the empire state mason magazine

Transcription

ADDRESS OF THE MOST WOR-
SHIPFUL JAMES E. SULLIVAN,
Grand Master of Masons in the State
of New York, to the District Deputy
Grand Masters and Grand Lodge Staff
Officers for the years 2012 through
2014 in the Daniel D. Tompkins
Memorial Chapel on the Campus
of the Masonic Care Community, in
Utica, New York, on Saturday
afternoon, June 22, 2013.
Right Worshipful Deputy Grand
Master, Most Worshipful Past Grand
Masters, all my distinguished Brothers,
ladies, family members, and friends of
Freemasonry:
As we start the celebration of our
second year as a great team of leaders in
our Masonic Fraternity it is right that
we do so in this beautiful Chapel on our
Masonic Campus. It should remind us
of our duty to the Supreme Architect
of the Universe and that our praise and
thanks to Him should always be first in
our words. I ask that you pray with me
for a moment: Thank you Lord for the
many blessings You have given each of us.
For beautiful days, our families and our
Fraternity we give You thanks. We thank
You for allowing us to spend precious time
with our Brothers and with those who have
passed from their earthly home to be with
You. We especially remember Past Grand
Master, Most Worshipful Roswell Taylor
Swits, who served our great Fraternity and
to his end was always concerned with our
needs. We ask that Your healing hand rest
on his family and each of us. To You be all
praise and honor. AMEN.
Again, I stand here on the level with
you to remind you, and to remind me,
that we should always be working as
one to make our Fraternity the best that
it can be. All of us who represent the
leadership of our Fraternity must not
lose sight of who we are, where we are
headed, how we can help each other and
how we can help those who look to us
as leaders.
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The Trustees of the Masonic Hall
and Home do a great job of caring for our
guests on this campus and maintaining
our beautiful Grand Lodge Building
and Hall in New York City. The work of
the Directors of the Masonic Medical
Research Laboratory is quite inspiring
as they help not only our members but
all mankind. The Chancellor Robert R
Livingston Masonic Library Trustees
continue their responsibility towards
the education of our members and the
preservation of our history. My Brothers,
remind our members in your Districts
that these men are indeed special and
are indispensible to the success of our
Craft.
In your Districts, continue bringing
the message of Brotherly Love, Charity
and Integrity. It is my sincere belief
that the members across the State like
hearing this message. As your Grand
Master, I have met so many great men
who I now call my friends and Brothers.
I am proud to be a Freemason when I
shake a hand or give a hug and a kiss
to a Brother when we meet. I am so
very proud of our Fraternity when I see
or hear about the help and support we
unselfishly offer to a Brother who is in
need. We need to be concerned about
each other every day.
As your Grand Master, I have had the
opportunity to be part of the lives of so
many Brothers and their families as they
shared with me a small portion of their
life. Allow me to tell you of just a couple
of our Brothers. Worshipful Brother
Erik M. Strohl, Director of Exhibits of
our National Baseball Hall of Fame and
Past Master of Otsego Lodge No. 138
gave me, along with the Grand Marshal
and Senior Grand Deacon, a special tour
where I got to hold a baseball bat used
by Ted Williams. Right Worshipful
Paul D. Reitz, a Past Master of
Kane Lodge No. 454 and the Grand
Representative of the Grand Lodge of
Prince Edward Island, took the Grand
Marshal and I to the construction site of
THE EMPIRE STATE MASON MAGAZINE
the new Freedom Tower, which stands
1,776 feet tall where the former World
Trade Center stood. The excitement of
looking at New York City from the roof
of Tower Number One was awesome.
The pride that Brother Paul had in
allowing me to share in his work was
obvious.
Brothers like Very Worshipful
Edward A. Betts, the secretary of
Springfield Gardens Lodge No. 1057
and one of the world’s top underwater
divers, are just waiting to share their lives
with us. Right Worshipful Glenn K.
Rubin, District Deputy Grand Master
of the Suffolk District and one of your
colleagues, invited me and my wife Gail
to listen to his string orchestra at the
Long Island State Veterans Home in
Stony Brook, NY. What an outstanding
performance by these young, gifted
and very talented students. To witness
the love that Brother Glenn has for
them and they for him brought tears
to my eyes. Before the concert, Right
Worshipful Jack D. Weisman, the
Treasurer of Dongan Patent Lodge No.
1134 and the Grand Representative
of the Grand Lodge of South Dakota,
arranged a tour of the Long Island State
Veterans Home and explained what so
many of our Brothers do as volunteers
to help our Veterans.
These are just a few examples of
Brothers who are proud of what they
do. We need to talk to each other.
We need to listen to the pride that so
many have for what they do for their
families, communities and our Craft.
Moreover, we all need to demonstrate
our pride in our gentle Craft at every
opportunity!
While I’m talking about special people,
let me tell you about a special lady
residing here at the Masonic Campus
in Utica. Since 1936, Ms. Mabel
Bohling has been part of the Masonic
Care Community. After graduating
continue on page 4
Pride in Freemasonry
FALL 2013
from nursing school she came to our
Campus and became the head nurse of
the night staff. She was also the nurse
for our Masonic Kids at Camp Turk
in the Adirondack Mountains of New
York. Mabel is always talking of her
remembrances of the “kids.” Today,
Mabel Bohling enjoys being a resident
at our lovely and comfortable Acacia
Village located on the Masonic Care
Community’s Campus. Mabel, you
are such a wonderful lady and I am so
proud of all your accomplishments on
behalf of our Masonic Brethren and
their families. Seventy-seven years of
memories in Utica must give you great
joy. June 30th will be a special day for
you and your extended family as you
celebrate your 100th Birthday. You
indeed are a special lady. May GOD
Bless you and give you many more
special days of health and happiness.
Brethren, I ask that you continue the
message of the importance of Charity.
I am truly appreciative for donations
contributed to the Masonic Brotherhood
Fund. The additional response to the
need of our members because of natural
disasters is most inspiring. Our duty to
the second great tenet should always be
one of our goals as Freemasons. To this I
say thank you. Continue doing what so
many of you do.
When you visit the Lodges in your
District, broach the topic of education.
What is Masonic Education? We hear
that education in Freemasonry is meant
to be a lifelong process, furthering our
understanding of the Fraternity and
its relevance in today’s world. We are
to look for moral instruction, spiritual
enlightenment and intellectual growth
so that one can improve himself.
Freemasonry is a Brotherhood. We can
improve ourselves on our own but it
need not be a solitary activity. To get
started, think about what you most
desire to know about Freemasonry,
and then go find the answers. Use
the Chancellor Robert R Livingston
Masonic
Library. The
reading
courses are designed to help us in our
education. The mentoring system is one
of the most influential ways to teach
a Brother about the Craft. Bring in
speakers to lead discussions on Masonic
topics Brothers wish to explore. The
Masonic Development Course, which
the Grand Lodge Staff Officers are to
provide, is just the beginning of Masonic
Education. There is so much in the 24inch Gauge to get your members onto
the road to knowledge. Past discussions
that once compelled Masons to examine
their lives and improve their world seem
to have been put on the back burner,
replaced by other activities that, while
helpful, do not improve oneself in
Masonry. The Masonic Ritual tells us
what we need to do: “Ask and it shall
be given to you; seek, and you shall find;
knock and it shall be opened unto you.”
When we start speaking aloud about
Masonic Education we can begin to
labor together to replenish knowledge
in our pursuit of Truth.
Again I say to you that the cement,
which holds us together as Brothers,
is our Masonic Ritual. We need
to strive to do the ritual flawlessly.
Demand the best from everyone in the
rendering of our ritual. Be proud of
your presentation to the candidates and
brothers for the three Masonic Degrees
as well as the opening and closing of
the Lodge. The Grand Lecturer, Right
Worshipful Robert W. Strang, Jr., the
Custodians of the Work, and a Special
Committee of Brethren from across this
Grand Jurisdiction have been working
diligently and tirelessly on preparing
the Masonic Ritual Renaissance
Program. It is the goal of this program
to motivate our Brothers to want to
learn and understand both the words
and meaning of our Masonic Ritual
through continued study, research and
discussion, thereby fulfilling the mission
of our search for Light in Masonry.
So many different functions of our
Lodges fall into the category of Masonic
Programs. The explanation of our three
Masonic Degrees, the training of our
leaders through programs like The
Road to the East, the import of what
was previously said on education are but
examples. The Masonic Model Student
Assistance Program, formerly known
as MSAT and the New York Masonic
Safety ID Program are two of several
other programs across our State, which
need our continued support. Helping to
save the lives of children is one of the
most important community services
we provide as Masons. This summer
the 425,000th identification will be
done. A historic milestone!!! Our
Communication Committee is working
with the NYMSID Committee to make
this a big media event. My thanks to all
the Brothers who have worked over the
years to make this one of the premiere
programs across our country.
Regretfully, we no longer boast
of having four Masonic Youth
continue to page 6
MW james e. sullivan
Grand Master of Masons
of the State of New York
FALL 2013
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Subscription $6.00 Domestic, $15.00 Foreign per year. Subscription free to all members of constituent Lodges of
the Grand Lodge F. & A.M. State of New York. Copyright ©2013 by the Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Asylum
Fund. All rights reserved. Reproduction by recognized Masonic organizations is permitted with credit. All others
must obtain written permission. Published quarterly in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter months by The Trustees
of the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund, 71 West 23rd Street, NY, NY 10010-4149.
THE EMPIRE STATE MASON (ISSN 0013-6794 Published at 71 West 23rd Street, NY, NY 10010-4149).
Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and additional mailing offices.
Volume 62 / Number 3 / FALL 2013
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RW William B. Fink, our Junior
Grand Warden, points out how
some brethren and Lodges become
“Dead Fish”. He’s a fisherman who
understands his prey lurking in the
depths, as well as the power of his
lures. Join him on this fishing
expedition and become a better man
and Mason.
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aCommittee on Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
From the Grand Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Florida Sojourners Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
aA Day in Life of Children and Teenagers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
aI am a DeMolay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Grand Master’s Day at Tappan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Fellowship Weekend MMRL and MCC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
aGrand Lodge Educational Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Grand Master’s Family Day at West Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Enjoying the Generations at Acacia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Masonic Brotherhood Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
aCamp Turk News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Awards Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
St. John’s Day Weekend 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Sandy Lives On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
MMRL Spreading the Light of Freemasonry . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Statement of Ownership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Years of Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Dates to Remember . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Subsmission Informations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
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969
FALL 2013
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continued from page 3
Organizations in our great State. We
must do more to support our youth.
As of the close of the month of June,
there will only be three Masonic
Youth Organizations in New York
State: DeMolay for young men; and
the Rainbow and Triangle for young
ladies. Today, there are 26 Chapters of
DeMolay in New York State. We have
approximately 520 Lodges, why don’t
we have 520 Chapters? Why don’t we
have 60 Chapters? We should have at
least one DeMolay Chapter for each
of our sixty Masonic Districts. I ask
the District Deputy Grand Masters to
get the Masters of the Lodges in your
District together and see what your
District can do to support our youth. I
know that every Master Mason knows
one or two boys – why not tell them
about DeMolay. Imagine what Right
Worshipful Bill Sardone, the Executive
Director of New York State DeMolay,
could do with 42,000 new members in
DeMolay. Imagine what those members
of DeMolay could do for Freemasonry
in New York State.
Last year in your visits you brought the
message of the importance of Integrity.
Integrity is defined as adherence to
moral and ethical principles – honesty.
We must be honest with each other and
mean what we say, and say what we
mean. Those outside of our Fraternity
must know what kind of men we are
and what we truly stand for.
Along this line I ask the members of
our Craft to think about and discuss the
use of social media in our lives and what
our responsibilities are as Masons. By
participating on sites such as Facebook,
Twitter, YouTube and others, we should
strive to make someone’s impression of
Freemasonry as positive as possible. My
Brothers, we need to be careful of what
we say. We need to keep in mind that
what you say may be taken to reflect
upon Freemasonry and Masons in
general.
6
No discussion related to the business
of a Lodge and what is discussed
within our tiled meetings should ever
be posted. No minutes, no discussion
of any applicants, no discussion of
balloting will be allowed on websites
or social media links. Information
about Lodge or District social activities
must comply with regulation standards
already in place for Lodge Notices.
All postings must comply with the
Grand Lodge Constitutions, Masonic
Law, Rules, Regulations and Edicts.
All communications should reflect the
goals of the Fraternity, and its principles
of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.
Remember the charge you were given
by the Worshipful Master when you
were initiated, that you are a just and
upright Man and you should ever walk
and ACT as such, regardless of whether
or not someone knows who you are.
In summary:
P is for Programs. We must have
meaningful Programs to interest
our Brothers.
R is for Ritual. It is the cement,
which binds us together as
Freemasons.
I is for Integrity. Masons have
always stood as examples of what is
good and what is right.
D is for Deity. Remember the
praise and thanks we owe to our
Creator.
E stands for Education. Our
search for further Light in Masonry
will make us better men.
PRIDE – Pride in Freemasonry. Be
proud of who you are and what you
stand for. Be proud of your work in
the quarries of Freemasonry. Be proud
of your Lodge and its members. Be
proud of your District and all you do
for your communities. For one year
we have been wearing a pin that says
Pride in Freemasonry. It reminds me of
each of you, my Brothers! Now I am
asking each of you who hears or reads
this message to stand up and speak
up and demonstrate your Pride in
Freemasonry and all that it stands for!
My Brothers, I continue to see a
bright future for our Fraternity. With
your help we can accomplish anything.
Success doesn’t just happen. It is the
result of hard work and commitment.
Let us then, Brethren, apply ourselves
with zeal to the practice of the excellent
principles inculcated by our order. Let
all private animosities, if any unhappily
exist, give way to affection and brotherly
love. Let us cultivate the great moral
virtues laid down on our Masonic trestle
board, and improve in everything that
is good, amiable and useful. Uniting in
this grand design, let us be happy and
endeavor to promote the happiness
of others. Thank you for all you do
for your Lodge, your District and our
great Fraternity. Each of you is a special
man. I am proud of each of you. I am
proud to be serving with you as we look
forward to leaving our Craft just a little
better.
GOD Bless each of you and your
families. GOD Bless the past, present
and future men and woman who are
serving our great nation. GOD Bless
our beautiful Fraternity and may God
Bless America.
Fraternally,
MW james e. sullivan
GRAND MASTER of Masons
of the State of New York
© Copyright, 2013 n
FALL 2013
RW Cary S. Cohn, Chairman
COMMITTEE ON YOUTH
( (516) 781-1157
: [email protected]
The Fifth Manhattan District’s Endowment Fund once again
supported the Frank M. Totton Essay Contest. First prize of
$1,500 and nine other cash prizes were awarded. We join
with all concerned in thanking the Fifth Manhattan District
Endowment Fund for their generosity and support.
Winners of the Frank M. Totton Essay Contest are as follows:
First Place
Evan VandeVelde
$1,500
Second Place
Kassandra M. Bailey
1,000
Third Place
Conlan Crane
750
Fourth Place
Kelly Phillips
500
Fifth Place
Brooke A. Liebensohn
350
Sixth Place
Hannah Nelson
250
Seventh Place
Nicholas McCloskey
100
Eighth Place
Victoria Coutant
100
Ninth Place
Danielle Dreiss
100
Tenth Place
Emily Robbins
100
This year’s topic was “What are the qualities you see in
others that you most admire?” This is the winning submission.
The Grand Lodge Committee on Youth is now
accepting essays for the 2014 Frank M. Totton Essay
Contest sponsored by the Fifth Manhattan Masonic
District Endowment Fund, Inc. The deadline is January
13, 2014. Forms may be obtained from your District
Deputy Grand Master or Master of your Lodge. The
topic for the essay for 2014 is “How has the Internet
Changed the World?”
Evan VandeVelde
The qualities I see in others that I most admire are the same
qualities I strive to have. My Uncle Roger had many qualities
that I also try to live out in my life. He was very trustworthy.
You could tell him anything private about yourself and he
would never tell a soul. He wouldn’t judge you for your past
either.
If you were nice to him, he was nice to you. If you were
mean to him, he was still nice to you. He never got mad, or
at least never showed that he was mad. If you did something
wrong that would make most people angry, he took it as an
opportunity to teach you what you should’ve done differently.
When I went deer hunting with him for the first time, I yelled
to him “Aren’t you going to shoot it?” and scared off the deer.
He didn’t yell at me but instead taught me the importance of
being quiet while hunting.
He was a great teacher, even though he never worked as
a teacher. Coaching was also something he loved. Over the
years, he coached baseball, football and wrestling. He taught
many kids how to play sports and was always attending games
to support his family, and kids he had coached in the past. He
was a great role model for all he met.
A few years ago when he was fighting a losing battle with
cancer, he still had these qualities. He never gave up, or had
a negative attitude. If everyone in the world had the same
attitude as he did, the world would truly be a better place.
This was made very clear with the lines at his funeral. People,
none of us had ever met, were coming and telling stories
about how he had made a difference in their lives. These are
the qualities I admire. n
FALL 2013
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MW vincent libone
Grand Secretary
(718) 229-2841
2014
Florida sojourner luncheons
for order of eastern star & Masons of new York state
Once again, the Masons and members of the Order
of the Eastern Star from New York State will meet in
the sunshine state of Florida for fellowship. The Grand
Master, Most Worshipful James E. Sullivan, fraternally
invites you to meet with him, the Grand Line; the Grand
Matron-Elect, Right Worthy Sylvia Moravia, and the
Grand Patron-Elect, Right Worthy George Walter, and
the Grand Chapter Officers of the Order of Eastern Star,
at one of the THREE Florida Sojourner Luncheons held
during the month of January 2014.
The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, January
15, 2014 in SARASOTA (Southwest Coast of Florida)
at the Sahib Shrine Center, A.A.O.N.M.S., 600 North
Beneva Road. {Directions: Taking I-75 South to Exit 210,
turn right onto Fruitville Road to Beneva Road; turn right
onto Beneva Road to first traffic light. Sahib Shrine Center
is on your right.}
The second meeting will be held on Thursday, January
16, 2014 in TAMPA (West Coast of Florida) at the Scottish
Rite Masonic Center, 5500 Memorial Highway (near
Egypt Shrine Masonic Center). {Directions: Take I-275
to Exit 39 (Airport). Take Eisenhower Blvd. after passing
Clearwater Exit 60. Get in left lane onto Independence
Parkway. After merge with Memorial Highway, turn left
onto Memorial Highway. About 1/10 of a mile, the Scottish
Rite Masonic Center (with large sign along highway) is on
the left.}
The third meeting will be held on Saturday, January
18, 2014 in LAKE WORTH (East Coast of Florida)
at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 2000 North “D”
Street. {Directions: Take I-95 to 10th Avenue North, Exit
64. Go East on 10th to the third traffic light, and make a
left onto North “D” Street. The Scottish Rite Masonic Center
is on the right at the end of that street.}
8
The Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of the State of New
York and the Grand Chapter O.E.S. of the State of
New York in tandem with the Trustees of the Masonic
Care Community and the Directors of the Masonic
Medical Research Laboratory are hosting a splendid
luncheon on each of the above listed dates at 12:00 P.M.
for you and your spouse. Each meeting will conclude
at approximately 2:30 P.M. (Immediate Seating upon
arrival with No Waiting).
