Rhode Island

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

freemason

Grand Lodge of Rhode Island Established 1791 Volume Forty-Five, Issue Two

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Normandy Invasion WW II Memorial Rhode Island Monument

Page 2 September/October/November 2019 __________________________________________________________

Brother Kenneth F. Poyton Most Worshipful Grand Master

Greetings My Brothers,

I hope you have had a great and restful summer and, like me, are looking forward to resuming our work. As I extend my thoughts to you each quarter, I am not going to bore you with all the events I have attended. However, I do wish to report on two.

On June 7, the Grand Secretary and I attended a ceremony (sponsored by the Grand Lodge of Washington, DC at the WWII Monument in Washington to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the storming of the beaches at Normandy, also known as D-Day. All attending Grand Masters participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the Atlantic side of the Memorial. I was assigned to sit next to a Past Grand Master of DC who was also the ambassador to Europe under the Shah of Iran. He shared that he had to flee the country when the Shah was overthrown, or he would have been executed. What other organization in the world could offer an opportunity to

meet such a person? R∴W∴Ron Reed, Grand Secretary, and I had the honor to lay a wreath at the WWII Rhode Island Monument, as well.

On July 12-14, I attended the Rhode Island Rainbow Annual session. The courtesies extended to the Grand Marshal, our ladies, and me were greatly appreciated. However, I want to concentrate on the July 14 event which was the installation of Ms. Holly Dunford as the new Grand Worthy Advisor for the ensuing year. She was installed by her sister Heather, a past Grand Worthy Advisor a few years ago. I am so proud of Holly and her accomplishments and can’t wait to travel with her this year.

When planning the dates for my official visitations to the districts, I spread them out over my term. I am very much looking forward to travel to the districts and to be with my brothers. The next three months I will be making my official visitations to:

The Northern District at Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 8 on Friday, September 13.

The Central District at Manchester Lodge No. 12 on Friday, November 15.

Don’t forget about the Semi-Annual to be held on November 16. Our Junior Grand Warden has been working on the upcoming Fall Festival, to be held on the same day at Quidnessett Country Club. The Fall Festival is “our time” to party. Seating is limited.

Grand Master’s Message

In the May Grand Master’s Message, I told you that numerous repairs must be made to the Grand Lodge and that scaffolding would be around the building soon. While the building committee has been working diligently, we still do not have any scaffolding up. However, I am optimistic that soon work will begin. I will keep you posted.

The Officer Forum is set to begin this October at Rising Sun Lodge in the Metro District and in November at Mt. Vernon Lodge in the Southern District. The program for the evening is on Masonic Assistance. It is very important the officers attend the DDGM Visitation and learn about this program.

The New Wardens Workshop is moving along very nicely, as I am

told by M∴W∴Iacobucci, PGM. The committee is working very hard and will be ready for their presentation soon.

You all know how I feel about protocol and how we need to act in a lodge room. Recently I was having a conversation with R∴W∴Richard Maggio, the Grand Marshal of Massachusetts, on this very topic. He was kind enough to send me a quote that came from the “Vision of Massachusetts Freemasonry” adopted in 1995, which sums it up in an interesting statement:

“Masonry is a conservative fraternity where protocol encompasses standards of civility, dignity, and decorum, promotes harmony and respect and maintains the traditions, values, and practices of our fraternity.”

By the time you see this message, I will have communicated to the lodges what I expect to be read from the Grand Lodge Protocol and Constitution for the month. Being on the same page will help all of us to better understand what is expected.

I’d like to share with you a conversation I had with W∴Frank Allen on July 21, 2018, the day he was moved to Hospice Care. When I arrived, I had to wait in the hallway for the nurses to get our brother settled and all the necessary paperwork signed. I assure you I was not the only person in the hallway waiting to see Frank. Once we were invited in, Frank was very alert and conversing with all of us. He wanted to tell me a story about what happened to him while he was in the hospital waiting to be moved to hospice. Frank began by saying “I heard a person say that he was here to see his brother Frank.” The person said it again, so Frank’s daughter stepped in (she did not recognize this person) and inquired who the person was coming to see. The visitor said, “I am a member of St. John’s Lodge, No. 1P and am here to see Brother Frank Allen.”

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Rhode Island FREEMASON

(USPS 366-750)

Published by the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island 222 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914

Published in March, June, September, and December.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:

The Grand Lodge of Rhode Island 222 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914

Periodicals Paid in Providence, RI

________________________________________________________________ Rhode Island Freemason Page 3

THE SCOTTISH RITE CELEBRATES ITS GRADUATION OF 32° MASONS

New Officer Installation Congratulations to the new Sovereign Prince, Eric E. Grist, 32° and

to IllJohn S. Bentley, 33°, new Commander-In-Chief.

MSA Ceremony The Valley of Providence awarded the MSA Award to two worthy Brothers, Stephen V. Reali, 32° and Kenneth A. Angilly, 32° for their many years of hard work and commitment to the lighting committee.

Special Supreme Council Award Gordon E. Martin, Jr., 32° MSA, was given this award to recognize his 64 years of service to Masonic Craft and Scottish Rite.

Years of Membership Certificate Awards Three Valley members were in attendance to receive their years of membership certificates:

IllJohn Trafford, 33°, 50 years; Robert Royley, Jr., 60 years; and

John Bradshaw, III, 50 years of membership.

The Class of 2018-2019!

IllSteven E. Smith, 33°, Deputy for the Valley of Providence,

welcomed 29 new 32° Masons at the Class Dinner on June 26, 2019.

Our new members of the Valley of Providence come from various Blue lodges around the state.

Congratulations to:

Scott Alexander, Ralph Assaiante-Carlini, Armen Avagyan, Leonard Bento, Robert Caron, David Condit, Herbert Curtis, Jr., Porfirio Dacanay, Dale Douthit, Thomas Drumm, Richard Forcino, Steven Gall, Sr., Jose Gonzalez, William Gouge, Albert Hamlin, William Laliberte, Corey Maclean, Michael Melino, Keith Milette, Jeremy Newton, Thomas Northup, Steven Parenteau, Wilson Perez, Jr., Wilson Perez, Sr., Jesse Saglio, Richard Schofield, James Stringfellow, Frederick Wilmott, and Jan Zukowski.

We look forward to another successful year in 2019-2020!

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We held our July 10 Conclave at the Dunes Club in Narragansett with near perfect weather, which made for a very comfortable and special night. Everyone enjoyed the wonderful views of the ocean whether they were inside or enjoying a drink on the deck. We enjoyed a cocktail hour with our ladies after our business meeting and prior to our evening dinner. We had over 60 Knight Companions and ladies in attendance.

For many years we have been fortunate to conduct our July Conclave at the Dunes Club through the generosity of Past Sovereign, Clarence H. Soderberg.

Our order is by invitation only and invited members must be a Royal Arch Mason in good standing who has also done exemplary service in Freemasonry and who subscribes to the belief of the Christian religion. Each conclave has a prescribed membership

limit.

Setting aside all discussion of Ancient Landmarks and uniformity of ritual the question still remains, are physical requirements essential to Freemasonry? To answer that question requires some thought as to what is Freemasonry? Why and how did it become speculative or philosophical from an operative origin and what has enabled it to survive?

To answer the question what is Freemasonry? We must believe that it is a fraternal society that performs a function without which man cannot survive, without which he cannot ever hope to live in peace with his neighbor. Freemasonry endeavors to bring about a reformation in each individual human being. It differs from the many religions, which have endeavored to reform man by seeking only to provide each of us with a set of standards that have stood the test of time from the beginning of history. The ethical philosophy of Freemasonry has been the same as the ethical teachings of small groups in every civilization, but with this difference in Freemasonry it is imparted in a matchless symbolism which is available to each and every one of us, and it teaches more and more as we reflect upon it more and more.

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Red Cross of Constantine Annual Ladies Night By: Eugene W. Thibeault, Puissant Sovereign

Defining Freemasonry: Tradition Becomes Practical By: Brother Eugene S. Hopp, M.P.S.

____________________________________________________________________ Rhode Island Freemason Page 5

(continued from Page 2, Grand Master’s Message)

Naturally, he was let in and they talked. Frank asked, “Why was he here?” The visitor’s response was, “I heard you were ill and thought I was supposed to come and visit you.” Frank was very moved by this, primarily because he did not even know the brother. Here was a brother who actually paid attention to his obligation, even though neither one of them knew the other. Frank said to all of us in the room “it is because of gestures, such as this, that help to prepare me for the next journey.”

When we take our Oaths and Obligations, we obligate ourselves to do certain things to and for a fellow Mason. We all must make some time in our busy schedules to do what we promised to do as we knelt at the altar. Read your notices, see who is on the sick and shut-in list. If you can visit them, please do so, it will make

their day.

