‘Livingston Library closes’

      

The Chancellor Robert R. Livingston Masonic Library of the Grand Lodge of New York is closed, according to a message today from the institution.

“Due to the increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in New York State, the Livingston Masonic Library & Museum will be closed temporarily until further notice,” reads its website.

The civil authorities here in New York boasted today of lower transmission rates and fewer hospitalizations, while announcing lifting socialization restrictions and promising more liberalization is soon to come.

Library staff will be on duty in limited hours, but no visitations are possible.

A memo disseminated yesterday by Grand Master William M. Sardone, addressing the subject of the belated Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge now scheduled for May, says plans are being made to proceed with that meeting, and reminds “the COVID danger is real.”

“The safety of our members, their families and friends, as well as the future of our fraternity, are always part of every discussion,” Sardone adds.

The Grand Master himself was hospitalized recently to be treated for both COVID-19 and pneumonia.

He closed his letter to the fraternity with details of a Zoom conference for tomorrow night when the brethren may discuss and ask questions about the upcoming Grand Lodge session. The May 2020 annual meeting was canceled, keeping the grand staff in place an additional year.

(My own lodge has not convened since last March, instead employing Zoom for substitute meetings, plus educational lectures and planning sessions.)