In order to make adequate preparations for a pleasurable
experience and to plan for your arrival, we ask that you
complete and mail to the Office of the Grand Secretary
the Reservation Form on the adjacent page together with
your personal check for $5.00 per person made payable
to: OES – MASONS Sojourners Luncheon. Remember
to send your completed Reservation Form and Payment
to: Vincent Libone, Grand Secretary, Grand Lodge F &
AM of the State of New York, 71 West 23rd Street, New
York, NY 10010-4149. If you should have any questions,
please contact Mrs. Rose Flanagan at (212) 337-6636.
The New York Masons and the New York Order of
Eastern Star are a closely connected team working
together in the name of Brotherly and Sisterly Love,
Relief and Truth.
We look forward to meeting and greeting each of you
in sunny Florida!
MW James E. Sullivan
Grand Master
Sylvia Moravia
Grand Matron-Elect
George Walter
Grand Patron-Elect n
FALL 2013
SPECIAL NOTE: If your membership in Masonry totals [50], [55], [60], [65], [70], [75] years, either this
year, or in the year 2014, and you wish to have the Grand Master present the Service Award Certificate at the
luncheon, please circle your anniversary year above, and check one of the boxes below:
q Yes - I joined in 19_____
q No, I received one earlier this year.
q No, I plan to receive it in my Lodge.
st*
is Fir
h
ead T
R
e
s
a
e
Pl
GRAND LODGE F. & A. M., STATE OF NEW YORK
2014 FLORIDA SOJOURNER MEETING ~~ RESERVATIONS FORM
Yes, I plan to attend the following luncheon meeting (Please check one):
Wednesday, January 15, in Sarasota q
Thursday, January 16, in Tampa q
Saturday, January 18, in Lake Worth q
I am a member of ______________________________________________________ Lodge No. ____________________
My companion named below q is
q is not
a member of the ORDER of the EASTERN STAR.
q is not
a member of the MASONIC FRATERNITY.
q is
PLEASE PRINT AND COMPLETE THE REMAINDER OF THIS FORM:
______________________________________________
(Your Name)
_________________________________________________
(Your Companion’s Name)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Street)
__________________________________________________________________________________
(City, State & Zip Code)
___________________________________
(Telephone)
____________________________________________________________ @ ________________________________________________________
(e-mail address)
Please PRINT additional names of each person who will accompany you and indicate affiliation:
NAME
LODGE/CHAPTER
______________________________________________________
_________________________________________
______________________________________________________
_________________________________________
______________________________________________________
_________________________________________
______________________________________________________
_________________________________________
Enclosed is my check, or money order, (do not send cash) payable to OES~MASONS Sojourner Luncheon:
__________ Luncheon Ticket(s) @ $5.00 per person listed above
Please do not send cash.
Total amount of check or money order. . .$ __________
Mail to: Office of the Grand Secretary
Grand Lodge of New York
71 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010
FALL 2013
9
Masons volunteer for
youth on purpose
There are not many institutions that
can brag about serving their members,
families and friends for 232 years. The
Grand Lodge of the State of New York
has reached this significant milestone.
Thinking about the early members of
the Craft, I wonder how different their
views were about what they hoped to
accomplish in their communities and
for America’s youth. I like to think their
values and goals were pretty much in
line with what we all accomplish for our
Brothers, their families and friends and
members of the community every day.
You, the Brothers, the volunteers, are
the backbone of our organization. The
time and effort you add to your already
busy schedules make sure our young
people receive a quality experience of
growing up. We’re building great leaders
for our country.
A large majority of the Masonic
Lodges in our jurisdiction have been
W
and come back to serve as counselors?
Many Lodges recognize good works
accomplished by both the Boy Scouts
of America and the Girl Scouts U.S.A.
They bestow scholarships and sponsor
essay contests. They support sports
teams and Cub Scout Packs and
Brownie Troops and 4-H Clubs. Is there
any way to know how many thousands
of lives have been touched by the good
works of our collective Masonic family?
We urge all Lodges to go into their
communities and develop ties with
other longstanding, like-thinking, civicminded organizations. Let the children
of today, and their parents, know that
we care and we will help to forge strong
bonds of friendship that will result in a
greater feeling of community and well
being.
I would like to think that our Brothers
from 232 years ago would approve of
what we are doing. We are preparing
for our youth to take over the mantle
of leadership in our Nation, in our
community and in our Fraternity.
RW Cary Cohn n
“A Day in the Life of Children and Teenagers”
e were struck by some dramatic and
terrifying statistics while compiling this
fall 2013 issue of the ESM magazine
devoted to Youth. Consider these
numbers provided by the Children’s
Defense Fund and published by the
National Masonic Foundation for
Children.
A day in the life of American Children
and Teenagers:
* 3 die from child abuse
* 9 murdered
* 13 die from guns
* 27 die from poverty
* 110 teenagers attempt suicide; 20
teenagers kill themselves
* 202 arrested for drug abuse
* 340 arrested for drinking or
drunken driving
* 1115 have abortions
* 1340 have babies
* 2255 drop out of school
* 5700 teenagers are victims of
violent crime
* 7945 abused or neglected
* 100,000 homeless
In New York State alone, more than
20,000 children and teenagers go
missing every year.
While our Masonic Fraternity has
a long and proud history of serving
10
endeavoring to get better acquainted
with the young people in their
community through many courses
of action. They allow various youth
groups from many different programs
to use their Lodge room and buildings.
In turn, many of these youth groups
help to spruce up the building and
keep the grounds in good shape with
a monthly cleaning. They support the
four Masonic youth groups with time
and money, but even more important,
with trained adult leadership.
Many of our volunteers are involved
with our NY Masonic Safety ID
Program, our Educational Assistance
Program, where we have contributed
many hundreds of thousands of dollars
to 10,000 young adults in the last
fifteen years. We have established Drug
Free Zones at local schools throughout
New York State and through our MSAT
Program we have taught hundreds of
teachers how to tell children at risk
from the regular school population.
How many thousands of children have
enjoyed themselves at Camp Turk,
children, there is so much more that
needs to be done. The hopeful message
contained in the pages of this ESM
magazine is that more is being done to
serve the children in our communities
than ever before. Here you will get a
small overview of the countless manhours, not to mention considerable
financial assistance, being given freely
by our Brothers, our Lodges and
Districts and various Committees of
Grand Lodge.
Your efforts are supporting the
Masonic Safety ID Program, where
this year we will mark the 425,000th
ID processed. The Grand Master has
reinvigorated the Masonic Model
Student Assistance Program (MMSAP)
and we are offering training to school
districts statewide to help identify kids
at risk (bullying, parental abuse, sexual
abuse, drug abuse, etc.). We are working
with and helping grow our Masonicrelated Youth organizations: DeMolay,
Rainbow and Triangle. We are providing
more educational assistance funds than
ever before and our Masonic Youth
Camp – Camp Turk – was virtually full
this summer.
Many Lodges and Districts are
supporting local Boy Scout and Girl
Scout Troops, high school key clubs,
4-H, JROTC units, Big Brothers
and Big Sisters and other youth
organizations too numerous to mention
here. We are assisting in local food banks
and early-learning reading programs.
We are helping fight dyslexia and other
childhood learning problems. We
are contributing to medical advances
across a broad frontier to help children
live longer and live better and more
productive lives.
Masonry and Youth! The future of
our gentle Craft certainly rests with
the children of today. It is up to us to
nurture and make certain that their
future is bright and full of hope and
promise. Our forefathers did this for us.
Certainly we should do more for our
children and grandchildren and for the
generations to come.
We hope that this issue of the ESM
will provide light and inspiration and a
challenge to do even more for our youth.
Many of these programs require more
funding. All require more volunteer
hours. Let’s show we can and will do
more to support our youth.
RW Ron Steiner n
FALL 2013
FALL 2013
11
How
Shaped
My Life
By Charles Tyree
M
y participation as a member of the Order of DeMolay has
shaped my life in so many ways it is hard to know where to
start. I was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio and joined
DeMolay at the age of thirteen.
As a youth, DeMolay was the single most influential activity
I took part in. The opportunities it provided me—and has
through the years provided to millions of young men—to
learn to plan and execute programs and to speak fluently
and coherently in public settings have been invaluable in
my career as an attorney as well as a Mason. The principles
DeMolay espouses provided me with a solid moral compass
to evaluate the myriad situations in which right and wrong
and good and evil confront us, not only as young adults, but
as we progress through life. DeMolay also helped me develop
self-confidence and poise. As I grew in responsibility within
my DeMolay Chapter and District I learned to handle larger,
more complicated events and programs. DeMolay taught me
that there are some virtues worth standing up for against any
transgression, however slight: Love of Parents, Reverence for
God, Courtesy, Comradeship, Fidelity, Cleanness of Thought
and Deed, and Patriotism. These are the Cardinal Virtues of a
DeMolay. And as moral relativism and the general decline in
moral values have become more pronounced in recent decades
the moral compass DeMolay provides has become increasingly
more important to the youth of our country.
I thank God every day that I was born to a Masonic family
that accepted whole-heartedly and fully engaged in the Masonic
experience. There was nothing half-hearted in my parents’
enthusiasm for things Masonic; they shared the experience
with me. It was a natural step for me to join DeMolay. We
spent more time in our Masonic Temple than anywhere else
in the city. It was an oasis for the youth of my hometown, an
oasis of fun, friendship and yes, safety. We wanted to be at the
12
Masonic Temple, no matter what the activity. The other kids
hung out at the malls while we were growing in ways we could
not begin to comprehend.
So I believe deeply in the Masonic experience and definitely
see DeMolay as a vital part of the program. I am a DeMolay
and a Master Mason like my father and brother before me and
like my eldest son David, who was Raised last year. My other
two sons Andy and Adam, still active DeMolays, have already
expressed their intention to join our Fraternity. I look forward
to the day I will stand with each of them in that most sacred
of places when they too are Raised as members of our beloved
Craft.
Sometimes I consider what would have happened if I had no
Masonic family to make DeMolay available to me. I ponder
the possibility I might never have known Masonry, the most
positive influence of my adult life, and it staggers me. Yet
DeMolay was strong in those days in my neighborhood, so
strong that almost all eligible boys in the neighborhood were
members. In fact ten to twelve boys in my neighborhood who
had no Masonic family connection did become Masons. In
this case I feel certain they joined the Craft because of their
DeMolay experience and because of the dedicated Masons
who made our DeMolay Chapter a vital, interesting, fun
place. I think of those men often, sometimes with a smile and
sometimes a tear, but always with awe and reverence. I loved
those men and will never forget them.
DeMolay also teaches that life is an exciting journey, always
full of opportunities to do good and be better. It is a journey
that should, if the duties are properly performed, conclude
with the sojourner looking contentedly at the western sky,
glowing at sunset with the promise of the everlasting morning.
Now as an adult, when confronted with a quandary, my
mind turns to the lessons DeMolay and Masonry teach, and
the principles they inculcate serve as a robust advisor to help
formulate a solution or course of action that is ethical, honest
and realistic. This advisor is always on call, even if I were in
Antarctica or some other place thousands of miles from any
other human being. I attribute this about equally to my
DeMolay and my Masonic experiences. Ultimately, each is
a philosophy for a well-spent life and a system of morality
against which a man may gauge the wisdom and propriety of
possible courses of action. DeMolay shaped me into a better
young man, just as Masonry has made me a better man. n
FALL 2013
It is always a good day when a young
man joins NY DeMolay.
It is a better day when thirteen young
men take their DeMolay Degrees
in the presence of 200-plus moms, dads, aunts, uncles,
relatives, friends and members of the Masonic Fraternity.
This class was dedicated to the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch
Masons, State of New York. As Grand High Priest, ME and
Dad Michael Dunn supported NY DeMolay during his term.
As the new Grand High Priest ME and Dad Richard Kessler
continued that strong support when he welcomed DeMolay
and Masonic Youth to his Convocation in Albany.
On this occasion, Dad Kessler was attending a Convocation
in Delaware but the Royal Arch Masons came out in strong
numbers. RE Piers A. Vaughan, Grand King, led the way
at the DeMolay State Class in Utica at the Masonic Care
Community. Congratulations go to Dad Vaughan, who was
made an Honorary DeMolay.
It was a full day with a DeMolay Cross of Honor Ceremony
for Mom Marie Limbach, a dinner and Charity Ball/Carnival.
And by the looks of things, all, from the newest member to
the Grand King of Royal Arch Masons, had a great time. The
day was designed and implemented by the DeMolays and the
State Sweetheart. They are our future. More to come.
RW William M. Sardone
NY DeMolay Executive Officer
[email protected] n
(l-r) RE and Dad Piers Vaughan, Grand King of the Grand Chapter,
NY Royal Arch Masons and RW and Dad William M. Sardone,
NY DeMolay Executive Officer
What Does DeMolay Mean to Me
David Celentano, 43rd State Master Councilor
New York DeMolay
As I traveled around the state this past year, one question
that came up was, “What does DeMolay mean to me?” This
had me thinking for quite some time. My thoughts changed
constantly, from when I first joined to when I started moving
up the ranks and even now when I am almost at the end of my
tenure as an active member.
When I first joined I was a shy and quiet boy, who didn’t
know what would come out of this organization. All I knew
was that I was meeting some great friends and brothers, and
having a great time. That’s what DeMolay meant to the
sixteen-year-old me.
As the years progressed I broke out of my shell and I realized
the great benefits that I was gaining from my membership:
from public speaking to memorization, life skills to event
planning and more. I felt like I could learn it all from DeMolay.
And I did.
During this past year, as I traveled throughout the state, I
gained a new perspective that only a few get to experience. I
saw what DeMolay does for the hundreds of young men all
over our state. I saw their determination in conferring their
part in a Degree and the excitement on their face when they
received an award for their hard work. But most importantly,
it was the enthusiasm they had for DeMolay. It made me very
proud not only to represent these great young men around the
state and country, but also to call them friend and brother.
As I am closing my journey through the Order of DeMolay,
it is easy to look back on those years. What can I say DeMolay
means to me right now? It is a brotherhood and a family
that you just can’t explain. It is an organization that gives the
youth of today the best foundations to become the leaders
of tomorrow. It gives a member the morals and virtues, such
as filial love, courtesy, comradeship and patriotism, which
sometimes are forgotten in today’s society.
DeMolay is for young men 12 through 21. I joined when I
was 16. I am now 21. I am a DeMolay and I look forward to
being a DeMolay Advisor.
This is DeMolay. It is the greatest organization for young
men in the world. n
I have been able to translate the lessons
I’ve learned in DeMolay to my everyday life.
By Andrew Roberts, Oriental-Faxton Lodge 224
Past State Master Councilor 2009-2010
M
aybe it’s the fact that I’m a teacher, or maybe it’s the fact
that I spent nine years as an active DeMolay, but I cannot
speak highly enough for the skills, lessons and abilities that
DeMolay has bestowed on me.
When I joined DeMolay in 2002 I was a very shy young
man who rarely said a word. I only spent time with kids from
my school or Little League team and didn’t really branch out.
When my father suggested I join DeMolay I was tremendously
skeptical. I knew my father was a Mason but at twelve years old
I really didn’t know what that meant. I thought being a Mason
was just putting on a tuxedo twice a month and going to a
meeting and dinner. I had no true concept of what DeMolay
was and what it would do for me.
My DeMolay career in itself was abnormal, but my
experience was not. Every young man who joins the Order
14
of DeMolay has a similar experience. We all get more out
of DeMolay than we ever put into it, we all make lifelong
friendships with brothers from every walk of life and we all
have a great time.
As an adult, I have been able to translate the lessons I
learned in DeMolay to my everyday life. The lessons of time
management, event planning, memorization and public
speaking have translated to major assets in my professional
and Masonic life. DeMolay served as my ground floor to
build upon. Whenever I am asked about DeMolay during an
interview or conference, everyone is blown away by Masonry’s
best kept secret: There is an organization out there that teaches
young men to become better sons, better students, better
citizens and better people, all while having fun. n
FALL 2013
RW Richard E. Ticknor
N
early fifty years have passed since a shy fourteen-year-old was
dragged by his father, screaming and hollering, to the Masonic
Temple on 23rd Street in New York City. His appointment:
to join New York Chapter 309, Order of DeMolay, then
proudly sponsored by the Sixth Manhattan District. Little did
I know or want to believe that my father was making the right
decision on my behalf. It wound up being the best gift he ever
gave me. As I often look back to that moment in time, I can
honestly say that joining DeMolay played a major role in who
I am today.
The minute the elevator door opened and I walked into
the American Room on the 19th floor, I was greeted by young
men just a few years older than me. They extended their right
hand in friendship and a prelude to what would soon be
brotherly love. Joining DeMolay taught me more than I ever
could have imagined. Being accepted, just by a handshake,
was extraordinary.
It didn’t matter where I lived, what religion I followed, how
much money my parents earned or the type of car they drove.
It just didn’t matter. I learned it was all for one and one for all.
Through committee involvement and participation in
DeMolay, I had the opportunities to understand all about
teamwork. Through my years in DeMolay, with the guidance of
our Masonic sponsors—our dads, as we learned to call them—I
shed my shyness and became an active member. I went up the
ranks to serve as the Chapter Master Councilor. During those
years DeMolay gave me the courage and confidence to address
groups of people, to plan activities, to travel—first locally and
then throughout the state—visiting other DeMolay Chapters
and making new friends wherever I went.
I also noticed that my grades in school went up and I
became more outward in my personality. Through this growth
I started to get active in DeMolay activities outside of my local
Chapter, which put me on a path that eventually led me to
become the 2nd State Master Councilor in our great state of
New York. Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to have made
life-long friends. Some, unfortunately, are no longer with us,
but the memories of their friendship are with me forever. For
they weren’t just friends: they were DeMolay Brothers.
Today, watching RW William Sardone lead our DeMolay
boys is gratifying. With all of the competition that is working
to draw the interest of our youth to non-personal-contact
activities, one wonders how long human interaction—meeting,
talking, planning and working together face-to-face—will
continue to survive. Dad Sardone is doing everything he can
to keep the spirit of DeMolay alive, and I thank God he is. He
is carrying the torch that started with Dad Robert M. Walker
back in 1968. It is an eternal light that helped me become a Master
of Composite Lodge 819 in 1977; a DDGM in 1984; a
husband, father and Little League coach for the last twentyseven years. And by the way, the principles of DeMolay are
constantly behind the scenes in what I do and have done in
my business world of marketing and communications.
How has DeMolay helped me? It has never stopped. And
I’m forever grateful that it was there and I pray that it always
will be for those young men to come. n
I believe that these young people go on
to become great leaders and better people...
M
y name is Richard Walsh. I am a member and Past Master
of Seneca River Lodge 160 in Baldwinsville, New York. I read
in the ESM about youth groups and I wanted to comment.
I was a Chapter Dad and an adviser of the former
Baldwinsville DeMolay for many years. I was also an adviser
for Bal-On-Sen Triangle in the same place for many years. I
believe that these young people go on to become great leaders
and better people in America, as well as the world, because
of their involvement in these groups. And don’t forget their
involvement in Masonry and OES. I believe in all Masonic
Youth Groups.
Richard Walsh
richardwalsh3@verizon .net n
FALL 2013
15
What Have We Been Doing?
The New York divisions of International Order of DeMolay,
the Order of Rainbow for Girls and the Organization of
Triangles had full calendars of activities during the year
and some of them were joint efforts. Here are a few of the
services the youngsters participated in recently. n Members
of DeMolay, Rainbow for Girls and Organization of Triangle
girls all worked the Fry Booth at the Erie County Fair.