Fraternally yours,

Kenneth F. Poyton Grand Master

The Grand Lodge and all members of the Craft extend a warm welcome to our new brothers who have been raised as Master

Masons in the previous Masonic calendar year.

Gregory R. Enos St. Johns Lodge No. 1P Matthew M. Vitale St. Johns Lodge No. 1P Hamlet Tavarez St. Johns Lodge No. 1P Ryan M. Corcoran St. Johns Lodge No. 1P Thomas P. Wilson St. Johns Lodge No. 1P

Joseph E. Reels Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 4

Jared T. Kelley Friendship Lodge No. 7 Gary L. Turner Friendship Lodge No. 7 Keith W. Beaudreau Friendship Lodge No. 7 Myles G. Silva Friendship Lodge No. 7

Jamie Llorens Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 8

Armen Avagyan Harmony Lodge No. 9 Jan Zukowski Harmony Lodge No. 9 Ralph Assalante-Aarlini Harmony Lodge No. 9

Richard A. Naud Morning Star Lodge No. 13 Richard C. Babcock Morning Star Lodge No. 13

Patrick Mahoney-Balestrucci Franklin Lodge No. 20

Steven E. Gall Charity Lodge No. 23 Philip J. M. Butts Charity Lodge No. 23 Nathan J. Martin Charity Lodge No. 23 Henry H. Thayer Charity Lodge No. 23 Alexander R. Holloway Charity Lodge No. 23

Jeremy J.M. Dutra Jenks Lodge No. 24 Mason F. Sousa Jenks Lodge No. 24 Robert A. Hiltz Jenks Lodge No. 24 Lyndon B. Ambrefe Jenks Lodge No. 24

Richard H. Jalette Hope Lodge No. 25 Nichael W. Hall Hope Lodge No. 25 Jon S. Litwin Hope Lodge No. 25 Edmond F. Cardinal Hope Lodge No. 25 Thomas A. Merola Hope Lodge No. 25

Robert A. Rebello Ionic Lodge No. 28

David A. Johnstone Ionic Lodge No. 28 Robert H. Harrington Ionic Lodge No. 28

Juan E. Zapata Rising Sun Lodge No. 30

Albert B. Hamlin Roger Williams Lodge No. 32 Ricardo Simoes Roger Williams Lodge No. 32 Pedro M. Frazao Roger Williams Lodge No. 32

Coey P. Meyette Redwood Lodge No. 35 Brent A. Thomas Redwood Lodge No. 35

Stephen J. Beausejour Overseas Lodge No. 40 Roberto M. Borba Overseas Lodge No. 40

Thomas J. Brown Lafayette Lodge No. 47

Anthony J. Archillia Daylight Lodge No. 48 Robert A. Grenier Daylight Lodge No. 48 Jerhamy J.H. Pow Daylight Lodge No. 48 Dylan A. Archillia Daylight Lodge No. 48

On Saturday, November 2, 2019 at 10:00 AM the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Rhode Island, Scottish Rite's favorite charity, will hold its 10th Annual Race by the Bay. It’s a 10K and 5K race, which starts and finishes at the Masonic Youth Center on Long Street in Warwick. New this year is a one-mile kids run (within the park). The course is USATF certified and in our 10-year history has become very popular with the running community. It is a flat scenic run/walk through the neighborhoods of the Buttonwoods area and Warwick City Park, with a beautiful view of the Bay at the beginning and end. The Children's Dyslexia Center of Rhode Island opened in April 2001. The Center, dedicated to the remediation of dyslexia in children, provides the highest quality multi-sensory reading and written language tutorial services for children with dyslexia at no cost to the children or family. The center uses the Orton-Gillingham approach, one of the oldest most effective research validated approaches to language remediation for individuals with dyslexia. The Dyslexia Center also offers a training course to qualified adults who wish to become certified at the teacher level of Orton-Gillingham. Graduate college credit is available for successfully completing this course. There is no charge for the course, but there is a fee charged by the college for graduate credit. We are accredited by IMSLEC.

Last time the event drew about 120 runners and 40 walkers with more expected this year. An endeavor this size requires many hands. We need not only runners and walkers, but volunteers to help with registration, food prep, cooking, and distributing tee- shirts to runners and walkers. We will need about 35 additional volunteers on the course to man water stations and “flaggers” to direct the runners and walkers to ensure their safety and avoid any loss of time. All volunteers are welcome to join us for refreshments at the conclusion of the race. This fundraiser has been successful in the past because of your help. I’m asking again if you can give us a few hours to help make this a success again. We rely on fundraisers and the generous support of the Masonic community to keep the Center operating. Thank you so much.

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Welcome to the Craft My Brothers

Race by the Bay By: Robert O’Brien Secretary, Board of Governors

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November 2nd schedule:

7:30 AM - Park Gates Open

8:00 AM - Registration Begins

9:15 AM – Kids Mile

10:00 AM – 5K & 10K “By the Bay” races start, 5K Walk begins immediately following.

11:45 AM – Awards & Refreshments

For registration: https://bit.ly/2PJObgJ4

For more information, please visit the Center’s site at: www.dyslexiari.org

If you can volunteer, contact Bob O’Brien at 401-487-4750 or

bob.obrien@gmail.com.

National Camping Travelers, a Masonic family camping club, has hosted a National Rally every year since its inception in 1966. This year marked our 54th National Rally which was held at the Amana Colonies RV Park in Amana Colonies, IA. This is NCT’s second time to host a rally at this venue. The RV Park has over 450 sites all of which have 50-amp electric service, fresh water, and sewer dumps. They host camping rallies of any size and have several airconditioned buildings for the rally’s use. Our national rallies are the Club’s Rally and not the President’s Rally. Any NCT Chapter or district can submit a proposal to host a National Rally to our National Board of Directors. If multiple proposals are received, the board votes to accept the rally that is in the best interests of the club. National rallies officially run for five days (Sunday-Thursday), but usually have some activities scheduled for Saturday prior to the start of the rally. Activities at the rally include, worship service, opening ceremonies, memorial service, crafts, games, pet parade, people parade, trips to local attractions, golf, nightly entertainment, board of director’s meetings, general meeting, lots of food (no cooking tonight), installation of officers, etc. Our YNCT youth group is kept busy with their own activities, which normally include a trip to a local waterpark.

This year’s rally included a tour of the Grand Lodge of Iowa and Masonic Museum and Library which are both located in Cedar Rapids, approximately 20 miles from the RV Park. While there, the Grand Secretary gave our club a Traveling Square to be returned to its home base in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. The Square started its journey in 1909 and was recently given to the Iowa Grand Lodge. It was accompanied by a full record of its travel over the past 110 years. A presentation of the Square was made to one of our Canadian members who will deliver it to Winnipeg.

Later in the week, about 50 Masonic brothers of the camping club gathered in one of the park buildings and enjoyed a Master Mason Degree presented by a local lodge and the Grand Lodge of Iowa. Their ritual was very different from Rhode Island’s but the message was the same.

Membership in National Camping Travelers is open to all Masons and members of OES. We currently have 27 chapters in the United States and one in Canada. Total number of Masons is approximately 650, including five from Rhode Island. Three Rhode Island Masons have been national president of NCT, Brothers, Milt Thoene (1984-85), Emil Peterson (2002-03) and myself

(2018-19).

What came first the chicken or the egg? So many questions so little time. In the 1960s, “the God is Dead School” became popular and if memory serves me well, a Rabbi, who was then serving as an Air Force Chaplain wrote “the diary of the late Great God” in which God answered many of these important questions. With regard to the “chicken and the egg”, it was the chicken that came first, however, in the case of turtles it was the egg. Now that you know the answer to these important questions, what else do you want to know?

I am reminded of an old marching jingle that goes “I don’t know, but I’ve been told.” Our Entered Apprentice surely understands, which holds true for Fellow Craft and Master Masons as well, remember “you being uninformed, a brother will answer for you.” Ok you did not know, and you were told. Socrates once claimed to be the wisest man in the world because after interviewing the self-proclaimed wisest men in the world, He (Socrates) wrote, “I am the wisest man in the world because I know one thing they do not know, I know how much I don’t know, and they don’t.”

Do you want to know more, and continue, on the wonderful enlightening journey, that is Freemasonry? In Chapter you will

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N.C.T. National Rally Armana Colonies, Iowa By: W∴Ray Geer, Past President N.C.T.

National Camping Travelers - PNP Hat Club

Rhode Island Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons By: R∴E∴ Robert J. Fish, Grand King

______________________________________________________________________ Rhode Island Freemason Page 7

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learn the real word. You will then be able to travel in foreign countries and attend a lodge of Master Masons. In most other countries the “real word” is required to be admitted. We enthusiastically invite you to continue your Masonic journey through the higher degrees, learn the rest of the story, and enjoy the fellowship with brothers from other lodges across our great State.

