strictly optional and limited basis. Degree teams of a lodge, district, or even employment-related basis will be encouraged. You have told us that you are interested in QUALITY and so are we.
The second track will be a return of the Wardens Seminars that were established by R.W. Past Grand Master Edward O. Weisser. Those seminars received many positive responses when they took place and now will be a one-day condensed version of a three-day seminar that literally will teach and train a Warden how to be the Master of his lodge. A portion of this program will show a lodge, through its leadership, how to preserve its future financially in an innovative, but easy way.
The third track is something new, unique, and an effort to permit our members to have a true cultural experience. R. W. Past Grand Secretary Thomas W. Jackson has empaneled a team of Masonic scholars who will present a cultural perspective of what Freemasonry really is, what Freemasonry means, and where we, in Pennsylvania, actually stand in relation to the world and the world of Freemasonry at large. This should be most interesting and informative and allow those who want to improve themselves through knowledge, the opportunity to do so.
A part of this program also will be a home study course to broaden one's understanding of the Fraternity. Brother Jackson also will be establishing something else that's new the first Pennsylvania Lodge of Research, of which he will serve as Warrant Master. This lodge will be dedicated to those whose interest is in researching Masonic topics and presenting the results of their research to others. The ultimate goal of all of these projects is to permit those who wish to learn to have the ability to do so in the context of a free exchange of ideas, much as was done at the time of the formal formation of our organization.
Each lodge will be given an educational, self-improvement opportunity to present at one, and possibly a series, of programs to help our members as well. These programs are directed toward protection and personal safety. We suggest that, to the extent possible, we utilize our members who are in law enforcement and emergency services in the presentation of these programs. They will involve the areas of safety at home, on the street, on the road, in the workplace, and while traveling. We also request that all lodges offer a CPR course as well. We pledge to help each other and what better way can we do that than by trying to make you better aware of what may save your life or your family's life.
As mentioned earlier, we are going to try to limit the amount of time that you have to go to meetings. Earlier this year, the Grand Lodge officers attended a seminar where an executive of the Girl Scouts said, "Freemasons: you're the only organization that meets once a month, every night of the month." Think about that. How true it is!
As many of you already know, we have arranged for combined lodge anniversaries. Of the several reasons for doing this, one stands above the others. When 100 or 200 gather, the media will pay some, but little attention. If several thousand appear, the situation may be different. We need to conduct these events for others to see what Freemasons can accomplish. As an inducement to attend the banquet phase of any lodge anniversary, we are going to do something a little different, something that hasn't been done in at least 100 years in Pennsylvania. We will conduct an "open" Grand Lodge Table Lodge at these events, utilizing a specially produced commemorative "firing" glass. We will ask the Grand Lodge officers who can attend to be the presenters for the ceremony. It is hoped that the presentation of the lodge videos that are currently being processed, as well as the Table Lodge, will encourage increased attendance at these events.
For the youth, we have asked the Pennsylvania Youth Foundation to establish a student exchange program. Through the efforts of Brother Jackson, Grand Lodges in Spain, France, Greece, Germany, and Brazil have expressed a willingness to participate in a Masonic Student Exchange Program for summers, as well as the school year. What can be better for a Masonic family than to entrust their child or grandchild to other Masons worldwide?
In addition, we have asked the Youth Foundation to create a summer camp for Masonic youth at our Patton Campus. It is anticipated that this camp would be related to career, guidance, and personal development. It will be a learning experience, but also FUN. The camp will teach life skills such as are not always provided in formal schooling.
The Pennsylvania Masonic Foundation for Children will be asked to include in its activities a program that will help identify and deal with juvenile fire-starters. We will approach the Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education for consideration of this in a manner similar to that of the Student Assistance Program that we currently sponsor.
To answer yet another question that many of you have posed: Yes, there will be a Masonic train. We have entered into an agreement with Weaver Quality Craft Models of Northumberland, Pennsylvania, the third largest manufacturer of model trains in the United States. This train will consist of a Pennsylvania A-5 Atlantic steam engine with four cars and a caboose. The train is marked with Masonic symbols and each group depicted on the train will receive a portion of the proceeds from sales for its charitable endeavors. The balance of the sales will be placed in the Masonic Charities Fund. This is definitely an advance sale item, and the prototype will be available for viewing this afternoon and at the banquet this evening. We also will make a special offer available to lodges and Grand Lodges that want to personalize a car of this train as well.
What are you going to do with the funds generated from this project? We have pledged ourselves to yet another effort that we hope will meet not only with your approval, but with your enthusiastic support.
We have pledged the sum of $500,000 to support an organization that speaks for all the best of the American dream an organization that encourages youth worldwide to do and be the best, both individually and as a team effort. This organization is not a government, or government-related; but it has fostered international cooperation on an unprecedented level. Most particularly, this organization was founded by a Pennsylvania Mason. I refer, my Brethren, to Little League baseball, an organization in which I am sure many of you in this room have participated. Little League currently is engaged in a major expansion program that will, in 2001, offer an entirely new stadium so that additional teams may play in an expanded world series. Pennsylvania Masons will donate the scoreboard that will grace the new stadium, which will be marked with Masonic symbols symbols that will be shown on every international television broadcast that takes place from the stadium. In addition, we will commission a statue of Brother Carl Stotz, the founder of Little League, to be placed at the entrance to the stadium complex. We hope that this will be dedicated in a Masonic cornerstone-laying ceremony that will be part of the World Series in 2001. We also hope that all of you will be present in South Williamsport at that time for what is sure to be a memorable event.
Yes, my Brethren, this is somewhat of an ambitious agenda; but, one which we feel is attainable with your participation and support. By using the tried and true principles of Freemasonry, by adopting and updating existing effective programs, and by applying the phrase, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue," we, the Freemasons of Pennsylvania, can enter the new millennium truly exemplifying our precepts that say, "Whenever Freemasons join together, they go hand-in-hand with unanimity, and success generally crowns their efforts."
My Brethren, on behalf of all your Grand Lodge officers, thank you for the opportunity to serve; thank you for the opportunity to be a Freemason. So mote it be!
Sincerely and fraternally, |
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