They also assisted the local Lodges in the Masonic Safety
ID Program. “Curly-Q” helped to raise money for Chapter
activities. The NY DeMolay also supports the MSID programs
at fairs across the state, lending their computer skills. n The
New York DeMolay Relief Fund was established. Members
of FDR DeMolay and Wantagh DeMolay helped to support
the restoration and assistance of families in the affected area
of Hurricane Sandy. Homes were gutted and prepared for
inspections. Young people and their advisors cleared four feet
of water from basements and worked with chainsaws to cut
debris in the Rockaways. They also helped to clean up Lodge
buildings affected by the storm, even cleaning and restoring
Lodge aprons. NY DeMolay shipped emergency items to
the Oklahoma Executive Order of DeMolay, the Supreme
Inspector of Rainbow and the Supreme Deputy and Assistant
of Job’s Daughters. n DeMolay, working with Ziyara Shrine
Group, staged a picnic in support of community work and
marched in their Memorial Day Parade in Kenmore, NY.
A Masonic Youth Blood Donor program was established.
Washington Chapter, for observance of Government Day, took
a tour of the NYS capitol building. n Youth participated in
a Masonic Care Community outreach work project. A dance
was held afterward to celebrate the good works accomplished.
n Ridge Council held an advisory Council meeting followed
by home cooked wings and pizza. And Dolgeville Chapter
held a blood drive for the Red Cross, while working with
Eastern Star. Mohawk Valley DeMolay Chapter sent Girl
Scout cookies to troops in Afghanistan, to Dad Grimaldi.
n The Lakes Region Drive-In Night brought DeMolay and
Cassiopeia Triangle together for some fun. Meanwhile, Uncle
Sam Chapter in Troy went to a baseball game, and they learned
about tribal music. Triangle and DeMolay members joined
together at a Relay for Life Summit, a global movement to
fight cancer. n Mohawk Valley DeMolay Chapter celebrated
its 90-year anniversary. They also worked at the Masonic Care
Community in Utica setting up the annual Drive-through of
Lights. And a new DeMolay Chapter was started in Oneonta.
And Ismailia Shriners in West Seneca helped to celebrate the
rebirth of Meridian Sun Chapter. And Rochester Chapter
also revitalized with new members. And the FDR Chapter in
Pleasant Valley, NY sustained positive growth and has received
16
their permanent charter. n DeMolay attended and supported
the Southern Tier Rainbow Convention. NY DeMolay also
assisted the Rainbow for Girls: Suwassett Assembly 38 and
Bellmore Assembly 9 held a Joint Installation of Officers,
with members of Meridian Triangle in attendance. n Ridge
Council member Nick Pascucci placed a wreath at the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier in Washington. Members of the
Masonic Youth Groups were invited to attend the special
Eastern Star meeting of Pyramid Chapter to celebrate our flag
and honor the heroes that defend it. Joining the Knights of
Antiquity, DeMolay Chapter, were the Rainbow Girls of the
Suwassett Assembly and Meridian Triangle girls for the very
special occasion. n The Grand Convention of the Grand
Chapter of Royal Arch Masons drew State Master Councilor
David Celentano and Rainbow Grand Worthy Advisor Callie
Trutschel and Crystal Reynolds, Grand Exalted Star of Light
and Love, Constellation for Girls. All Masonic Youth leaders
were invited to the Grand Master’s Dinner and warmly
received. n NY DeMolay presented an award of appreciation
to the Grand Matron of Eastern Star and Grand Patron (a
Senior DeMolay) at the Middletown reception. And the NY
DeMolay presented the Mother’s Tribute at the Order of
Amaranth Annual Convocation. n NY DeMolay hosted 150
top ritualists from six surrounding jurisdictions. Grand Master
Sullivan spoke to the young men. Of the ten categories, NY
DeMolay won three. The influence carries over, as Senior
DeMolays continue to join our Lodges. One example is our
current State Master Councilor, David Celentano. Many are in
roles of Masonic responsibility. n NY DeMolay has been in
the top ten for membership growth for the global organization
of DeMolay International. We had a few months as number
two but we just missed to California and Florida. We feel
sunshine gives them unfair advantage. But fourteen new
DeMolay members joined at a special class dedicated to Dad
RJ Kessler and the Royal Arch Masons. n Knickerbocker
DeMolay presented to the Bay Ridge Commandery, resulting
in their resolution to make May DeMolay Month. The NY
DeMolay honored Dad Peter Samiec for Scottish Rite Support
and they made the Grand Master of Idaho (a Senior DeMolay)
an Honorary DeMolay. The Idaho DeMolay made the Grand
Master of NY an Honorary DeMolay. n NY DeMolay
supports St. John’s Weekend in Utica with table setups,
guides for parking cars, and of course, ice cream sales
in the DeMolay Tent. FDR Chapter was invited to join
with Tri Bo Ped Grotto in a wreath laying at FDR’s Grave
on Memorial Day. n Finally, the NY DeMolay State
Sweetheart Program is nationally recognized. It is used as
a template in other jurisdictions. n
FALL 2013
RW Paul K. Gibbon, Chairman
(631) 261-1496
[email protected]
The
limited funding the NCMEC Take 25 Campaign officially
NY Masonic Safety ID Program, previously known
runs from April 1 through June 15 annually. Because of the
as the Child ID Program, has a twenty-two-year history of
importance of this campaign the New York MSID Program
providing a service to protect the children of our state. This
and Masonichip International will provide Take 25 literature
service is provided free by the Grand Lodge F & AM of New
throughout the year and encourage parents to talk to their
York and the hard work of the many volunteers throughout
children about safety.
the state. It is only due to the volunteers that we are able
to provide this valuable service. I am certain the Grand
On another subject relative to the MSID Program, the New
Master and Deputy Grand Master join the MSID Executive
York State Department of Criminal Justice Services (NYDCJS)
Committee in thanking the volunteers for their commitment
received an “Authorization to Publicize Form” from someone
to our program.
upstate and it referenced the NY Masonic Safety ID Program.
Although over the years the MSID Executive
The MSID Program has been conducted
Committee has worked closely with NYDCJS
without fanfare or publicity for all these years,
in developing our current program, there was
however, it has been decided that we should
a change in management and they were not
come out and let the public know what we have
familiar with the MSID Program. At the request
been doing on their behalf. On August 13 at the
of the NYDCJS Assistant Director, I attended a
Erie County Fair, with Grand Master MW James
meeting in Albany to demonstrate and explain
E. Sullivan, our MSID Program celebrated our
425,000th identification.
to make the NY Masonic Safety ID (MSID) Program to
the new program managers. All in attendance
The MSID Program has continuously kept
were impressed with the program and the safety
abreast of technology in order to improve itself
information provided. I further informed all
and provide better protection for our children. In
present the NY MSID Program has made and will
our effort to improve our program, with Grand
continue to make our program more available to
Master Sullivan’s approval, I had the privilege
Senior Citizens.
of attending the Masonichip International
It was recently brought to our attention that when
Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska (Masonichip International
uploading a picture of our children to the Internet with a
was formed by the Conference of Grand Masters in 2008).
smart-phone, unless the smart-phone’s GPS is turned off,
At this meeting there were representatives from nine states, as
we may be providing location information of our children
well as a representative from the National Center for Missing
to child predators. To obtain additional information on this
& Exploited Children (NCMEC). We had the opportunity
subject visit the MSID website using either web address:
to exchange ideas and discuss problems faced in the various
www.nymasonicsafetyidprogram.org or www.nychip.org.
states. Here I found out that Masonichip International is in
Under Links to Information, For Parents, click on “Parents
partnership with the NCMES “Take 25 Campaign.” The Take
should be Aware of Geo Tagging.” This website (presented
25 Campaign encourages families to take 25 minutes to talk
with permission of NBC) explains how much information a
with their children about safety and abduction prevention.
child predator can obtain from looking at the pictures that are
The NCMES Take 25 Campaign provides literature with “25
placed online. Our website also provides information on how
Ways to Make Kids Safer” and other information for parents,
to turn off the camera GPS. To learn how, click on “How to
guardians, educators and the public. The NY MSID Program
turn off Cell Phone Geo Tagging.” n
has embraced this program, since it provides additional
safety information for the protection of our children. Due to
25
ways
kids
safer
FALL 2013
17
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18
FALL 2013
Most Worshipful Roswell Taylor Swits
AUGUST 30, 1926 – JUNE 3, 2013
W
ithin the grand forest of mighty
oaks an exalted tree has fallen, leaving
an opening that will be difficult to fill.
Past Grand Master Most Worshipful
Roswell Taylor Swits was taken
suddenly from us on June 3, 2013 after
a short illness. He was a prominent
Freemason for forty-six years, an
inspiring leader, and a distinguished
member of the community, a gentlehearted man with a multitude of
friends, a wise counselor, a devoted
husband, father and grandfather. He
will be missed by many.
MW Roswell T. Swits was born
in Schenectady, NY on August 30,
1926, the son of the late Harman D.
Swits and Dorothea E. Smith Swits.
He was educated in Schenectady and
graduated from Nott Terrace High
School, followed by attendance at
the University of Colorado. He was
a long-time member of the Board of
Directors of the Ingersoll Memorial
Home for Aged Men, Schenectady
and until his retirement was employed
for thirty-five years by the New York
State Office of General Services in
Albany.
MW Roswell T. Swits is survived
by his wife Elvira (nee Boscia),
children David and Holly, and
four grandchildren: Erika, Kirstin,
Justin and Lilliana Maria. His older
brother, the late Harman D. Swits III,
predeceased him in 2004.
MW Roswell T. Swits’s fraternal
record was remarkable. He was raised
a Master Mason in St. George’s
Lodge No. 6, F. & A.M. on May 11,
1967. Seven years later, in 1974, he
served as the Worshipful Master of
St. George’s Lodge No. 6, during the
Lodge’s Bicentennial Anniversary. He
was appointed by then-Grand Master
Albert W. Schneider to serve as Grand
Standard Bearer from 1976 to 1978. He
was the Hudson-Champlain Regional
Director of the Masonic Home
Building Fund Committee from 1977
to 1982 and was active in the Grand
Lodge Masonic Charity Corporations
Committee from 1977 to 1980. He
was also elected a Director of the
Masonic Medical Research Laboratory
from 1984 to 1988 and subsequently
elected Director Emeritus.
Following his election as Senior
Grand Warden in 1984, MW Roswell
Swits was elected Deputy Grand Master
in 1986. He served in that capacity
until his election and installation as
Grand Master at the 207th Annual
Communication of Grand Lodge of
New York on May 3, 1988, held in
the Niagara Falls Convention Center,
Niagara Falls, NY.
A highlight of his tenure as the
chief executive of the New York
State Masons, MW Roswell Swits
initiated the Laboratory Endowment
and Action Fund (L.E.A.F.) with
an avowed goal to raise five million
dollars, which he successfully achieved
before leaving office in 1990. For this
and other outstanding achievements
MW Roswell T. Swits received the
Charles Henry Johnson Medal—the
highest Grand Lodge recognition for
exemplary service to New York Masons.
His numerous awards and citations
include the Christopher Champlain
Medal for outstanding achievement
(the highest award given by the Grand
Lodge of the State of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations to a member
of another Masonic jurisdiction) and
the Philip Tucker Award, presented
by the Grand Lodge of Vermont for
Masonic achievement. He also earned
the distinction of being named an
Honorary Past Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge of Michigan.
MW Roswell Swits held several
honorary Lodge memberships and was
an active member of many concordant
Masonic organizations. In 1985 he
was coroneted a 33rd Degree Mason
by the Supreme Council of Ancient
Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern
Masonic Jurisdiction.
In remembering MW Roswell T.
Swits, we revere his steadfast belief
in God and loyalty and duty to
country. Especially, he always called
our attention to the Flag of our
beloved country. In his words, “We as
Freemasons and as Citizens must always
respect the Flag. As Freemasons, we
parade it inside and outside our Lodge
rooms. We pledge it our allegiance. We
do this as a matter of course, without
thinking much about it. I want us to
think about it. I want us to do it not
only as a perfunctory gesture but also
as a mandatory Masonic duty. I want
a flag ceremony featuring the Pledge
of Allegiance to become a ritualistic
component of the opening ceremony of
every Lodge…” On August 9, 1989,
in his capacity of Grand Master, MW
Roswell T. Swits issued a Masonic
Edict making the Pledge of Allegiance
to the Flag of the United States of
America an inseparable part of the
opening ritual of every Lodge in New
York State.
As we bid farewell to our dear Grand
Master, MW Roswell T. Swits, he
having departed to the Celestial Lodge
above, he leaves us with this important
thought from his 1988 Installation
Address, “It has been said by many, but
first by Shakespeare, ‘What is past is
prologue.’ I pray with all humility that
what has been experienced and learned
in these years past will help guide… this
Grand Lodge to new horizons of Masonic
excellence and to the fulfillment, as near
as possible, of your expectations. I ask
your forbearance and your good counsel
as together we continue to learn and to
meet challenges of the future…[S]ome
words which I will pass on to you and
which I feel are very fine words and shall
carry them on as I travel, three words,
‘Start, Serve, and Finish as a Brother.’
I start as a Brother, I serve as a Brother,
and I will finish as a Brother.” n
FALL 2013
19
Here are some of the youth, communal
and health programs which our NYS
Lodges support on a continuing basis!!!!
Freemasons across New York take advantage of a lot of creative programs to interact with their community. Favorite
activities support youth on a local and broader basis. Many hours and dollars are also spent remembering elderly
members of the Fraternity and the general population. And some events are just fun for socializing and connecting
with our neighbors. Here is a partial list of programs alive in NYS Masonic Lodges. n Masonic Safety Child ID
n Highway clean-up n Poster and essay contests n Scholarships for high school graduates n Little League, Pop
Warner and Pee Wee football, girls’ softball n Rifle Clubs (with training), bowling, basketball, hockey, and soccer n
Challenger Little League for disabled children n Boy Scout Troops, Cub Packs, Brownies and Girl Scouts, Venture
Groups and Sea Scouts n Charity drives for muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, American Cancer Society n Red
Cross blood drives n Blood-testing programs n YWCA baskets for the needy n VA lunch programs n Visitation
at VA hospitals n Hospital rehab volunteers n Salvation Army Food Pantry n United Fund for Retarded Children
n Critical care visits at medical centers n Elder care clothing collection drives n Wheel chair donations to VA
n MSAT sponsor n Community lunch program n Visit to Sephardic Home for the Aged. n Sponsor child to
Camp Turk n Children’s Variety Talent ShowvBicycle rodeo n Salvation Army Bell Ringers n D.A.R.E. program
n Buffalo News Kid’s Day n Marching bands n Local Historical Society support and membership n Potluck
dinners n Lobster fests n Golf tournaments n Country music/Blue Grass music events n Fishing derby n
Joint American Legion projects n Community holiday parties n Easter egg hunts n MacDonald House support
n Delivery for food co-operatives n High School graduation party drug and alcohol free n Soap Box derby n
Pancake breakfasts n Thanksgiving dinners to homeless or senior centers n Donations to local children’s fund n
Donations to fire, library, ambulance fund n BMX bike team sponsorship n Holiday basket auctions n Trips for
disabled children n Native American night n School supplies for needy children n Luncheon/dinner for Lodge
widows n
Volunteer Fire Dept. support n Rifle safety programs n Help at polling stations n Halloween
costume parties n Pre-school/day care services n Handmade Christmas cards to service members n Wounded
Warriors projects
AWESOME!!!!! n
GRAND LODGE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
RW MICHAEL SHIPMAN, Chairman
[email protected]
Recipients recognized for 2013
Congratulations go to the deserving student recipients of this
year’s Education Assistance Program. Once again the children
and grandchildren of members of Lodges in the State of New
York have been given grants to help in their further education.
This year’s recipients totaled 586 and that brings the eighteenyear total to over 10,000 students. Lodges from every District
across the State sponsored these students.
The six public presentations held throughout the State
to honor the recipients were a success enjoyed by over 800
family and guests. MW James E. Sullivan, Grand Master, and
RW David F. Stoy, Trustee of the Masonic Hall and Home,
spoke to those in attendance and made the presentations.
RW Michael Shipman, Chairman, explained that these
students have exhibited high academic achievement while
active in church and community service. Coming from strong
family backgrounds, they are sure to become the leaders of
tomorrow. The young people are studying everything from
A (accounting, aerospace engineering, anthropology, animal
20
science, architecture, etc.) to Z (zoology) and going to schools
from SUNY Albany to Yale University.
This year’s program, as in previous years, also featured the
presentation of awards from the Grand Chapter, Royal Arch
Masons and Ancient Scottish Rite to several students. At the
formal presentations pictures were taken and sent to the local
newspapers of the students. The Grand Master, the recipients
and those in attendance then joined for refreshments. All had
a wonderful time.
Perhaps you know of a deserving child, grandchild or widow
of one of our Brothers. They may not know about the assistance
Grand Lodge has to offer. New scholarship applications will be
available January 1, 2014 for the 2014-2015 school year. Watch
this column for any change in requirements or dates. You may
also keep informed of the Education Assistance Program by
visiting the Empire State Mason and New York State Mason
websites: www.esmason.com and www.nymasons.org. n
FALL 2013
The lazy, hazy days of summer—or should it be the wet, dreary
Q. Why do we use the word “Compasses’’ instead of
A.
Compass?
The term Compasses is singularly (no pun)
Masonic in usage. The Fraternity has generally
applied this term, the plural, to distinguish it
from the magnetic compass, the instrument used
to find direction.
Q. The Lesser Lights are in the East, West and South.
A.
Why is there no light in the North?
Every Lodge should be a representation of King
Solomon’s Temple, which was so far north of the
path of the sun and moon that at their meridian
height there would be no rays in the northern
part of the Temple. Masonically, the North is a
place of darkness.
Q. What is an oblong square?
A. An oblong square is a rectangle with its length
greater than its width. It contains four ninetydegree angles. Symbolically this is the shape of
the Lodge room with the East-West dimension
greater than the North-South dimension.
days?—are swiftly passing and we soon will be returning to the
quarries of Masonry. Let us pause to remember why we came to
the Fraternity: to improve ourselves. It is for this reason that the
Ritual Renaissance came into existence, to restore that which has
been forgotten or lost and bring more knowledge to light.
My Brothers, amidst all the labor that has been done and
continues to be done, I would like to reaffirm the position of
Assistant Grand Lecturer. It is to provide training, education
assistance, and motivation to the officers and brethren of the
Lodges in their respective Districts, in order to optimize the
learning of the Standard Works and Lectures.
The Ritual Directors are to assist the AGLs and work in their
respective Lodges. Working and acting together, and sometimes
being one and the same, these dedicated Brothers will bring a
richer experience to our Craft.
The criteria for the Meacham Award is that primarily all the
speaking parts of all the Degrees will be completed in their
entirety by the members of the individual Lodge, without
outside assistance. This work is to be exemplified from memory
and not read.
