spring 2017...2 the empire state mason magazine “a way of life” spring 2017 mw jeffrey m....

SPRING 2017

Special commemorative edition of the diamond Jubilee of the

diStrict Grand lodGe of Syria-lebanon

THE EMPIRE STATE MASON MAGAZINE “A Way of Life” SPRING 2017 2

MW Jeffrey M. WilliaMson,Grand Master 212/[email protected]

From the Grand east

My Brothers, as we enter this new spring season we find it simply astonishing that two-thirds of the first year of this

administrative term has passed so swiftly by. As we visited the brethren, Lodges and Districts within the Empire State, our Grand Lodge Officers were simply thrilled to receive the warm and genuine embrace of your Brotherly Love and Affection.

My Brothers, you have given us this marvelous privilege of spending time with you, to learn about the founding history of your Lodges and the circumstances surrounding your towns and regions. In anticipation of our visits you often conducted work parties. Your members spruced up and painted your Masonic Halls, landscaped your lawns and made your properties a true source of pride and joy. Your Masonic Hall now stands shining like a beacon, outwardly reflecting to the community the pure and benevolent virtues practiced within its sacred walls.

We are also witnessing firsthand your member Brothers demonstrating good work in their individual quarries. They truly understand the concept that Freemasonry is “A Way of Life” as they venture forth in their respective cities, towns and communities.

As your Grand Master I am so appreciative for all you do, not only under the Masonic banner, but also for all of humankind in general. Your individual participation in other charitable activities, such as volunteering at a hospital, blood and organ donations, food banks, special “Runs” for a cause, United Way, autism, military veterans, youth groups and so on only proves and reinforces the fundamental belief that Masons are naturally good, upright and virtuous people prepared in their hearts to do the right thing. We must never forget that we are a “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.”

So as the winter darkness yields to a bright new spring and the prospects of a new year take root and begin to blossom, let us all resolve to continue this great and important undertaking. The world so desperately needs what Freemasonry has to offer! Let us always remember that we are a “Force for Good” and “A Way of Life.”

On October 24, 2016 at Volusia Lodge 77 in Barserville, FL, W George R. Morris

received a seventy-year certificate and pin. Two Past Grand Masters of the Florida Grand Lodge were on hand for the honors. MW Robert Trump and MW Steven P. Boring were assisted by W Tracey Clutter, Worshipful Master of Volusia Lodge. Brother George R. Morris III presented the certificate and pin.

W George R Morris was Raised in Day Spring Lodge 30 in Hamden, CT on June 5, 1946. Several years later he moved to Rochester, NY, where he affiliated with Northfield 426 in Pittsford. He served that Lodge as Worshipful Master in 1960.

After moving to Florida, W George pursued an active Masonic career, serving as President of the Master Mason Association in 2000 and later in 2002. He was Worshipful Master of Daytona Beach Lodge 270 and Monarch of Zangi Grotto.

W Brother Morris is a dual member of Northfield 426 in New York. He is also a perpetual member of Daytona 270 and a plural member of Volusia 77 in Barserville.

FL Bros. Make 70-Year Presentation

(l-r) Brother George R. Morris III, MW Steven P. Boring, MW Robert Trump, W George R. Morris,

W Tracey Clutter, Master of Volusia 77

TABLE OF CONTENTS Volume 66 / number 1 / sPrinG 2017

In the fall of 2016 GM Williamson made an extended visit to the Brothers and Lodges of the District Grand Lodge of Syria-Lebanon. A high point in the trip was a Diamond Jubilee Celebration and with these words, and the presentation, the Grand Master honored RW Andre Layoun, Past District Grand Master: “In commemoration and celebration of sixty years of loyalty and faithfulness demonstrated by the brethren of the District Grand Lodge of Syria-Lebanon, the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York is pleased to proclaim the creation of a new Grand Lodge Medal. This medal is named in honor of RW Khaled E. Tabet, the first District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Syria-Lebanon, from 1955-1964.”—Story, page 23

SPRING 2017

Special commemorative edition of the diamond Jubilee of the

diStrict Grand lodGe of Syria-lebanon Officers and cOmmittees:from the Grand east . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Deputy Grand Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4senior Grand Warden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Junior Grand Warden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Grand Treasurer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Committee on youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Masonic Care Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14acacia Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Masonic Brotherhood fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22award Committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38from the Webmaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39Masonic Medical research laboratory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Grand lodge educational assistance Program (eaP). . . . . . . . . . . . 41years of service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42-44DeMolay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48-49Grand Chaplain’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51Dates to remember and submission Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Grand lecturer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Grand secretary’s Golf Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Camp Turk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

IN THIS ISSUEfeatured HigHligHts:236th annual Communications - schedule and Hotel reservations forms 8-10st. John’s Day schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20District Grand lodge of syria-lebanon Diamond Jubilee . . . . . . . . 23-36Children’s Cancer Center of lebanon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Grand Master’s United Kingdom Journey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46-47

CONSULTANTS

Jeffrey M. WilliaMson Grand Master – editor in Chief

Joan C. BoWerassistant editor

CHarles CaTaPanoDeputy Grand Master

riCHarD s. Morleysenior Grand Warden

niCHolas J. PaoliCelliJunior Grand Warden

PeTer a. fliHan iii

Grand Treasurer

PaUl M. rosenGrand secretary

loraine DiBleyGraphic Designer

PosTMasTer:Please send address changes to:

The empire state MasonCirculation Department

71 West 23rd streetny, ny 10010-4149

Periodicals Class Publication 568741-(800) 362-7664

Website at www.nymasons.org

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 ©2017 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.

TRUSTEES OF THE MASONIC HALL AND ASYLUM FUNDPublisher

The Empire State Mason is an Official Publication of the Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund. Edited by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York for the

members of the Masonic Fraternity and their families.


rW CHarles CaTaPano, deputy Grand Master

212/[email protected]

deputy Grand master

As we say goodbye to the winter and hello to the new spring, there is freshness in the air of all the Lodges around the

State. Masonry is alive in all parts of New York and I have witnessed firsthand the amazing work of our Brothers. As I travel and meet so many Brothers at our Town Hall meetings, I have heard the excitement in their voices as they too are looking forward for a very prosperous 2017.

Our Grand Master has been energetically traveling the world representing our Grand Lodge and the Brothers of New York. Well, my Brothers, I have been doing the same here. I have visited the Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania and Delaware recently and forged some solid relationships with the current DGMs of those respective States. Soon I will be traveling to Nebraska, Connecticut and Wisconsin, to name just a few. These pilgrimages are more than just mini-vacations. They are priceless opportunities to meet with Brothers in different parts of the country who share our missions and beliefs. These turn into new friendships and new resources to tap into that will assist us in New York as we move ahead in making Masonry “A Way of Life.”

While in Pennsylvania I made contact with Brothers from the Pittsburgh area, also from the Law Enforcement community, who have expressed interest in having Brothers from New York visit them for Degrees. They also would like to visit our Lodges and cement those bonds between us. So you see, my Brothers, Masonry extends beyond the borders of New York and is as alive elsewhere as it is here at home. But there is still more we can do.

I would like each of you to reflect for a moment on what you have done to promote our beloved Fraternity to those

in your circle of family, friends and others you may touch. Think of what made Masonry the right place for you and what can be done to make it that way for other men. We need to look beyond the doors of the Lodges and show the world who the Masons are. This will no doubt have the same effect at home as it is having abroad in the travels of the Grand Master. Foreign jurisdictions are discovering again the prominence of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. I’m sure that we all can do the same in our own towns, cities and Lodges across the State.

I look forward to seeing you all at the future Town Hall meetings we will be hosting around the State. The purpose of these visits is twofold. First, I want to bring you important information regarding New York Masonry and our Grand Lodge; and second, I want to hear from you, the Brothers. What are your concerns and what are the issues you face in promoting Masonry in your community. You can rest assured that if one Lodge is experiencing something, there are others with the same dilemmas.

But I always will look at the positive and remind each of you that there are 37,000 Masons in the State of New York right now. And as we have often heard that officers need to find and train their replacements, so should each Brother be looking for one new Brother. That’s all of us working together and making Masonry “A Way of Life.” Then we will truly be able to call ourselves the greatest fraternity in the world. Imagine, the entire Grand Lodge of New York working as one!

(212) 337-6652

PEO

PLE HELPING PEOPLE

Brotherhood Fund

THE EMPIRE STATE MASON MAGAZINE SPRING 2017 5

senior Grand WardenrW riCHarD s. Morley, senior Grand Warden


Junior Grand WardenrW niCHolas J. PaoliCelli, Junior Grand Warden


I am about to complete three years as a Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York and I have visited

many Lodges around the State. In my travels I am asked, “What is Grand Lodge doing about the declining membership and how are they going to fix it?”

This problem is ours as well as Grand Lodge’s. Neither did it happen overnight, nor is it going to get fixed over night. We must work together with our neighbors and in our own Lodges to fix it. We talk about values and what the Fraternity means to us but what are we doing? Now is the time to stop talking and take ownership and assume responsibility for the future of our Lodges and Districts.

Grand Lodge has programs to promote and educate on the process we use to promote new members. We should be taking our Brothers to these trainings, not sending them. We have good people out there doing education and have only a small handful show up.

We have visited Lodges that stray a bit from the ritual. They don’t visit other Lodges to see what it should be like. If you attend another Lodge, not only do you learn from their ritual, but you also spread the fellowship. We should feel comfortable to visit other Lodges, be it in our District or another District. Remember, we all took our obligations on the same altar, out of the same Book.

We need to continue to evaluate our Lodge structure; we need to merge or consolidate willingly when we are out of options. Merging or consolidating does not mean failure. Walking away and turning the key the last time is a failure. We need to stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start being positive about what could go right.

Together, standing strong and united, we will return this Fraternity to its former greatness and in the process take it to new heights for future generations. I hope to see many of you at Grand Lodge in May.

My Brothers, as we enter the season of spring and the consequent renewal of the natural world around us,

let us also reflect upon the renewal and advancement of our gentle Craft so necessary for our future. The strengthening for our future relies not just upon our core values but also our willingness to better fit into the strengths that already exist.

As I travel through our Districts I observe a love of fellowship—men who willingly assist each other in their worthy endeavors from Lodge and District donations to our loving residents of Wiley Hall to the many charitable acts imparted upon the less fortunate in their own communities. There are no Districts that I know of who do not make a practice of this. We are men who put Freemasonry first and foremost and know no boundaries save the bonds that unite us.

Currently, many Lodges and Districts are actively pursuing mergers in the interest of ensuring the wellness of our Craft far into the future. The belief is that our ritual teaches humility and that we are here to serve. Frankly, my Brothers, one of our greatest strengths is in our numbers of men who rigorously attend to putting their fellow Brothers first.

A much experienced and thoughtful older Brother once presented a diaper safety pin (the first pin all Masons have

worn) to one of his charges who was seeking to improve himself through Masonry as he journeyed through the chairs of a Lodge. He explained that aprons, jewels and power can be intoxicating and destructive, or they can just as well be meaningful, powerful, and constructive. Let us all, regardless of station or place, assist in a greater good and meaningful experience for our Brothers into the future, ever remembering those points so well known and important to us.

Answer the needs of a Brother beyond helping with Masonic instruction. Guard his fidelity, striving to ensure that our Brother reaches his fullest potential to serve our Craft to the fullest. Have concern for his welfare and respect for his situations in life, ever remembering that we all need the blessing of our Great Creator to succeed in all endeavors.

Be at all times willing to support the character of your Brother, either before his face or behind his back. In an age where people eagerly seize rumors concerning the conduct of others, we must guard the character and integrity of our brethren on all occasions. Help to guide your Brother with sound advice. Remember, day by day we bring our searching hearts to our Lodges in the quest for light. One by one we make the choice: We kneel, or we don’t. Freemasonry is “A Way of Life.”


At the mere mention of spring, to-do lists get suddenly longer with chores that seemed to wait for more favorable

weather. Here at your Grand Lodge, offices have already been buzzing beehives of activity leading up to final preparation for the Grand Lodge Annual Communication. That future is closer than you think. In reality, some planning never stops, with smart changes already being noted as the most recent session was still taking place.

While elections and issue voting are impossible to predict, we do rely on a well-documented past to predict where certain budget items are trending. Much of this kind of planning can be done regardless of who the office holders will be or what topics might come before this year’s Grand Lodge session.

What about you and your Lodge? Are you planning for the long-term? Costs of meeting space rental or Lodge building ownership should not be left to last-minute budget planning. Proper record keeping between the Secretary and Treasurer can give you a fair estimate of what snow removal or landscaping will cost in the coming year. Re-evaluating your initiation fee can be easily done in less hectic times of change. Even more detailed estimations, such as handicapping energy costs based on temperature trends, can help you get a better grip on your bottom line for the next year.

And then there are the numbers that cannot be estimated in dollars and cents. I am sure that you already know much about your current membership. In a larger city your membership may be concentrated in specific locations. Or perhaps a major employer is the draw for living in your town, which sets the rhythm for when people are working and when they have time for Lodge. If you are holding successful family and community programs then you already know what the recreation and heartbeat of your membership and area is. But are you planning for the future here too?

Where are young families moving in? Do you have a presence in entry-level youth sports and activities? Is your membership well represented in the various houses of worship in your community? Where is extracurricular activity growing at the youngest ages in school? Is it sports teams? The Arts or 4H or Future Farmers of America?

It is true enough that we can’t predict if Masonry is right for everyone. And even if we could predict that, we can’t predict when it might be right for them. But what we can do is be ready to show people that the Masonic family is alive and active wherever there is growth and community. What we can do is pay special attention to when prospective members are knocking at our doors and where they are coming from—especially if it is from somewhere different or new than our established membership has come from traditionally.

Yes, Masters of Lodges should be making sure that their possible successor has all the data and help to plan for a sound financial year for their Lodge, no matter who sits in the East. Yet with a little more effort, you can plan well beyond the next year.

When I was a sales manager of my own company I was always respecting trends that could carry my business through a year or two. And while I was doing that, I was also searching for an “evergreen”: an item or trend that could, much like the agricultural term, bloom consistently through every season in years to come. With proper long-term planning and evaluation of other numbers that are just as important as the accounts payable and receivable, the future health of a Lodge can be found in any and every season. Now’s a good time to start planting your “evergreen.”

rW PeTer a. fliHan, iii, Grand treasurer


Grand treasurer

Calendar Says Spring, But Our New Year’s Just Around Corner


Committee on youthrW Cary s. CoHn, ChairMan 516/781-1157 [email protected]

Dear Brothers, it has been said that you cannot build a reputation on what you are going to do. Similarly, one

cannot live on what has been done in the past. Neither talking about Freemasonry’s past nor wishful thinking about the future are good enough to guarantee greatness for our Craft. In the final analysis, we must face up to the unavoidable truth that it is what we do today that counts.

The following is submitted by Brother Michael A. Hernandez, newest member of the Youth Committee. This portrays the enthusiasm he feels for our Craft.