Brochures and applications to three York Right Bodies; Royal Arch Chapter, Council of Royal and Select Masters, and Commandery of Knights Templar are available at Grand Lodge and should be available at all Blue Lodges. You can also contact me directly (401-480-1343) and I’ll send you one. It is time my brothers for the rough

stone ashlar, hewn in the quarries, to be polished!

Just one! That, according to an e-mail that I received this morning from the new Shriners International Imperial Potentate, Brother Jeffery L. Souder, sums up his program thrust for his term of office. Brother Souder suggests that if every Shriner were to bring in one new Shrine member, the membership would double. Doing the math, that is theoretically correct, but there are other factors to be considered. For example, members will continue to be lost to death as well as suspensions for non-payment of dues and demit requests.

Way back in the dark ages of 1996, when I served as Grand Master of Masons in Connecticut, I challenged the members to each identify and be responsible for raising two new brothers, one to replace the member upon his eventual demise and one to grow our membership. I proposed that any brother who did so would receive a jacket for his efforts. The Grand Treasurer at the time was opposed to the jacket idea and claimed the Grand Lodge could not afford such a thing. My retort was that if Grand Lodge was receiving the per capita from two new members, it certainly could, and this was a ‘”no brainer.” At that particular time, the Grand Lodge of Connecticut membership stood at around 16,000. Today, Connecticut Masonic membership stands at around 9,000 total – including exempt members who don’t pay per capita.

Masonic membership in North America has been steadily declining almost universally since the mid-1960s. There have been a few anomalies along the way, but the sad truth is that every jurisdiction in the United States and Canada has experienced a decline in numbers. And to be honest, lodges and Grand Lodges have, from time to time, shot themselves in the foot so to speak by doing things that discouraged the addition of new members.

I am not one who is going to predict that Masonry in North America will disappear, but clearly the fraternity will continue to be negatively impacted as our membership decreases. This is already evidenced by the effects of lodge mergers. Every time two or more lodges merge, one or more local communities suffer from a lack of Masonic presence and awareness. The result is that those communities no longer offer an optimum attraction to potential new members. So, what are we (you and me) to do?

It is my belief that we need to redouble our efforts. There needs to be a concerted unified campaign across all Masonic bodies directed at increasing local lodge membership. The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Northern Masonic Jurisdiction arrived at this conclusion several years ago. They, under the leadership of Illustrious Brother David A. Glattly, Sovereign Grand Commander, are pouring considerable resources into developing a marketing campaign to build Masonic membership at the Blue Lodge level and making it available to Grand Lodges at no cost to them.

Brother Glattly, like his predecessor, Ill. Brother John William McNaughton, understands quite clearly that the success and continuation of Scottish Rite Masonry is wholly dependent on the success and strength of Masonry’s Blue Lodges. To be most effective, the York Rite Bodies, Shrine, Grotto, and Tall Cedars of Lebanon need to do the same.

Another area of emphasis needs to involve a change in attitude with regard to what constitutes a lodge. A lodge is a group of like-minded (hopefully) brothers operating under a charter granted by a Grand Lodge. A lodge is NOT a building. Someone stated, and I concur, that “Masonry has an edifice complex.” In my 45 years in Masonry, I have seen too many instances where the brothers spend 99% of their time and effort raising funds to pay for the building in which they meet. Imagine the public relations impact that would result if even 40 or 50% of their efforts and their fundraising efforts were directed toward actually fulfilling Masonry’s ideals.

Finally, each lodge and Grand Lodge needs to have a vision and mission statement and its members need to be committed to work toward those stated goals. The Worshipful Master is charged with “setting the Craft to work and giving them good and wholesome instruction for their labor.” If the Master or the head of a Masonic body is not fulfilling his obligation to set the Craft to work, it is incumbent on his members to “whisper good counsel” without rancor, in an effort to correct the deficiency. Once again, over the years I’ve observed my share of missed opportunities to ‘set the Craft to work.” Every jurisdiction has some lodges that are successful and continue to grow their membership. Their positive efforts are negated by the lodges that are not successful. Successful lodges are active and highly visible within their communities. They hold events that bring positive attention to them and to Masonry. Their members exhibit an attitude of caring and they generally are having fun, even while they roll up their sleeves and work within the community. Lodges have elicited attention by singling out and honoring first responders, veterans, town leaders, doctors, and organizations that work to support the public good such as battered women’s shelters, soup kitchens, food pantries, children’s dyslexia centers, Masonic Model Student Assistance Programs, and the like. Any of the aforementioned can be turned into a program open to the public and designed to raise Masonic awareness in your community. Why not come forward and offer to assist your lodge in conducting such a program?

Coming full circle, I would again emphasize that every Mason has an obligation to bring a minimum of two qualified men of like mind into our fraternity. Most jurisdictions have eliminated the requirement “2B1 ASK1” and fully support the idea that you, as a Mason, can ask a friend, relative, co-worker, or fellow church member if they have ever thought about joining Masonry. Oh, and what of my offer of a free jacket back in 1996? Two Brothers out of 16,000 took me up on the offer and brought in at least two new

members. I wonder if it would be any different today?

Just One? Two at Least! By: M∴W∴Charles Yohe, PGM - Connecticut

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Chapter 4: Freemasonry in the "Pearl of the Antilles” Part 1: The creation of the Grand Lodge of Cuba

We hope, you continue to enjoy the series of Spanish speaking Freemasons and their influences throughout the Americas. On this next chapter, we would like to introduce Cuba’s early Freemasonry and its influences on independence. Unlike in its neighboring island of Hispaniola, currently Dominican Republic and Haiti, as you might recall from our previous chapter where the Craft entered through French influences, Freemasonry in Cuba entered through the British conquistadores in early 1760s. During the 1800s, it was a tumultuous time to be a Freemason, who were persecuted and imprisoned due to the Spanish Crown’s fear of liberalism and enlightenment which was spreading throughout their colonies. The Craft survived through the fact that many of the Spanish officers were Freemasons, therefore being tolerated in secrecy.

The first officially chartered lodges were established in Cuba through different Grand Lodges of the United States and the Grand Orient of France. The Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania, Louisiana and South Carolina from the United States as well as the Grand Orient of France, all had great influence and chartered many lodges

throughout the island in the 1800s. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania chartered seven lodges in the span of 1804-1822, with two having their charters revoked 1 year after. The first chartered in 1804 through the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was named The Temple of the Theological Virtues No. 103, was established in Havana by Joseph Cerneau. Sharing the same forward thinking as in the United States as well as other Latin American countries during this time period of enlightenment in the Americas, the first effort of independence from foreign powers was

first realized in a Masonic lodge by W∴Joaquin Infante, a prominent lawyer and a well-known author alongside other prominent Freemasons of the time in Cuba who led an unsuccessful, but most importantly, first attempt against the Spanish Colonialization of 1810. This was called “Great Masonic Conspiracy” for independence. He is attributed with composing Cuba’s first independent constitution. W∴Infante unfortunately never realized his dreams of an independent Cuba during his lifetime, even though he met and had an established friendship with our first two chapters of Masonic liberators; Francisco de Miranda and Simon Bolivar. Unlike the first couple of chapter articles where we concentrated on a particular Freemason,

W∴Joaquin Infante’s initial efforts for independence needed to be noted as the country of Cuba has had too many very prominent Freemasons to just highlight one in this introduction of Freemasonry in Cuba.

The Grand Lodge of Louisiana chartered three lodges 1815-1819. The Grand Orient of France chartered three more lodges and a Consistory (Scottish Rite) 1819-1821. The Great Consistory of the 32nd degree of the Old and Accepted Scottish Rite was founded with a French patent by Luis Juan Lorenzo de Clouet D ‘Obernay. The Grand Lodge of South Carolina chartered two lodges during 1818-1819. It was the Grand Lodge of South Carolina that enabled

the creation of a Grand Lodge of the Island of Cuba on December 5, 1859, It was then known as the Grand Lodge of Colon (Columbus) in order to conceal its Masonic practices established on the island. The first three established lodges under the newly formed Grand Lodge were Fraternidad Lodge No. 1, Prudencia Lodge No. 2 and San Andres Lodge No. 3. On December 27, 1859, with the creation of Supreme Council of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, 33° Southern Jurisdiction of the United States along with the lodges united and formed the Gran Oriente de Cuba y las Antillas (GOCA). By 1867, the GOCA constitution claimed its own power to issue charters and enact by-laws of new lodges on the island, was approved. Even one of the most prominent Freemasons of modern era, the Sovereign Grand Commander Albert Pike, publicly gave his approval for the separation of powers. However, the Supreme Council did not accept the new Grand Lodge. Unfortunately, just before a meeting which was set up to negotiate the parameters of the new Grand Lodge, the “Ten Year War” of Cuba began, through the cry for war against the Spanish Crown by the Worshipful Master of a lodge, Carlos Manuel Cespede known in Cuba as the "Father of the Fatherland.”