Fall Convention Schedule:
September
9 Clinton
10Essex
11Franklin-Hamilton
12Herkimer
13First & Second St. Lawrence
16Jefferson-Lewis
17Jefferson
18Saratoga-Warren
19Washington
20Rensselaer-Schenectady
23Albany
24Fulton-Montgomery
25Otsego-Schoharie
27Sullivan
November
2 Cayuga-Tompkins
4 Oswego
7 Onondaga
8 Cortland-Madison
9 Broome-Chenango
10Chemung-Schuyler-Tioga
11Wayne
15Monroe
16Allegany
17Ontario-Seneca-Yates
18Stueben
21First Erie
22Niagara-Orleans
23Cattaraugus
28Second Erie
29Chautauqua
November
4 Livingston
6 First Oneida
7 Genesee-Wyoming
Photo Credit: Laura Gallant/Landov
It is my wish that everyone had a relaxing and safe summer. As
we return to our labors, may we find a renewed spirit to continue
our Fraternity’s growth, bringing more light to ourselves and to
this great Craft. n
RW Robert W. Strang Jr.
Grand Lecturer
443/827-3031
[email protected]
FALL 2013
21
Are you a Masonic dead fish? Is your
Lodge a dead fish? A Brother who is a
Masonic dead fish is one who simply
goes through the motions of Masonry: a
Brother who may attend Lodge regularly
but does little more; a Brother who does
not let the principles of Freemasonry
influence his life in or outside of the
Lodge room; a Brother who is not
applying himself diligently to improve
himself in Masonry; a Brother who does
not make the effort to learn the basics of
the lessons of the Ritual.
Similarly, a dead fish Masonic
Lodge is one that simply goes through
the motions. It is a Lodge where the
communications consist of opening,
reading the minutes, paying the bills,
and closing. It is a Lodge where there
is a lack of attention to the Ritual—
it is either poorly done, or glossed
over—where parts are omitted or read.
It is a Lodge where the finances of
maintaining the Lodge’s meeting place
are more important than Masonry,
where the members spend their time
flipping pancakes for pennies and then
arguing about how to spend the meager
proceeds. It is a Lodge with cliques and
where the members hold grudges.
This is a Lodge where they worry
more about the number of candidates
(or lack thereof ) than being concerned
about the quality. The duties of the
investigating committee are handled
in a perfunctory manner with no real
inquiry made into character. It is a Lodge
where proficiency in the catechism is
not demanded before the candidate is
advanced—where the Lodge calendar is
more important than the education of
the newly created Brother.
If we are honest with ourselves, most
of us—including me—would have to
admit that we and our Lodge meet at
least some of these definitions of a dead
fish. If we are to be Masons we must
rectify the situation. It will take a lot of
effort; after all, it takes a lot of work to
swim upstream.
22
Only you can decide what type of live
fish you want to be. You cannot change
your personality or who you are, but
you can strive for a better understanding
of who that person is and in doing so,
develop a keener understanding of
others as well. Work to respect your
Brother for who he is.
Try to understand the real principles
of Masonry. They are there in the
allegory of the Degrees. Take the time
to read and study both the Ritual and
Masonic writings. There are many
volumes available and many more good
ones are being published every year.
Take these principles and reflect on how
you can apply them to your own life and
relationships. Of course, the reading
courses offered by the Livingston
Library are a good starting point but
there is much more available than just
these significant resources. There are the
resources being developed by the Ritual
Renaissance Project, as well. While this
effort has only tackled the First Degree,
to date, there is a vast amount of very
pertinent material to aid your Masonic
education.
Do not limit your search to the
printed page only. Today the Internet
offers many opportunities for Masonic
education and development. It is vitally
important that you get involved in your
own Masonic development.
As for your Lodge, extend your own
personal development into the Lodge
meetings. This is an area that can
produce many great programs if you
make the effort. Some years ago I had a
series of programs in my Lodge that were
entitled “Why is ……… Lodge?” They
consisted of roundtable discussions of
the purpose of our individual Lodge, not
Lodges in general. The discussions were
lively and all of us leaned a great deal
about ourselves and each other, as well
as developing a clearer understanding of
the unique purpose of our own Lodge.
Another area for topics for Lodge
programs is the Ritual itself. When was
the last time you had a discussion as
to the meaning of a particular lecture
or a part of a lecture? The Ritual
Renaissance Project is developing some
great tools for use in such discussions.
Take advantage of them.
In my travels, I have noted that many
Lodges have been Raising groups of
relatively young men. These Brothers
have sought out Masonry and have
decided that it is what they need to
escape from the crazy world of Facebook
and 140-character tweets. Many know
more about the Fraternity before they
are Initiated than some of our long-time
members. They are a valuable resource.
Let them run with their ideas.
Work on your presentation of the
Ritual. Masonry is an initiatory society
wherein the working of the Ritual
is extremely important. It is only by
presenting it well and in full form
that the lessons can be transmitted
effectively. It is not enough to be able
to recite a part letter perfect. Each
participant must understand what is
being taught and deliver the work with
understanding to convey that meaning.
It is necessary to hold rehearsals—not
just a perfunctory one, but several indepth programs. Pay attention to the
floorwork as well. Each movement
has meaning and sloppy movement
detracts from the performance as much
as speaking poorly. Involve your newer
members in the Ritual. They have a lot
to offer and you will demonstrate your
acceptance of them in no better way
than by giving them responsibility.
In recent years a movement called
“Traditional Observance Lodges” has
developed. I urge you to look into this
program. It may not be for everyone but
it does offer many important insights
into the practice of Masonry.
Resolve your Lodges finances. If you
are spending all your efforts trying to
pay the bills you will have no energy left
for Masonry. A Lodge in a neighboring
District found itself in this situation.
They owned their own building and
were spending all of their effort on its
upkeep. Realizing that they had only
a few years before they would have to
surrender their charter, they decided to
sell and made arrangements to meet in
a local motel. Guess what happened?
They did not fold. To the contrary, they
are now one of the most vibrant Lodges
in the District. They have numerous,
well-qualified candidates, and their
FALL 2013
officer line does not have a single Past
Master in it. Without the worry of the
building they had time for Masonry.
Membership: the most important
thing to keep in mind is that it is not the
quantity of candidates, but the quality
of candidates. It is better to cancel a
scheduled Degree than to Initiate an
unworthy candidate or advance an
unprepared Brother. Remember, when
you sign a candidate’s petition you are
placing your own reputation as a Mason
on that line. Investigating committees
should investigate.
Masonry is
committed to making good men better.
It is not our job to reform those who
need it. Investigating committees need
to make a thorough search into the
prospective Brother. It may be a sign of
our times, but it is important to verify
that the answers he gave on the petition
are truthful. Some states are requiring
background checks by law enforcement
prior to Initiation. That may be a little
extreme but you should know the
candidate well enough to vouch for the
accuracy of his petition. Even consider
if he will be a good fit for your Lodge;
perhaps he might fit in better in the
Lodge in the next town. If that is the
case, do both a favor and suggest that he
change his petition to the other Lodge.
The new Brother’s Masonic education
is as important as his quality as a man.
It has been said that the role of an
Entered Apprentice is to learn, that of a
Fellowcraft to work and that of Master
Mason to teach. How can we teach if we
do not know the lessons ourselves? That
gets back to making ourselves live fish
and helping our newly made Brothers
learn the path themselves. If we give
Masonry away, it will be worth what
we paid for it. Demand proficiency
in the catechism for all three Degrees.
Consider examination in open Lodge.
Finally, we must work to eliminate
cliques and grudges. Human nature
being what it is we will probably not
be completely successful. But we
must make the effort. It goes back to
respecting our Brothers. Differences
in opinion are just that. They are not
personal attacks. Each of us is human
and subject to error. As soon as we
realize that we could be wrong, peace
and harmony will prevail.
Finally: Is Grand Lodge a dead fish?
If so, why? If so, what can be done to
resuscitate it? Let me know your thoughts
and let us start a serious discussion. n
GRAND MASTER’S
FAMILY DAY AT WEST POINT
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Army vs. Eastern Michigan
HOMECOMING
(Limited to 200 tickets)
Tickets: $30.00
Parking: $15.00 (per car)
Parking: $25.00 (per bus)
Get your order in early!
We will be Tailgating
Parking Area “H”
Arrive early for good parking spot.
Maps will be provided with your tickets.
(Bring your own food and drinks)
*(Subject to change)
Parade of Cadets: On the Plain Football Game: Starting time
*9:00 a.m.
*12:00 p.m.
Buses provided to game & parade
All Ticket orders must be sent with check to:
RW Charlie Catapano
5 Euston Road
North Merrick, NY 11566
Phone: 516/314-8156 Email: [email protected]
Checks made payable to: Grand Lodge of New York.
Cutoff Date with Money, September 13, 2013
*(Subject to change)
FALL 2013
23
Enjoying the
Generations
at
By Cindy Copperwheat
Retirement Counselor, Acacia Village
W
hat are now called “intergenerational activities” used to
be a common part of our culture. We all lived close together.
Sunday family dinners were the norm, as were gatherings
for holidays and special occasions. Many of us remember a
time when most of our family lived in the same city, village
or even right next door. But times have changed. Family is
spread out geographically. Children and the senior members
of our families don’t have as much opportunity to get to know
one another. Yet these two groups have so much to give each
other while reinforcing cooperation and sense of community.
Children gain positive role models with whom they can interact
on a regular basis, while older adults learn new innovations
and technologies from their younger counterparts. Here at
Acacia Village we host many activities to help bridge the gap
between these two groups.
In February we held the 4th Annual “Souper” Bowl, which is
a charity event presented in our dining room. Our staff chefs
prepare their own specialty soups and those in attendance vote
for their favorite. The proceeds from this year’s event were
donated to the Masonic Care Community Child Care Center
to promote Art Appreciation and Expression. The event
was extra special, with the assistance of Elizabeth Reardon,
Childcare Director, and her Senior Einsteins. The residents
got to chat with these talented students during lunch and a
24
few lucky people won a picture that was custom-made by the
children just for them.
Acacia Village regularly partners with our Masonic Child
Care Center for intergenerational activities. At Halloween the
children come in their costumes for a trick-or-treat parade and
again at Easter, where they participate in an egg hunt after
the residents hide all of the eggs. These are just a handful of
examples of how our children in the Child Care Center enrich
the lives of our seniors at Acacia Village, and vice versa. It is
such a treat for everyone involved.
Students from the Oriskany School District and Utica’s
Albany Elementary School chose Acacia Village residents to
partner with them as part of the project research for the 2012
First© Lego© League (FLL) Challenge: “Senior Solutions.”
The Challenge had three parts: the Robot Game, the Project
and the FLL Core Values. The Robot Game included tasks that
relate to real life activities for seniors. The children needed to
program the robot to complete the tasks, which include getting
the dog, identifying the correct bottle of medication to take,
bowling, operating the burners of a stove, navigating stairs
and a ramp, putting pieces of a quilt in place and gardening,
to name a few. The Project required students to research
challenges seniors face with aging, learn how technology
has helped or presents additional obstacles, and then select
a specific problem and develop a solution. They interviewed
the residents to find out their challenges and the benefits and
drawbacks of technology. The Albany Elementary School
students decided to focus on helping seniors utilize current
media more easily. They developed a concept for a remote
control that would utilize voice recognition technology and
integrate with the computer, media player and gaming console
such as a Wii. With feedback on the design from Acacia Village
residents, the remote control has “no more buttons than are
on a telephone” and the buttons are “bright” and easy to see.
The FLL Core Values which include Teamwork and Having
FALL 2013
Fun were evident in the students’ time with residents.
In addition to Senior Solutions, Acacia Village and Albany
Elementary School partnered on Veteran’s Day, with veterans
from Acacia speaking to the K-3 classes (see “Community
members share World War II experiences”), and we will be
helping Albany students with holiday crafts. Many of our
residents participated in the Mittens for Schools program
organized by Utica Rotary Club. Mittens and scarves were
handmade by residents and donated to the local schools. This
program concludes with a special luncheon for these talented
people so the students can thank them in person.
At Acacia Village we find that stronger communication
across the generations encourages cultural exchange and
collaboration, it stimulates socialization and emotional health.
This improves both the physical and psychological health of
each age group. And it is just plain fun. n
The Start
of My
Life
By E. Daniel Walther IV
In 1972 I became a member of Kenmore Chapter Order of
DeMolay. Membership in the Order of DeMolay was a perfect
match to the lessons that I was also learning in the Boy Scouts.
I can still remember that first evening and the lessons that
were being introduced to me through the Initiatory Degree;
and then experiencing the rendition of the DeMolay Degree.
The ritual work was presented mostly by memory, in a very
impressive and dignified manner. I was so taken by the abilities
of my new brothers that I couldn’t wait to get more involved
and become an officer.
I served the Chapter in many positions, working my way to
the office of Senior Councilor. Due to my joining the military,
I needed to step back and not become the Master Councilor.
That is one opportunity, which, to this day, I regret not being
able to attain.
Kenmore was a very active Chapter, ritually, socially and
athletically. I remember: The traveling, visiting and sharing
that common bond with the many other Chapters then in
existence throughout the Western half of New York State;
attending the many dances and other social events with
the Triangle, Rainbow and Constellation young ladies; our
Chapter’s weekly bowling league, flag football, softball and
basketball teams. Through my membership in DeMolay I
met a tremendous number of other young men and ladies
and developed many memorable and lifelong friendships and
relationships.
The teachings and experiences that I had in the Order of
DeMolay were significantly responsible for my decision to
immediately join the Masonic Fraternity in 1980. I was the
third generation of my family to join Master Builder Masonic
Lodge 911, F&AM. Many of my brothers from Kenmore
Chapter also continued into Masonry, in Master Builder and
other Lodges. Today, my Masonic memberships include Blue
Lodge, York Rite, Scottish Rite, Shrine, OES and I am an
advisor to both Triangle and DeMolay.
Recently, I had the opportunity to be instrumental in the
startup of Meridian Sun Chapter Order of DeMolay at the
Ismailia Shrine Center in West Seneca, New York. Teaching
the young men of this new Chapter is giving me the chance to
return to the Order of DeMolay some of the benefits that it
gave to me so many years ago. And since starting Meridian Sun
Chapter, many other Masons and Shriners (many of whom are
Senior DeMolays) have come forward to offer support.
It has been said that the Order of DeMolay takes good
young men and through its teachings and experiences makes
them even better. Seeing a young man smile as he succeeds in
something new and challenging is truly reward enough. I have
seen it happen and I have experienced it. I will always have a
place in my life for the Order of DeMolay. n
FALL 2013
25
Dyslexia
You decode. They don’t, cannot.
By Ill James D. Swan, Jr., 33°
W
hat is dyslexia? Dyslexia is a learning ability deficiency
estimated to be suffered by as many as twenty percent of
today’s children. The experts in the field estimate that eighty
to ninety percent of all children’s learning disabilities can be
attributed to dyslexia. It is experienced equally by boys and
girls and can be passed from parent to child. It is also known
to skip generations. A child with dyslexia is normally very
bright but is not able to read and to comprehend what he
reads as a normal child does.
Sally Shaywitz, a leading expert in the field has said,
“Dyslexia is an island of weaknesses in a sea of strengths.” The
brain does not see and process things in the orderly manner of
a child without the affliction. Letters, numbers and words are
scrambled in form and sometimes upside down.
There are two Children’s Learning Centers for Dyslexia in
the State of New York. The current enrollment at both centers
exceeds the space available to assist children. Both centers
have wait lists of children seeking help. The Frank and Bette
Paul Learning Center, sponsored by the Valley of Rochester, is
located at 3300 Monroe Avenue in Rochester. The Children’s
Dyslexia Center Central New York, sponsored by the Valleys
of Syracuse and Utica, is located on the Campus of the Grand
Chapter Order of the Eastern Star State of New York Home
in Oriskany. The cost of operating the two centers in New
York State is paid by the members in the Valleys of Rochester,
Syracuse and Utica. We receive assistance from Scottish Rite
Masons, other Valleys and Council of Deliberation AASR,
New York; Supreme Council, AASR, Northern Masonic
Jurisdiction; United States of America’s Children’s Learning
Centers Corporation; and private donors—both corporate
and individuals.
The tutors at the Learning Centers, using the OrtonGillingham Method, provide the tools and teach the students
to use those tools to combat and overcome the end results
of dyslexia. Children continue to use the exercises and other
methods they learn for the rest of their lives. Dyslexia is not
an affliction that can be cured.
Tutoring for the children at the two centers is provided by
“Tutor Scholars,” being trained to become “Certified Tutors,”
and by the Certified Tutors. Tutor Scholars are volunteers
working with the children while they learn the skills necessary
to become certified. The task of finding New York State
Certified Teachers willing to volunteer for up to two years to
earn their tutor certification is an ongoing challenge each year.
The Frank and Bette Paul Learning Center in Rochester
opened its doors in 1994 and the Children’s Learning Center
Central New York opened its doors in 2005. During those
years the center in Rochester has assisted 279 children and
trained and certified fifty-five tutors. Seven are now advanced
level and one is an Instructor Tutor. The center in Oriskany
has assisted 105 plus children and trained and certified thirtyfive tutors. Several of the tutors continue to work in the centers
as paid Certified Tutors; others move on to use their skills in
their school classrooms or establish a tutoring learning center
on their own. n
Ross earns 70-year award
On
April 27 Medina Lodge 336
presented RW Donald Ross with a
certificate for seventy years of service to
the Fraternity. The Ladies and Awards
Night event was held at the West Barre
Presbyterian Church.
The certificate from Grand Lodge
bears the signatures of the Grand
Secretary and MW James E. Sullivan,
Grand Master. Helping Brother
Don celebrate were his wife Bernie,
their daughter Debbie Ross and
granddaughter Avery Forder. n
(l-r) RW William Greene, DDGM of the Niagara-Orleans District; Bernie Ross;
RW Donald B. Ross, recipient; Debbie Ross; Avery Forder and RW Timothy McGee
26
FALL 2013
Making a MCC
Connection at
Pike’s Peak
By Mickey Darrohn, Cathy Heinrich and Hedi Kniesnel
Y
ou never know when you are going
to meet someone who has been touched
by the Masonic Care Community. That
happened last year to several of us while
attending a conference in Colorado.
While our husbands were attending the
Leading Age Convention in Denver,
we decided to see the sights and went
to Pike’s Peak. Via winding roads, with
winds increasing to 70 mph, the air
thinning and the temperature dropping
20 degrees, we tried to make our way to
the summit. We were met by a serious
looking Park Ranger who approached
our car. There was a blockade ahead and
no cars were allowed past this point,
as the winds were too dangerous. The
Park Ranger was very knowledgeable
and in the course of conversation he
asked, “Where are you ladies from?”
We answered Rochester, New York City
and Utica New York. He asked if we
were familiar with the Masonic Home.
It certainly is a small world. It’s not
possible to be 2000 miles away from
home, in a rented car, sightseeing in
Colorado Springs when out of the blue
a Park Ranger asks about the Masonic
Home. The man we were talking to
was William Duck. His older brothers
Edward and Earl Duck were Masonic
Home Kids.
Our records show that both Earl and
Edward entered the Masonic Home in
June of 1941 following the death of
their father. Edward was 8 years old and
Earl was 11. William, who was born
in 1939, was an infant at the time and
stayed with his mother Beulah Wergand
Duck, because at that time the Home
was not taking infants. Beulah was from
Geneva, New York and was a member
of the Eastern Star. Edward and Earl
lived at the Masonic Home until they
graduated from Utica’s Proctor High
School. Thanks to Leo DiBiasi and
George Sellars of the Masonic Home
Kids Alumni Association, we learned
more about the two Duck brothers who
came to live at the Home in Utica.