“I consider it an honor and a privilege to be asked to serve as a member of the Grand Lodge Committee on Youth by our Grand Master, MW Jeffrey M. Williamson. Being a member of this committee will provide me with an opportunity to give back, not only to the Order of DeMolay, but to our Masonic Youth organizations and youth more generally. As someone who spent ten wonderful years as a member of the Order of DeMolay, I know first-hand the great work that DeMolay, Rainbow, and Triangle have

done and continue to do for our youth. Through leadership training programs, educational opportunities, and a whole host of other social and service events, these groups are invaluable

in helping to produce community-minded citizens and leaders of character. I would like to thank Grand Master Williamson for appointing me to this committee, and I look forward to working with my fellow committee members and our youth to grow their organizations in communities throughout our great state!”

Brother Hernandez is the Youth Committee Chairman for both Mount Vernon Lodge 3 and Ancient Temple Lodge 14, where he regularly advocates on behalf of our Masonic Youth Groups and the programs of the Grand Lodge Committee on Youth. He recommends that every Lodge have a Youth Chair and support their local Masonic Youth Groups. Attend their meetings, make financial contributions and offer them the opportunity to assist with Lodge dinners and perform their public ceremonies at Lodge meetings. With ten years as an Active DeMolay, including as State Master Councilor (2010-2011) and five years as an Advisor, specifically as a member of State Advisory Council, Michael is exceptionally qualified for his appointment as a member of the Grand Lodge Committee on Youth.

There is still much to be done, with a job for every Brother in the Fraternity. That job is to carry the ideals and principles of Freemasonry to its highest levels both within the Lodge and outside of the Lodge, while living our daily life. You, the Brothers, the volunteers, are the backbone of our organization. Your time, talent and concern will serve our young people well. The effort you add to your busy schedule enables our young people to receive a quality experience of growing up. You are building great leaders for our country and organization.

Brother Michael A. Hernandez

On Tuesday, December 6 Ancient Temple Lodge 14 provided a forum

for the York Rite Bodies of Albany (Chapter, Council and Commandery) to make presentations about the role

that they play in the Masonic Fraternity. This included the presentation of the “Peculiar Stone” play, which discusses the connection between the Blue Lodge and the Royal Arch Chapter.

Approximately thirty-five Brothers from throughout the Old 17th Masonic District were in attendance.

Forum at Ancient Temple Lodge

MONDAY, MAY 1, 2017

Breakfast, LaGuardia Plaza Hotel, by ticket $25.00 each

Grand Lodge convenes in theGrand Lodge Room, Masonic Hall3rd and 4th Floors – 71 West 23rd Street, New York, New York

The Distinguished Achievement Award will be presented to:

Illustrious Jack H. Jones,Imperial Recorder

Shriners International

Grand Lodge recesses for Lunch.Grand Lodge reconvenes.

Grand Master’s Reception and Dinner, at Russo’s on the Bay, by Ticket $100.00 each

TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2017Breakfast, LaGuardia Plaza Hotel, by ticket $25.00 each

Grand Lodge convenes in the Grand Lodge Room, Masonic Hall 3rd and 4th Floors – 71 West 23rd Street, New York, New York

Public Installation Reception

Grand Lodge Reception on the second Floor - Masonic HallAdjournment

6:00 am to 9:00 am

(TILED) 9:00 am

(TILED) 11:00 am

1:00 pm(TILED) 2:00 pm

6:30 pm

6:00 am to 9:00 am

(TILED) 9:00 am

11:00 am

12:00 pm

1:30 pm

Women’s Organizations and Youth Groups will be recognized on Sunday Evening, April 30th at the V.I.P. Dinner by Invitation only.

FACTS

GLFORM/15 023b

GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK71 West 23rd Street, 17th Floor ∙ New York, NY 10010-4149

236th Annual Communication – 2017

MEMBERS’ PRELIMINARY PROGRAM

Dates: Monday, May 1, and Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Place: Masonic Hall, 3rd and 4th Floors, 71 West 23rd Street, New York City

Telephone: (212) 741-4500 or (800) 3 MASON 4, Toll Free

HQ Hotel: LaGuardia Plaza Hotel®

Rates at Hotel: for ALL rooms

Reservations: Made with the Convention Committee ONLY. Use the reservation form in the Spring Issue of the Empire State Mason Magazine

Contact: RW Richard Schulz at cell (917) 648-9859 or email at: [email protected]

The Hotel will NOT accept individual, lodge or district reservations. THEY WILL REFER

YOU TO THE CONVENTION COMMITTEE.

Cut-off Date: April 15, 2017 Thereafter, reservations will be made on a space available basis.

Grand Master’s Dinner: Monday, May 1, 2017 6:30 pm Cocktails, 7:30 pm Dinner at Russo’s on the Bay, Howard Beach, New York $100.00 per Person

Transportation: Buses will be provided to and from the Headquarters Hotel, Masonic Hall and Russo’s on the Bay on an Announced Schedule.

Coordinators: DDGMs responsible to ensure reservations are made for their Districts.

If any information is needed: Contact the Grand Lodge Convention Committee Chairman, RW Richard Schulz at cell (917) 648-9859 or e-mail: [email protected]

MONDAY, MAY 1, 2017 (Continued)

G

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21GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

71 West 23rd Street, 17th Floor ∙ New York, NY 10010-4149

236th Annual Communication – 2017 Member Subscription Form (Note: Seating at Sessions is LIMITED to Grand Lodge Officers, and Permanent

Members, Grand Lodge Committee Members, and Lodge Masters, or their Lawfully Elected Proxies)

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Grand Master’s Reception and Dinner- 6:30 pm

Russo’s on the BayFormal Attire

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Tuesday -Breakfast at the LaGuardia Plaza Hotel® - 6:00 am to 9:00 am$25.00 PER PERSON, PER BREAKFAST


A separate check made payable to The Grand Lodge, F. & A.M., State of New York must accompany this form, if you plan on attending the Breakfast on Tuesday at the Hotel.

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Monday, May 1, 2017

Monday, May 1, 2017

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

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TH236 ANNUAL COMMUNICATION - 2017

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Telephone (917) 648-9859 Email: [email protected] this form no later than April 15, 2017.G

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On November 13, 2016 Alexandria Lodge 297 presented the DeWitt

Clinton Award for outstanding community service to the John Daily family of Alexandria Bay. As noted in the presentation, the Dailys have touched many lives in the community over the past forty-three years.

Since Mr. Daily’s death in 2013, the family has continued their philanthropic giving. It is a rare weekend during the tourist season that the family is not welcoming a local charitable or civic organization into their local supermarket for fundraising activities or

hosting a benefit barbecue for various community groups.

The award was presented to the Daily family by the MW Jeffrey M. Williamson. RW Daniel G. Lort, DDGM of the Jefferson-Lewis District, was Toastmaster for the event.

DeWitt Clinton

(l-r) MW Jeffrey M. Williamson, Grand Master; RW Daniel G. Lort

(l-r) RW Daniel G. Lort, MW Jeffrey M. Williamson and DeWitt Clinton Award recipients Jane Daily, Diane Daily Willix, and Brother Ken Daily.

RW Daniel G. Lort Toast Master (l-r) W Brian Willix, MW Jeffrey M. Williamson, Diane Daily Willix, family matriarch Jane Daily, Brother Ken Daily, Arlene Daily,

RW Daniel G. Lort, and RW Stephen Dreizler, Grand Lodge Staff Officer for the Jefferson-Lewis District.


Santa came to Wiley Hall a little early this past Christmas, as a beautiful baby Grand Player Piano was delivered to

the residents. The piano was purchased with some of the proceeds of the Grand Master’s Ball and the contributions of our Masonic ladies through Carla Williamson’s Wiley Hall project.

This piano was a welcome sight to all the residents who gathered round it that afternoon and held an impromptu holiday sing-along. Then on December 28 Grand Master Jeff

and Lady Carla Williamson stopped by the MCC campus to check out the piano in person.

Words cannot express how much pleasure this piano has brought and will bring to the residents of Wiley Hall. It is a gift that will continue to give for many years to come. Our sincere appreciation goes to Jeff and Carla for selecting Wiley Hall as their charity, and thanks to all who have donated to benefit the residents of this Masonic Jewel.

Thank You, Grand Master and Lady Carla!

(l-r) RW Rob Raffle, Executive Director of the Masonic Care Community; Wiley residents Frank Kelsey, Walter Graham, Clyde Marzagalli, Al Heslop, John Licastro; and MW Jeffrey M. Williamson

MW Jeffrey M. Williamson and wife Carla Williamson talk to the residents of Wiley Hall


Worshipful Bob Leavitt was born 1922 in Corinna, Maine. He

married his wife Adrienne in 1946, has four children, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on December 20, 1946 in St. Andrew’s Lodge 83, Bangor, ME. He thus followed in the footsteps of his father Raphneal Leavitt.

When he moved to Rochester, NY in 1947 he became a member of Frank R. Lawrence 797 (which merged with Seneca 920 in 1980 to form Seneca

Lodge 797 in the Monroe District). He became Master in 1960. His son Rick Leavitt, grandson Matt Dehmler and grandson-in-law Joe Terzo were Raised in Seneca Lodge in 2005, continuing the family commitment to Masonry.

On June 11, 2016 Seneca Lodge 797 honored Worshipful Bob Leavitt with his seventy-year apron. A great gathering of Bob’s family and Lodge Brothers attended. During the celebration Brother Bob presented Seneca Lodge 797 with a very special gift. It was a gavel that was given to him

by Horace Newley, a cabinet-maker from the Charlestown Navy Yard. What makes the gavel extra special is the wood it was fashioned from. When the USS Constitution had its planks refitted, Horace took the planks from the ship and made the gavel he presented to W Bob and another that was given to Bob’s father. As his token of fellowship, Brother Bob gifted his gavel to Seneca Lodge 797 to be used for special occasions within the Lodge.

70-year Apron PresentationW George Robert “Bob” Leavitt

An Unexpected VisitHerder Lodge Brothers from the Ninth

Manhattan District, on their first visit to Utica for St. John’s weekend, opened the front door of the Grand Master’s residence and walked in, thinking they were going to see some historical Masonic displays. The Grand Master’s lady, busy baking delicious smelling cookies, nervously asked, “Can I help you boys?”

Just then, the Grand Master, MW Jeffrey M. Williamson, came down the stairs to meet the Herder invaders. The Grand couple could not have been more gracious and spoke briefly and took a group picture. In October, at our Traubenfest, the Grand Master returned the favor and stopped by the Herder Booth to reunite with his trespassers.


masoniC Care CommunityrW G. sTePHen GeTMan, president

Board of TrusTees of The Masonic hall and hoMe 315/[email protected]

The year 2016 was a year in which the Trustees worked to inspect and strengthen the already strong foundation

which our predecessors have left in our care. The plans to be placed on the Trestleboard are still being drawn, but the scope of work which is envisioned will require that the Trustees are financially and organizationally strong. It will require that the properties and businesses already in the care of the Trustees be in good shape.

There was no single project as spectacular as the removal and then the replacement of the steeple on Tompkins Memorial Chapel in 2015. However, there were projects worthy of note. In Utica, exterior and interior renovations and updated heating and air conditioning for the Memorial Building were completed. The old power plant was demolished. A cardiac rehabilitation program was initiated. The New York State Department of Health approved up to sixty Assisted Living Program (ALP) beds at Wiley Hall.

Security assessments have been completed in Utica and New York City. Visible changes you will see in Utica are two new gates at the two Bleecker Street entrances and a new security building at the main entrance. Security has been enhanced at Masonic Hall in New York City. Access to Masonic Hall is more tightly controlled. The number of cameras has been increased and older cameras have been upgraded. Turnstiles will soon be in place to aid security staff in controlling access to Masonic Hall. Previously established relationships with New York City and federal law enforcement officials continue to be nurtured.

The Masonic Hall Committee oversees a long list of ongoing projects at Masonic Hall, including a complete renovation of the 18th and 19th floors, new windows for many of the floors, renovation of bathrooms and conversion of many spaces to LED lighting. The process is underway to enter a long-term ground lease for the adjoining property at 67-69 West 23rd Street, which will result in substantial additional revenue to support not only the Masonic Care Community but also other properties of the Trustees such as the George Washington Historical Site at Tappan and Round Lake. It

will also ensure continued funding for Grand Lodge programs such as Educational Assistance.

Last August, Trustee Keith Heinrich and I spent a weekend with the Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and Grand Line at Round Lake. At night there were a few moments when we sat around in camp chairs in silence as we stared up at the clear night sky. Some from urban areas remarked that they could not remember ever being able to see the stars so clearly. We picked out constellations and watched as the Space Station passed overhead. For me, being able to look at the clear night sky brings about a sense of awe at the universe in which we live.

This coming year, the chance to experience the beauty of Round Lake and its surrounding 1600 acres in the Adirondack Park will be more available to the New York Masonic family. The Trustees have voted to make the facilities at Round Lake available for use by New York Masons after the 2017 Camp Turk season ends in mid-August. There are details being worked on by the Round Lake Committee of the Trustees and our professional staff. The details will be available when we assemble for Grand Lodge in early May.

During the winter months, substantial work will be done on the bathrooms in the East and West Wings off the Dining Hall. There will be modest work done to the kitchen in the Dining Hall. The Trustees are considering additional work such as cottages, which would require substantial expense and approval not only by local planning and zoning authorities, but also the Adirondack Park Agency. Opening Round Lake after the Camp Turk season ends will help the Trustees evaluate whether there is enough interest to justify the expenditure of substantial additional resources.

This 2016 was a year of preparation for what promises to be an exciting 2017. My sincerest thanks go out to the professional staff at all four of our properties, to the Brothers, Lodges and Masonic Associations who have provided support, to my Brother Trustees and their families, whose support allows us to do what we do and to Grand Master Jeffrey Williamson and First Lady Carla and the entire Grand Line, who have done so much to support the work of the Trustees.


rW roB raffle, exeCutive DireCtor

Masonic care coMMuniTy of new york


masoniC Care Community

Stay in Touch with MCC!—Today’s technology continues to open exciting new avenues of communication for all of

us. These varied platforms allow us the opportunity to keep us informed as much, or as little, as we would like. The Masonic Care Community uses a number of these tools that allow us to communicate with our Brothers, residents and staff on a regular basis. We now have the ability to connect with MCC to find out what is taking place on campus each and every day.

“Like us” on Facebook—Visit us on Facebook to learn more about MCC, enjoy our photographs and keep up with activities on our busy campus. The Masonic Care Community has two Facebook pages: one for the Care Community, including skilled nursing, rehab and Wiley Hall activities and another that highlights life at Acacia Village, our independent retirement community.

Constant Contact—This is an email platform we created where the Masonic Care Community Newsletter and other special information will be sent directly to your email account.

You must sign up for Constant Contact. We do not share your email or flood you with email. We just want to help you stay in the know. If you would like to join us through Constant Contact, send your email to Kayla at [email protected].

The website for the Masonic Care Community contains a variety of information on all our services, programs and events. If you need information on independent living, skilled nursing, rehabilitation or the admissions process, you will find it here. Visit www.mccny.com to view the calendar, enjoy pictures or watch videos on a range of topics, or discover the fascinating history of this campus.