In the span of 1868-1870, the number of lodges in Cuba was reduced from thirty to just seven. Many Freemasons were imprisoned and the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Colon, José Andrés Puente Badell was shot and along with other brothers were charged with the crime of Freemasonry. The works of the Grand Orient of Colon in both branches, symbolic and philosophical were set to recess until its re-formation was commenced in 1871. In April 1873, an agreement between the Grand Orient of

Colon and the Supreme Council was cemented, giving full rights over the island’s jurisdiction to the Supreme Council of Colon. By August 1876, the Grand Lodge of the Island of Cuba was founded in the west of the country by Aurelio Almeida and González declaring that it was free from all other authority, a sovereign body with full and unlimited powers over its subordinates. During this time there were two Grand Lodges, the Orient and the Island of Cuba, with a total surpassing 8,000 Freemasons. In 1879 the Grand Lodge of the Island of Cuba and Grand Orient of Colon amalgamated into one and was named the Gran Oriente de Cuba y las Antillas. Symbolic Freemasonry was restructured on the island as a result of successive mergers between the Grand Lodges. The Grand Lodge of the Island of Cuba emerges as the sole and sovereign symbolic organism. The following year also achieved the integration of a single Supreme Council to govern Freemasonry’s High Grades. In totality, at one point there were 20 different Grand Lodges on the Island. However, the final unification of the Grand Lodges of Cuba came to be on August 25, 1946 to form today’s Gran Lodge of Cuba A.F. & A.M (Ancient Free And Accepted Masons). Today there are over 30,000 Freemasons in Cuba in over 300 lodges on the island. The Grand Lodge of Cuba is regular and recognized by the majority of mainstream grand lodges around the world.

As you can see, the power struggle between Grand Lodges and the establishment of a governing body for higher degrees was a very difficult period for Freemasonry in Cuba. Incorporating this

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Greetings from Club Masonico Libertad By W∴ Melvin E. Silverio (32) Brother Felix Diclo (32)

____________________________________________________________________ Rhode Island Freemason Page 9

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fact plus the same time period of fighting for independence, adds another level to the tough times. However, a common theme throughout this time period and the three wars for independence in Cuba, the Ten Years’ War 1868-1878, the Little War 1879-1880, the Cuban War of Independence 1895-1898, is that Freemasons led the fight against the Spanish Crown. That leadership began

with W∴Joaquin Infante planting the seed for independence,

W∴Cespedes in the Ten Years War, Ignacio Agramonte, Antonio Maceo, and Jose Marti “the apostle and martyr of Cuban Independence” for the Cuban War of Independence.

We will learn about these Masonic Latin American heroes and their stories in the future. We felt it was important to give some background into the creation of the Grand Lodge of Cuba. Most especially because our Grand Lodge Representative to Cuba Brother Felix Diclo and myself the Grand Master of Ceremonies for the Deputy Grand Master, have been invited and will be attending the 160th Anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Cuba this December.

Brethren, there is a lot more Masonic history in Cuba. I hope you find this brief introduction as an opening to a broader world of the importance and influences of Freemasons in Latin America. Anyone who is interested in being part of the creation of a Spanish speaking lodge in our jurisdiction are welcomed to contact me at MelvinESilverio@gmail.com or 401-365-8509. You don’t have to know Spanish in order to be involved. Sources for the article upon

request.

METRO DISTRICT RWDouglas J. Grant, DDGM

Win the battle, lose the war. How many times have we heard those words of wisdom but have found them to be so difficult to follow? Our world today thrives on offensive and defensive postures. We are constantly inundated with news of countries either attacking other countries or vowing to retaliate if they are attacked. From a young age we are taught to defend ourselves and our country. It is the same around the world. Do you think that Russians, Germans, Canadians, Mexicans, or any other countries teach their people differently? Are they worse or better than us because of this?

We, as Freemasons, try to follow the tenets of our profession regardless of borders. Do we try to win battles? Sure, we do. But these are battles that are the same in every country. We try to create a society that works to spread peace and harmony to all mankind and not just to a select few. The war that we are engaged in is shared by many people all over the world and not in each individual country.

Imagine if all people worked together in harmony to solve the worldwide epidemic of hunger and starvation. Suppose all our top medical and scientific communities worked together to eliminate the horrible diseases that plague our world. Suppose common people worked together to create a community that took care of each other and raised their children to do the same generation after generation. Imagine if there was a society of friends and brothers that had the ability to bring these people together to win these battles that affect us all.

I don’t know if there has ever been a time in human history when the consequences of the actions of a few have ever had the potential for the disastrous results that we all could face. I also don’t know if there has ever been a time in history when the actions

of a few others could have a profoundly positive affect on our future. There has never been a time when Freemasons were needed more than they are right now. While we are not armed with guns and the conventional tools and implements of war, we are armed with knowledge, friendship, morality, brotherly love, relief, truth, support, and honesty that can change the world that we live in, in such a positive way that everyone will be happy to work together to solve problems and resolve the differences that exist in society so that there will be no battles or wars that divide us.

What if there were more Freemasons and we all stood up to put an end to the battles and wars? I guess then we could all agree that we won the battles and the war.

May the blessings of heaven rest upon us and all regular

Masons.

EAST BAY DISTRICT RW André H. Faria, Jr., DDGM

Greetings from the East Bay my Brothers! Brandt and I hope that you all enjoyed a great summer and had the opportunity to rest and refresh yourselves. Apart from our usual avocations and pursuits, I had the opportunity to meet with our East Bay brothers at our organizational meeting shortly after our Annual Meeting. A special word of thanks is owed to Worshipful Tim Pray, Master of St. Alban’s Lodge No. 6 for hosting our meeting. It was good to see many of you there and to sense the excitement you have as we enter into another Masonic year. By the time you read this article, we would have met at the Grand Lodge picnic, I’m sure it was a great success. It’s always so heart-warming for me personally to spend time with you at these family events. As we have journeyed through the districts, there are now so many of you that I call “friend” as well as “brother.” Freemasonry is a gift that has been a great source of joy for me. We are truly blessed to share this brotherhood.

In August we also had the opportunity to be present at St. John’s, No. 1’s Annual Clam Bake. A special thanks is owed to W∴ Doug Siple for his hospitality. This event has always been a special one as it is one of the few that my parents enjoy going to when they can. St. John’s has always had a history of reaching out to the community and welcoming others to join them in celebrating the summer and enjoying this fare of the sea that is so unique to New England.

We are also looking forward to our Grand Master’s first official visitation to the Northern District as he graces us with his presence

at Mt. Moriah Lodge on September 13. I’m sure that M∴W∴Ken Poyton will have an issue fitting such a large crowd into such a petite lodge, but we are all up for the challenge and look forward

to the program that W∴Tony Rodrigues has planned for the evening.

Back in the East Bay, Brandt and I will have our first official visitation at Brandt’s mother lodge in the US, Washington Lodge No 3. We look forward to being with W∴Christian Lopez and his officers and brothers and are anticipating a great program for the evening. I also have some unique and special ties to Washington Lodge so this homecoming will be particularly special for me and Brandt. Exactly 11 days after our visitation, we will be back at Washington Lodge for their annual meeting where we look forward

to congratulating W∴Lopez on a very successful year and look forward to installing a new line of officers.

Our visitation tour continues in November as we travel to Adelphoi

Lodge No. 33 to be with W∴Bill Pennoyer and his officers and brothers. It is always a treat to travel to Riverside and be with the many brothers who hail from that part of our Grand Jurisdiction. Shortly thereafter, we anticipate being with our Grand Master

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Report from the Masonic Districts

Page 10 September/October/November 2019 ________________________________________________________

RI Freemason Deadlines

Publishing Schedule The Rhode Island Freemason is published four times based on a Masonic calendar year. Deadlines for submissions are listed below for each issue. The issues will be published as follows:

DECEMBER/JANUARY/FEBRUARY Deadline: November 1st

MARCH/APRIL/MAY Deadline: February 1st

JUNE/JULY/AUGUST Deadline: May 1st

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER/NOVEMBER Deadline: August 1st

From the Editor Dear Brethren,

I thank everyone who submitted reports and articles for this issue. Unfortunately, we did not have space for everyone’s submissions. Where appropriate, I have saved the material for our next issue. As a reminder please submit your material for future issues before the deadline date. Space is on a first come, first serve basis. As the deadline approaches, there is less and less space available and your material may not be published if received on or after the deadline date.

A few simple guidelines are in order for submissions;

• Please send all articles as MS Word, Word Perfect or Text documents

• Photographs or illustrations should be sent as Jpeg, Tiff or Bitmap files

• Please no PDF files, they will not be accepted.

• The deadline for each issue is firm and submissions are on a first come, first served basis, the sooner your article arrives the more likely it is to be included

• Please send files to hstrclrsch@aol.com as well as rifreemason@rimasons.org addresses.

