‘George Washington Masonic Stamp Club’

     

The George Washington Masonic Stamp Club will honor composer and New York Freemason Jean Sibelius at its meeting September 6 in Baltimore. This year is the sesquicentennial anniversary of his birth on December 8, 1865.

In 1922, Sibelius was among the founders of Suomi Lodge No. 1 in Helsinki, chartered by the Grand Lodge of New York. He was elected Fellow Number 3 of The American Lodge of Research in New York City. Suomi is the owner of the composer’s music for the three Craft degrees. Click here for an article by William Peacher.

The meeting will take place at 1 p.m.—during the annual Baltimore Philatelic Exposition at the Hunt Valley Inn, Wyndham Grand Hotel, at 245 Shawan Road in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

The program on Jean Sibelius will include a multimedia presentation of the great Finnish composer’s music and, of course, stamps issued in his honor. This meeting, like all BALPEX meetings, will be open to the public (with door prizes for all in attendance).



Any applications for membership in GWMSC may be voted upon at this meeting, but candidates will have to wait until the February annual meeting to receive the actual degree.

The club hopes its members will promote club activities in their lodges and other Masonic gatherings. Any Freemason in good standing in a recognized Craft lodge is eligible for membership. There are no annual dues, only a nominal one-time life membership fee. The Master of Philately Degree is conferred at the club’s February meeting at the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia, but it is not necessary to receive the degree to hold club membership. Click here for the membership application.

Club President Walter Benesch also says he is in possession of a deceased member’s collection of covers, and that the lot is available for the right price, so get to Baltimore to see these stamps for yourself.