‘Joshua Associations still exist!’

    

Magpie file photo

The East of Oriental Hall, Masonic Temple, Philadelphia. The Joshua Association will meet therein Monday night.

I had no idea, but an announcement the other day from Comp. Nick showed how the Joshua Association of Philadelphia is still in business, which led me to find that other Joshua Associations are alive too. I assumed these groups, which got their start more than a century ago, had withered and disappeared like ancillary capillaries that shut down quietly as the overall fraternity atrophies.

Anyway, Nick reports his Joshua Association (he’s Second Vice President) will meet next week! From the publicity:

Ye Antient, Olde & Original

Joshua Association

Monday, September 28

Dinner at six o’clock

Meeting at seven in Oriental Hall

Masonic Temple

1 North Broad Street, Philadelphia

For dinner, meet at 5:45 at Sabroso+Sorbo in the Notary Hotel (corner of Juniper and Filbert). The Knife & Fork Degree will be conferred on new members. Any Companions who would like to receive the degree are welcome to attend.

M.E. Thomas McConnell

If you’re not familiar, the best I can do is this brief comment from M.E. Thomas McConnell, Jr., Grand High Priest of the Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter of Pennsylvania, at its Annual Grand Communication of December 27, 1917 at that historic Masonic Temple:

About ten years ago, a voluntary association of the Most Excellent High Priests of Chapters meeting in Philadelphia was formed under the title of “Joshua Association” to which Past High Priests, Kings, and Scribes have since been made eligible, and it seems also to be a part of their plan to elect Grand Officers to honorary membership as soon as they are elected in Grand Chapter.

The plan of the Association has been to visit Chapters in and about Philadelphia and encourage and help them. They have always been in hearty and sympathetic accord with the work of Grand Chapter, and especially so during the past year. The officers and members have cordially and earnestly seconded my work wherever possible, have in many instances timed their visitations to accord with mine, and, while their Association has no official status as an association, the officers and members are entitled to a word of commendation for the able and unselfish work they are doing to build up Royal Arch Masonry in Philadelphia and its vicinity. I wish more of the Companions in this and other localities would emulate their example.

From what I understand, the ritual focus of a century ago has dissipated, and today the Association is simply social in its activities. Also, it seems membership has extended across the Delaware River to embrace Royal Arch Masons from New Jersey and Delaware. The companions will meet next on March 22, 2027.

Other Joshua Associations, from what I see, include Anthracite No. 2 (wear red socks) which meets in central Pennsylvania; and Lehigh Valley, which will reach its 86th anniversary next March 31 in Lenhartsville.

Who’s Joshua? First, click here, then pursue further Light by taking the degrees of Royal Arch Masonry.