We encourage you to stay connected and learn more about how your Masonic Care Community proudly serves its residents and community. Experience MCC through technology available at your fingertips. If you need help connecting with MCC, feel free to contact our Communications/Marketing office.

Pamela Paolicelli, wife of Junior Grand Warden Nicholas J. Paolicelli, presents

Director of Development Victoria Cataldo with a check and Christmas

presents for the residents of the Masonic Care Community donated from Masons

across New York State.

A gift to the residents of MCC


masoniC Care CommunityViCToria CaTalDo,direCtor of developMent Masonic care coMMuniTy


As spring approaches we are all anxious to get outside—maybe take a walk, rake our yards, plant flowers or

just enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. At the Masonic Care Community our residents are getting ready to prepare their vegetable and herb gardens. Over the past few years this project has grown to become a favorite activity. Not only does it help increase the quality of life for those who participate, but it also provides light physical activity. As people age, they may experience diminished physical strength, arthritis, limited mobility or other physical challenges.

In 2015 MCC conducted a Life Satisfaction Index Assessment for those who participated in the garden program. The numbers reported that the project had an impact on their overall life satisfaction. Feedback from our residents was wonderful. A few of my favorite resident quotes include:

“Watering gave me a sense of purpose.” “I loved having fresh produce with my meals.” “Feeling the dirt brought me back 20 years.”

In 2015 MCC was able to install handicap accessible raised-bed gardens. These gardens yielded 40 lbs. of tomatoes, 65 lbs. of lettuce, 18 lbs. of green peppers, 8 lbs. hot peppers, 6 lbs. onions, 14 lbs. of yellow and green squash, as well as fresh basil, mint, parsley, oregano and chives. The produce was used for resident activities that included fresh tomato sandwich lunches; fresh lettuce for salads facility wide; fried zucchini

flowers; zucchini bread; hot peppers and eggs; bacon wrapped, cream cheese stuffed Jalapenos; fresh salsa; pesto butter; zucchini stew; BLT sandwiches; and fresh grilled veggies for all the outdoor summer picnics.

In 2016 the project was expanded to incorporate additional planting beds, irrigation systems and shade sails, allowing residents to garden in the shade and enjoy the outside on a hot day. Additional patios were also installed, allowing for various types of walking surfaces for the residents of the rehabilitation unit to practice with, along with benches and bird feeders for those avid bird watchers. MCC was also able to purchase additional gardening tools, which were adapted for our residents’ use. Vegetables and herbs were grown once again and used in a variety of resident snacks and picnics across campus.

In the words of Audrey Hepburn, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” The generosity of our donors has enabled us to transform a blank space on the campus into one that provides hope and an excitement for something to come. Your gifts have made a difference in the lives of those who call the Masonic Care Community home and for that we are all thankful. To learn more about how you can support this project or one of the many resident activities we provide, visit us at www.mccny.com/give or contact me directly.

Get Ready for Spring


KaTHy ConTino-TUrner,direCtor of CoMMuniCations and MarketinG

Masonic care coMMuniTy 315/[email protected]

masoniC Care Community

The Masonic Care Community has been caring for people since 1893. During that time, our mission has remained

the same. We stand ready to care for our seniors; to be here when our Masonic Family and their partners need us. Countless individuals have been helped by this organization over the years, specifically our rehabilitation center. As John Server noted in the last edition of the Empire State Mason magazine, the care here is absolutely the best. In an effort to serve as many of our Brothers as possible we would like to share details of how the admissions process works. Often people call in the midst of a health crisis and would greatly benefit from knowing the process beforehand. The following information should help in understanding the rules and regulations we must abide by according to New York State Law.

When someone is hospitalized and in need of post-acute rehabilitation or needs skilled nursing services, the hospital social worker will ask the patient where he/she would prefer to go for these services. Typically, they will ask for three options. Under the Patient’s Bill of Rights, universal and used by all healthcare centers, one has the right to make a request for placement. You also have the right to contact your facility of choice. You are welcome to call the Masonic Care Community to speak with our admissions counselors about placement here. If our facility is unable to place the person at that time, he is placed on a waiting list. Brothers go to the top of the list. There are, however, three criteria that determine placement at Masonic Care Community:

• Bed Availability • Financial Disclosure—As required by Medicare/

Medicaid, individuals must disclose their assets. Additional information will be needed from your insurance carrier to determine specifics of coverage.

• Clinical Diagnosis—Certain conditions/diagnoses call for specific medical management. If we are unable

to provide the needed services to the resident we will assist you in finding care to fit his/her unique needs.

Almost two years ago we unveiled a program called “My Care Connection” for our Masonic family. This free service is available only to Masons Family. My Care Connection can help you navigate through the maze of healthcare options. This is certainly important when you are dealing with a crisis and have to make important decisions very quickly. You may call us at 844/2ASK-MCC (844/227-5622) or email us at [email protected]. Visit our website for information: www.mccny.com/mycare.

In addition to the level of services provided at the Skilled Nursing Facility, the Masonic Care Community also houses Acacia Village, offering independent living in a safe and beautiful environment. Acacia Village provides many options for activities, including participation in Masonry activities offered here on campus. In each edition of the Empire State Mason magazine we provide articles on life at Acacia Village. We invite you to visit, perhaps schedule one of our “Staycations” to help you decide if this independent lifestyle is right for you.

We also offer adult residential services at Wiley Hall, a place for seniors who are independent but need a little extra help. Wiley residents enjoy numerous activities and trips and many volunteer their time to benefit others.

The benefits of living on the Masonic Care Community campus in Utica are endless. The 440-acre facility with its walking trails and wildlife, the numerous activities both on and off the campus, and accessibility to a continuum of care allows one the opportunity to age in place. Above all, the Masonic Care Community offers people the opportunity to stay involved in their Fraternity and enjoy the companionship of your Brothers and Masonic family. Since 1893 we have been caring for people—providing the best in care to all we serve.

Admission to the Masonic Care Community

Grand Master Jeffrey M. Williamson helped wish Wiley Hall resident Barbara Seidel a happy birthday,

while Ferhada Hasanagic, PCA looks on.

Birthday Wishes


The Masonic Family Camping Group visited Central New York in July and spent one of their days touring the

Masonic Care Community Campus. The group had RV-ers from all over the United States and enjoyed their visit so much they returned in October to make a donation.

(l-r) MCC Executive Director RW Rob Raffle; MCC Director of Development Victoria Cataldo; Art Spencer, Director of District 11, Ron White,

Beverly White and Janeen Spencer

Senior Grand Warden RW Richard S. Morley, and his wife Nancy Morley with Junior Grand Warden,

RW Nicholas J. Paolicelli, and his wife Pamela Paolicelli at the Masonic Care Community

donor reception in December 2016.

Masonic Family Camping Group Visits Donor Reception

GRAND MASTERSFAMILY DAY AT WEST POINT

October 21st, 2017ARMY vs. TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

Tickets: $37.00 (per person) Parking: $15.00 (per car)Get your order in early!!

“We will be Tailgating” PARKING AREA “H”Arrive early for good parking spot. Maps will be provided with tickets.

(Bring your own food and drinks.) Also, chairs and tables.

Parade of Cadets: On the Plain, 9:00 am Football game: Starting time: 12:00 pm(Buses provided to game and parade).

*(Times Subject to Change)Both game and parking ticket orders must be sent with check to: (We have 100 Tickets, Order Early)

RW Louis H. Juers, 58 Schofield Street,

Bronx , NY 10464-1530Phone: 718/885-1865 Email: [email protected]

Checks made payable to Grand Lodge of NY.For more information, call Lou at 718-885-1865. Cut off date with money, September 20, 2017.

Need to know how many football tickets and how many car passes you need along with your address.


linDa rae aVolio, retireMent Counselor

acacia Village


aCaCia VillaGe

Dining is an important component of Independent Living at Acacia Village. It’s more than just a great meal; it’s the

time when residents spend socializing with each other and the staff.

People often comment that the atmosphere at Acacia Village is so welcoming. I think one of the primary reasons they have that impression is because the residents and staff really enjoy each other’s company. At the Acacia Village Café, most mornings you’ll see our waitress, Gabby, taking Janet’s and Louise’s breakfast order. She knows just how they want their breakfast prepared, and she’ll make sure that Janet’s toast is burnt, just the way she likes it. When lunch rolls around she’ll suggest that a newcomer sit with someone who’s lived here a while and facilitate introductions. Gabby says, “I love my job. I’m close with the residents who stop in for breakfast and lunch and I’ve learned what makes them happy!”

It was just about a year ago that we adopted a new point of sale dining system. Prior to the adjustment, dinner was included in the rent and other meals could be purchased in the café. With the new system each person receives 400 flexible dining dollars each month. Whenever a resident goes to the café or dining room they simply give the server their name and let them know they’d like to use their dining dollars. Residents can use their dining dollars for any meal; breakfast, lunch or dinner. Dining dollars can also be used to purchase select grocery items or for guest charges. We also offer smaller meal plans or an option for no meals with a reduction in the monthly service fee for those who like to cook more often. The café is open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch and is a second dining option for dinner Monday through Thursday featuring a quick and casual buffet. The Terrace Dining Room is open every evening with restaurant style service, complete with linen tablecloths and napkins. The flexibility of the dining dollars program has been very well received. The residents appreciate that they can use their dollars when and where they want to. If they prefer to enjoy their dinner in their apartment, for a nominal fee they can opt to pick up dinner early or wait and have room service deliver their dinner.

We have many social occasions here at Acacia Village that do not require the use of dining dollars. Every Wednesday afternoon, there is a coffee and tea social with cookies or specialty desserts. Residents enjoy happy hour every Friday afternoon before dinner Tess Johnson, our dining supervisor, looks for ways to add variety and fun to Friday Night Happy Hour and is known for her fabulous Friday

signature cocktails such as Dirty Milkshakes, Martinis, and Bloody Marys. Other cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks are also available along with delicious appetizers. We have several resident parties throughout the year for many different special events. We recently held a “Cabin Fever Reliever” with live entertainment.

Preparing food for a large group of seniors is challenging. I sat down with our new Executive Chef, Anthony LoMazzo. Anthony started here last fall and has taken the time to really get to know the residents, and states that resident feedback is vital. That feedback is given in a variety of ways; through resident surveys, the Acacia Village Residents’ Association food committee and from the suggestion box, where residents can leave comments at any time. Anthony attended culinary and baking school, and learned a great deal from his grandfather who is also a chef. The residents adore Anthony’s homemade chocolate cream pie that his grandpa taught him how to make. Over the coming months, he’ll be working with his supervisor Kevin McIntyre and the local Sodexo District Manager, Jordan Little to further enhance the overall dining experience for the residents of Acacia Village. Anthony says it’s not always easy to please such a large group every evening. Between the dining room and café we average approximately 100 dinners each night. The majority of the food is made from scratch using fresh ingredients whenever possible. The residents are enjoying many of the new specials that Anthony has introduced like his “Scallops Brodetto” and “Shrimp Arrabiata”. They also enjoy simpler foods they grew up with like meatloaf, and chicken and biscuits. The group especially likes when one of our chefs conducts a “Chef Center Stage” cooking exhibition where residents can watch what the chef is creating for them.

Here at Acacia Village we have several rooms that can be used for private parties. Our dining staff has catered birthday parties, family gatherings - even large reunions. The spaces may also be reserved by residents who want to do their own cooking. For example, Dennis and Audrey Cline invited their family for Thanksgiving and they prepared their own wonderful feast.

When choosing a community to live in, it is very important to enjoy the food offered. Acacia Village dietary staff is always looking for ways to make the residents’ Join us for a meal in the future. Come for a tour, and lunch is on us. Call 315-798-4775 for more information. Also visit us on the web at www.acaciavillageny.org.

Choice Dining at Acacia Village

Acacia Village residents David Talman and Freida Mazza love dining in the café during the week. They enjoy the buffet and

their server, Bob Kilroy, who goes above and beyond to make each evening special.


SAVE THE DATE!

ST. JOHN’S DAY 2017

Friday, June 237 a.m.-4 p.m. - D.D. and S.O. Training at MCC10 a.m. - Ladies tea at Wiley Hall12 Noon - 2 p.m. - Ladies program garden party5 p.m. - Friday night service in the Synagogue6 p.m. -“Margaritaville” picnic on the Great Lawn. Dress in “Island”attire! All Masons and their families who are attending the St. John’s Day weekend events are invited to attend!

Saturday, June 247 a.m. - 9 a.m. - Vendor set up on the Great Lawn. We urge any and all Masonic groups to set up a tent and showcase your activities!Contact Kayla at [email protected] for details.9 a.m.-2 p.m. Vendors, food and activities on the Great Lawn10 a.m. - Men’s coffee with the Grand Master, Grand Line and Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Home in the Atruim of the Health Pavilion11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Entertainment on the Great Lawn1 p.m. - Masonic War Veterans ceremony in front of the Soldiers and Sailors Building2 p.m. - Masonic march to the Daniel D. Tompkins Memorial Chapel2:30 p.m. - Investiture service in the Daniel D. Tompkins Memorial Chapel

Sunday, June 259:00 a.m. - Sunday morning services at the Daniel D. Tompkins Memorial Chapel1:00 p.m. Scholarship Program Awards in the MCC Auditorium

Check mccny.com for St. John’s Day updates!


Close to fifty members of the Dutchess Masonic District came to the Masonic

Care Community on October 22 to bring gifts to all resident of Wiley Hall and the Health Pavilion. This District, its Brothers and family members have been coming to Utica every year for more than thirty years.

This year, as we were touring Acacia Village, we had a wonderful surprise: Acacia Village resident Dennis H. Cline reconnected with Brother Ernest R. Tiebout. They were members of Wappingers Lodge 671 together.

The meeting was coordinated by Acacia resident and Brother Mike Derry. Mike met the Dutchess group at the door and, recognizing Ernest, went to get Dennis. Mike says that Dennis moved to Northville, New York and became affiliated with Fish House Lodge, while Ernie remained in the Wappingers Lodge. Both Brothers received their 50-year member recognition from Grand Lodge in 2013.

As you read your Empire State Mason spring edition our annual St. John’s Day program planning is in full swing.

You will find a listing of events for Friday, June 23, Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25 in this issue. You can also get up-to-the-minute information on our website at www.mccny.com.We are looking forward to another wonderful weekend where Brothers from all over the State gather in fellowship. Our MCC team has been busy coordinating and preparing for the events of the day. To ensure that everyone has a great time we have compiled a few items for your consideration.

Bring your Lodge activities to the Great Lawn: Lodges and Districts are encouraged to set up a 10 x 10 tent on the Great Lawn Saturday morning. You can share what you are doing in your region. You can also sell items or give things away (bottles of water were very popular last year). We do ask that you do not sell any food items at your booth. We have food vendors who have the proper state permits as well as the appropriate food trucks to keep their items fresh for purchase.

If you are a licensed Department of Health-certified business and would like to be part of our food court contact Kayla at [email protected].