Fraternally, Brother Richard Lynch

Editor: R∴W∴Richard F. Lynch

Associate Editors: M∴W∴Leon C. Knudsen, PGM R∴W∴Jack Anderson Millie T. Hallstrom

Editorial Advisior: R∴W∴Ronald P. Reed R∴W∴Grand Secretary

Interesting Historical Facts of Freemasonry In Rhode Island

Selected from a review of the Annual Proceedings of the Grand Lodge

5th Installment

5/19/1890 Monitor or Trestleboard published by Grand Lodge, distributed to all lodges to assure that “work” will be uniform as presented.

5/18/1891 Grand Lodge becomes member of General Masonic Relief Association of the USA and Canada. Fee, one cent per capita.

6/23-24/1891 Centennial Observance at Grand Lodge. Memorial Centennial Volume published. (Recommended reading!) Complete list of names of all lodge members published. (Formerly published in 1872.)

11/18/1891 First public installation. What Cheer Lodge No. 21,

Infantry Hall, Providence. R∴W∴Cyrus Van Slyck, DDGM and Grand Lodge officers present.

8/25/1892 Masonic veterans Association of Rhode Island established.

8/27/1895 Grand Lodge Officers, Past Masters, Master and Wardens of subordinate lodges (275 brethren) were special guests of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts to witness the great Triennial Parade of the Most Excellent General Grand Encampment of the United States (organized 1816) and its subordinate Knight Templar Commanderies. (Note: Grand Commandery, formerly Encampment, Knights Templar of Massachusetts and Rhode Island was organized 5/6/1805.)

To be continued.

Grand Lodge Circulating Library

In January we began a circulating collection of Masonic books composed of some of the most popular titles in print today. Included are Masonic fiction by such authors as Dan Brown, David Brody, Scott Wolter, Brad Meltzer, etc.

The books are located in the Grand Lodge office lobby and can be borrowed Monday-Friday from 8:30AM to 4:00PM.

The following are the requirements for borrowing:

➢ Current lodge dues card must be presented.

➢ 30-day time period.

➢ 1 book title at a time.

➢ Books must be checked out with and returned to the office

staff or library staff.

➢ Email address for borrower must be on file.

Please also consider writing a book review on any title that is borrowed for submission to the RI Freemason.

---- Attention all RI Masonic Lodges ---

Does your lodge need a replacement organ? The Grand Lodge has two organs available free of charge; a large CONN organ with

large separate speaker and a LOWRY Mardi-Gras model. If interested, please send email to rifreemason@rimasons.org. Only

requirement is lodge is responsible for transportation.

_____________________________________________________________________________________ Rhode Island Freemason Page 11

(continued from Page 9, East Bay District)

again, as he makes his official visitation to the Central District at Manchester Lodge No. 12 on November 15. The very next day we are at our Semi-Annual Communication followed that evening by the Fall Festival to be held at the beautiful Quidnessett Country Club in North Kingston. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

At some point in the fall, we will no doubt be returning to Aquidneck Island and enjoying the company of our Grand Historian and

Worshipful Master of St. Paul’s, No. 14, R∴W∴David C. Lavery. St. Paul’s hospitality and great programs always inspire us to return. After Thanksgiving we finish the month of November back in Riverside but this time at St. Andrew’s Lodge, No. 39 for their Annual Communication, which is always held on or close to

November 30, the Feast of St. Andrew. We hope to join W∴John Barsoum and congratulate him on a very successful year and look forward to installing a new line of officers.

Before you know it, Christmas will be upon us and a week later we will suddenly be in 2020. Although chronological time is a human construct, we depend upon it to plan our lives and at times reminisce about the past. Through it all, we must never forget that the only place we can live is in this present moment. A dear friend of mine once told me and I think he was quoting Augustine, that we must live each day as if it were our first, our last, and our only. There is only one time that we can make a difference – now! I look forward to seeing each of you soon and enjoying your presence as

we travel together on this wondrous journey as brothers.

NORTHERN DISTRICT

R∴W∴Rick Baccus, DDGM

“Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old only by deserting their ideals.

Years wrinkle the skin but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”

MacArthur’s Credo

At the end of WWII, General of the Armies Douglas Arthur MacArthur Jr. served as Supreme Allied Commander of Japan. He adopted a poem written by Samuel Ullman as his personal credo. He was to live this credo by executing the Inchon landings during the Korean War. General MacArthur did not desert his ideals.

I recently read an article entitled “We Are Barking Up the Wrong Tree” written by Kent Henderson, an accomplished scholar and educator as well as a member of the Victorian Lodge of Research, Australia. Brother Henderson makes several recommendations regarding the practice of the Craft to include the candidate’s ritual practice, the candidate instruction at Grand Lodge, allowing lodges to request to deviate from current ritual practices, installation ceremonies, and speaker panels. His point is to be relevant to the current times you must welcome change, not cling to the past. He is saying to not give up the enthusiasm for the Craft, else we will wrinkle our Masonic ideals.

Brother Rick Lynch and I have experienced plenty of enthusiasm in the Northern District thus far. We paid a visit to Morning Star

Lodge to present 50-year Veteran Service Medals to W∴Richard Picard, and Brothers Michael Gatta and Joseph Mason. I was honored to represent Grand Master Kenneth Poyton at this presentation. We attended the regular communications of Mt. Moriah and Friendship Lodges and were warmly received by the brothers. Our Ladies Kay and Patti likewise received a warm welcome at Friendship Lodge. There is no lack of enthusiasm in the Northern District; and no one should be wrinkling their souls.

Brother Rick and I, along with our ladies, look forward to a very busy schedule in the next three months. We start off in September with the Grand Master’s Visitation to the district at Mt. Moriah,

Friendship’s Annual Communication and my first visitation in the district to Roger Williams Lodge, all on the same weekend. In October we have Lafayette Lodge’s Annual Communication and my district visitation to Morning Star Lodge. Then in November we have Mt Moriah’s Annual Communication and my district visitation to Friendship Lodge. My brothers, we will certainly not be growing old these next few months.

As always, please feel free to contact me at rickbaccus@cox.net or at 401-413-6281 to let us know of any lodge events Rick and I

should attend.

“You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt, as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear,

as young as your hope, as old as your despair.” Samuel Ullman

CENTRAL DISTRICT RW Gilbert J. Fontes, Jr., DDGM

Greetings Brethren,

As our lodges return back to labor after the refreshing summer break, welcome back! We look forward to seeing you in lodge soon. Within the next three months all Central District lodges will hold their Annual Communications. Aside from the annuals, be sure to check out the newly renovated lodge room at Harmony No. 9, join a morning meeting at Daylight Lodge No. 48, listen to Charlie tickle the ivories (play piano) at Ionic, or stop by the Fellow Craft Club on any Thursday night at Manchester Lodge No. 12. In all cases you will have opportunity to enjoy great fellowship with your brethren. If it’s been a while since you have attended lodge, I encourage you to come and join your brothers. You’ll always have a good take-away.

Below are dates to mark on your calendar. Jay and I look forward

to seeing you in the Central District.

Grand Master Visitations

Northern District Mt Moriah Lodge No. 8 September 13, 2019 Central District Manchester Lodge No. 12 November 15, 2019

Central District Annual Communications

Ionic Lodge No. 25 September 24, 2019 Manchester Lodge No. 12 October 21, 2019 Daylight Lodge No. 48 November 9, 2019 Harmony Lodge No. 9 November 23, 2019

SOUTHERN DISTRICT RWEric E. Grist., DDGM

Practice - Practice – Practice

This is John’s and my mantra for the summer. We have been taking over the lodge room at Friendship Lodge on Wednesday evenings to run through the floor work and lectures. Our plan is to be as prepared as possible for our work this year in the Southern District.

John and I received an extremely warm welcome to the Southern District on June 15 at our DDGM Visitation. The visitation to Charity Lodge included a little bit of everything from officer step-up to a beautiful (insect free) outdoor setting. The meeting was followed by a fabulous cookout, with homemade hamburgers (not the frozen patties). The cycle of weight gain has begun!

Regrettably, we are missing out on a couple of yearly summer events as my wife, Candace, and I are traveling to the Galapagos Islands for our 25th anniversary trip. She indicated there is no opt-out option regarding my attendance for the trip. I will do all I can to make the best of it.

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Page 12 September/October/November 2019 __________________________________________________________

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We all get back to work in September. Leading off with the Grand Master’s visitation at Mt. Moriah Lodge. The real work begins for John and me in October. The Annual Communications for Hope Lodge and Charity Lodge will be on back-to-back evenings in early October. Mt. Vernon will be hosting the DDGM visitation in November.

We are truly looking forward to getting going in earnest. To our brethren outside the Southern District, come on down for a visit. It

is well worth the trip.

St. Johns Lodge No. 1 Providence By: W∴Timothy L. Culhane, P.M.