The oldest brother, Earl, attended
Syracuse University and left the
Home in 1952. Earl later married
Diane Clark, the daughter of former
Home Superintendent Dr. William T.
Clark. For years Earl was the Director
of Admissions at Mohawk Valley
Community College. Earl and Diane
currently live in Texas.
Edward Duck left the Home in
1950 and eventually became a police
officer in Utica. Ed served as President
of the Masonic Home Kids Alumni
Association in 1978, when the Kids
Fountain was dedicated in front of
Tompkins Chapel. Sadly, Edward died
suddenly in 1980 of a heart attack.
We don’t know if we were more
surprised or Park Ranger William
Duck. We almost turned around several
times, thinking, do we really want
to climb this mountain? Had we not
kept going we would never have met
William. We exchanged addresses and
invited William to visit our community
anytime. We will treasure our meeting
and learning about William’s older
brothers who lived on our Utica
campus. You just never know. n
This photo of the Masonic Home Children’s Choir was taken in June of 1950, presumably
right around the St. John’s Day Celebration that year. The Children performed every
year. In the top row (first and third from left), you will see Eddie and Earl Duck.
FALL 2013
27
Masonic Brotherhood Fund
RW Bruce Testut, Chairman
(516) 579-9242
Campaign Donations
June 1, 2012 – May 31, 2013
W
Br
HELPING PE
E
L
oth
LE
OP
PEO
P
e have accomplished a lot this year.
I am pleased that you were able to help
those of our Brothers who were hurt by
Hurricane Sandy. We have changed the
name of the category to Disaster Relief
so more will be able to be helped, should
the need arise. Also, there are more
category choices in the next campaign,
which includes many favorites.
Many Brothers were not aware that
there were Masonic Brotherhood
Fund seminars in their area. I will ask
the Assistant Grand Secretary to add
dates, times and places to the seminar
information on Athol. If you don’t
subscribe, call the Masonic Brotherhood
Fund at Grand Lodge and ask. If you
weren’t included in a seminar or there
wasn’t one scheduled in your area, please
contact me so we can work to correct
this. Everyone attending a seminar will
receive a booklet to help adjust to the
new system.
We can make a difference. Remember
the Masonic Brotherhood Fund. n
erhood Fun
d
(212) 337-6652
28
Grand Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $305,170.08
Grand Master (Legacies) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,936.00
Grand Master (pins) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,956.91
DeMolay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 465.94
Masonic Safety ID Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,373.00
MSAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,414.00
Oklahoma Relief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75.00
Hurricane Relief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282,540.5
Drug & Alcohol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240.00
Veterans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,989.60
Camp Turk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,737.00
Masonic Youth Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,203.50
Masonic Benevolence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 695,420.57
Masonic Care Community (MCC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87,096.42
Livingston Masonic Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,510.00
Masonic Medical Research Laboratory (MMRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94,218.86
Sub Total
$1,549,447.38
Journal Entries (Direct donation with MBF credit)
MCC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,477.00
MMRL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47,861.33
Grand Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$1,599,785.71
Top 10 Districts in % Participation
Fulton- Montgomery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55.95%
Livingston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44.50
Chautauqua . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38.18
2nd Westchester-Putnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.11
Dutchess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.17
Onondaga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31.47
Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28.92
Queens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28.11
Delaware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.32
2nd St. Lawrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.74
Top 10 Districts in Dollars donated
5th Manhattan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $56,364.00
Queens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32,073.79
9th Manhattan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,187.99
Onondaga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,658.50
4th Manhattan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,270.00
1st Erie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,392.58
Orange-Rockland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,718.50
Suffolk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,092.51
2nd Westchester-Putnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,232.50
Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,872.50
FALL 2013
The Masonic Brotherhood
Fund
MEMBERS PERCENT
DOLLARS
D#
DISTRICT
1
Albany 2
Allegany
3
Bronx 4
Broome-Chenango
5
Cattaraugus
6
Cayuga-Tompkins
7
Chautauqua
8
Chemung-Schuyler-Tioga 9
Clinton
10
Columbia
11
Cortland-Madison
12
Delaware
13
Dutchess
14
Erie – 1st
15
Erie – 2nd
17
Essex
18
Franklin-Hamilton
19 Fulton-Montgomery
20
Genesee-Wyoming
21
Greene-Ulster
22
Herkimer
23
Jefferson
24
Jefferson-Lewis
25
Kings - 1st 26
Kings – 2nd
27
Kings – 3rd
28
Livingston
29
Manhattan – 1st
30
Manhattan – 2nd
32
Manhattan – 4th
33
Manhattan – 5th
34
Manhattan – 6th
35
Manhattan – 7th
36
Manhattan – 8th
37
Manhattan – 9th
38
Manhattan – 10th
39
Monroe
41
Nassau – 1st
42
Nassau – 2nd
43
Niagara-Orleans
44
Oneida – 1st
45
Oneida – 2nd
46
Onondaga
48
Ontario-Seneca-Yates 49
Orange-Rockland 50
Oswego
51
Otsego-Schoharie
52
Queens
54
Rensselaer-Schenectady
55
Richmond
56
St. Lawrence – 1st
57
St. Lawrence – 2nd
58
Saratoga-Warren
59
Steuben
60
Suffolk
61
Sullivan
62
Washington
63
Wayne
64
Westchester-Putnam – 1st
65
Westchester-Putnam – 2nd 99
Syria-Lebanon
999 Special District –individual donations legacies
982 . . . . . . . . . . . 28.82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $16,842.50
478 . . . . . . . . . . . 14.85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,950.00
370 . . . . . . . . . . . 12.43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,425.00
900 . . . . . . . . . . . 15.56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,196.00
378 . . . . . . . . . . . 11.38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,230.00
664 . . . . . . . . . . . 20.03 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,554.69
825 . . . . . . . . . . . 38.18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,965.00
686 . . . . . . . . . . . 20.41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,949.00
207 . . . . . . . . . . . 10.14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 925.00
295 . . . . . . . . . . . 16.27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,965.00
471 . . . . . . . . . . . 15.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,469.00
366 . . . . . . . . . . . 27.32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,812.05
631 . . . . . . . . . . . 32.17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,622.00
1477 . . . . . . . . . . . 23.56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22,392.58
1322 . . . . . . . . . . . 25.79 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,963.75
254 . . . . . . . . . . . 22.05 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,446.50
284 . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,374.00
597 . . . . . . . . . . . 55.95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,206.45
638 . . . . . . . . . . . 23.51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,022.00
645 . . . . . . . . . . . 14.42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,433.27
401 . . . . . . . . . . . 16.46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,787.00
322 . . . . . . . . . . . 10.56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,772.00
429 . . . . . . . . . . . 14.92 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,111.00
463 . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,278.42
430 . . . . . . . . . . . 11.4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,483.50
548 . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.76 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,648.00
373 . . . . . . . . . . . 44.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,736.50
886 . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.06 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,071.00
441 . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,070.00
1119 . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.06 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,270.00
796 . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.92 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56,364.00
690 . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,913.00
537 . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,142.00
452 . . . . . . . . . . . 21.02 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,050.50
980 . . . . . . . . . . . 22.65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,187.99
1018 . . . . . . . . . . . 11.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,992.00
1574 . . . . . . . . . . . 21.28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,957.50
936 . . . . . . . . . . . 17.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,811.50
948 . . . . . . . . . . . 15.61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,134.00
950 . . . . . . . . . . . 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,368.00
753 . . . . . . . . . . . 25.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,147.00
857 . . . . . . . . . . . 18.9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,719.10
1322 . . . . . . . . . . . 31.47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,658.50
782 . . . . . . . . . . . 24.55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,949.00
1434 . . . . . . . . . . . 17.64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,718.30
583 . . . . . . . . . . . 18.7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,961.60
623 . . . . . . . . . . . 17.66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,418.00
1188 . . . . . . . . . . . 28.11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32,073.79
926 . . . . . . . . . . . 17.28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,970.00
892 . . . . . . . . . . . 21.82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,022.24
311 . . . . . . . . . . . 18.01 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,770.00
430 . . . . . . . . . . . 26.74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,360.00
486 . . . . . . . . . . . 21.19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,467.00
531 . . . . . . . . . . . 12.05 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,395.50
1730 . . . . . . . . . . . 17.8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,092.51
257 . . . . . . . . . . . 21.79 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,116.00
284 . . . . . . . . . . . 20.77 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,839.00
654 . . . . . . . . . . . 26.15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,048.69
644 . . . . . . . . . . . 19.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,373.00
756 . . . . . . . . . . . 36.11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,232.50
507 . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,610.00
492 . . . . . . . . . . . 12.8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,016,892.27
average . . . . . . . . . . 19.91% n
FALL 2013
29
Round Lake Camp
By Mollie Denslow, Director of Camp Turk
In
northern Oneida County, in the Adirondack Park, is
located our Round Lake Camp. The Trustees of the Masonic
Hall and Home purchased the 1600 acres in the 1920s as a
summer retreat for the children and seniors who lived at the
Utica Campus. Kids, and residents who were able, spent their
entire summer living at Round Lake, surrounded by fresh air,
pine trees and the beauty of the Adirondacks. In the late 1950s
there were not as many Masonic Home Kids, so Round Lake
Camp was opened to the sons of Masons in good standing;
some twenty years later, the Grand Lodge named the summer
camp program “Camp Turk” in honor of MW Nathan Turk,
under whose leadership the operation of the camp changed
to include boys and girls from Masonic and non-Masonic
families.
Today all children ages 8 to 16 are welcome to attend Camp
Turk for either for one, two or three weeks. The boys’ session
starts in late June and concludes in mid-July. The girls’ camp
starts the day after the boys go home in July and concludes
in early August. Each session of camp can accommodate 200
children and this year the girls’ session was closed out in June,
creating the need for a waiting list. Children are housed in
a variety of cabins by age and it’s a wonderful opportunity
for kids to make new friends. This past season, a one-week
day-camp program was offered for staff of the Masonic Care
Community. Children were bused daily from the Health
Pavilion of the Utica Campus to Round Lake camp and back
again in late afternoon.
The Camp Turk program offers a variety of experiences for
children. There are more than thirty activities, both land and
water based. There is a paved basketball court, tennis courts,
volleyball, baseball or softball, archery, hiking and biking. In
the lake kids swim, kayak, canoe, wakeboard, use sailboats, go
tubing and have the opportunity to go fishing. There is a large
inflatable slide and this year a new inflatable “Rockit,” where
multiple kids mount the device and rock back and forth. Both
of these items were donations to the Camp Turk program.
There are group activities that foster teamwork, such as the
Camp Turk Olympics and sailboat races, which are supervised
30
by the Masonic Yacht Club. Children eat nutritious meals in
the dining hall and have a camp store where they can purchase
treats such as candy and ice cream. The store also stocks
sweatshirts, t-shirts and other camp memorabilia. At night
there are campfires, movies and even an overnight camp out.
Children who attend camp once come back year after year. In
fact, the children of children who attended are now coming to
Round Lake.
There is always room for you to get involved in supporting
the Round Lake facility and/or the Camp Turk program so
it continues to be a place where wonderful summer vacation
memories are made. We all know that buildings and facilities
need constant attention and upgrading to keep in good working
order. The Board of Trustees and staff have been considering
other uses for the Round Lake Camp. Several experiments over
the past year, including opening the camp to Masons during
the St. John’s Day Weekend and allowing Masons to stay over
the Labor Day holiday weekend, are helping us learn what
programs might be of interest. We have also been looking at
the facilities infrastructure to determine what improvements
could be made economically to the buildings and property
to allow its use in other seasons of the year. We would love
to hear from you. If you have an idea or suggestion, contact
Mollie by email at [email protected]. Continued use and
support of the Round Lake Camp can ensure that it will be
available for future generations to enjoy. n
ITS NEVER TOO LATE….
TO REGISTER FOR THE
CAMP TURK SUMMER PROGRAM!
GO TO THE WEBSITE:
CAMPTURK.ORG
2014 BOYS’ SESSION JULY 6TH - JULY 26TH
2014 GIRLS’ SESSION JULY 27TH- AUG. 16TH
FALL 2013
RW JAMES H. RICE,
Grand Historian
(585) 554-6032
[email protected]
In past issues of the Empire State Mason I have written about
the rich local history our Lodges have in the community. Not
all of this history is of a positive nature. This is an example of
that type of history.
While researching the history of my second Lodge, Milo in
Penn Yan, I ran across a reference to a James Burns, a name
I recognized from previous research. Upon looking into the
story further I found this man to have a curious tale. James
Burns was Raised to Master Mason on June 19, 1851.
He was described as tall, personable and handsome. He ran
for public office at the county level and was elected County
Treasurer in 1860, ‘63, ‘66, and ‘69. He became ward of a
young lady whose parents died; she joined his family. She was
described as beautiful, blonde and accomplished.
In 1872, at the end of his term of office, he abandoned his
wife and three children, absconded with some 42,000 dollars
of taxpayer money and left town with the young lady, not
his wife. The pair traveled to New York City, and then to
Central America, England, Ireland, Wales and other European
countries. Then they went to Barbados, the Sandwich Islands
and eventually San Francisco.
It was in San Francisco that a gentleman, formerly of Penn
Yan, recognized him. Burns was followed to his hotel. A
second man from Penn Yan was notified and the two men
confronted Burns, who was accompanied by a young lady, at
the hotel. She would not admit who she was but Burns, when
confronted with the facts, broke down into tears and admitted
his guilt to the two men. The local sheriff was notified; he then
wired the sheriff in Penn Yan. Burns was eventually brought
back east to face the charges.
Two interesting facts were revealed in this case: First, James
Burns was not only a member of the Lodge but also had served
as its Master in the1860s and was appointed District Deputy
Grand Master in 1863 and 1864. He was also an active
member of the local I.O.O.F. Chapter. During the Civil War
he was elected Captain of the Excelsior Guards, a local militia
unit.
The second fact is, he was never convicted of any crimes,
even after being indicted by a Grand Jury on counts of “neglect
to perform duties assigned by an act of the Legislature” and
“neglect to perform his official duties.” Instead, his debt was
settled by various means. A bill was introduced and passed in
the Legislature at Albany to forgive the state portion of the
money owed. The County Legislature lowered the amount
owed them. Burns filed for bankruptcy and the sale of his
property and investments was used to pay another part of
the debt. The bondsmen while he was County Treasurer, all
powerful and wealthy businessmen in the community, put up
the difference. In the end, the County Legislature agreed that
Burns’s debt had been settled.
The local newspaper reported: ”We are heartily glad the
settlement has been effected. It is due very much to the
exertions of Mr. Burns himself that it has been accomplished.
And he is entitled to credit for his good management in
bringing it to completion. A fair survey of all the facts ought
to soften in a very considerable degree the harsh judgment the
public was inclined for some time to pronounce in this case.
We have always been thankful that with the power to take so
much, he took so little.”
Shortly after, Burns again left town. He went to Elmira to
pick up his girlfriend and traveled to
Salt Lake City, where they were married. In 1875 he and
his new wife took a 400-mile trip by horseback to a mining
community on the Lost River. He made enough money
mining to start up a hotel in Challis Idaho, the Burns House.
He became once again a pillar of the community and was
elected Probate Judge in 1887. He held that post until his
death. He died at the age of sixty-three. His obituary ended
with “It cannot be denied that he had weaknesses incident
to human life, but let him who is without fault cast the first
stone. Peace to his ashes.”
As a Lodge Historian you never know what you will find
in the Lodge records or local newspapers about the members.
There are more details about the character and life of James
Burns that will be included in a detailed Lodge history. It
makes an interesting story that must be preserved. n
FALL 2013
31
Grand Master honors Masonic longevity
On a steamy June evening Scipio Lodge 110 acknowledged
the careers and contributions of eleven of its members.
Brothers, wives and guests packed the public room of the
Village of Aurora for a catered meal and the tribute event.
Guest of honor was MW James E. Sullivan, Grand Master,
who was accompanied by RW John W. Krupp, Grand Marshal.
Also on hand for the celebration were Cayuga-Tompkins
District Deputy Grand Master Steven Howard, Staff Officer
Tom Ostrander and AGL David DeOlden.
The Grand Master was pleased to place a certificate in the
hands of each Brother, offering appropriate personal words
of thanks to each. Virgil J. Farlow received a certificate and
Brother RalphTalcott 65-Year Award
(l-r) MW James E. Sullivan; Ralph M. Talcott;
WM Edmund E. Maassen II; RW Steven Howard, DDGM
pin for five years of service; William E. Dugan and Mark
D. Smith have registered ten years; James W. Chase, George
E. Curtis, Scott O. Mathieson, Kenneth W. Zabriskie and
Stephen L. Zabriskie were present to receive their thirty-fiveyear recognition. But the highlights of the evening were the
presentations of a sixty-five-year citation and pin to Ralph
M. Talcott and seventy-year certificate and pin to R. Allen
Shotwell.
Brother Talcott made his career in farming. He was born in
Bainbridge, NY in 1919 and joined Masonry as a member of
Susquehanna 167, Bainbridge. This Lodge had its origin as
Friendship Lodge 129, chartered in 1805. It surrendered its
charter in 1835 and gained its new identity in 1850. Ralph
was Initiated in October of 1948 and Passed and Raised in
November of that year. In 1965, then residing on his farm in
Poplar Ridge, he joined Scipio 110 on dimit from Susquehanna.
The Susquehanna Lodge subsequently welcomed Afton 360
when Afton lost its building to fire. The new entity became
Susquehanna/Afton 167. In 2001 the Lodge renamed itself
Bainbridge-Afton 167.
Brother Ralph is a loyal Scipio member today, frequently
driving himself to communications after a dialysis session,
and thoroughly enjoying the social occasion with his brethren.
32
Ralph observed that his only regret was in not joining the
Lodge when he was 21, as he would thereby be eligible for his
seventy-five-year award next year.
Brother Richard Allen Shotwell was born in McGraw, NY
and was living in Aurora when he petitioned and joined Scipio
Lodge as a 23-year-old in 1943. Allen listed his occupation
as a farmer, too, but went into the teaching profession—
following an interlude. Raised in October of 1943, he was
appointed Junior Deacon for 1944 but he married on July 1 of
that year and was inducted into the infantry on July 10. After
serving our country, Allen returned to teach at Union Springs.
In 1951 he served as Master of Scipio Lodge but he had to
pursue a Master’s degree to teach and for some years he was
not frequent in Lodge. But his interest has remained high. He
attends regularly in Leesburg, FL, with a friend from Victor,
NY, at a Lodge numbered 58. This is of striking significance
to Allen because he is well aware that the original number of
Scipio Lodge, issued under the charter signed by Robert R
Livingston in 1797, was 58.
Masonry has meant a lot to Brother Shotwell through the
years. He observed that it is a family value. His dad joined a
Lodge 100 years ago and Allen, in possession of his father’s
lapel pin, intends to present it to his grandson, Brother Matt
Bowman.