Meeting Rooms: A number of groups book meeting rooms over the St. John’s Day weekend. If you have a need for a meeting space please contact our office by June 1 so we can adequately address your needs as we coordinate on-campus activities for this wonderful weekend.

Masonic Picnic on Friday, June 23: All Masons and their families who are attending the St. John’s Day weekend activities are invited to a picnic on Friday, June 23 at 6:00 p.m. There is parking on the open lot next to the Chapel. This year’s theme will be “Welcome to the Islands” so get out your grass skirt, Hawaiian shirt and flip flops.

Please direct any questions to Kathy at 315/798-4768 or by email at [email protected]. We look forward to greeting you in June.

masoniC Care CommunityKayla HarTMan, MCC developMent MarketinG assistant

315/798-4800 [email protected]

St. John’s Day 2017

Dutchess Brothers Reunite

(l-r) Ernest Tiebout, Mike Derry and Dennis Cline


rW BrUCe TesTUT, ChairMan 718/461-5400917/376-5782 (c)[email protected] brotherhood [email protected]

masoniC Brotherhood Fund

The winter has now come to an end, we hope. And we are looking for the warmer weather to start doing things

outside the house. I ask that you might think about the Brotherhood Fund and the importance it serves to Grand Lodge charities. I am well aware that some of the categories we support are raising funds with private fundraising groups. Who knows how much of the donation goes to the actual charity? You are constantly being asked to give and I am aware of the economic times we are living in and say again, I appreciate your being able to give and understand if you can’t.

There have been changes at the Brotherhood Fund of Grand Lodge and Ms Lois Romano has officially retired. We have a new person at Grand Lodge and her name is Victoria Lipovchenko. As she is learning the job be kind and brotherly toward her and understand that she is trying to help you.

I have included an email from RW Ralph Pfeiffer, Vice Chairman, to Brother David Monk. I think this sums up our feelings toward this hard-working Brother.

“Brother David you are a vital asset to the Masonic Brotherhood Fund as the Area 17 Chairman for the Lodge Chairmen, District Chairman for both the First Erie District

and the Second Erie District, and to RW Bruce Testut, the Masonic Brotherhood Fund (MBF) State Chairman, and also to me as the MBF Vice Chairman. The dedication that you have given to the Masonic Brotherhood Fund for being the Area 17 Chairman cannot be measured in words. I am truly sorry to hear that you are having more health problems and will need to undergo more surgery. I know this was a difficult decision for you to make because of all of the effort that you have accomplished as the MBF Area 17 Chairman and you were always looking into the future by bringing new ideas for the Training Sessions and also by the way you presented them to the Brothers who were in attendance at them. David, it was a real pleasure to meet you on the level and also to know you as a Brother who is an upright man and Mason by his dedication to the Craft. Please keep in touch and send me an email when you can to let me know how you are.”

Please keep Brother David in your prayers. We all hope for a speedy recovery.

I look forward to seeing you in my travels around the State. Please remember the Masonic Brotherhood Fund.

Hanukkah

Grand Master Jeffrey M. Williamson and his wife Carla joined the residents for the Annual Hanukkah luncheon.

Grand Master Jeffrey M. Williamson; Masonic Care Community resident Ray Plato and Masonic Care Community Medical

Director Dr. Elif Erim at the Annual Hanukkah Luncheon held at Wiley Hall on the MCC Campus


District Grand Lodge of Syria-Lebanon Celebrates its Diamond Jubilee

By MW Jeffrey M. Williamson

This story was set in motion in 2010 when the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of New

York was invited to establish the Degrees of the Royal Arch for the brethren residing within the District Grand Lodge of Syria-Lebanon. As the 2010 Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter, I had the opportunity to coordinate and interface with the Grand Chapter Grand Line Officers and the District Grand Lodge Officers in order to make this dream a true reality. These efforts fruitfully resulted in the formation of two Royal Arch Chapters in Lebanon, namely Cedars Chapter No. 335 located in Jdeideh and Beirut Chapter No. 337, which is situated in Beirut.

As time passed we continued to hold great interest and concern for the wellbeing of our Brothers from the Levant. By working directly with them, not only in the York Rite, but also in the quarries of the Symbolic Lodge, we have forged loyal and sincere friendships that continue to this day. As Grand Master, I was delighted to announce that in 2016 that we would embark on a special pilgrimage in honor of the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the District Grand Lodge.

My expert guide, interpreter and faithful traveling companion for this adventure was RW Raffy Timonian,

District Grand Secretary Emeritus and longtime District Grand Liaison Officer. Brother Raffy lives and works in California. His roundabout journey took him from California to Boston, to New York City, and then escorting the Grand Master to Paris and finally to Beirut International Airport. We express our sincere appreciation to Brother Raffy for a job well done.

Our welcoming committee consisted of several Brothers, including RW Armen Ispahani, District Grand Master; MW Leon Zeitounalian, District Grand Secretary; and RW Michel A. Timonian, Past District Grand Master. After passing through customs and retrieving our luggage, we proceeded by automobile five miles north to the Le Royal Hotel of Dbayeh. This beautiful hotel is located on a towering hilltop overlooking the picturesque Mediterranean Sea.

Somewhat jet-lagged but tremendously happy to be in the midst of our dear Brothers, we gathered in the lobby of the hotel renewing old friendships, making new ones and looking forward with excitement to the epic week ahead. We ended our first day dining on traditional Lebanese cuisine. It was my first exposure to an oriental tobacco pipe called a Hookah, which has a long flexible tube that draws tobacco smoke through water contained in a bowl.

23

Continues on page 24


The next day our entourage loaded into the Range Rover and journeyed north to the town of Bsharreh, up the hill and east of the home of Suleiman Lodge No.

1905. We happily made a rendezvous with the Brothers of the Lodge at a designated café. After a short coffee time we continued our trip up the mountain.

We passed through the mountains to Bsharreh and toured the Tomb of Gibran Kahlil Gibran. He is the famous Lebanese-American artist, philosopher and the author of the seminal work The Prophet. Gibran Khalil Gibran died in a hospital in New York in 1931. The Prophet published in 1923 was translated into forty-three languages. It has never been out of print. One of his famous quotes is: “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.”

Trip to the North

The Gibran Museum and Gibran’s final resting place

The Cedars of God


Finally, we reached the top of Mount Lebanon, that majestic mountain range that extends across the entire length of the country. In awe we beheld one of the most meaningful and symbolic locations known to all Freemasons, the fabled Cedar Forest of Lebanon.

“And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as you shall need: and we will bring it to you in floats by sea to Joppa; and you shall carry it up to Jerusalem.” 2 Chronicles 2:16

This area is one of the last vestiges of the extensive forest of Lebanon cedar that once thrived in ancient times. After centuries of deforestation, the country has introduced a replanting program in an effort to repopulate the mountains with its beloved heritage.

The delegation toured the antediluvian forest and came upon a small chapel located at the top of the mountain. The Spirit of God moved the brethren and we spontaneously formed a chain of friendship and Brotherly Love and offered a simple prayer of thanksgiving to the Great Architect of the Universe for richly blessing us as Brothers who belong to this amazing Fraternity.



Ehden is a mountainous town situated in the heart of the northern mountains of Lebanon and on the southwestern slopes of Mount Makmal in the Mount Lebanon Range. Its residents are the people of Zgharta, as it is within the Zgharta District. Ehden is a beautiful city renowned for its healthy environment, moderate dry climate and natural fresh water. It is one of the main summer destinations of

Lebanon. Many cafés are found in the town. It creates an atmosphere of celebration which lasts all summer. It attracts tourists and visitors from across Lebanon and the world. Concerts featuring Lebanese and Arab stars are held almost nightly. First class hotels, resorts, bars and clubs are in abundance for the tourists.

Suleiman Lodge 1905

Our final tour of the day was a pleasant visit to Suleiman Lodge No. 1905, located in Amyoun. In anticipation of the Grand Master’s visitation, the Brothers did a little remodeling and redecorating to their Masonic Hall. The facility was in great shape and adorned with rich deep colors and hues. The Lodge room was exceptionally impressive with its beautiful starry-decked canopy and mosaic black and white checkered floor.

The Brothers assembled in the Lodge room and were very proud to show the Grand Master their proficiency in the opening ritual. The Worshipful Master of the Lodge presented the Grand Master with a wooden

chest containing a selection of aromatic soaps. They also proudly exhibited the newly restored original Charter, granted May 3, 1928 from the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. The Lodge operates in the Arabic language.

The Grand Master had the special privilege of penning a short note in the Lodge’s minute book to commemorate the historic visit and while we were all together we spoke on the Universality of Brotherly Love and the special bond we all share as Masons. It was also interesting to observe that the Lodge’s altar displays not only the Holy Bible, but the Koran as well.

The City of Ehden


The second day found us again traveling in the Range Rover up the twisting and steep mountain ranges to the Barouk Cedar Forest. This special forest has been set aside for extensive conservation and reforestation. As we viewed the trees and the surrounding landscape, a feeling of well being and peace encompassed our group. Our nostrils and lungs filled up with the cool, crisp, clean and rarefied mountain air.

Your Grand Master does not speak a word of Arabic, but could sense by the excited actions of the Brothers that some sort of preparations were underway. Our delegation soon arrived at a simple locked wooden gate, which was carefully opened by the caretakers of the Barouk Cedar Forest. On foot we hiked down the stone road. On the right and left of the pathway we could see multiple planting beds containing small cedar saplings. Next to the trees were small wooden Arabic signs attached to two-foot-long stakes. I asked one of the Brothers to translate the meaning of the signs and he responded they contained the names of famous Generals, movie stars and celebrities. As we rounded the corner of the footpath, the delegation suddenly stopped. Then pointing downward,

they announced that this particular sapling was named in honor of the Grand Master. As we drove the two-foot stake and sign into the ground, the Brothers presented the certificate of authenticity of Tree No. 4616 dated Nov. 3, 2016. I was informed that these trees only grow a centimeter or two a year and will take hundreds of years to reach any substantial height. Wow! What a splendid memento and gift from our generous Brothers!

The Barouk Cedar Forest



Returning to Beirut, we donned our dark suits and regalia and assembled at the Masonic Hall of Syrio-American Lodge No. 1901, located in Naher El Mot. This was the 167th Stated Communication of the District Grand Lodge. Traditionally, the Masters, Wardens and Secretaries of all the District Lodges throughout the country of Lebanon attend the meeting. However, due to the unique occasion of the Grand Master’s visitation the room was simply bursting to full capacity.

That evening we were thrilled to receive a visiting delegation from Grande Loge Nationale Française, headed up by RW Brother Jean-Pierre Rollet, the Deputy Grand

Master and Grand Chancellor for that jurisdiction. We soon became fast friends and look forward to working with each other in the future.

In honor of the occasion, the District opened and closed the Lodge utilizing English, Arabic and Armenian. The ceremonies were a little confusing to follow but demonstrated the inclusivity and universality of our unique Brotherhood. We concluded our marvelous District Grand Lodge Communication in the collation room, offering wonderful champagne toasts, well wishes and taking multiple photographs.

District Grand Lodge Meeting


The next morning, we traveled up the mountains to visit the Bekaa Valley, Anjar and onward to the City of Zahleh. We greeted our Brothers at the impressive Our Lady of Zahleh Shrine, from which the Madonna overlooks and protects the prosperous and fertile valley below. We rode the elevator up to the observation platform and viewed the impressive city, which is ornamented with red-roofed houses. With patriotic pride, the brethren of Zahleh explained how their city survived the intense fighting while under siege during the 1975-1990 Lebanese Civil War.

Next, we traveled deeper into the Bekaa Valley to the famous Ksara Winery for a tour of their excellent facility, which ended in a wonderful wine tasting session. There we had the opportunity to meet and greet RW Brother Asaad Zogheib, the Mayor of Zahleh, who was recently re-elected to a second term of office. We completed our tour of the Bekaa Valley by joining our Brothers for a traditional Lebanese lunch at Monte Alberto Restaurant, which is owned by one of the Brothers from El Berdawni Lodge No. 1907.

Trip to Zahleh



El Berdawni Lodge 1907We headed out of the Zahleh Valley

and traveled to El Berdawni Lodge No. 1907. The Lodge was consecrated in 1933 and operates in the Arabic language. The Range Rover pulled to a stop in front of the Lodge with the brethren of the Lodge forming an informal honor guard on both sides of a red carpet. As we climbed out of the Range Rover we encountered a troupe of Lebanese Zaffeh. They were gaily adorned in traditional garb while singing and playing their drums, tambourines and horn. As the enchanting music began to take hold and excite our passions, the joyful Brothers spontaneously celebrated and began to dance.

Following the outdoor musical interlude and reception, the brethren gathered in the beautiful Lodge room. It features a balcony surrounding three sides of the Lodge

room and is richly decorated with whites and creams bordered by Masonic symbols. It also features luxurious ceramic tiles and a beautiful mosaic pavement located in

the center of the Lodge.After several welcoming speeches,

the Grand Master offered remarks and for the sake of posterity, composed a special message in the Lodge journal. In honor of the occasion the Brothers presented a beautiful oil landscape painting of the Zahleh Valley. The Grand Master and District Leadership team were privileged to plant some small cedar trees along the main entrance of the Masonic Hall. With the sun already setting, we sadly departed El Berdawni Lodge No. 1907 and traveled one last stop on today’s tour to visit Three Pillars Lodge No. 1912, which meets in the industrial side of the City in Zahleh.


As we approached the industrial part of the city, we could clearly observe manufacturing activity taking place. This included welding, stamping and other machining processes. Our caravan soon stopped in front of one of these unassuming buildings where we were enthusiastically greeted by a delegation of Brothers from Three Pillars Lodge No. 1912. The Lodge was consecrated in 2003 and works in the Arabic language.

As we exited the vehicle, we found ourselves slightly disorientated because we could not identify a traditional Masonic structure. The nightfall had hidden from our

view a ramp and staircase leading up and around the building to the Lodge Hall entrance. On cue, just as we reached the top of the landing, the sky came alive with a spectacular fireworks display, complete with exploding roman candles as a special greeting for the Grand Master.

Reminiscent of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the brethren had the Grand Master sign his name and place his palm in a special plaster cast. After several inspirational speeches, a special celebratory cake and placing a message in the Lodge journal, the pièce de résistance was to release two doves into the night sky.

Three Pillars Lodge 1912


31


The highlight of the Grand Master’s visitation was the Diamond Jubilee Celebration and Gala held in the beautiful banquet hall located in the Le Royal Hotel of Dbayeh. Four hundred and thirty-one Brothers, ladies and guests assembled for this historic and auspicious occasion. The Masonic guest list included two Members of Parliament, retired Generals, United States Embassy officials, judges, doctors, professionals, government officials and prominent businessmen and executives.

The Grand Master was also pleased to present almost thirty official Grand Lodge Certificates to many of the senior members, honoring them for their multiple years of service to our Fraternity. In addition, to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime special occasion, a Grand Master’s

Proclamation accompanied a special 1890s antique wooden gavel presented to RW Armen Isphahani, the District Grand Master. It is interesting to note that this gavel is mystically “twinned” with a matching gavel presented to Grand Master Paulo Roberto Pithan Flores from the Grand Lodge of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil in September 2016.