June saw the end of Richard Gonzalez’s year as Worshipful Master with our last regular communication and the Annual Communication. We held our last regular communication of the year on June 19. It was a step-up night for the officers and awards night. Although many of the recipients could not attend, there were many brothers recognized for their years of service. To cap off those recognitions, there were brothers there receiving 60, 65 and 70-year pins. Also receiving awards were Brother Robert Larrabee

and WArthur Bajakian who were both honored with the St. Johns Man of the Year Award. Anthony Marcello was presented with a Silver Beehive to pin on his Meritorious Service Award in honor of all the work he has done for St. Johns lodge over many years. With 68 brothers in attendance as well as two visitors, it was a warm evening of fellowship and appreciation.

The 262nd Annual Communication of St. Johns was held on Monday, June 24. The lodge was opened at 5:30 PM. After opening, the necrology was read. Sadly, it was lengthy with the names of so many brothers whom the lodge knew and loved so dearly, now departed. It is hoped that they shall never be forgotten, but live on through the stories, anecdotes, and legends of St. Johns.

Following the necrology, the usual business of the Annual was conducted with reports given and then approved by the brethren,

with the final report presented by WRichard Gonzalez. His report was warm, well-spoken and presented with pride. He received a heartfelt and appreciative round of applause from the brethren and concluded his year with the usual form and ceremony.

Congratulations to the new Junior Past Master and a thank you for a very good and productive year.

The lodge was pleased to see R∴W∴ Douglas J. Grant our DDGM there that evening, recovering well from his recent surgery. However, to further facilitate his recovery, the proceedings of the

evening were conducted by Junior Grand Warden RW Robert A. Palazzo who conducted the closed portion of the election and installation of officers. After some confusion with the count of voting members the correct number was ascertained, and it was further concluded that there was no evidence of Russian meddling or tampering during the St. Johns election process!

Elected to office for the 2019/20 year were Worshipful Master Mazen Alsabe, Senior Warden Scott Miller, Junior Warden Joshua Irizarry, Treasurer Ronald P. Reed, and Secretary Wyman P. Hallstrom Jr. Scott Miller was also elected to a three-year term and Ed Bertrand to a one-year term on the finance committee.

RWEric Grist, DDGM of the Southern District, and WJohn Kent, Grand Master of Ceremonies were thanked for their service as tellers. Congratulations to all!

This year the Annual Communication was a semi-public

installaion. The prologue team was led by MWDennis W.

Pothier, who delivered the prologue with the assistance of RW

Richard Lynch, and RW Mekawy E. Elmekawy. We were also honored to have in attendance our Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brother Kenneth F. Poyton accompanied by his Grand Marshal,

RWMichael Northup and Deputy Grand Master, R∴W∴Gary S. Kaufman.

The installation team did an exemplary job installing the officers, and after the official proclamation, the gavel was handed over to our new Worshipful Master, Mazen Alsabe who thanked his wife, family, friends, and brothers for the support he has received over the years. He thanked the prologue team and the installing officers. He was presented with his Master’s apron and case by Senior

Warden Scott Miller. WAlsabe then presented WRichard Gonzalez with his Past Master’s Jewel, once worn by J. Edgehill Duffy in 1951. Brother Bogos Peligian, the Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Armenia near the Grand Lodge of Rhode

Island, received his 70-year lapel pin. W Brother Gonzalez was then presented his Past Master’s certificate. The gavel of St. Johns Lodge was then handed over to our Grand Master, Kenneth F. Poyton, who brought greetings, congratulated the officers, and shared some of his own thoughts and wisdom with all those assembled. He then closed the Annual in Ample

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NEWS FROM AROUND THE LODGES

_____________________________________________________________________ Rhode Island Freemason Page 13

(continued from Page 12, St. Johns Lodge 1P )

Form at the delightfully early hour of 8:45 PM. The Annual Communication was followed by a collation in the Scottish Rite dining hall.

We are looking forward to the rest of the upcoming year with

WMazen presiding in the East. To start the new year, we held our Annual Steak Fry at the East Greenwich Yacht Club on June 27. With 100+ brothers in attendance, it was quite a success with the weather pleasant and the food outstanding. Congratulations and thank you to the Steak-Fry Committee and all the brothers who worked so hard to make the event outstanding.

The Worshipful Master’s organization meeting for the upcoming year was held by on Tuesday, July 23 at brother Russ Kawa’s lake side estate in Coventry. Thank you to Russ for providing such a beautiful and serene setting for the Worshipful Master and his

officers. WAlsabe laid out his plans for the entire year with much detail. The year promises to be well-planned, well-organized, and well-conducted.

Our first Regular Communication for the 2019/20 year will be on Wednesday, September 18 at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center. The lodge will open at 6:00 PM. The program will be Brother Shai Afsai presenting “The Sage, the Prince, and the Rabbi; Benjamin Franklin’s Art of Virtue, Freemasonry, and Judaism.” Shai is an

excellent speaker and WAlsabe is pleased to again bring him to St. Johns Lodge.

The October Regular Communication will be the conferral of the Entered Apprentice Degree on all available candidates. The lodge will open at 5:30 on Wednesday, October 16. The November Regular Communication will open at 6:00 on Wednesday, November 20. The program has not yet been announced at this time. However, it will be included in the Trestleboard as the date approaches.

Finally, if anyone has any applications from prospective candidates to join St. Johns No. 1 Providence, please get them to the secretary, or to any lodge officer, or bring them so that they can be read at our September Regular Communication. If you would like to join us for dinner at any of our regular communications, please call Brother Bob Gervais at 401-861-1757 no later than the Sunday before the scheduled communication. Leave a message stating who you are, where you are from and that you would like to join us! Dinners are $10.00 and the menu is published in each month’s Trestleboard. For updated or further information about what is happening at St. Johns you can also

check our website at https://www.stjohns1p.com. W∴Mazen Alsabe and the wardens and brethren hope you have enjoyed a happy and safe summer and we look forward to seeing all our

brothers in the autumn.

Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 8 By: Brother J. Ryan McNelis

Our old lodge building, one of the oldest still in use within the state, has made some recent improvements. We are in the process of adding much needed air conditioning to allow the brethren to beat the heat at our events and meetings. We are hopeful that many will come to visit and enjoy this addition when we return from our summer recess in September.

The other big development is the initial success of our "On Yonder Book" fund drive, which is dedicated to raising the money needed to preserve our lodge's original King James Bible, upon which every member of Mount Moriah Lodge has taken their oaths since 1804. It is remarkable to think that a bible furnished to our lodge

when Thomas Jefferson was President, is still in use, and it can remain so if we work together. We thank all those who have already helped and encourage anyone interested to contact our lodge.

On this goal, we have raised $2,450, and are planning a few events, perhaps a family movie night, holiday photos, and other efforts to close the gap so that we can reach this goal. So please stay tuned in to this special cause dedicated to historical preservation, as once history is lost it is gone forever!

Lastly, it is again that time of year, and our 2019 Clam Bake held on September 15 will certainly sell out, so if you don't have a ticket

yet, please inquire soon.

Harmony Lodge No. 9 By: W∴ Michael A. Cunningham, P.M.

Despite the lodge going to recess over the summer, Harmony Lodge has had a very busy few months enjoying frequent opportunities for fellowship and frivolity. In late Spring, shortly before the last RI Freemason update, the lodge hosted over 65 friends and family at Lancellotta’s Restaurant in North Providence for our semi-annual Ladies Luncheon. The group was serenaded by Robert Black, who has become a good friend to the lodge providing entertainment at various social events. This luncheon was followed in short order by home visits to our special ladies and infirm brethren, an important activity in which the lodge membership enjoys participating twice a year. In late May, Harmony Lodge was proud to witness one of our own, Brother Kenneth F. Poyton, be installed as the Most Worshipful Grand Master for the new Masonic year. Harmony looks forward to supporting him during his tenure in the Grand East. In early June, Harmony held its annual Past Master’s night, where past masters of the lodge fill the officers’ chairs for the brief meeting, while the current officers barbeque steaks for all in attendance.

Over 40 lodge members enjoyed hearing W∴James Ogilvie conduct business from the oriental East that evening.

In late June, Harmony Lodge conferred the Master Mason degree on nine candidates, one of whom represented St. Andrew’s Lodge. Congratulations to, Mike Meier, John DiGaetano, David Chutjian, Thomas Linquist, Jeffrey Resch, Nevan Valente, Richard Nemirow and Sergio Heredia. We look forward to you signing the by-laws and formally becoming members of Harmony Lodge in September.