Masonry means a lot to Shotwell’s son-in-law, too. RW
Brother Dave Bowman, Past District Deputy Grand Master,
allowed that he appreciated the pull of the Fraternity when he
was dating Beth Shotwell in high school. If he called on her
on a Tuesday evening, it was a good bet that R. Allen was at a
Lodge meeting. n
Brother R. Allen Shotwell 70-Year Award
(l-r) R. Allen Shotwell, MW James E. Sullivan
FALL 2013
Cornerstone
stands for peace
RW Jeffrey M. Williamson,
Senior Grand Warden
As
One hundred years ago five
Grand Lodge Officers we
thousand Masons dedicated
sometimes have the occasion and
the 352-foot-high memorial,
privilege to represent our Grand
which honors those who fought
Lodge in sister jurisdictions.
in the Battle of Lake Erie and
Over the 4th of July holiday we
celebrates the long-lasting peace
had the opportunity to travel to
between Britain, Canada and
Put-in-Bay, Ohio to participate
the United States of America.
in the Grand Lodge of Ohio’s
This July 4th the Grand Lodge
Cornerstone Reenactment at the
of Ohio, with Grand Master
Perry’s Victory and International
James F. Easterling Jr. presiding,
Peace Memorial. The event was
reenacted the Cornerstone
the 200th anniversary celebration
Laying Ceremony of the
of the Battle of Lake Erie in the
Perry Monument on its 100th
War of 1812.
anniversary. Visiting Masonic
In order to understand the
dignitaries from Wisconsin,
significance of this important
Indiana, New York, New
event it is necessary to give a
Jersey, Rhode Island, Kentucky,
little historical background
Ontario, Pennsylvania and
concerning the Battle of Lake
Illinois also assisted in the
Erie and why this was so
solemn ceremony.
monumental to the United
As a symbol of our fraternal
States of America. During the
Visiting dignitaries with monument in background.
affection, the Grand Lodge of
War of 1812 Lake Erie was a
the State of New York presented
major transportation route for
a Proclamation to Grand Master James F. Easterling Jr.,
men, equipment and supplies for the British Army. In order to
congratulating the Grand Lodge of Ohio on this outstanding
cut the British supply chain it was imperative that the United
occasion. In addition, we presented him with a small replica
States gain control of the lake.
of the Statue of Liberty. Earlier in the day we witnessed
Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s fleet consisted of two
a Naturalization Ceremony for eleven new citizens and
large brigs, the Lawrence and the Niagara, and seven other
approximately fifty men and women were given their Oath
smaller vessels, which were stationed at Put-In-Bay on South
of Enlistment in the Armed Forces. The evening festivities
Bass Island. Upon spotting the British fleet, they bravely sailed
included a concert by the Ohio National Guard Band and
out to engage Commander Robert Barclay in a spectacular
concluded with a spectacular fireworks display. n
and vicious battle.
Perry’s ship, the Lawrence, flew a blue battle flag, which was
emblazoned with the motto “Don’t Give up the Ship.” The
Lawrence took the full measure of the British cannons and was
blasted into pieces. The Lawrence’s cannons facing the British
ships were blown away and with the Lawrence out of business,
Perry boarded a small boat and transferred his command to
the Niagara. Charging forward, Perry used the Niagara to
turn the tide of the battle and succeeded in capturing Barclay’s
entire squadron. Writing to General William Henry Harrison,
he reported, “We have met the enemy and they are ours.”
Now with unfettered travel and movement across Lake
Erie due to Perry’s victory, General William Henry Harrison,
was ultimately able to defeat the British and their allies at the
Battle of the Thames on October 5, 1813. The Peace Treaty of
Ghent was signed in 1814, which ended the hostilities of the
War. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s victory in the Battle
of Lake Erie was hailed as the turning point for the United
Sr. Grand Warden Williamson presents New York
States in the War of 1812.
Proclamation to Grand Master Easterling, Jr.
FALL 2013
33
RW CARTER L. DORZBACKER, Chairman
AWARDS COMMITTEE
( (914) 769-4374
: [email protected]
On behalf of the Committee on Awards, I would like to
congratulate all the recipients of the 2013 Dedicated Service
Awards. They include the following Brothers, by District.
Third Kings: Brother John Fishman; Fifth Manhattan:
Brothers Frank S. Grado and Timothy Palmer; Ninth
Manhattan: Brothers Gustaue, Senenberge and August J.
Benkert, Jr.; Tenth Manhattan: Brother Arnand Cosquer;
Queens: Brothers Albert G. Dittmer and Eugene W. Towba;
Suffolk: Brothers John K. Weisman, Peter C. Pizzorno and
Kevin J. Geiger; Duchess: Brother Ralph M. Douglas;
Orange-Rockland: Brothers Edward H. Shafer and Earl W.
Baker; Greene-Ulster: Brothers Michael Davis and Albert W.
Wilklow; Columbia: Brother Michael Rivenburg; Albany:
Brother Gary D. Hutchison; Broome-Chenango: Brothers
James C. Curtis and William Garry Flagg; Chautauqua:
Brothers Lloyd J. Kahabka and Theron R. Lane; ChemungSchuyler-Tioga: Brothers Richard W. Anderson and James W.
Pfeiffer; Columbia: Brother Churchill W. Rifenburg; CortlandMadison: Brother Roger H. Glazier; Delaware: Brother Dale
A. Van Pelt; First Erie: Brothers Arnold D. Castren, Francis H.
Saelzler and George N. Miner; Second Erie: Brother Herbert E.
Flemming; Fulton-Montgomery: Brother William A. Farber;
Genesee-Wyoming: Brother John F. Flint; Jefferson-Lewis:
Brother Randall A. Schell; Livingston: Brothers Stephen L.
Cross and James D. Kirkwood; Monroe: Brothers Terry L.
Hatch and William C. Hunn; Niagara-Orleans: Brother
Glenwood F. Clark, Jr.; Second Oneida: Brothers Edmund
W. Girtler, Jr. and Charles A. Manning; Onondaga: Brothers
Charles A. Andrews, Jr., John R. Roland III and Joseph W.
Walker; Ontario-Seneca-Yates: Brother Charles Rouse, Jr.;
Oswego: Brother Robert Hamilton; Rensselaer-Schenectady:
Brothers Elton D. Bohall and Richard F. Dickershaid;
Saratoga-Warren: Brother Lawrence W. DeVoe; and Wayne
District: Brother Keith A. Hance.
The committee also awarded the following Community
Service Awards for the year 2012:
Recipient
Awarded
Marvin Howard Cohen . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt Clinton
Tim King and Grand Lodge
Ontario Food Pantry . . . . . . Certificate of Appreciation
Brother Russell Simpice . . . . . . . . . . . Grand Lodge
Certificate of Appreciation
Abigail Vega McGlynn . . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt Clinton
Niagara Beautification Commission . . . . DeWitt Clinton
Congressman Brian Higgins . . . . . . . . DeWitt Clinton
RW Richard A. Sherman . . . . . . . . . . . Jacob Morton
The YMCA of the Tonawandas . . . . . . DeWitt Clinton
Dr. Robert E. Kelly . . . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt Clinton
Dr. Laurie H. Glimcher . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt Clinton
Committee members: RW Gary Hartman, Vice-Chairman;
RWs Harold A. Blake, Jr., Robert J. Brovetto, Donald
Harrison, Harold Hofstein, Steven P. Koch, Kenneth E.
Kohlhagen, Hugh R. Price, Jr., Melvin J. Silverman and MW
Bruce Widger, Consultant. n
Ritual Renaissance Program Orientation
On Saturday, June 8 fifty-five Brothers
from five different Districts attended
the inaugural Ritual Renaissance
Program Orientation for the Mid-State
North Region. This event was held at
the Masonic Memorial Center in North
Syracuse. The RRP was developed with
a certain mission in mind: To assist
every Lodge in our jurisdiction to be
well rehearsed and knowledgeable in our
Ritual, thereby making every candidate
and Brother’s Masonic experience
special.
We believe that the Ritual is our most
basic form of Masonic education. It is
the foundation of that house not made
with hands that we aspire to build as
Freemasons. Motivating our Brothers
to want to learn and understand both
the words and meaning of our Masonic
Ritual through continued study,
research and discussion helps fulfill the
34
Richard M. Torrey, Mid-State North Regional Coordinator
mission of the search for light.
We were honored with the presence
of our Deputy Grand Master, RW
William Thomas, who made a surprise
visit to our Orientation. The Fellowcraft
Degree RRP Orientations will start to
take place in the spring of 2014. We
look forward to seeing you there. n
FALL 2013
Grand Chaplain’s Corner
RW Bro. David J. Williamson,
Grand Chaplain Emeritus
In an effort to live out my Masonic
obligation “to learn to subdue my
passions, and improve myself in
Masonry,” I regularly read books and
magazines about our beloved Fraternity.
One of the periodicals I’m just starting
to enjoy is The Journal of the Masonic
Society (www.themasonicsociety.com),
edited by one of my favorite Masonic
authors, RW Michael Halleran (whose
books include The Better Angels of
Our Nature, a fascinating look at
Freemasonry in the Civil War, and
Bro. Brother’s Journal, a compilation of
amusing articles he has written for the
Scottish Rite Journal).
The Spring II 2013 issue of The
Journal of the Masonic Society features
a piece by the organization’s Secretary,
Brother John R. “Bo” Cline, in which
he laments that few Brothers seem
interested in Masonic education. He
says, “As I was introduced to the Craft
through the ‘Work’, I was enticed by the
promise of further Masonic education.
What I have typically experienced
during lodge gatherings can best be
described in the definition taken
from my grandfather’s 1917 Masonic
monitor, which states, ‘The business of
the Lodge is that which it does chiefly
in common with other societies.’ The
image of a business meeting that is
common with other societies doesn’t
really fit my image of what Freemasonry
is …”
I would guess that all of us have had
that experience in Masonry: some aspect
of the Craft doesn’t really fit our image
of what Freemasonry is “supposed to
be.” Brother Cline acknowledges this
later in his excellent column, saying “I
understand that men join in our labors
for various reasons ….” A number
of years ago I recommended in this
column that Worshipful Masters should
(circa 1917)
poll their members about the top reason
they joined the Craft and what they
hope to achieve or receive from their
membership.
Of course, this isn’t a uniquely Masonic
issue. In fact, I just read an article about
why pastors are frequently the lightning
rods for criticism in churches, and the
author noted that people have a wide
variety of expectations about what
church (or synagogue or mosque) is
“supposed to be.”
Sometimes our expectations are
unrealistic. Sometimes our expectations
are selfish. When I teach classes about
prayer, I frequently require people
to share with the group what they’re
praying about. Many people have told
me later that having to voice their
priorities and desires in front of others
has caused them to have a change of
perspective and a change of heart.
More frequently, though, I think
our expectations are good and noble—
as long as we don’t impose them on
others. Some of us really love the semidemocracy of taking decisions (even
minor ones like voting to pay the bills),
while others love the relaxed social time
before and after a meeting. Some of
us want to get out and do community
service, while others prefer the work of
our ceremonies. Some of us crave the
recognition which an office or award or
Degree brings, while others are thrilled
to meet and labor together on the level
with neighbors, family and friends.
Some promote the idea that charity
begins at home, while others believe
charity is about enriching the world
around us.
The truth is that we need all of those
ideas and emphases, and more, in our
Lodges and in our communities of faith.
So instead of arguing or (far worse)
being inactive and apathetic, let’s each
take a few moments to identify what
we want and expect our Lodge and our
religious organization to be. Second,
voice those expectations to others, to
weed out the unrealistic and the selfish
thoughts that may have crossed (or
imbedded themselves in) our minds.
Then—and only then—let us commit
our time, our talents, our treasures and
ourselves to being the very best Masons
and men of God that we can be right
here and now. Because if we do that
(instead of imposing our expectations
on others), our Lodges will thrive, our
faith groups will thrive, and so will we.n
FALL 2013
35
RW M. DONALD DARROHN III, President
Board of Trustees Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund
( (585) 225-1782
: [email protected]
St. John’s Day
Weekend 2013
S
t. John’s Day weekend 2013 was a wonderful time to
reconnect with Brothers from all over the state. Several
hundred Masons and their families came to our Utica Campus
to enjoy fellowship and support our Fraternity.
The Board of Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Home and
the staff of the Masonic Care Community start planning for
St. John’s Day when there is still snow on the ground. We
coordinate with the staff of the Grand Lodge to make sure there
is plenty of meeting space for all committees. We are fortunate
that the Utica Campus has a variety of spaces, including
Fellowship Hall and the auditorium in our administration
building, the Meditation Room as well as smaller more
intimate conference rooms in our Health Pavilion and Wiley
Hall, as well as meeting space in the Chapel, Museum and
Knights Templar building. All these areas are utilized for
training activities of the District Deputies and Grand Lodge
Staff Officers.
Our Acacia Village Independent Retirement Community
continues as a vital area during St. John’s weekend. On Friday
night all Brothers and families attending the weekend festivities
are invited to enjoy a bountiful evening picnic. Close to 400
people were fed in 2013. Additionally, the Acacia Village site
was used on Thursday night to host the annual dinner between
the Trustees of the Hall and Home and the Directors of the
Masonic Medical Research Laboratory.
Worship is an important part of the St. John’s Day weekend.
Our Friday night service was moved to the larger auditorium
of the MCC Administration Building rather than the Ostrov
Synagogue to accommodate individuals who were being turned
away in previous years. The Oneg Shabat, which follows the
service, was held in the comfortable air-conditioned lobby. On
Saturday afternoon, the annual Investiture Service occupied
the beautiful Tompkins Memorial Chapel and on Sunday
morning a non-denominational service was held there to
conclude the events of the weekend.
The MCC staff put in many additional hours, and worked
36
to make sure everyone’s visit to campus was an exceptional
experience. For those traveling to our community, our
Communications and Marketing office provides information
on local hotels, as well as suggestions on many of the area’s
restaurants. Round Lake Camp has been open the past two St.
John’s Day weekends, providing additional accommodations
in the beautiful Adirondack Park. The camp waterfront is
open and various activities are provided, including a Friday
night movie and Saturday night barbecue. You can stay in a
cabin, tent, or park your RV. RV’s are also accommodated at
the Masonic Care Community.
The Great Lawn plays host on the Saturday of St. John’s Day
weekend to a variety of entertainment, food, and crafters. Our
maintenance and grounds staff spend weeks preparing the
campus for our visitors. Our security department plans for the
entrance and parking for all our guests, and all staff assist in
directing our guests to the appropriate venues. Staff members
at Acacia Village, Wiley Hall and the Health Pavilion conduct
informative personal tours to show our Brothers this Fraternal
Jewel.
Our residents look forward to your visits to your Masonic
campus and actively participate in the functions and activities
of St. John’s weekend. Many attend the Ladies Tea, the Friday
Night Picnic, religious services, and the Grand Master’s coffee
on Saturday morning. They are happy to talk to Brothers and
their families and are truly ambassadors of your Masonic Care
Community.
The Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Home are very
proud of our St. John’s Day activities that have been held on
the Utica Campus almost as long as the Utica Campus has
existed. Our sincere appreciation goes to all the staff who have
coordinated and organized the events of the weekend. We
hope you attended this year’s St. John’s Day weekend, but if
you didn’t, make plans to be here in 2014. Watch our website
www.mccny.com for date and all the details. n
FALL 2013
A Longer, Better Life
RW Rob Raffle, Executive Director
Masonic Care Community of New York
( (800) 322-8826
: [email protected]
Row 1 (l-r) Lillian Holt, Margorie Sornborger, Fred Smith, Luella Burns
Row 2 (l-r) Ruth Nill, Florence Ostrowski, Gladys Jones, Theresa Marcantonio, Thelma Park
In June the Masonic Care Community honored the nine
centenarians pictured. Over the last 120 years the Masonic
Care Community has continued to be an outstanding place
for our senior Brothers and their wives to live their lives.
Numerous studies have shown that seniors who can connect
with their peers tend to live longer, happier lives. Although
we haven’t done an official study, there are many indications
at our Utica Campus that this is true. Let me give you a few
examples.
In the last edition of the Empire State Mason magazine
we highlighted the life of a woman who not only lives an
active life at our independent retirement community, Acacia
Village, but also was employed on this campus as a nurse in
the mid-1930s. Mabel Bottle Bohling celebrated her 100th
birthday in June and credits her life at Acacia Village for her
longevity. Mabel says before she came to Acacia Village, she
couldn’t climb the stairs to get on the bus. Since moving in,
she participates in exercise classes, walks the campus, and is a
member of a number of groups and clubs. Mabel also finds
time to visit Acacia Village residents who are in the MCC
rehabilitation center or have now moved to Wiley Hall or the
Health Pavilion. Mabel credits here life here on campus in
Utica for her longevity.
In Wiley Hall, W Clyde Marzagalli says he doesn’t know
where he would be if not for the Masonic Care Community.
He was living in Florida when his health needs changed and he
petitioned for housing here in Utica. When he arrived here, he
was using a wheelchair and walker, but thanks to our facility
and the exceptional healthcare options in Central New York,
Clyde has had both knees replaced and is walking on his own.
He is active in Wiley Hall and also credits his quality of life to
living on the MCC campus.
It can be difficult to think about living in a skilled nursing
facility but the fact is that many seniors thrive in such an
environment. There are 320 residents in our Health Pavilion,
and every day there are numerous activities. There are weekly
trips to go shopping, or to the casino. Our residents enjoy
sports, participating in the Annual Senior Olympics that is
hosted by MCC and the Activities Association District 5.
They look forward to the competition and the chance to
reconnect with friends who may be living in other local skilled
facilities. In 2013, close to 100 seniors from sixteen Central
New York senior centers participated. We take our residents
on fishing trips, boating in the Adirondacks and many love to
attend local hockey games at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
In addition, the size of our Health Pavilion gives residents so
many options. Those who are left alone in the family home are
isolated and do not get the stimulation that is provided by our
staff and the environment of the Masonic Care Community.
In June of 2013 we honored these nine centenarians, born
between 1910 and 1913, who are living their lives with us.
No, we haven’t done an official study, but we can provide
story after story about our residents who are enjoying their
lives living on this beautiful campus. They are participating in
activities and sharing with their peers. We pride ourselves on
providing a quality of life in a place that honors and respects its
seniors. It’s a safe and secure place that promotes the greatest
level of independence within the capabilities of each person.
We take care of people every day and ensure they live to their
full potential. n
FALL 2013
37
MCC Residents Share World War II Experiences
with Students
The
fifth graders at the Hart’s Hill
Elementary School in Whitesboro were
learning about the Second World War.
To them this was a very long time ago,
something so far back in history their
parents or even grandparents had not
experienced it. Kiley Snow, the daughter
of the Masonic Care Community’s
Director of Community Life Jay Snow,
was very excited about the class and
talked to her parents about what she
had learned. Jay knew that a number
of veterans lived on the MCC campus.
He contacted his daughter’s teacher to
ask about arranging a visit by some of
our World War II veterans. The end
result: The fifth-graders at the Hart’s
Hill Elementary School met a group
of seniors from the greatest generation
who lived during a time when the entire
world was at war.
Six of our residents representing
Acacia Village, Wiley Hall and
the Health Department spent the
38
afternoon telling of their experiences
and answering the children’s questions.
Ilsa Stocklink, of Wiley Hall, stood and
asked the children if anyone was 11
years old. Of course, all the fifth-graders
raised their hand. Ilsa went on to tell
them that she was 11 when Adolf Hitler
came to power, and as a Jew in Germany
at that time her life was difficult, to say
the least. She talked about hiding from
the Germans, escaping to Holland, and
her mother being taken by the Germans
while other family members hid.
