The Pennsylvania Franklin Medal
The Pennsylvania Franklin Medal The Pennsylvania Franklin Medal was created in 1979 to honor distinguished Master Masons for their outstanding service to the Craft in general and Pennsylvania in particular. It has been awarded sparingly since then, maintaining very high standards for its presentation, and including among its recipients some of the most reknowned Freemasons of our time. It is worn with Masonic regalia on formal occasions.
The medal bears the likeness of Brother Benjamin Franklin, Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in 1734 and in 1749. The work of sculptor Donald DeLue, this rendition appears on the front of the solid gold medal, which is suitably engraved for the recipient on the reverse side, and attached to a purple and gold neck ribbon. The Pennsylvania Franklin Medal


Pennsylvania Franklin Medal Recipients
1979W. LeRoy McKinley, R.W.P.G.M.
 Earl F. Herold, R.W.P.G.M.
 Robert E. Deyoe, R.W.P.G.M.
 John K. Young, R.W.P.G.M.
 Hiram P. Ball, R.W.P.G.M.
 W. Orville Kimmel, R.W.P.G.M.
 Rochester B. Woodall, R.W.P.G.M.
 John L. McCain, R.W.P.G.M.
 Stanley F. Maxwell, R.W.P.G.M., Massachusetts; Sovereign Grand Commander, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction
1982Arthur T. Moore, Assistant to the Grand Master, retired in 1976
1983Theodore K. Warner, Jr., Past Master Joseph H. Brown Lodge No. 751 for long-time service to the Committee on Masonic Homes
1984Samuel C. Williamson, R.W.P.G.M.
1985Joseph E. Trate, R.W.P.G.M.
 Arthur R. Diamond, Grand Treasurer
 Joseph M. Shanholtz, jeweler for Grand Lodge
1986Robert E. Woodside, Jr., Past Master of Lodge No. 364
1987George N. Holmes, Grand Marshal
1988Carl W. Stenberg, Jr., R.W.P.G.M.
 Charles F. Greevy, Deputy for Pennsylvania, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction
1989William A. Carpenter, R.W.P.G.M.
1990Arthur J. Kurtz, R.W.P.G.M.
1991Francis G. Paul, Sovereign Grand Commander, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction
1992W. Scott Stoner, R.W.P.G.M.
 John W. Dean, III, Imperial Potentate of the Shrine of North America
1993William H. Thornley, Jr., Most Eminent Grand Master of Grand Encampment Knights Templar of the United States
 Marvin E. Fowler, R.W.P.G.M. of the District of Columbia; Provincial Grand Master of The Royal Order of Scotland
1994Burton E. Ravellette, Jr., Imperial Potentate of the Shrine of North America
 Robert O. Ralston, Sovereign Grand Commander, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction
 Edward H. Fowler, Jr., R.W.P.G.M.
1995George H. Hohenshildt, R.W.P.G.M.
1996Thomas W. Jackson, Grand Secretary
1998Jack H. Jones, Imperial Recorder, Imperial Shrine
1999Blaine F. Fabian, Editor of the Pennsylvania Freemason
 James L. Ernette, R.W.P.G.M.
 Edward O. Weisser, R.W.P.G.M.
2000C. DeForrest Trexler, P.D.D.G.M., Grand Treasurer General and Deputy for Pennsylvania of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction
 Carl R. Flohr, Past Master, George Washington Lodge No.143 for long-time service to the Committee on Masonic Homes
 Marvin G. Speicher, Grand Treasurer
2001 Nat Granstein, Right Worshipful Assistant Grand Master of the Grande Loge Nationale Francaise
 Robert L. Dluge, Jr., R.W.P.G.M.
 Richard E. Fletcher, R.W.P.G.M. - Vermont, and Executive Secretary of the Masonic Service Association
2003Marvin A. Cunningham, Sr., R.W.P.G.M.
2005William Slater II, R.W.P.G.M.
 Donald L. Albert, R.W.P.G.S.
 Joseph E. Murphy, Executive Director and CEO, Masonic Villages
 Rev. Dr. Charles H. Lacquement, Grand Chaplain, Retired Director of Spiritual Services for the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown
 Dr. Elvin G. Warfel, Professor Emeritus of Education and Human Services, Lehigh University, for devoted service to Masonic Education.
2007Daniel J. Hinds, Superintendent of the Masonic Temple and Aide to the R. W. Grand Master
 Gerald D. Wagner, Methodist Minister and Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge for more than 25 years.
 Ronald A. Aungst, Sr., R.W.P.G.M.


Resolution

"Adopted at the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, held at Philadelphia, March 7, 1979, Walter P. Wells, R. W. Grand Master, presiding."
RESOLUTION for the Creation of the Pennsylvania Franklin Medal For Presentation to Distinguished Masons

WHEREAS, Grand Lodges have from time to time honored distinguished members of the Craft by the presentation of medals created for that purpose and/or by electing them as honorary members of the Grand Lodge; and

WHEREAS, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania has by its Constitution provided for the special election of honorary members but has not created a medal for presentation to distinguished Masons; and

WHEREAS, the Grand Lodge Officers look with favor upon the creation and presentation of such a medal to those who have rendered outstanding service to Freemasonry in general or to this Grand Lodge in particular; and

WHEREAS, Brother Benjamin Franklin served the then Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania as Grand Master in 1734 and again in 1749 and served his country with honor and distinction to himself and the Craft, it is deemed just and fitting to name the medal in his honor; and

WHEREAS, this matter has been submitted to the Committee on Finance and the monetary requisites have been approved by it;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

1. That a Pennsylvania Franklin Medal be created for presentation to distinguished Masons;

2. That the recipients of such medal shall be chosen by the Right Worshipful Grand Master, Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master, Right Worshipful Senior Grand Warden and Right Worshipful Junior Grand Warden, then serving in such capacities; the recipients , if not a member of this Grand Lodge, to be elected to honorary membership in accordance with the Ahiman Rezon;

3. That seventeen (17) such medals be struck initially and the Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer shall make available from current operating funds the sum of Seven Thousand Dollars ($7,000.00) to meet the costs of same.

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