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Page 14 September/October/November 2019 ___________________________________________________________

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Over the summer, several activities kept Harmony’s members, family and friends busy at both work and play (but mostly at play). The annual lodge barbeque was held at the Masonic Park in Buttonwoods with approximately 100 participants in attendance. Kudos to the Class of 2019 and our Sentinel James LaFitte for organizing and running this successful event. Congratulations to the Class of 2019 are also in order for a very effective execution of the “dunking of the Master,” an annual Harmony tradition! In late July the annual Harmony golf tournament was held to benefit the Children’s Dyslexia Foundation. It was held on what was arguably the hottest day of the summer, but the event had a great turnout of both participants and volunteers, and net proceeds of over $4,000 were raised for a very worthy cause. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event another annual success! Also, in July, the Fellow Craft Club held a barbeque for

members and families. W∴Dick Wood and his lady Bev graciously held the event at their beautiful home in Riverside. A great afternoon was had by all in attendance.

Sadly, in July Harmony Lodge lost one of its senior Past Masters,

as W∴Joe Polichetti passed away after a long illness. Many thanks to the extended Masonic community for participating in Joe’s Masonic memorial service, as many RI Masons were present for the service. Joe leaves a strong legacy at Harmony Lodge and he will be missed.

Looking forward, Harmony Lodge will conduct its typical busy Fall schedule over the next few months. Please mark your calendars for Sunday, September 8. Fidelity Chapter, DeMolay for Boys will confer the Legion of Honor at their annual conclave upon two very deserving Harmony Lodge members; Brother James Rapson and

W∴Mick Torgan. It will be held at 8:30 AM at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Warwick, please plan to attend! In early October (Tuesday, October 1), the lodge will hold its annual step up night, when Senior Warden Pat Connor will conduct business from the oriental East that evening. This is a great opportunity to show support for the lodge’s next presumptive Worshipful Master and an enjoyable evening is anticipated.

Please note that Harmony Lodge has received dispensation to hold its Annual Communication on Saturday, November 23 (instead of the third Tuesday of the month). This will allow for the incoming Master’s extended family to participate in the semi-public installation of officers. The annual meeting will begin promptly at 1:00 PM at the Doric Masonic Center. The annual lodge banquet will be held immediately following the annual meeting in the Imperial Room at the RI Shrine Center at 1 Rhodes Place in Cranston (6:30 to 11:00PM).

Please plan to participate in the semi-annual home visits to our Special Ladies and infirm brethren on Saturday November 30, as

well as the annual children’s Christmas party on Saturday, December 7. It will be held at the Doric Masonic Center. Further details will be forthcoming so please mark your calendars.

As always, please refer to www.harmony9.org and the monthly Trestleboard for specific event details, including instructions for placing reservations. Please continue to support your lodge and

participate as you are able.

St. Paul’s Lodge No. 14

By: W∴Joshua Manfredo, P.M.

We hope that the summer has treated you all well, unfortunately it also sets the stage for what we know will quickly turn to autumn. Over on the island we have been working to preserve some very important documents for our lodge. Our charter and accompanying reissue document has seen some better days and the brethren voted to have the document restored by the New England Document Conservation Center. They have masterfully worked to repair two long tears, the longest of which was 3½” long. Additionally, both documents were flattened as they had a tendency to roll, given they had been stored in metal tubes for quite some time. The surface staining was tended to and then they took some high definition photographs. We can now, proudly use these photographs to highlight our charter without causing additional damage to the originals through light and air exposure.

Beyond this material work, we continue to provide high quality education to our candidates in their various stages of ritual work and will soon be welcoming new Master Masons to our rolls. Several men have inquired about Freemasonry over the summer and we are excited to meet them and learn more about them. Sadly, we must inform all, of the passing of Brother Richard C. Shepard, Past Master 1965, to the Celestial Lodge (July 25, 2019). A small memorial was held to celebrate his life at John Clarke Retirement & Nursing Home where he was a long-time resident.

When we reconvene after the summer, we are looking forward to some degree work and continued presentations of interest regarding the fraternity. We hope to see you over on Aquidneck

Island soon!

Jenks Lodge No. 24

By: Brother Stephen M. Stock

Good day brethren,

As the summer months begin to wane into autumn, we hope you will make Jenks Lodge a destination.

In September we will be voting on a couple of lodge issues. This should be a pretty quick process. We will also be hearing the Fellow Craft proficiency of our current class. Anyone who saw the effort these brothers did with their first proficiency can attest that the sidelines will not be disappointed with their upcoming presentation.

On Saturday, October 26 we will be conferring the Master Mason Degree in Nashua, New Hampshire. We will be hosted, as always, by our sister lodge in Nashua, Ancient York Lodge No. 89. Following the degree, we will be joining our brothers from the North at their costume party at the White Birch Banquet Hall in Hudson, NH. On the Monday following, we will have our scheduled stated monthly communication. More information about this meeting will be forthcoming.

In November, we will be having a presentation by Brother Michael Grecco. Having heard Brother Grecco in the past, we are most looking forward to his fall presentation in Pawtucket.

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The brethren at Jenks Lodge are always excited to see our Rhode Island family both in and out of our temple. You never know just when one of your Pawtucket Brothers will appear. It seems only fair that you keep us on our toes as well. Turn-about is after all, fair

play.

Roger Williams Lodge No. 32 By: W∴Melvin E. Silverio, P.M.

Greetings from Roger Williams Lodge!

We hope everyone has enjoyed their summer as we return to labor. On behalf of our Worshipful Master Michael Farina and the officers of Roger Williams Lodge, we would like to invite you to our Regular Stated Communication on September 14, where we will

be welcoming our new District Deputy Grand Master R∴W∴Rick

Baccus (3) and his Grand Master of Ceremonies W∴Richard F. Lynch (1P) to our lodge and the Northern District. The program for

the evening is focused on the Preston Leadership course. It will be presented by Brigadier General Marcus Jannitto. Therefore, we hope you take this opportunity to come and learn with us on some great leadership skills. It will be open to all degrees.

I would recommend the brethren to join our communication and mailing lists to stay informed of all the magnificent events and gatherings that are to come for RW32. You can sign up in multiple

Ways, by signing up through our website at www.rogerwilliamslodge.com, or by emailing us your full name and lodge at contact@rogerwilliamslodge.com, also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rogerwilliamslodge or come to one of our regular communications and ask an officer to join our mailing list. We at Roger Williams Lodge No. 32 looks forward to enjoying your

company.

Collegivm Lvminosvm By: W∴Timothy Culhane, Chancellor

Greetings from the COLLEGIVM LVMINOSVM. We are looking forward to a great autumn and are ramping up for some end of summer events. Our Regular Communication will be on Tuesday,

September 17. Dates, times, and details for COLLEGIVM communications and events will also be in our Trestleboard, on our Facebook website (http://www.collegivmlvminosvm.org), and on the Grand Lodge website calendar.

First and foremost, the COLLEGIVM would like to extend their gratitude to the Master, wardens and brethren of Harmony Lodge No. 9 and St. Albans Lodge No. 6 for their hospitality hosting the

COLLEGIVM’s Annual Communication and Trinity Term Communication on this past March 26 and April 30. The

COLLEGIVM is also grateful for all the support and hospitality that we receive from all the lodges in Rhode Island.

We held our Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 26 at Harmony Lodge. It was a short Annual with reports read, elections held, and officers installed.Elected officers for the ensuing term are, W∴Timothy L. Culhane, Chancellor (WM); W∴Michael Southern,

Vice-Chancellor (SW); W∴Russell Lorenson, Pro Vice-Chancellor

(JW); W∴David Lavery, Secretary; and W∴Daniel Rzewuski, Treasurer. A full line of appointed officers was also installed.

On April 30 we held our regular communication for the Trinity Term hosted by St. Alban’s No. 6 in Bristol. Breaking away from the usual format of the meeting with a presentation, etc., we engaged in an open format discussion. The topic for the discussion for the evening was on the ideas presented to us by authors Dr. Jonathan Haidt, a world-renowned scientist in the fields of social psychology, moral psychology, positive psychology, and cultural psychology, and co-author Dr. Greg Lukianoff, President of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). Their most recent book is entitled “The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure”. The discussion revolved around the concept that the post-millennial generation, those born after 1995, have fallen victim to a new social paradigm, a new way of thinking. This new way of thinking raises apprehension, fear, depression, and anxiety and generates a new fearfulness of the world itself, but not based on tangible threats, but rather on the words used and the perception of the ideas that those words represent. In a very lively debate, the brothers discussed their observations, thoughts, and opinions on the topic itself and how these concepts affect Freemasonry.

In the spring members also presented their research. On Tuesday, April 23, Brother Josh Irizarry presented his research on “The History, Religion and its Significance for Freemasonry” to the members of Jenks Lodge No. 24 in Pawtucket. He again presented on Tuesday, May 7 at St. Paul’s Lodge No. 14. Brother Shai Afsai gave a presentation at Masonicon 2019 at Ezekiel Bates Lodge, Attleboro, MA on April 27. His topic was “Benjamin Franklin’s Virtues, Freemasonry, and Judaism: The Sage, the Prince and the Rabbi”. Shai will be giving this presentation again during the regular communication of St. Johns Lodge No. 1 Providence on September 18. Congratulations to these brothers and thank you for sharing your knowledge for the benefit of all.