John Popeo, a recipient of the Purple
Heart, told the children about freeing
American POWs from a Japanese
prison camp. Ted Cale, also from
Acacia Village, was involved in teaching
American pilots to use a new thing
called “radar” and Carl Gawenus of the
Health Pavilion, who enlisted prior to
Pearl Harbor, planning to spend only
one year in the service, ended up in
Italy fighting for his country for four
years. Donald Tyrrel brought a book of
pictures and clippings from the time he
served in the Pacific, and allowed the
children’s teacher to borrow the book
to share in the classroom. The event
even caught the attention of our local
television stations, being featured on
the evening news broadcasts on the
NBC and ABC affiliates.
Any of us who have children, know
it’s very difficult to get a large group of
them to sit quietly for a length of time.
Those Whitesboro fifth-graders listened
intently for more than an hour to the
stories and experiences of this group of
seniors. The only thing that stopped this
program was the clock, as it was time
for the children to go home for the day.
It was evident that these kids had the
opportunity to experience a moment in
history from the people who were there,
and our seniors were proud to share
with those children, helping them make
history come alive. n
FALL 2013
Not Only Because You
Should, But Because
You Want to
W
bro. JON-PAUL KIDWELL, Director of Development
Masonic Care Community of New York
( (800) 322-8826
( (315) 798-4703
: www.mccny.com
hy do we support individuals, organizations, and causes?
More often than not it’s because we are emotionally affected,
in a positive way, by the person, the mission or the visions and
dreams.
In periods of economic decline, like the one we’re all doing
our best to endure, charitable giving declines proportionately.
Families are required to make difficult decisions, many times
as a matter of their own survival, and charity for others is
temporarily placed on hold. But people love helping others.
That’s why the 900 people who work at your Masonic Care
Community get out of bed every morning.
Each and every Mason should be exceedingly proud of the
fact that generations ago the leaders of our great Fraternity had
the compassion and the ability to create a facility designed to
provide care for its members and their families. Our Fraternity
has done and continues to do wonderful things for many,
many people. We all have the ability to keep the promise that
was made, and that we are obligated to keep: to care for and
support Masons and their families for generations to come.
Together we can do this.
The more Brothers who hear our story and learn about our
programs, the more excited and proud they are of what our
great Fraternity stands for. The more awareness, support, and
excitement there is, the more great things our Fraternity can
do for our Brothers and the communities we call home.
For the sake of our Fraternity and for those that call the
Masonic Care Community home, please take a few extra
moments and learn more about the greatest jewel of Masonry
here in New York State. We believe that once you hear the
stories and witness all of the great work that’s done here, you’ll
want to support us in a way that’s meaningful to you. Support
can be given in a number of different ways. You can encourage
a Brother or friend to consider receiving their care here; you
can help us spread the word; or you can check our box when
making your contribution through the Brotherhood Fund.
The care and commitment that is given here on this campus
is unmatched anywhere. We have been keeping the promise
and living the obligation every day since we opened the doors
in 1893. We have been living the basics of what our great
Fraternity stands for every day. My Brothers, we should be
awfully proud of our history, we should celebrate our present
and together we can all be excited about our future. n
SANDY
Lives On!
RW Wesley C. Powell, Chairman
“Thank you for our generous gift. It
came to us at the almost perfect time
and reflects something more than just
money. It is reassurance that I have
Brothers to stand by me in not so good
times. That is what we do and I could
not be more thankful for the bond
and the support.”This quote typifies
the appreciation expressed in part for
the support of Grand Lodge at a very
difficult time following Storm Sandy.
Near the end of June when this article
is being written 122 Brothers and
widows along the south shore of Long
Island, Manhattan and Staten Island
have received $225,500.00 from Grand
Lodge funds, donated specifically for
storm relief from many different sources.
The Brotherhood Fund was able to
help initially, followed by supplements
funded from all the donations as they
arrived. While the volume of requests
has diminished, requests for assistance
are still being processed. Under the
leadership of the Grand Master and the
Grand Secretary’s office, together with
the District Deputies and Masters of
the affected Lodges, this committee has
been able to co-ordinate this ongoing
effort. Yes, it is reassuring that we, as
a Masonic family, come together from
many different places to provide this
important support to one another.As
we move ahead, one of our objectives
will be to revise the forms needed for
providing assistance when requested.
We are in the process of making the
forms more user friendly than they may
have been in the past. Hopefully, before
too long, we will have completed this
project. A reminder: Our guidelines call
for Lodge and District participation,
which is why we continually emphasize
the importance of having local funds
available for this purpose. As we head
into fall, we hope that the months ahead
will be more tranquil and relaxing for all
of us. n
FALL 2013
39
The Masonic Home Kids
By Kathy Contino-Turner
Director of Communication and Marketing
Masonic Care Community
The history of New York State Masonry is not complete
without talking about its dedication to those who were most
vulnerable: the children of Brothers, children who had lost
one or both parents. Between 1893 and 1982, 969 Masonic
Home Kids called the Utica Campus home. The Fraternity
assumed the role of parent, giving these children a safe haven
where they could learn and grow.
On May 1, 1893 the Masonic Home and School opened
in Utica. The first building housed everything: administrative
offices, a hospital, a chapel, dining facilities, adult residences
and housing for children. Three years passed and it was
evident that there was a need to construct another building
for our children. On June 29, 1896 the cornerstone was laid
for the Booth Memorial Children’s Building. The building was
named after Edwin Booth—brother of John Wilkes Booth—
who was a famous Shakespearian actor and active in Masonry.
Booth donated $5000 for construction of this first children’s
dormitory. In 1897 the building was opened as the first
dormitory for boys. On May 18, 1915 the cornerstone for the
Knights Templar Building was laid and in the following year
it opened as the first dormitory for girls. Between 1922 and
1928 several other buildings were constructed to house our
kids. The current Livingston Library and Museum building
on campus was built in 1923 and first used as a home for
“babies,” the youngest children on campus. In June of 1946
this building served as the girls’ residence. The Scottish Rite
Building, which is now the campus residence of the Grand
Master, was built in 1924 as a dwelling for older boys. The
original Wiley Hall was opened in December of 1928 as a
boys’ dormitory.
The kids who grew up on our Utica Campus became family.
Every other year they gather over the Labor Day weekend
with their children and grandchildren at Round Lake Camp
to reminisce. It’s like attending a family reunion and it’s a
wonderful place to hear the stories of what it was like to grow
40
up as a Masonic Home Kid. They may not have had a mother
and father in a home but they had each other, and that bond
is evident when you see them together. Here are a few of the
stories I was told by our “kids” during the 2012 reunion.
On campus the kids’ lives were structured. Children were
separated by age and sex. Many times this meant biological
brothers and sisters lived in different buildings and only saw
each other at meals or activities. All kids participated in the
choir. President of the Masonic Home Kids Association, Tom
Yacovella, said that choir rehearsal on Saturday mornings
was a lot of fun because the boys and girls were all together
and he was able to see his younger brother and two younger
sisters. The children’s choir sang every Sunday morning as well
as during the St. John’s Day event. All kids were required to
take a musical instrument of their own choosing: piano, a
stringed or band instrument. One of our kids used to attend
the biennial gatherings at Round Lake and would play his
trumpet to wake everyone in the morning. He played that
instrument throughout his life, some seventy years.
Children on our campus were expected to get good grades.
If you didn’t achieve at least a B average, you ended up in study
hall every night after dinner. The original chapel in the main
administration building was converted to a study room after
the construction of Tompkins Memorial Chapel in 1911. (A
photo of that study hall room is included as one of our history
pictures located in the Health Pavilion near the atrium.) Other
rooms in that original building were converted to schoolrooms
when additional dormitory space for children and adults was
constructed in the 1920s. In 1947 the second and third floors
of the Knights Templar building were converted to educate
the children through the 6th grade (photos of those rooms are
also included in the Health Pavilion display), and by the 1960s
all our children attended the Utica public schools. Because
FALL 2013
of the priority placed on education, many of our Masonic
Home Kids were in the top of their high school graduating
class at Proctor High School in Utica, achieving the honors
of Salutatorian or Valedictorian. Those students who showed
exceptional academic promise were rewarded by full Masonic
college scholarships.
Sports were also a part of life for our Masonic Home Kids.
The Booth Memorial Children’s building had a swim tank
and the original Wiley Hall had a full-sized swimming pool
in the basement, so kids who lived here were able to swim all
year round. The Utica grounds had ball fields and outdoor
activities for the kids for every season. But when you talk to
the Home Kids they will tell you they looked forward to the
day school let out for summer because the very next day all the
kids were loaded on buses and taken to the Round Lake Camp,
which was purchased in the 1920s. Round Lake is 1600 acres
in the Adirondack Park, where the Home Kids spent their
entire summer. Camp was a little less regimented than their
lives on the Utica campus and it is certainly evident that the
time spent on Round Lake in the summer is considered the
best time spent while being care for by the Home. One Kid
said the children they attended school with in Utica thought
the Masonic Home Kids were rich. “They said we lived on
this campus with grand buildings and a large fence, we had
our own indoor swimming pool and sports fields. Then in the
summer we had our own summer camp. We all thought that
was funny.”
The last Masonic Home Kid left our campus in 1982.
Several years ago, after attending the 2010 Masonic Home
Kids Alumni Association, the Board of Trustees of the Masonic
Hall and Home gave permission to use a room on the second
floor of the Livingston Library and Museum on campus to
create a room dedicated to the Masonic Home Kids. It was the
perfect location, as that building was the last active dormitory
on campus. In 2012 we dedicated the Masonic Home Kids
Room. It’s set up to replicate a dorm room, and has numerous
pictures of our children.
There is a fountain in front of Tompkins Chapel that was
donated by the Masonic Home Kids organization on St. John’s
Day, June 17, 1978. The inscription reads:
The founding fathers of this Fraternal Home made it
possible for orphans of New York State Masonic Fraternity
Brothers to be raised, loved and educated in these beautiful
surroundings. Those of us who were fortunate to have
this experience and privilege have formed the Masonic
Home Kids Alumni Association. We have gone from this
place into the world, active in all fields of endeavor. To
express our gratitude and appreciation, we are proud and
pleased to present this fountain as a reminder to future
generations that 969 children were lovingly cared for in
this Masonic Home since 1893.
The New York State Masons helped 969 children find their
way when their parents were unable to assist. Many of those
kids went on to successful professional careers and have raised
successful children and grandchildren. Their foundation began
here and they went out into the world and made a difference.
n
Family Fun at
Acacia Village
By Linda Rae Avolio,
Retirement Counselor
Acacia
Village is family friendly.
Families love to come here to visit their
parents and grandparents because there
are so many things to do. Guests of
Acacia Village residents are urged to
bring along a bathing suit and take a
dip in the pool during pool hours. If
shooting pool is more your style, head to
the Billiard Room. During the summer
there are a variety of games available:
ladder ball, croquet and bocce. There is
a shuffleboard court, too. Movie lovers
can enjoy a private viewing in the small
Acacia Village movie theater; just check
the schedule and if the room is free,
bring your own popcorn and DVD or
video.
Another way our residents enjoy
entertaining at Acacia Village is by
letting our staff do the cooking. We
have several rooms perfect for any size
gathering. Enjoy breakfast or lunch in
the café, sunroom or on the outdoor
patio. Dinner is served restaurant style
At Acacia Village Café, resident Rose Vanno (center) is surrounded by grandson
Daniel Vanno Norelli, his wife Maria and son Michael, the 5th. Across the
table is her daughter Rosemary and Rosemary’s son Michael, the 4th.
nightly in the Terrace Dining Room. If
it’s a small family gathering, our Private
Dining Room can comfortably sit
twelve. For larger groups we recommend
either the multipurpose room or the
new Community Room. Out-of-town
guests will want to make reservations
ahead of time if they want to stay here
on campus in the Memorial Building.
There’s a playground and ballparks
in neighboring Proctor Park, and a slew
of wonderful activities right nearby,
including the Utica Zoo, only about
a mile away. You can travel south to
Cooperstown, attend a performance
at the renowned Glimmerglass Opera,
enjoy a day at Otsego Lake or visit
one of the many museums such as the
Baseball Hall of Fame or Fennimore
house. To the north are a variety of lakes
and outdoor activities. You can dig for
diamonds at the Herkimer Diamond
Mines, take the kids to the Enchanted
Forest Water Park in Old Forge, or
enjoy a picnic in the Adirondack Park.
Find out why they call our area “The
Getaway Region of New York State” at
www.oneidacountytourism.com. n
FALL 2013
41
Masonic Care Community
Child Care Center
“The foundation of your child’s education”
By Elizabeth Reardon, Director of the MCC Child Care Center
Dedication to Education
Historically, Masonic Care Community has been
dedicated to helping children learn and grow.
From 1893 through 1983, 969 children were given
shelter and nurturing care at the Masonic Home.
That dedication and atmosphere, in which the
children can learn, grow and express themselves
continues today at the Masonic Care Community
Child Care Center.
Understanding Commitment
The Board of Trustees of the Masonic Hall and
Home founded the Child Care Center in 1991;
it is located on the safe and beautiful grounds
of the Masonic Care Community campus. The
Trustees realized the value of building a child care
center, as not only does it continue their Masonic
commitment to children, but also the commitment
to their employees. The campus offers employment
opportunities for over 800 employees and more
than 75% of them are women. They understand
that to attract and retain quality professionals a
child care center built on campus is a very powerful
recruitment and retention tool.
A Benefit to All
The center was designed to offer affordable and
professional child care to employees and children
of Masons giving both a discounted rate and
preference on the waiting lists. The center then
opens its doors to residents of Central
New York region. The secured 6,500 square
foot-facility has brightly designed classrooms to
specifically meet the needs of children from 6
weeks to 5 years old. It provides both indoor and
outdoor education and recreation.
A Passion for Education
The MCC Child Care Center has a passion for
education. That is evident from the multiple
awards we have received, including awards from
Educational Distinguishes, honoring individual
teachers and classroom programs to Devotion of
Quality Care. Our teachers and teacher assistants
are all qualified, experienced, and caring staff
who are truly passionate about education, with
42
over 175 years of combined experience. They also
attend professional development throughout the
year learning up-to-date information on safety
regulations and new leading educational teaching
techniques.
Empowering our Future Leaders
The first five years are critical for developmental
milestones among children. Children need
physical, social, emotional, cognitive and language
development in order to be successful. The center
is dedicated to an individuated approach to each
child’s development. Our teachers educate by
empowering the students through choices and by
using everyday experiences as teachable moments.
Our center’s philosophy is to educate through play.
The center offers a wide range of special events,
intergenerational activities along with parent
involvement. At an early age we foster community
serves/relations; the children learn about the
world they live in and they develop empathy and
compassion for others. While the children partake
in these activities they are learning to become
leaders, growing as individuals and developing a
sense of awareness.
Making a Difference
Everyone can make a difference in the lives
of children, whether it is volunteering one’s time
to help with an art project/special event, bringing
in gently used children’s books or by
making a monetary donation; these
contributions all have an enriching impact
on the lives of our children. Masonic Child
Care has created “The Tree of Knowledge” as a
thank you,for without your
generosity we would not
be able to provide more
educational tools, supplies
and experiences. For more
information on how to
make a difference please
call Elizabeth Reardon Director of MCC Child
Care Center at (315) 798-4748 or by e-mail at
[email protected]. n
FALL 2013
MMRL – Spreading the Light of Freemasonry
RW Ronald P. Kamp, Director of Development
What began as one man’s dream has
taken flight, spreading the light of
Freemasonry all over the globe. The
idea of a Masonic Medical Research
Laboratory was conceived well before
the first spadeful of earth was turned
for the building or the first scientist
was ever hired. It was rooted in one of
Freemasonry’s tenets: that of charity for
all humankind.
The year was 1946 and it was the
desire of the Grand Lodge of New York,
under the leadership of Grand Master
Gay H. Brown, to advance the tenet of
charity in a new and enduring way after
WWII. A steering committee of eminent
advisors was established and the group
recommended the establishment of a
foundation that would have medical
research as its basic function, with its
primary emphasis being that of finding
a cure or treatment for rheumatic fever
in children.
The committee’s recommendation was
readily accepted by the Grand Lodge of
New York in 1947 and it was determined
that the name of the organization would
be the Masonic Foundation for Medical
Research and Human Welfare. Upon
receiving papers of incorporation from
New York State, Foundation President
Raymond C. Ellis called the first meeting.
The immediate challenge facing the
new foundation was generating funds
to support its charitable good work.
That was addressed promptly with the
creation of the Masonic Brotherhood
Campaign by vote of the Grand Lodge
of New York. Conducted in the spring
of 1948, the initial effort raised nearly
$500,000 from Masons across NYS. It
was the first of many such campaigns
that would provide the lifeblood for the
Foundation.
Over a period of seven years $1.5
million was raised, which is equal to
about $11 million in today’s dollars.
Thanks to that financial commitment
the sting was taken out of Rheumatic
Fever. Encouraged with their success,
new plans and targets were envisioned
by then-Grand Master Raymond Ellis
in 1954. He immediately appealed to
the Craft to raise the necessary funds
to create a Masonic medical research
laboratory that would continue to
find cures and treatments for medical
afflictions of humankind. In 1958, the
Masonic Medical Research Laboratory
was dedicated by Grand Master H. Lloyd
Jones in Utica, New York.
For the past fifty-five years, the Masonic
Medical Research Laboratory (MMRL)
has been changing the face of medicine.
Important scientific discoveries mark our
first five decades and we continue to gain
more momentum as an internationally
acclaimed research institute.
Today Masonic Medical Research
Laboratory is also known as the Cardiac
Research Institute. It is supported by the
Grand Lodges of Florida, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island,
New Hampshire and, of course, New
York. As our sister Grand Jurisdiction
and public join in support of our cardiac
research, new plans and targets have
been prepared for sustainable solutions
to the financial and scientific challenges
before us.
It is an exciting time to be involved in
medical research. Recent advances have
translated into clinical breakthroughs
that herald exciting new ways to
prevent, diagnose, treat and cure
diseases. Working with pharmaceutical
companies, we have sought to identify
drugs that may pose a danger to women as
well as men and to facilitate FDA (Food
and Drug Administration) approval of
new and effective drugs to treat heart
disease. Our collaboration has resulted
in identification of a safe and effective
drug combination for the management
of atrial fibrillation (AF), which is now
in Phase 2 clinical trials. AF is a leading
cause of stroke, the number three killer
of men and women and is the most
prevalent cardiac arrhythmia seen by
clinicians. We anticipate Phase 3 clinical
trial to commence in the very near future.
As MMRL researchers discover the roles
genes play in disease, there will be more
genetic tests available to help physicians
make diagnoses and find the root cause
of heart disease. Genetic and genomic
research will bring forth treatments and
medications tailored to the individual
patient.
Our new bioengineering program
has made substantial progress in a short
period of time. With over 3,000 on a
waiting list to receive a heart transplant
that never happens, we are driven to
fulfill the need for a reliable and efficient
alternative to heart transplants. MMRL
scientists are employing iPS technology
(induced pluripotent stem cell) to
make adult stem cells from the skin of
patients and plan to use these cells to
build a cloned heart. The advantage of
this approach is that the bioengineered
heart could be implanted without fear of
rejection because it is derived from the
patient’s own cells.
The first step to creating a cloned heart
requires that all cells and tissue must be
removed from a donor heart by means
of a process called decellularization.