The Diamond Jubilee Celebration and Gala

32


When the agenda for the evening appeared complete, the Grand Master invited the beloved RW Andre Layoun, Past District Grand Master, to come to the podium to receive a very special honor. The Grand Master announced, “In commemoration and celebration of sixty years of loyalty and faithfulness demonstrated by the brethren of the District Grand Lodge of Syria-Lebanon, the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York is pleased to proclaim the creation of a new Grand Lodge Medal. This medal is named in honor of RW Khaled E. Tabet, the first District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Syria-Lebanon, from 1955-1964.”

The award consists of a bronze top bar engraved with the words “NEW YORK.” Below the ribbon is the round bronze medallion struck with the actual likeness of RW Khaled E. Tabet. Around the medal are engraved the words “LOYALTY AND FAITHFULNESS.” The medal is suspended on a distinctive red and white ribbon, along

with a green stripe running through the center, symbolizing the national flag of Lebanon. This medal will be conferred by the Grand Master to any deserving member within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York, specifically for loyalty and faithfulness to our Grand Lodge.

The first recipient of the RW Khaled E. Tabet Medal is RW Andre Layoun, who was District Grand Master for twenty-three years from 1971 to 1994. His term of leadership within our District Grand Lodge was concurrent with the Lebanese Civil War, which lasted from 1975 to 1990. It is estimated that there were over 250,000 fatalities during this period. RW Andre Layoun’s loyalty to Freemasonry in general and the Grand Lodge of the State of New York in particular has no equal. Samar, the daughter of RW Andre Layoun, shared her thoughts with the Grand Master, recalling a time when Lodge meetings were held in their home.

Khaled E. Tabet Medal


33

Andre Layoun as District Grand Master GM Jeffrey M. Williamson with RW Andre Layoun

Khaled E. Tabet from Grand Lodge archives Khaled E. Tabet Medal


Next the brethren assembled on the dance floor. A large birthday cake, complete with sparklers, was rolled out to the center of the room. Together, the Grand Master and the District team wielded a large ceremonial sword and

cut the cake to the cheers and applause of those gathered. Champagne corks were popping as the band started to play Alicia Keys’s “Empire State of Mind.” The evening concluded with traditional Lebanese singing and dancing.

Completing the Celebration

The Last Day

34


The next morning we sojourned to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon. This important Shrine belongs to the Maronite Church and was founded in 1904. A huge, 15-ton bronze statue highlights the Shrine. The Virgin Mary stretches her hands towards Beirut. The Shrine of Our

Lady of Lebanon draws millions of faithful both Christians and Muslims from all over the world. After lighting a few candles and saying some prayers in the Shrine, we traveled down the mountain to the ancient City of Byblos.

Byblos


35


Byblos is the Greek name of this ancient seaport. The Phoenician name is Gebal and the inhabitants were called Giblites. They are denoted in the Hebrew word rendered “stone-squarer.” In the Bible, 1 Kings 5:18 we read, “The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and workers from Byblos cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple.” Byblos is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world, originating

in 5000 BC. The ancient ruins also contain evidence of Phoenician, Roman, Egyptian and Crusader civilizations. We spent some time viewing the Crusader Fortress, the Roman amphitheatre, the Doric and Corinthian columns, the ancient foundations and building stones. Our imaginations stirred deeply as we openly wondered what it would have been like to live in Byblos so many years ago.

That evening the team gathered in Beirut at an outdoor waterfront restaurant. As we shared our farewell supper, we recounted the many goals and objectives we had accomplished, the excellent adventures we shared, and the historic events that occurred during this important once-in-a-lifetime trip honoring the Diamond Jubilee of the District Grand Lodge. With parting hugs and fraternal embraces we reluctantly said our final goodbyes as the caravan dropped us off at Beirut International Airport. We simply did not want this incredible adventure to end.

Special thanks go to RW Armen Isphahani, District Grand Master, MW Leon Zeitounalian, District Grand Secretary, RW Raffy Timonian, District Grand Liaison Officer and RW Michel A. Timonian, Past District Grand Master, and a multitude of Brothers too numerous to mention for all their help in setting up this significant visitation.

As Grand Master, I was honored to have the unique opportunity to meet our brethren and their ladies right in their own hometowns. It was exceptional to visit their local Lodges and to see the pride each feels to be a Brother Mason, especially a New York Freemason. We were pleased to learn about their rich history and culture and to feel the warm, genuine and universal embrace of Brotherly Love and Affection.

Lastly, we were given the occasion to learn about the daily challenges our brethren undertake in their society. We developed a sincere appreciation for their unswerving dedication and faithfulness as they go about the world as upright men and Masons. Yes, my Brothers, Freemasonry in the District Grand Lodge of Syria-Lebanon is alive and well! It truly is… “A Way of Life.”

Finale

2016 District OfficersRW Armen Ispahani, District Grand MasterRW Georges Zbeidy, District Deputy Grand MasterRW Tarek Issa, District Grand Sr. WardenRW Ziad Dghaidi, District Grand Jr. WardenRW Joseph Haddad, District Grand TreasurerMW Leon Zeitounalian, District Grand SecretaryRW Raffy Timonian, District Grand Liaison Officer

LodgesSyrio-American Lodge 1 consecrated in 1924 -EnglishNew York Lodge 2 consecrated in 1924-ArabicFakhrueddin Lodge 3 consecrated 1926-ArabicSuleiman Lodge 5 consecrated in 1927-ArabicEl Berdawni Lodge 7 consecrated in 1933-ArabicEl Merj Lodge 8 consecrated in 1935-ArabicTurbol Lodge 9 consecrated in 1950-ArabicLebanon Lodge 10 consecrated in 1955-EnglishAni Lodge 11 consecrated in 1960-ArmenianThree Pillars 12 consecrated 2003-Arabic

The District Grand Lodge of Syria-Lebanon


Four explanations about Charity from four different eras, which explains why giving Charity is timeless. Such is the

sentiment that constitutes the cementing bond of Freemasonry. Charity is and will always be the cornerstone of our temple and homes; upon it we must erect all other virtues which make the good man and the good Mason. After all, ours is nothing more than “A way of Life.”

However, Charity which our Craft boasts of is not just the sentiment of assisting the poor and the needy with financial donations. Like the quotes mentioned above concerning Charity, its application as a Mason is nobler and more extensive.

With this spirit in our hearts, and for the sixth consecutive year, on December 28, 2016, four District Grand Line Officers from the District Grand Lodge Of Syria-Lebanon visited The Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon, affiliated to Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. We presented a donation of US$ 5,000 and twenty presents in the names of both our Grand Master MW Jeffrey Williamson and DiGM RW Armen Isphahani to Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon. The donations were collected from the Lodges within the District Grand Lodge of Syria-Lebanon.

Miss Karen Khoury (PR & Communications Manager at CCCL) informed us that in 2016 the Children’s Cancer Center provided medical treatment to about 300 cancer children. This year the number of children increased because of the Syrian refugee crisis. The average cost to treat a child

with cancer is about US$ 60,000, thus with an annual budget of over US$ 15 million per year they look forward to all the donations they can receive. With early detection 85% of these children are cured and able to live a cancer-free life; however, for the first five years after the cure they have to remain under observation. She also showed us the new recreation room they opened for children still receiving their chemotherapy so that they may be in a happier environment.

If Charity begins at home, and Justice begins next door, let’s pray that 2017 brings Peace to this part of the world in general and Syria in particular.

Children’s Cancer Center of LebanonBy Leon Zeitounalian, PGM, District Grand Secretary

“Where there is Charity and Wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.” – Francis of Assisi.“Where the Mind is biggest, the Heart, the Senses, Magnanimity, Charity, Tolerance, Kindliness, and the rest of them scarcely have room to breathe.” – Virginia Woolf.“Every good act is Charity. A man’s true wealth hereafter is the good that he does in this world to his fellows.” – Moliere.“Charity begins at home, and Justice begins next door.” – Charles Dickens.


aWards CommitteerW GeorGe r. WaCoB, ChairMan

613/838-7508 (c)[email protected]

The Awards Committee received a total of fifty-five recommendations for the Dedicated Service Award for

the year of 2017. Fourteen were received from the Metro Region, eleven were received from the Hudson-Champlain Region, thirteen were received from the Mid-State Region and seventeen from the Western Region. Forty-eight were ratified, of whom forty are Past Masters. One was rejected for not meeting the criteria for the DSA Award. Six were held over due to District allotment restrictions.

All recipients and their Lodge Secretary were notified in January by the Grand Secretary. The DDGMs were notified of the recipients in their District by the committee. The Lodge Secretaries were notified of those that were rejected or held over by the committee. The committee will be accepting 2018 DSA Recommendation Forms in September 2017. Letters and forms will be sent out to Lodge Secretaries in late August 2017.

This year the DSA Chest Medallion will be added to the DSA package purchased through Lodge Services. The DSA Chest Medallion is available for Past DSA recipients for the purchase price of $20, plus tax and shipping. The medallion must be ordered through the Lodge Secretary.

The Community Service Awards (DeWitt Clinton, Jacob Morton and Grand Lodge Certificate of Excellence in Service to the Community) have no cutoff date and will be processed as recommendations are received. The Lodge and DDGM will be notified within a short period of time when the recipient has been approved to receive one of these awards.

Please take note of the Awards Committee’s web page on the Grand Lodge website: http://nymasons.org/2016/committees-departments-programs/awards-committee/. This page will give you information, requirements and forms for the various awards.

I thank the Awards Committee team for the time and effort they have put into examining all of the recommendations and fairly determining who will receive the awards. They are:

Metropolitan Region: RW Gregory Noulas and RW Joseph T. Entler; Mid-State Region: RW Thomas L. Jenison and RW Robert L. Hogan Jr.; Hudson-Champlain Region: RW Charles E. Knapp Jr. and WAlfred W. Fergerson; and Western Region: RW William H. Greene and RW Douglas D. Airth.

Committee Ratifies 48 Dedicated Service Awards

Brothers from Courtlandt Lodge 34 F&AM in Verplanck, New York

attended the Installation of Officers at the Grand Lodge of Maryland on November 19. They accompanied the Brothers from Patuxent Lodge 218 AF&AM and they extend thanks to the Brothers of Maryland for their hospitality.

New York Masons Attend Maryland Grand Lodge

(l-r) Brother Steven Spaner, Brother Kenyatta Tally, Galbreth (Maryland); Brother Darren Rigger, Brother Bob McCarthy, W Rob McCarthy; W Marlon Curtis (Maryland);

W Eric Tiratsuyan, Brother Peter Anthony Morgan.


From the WeBmasterBroTHer KenneTH JP sTUCZynsKi, WebMaster

nyMasons.org 716/241-1329 [email protected]

We are not Masons to change Freemasonry; we are Masons to be changed by it. And we are the bridge between the

mystic circle and the profane world. If we are an oddity to the world, so be it. But if we are a relic, if we ignore or shake our fist at the changes in the world, our connections flow only toward ourselves. We have become a light under a bushel.

Most inquiries into our Fraternity are through websites and social media. This is fact. But the reason is more than technology. People are simply not as connected in a deep, real sense anymore. If they know Masons, they don’t know they know them. Everyone knows what his acquaintances had for dinner, but everything about his neighbor is at a distance. It can be measured in milliseconds but to the heart it is as far as the moon. The Internet has become the primary lens through which they experience the world.

That is why the Craft is needed more than ever. And the younger generations are looking to us to fill it. They know something is missing, and they suspect—perhaps more than we—that Freemasonry is an answer.

Out in the world, people have nearly all knowledge at their fingertips but don’t know how to gain understanding. Startups win huge investments, burn through cash like there’s no tomorrow and crash or become the next big thing in matter of years or even months instead of decades or generations. Young

workers want meaningful work but wonder why satisfaction doesn’t kick in after a few weeks. You can often get a trophy for just showing up.

Patience is the missing part of the equation. Understanding takes time. Meaningful things take time. Rewards are tied to ongoing work, not immediate intentions. What better way to teach this lesson than Freemasonry? The problem is, we have to learn the lesson ourselves. Our Operative brethren were apprentices for seven years but we can hardly wait a month. We’re afraid of losing people between Degrees, as if there isn’t work to be done. And work is not merely our allegory, but our reality. Younger gentlemen and newer Brothers get it. They don’t want to join and have it all handed to them. The world offers enough instant gratification. They sense that what is easily gained has little value. We should know this. If we give Freemasonry away quickly and easily, we haven’t given it at all.

That is a central purpose of the NorthStar Project. It is not just about weeding out people more suited to other paths, but also about value. We represent that value by the demands of work, patience, and understanding—requirements some of us were cheated out of and had to learn on our own.

But the first steps are to answer the knocks on our virtual doors. To save them from the superfluities of an online world we must find them and meet them there, where they are.

The Steuben Day Parade celebrates German heritage. It is the annual

parade that marches down Fifth Avenue in September. The Ninth Manhattan District has participated in this parade for many years and has become one of the first events of the Masonic year after the darkness of summer.

Once again the bus for the Steuben Day Parade left from the Whitestone Temple with every seat occupied. After a light breakfast of bagels, lox and pastries, those in attendance boarded the bus for the trip into Manhattan. Behind the new blue and gold banner which is 3 feet by 12 feet, the marching Brothers, followed by the Noble Ninth float, traveled proudly down Fifth Avenue passing the reviewing station. The banner was held by Joey Kemmet, the son of Christina and Joe Kemmet of

Lessing Lodge and Christopher Dunne, the son of Luann and Chris Dunne and grandson of the Grand Steward of Trinity Lodge.

As always, the Ninth Manhattan was well represented. This was a great day of Masonic camaraderie and

Brotherhood. Those in attendance were proud of their German roots and proud of their Masonic affiliation. When the contingent returned to Whitestone they were treated to delicious authentic German food provided by the Puckhabers.

Ninth Manhattan takes Manhattan


rW DaViD f. sCHneeWeiss, MBaMMrl president

Board of direcTors

315/735-2217 – exT [email protected]

masoniC mediCal researCh laBoratory

The Grand Chapter State of New York, Order of Eastern Star presented a check

for $71,287 to the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory (MMRL) at the annual Grand Chapter communication in Binghamton this past fall. The funds will go for cardiac research.

My primary research focus at the MMRL will continue

and expand our understanding of abnormalities in cardiac excitation-contraction coupling and how it relates to overall contraction of the heart. Excitation-contraction coupling is the molecular and cellular process responsible for carrying the electrical impulse of heart activation (excitation) to the actual heart-muscle contractions that provide the beating of the heart.

Excitation-contraction coupling (E-C coupling) is the fundamental underpinning of how the heart functions to provide blood to the rest of the body. Cardiac gene abnormalities, injuries resulting from events such as heart attacks or the effect of aging on a heart, and/or coronary heart disease can adversely affect E-C coupling. Such events can lead to life-threathing pathologies such as heart failure (severely reduced pumping ability) and/or cardiac arrhythmias (abnormally fast, slow or irregular heart beat). When these events occur the molecular process modulating the increase and decrease in cellular calcium—necessary for heart muscle to robustly and rhythmically contract and relax—goes awry.