Upcoming, we have scheduled a Salon, a gathering to view, discuss, and share ideas and increase the knowledge of the participants. Filled with fellowship, conversation, and the exchange of ideas. These informal meetings are fun and stimulating.

Remember all Master Masons are welcome to join us at any of our meetings. Please visit our webpage on the Grand Lodge website

for future meeting details.

Page 16 September/October/November 2019 _________________________________________________________

(continued from Page 4, Defining Freemasonry)

Freemasonry is based on sound philosophical considerations and a magnificent knowledge of the fundamental characteristics of human nature. These things teach us that the only way the world will ever be better, the only way our country, our city, our neighborhood can be improved, is for each of us to strive for self-improvement. For this effort Freemasonry provides us with the finest set of moral and ethical standards which the mind of man has been able to conceive.

We have been advised by fine Masonic historians that the transition from operative to speculative Freemasonry took place for social and economic reasons. I disagree. Last summer I had the privilege of spending two months at Oxford University lecturing and doing some work in 17th century English history. With the assistance of material from the Bodleian Library, one of the finest in the world, and manuscripts from some of the College libraries and many visits to the Ashmolean museum, I became convinced that the earliest speculatives were attracted to Freemasonry out of curiosity. The 17th century was a period of revival of interest in ethical philosophy and a period of great thought on the nature of man. There were the neo-Platonists at Cambridge who stated that God had left free the human will, that the soul of man can resist the body’s impulses. There was Richard Hooker (1554-1600) who allowed due importance to the human faculties of reason and to the moral sense but never lost sight of the orientation of man towards God. There were Kepler (1571-1630), Galileo (1564-1642) and Gilbert (1544-1603). It was Kepler who was so influenced by Pythagorean mysticism that he was convinced God had created the universe in accordance with certain simple mathematical harmonies. To the list could be added Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes, and many others.

It is with the backdrop of this tremendous revival in the study of man and his ethical and moral relationships that we must view the admission of philosophers, speculatives to the operative Craft. On the October 16, 1646 Elias Ashmole, antiquarian was received into a Masonic Lodge at Warrington, Lancashire, together with his Roundhead friend and cousin, Henry Manwaring of Carincham, Cheshire. Ashmole's diary gives the time of the event as 4:30 PM notes the name of the lodge's warden and the names of six other Masons “then of the Lodge.” Ashmole's motives for joining were undoubtedly similar to those of the antiquary William Stukeley (1687-1765) who states in his autobiography that, in 1720, “his curiosity led him to be initiated into the mysteries of Masonry, suspecting it to be the remains of the mysteries of the antients.” It is conceivable that, after acquiring by the study of astrology a taste for the exploration of ancient lore and symbolism, Ashmole not only desired to gain knowledge of such “Pythagorean” teachings as the lodges claimed to preserve, but that he was at this particular juncture of his life, also looking for the fellowship of brethren who, if not equally learned, would share his respect for the old and mysterious. Ashmole's note of his Masonic initiation is the earliest known record of speculative Freemasonry in an English lodge. As has been pointed out by Josten, the note in the diary evidences an advanced stage rather than the beginning of the evolution by which the craft lodges were gradually transformed into esoteric societies of gentlemen and members of all professions and trades. Recent research has shown that not only Ashmole and Colonel Henry Manwaring, but all of the seven other Freemasons, whose names are given, were in no way connected with operative Freemasonry.

This brings us to the question of what has enabled Freemasonry to survive the centuries when countless other fraternal and scholarly societies have not. How has Freemasonry survived the

anti-Masonry of the 18th century, the 19th century, with its Morgan incident and even the events of the 20th century?

Certainly, the organization of lodges and Grand Lodges and the fundamental nature of the teachings have played a part. But I cannot help but believe that the most important reason is the very manner in which the great lessons are taught. What magnificent symbolism imparts the spirit of brotherhood in a certain handclasp. What better way to present the means of achieving and the importance of peace and harmony in a lodge, than to have the candidate so prepared that these lessons are indelibly inscribed on his mind. At the same time, he learns a magnificent lesson in charity. There are a great many other lessons imparted in symbolism, the duty of man to man, man to neighbor, man to God, to family, and so on and on.

It is fascinating to discover that throughout all the changing periods of history for the last 2,500 years, the same basic valuations have persisted, the same conviction of the superiority of the soul over the body, of the unseen over the seen.

So, it is with Freemasonry. We have a practical, realistic means of imparting the greatest of lessons, but to impress them upon the mind requires some physical application and necessitates certain physical qualifications that these lessons may be imparted in an

unforgettable manner.

Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun.

Birthdays are good for you, the more you have the longer you live.

How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you’re on.

I have noticed that the people who are late are often so much jollier than the people who have to wait for them.

If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t more people happy?

If Wal-Mart is lowering prices every day, how come nothing in the store is free yet?

You may be the only person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

Don’t cry because its over, smile because it happened.

We could learn a lot from crayons; some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to learn to live in the same box.

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.

A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Happiness comes through the doors you didn’t even know you left

open.

Words of Wisdom – Life’s Truths

___________________________________________________________________ Rhode Island Freemason Page 17

We Pay Our Respects to Our Military, Past and Present - Memorial Day 2019

Page 18 September/October/November 2019 __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ Rhode Island Freemason Page 19

We extend a special invitation to all Non-Scottish Rite Master Masons

To be our Guest at the

Scottish Rite Cathedral 2115 Broad St, Cranston, RI

On Wednesday, September 25 at 6:30 PM

For Brotherhood Night

The evening will include dinner, meet the Valley officers

and an Introductory program of the

Scottish Rite 4 to 32 Degrees

WHY ?

Joining 32° Scottish Rite Freemasonry is a way for you to continue t o expand

your understanding of Masonic principles and teachings. As you progress through the

degrees, you will find an untold wealth of knowledge. You will more deeply explore

questions raised in the blue lodge degrees. 32° Freemasonry is often considered a

“graduate course” in Masonic teachings. Our degrees supplement and reinforce the

blue lodge in every way. 32° Scottish Rite Freemasonry is for those who wish to better

themselves and the world through deeper engagement with the philosophy, values,

and teac hings that have supported Freemasonry for more than 200 years.

If you are interested in this special opportunity to explore how Scottish Rite can benefit

your Masonic Journey, then give us a call at 401-461-2480, reservations are required.

Overseas Lodge No. 40 1919 – 2019

Centennial Celebration Banquet

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Lancellotta’s Banquet Restaurant 1113 Charles Street

North Providence, RI 02904

6:00 PM Cocktail Hour 7:00 PM Dinner

Price: $19.19

Seating is limited to 100

For Reservations Contact: M∴W∴Wyman P. Hallstrom, Jr.

Email: skip_h@verizon.net Telephone: 401-323-8955

Happy Thanksgiving to

all Our Brethren

and Families 2

From

M∴W∴Kenneth F. Poyton

And the Grand Lodge

Page 20 September/October/November 2019 __________________________________________________________

Grand Lodge of Rhode Island

222 Taunton Avenue East Providence, RI 02914-4556

Telephone: 401-435-4650 Fax: 401-435-4423

Email: grandlodge@rimasons.org rifreemason@rimasons.org Web Site: www.rimasons.org

July & August Grand Lodge Summer Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Call of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge

for the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

Brethren:

The Semi-Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations will be held in Freemasons’ Hall, 222 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, Rhode Island.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

For the election of officers and the transaction of such business as shall regularly come before it. Grand Lodge will open promptly at 1:00 o’clock P.M. Masters and Wardens, or their proxies are required to attend in business suits and to wear their official jewels.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MASONIC GRAND LODGE CHARITIES OF RHODE ISLAND, INC.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

During Grand Lodge Semi-Annual Meeting at approximately 2:00 o’clock PM in Freemasons’ Hall, 222 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, Rhode Island

Annual Reports of the Chairman, Treasurer and election of new members of the Board of Managers.

Attest: Signed:

Ronald P. Reed Kenneth F. Poyton Ronald P. Reed Kenneth F. Poyton Grand Secretary Grand Master

Masters and Wardens of Subordinate Lodges only are entitled to send proxies who must be members of the same Lodge.

CONSTITUTION, Article VII, SECTION 1.7.5: It is the duty of each Subordinate Lodge to be represented at Communications of the Grand Lodge by its Master and the Wardens or by their proxies.

Printed proxy forms have been furnished to each lodge in the Jurisdiction, one of which will be filled in and signed by the officer who is appointing the proxy (who must be a member of the same lodge and who shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of his constituent, except that of taking rank in the Grand Lodge.) The proxy form will also carry the seal of the lodge.