This is accomplished by perfusing the
organ in a chemical detergent called
SDS. Over the course of 48-72 hours
the detergent breaks down all cellular
and genetic material from the donor
heart, leaving the collagen framework
unharmed. The patient’s iPS or other
stem cells are then introduced to the
host heart to repopulate the organ and
thus form a fully functioning human
heart. We have recently purchased the
first Harvard Apparatus chamber that
is capable of accommodating a human
heart for cloning. It is our goal to clone a
fully functioning human heart using this
equipment and populating iPS stem cells
within the next 15 years.
These new endeavors will require
a considerable investment in an
environment of fiscal uncertainty and
decreasing Federal support. We cannot
and will not be deterred. There are
countless individuals and their families
worldwide who are depending on
laboratories such as ours to develop a
treatment or cure for cardiovascular
disease. Simply put, you do not need
to be a Freemason or family member
to benefit as a result of the life-saving
research that emanates from the Cardiac
Research Institute at MMRL, nor do you
need to be one to support that research.
It is the universality of medical research
that resonates and is relevant to every
human being.
As we endeavor to realize national
recognition by the Masonic world, we
are also appealing to the general public,
businesses and corporations for support
of our humanitarian mission. We
believe that Every Heartbeat Counts™
and look forward to the day when the
Cardiac Research Institute at MMRL is a
household name among members of the
Craft in every Grand Jurisdiction and
among the public at large. n
FALL 2013
43
Stay Active
This Fall
By Rebecca Kearns, Masonic
Care Community Wellness
Coordinator
F
all will arrive on September
22. Leaves are turning brilliant
colors. We may be reaching
for that warm sweater, getting
comfortable in our chair
gearing up to watch a football
game, or sneaking in a nap on
the couch. All the more reason
to get active.
Let us be honest with
ourselves for a moment.
Exercise, more often than not,
is on our to-do list and usually
does not get checked as “done.” We settle for thinking we
will try again tomorrow and the cycle progresses on. Much of
what holds us back from starting to exercise are preconceived
notions that exercise is hard, tiring, painful and requires more
time than we have to spare.
Do you have two feet? Great! Then we can change how
you see exercise. The American College of Sports Medicine,
as well as the Center for Disease Control and a slew of other
health organizations, agree that 150 minutes of cardiovascular
exercise is what we need each week. Whew. Are you exhausted
already? No need to be. Here, let me make this more digestible:
three ten-minute walks, five days a week. Much better.
Why are so many organizations encouraging us to exercise?
Well, the benefits read like a miracle drug. By working every
day towards your 150 minutes of exercise you are reaping the
effects of lowering blood pressure, improving your resting heart
rate, better control of blood sugar, reducing or maintaining
weight and better sleep. The Association for Applied Sports
Psychology has also listed improvements in mood, energy,
positive body image and decreased depression as effects of
exercise. Honestly, there are no horrible side effects of exercise.
You cannot shake a pharmaceutical stick at that.
To make exercise more enjoyable I recommend doing it
with your family. Simple walks in the evening break up the
routine and remove you and your loved ones from the TV
or the computer and foster conversation. This can be an
opportunity to enjoy each other’s company. Relationships are
a key component in overall wellness for each of us. By walking
and talking you are touching on improving relationships
and family ties, teaching your children or grandchildren the
importance of family as well as sneaking in all the benefits of
exercise. It is a multitasking gold mine.
If you become less inspired by walking around your block
each night, may I remind you that the northeast is a treasure
trove of hiking and biking trails, small towns that have unique
charm and beaches overlooking rivers, lakes and the ocean.
And if you find yourself in Central New York for a visit or are
swinging by to see your loved one residing here at Masonic
Care Community, I invite you to get out and walk the trails
and grounds we have sprawling over our 400 acres of stunning
property. Get out and explore.
Remember: The family that plays together stays together.
You can always record that football game but you cannot
pause your loved ones. Happy exercising! n
In Memoriam:
John E. Krauss
The
Trustees of the Masonic Hall
and Home were saddened by the
loss of Brother John E. Krauss on
June 17, 2013. John had served as a
Trustee since May of 2012, lending
his life experiences both in and out
of Masonry to our decision-making
process.
John became a Mason in 1971 and
he was active in a variety of areas of
the Fraternity. John was Past Master
of the Lake City Lodge No. 127, the
Lodge in which he was Raised. He also
served nine years each as Treasurer,
Education Chairman and Trustee. He
was the Lodge’s Brotherhood Fund
Chairman from 2007 until his death.
Outside of his involvement in Lake
City Lodge No. 127, John served as
Grand Director of Ceremonies for the
Grand Lodge of New York, Oswego
44
District and as District Deputy Grand
Master for the Oswego District. He
was currently serving as Treasurer of
the Oswego District Charity Corp.
Excellent Companion Krauss was
Exalted in the Lake Ontario Chapter
165 Royal Arch Masons, served as
High Priest and held a variety of other
offices.
Right Worthy Brother Krauss was a
member of the Lake Victoria Chapter
205 of the Order of Eastern Star and
was currently serving as Patron with
his sister Right Worthy Reverend Elyse
Skiles, Matron. He previously served
as Patron in 1991 when his mother
Worthy Jeanette Krauss was Matron.
John Krauss was well known in the
Fraternity and in his community. He
worked for WRVO National Public
Radio, located on the Oswego State
University Campus, and in 2010 was
inducted into the Syracuse Press Club’s
Wall of Distinction. RW Brother
Krauss was also active in his church,
serving as its Treasurer for twenty-nine
years.
We shall miss our Brother, who
lived an exemplary life of service and
commitment to his fellow man. n
FALL 2013
RW Martin A. Danoff, Chairman
Law Enforcement Committee
(212) 573-6064 • (212) 599-1759
[email protected]
N
early everyone at some time in his or her life faces the need
to buy or sell a house, condominium unit or a cooperative
apartment. Because the purchase of any of the aforementioned
is probably the largest single investment a person will ever
undertake, any buyer or seller should consider the practical and
legal complications of such a transaction before proceeding
without an attorney representing his or her interests.
As a buyer, once you have chosen the house you want to buy
and have agreed on the price, the next step is to enter into a
contract. The formal written contract to buy or sell a house is
the single most important piece of paper in the transaction.
Its importance cannot be overstated. A printed contract of
sale form is used initially, but many changes, additions and
deletions must be made to these contracts. Some real estate
brokers will tell you not to worry, that the terms and conditions
are standard. Buyer Beware. If you have an attorney he or she
will make any changes and additions to protect you, usually in
the form of a “rider” to the contract.
A written contract may need to address many
issues. For example, how should the buyer(s)
take title: individually, as tenants in common,
joint tenants or tenants by the entirety or in
a corporate name? What happens if someone
dies before title is transferred? Was the property
altered by the seller and does the property comply
with all building codes? What if the buyer has
the property inspected and the inspection
discloses termites, asbestos, radon or lead-based
paint? What if the property is near a hazardous
waste dumpsite? What if the roof leaks, the
appliances do not work, the toilets do not flush,
and there is no building permit for the garage?
What are your rights? What are the legal consequences if the
closing does not take place as scheduled and what happens
to the contract deposit? Who holds the contract deposit in
escrow? How must the buyer pay the purchase price? What
happens if the buyer cannot obtain a mortgage loan? Can
seller keep the down payment as damages? What happens
if the title search shows judgments, liens or other problems
against the property? Are the real estate taxes, school taxes,
water and sewer taxes paid? Do the sellers actually own the
property? Are there any problems with adjoining owners, prior
owners or neighbors? Did a prior owner agree to an easement,
covenant or restriction that creates a problem for you? Will you
be able to build a swimming pool, or tennis court or additions
to the house? Can you conduct business in a spare room in
the house? Can you sell the house without any legal issues or
problems? Does the utility company have the right to build
a high-power transmitter in your back yard? The contract of
sale, title search and inspection by an engineer must answer
each of these questions and many more—and each answer can
be written in a way that favors either the seller or buyer.
Most house buyers finance eighty percent (80%) or more
of the purchase price with a mortgage loan from a lending
institution. The contract of sale must give the buyer at least
forty-five days from the date of signing to get a written
commitment from the bank. What happens if the buyer does
not get the loan in time and you do not have an attorney? Do
you know what to do? Do you know how to get your deposit
back? Do you know your rights under the law?
After the parties sign the contract, the buyer’s attorney will
order a title search from a title insurance company licensed in
the State of New York. (Upstate lawyers conduct
the title search.) This title search will give the
buyer a history of the property and indicate most
problems that will have to be resolved before
closing. A New York law that took effect in 2002
requires the seller to deliver to buyer a Property
Condition Disclosure Statement, or in its absence,
a $500 credit at closing.
The last item of business in selling and buying
a home is the closing. The closing represents the
moment of truth in any house purchase. Shortly
before the closing, the seller’s attorney prepares
the deed and other closing documents. The
lender and title company prepare their closing
documents that have to be signed and a statement
showing all the money that changes hands at the closing. At
the closing the parties sign the transfer and related documents
and the buyer pays the remaining purchase price, often from
the proceeds of the mortgage loan. Title passes from seller to
the buyer. The title company agent takes the deed, mortgage
and any other documents and has them recorded in the county
registers office. The closing process can seem confusing and
complex, to both the seller and buyer. Those attending the
closing include the buyer and seller, their respective attorneys,
the title closer (representing the title company), the bank’s
attorney and one or more real estate brokers.
Lastly, many single-family residence transactions do not
Continued on page 47
Can the utility
company build
a high-power
transmission
tower in your
backyard?
FALL 2013
45
Get Your Flu Shot
By Linda Zebrowski, RN
Infection Control Nurse for MCC
The Empire State Mason
Quarterly
I know it’s only September but it’s time to start thinking
about getting your flu shot. The flu symptoms vary but
mostly include a fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy
nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and in some cases
vomiting and diarrhea. It can put you out of commission for
days if not weeks, and for some of the most vulnerable, the
flu can be life threatening.
In many cases the flu shot will protect you from coming
down with the flu. While nothing is 100% effective, getting
a flu shot will lessen the severity if you do get the flu. The
Center for Disease Control urges doctors and nurses to
administer the flu vaccine as soon as it is available. Here
at the Masonic Care Community all residents, staff and
volunteers are offered the vaccination free of charge. I urge
you to check with your local senior centers or county health
department.
Many people ask why they need to get the flu vaccination
every year. New flu vaccines are constantly being developed
to keep up with the rapidly adapting viruses. Because the
flu virus evolves so quickly, last year’s vaccine may not
protect you. The Center of Disease Control also tells us that
after you get the vaccine your body produces antibodies to
protect you. Those antibody levels can decline over time.
The CDC recommends everyone over the age of 6
months get a flu vaccine this fall. Those people at high
risk are individuals over 65, young children, pregnant
women and individuals who may be compromised by a
weakened immune system. Chronic medical conditions
such as asthma, COPD, kidney or liver disease, cerebral
palsy, epilepsy, obesity or HIV/AIDS can increase the risk
of influenza complications. You should check with your
physician to see if the vaccination is right for you.
Health officials tell us smokers are at a higher risk for
complications from the flu, so if you are thinking of quitting
the habit, now might be the time. Smokers and individuals
in a household that are exposed to secondhand smoke have
a greater incidence of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to have upper
and lower respiratory tract infections. Smoking can suppress
immune function.
Proper hand washing is another way to prevent getting the
flu or spreading the virus to others. When you touch people,
surfaces or objects during the day you accumulate germs
on your hands. Washing your hands can limit the transfer
of bacteria, viruses and other microbes. The rule of thumb
when washing your hands is to sing the Happy Birthday
song twice, which should take about twenty seconds. If
water isn’t available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Other tips that can help you protect yourself and others
from the flu include avoiding contact with sick people; if
you are sick, stay home and limit your contact with others;
cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze
and immediately discard used tissues; clean and disinfect
surfaces.
We can all do our part to prevent the spread of flu this fall.
You can get more information on the flu by checking with
your family doctor or county health department. n
46
0 5 6 8
March, June
September, December
0 7 4 0
September 2013
$6.00 Domestic
$15.00 Foreign
Four (4)
Trustees of the Masonic Hall & Asylum Fund
Keith Heinrich
71 West 23rd Street - Room 1003, New York NY 10010-4149
800-899-2554
Same as above #7
71 West 23rd Street - Room 1003, New York NY 10010-4149
James Sullivan
315 Locust Street, Lockport, NY 14094-4942
Joan C. Bower
37 Oliver Street, Lockport, NY 14094-4615
71 West 23rd Street, New York NY 10010-4149
X
None
X
Empire State Mason
September 2013
58,000
58,000
NONE
NONE
NONE
NONE
53,509
51,831
NONE
NONE
53,509
51,831
NONE
NONE
NONE
NONE
NONE
NONE
2,700
2,700
2,700
2.700
56,209
56,209
1,791
1,791
58,000
58,000
95.2%
94.2%
X
FALL 2013
Keith W. Heinrich
Business Manager
September 2013
FALL 2013
DATES TO REMEMBER YEARS OF
SEPTEMBER 2013
15 Richmond District - Monument Rededication
– Staten Island
18 Beacon Lodge 283 - Dedication of Lodge – Beacon, NY
20-22 Grand Commandery 200th Anniversary
– Kerhonksen, NY
28 Avoca Lodge 673 - 100th Anniversary and
Rededication – Avoca, NY
12
13
14
October 2013
Grand Master’s Day at West Point – West Point, NY
Grand Master’s Day at Tappan – ‘76 House – Tappan, NY
Columbus Day Parade – NYC
2
November 2013
Copernicus Lodge 545 - 150th Anniversary
– Whitestone, NY
is an official publication of the
Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund.
The Grand Line
MW James E. Sullivan
Grand Master – Editor in Chief
RW William J. Thomas
Deputy Grand Master
RW Jeffrey M. Williamson
Senior Grand Warden
RW William B. Fink, Jr.
Junior Grand Warden
RW Kurt Ott
Grand Treasurer
MW Vincent Libone
Grand Secretary
Advisory Sub-Committee
RW Harris Mandel, Chairman
RW Richard Bateman
RW Stephen King
W Scott Bisogni
RW Ronald J. Steiner
Bro. Uri Davidov
RW Thomas M. Savini
RW Richard Friedman
RW William J. Thomas
RW Keith Heinrich
Kathy Contino-Turner
RW Griffith Jones III
RW Stephen Zabriskie
Joan C. Bower . . . . . . . . Managing Editor
Kathy Contino-Turner . . . . MCC Editor
Loraine Dibley . . . . . . . . Graphic Design
Harris Mandel . . . . . . . . Graphic Design
Dick Remley . . . . . . . . . Print Production
Stephen Zabriskie . . . . . . . Article Editor
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to:
Circulation Department
71 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010-4149
Periodicals Class Publication No. 56874
1-(800) 362-7664
Website at www.nymasons.org
SERVICE
50 Years
0066 Jack R. Tolnes
0066 Kenneth E. Knudsen
0145 Sanford G. Olson
0328 James R. Fiser
0364 Donald L. Kimble
0534 Duane R. Horton
0608 Hubert Freund
0712 Eugene Sechko
0902 Stanley A. Cohen
1175 George A. Whitehead Sr
55 Years
0055 Allen G. Ayres
0096 Robert A. Brileya
123 Marshall W. Couch III
0126 E. Douglas Duntley
0200 David G. Williams
0546 Robert W. Stackler
0546 Roy Marlow
0568 Steven H. Pokress
0650 M. John White
0737 Lloyd E. Wheeler
0750 Bernard Telsey
0915 Douglas Ottendorf
0925 Richard I. MacVittie
0925 Robert H. Miller
1037 William S. Achenbaum
1124 Ruben Arecco
60 Years
0013 Alexander R. Grone
0112 Ross B. Kenzie
0126 Allan R. Brown
0204 Robert Leinkram
0217 George E. Erdman
0313 Robert E. Garrecht
0387 Oscar S. Santana
0445 William I. Kreisner
0472 William G. Bailey
0520 Joseph Rudy
0555 James H. Barrowman
0555 Robert H. Barrowman
0785 Robert C. Stevens Jr
0793 William H. Larkin Jr
0796 James E. Thomas
Why you should have a lawyer ...
continued from page 45
involve a transfer of outright
ownership in real estate, but instead a
transfer of interest in a condominium
unit, cooperative apartment or
homeowners association. New York
State treats initial sales of these
forms of ownership as securities,
usually requiring disclosure in
an offering plan. The documents
required for these transfers may
include a condominium declaration,
proprietary lease and by-laws. In a
cooperative transfer, the buyer will
get shares of stock at the closing
indicating his or her interest in the
cooperative corporation.
An attorney’s advice, counsel and
guidance are essential from the time
you decide to sell or buy a house,
condominium or cooperative, until
the actual closing. Even after the
closing issues or questions may arise.
Some of the information for this
article was based on a New York
State Bar Association pamphlet on
transferring real estate. This article is
not intended to be, nor is it, a source
of legal advice. You should consult
your own lawyer for advice and
representation. This article does not
create an attorney-client relationship,
and it is purely a resource of general
information for Masons. n
Submission guidelines for
publication in the ESM
FILE PREPARATION
•Your name and phone number as
the beginning of the file.
•Save copy as .txt, .rtf or .doc
•Save photographs as .jpg, .tif, or
.bmp format. Graphics save as .eps.
(Do not transmit photos and copy
in the same file. Transmit photos as
individual attachments.
WINTER Deadline: October 1
0842 Norman E. Yearke
0913 Norton A. Brace
1178 Charles M. Chamberlain
1185 John L. Barber II
65 Years
0168 Henry R. Richter
0306 Thomas G. Long
0419 Charles R. Newman
0586 Harold L. Eisloeffel
0785 Hoyt G. Thompson
0797 Richard A. Gilmore
0975 Nicholas Nidositko
1009 Charles Krasner
70 Years
0613 Donald E. Lord
0710 James T. Mccrary
71 Years
0827 Richard S. Wooden
0922 Louis A. Feinstein
78 Years
0913 Richard F. Dunbar
TRANSMITTING:
To: [email protected]
Subject: ESM Submission
Via Mail
Send photographs and CD-Rom
discs (formatted as to the left) via
United States Postal Service or other
delivery service to:
Mrs. Joan C. Bower
37 Oliver Street
Lockport, NY 14094-4615
FALL 2013
47
55th
A nn uA l
Mason
The Empire State
G r a n d
M a s t e r ’ s
wi nte r
C r u i s e
F ro m F o rt L au d e r da L e , F Lo r i da J a n ua ry 2 0 - 31, 2 014
S a i l i n g o n t h e C e l e b r i t y E q u i n o x® w i t h r a t e s
starting from $1, 349.00* per person
Ports of Call
George town, Grand Cayman
Cartagena, Colombia
Colon, Panama
Puerto limon, Costa rica
Belize City, Belize
Cozumel, Mexico
Fares above are shown in $USD. The company reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $USD10
per person per day if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $USD70 per barrel.
*Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and include cruise fare and government taxes.
*Port charges of $160.08 per person are additional.
Space is limited, so book early to guarantee the best pricing and availability. Third and fourth passenger rates are available upon
request, based on availability at time of booking. Insurance is additional and highly recommended. Ground and air transportation
to and from the ship is not included. Please contact us if you need assistance with air travel.
For more information, or to make a reservation, contact;
p h n . (9 17 ) 4 10 -11 3 8 •
C ru ise e n ter pr ises , inC .
At t : e ph or J u di
F A x . ( 2 1 2 ) 2 6 5 - 6 61 5 • e m A i l C r u i s e En t e r p r i s e s @g m a i l . c o m

the empire state mason magazine

Transcription

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