In the case of heart failure the heart poorly contracts or does not properly relax between contractions, resulting in decreased blood flow. In the case of cardiac arrhythmias the heart fails to have a normal sinus rhythm. In the case of life-threatening arrhythmias the heart just fibrillates and appears to quiver. When fibrillation occurs in the ventricles (the main pumping chambers of the heart) sudden cardiac arrest results. Fibrillation may occur in the atria (the upper chambers of the heart). While not immediately lethal, atrial fibrillation can lead to a cerebral stroke or a thrombosis and when left unattended can lead to a failing heart.

Research has demonstrated that heart disease is a multi-dimensional health issue that can result in patients having heart disease for different reasons. Recent research has now been devoted to identifying which particular genes, their expressed products (proteins) and/or their modulators excite or slow the cause and effect that are specifically responsible for irregular cardiac processes, such as excitation-contraction coupling.

Once identified, therapies can be and are being devised to target specific genes, proteins and/or their modulators involved in a particular cardiac disorder, including those involved in abnormal E-C coupling. Gene therapy has the potential to minimize side effects of current drug therapy and ultimately help us tailor drug treatment to the individual.

Aistrup Speaks to Heart of Matter

Gary Aistrup, Ph. D

OES Puts Heart into Project

(l-r) Ronald P. Kamp, MMRL Director of Development and Communication; Burniece Herendeen, OES Grand Treasurer; Nate Herendeen, OES Grand Patron; Jeffrey Williamson, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York; James Swan

and David Goodwin members of the MMRL Board of Directors.


rW MiCHael sHiPMan, ChairMan 516/[email protected]@aol.com

Grand lodGe eduCational assistanCe proGram

The 2017 Education Assistance Program is in full swing and online registration applications are being completed

and returned daily to the committee. Students seeking assistance for the 2017-2018 school year should go online to: www.nymasons.org or eapapplication.nymasons.org if they have not already done so. After completing the online application, the first page of the application, along with required documents, should be mailed to the committee postmarked no later than April 1, 2017. All applications received will be sent to an independent firm for rating. Those selected to receive assistance for the fall of 2017 will be notified by June 1. Presentations are expected to be made to the recipients across the State in June and July.

Awards are given to students who are pursuing an undergraduate/graduate degree, going to a trade school or for those returning to school for retraining. To be eligible, the student must:

• Be a child/grandchild/widow of a New York State Master Mason

• Show academic or vocational achievement; minimum cumulative GPA 2.75 (80)

• Demonstrate financial need–(not optional)• Complete the online application in full (Students

Only)• Be a full time student in an accredited institution of

higher learningTo date nearly 13,000 students have been given assistance

totaling over $12.5 million dollars. We thank the Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Home for their continued funding and support of this outstanding program.

Frequently Asked QuestionsQ: Where can I obtain an application? A: The application may be obtained by going online to:

eapapplication.nymasons.org or www.nymasons.org.

Q: What supporting documentation is needed to show financial need?

A: A copy of the most recently filed 1040/1040EZ forms (pages 1 & 2) of student and parents must be included.

No substitutions allowed: 1040/1040EZ forms only.

Q: Is the signature of the Master and Secretary of my father’s/grandfather’s Lodge necessary?

A: Yes. Before the committee will consider any application these signatures and the seal of the Lodge must be obtained.

Q: I have applied to three different colleges and have not decided which one to attend. Does this disqualify my application?

A: No. However, before a check can be sent to a recipient we must have proof that the student is attending a qualifying school full time.

Q: How many times may I apply for assistance?A: Students may receive educational assistance a maximum of

four times.

Genesis Lodge 201 welcomed RW Alvaro Quiroga, Vice President of the Board of

Directors of the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, to address the members this past fall. He emphasized the scientific contributions to medical treatments and their promising new endeavors in cardiac treatment and prevention that may come to fruition within the next five years, with the continued support from New York Masonry and others.

RW Alvaro Quiroga, center, with W Rodney Couto to his immediate left and with the officers of Genesis Lodge 201.

MMRL VP Quiroga Addresses Lodge


87 Years 79 Years 77 Years

0487 Normal Floyd Byman

0013 apollo-KiNg SolomoN’S Clifford Henry Vickery 0041 SylvaN Earle H. Klock 0084 amSterdam Carson A Thompson 0112 SteubeN Donald E. Scott 0120 HamiltoN Arnold R. Fisher 0128 ogdeNSburgH-acaciaN Glenn E. Dodge 0168 corNiNg paiNted poSt Sheldon D. Clark

0178 corNerStoNe Wallace J. Carlock 0223 romaN-HatHeway Kenneth K. Snavely 0241 HarmoNy Murray Seeman 0263 mouNt verNoN Eldred Bush 0297 alexaNdria John A. Keeler 0364 HorSeHeadS old oaK Wilbur M. Fisher 0399 maiNe John T. Thetga

0425 warreNSburgH Dennis H. Galloway 0438 maratHoN Harold L. Abbott 0513 maSSeNa Mourad K. Tarpinian 0517 FroNtier Clark Mitchell 0520 croSSroadS Harold P. Naumann Jr 0599 KeNNyetto John K. Chapman 0622 ceNtral Square Ray Chesbro

0624 SHaroN SpriNgS Carleton France 0639 SomerSet Gordon C. Porter 0645 riverHead Charles W. Scharff 0711 corNerStoNe Belding F. Clearwater 0781 caNaSeraga Warren G. Fenton 0796 dolgeville Grant W. Phillips 0839 atHelStaNe Fred Kaplowitz

0855 paumaNoK-port waSHiNgtoN James R. Wells 0890 JoSHua Malcolm S. Cohen David Rowe 0892 queeNSboro Harold H. Hoffman Joseph K. Muller 0934 JoSepH warreN-gotHic

Arnold Liebeskind 1127 SmitHtowN Charles W. Whitbread 1185 weSterN Star William W. Swenson

0650 amboy-republicaN Kenneth B. Bryant 0692 de ruyter Kenneth M. Jones 1111 weSt SeNeca Clarence Hopper Jr

0772 reScue L Allen Masterson

0107 NortH Star Elliot Helfand

0808 guidiNg ligHt-olympia Herbert V. Friedman

0799 oriSKaNy Charles R. Williams

76 Years

72 Years

70 Years

75 Years

0520 croSSroadS Albert G. Schoeberlein 0524 morNiNg Star Gwynn K. Morey

years oF serViCe

74 Years

0204 perFect Square Jesse Diamond 0336 mediNa Donald B. Ross 0854 arcHimede-roma Albert Anzalone

73 Years

0223 romaN-HatHeway Franklyn E. Hubbard 0264 baroN SteubeN Edward W. Corr 0285 george waSHiNgtoN Thomas W. Cantwell

0295 cataract Elmer A. Lepard 0487 Normal Charles H. Redmond

0615 StiSSiNg Alfred A. Sadler 1071 potuNK James S. Bachman

0063 waNtagH mortoN Virgil G. Keen 0128 ogdeNSburgH-acaciaN Robert Denner 0145 mouNt moriaH James L. Shannon 0155 FraterNal Allen G. LaPierre

0201 geNeSiS Charles M. Arnold 0224 orieNtal-FaxtoN Samuel Lees Booth 0328 port JerviS John W. Stewart Jr 0352 Homer Carleton W. Potter

0459 urbaNa Maynard C. Lewis 0486 goldeNrule clermoNt mcKiNley Leonard R. Epstein 0563 corNucopia William A. Lange

0633 ricHville Wallace K. Hurlbut 0680 victor Abbot L. Wiley 0799 oriSKaNy Edward Jesse Cox 0818 melroSe Gerald B. Jones

71 Years

65 Years

0009 uNity Clifford E. Shutts Howard F. Topper 0040 olive braNcH Warren A. Steiner 0063 waNtagH mortoN Edward F. Bauer 0083 NewarK Eugene R. Denagel

0084 amSterdam John K. Schwartz Jr 0150 Sauquoit merritt Morse Smith 0155 FraterNal Myron Frederick Degenhardt Edwin Rufus Degenhardt 0177 biNgHamtoN Jerome P. Jones Jr

0183 Farmerville-uNioN John Holcomb 0230 uNiverSity John D. Cramond Jr 0233 paciFic Benson B. Sobin 0250 willard Sylvan Grove Theodore Pershyn

0256 Fort brewertoN William A. Grady Sr 0264 baroN SteubeN John B. Olney George J. Olney 0284 america Arthur Edward Miethke 0285 george waSHiNgtoN Frank J. Lengenfelder

0328 port JerviS Harry B. Casterlin Jr 0342 wyomiNg Richard E. Brummer 0365 goSHeN Harold E. Suresky 0389 margaretville Harry G. Eckert Jr


0006 St. george’S Donald Lee Missimer 0009 uNity Almon M. Miller 0013 apollo-KiNg SolomoN’S Herbert A. Sliter 0039 olive braNcH Leon H. Watson 0083 NewarK Donald Vankouwenberg 0084 amSterdam Robert F. Holzer John D. Rogers Donald L. Singer 0111 St. lawreNce Paul T. Evans 0115 pHoeNix Gordon L. Hawk 0123 duNdee Clair D. Wheeler 0126 eaSterN ligHt Jay Vincent Borst 0128 ogdeNSburgH-acaciaN Bower A. Thompson 0134 lowville H Paul Steiner

0135 SacKetS Harbor John S. Hill 0147 warreN Salem towN Arthur H. Smith 0154 waKaN-Hubbard Thomas E. Holtz 0155 FraterNal Andrew Albert Ewart 0168 corNiNg paiNted poSt Harold S B Hager 0172 cHaumoNt Charles A. “Brox, Jr.” 0183 Farmerville-uNioN Paul W. Butler 0195 FraNKliN Kenneth G. Lyberg 0204 perFect Square Donald D. Mitnick 0218 HartlaNd Robert L. Arlington 0223 romaN-HatHeway Karl H. Stammer Jr0297 alexaNdria Robert C. Tague 0309 HudSoN river Bernard E. Mcquade

0319 blacK laKe HammoNd William H. Russell 0343 roNdout John H. Schoonmaker 0358 aNcieNt laNdmarKS Carl P. Sirface 0364 HorSeHeadS old oaK Donald C. Soper 0371 Heritage Steve C. Cakouros 0384 cHerry creeK Roger R. Casten 0387 la FraterNidad Bladimiro Rodriguez 0406 HumaNity Werter Cooney Jr 0417 wadSwortH Ronald H. Noll 0419 arcade Eugene M. Gertis 0442 wiNdSor Frank Louis Bauerle 0458 SHeKomeKo Herbert B. Schwager

0501 liverpool SyracuSe Richard A. Dombrowsky William J. Kornbluth Jr 0584 aSHlar Harold E. Snow 0619 eagle Thomas E. Badger Everett H. Vail 0647 aurora grata-day Star John Periharos 0653 JoHN Jay George H. Geer Stephen M. Kittler 0684 berNe Robert M. Wesel 0689 wHat cHeer Dale Riggs 0737 gutteNberg Jack L. Plant 0750 SHaKeSpeare Paul I. Auerbach 0757 Silver Malcolm L. Claflin 0806 matiNecocK K Arthur E Erickson

0808 guidiNg ligHt-olympia Al Heller 0839 atHelStaNe Malcolm Robert Blotner 0842 traNSportatioN Andrew R. Kreuzer Kenneth N. Ries 0925 tyriaN Charles Edward Wareham 0981 amHerSt Nicholas Moroczko 1016 Floral parK John Hansen Jr 1057 SpriNgField gardeNS

Albert O. Klipfel 1068 JameS w. HuSted-Fiat lux William L. Mayers 1143 valley Stream Robert J. Rusinyak 1185 weSterN Star Robert W. Tills 1186 KeN-toN Ronald G. Pepperday 1187 NortH roSe wolcott David E. Wetherby

60 Years

0394 cobleSKill Kenneth K. Fake 0402 compact George F. Reid 0417 wadSwortH Latson C. Andrews 0473 wHite plaiNS Harry G. Vorperian 0479 uNity Frank F. Gordnier

0501 liverpool SyracuSe Douglas S. Jones Charles F. Kay 0548 laureNS John C. Duroe 0580 gleN cove Jacob D. Van Cuilenburg 0581 wiNField Russell J. Case

0627 wallKill Walter T. Roosa 0639 SomerSet Herbert C. Loesch 0647 aurora grata-day

Star Kjell F. Andersen 0729 aNcHor-aStoria William Koppenhofer 0754 NoaH Julian W. Levine

0819 compoSite Melvin J. Kushel Arthur Schorr 0863 duNwoodie Kenneth R. Carpenter 0890 JoSHua Irving Kaplan 0926 marioN Roger I. Adriaansen

0948 perSeveraNce-

SuburbaN Sherwood L. Bestry 0958 moriaH Nathan J. Siegel 1037 victoria Sea gate Lester B. Bloch 1041 brotHerHood Lester Fishman 1174 ScHeNectady George W. Wright

65 Years continues

55 Years

0010 KiNgStoN Arthur H. Depuy Carl E. Modjeska Stephen H. Palen 0045 uNioN Richard Y. Willis 0053 browNville Dale O. Corrice

0079 uNity Charles H. Wood Jr 0082 pHoebuS Ernest C. Emhof 0087 vaN reNSSelaer Rayfield Drowne Jr 0090 FraNKliN James Fox Gilday Jr Walter N. Sweet

0105 Hiram William R. Schreiber 0118 addiSoN uNioN James E. Pepper 0120 HamiltoN Thomas B. Mulligan 0123 duNdee Richard Dale Kaufman

0128 ogdeNSburgH-acaciaN Frank K. Martin 0129 SaNger Richard Eugene Palmer 0137 aNglo-SaxoN Sidney Freedman 0148 tri-valley Darrell W. Farley

0175 oxFord Robert E. Connine 0178 corNerStoNe Maxwell Weinstein 0195 FraNKliN Raymond Zapata Jr 0230 uNiverSity James A. Comes


0004 St. patricK’S Fred I. Maderic Frederick R. Stortecky 0011 tHe lodge oF aNtiquity Samuel R. Klee 0044 HorNellSville Donald M. Schulitz 0049 watertowN Robert H. Ridall 0063 waNtagH mortoN Theodore Vande Woude 0066 StateN iSlaNd Eugene R. Bleimann 0082 pHoebuS John R. Chase Samuel Senn Jr 0085 betHleHem Howard B. Engel Jr Ralph Edward Folger Jr Arthur F. Warner 0097 reNovatioN Richard S. Bostdorff 0112 SteubeN Stephen B. Morley 0121 queeNSbury Robert C. Morris 0123 duNdee Warren H. Elliott

