‘Our 101st installation’

    

Monday night was the occasion of the 101st Installation of Officers at Publicity Lodge 1000. Vivat!

It was on Monday, October 30, 1922 when Grand Master Arthur Tompkins, assisted by the elected grand line, plus a grand chaplain and the grand marshal, constituted Publicity and installed its officers. The November 11, 1922 edition of Editor & Publisher reports: “The ceremony of constitution was attended by many Masons from other New York lodges, and visitors from abroad, including the past grand master of Masons of Nova Scotia. The master of Saint Nicholas Lodge No. 321, accompanied by a delegation of members, was present and presented Publicity with a handsome ballot box.” (E&P covered the event because the lodge was founded by media professionals.)

I wonder if that ballot box is the one we currently use. It’s handsome, but doesn’t look that old.

A unique cake for a special night.

What I do know is our lodge is in for a dynamic year. Almost the entire officer line are Masons of relatively few years, having been in the Craft an average of about, I think, five years, except for myself and the Brother Senior Warden who are well past the twenty-year mark. Our Worshipful Master is young in age and in Masonry, and he’s keen on education, and I am to take the lead on that. (I withhold names because I don’t know if they want to be known publicly as Freemasons.) The trestleboard for the year is in the works, and it’s guaranteed to be a busy mix in celebration of our centenary.