0145 mouNt moriaH Paul A. Wahlstrom 0161 erie pariSH uNited Keith B. Rung 0166 ForeSt Norman B. Whitton Jr 0175 oxFord John Phillip Jones 0203 muNN Joel A. Risch 0214 geNeSeo Ray E. Robinson 0240 waSHiNgtoN Spencer P. Schofield 0256 Fort brewertoN Edward R. Roundy 0313 StoNy poiNt wawayaNda R. Brian Johnson 0319 blacK laKe HammoNd Robert A. Laclair 0323 amity Arthur R. Schiffer 0341 clyde Thomas P. Carr 0358 aNcieNt laNdmarKS Thomas J. Davies Paul J. Puckett

0383 NortHerN aurora Ronald L. Cook 0384 cHerry creeK Sheldon L. Allen Charles C. Kerr 0399 maiNe Steven Lee Osser 0425 warreNSburgH David R. Backus James D. Flatt 0435 St. marK’S-veStal Douglas J. Howell 0444 SHerburNe Wesley P. Atkins 0466 oNeoNta Richard E. Morey 0479 uNity Edward F. Vargo 0482 ricHField SpriNgS William S. Wiley 0501 liverpool SyracuSe Dwayne E. Cox 0524 morNiNg Star Barrett L. Jones 533 rouNd Hill Ronald C. Leonard 544 warwicK Albert W. Buckbee Ii

0553 FarmerS Ronald D. Bennett 0589 NauraSHaNK Donald S. Dombrowsky Harold B. Jones 0649 robiNSoN Glen E. Bullock 0666 obloNg Richard E. Pelkey 0682 NuNda StatioN Ralph Cox 0725 SoutHerN ligHt Robert K. Hatch 0740 allemaNia John Buck Fred A. Spiegelberg William W. Weier 0750 SHaKeSpeare Harold W. Berk 0754 NoaH Bruce E. Zeh Jan F. Zeh 0785 Niagara river lodge James D. Wagner 0801 SidNey-Freedom George C. Kramer Jr 0839 atHelStaNe Robert C. Carmen Harold J. Dresdale

0880 SibeliuS-bredablicK Gary F. Parker 0892 queeNSboro John F. Wolf 0916 pHiladelpHia Donald J. Cooke 0958 moriaH Myron J. Silverman 0970 JoHNSoN city uNity David L. Alexander Robert K. Conant Frank W. Dunlap 0975 betHpage HicKSville Roland D. Rudy 1009 Service city geba Leonard Barend Jr 1037 victoria Sea gate Edward Bienstock 1041 brotHerHood Daniel Rosa 1057 SpriNgField gardeNS John H. Dick Derwood A. Fish Ii 1066 Harry S trumaN Mehran W. Davidian 1174 ScHeNectady John T. Davis 1186 KeN-toN Charles R. Collette

0252 eNcHaNted mouNtaiNS John Edward Harris 0290 SpeNcer Richard H. Green Roy E. Huhta 0328 port JerviS George A. Begbie 0375 Niagara Glenn M. Foley Richard J. Foley David W. Pynn 0392 SoduS Alfred Elwin Beckens Robert Thomas Mitchell James Burl Norton 0399 maiNe Garald H. McManus 0414 Scriba Ralph E. Kelley Jr

0445 caSSia Richard A. Newman 0493 SoutHSide Gordon E. Downs Jr. 0494 JepHtHa Raymond C. Mahdesian Warren D. Wylie 0533 rouNd Hill Donald E. Short 0545 coperNicuS Werner Vonderheide 0552 HaNcocK Eugene R. Creech Carlyle R. Weyrauch 0553 FarmerS Hillis Crandall 0565 guidiNg Star-aNgle Alexander Ermalinski

0568 St. cecile Jack Golodner 0584 aSHlar Roger L. Defoe James C. Smith 0624 SHaroN SpriNgS James A. Dennison 0646 red JacKet Rodney P. Stinson 0691 meridiaN Paul J. Denhoff William M. Rehor 0693 KedemaH George E. Prentice Eric P. Rasmussen 0695 alcyoNe Stephen G. Thide

0750 SHaKeSpeare Sidney Cooper 0754 NoaH Albert E. Parshall 0785 Niagara river lodge Lorne G. Shotwell 0839 atHelStaNe Charles Ruback 0855 paumaNoK-port waSHiNgtoN Harold R. Doughty William E. Kurz 0925 tyriaN Charles L. Ketchum Jr0948 perSeveraNce-SuburbaN Frank Levin 0956 SpartaN Edgar I. Barr Paul B. Cooper

0975 betHpage HicKSville William E. Jagoe 0981 amHerSt Raymond G. Keene 1009 Service city geba Myron Conovitz 1143 valley Stream Milton J. Sable 1147 carroll gleNN Eugene Bloss Jr1174 ScHeNectady Franklin H. Guzzetta Calvin P. Welch 1179 milleNNium William T. Corp Charles E. Wright

55 Years continues

50 Years


After the presentations, those assembled took much pleasure in the professional holiday season entertainment provided by the USO Troupe of Metropolitan NY 2016 Liberty Bells. Next, the children who are patients in the hospital were invited into the Griffis Faculty Club. Masonic Santa James Roberts presented them with a multitude of gifts for the deserving young patients. Allynn Gooen, a master balloon impresario, delighted the little ones by bending and stretching the balloons into fun figures and shapes.

The Grand Master congratulates all of the participating Metropolitan Brothers who continue to contribute in so many ways to help our communities in times of need. We thank you because you truly believe that what we do is “A Way of Life!” Without hope of reward, our Fraternity volunteers in our communities, churches and places of employment. We volunteer for the deep and personal satisfaction of helping mankind.

Grand Lodge Awards DeWitt Clinton to Patterson

(l-r) RW Ivan Obolensky, MW Jeffrey M. Williamson, Dr. Cam Patterson

Grand Master Jeffrey M. Williamson was honored to bestow the prestigious DeWitt Clinton Award upon Dr.

Cam Patterson, Sr., Vice President and COO of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center/Weill Cornell Medicine. This recognizes his extraordinary accomplishments in the field of medicine and the awe-inspiring benefits imparted to humankind.

The award was presented on December 8, 2016 at the annual Masonic Toys for Tots Program that is held at the Griffis Faculty Club, located within the hospital campus. The event is sponsored by the Masonic Community and is organized under the Masonic Toys for Tots Foundation. Many dedicated Brothers, such as Ivan Obolensky, Gilbert Savitzky, George Filippidis, Jerry Filippidis, Christopher Allen, Martin Kanter, Leo Wisniewski and others too numerous to mention, spent countless hours working very hard to raise monies for the fine work of this world-class institution. This year the Masonic Community presented $35,000, accumulating almost $1 million dollars in donations to date.


Most Worshipful Jeffrey M. Williamson, Grand Master, is pleased to invite you to join him on an historic pilgrimage

to the United Kingdom. Here, we will explore our Scottish Masonic roots as well as celebrate the 300th Anniversary of the United Grand Lodge of England.

The journey begins on October 23, 2017 with an overnight flight from the U.S. to Glasgow. We will spend four days exploring Scotland, which offers us a unique opportunity to bond together while experiencing some of the most distinctive and important places in Masonic history, such as a visit to Kilwinning Lodge No. 0, the Mother Lodge of Scotland. Brothers will also have the option of attending the quarterly session of the Grand Lodge of Scotland during our visit to Edinburgh.

A stop in the City of York precedes our arrival in London, where group members will have time to explore. You will also have the option of attending the special UGLE 300th Anniversary celebrations. We will visit Sulgrave Manor, the ancestral home of George Washington, returning to the U.S. on November 2.

Full details of the trip are available on the Grand Lodge website. Please visit: https://nymasons.org/2016/trip-united-kingdom/. This pilgrimage is offered on a first-come, first-served basis and promises to be sold out very quickly. We strongly recommend that you register early to ensure your participation in this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

GM Plans Pilgrimage to UGLE

Annual RW Herman Weiss Award

(Foreground) Award Recipients: W Adam Schoepflin and VW Alan SchneiderRow 2 (l-r) RW Larry Schlesinger, Second Vice President; Elizabeth Schoepflin;RW Gregory Noulas, President; and RW George Wacob, First Vice President.

In the rear are all the past recipients of the award.

On November 14, 2016 the Queens Masonic District held their 28th

Annual RW Herman Weiss Award Dinner. This event is sponsored by the Queens Purple Circle. The award is given to a Mason within the District who exemplifies the true meaning of Masonry, not only in his Lodge but

also in the District and Freemasonry in general.

Congratulations go to VW Allan Schneider and W Adam Schoepflin. They were chosen this year’s recipients of the RW Herman Weiss Award for their dedicated service in their Lodges and the District.

A great time was had by all at Westbury Manor. Thanks go to the 150 members and guests who came out and made it a special night for both our Brothers. In attendance also were RW Paul Rosen, Grand Secretary, and his lovely wife Clare.

Grand Lodge of New York’s 2017 Grand Master’s UK Journey

Exploring Masonry’s Scottish Roots

& Celebrating the UGLE 300th Anniversary

October 23 – November 2, 2017

Itinerary Date Activity Oct.23 DepartU.S.forGlasgow,Scotland Oct.24 Glasgow,Scotland Oct.25 GlasgowSightseeing Oct.26 EdinburghSightseeing Oct.27 VisitLodgeMotherKilwinningNo.0 Oct.28 DepartGlasgow;York Oct.29 DepartYork;London Oct.30 Londonsightseeing; UGLE300thAnniversaryEvents* Oct.31 “Onyourown”; UGLE300thAnniversaryEvents* Nov.1 DepartLondon;SulgraveManor Nov.2 DepartLondonforU.S.

Pricing* Perperson,doubleoccupancy: $3,299ppSingleOccupancy: $4,499pp

Prices quoted includeaccommodations, dailybreakfast one lunch, two dinners, driver andtourguidegratuitiesandmosttours.Airfare and travel insurance are additional.Insuranceisstronglyrecommended.Pleaseaskusforaquote.A$500perpersondeposit isdueat timeofbooking. Final payment is due August 10,2017*Exclusive UGLE event; extra charge applies

Masonic Trips Support Masonic Causes

Spaceisextremelylimited.Don’tmissthisonce-in-a-lifetimeopportunity.

Reserveyourspacenow!

2017 brings an extraordinary journey to the GrandLodgeofNewYork,andtheGrandMasterispleasedtoinviteyoutojoinhimtotraceMasonichistoryintheUnitedKingdom.

WearriveinScotlandtoexperiencethewarmthof thepeopleandthehistoryof thecountry.Visitsareplannedto such ancient sites as Stirling Castle, Roslyn Chapeland Edinburgh Castle. We will also visit Lodge MotherKilwinningNo.0, themother lodgeof Scotland, datingback to the year 1140. Brothers may opt to attend thequarterlysessionof theGrandLodgeofScotlandduringourvisittoEdinburgh.

From Scotland we journey to London but not beforestoppinginhistoricYorkforsightseeingandanovernight.Then it’s on to London where our group members willhave the exclusive opportunity to celebrate the 300thAnniversary of theUnitedGrand Lodge of England.AnexclusivevisittoSulgraveManorandtheancestralhomeof George Washington is our final stop before headingbacktotheU.S.

Inpartnershipwith

For more information and to make your reservation, contact:

JudiStern—[email protected];917/692-3806

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND


INTErNATIONAL OrdEr OF THE rAINBOw FOr GIrLS IN NY

Mrs. gale gould

supreme inspector in ny35 Maple street

auburn, new york 13021Phone: 315/253-8206

e-mail:[email protected]: www.nyiorg.org

: facebook.com/ny rainbow

OrGANIzATION OF TrIANGLES, INC.

Mary Madison

state Director

email: [email protected]: www.nytriangle.org

: facebook.com/ooTny

NEw YOrk dEMOLAY2150 Bleecker street, Utica, new york 13501

rW williaM M sardone office 315/798-4922 Grand Master DeMolay international fax 315/798-4798 [email protected] Website: nyDemolay.org

: facebook.com/nyDemolay

: Twitter.com/nyDeMolay

: nyDeMolay

The Degree of Chevalier and the Cross of Honor are two forms of

recognition that are conferred on the best of the best. Such was the intent of the evening at Masonic Hall when the RW Charles Catapano, Deputy Grand Master, joined DeMolay for

these ceremonies. While the room was filled many rows deep with visitors and members, it was great that the Grand Treasurer, the RW Peter Flihan was able to bring greetings.

This ceremony not only highlighted seven well-deserving recipients, it also

highlighted the strong presence of Senior DeMolays who became members of the Craft. Special thanks go to the Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Home for allowing DeMolay to meet, flourish and grow in our Masonic Hall.

Youth Org. Confers Honors at Masonic Hall


It may seem as if the last issue of the Empire State Mason wrapped up the

historic meetings in Brazil that MW Jeffrey M. Williamson Grand Master; RW Edmund D. Harrison, Past General Grand High Priest of General Grand Chapter International; and RW William M. Sardone, Grand Master DeMolay International, witnessed and participated in. Actually, it was the beginning of networking that is spanning multiple countries—not just with Masonry but with DeMolay, as well.

Our time in Brazil introduced me to a W Paul Derrica from Portugal. He

said his son is thirteen, had researched DeMolay and would love to join. But as we all know, DeMolay has not started in Portugal at this time. W Derrica said they would be in the States for the holidays and that was all I needed to hear.

Once I knew the dates we checked calendars. NJ DeMolay was having a one-day induction in Point Pleasant. W Derrica said they would be there and RW Edmund D. Harrison came, too. Derrica’s son Paulo became a DeMolay that day and became a member of The Knights of Antiquity Chapter in Brentwood, NY, where they will be

spending next summer. We are truly global.

I could easily continue to write about this coordination of cooperation, but I think it is best to end with some words written by Brother Paulo Derrica, a new, thirteen-year-old DeMolay.

“The best part was when I arrived and it seemed that I had known everyone for a long time, I felt home. I’m very happy that I’ve become a DeMolay and cannot even imagine.”

Many people effortlessly came together. Proud moments such as these, none will forget.

DeMolay GM Shows How It’s DoneBy RW Bill Sardone, Grand Master DeMolay International


Brother Walter Gillis loved and was inspired by Harry Chapin. Along with his wife Shirley and a few other

dedicated folks, Walt was a lead organizer of the annual Croton-on-Hudson area Harry Chapin Memorial Run against Hunger. The goal was to raise funds for Why Hunger (then World Hunger Year) and local organizations fighting hunger and poverty. He talked many times to MW James Sullivan to encourage other Masons to get involved in the Run Against Hunger.

In 2013 MW Sullivan made a contribution to the Run, and he was followed by MW William Thomas in 2014 and 2015. This year Grand Master MW Jeffrey Williamson again made a contribution to support the “Harry Chapin Memorial Run Against Hunger” to show the world one of our great tenets: Charity.

In 1981, just a few short months after the tragic death of singer-songwriter, Harry Chapin, the community in Croton-

on-Hudson, NY created an annual race. Using the name of Harry Chapin, they began to raise funds to fight hunger and provide food to children and adults in need locally, across the U.S. and around the world.

Harry Chapin was best known for his amazing story songs: “Cat’s in the Cradle,” “Taxi,” “W*O*L*D,” and “Circle.” As a humanitarian, he also dedicated his life toward the cause of ending world hunger. He successfully lobbied congressmen and President Jimmy Carter to establish a Presidential Commission on World Hunger and he started Why Hunger (then named World Hunger Year) and Long Island Cares (one of the country’s first regional food banks). He raised and donated millions of dollars to fight hunger and he inspired thousands of his fans to support the cause.

The day includes a 1-Mile Fun Run, a 5K Run/Walk and a 10K Race. Local Lodges host a NY Masonic ID program. The Harry Chapin Memorial Run Against Hunger is organized and managed by a committee of volunteers and is a registered 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. The 37th annual Harry Chapin Run and Walk Against Hunger will be Sunday, October 15, 2017.

Harry Chapin with guitar.

MW James E. Sullivan with Steve Stout, holding picture of Harry Chapin.

Harry Chapin check presentation by MW Jeffrey M. Williamson

Grand Lodge Supports “The Harry Chapin

Memorial Run Against Hunger”By MW James E. Sullivan


rW & reV. CHarles M. roBerTs, Grand Chaplain eMeritus


Grand Chaplain’s Corner

Freemasonry teaches us as we come into the Lodge, opening the ancient expression of our ritual, which speaks of hailing

from a Lodge of the Holy Saints John of Jerusalem. This is a reference to the gathering of the early brotherhood under the leadership of John the Baptist out in the wilderness of Jerusalem to repent and be one with God, and later under the leadership of John the Evangelist (the Apostle of Jesus) in the early years of the Jewish Church after the death of its Lord Jesus Christ. Saint John the Baptist was indeed the only patron for the Order for many centuries. It was not until subsequent to the sixteenth century that St. John the Evangelist was adopted by Freemasonry as a patron of the Order as well. Masonry holds times of festive boards for each of these patrons: John the Baptist is June 24 and St. John the Evangelist, on December 27. Why do we hold these two patrons so highly in the Fraternity?

John the Baptist is revered because of his stern integrity, which induced him to forego every minor consideration in discharging the obligations he owed to God; the unshaken firmness with which he met martyrdom rather than betray his duty to his Master. His steady rebuke of vice and continued preaching of repentance and virtue make him a fit patron of the Masonic institution. St. John the Evangelist is honored because of his constant admonition to the cultivation of brotherly love, undying devotion to his God, and the mystical nature of his apocalyptic visions (revelations of a new world to come)—perhaps the principal reasons for the veneration paid to him by the Craft.

Both patrons are illuminations for us as Masons to emulate in our Masonic life and throughout our daily walk of life. Why do I state this? Because both patrons teach us to subdue our passions and improve ourselves in Masonry and for life. Freemasonry is far removed from all that is trivial, selfish, and ungodly. Its structure is built upon the everlasting foundation of that God-given law, the brotherhood of man in the family whose Father is God. Freemasonry welcomes to its door and admits to its privileges worthy men. It insists, though,

that all men shall stand upon an exact equality and receive its instructions in a spirit of due humility, emphasizing, in demeanor, in conduct, in ceremony, and in language, the helpless, groping nature of man at his birth, and his need of reliance upon Divine guidance throughout life. Masons are taught to divest their mind and conscience of all the vices and superfluities of life; and the Fraternity suggests what we can expect when admitted to the Craft, divesting ourselves of all those distinctions and equipments which are not in keeping with the humble, reverent, and childlike attitude which is the duty of all Masons to assume before their God. Freemasonry encourages each man to be steadfast in the faith of his acceptance. It takes all good men by the hand and leads them to its altars, points to the open Bible thereon, and urges upon each that he faithfully direct his steps through life by the light he there shall find as he there shall find it.

Brethren, as the new year 2017 is unfolding before our very eyes—upon our Fraternity, our world, our Nation and hopefully in our personal lives—let it urge upon each of us as Masons a concerted effort and determination to live out the teachings of our great Fraternity to even greater heights. May we infuse in our Lodges and ourselves those noble qualities, or rather emulations, bound by duty, honor, and gratitude, to be faithful to our trust, to support the dignity of our character on every occasion, and to enforce, by precept and example, obedience to the tenets of the Fraternity.

Finally, my brethren, may 2017 bring to light in you that realization that your manhood does not depend upon your position, but upon your character. Be a true man in your home as well as out in life. Make others know that a gentleman stands before them. Make the most and the best for yourself. It is your duty as a man among men; a son or husband, or father; as a citizen of this Great Republic; as a duly obligated Master Mason; as the most glorious climax of all created things; for the true man is the human image of the Mason’s God. Be as our Patrons of the Order.

Patrons of the Order


Lodges took the class and became certified. Members of our District are encouraged to take this class. This is a new program under the guidance of our MW Jeffrey M. Williamson. The

Grand Master would like to see at least two Brothers from each Lodge become certified. Please consider joining the next class when the date becomes available.

Masonic Education in the Ninth

Trinity Lodge 12 continued its tradition of feeding the needy by

organizing its annual Thanksgiving Basket giveaway. The Lodge established a relationship with a church in a needy area many years ago and has been working with them to ensure that those

in need in the community are not forgotten. Trinity Lodge puts together food baskets to feed twenty-five families, supplying everything needed for a Thanksgiving feast. There is food enough to provide for these families for the holiday week. Their efforts are

much appreciated by the recipients of the baskets and the church that they work through.

This annual event brings happiness to many that would otherwise not have the traditional holiday meal. RW Robert Stein is a Social Services liaison and is able to guide a number of these individuals to seek help through the local food pantries and soup kitchens.

Trinity lost one of its elder statesmen this fall, which brought a great sadness to the brotherhood. RW Rudy Feye had been a Trinity institution for many years and continued to be an active member until he gave up his working tools. Brother. Rudy was a fifty-one year Mason and was the District Deputy in 1971-1972. After a short Lodge meeting on October 18 the Lodge was open to ladies and guests as a memorial service was held to honor RW Rudy Feye. It was very well attended, which demonstrated the place of respect that Brother Rudy held amongst his peers. His wise words, advice and kindness will be greatly missed by his Brothers, friends and family.

Masonic education in the Ninth Manhattan District continues at a

rapid rate. In June there was a Master’s Chair class that was very well attended. RW Bob Stein, with the assistance of RW Georg Dauterman, recently conducted a Masonic Development Course. It was very successful, as many members of the District completed the course.

These classes are a great source of information for those Brothers seeking to move up the line as well as those who have gone through the chairs. Brothers Georg and Bob continue to learn new things as they give these classes. Continuing your Masonic education is important for all Brothers and anyone who has not taken these classes is strongly encouraged to do so.

In October the District hosted a NorthStar program class, which was well attended. Many Brothers from multiple Brothers in the Masonic Development Course

Trinity Lodge Feeds Needy


Submission guidelines for publication in the ESM

MArCH 2017 2–4 Grand Chapter raM - albany, ny 5 72nd Metro Districts interfaith Breakfast Marina Del rey - Bronx, ny 11 DeMolay GM’s Class and Table Chapter - Utica, ny 12 Dundee lodge 123 Building Dedication - Dundee, ny 18 Chemung-schuyler Tioga District awards - spencer, ny 23 Queens District Testimonial Dinner - Westbury, ny 31 Delaware night

APrIL 2017 1 QUesT - rockville Center, ny 8 DD/so Training 21 suffolk District Dinner - riverhead, ny 22 Wallkill lodge 627 150th anniversary re-dedication 28 George Washington re-enactment - nyC

MAY 2017 1–2 Grand lodge session - nyC 7 Trumansburg lodge 157 100th anniversary of Building 11–14 Grand Court amaranth 21 erie Districts Masonic Breakfast

SAVE THE dATE:The Grand line will be conferring the 1st Degree of Masonry on saturday, June 3, 2017 at the George Washington Masonic Memorial site in Tappan, ny.

dATES TO rEMEMBEr

Articles Due Datefor the SUMMER Issue

of the Empire State Magazine

is April 1, 2017

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Members of Ancient Temple Lodge 14 assisted Santa in delivering toys

to the Albany Medical Center Children’s Hospital on Saturday, December 17. Present for this event were: W Gary Messina, RW Roy Stock and Brother Michael DellaValle.

Lodge Delivers Toys to Hospital


From the Grand leCturerrW riCHarD J. Kessler,Grand leCturer 716/698-9324 (C)[email protected]

Brethren, in contrast to my previous articles, I decided to go into length on a few questions that are periodically

asked. The length of the responses has thereby limited the space reserved for the Grand Lecturer’s column. I hope that the explanation of these recurring questions can alleviate some concerns regarding our ritual. Remember that our ritual is a combination of theological, philosophical and academic disciplines. It is not stagnant, but instead a living, breathing part of our Craft’s history and the source of our future vibrancy.Q. Does the additional Proficiency Requirement in open

Lodge affect determining proficiency for advancement?A. No. As always, the Worshipful Master determines

proficiency for his Lodge. The new program is a strongly recommended suggestion endorsed by the Grand Master, Grand Lecturer and Custodians of the Work to improve our collective ritualistic performance. The program is intended as a first step towards all proficiency being held in open Lodge. Having the new Brother prove that he knows the signs, grips and words in open Lodge is a check and balance for the Lodge that he is receiving the tools he needs to be comfortable being in Lodge after his Raising. It also presents the opportunity for the Brother to get more comfortable speaking in open Lodge. Lastly, it proves that the Lodge and candidate are working with each other and bonding. I find it extremely disheartening that there is a significant pushback from some brethren regarding this program. While there are no repercussions for not adopting this new initiative, I believe that Lodges that embrace this new program are much more likely to provide a rich and meaningful learning environment for their membership. I also believe that the participant Lodges will be stronger and more vibrant as a reult.

Q. What is a Cowan?A. The origin is unknown but it may be early Scottish. It

was used of a man who practiced Masonry, usually of the roughest character, as in the building of walls, who had not been regularly trained and initiated, corresponding in some sense to “scab” as used by labor unions. If a man has learned the work by some illegal method he is a Cowan. An “eavesdropper” is one who spies on a Lodge, and may be such without having learned anything about it before. A “clandestine” is one who has gone through initiation ceremonies but not in a regular Lodge. An old Scottish dictionary gives the following definitions: • A term of contempt and applies to one who has not been regularly trained.• One not acquainted with the secrets of Freemasonry. • An intruder, one who claims to be a Mason but never receiving his degrees in a legitimate Lodge.

Q. Why is a Symbolic Lodge sometimes called a “Blue Lodge?”

A. The mother of all Freemasonry, the place where every man begins his journey into the Ancient Craft of Free and Accepted Masons: The Blue Lodge. It has been here in America that the term “Blue Lodge” has become popularized and so widely used. Originally, it was frowned upon, and Lodges were called Craft Lodges or Ancient Craft Lodges; some were even called a St. Johns Lodge. According to Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia there may be a number of reasons why symbolic Lodges are called Blue Lodges. Since ancient times the color blue has been associated with immortality, eternity, and fidelity. References to the color blue in the Bible emphasize the special place blue has as a color symbolizing goodness and immortality. The Druids also honored the color while the ancient Egyptians used the color to represent Amun, one of their most important gods. The ancient Babylonians associated the color blue with the gods. In Medieval times, Christians saw blue as the symbol of perfection and hope as well as of immortality and fidelity.It is not known when blue first came to be associated with Freemasonry, although some historians think that initially the color was used in Craft Masonry to represent the sky. Today, blue for Masons symbolizes brotherhood and symbolizes the fact that Masons should seek out virtues as extensive as the blue dome of heaven.Albert Mackey’s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, under “Blue,” has further light to share. He says, “Blue is emphatically the color of Masonry. It is the appropriate tincture of the Ancient Craft degrees. The Hebrew word for blue when referring to spiritual matters is tekhelet derived from a root word meaning perfection. It is well known that among the ancients, initiation into the mysteries and “perfection” are synonymous terms and this is why blue is the appropriate color for the greatest of all the systems of initiation the world has ever known, The Ancient Blue Lodge Craft.”

Q. Where can I find instructions for the placement of the Bible for our three Degrees?

A. There is nothing in the existing Standard Work and Lectures (SWL) that specifies that the Bible is to be opened to a specific passage of scripture when the Lodge is working in a specific Degree. To the best of my knowledge, it is one of those things that has been assumed to be known. When a Lodge is working in a specific Degree, the Bible is supposed to be opened to the scripture reading from the ritual for that Degree. In order to alleviate any confusion, the Custodians of the Work will address this issue in future editions of the SWL.


THE GRAND SECRETARY’SGOLF CLASSIC

SPONSORED BY:GRAND LODGE

FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE

Date: Thursday, June 8, 2017

Outing will be held at Woodmere Country Club,

Woodmere NY. This outing will be held to help

support The Masonic Care Community, Camp Turk & other

Masonic Charities.

All Golfers & Non Golfers welcome.

It’s all for charity.

SPONSORSHIPS

PURPLE PACKAGE: $800• 4 Golfers in Outing & Sign on Course

BANQUET SPONSOR: $1500• Logo at Buffet Dinner

CART SPONSOR: $1000• Logo on all Golf Carts

HOLE SPONSOR: $125• Sign on Tee Box

PUTTING GREEN SPONSOR: $350• Sign on Putting Green

DRIVING RANGE SPONSOR: $750• Sign at Driving Range

GIFT GIVEAWAY SPONSOR: $1500• Sign at Registration Range

A Hole in One Prize of a 2017 Harley Davidson Motorcycle

Longest Drive Men & Women

Closest to the Pin

Most Accurate Drive Men & Women

Low GROSS Team & Low NET Team

Low GROSS Single & Low NET Single

Low Score Mason

Low Score Women

Directions to Golf CourseFrom All Points:Take Southern State to Exit 19S. Then take Peninsula Blvd to Woodmere Blvd and make a left. Take this to Pond Lane and make a right. Then make a right onto Ivy Hill Road. The club will be on your left.

TICKETS:• $175 PER GOLFER OR $700 PER FOURSOME

OR

• $75 PER PERSON FOR JUST DINNER OPEN BAR, BUFFET AND PRIZES

Contact Persons:Walter J. Wasnieski III 516/507-4502

Mark Suckle 516/448-3124Angel Ruiz 347/234-2800

Marshal D. Shichtman 516/652-5220Richard Giordano 516/426-2260

Make Payment out to:Second Kings Charities Fund Inc.

Mail To:1732 Lehigh Road

Wantagh, NY 11793

Come and enjoy the day, be with friends, make new friends. Please fill out the brochure and send back on or before June 1, 2017 to secure your place for this fun-filled afternoon of golf. Delicious buffet dinner with full open bar after golf and door prizes.

S C H E D U L ETime Event11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sign in and Full Service Brunch1:30 p.m. Shotgun Start6:30 p.m.– 9:00 p.m. Cocktail hour & buffet dinner & awards

Prizes

Boy’s Camp Girl’s Camp July 2nd – July 22nd July 23rd – August 12th

One, two or three-week options available

Contact us for a Financial Aid Application(deadline to apply for aid is May 1st)

For more information call 315/392-2081OR

Visit us on the web to register!www.CampTurk.org

spring 2017...2 the empire state mason magazine “a way of life” spring 2017 mw jeffrey m....

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