‘Go to Tappan on October 6’

    

Make sure you are free on Sunday, October 6 for two fun, family-friendly events in Tappan. Yes, once again both Grand Master’s Day and Traubenfest have been scheduled for the same day.

The former will be different from the customary tree dedication ceremony, and will be a relaxed picnic. The latter remains an Oktoberfest-style party with German food, beer, and music hosted by the Ninth Manhattan District. In my experience, the weather somehow always is perfect on these days.

And, later that month, look for Grand Master’s Family Day at West Point to see the Black Knights play the Pirates of East Carolina University. (I didn’t even know East Carolina was a state!) Outstanding autumn activities.

     

‘Grand Master’s Day at Tappan’

   

I think I’m not really ready for September because I forgot to remind you about Grand Master’s Day at DeWint House—on Sunday!

(There also is Grand Master’s Family Day at West Point for the ball game, but that is sold out.)

That’s from noon to five. Fun, food, and music for the whole family at the historic site that served as Gen. George Washington’s headquarters during the Revolution. A beautiful place with an impressive museum in addition to the seventeenth century house. RSVP to RW Lloyd here.

     

‘EA Degree at DeWint House!’

    

Something different is planned for Grand Master’s Day next month at DeWint House: an Entered Apprentice Degree!

I’m guessing this will be outdoors under a tent on the beautiful grounds of the historic site.

Sunday, October 2. Lunch at noon. Degree begins at one o’clock. Bring your regalia. Book your seats with RW Alonza Lloyd (I haven’t sat in lodge with him in ages!) by emailing him here.

If you are unacquainted, DeWint House is a seventeenth century house in Tappan that served as one of Gen. George Washington’s headquarters during the Revolution. It is most famously known for its association with the trial and execution of British Maj. John Andre, conspirator with Gen. Benedict Arnold in the attempted betrayal of West Point. The property was acquired by Grand Lodge about ninety years ago, and it has been preserved as a historic site, with a separate museum, open to the public, for as long as anyone can remember. (I think my lodge played an essential role in inspiring Grand Lodge to buy the land, but I haven’t researched that.) The grounds are populated with numerous exotic trees and other flora, plus monuments, historic graves, and more. Click here for some photos.

It’s well worth visiting any day, but this Grand Master’s Day sounds like an unforgettable occasion.

But wait, there’s more!

At the same time, and about a mile away, the lodges of the Ninth Manhattan District will host their annual Traubenfest, a day of German food, drink, and song. It’s a great, family-friendly time in German Masonic Park that goes until sunset. The two events make for a wonderful day, and in my experience, the weather has been perfect every time somehow.

DeWint House is located at 20 Livingston Street. Traubenfest, in German Masonic Park, is found at 89 Western Highway. Both in Tappan.

See you there.

     

‘Ham radio day at DeWint House’

    

From The Simpsons, of course.

There are subcultures in the Masonic world of which I know next to nothing. Case in point: the ham radio guys.

I’ve heard about them. I’m acquainted with several of them. If I’m not mistaken, there has been some recent talk of establishing an affinity lodge somewhere in this area for amateur radio enthusiasts.

I don’t even turn on my phone, so this activity isn’t for me, but maybe this news is welcome to you. On Saturday, September 24, Freemasons from New York and environs will gather at historic DeWint House in Tappan for a full day of ham radioing.

Set-up starts at 9 a.m. and closing time will be seven at night, with the event running from 10 to 6. But I imagine the point is to talk on the radio, so that entails contacting W2QX on frequency NJ2BS.

The other details are in the image below, if you can make it out.

During childhood, my family had an impressive Citizens Band radio array. Believe it or not, CB radio was quite a craze in the seventies. We had some kind of amplifier that allowed me to speak with a guy in Tennessee one time! Fun for me, but not so much for the neighbors, who heard my every word when they were trying to watch Johnny Carson.

      

‘Grand Lodge at Utica this fall’

     

While this is not a Masonic secret, I don’t know how widely known it is because I don’t hear any talk of it, but Grand Lodge will host its next Annual Communication this fall.

That will be Saturday, October 23 in the Masonic Care Community at Utica for the first full session since COVIDmania ruined everything. The highlight, of course, will be the election of officers, particularly that four-way contest of superstars for Deputy Grand Master.

Also, please know there will be “Welcome Back” festivities in September to herald our return to regular labors. Two Saturdays: September 11 and 18, the first at Vestal, out in Broome County, and the second at DeWint House in Tappan.

I think we can expect more than the typical food and fellowship because of the added energy we’ll all feel from being liberated and together again after so long. I can’t even remember when I last visited DeWint House.

     

     

‘Washington’s birthday bash at DeWint House’

     

Magpie file photo

DeWint House historical site in Tappan, New York.

New York Freemasonry will commemorate the birthday of Bro. George Washington with an event at DeWint House next month.

DeWint House is the historical site in Tappan, owned and operated by Grand Lodge, that served as Gen. Washington’s headquarters several times during the Revolutionary War.

For Sunday, February 16, the George Washington Historical Site at Tappan Committee has planned a celebration featuring entertainment by the Sons of Liberty Living History Organization.

DeWint House is located at 20 Livingston Street. Start time is 1 p.m. Attire: casual. Light collation to follow. Snow date: TBD.
     

‘Grand Master’s Day at DeWint House’

     

Kudos to the planning committee of Grand Master’s Day 2019! There is a change of program this time that can only make the day even more fun. There was nothing wrong with the previous way of doing things, with a killer brunch before the festivities at DeWint House, but having a barbecue at DeWint House will be awesome.

I think this flier says it all, so I have nothing more to add except that if you’ve never been to DeWint House, you should make the effort. Even if you cannot attend Grand Master’s Day, please make the trip another time at your convenience. It is more than a historic site with an impressive museum; this special place offers beautiful grounds with exotic trees and other attractions. A very peaceful space.

See some old photos here.

Listen, the organizers need your reservations. They don’t need surprises. They say the site can accommodate 100 cars, but I think that’s pretty optimistic. See you there.
     

‘Washington’s birthday at DeWint House’

     

Magpie file photo

DeWint House in Tappan, New York.

DeWint House, the George Washington historic site in Tappan that is owned and operated by New York Freemasonry for the benefit of the public, never lets a Washington birthday pass without celebration. This month is no different with a play scheduled for performance on Sunday the 18th. From the publicity:

George Washington

Birthday Celebration

Sunday, February 18

(rain date: Feb. 25)

1 p.m. at DeWint House

20 Livingston Ave.

Tappan, New York

free admission

Each year, the George Washington Masonic Historic Site at Tappan Committee of our New York Grand Lodge marks the anniversary of the birth of our distinguished and revered Masonic Brother George Washington. Our nation’s first president and Founding Father, his Excellency George Washington set a most noble example as president, military hero, commanding general, cherished Masonic Brother and leader in our gentle Craft. This year will mark the 286th anniversary of his birth on February 22, 1732.

You and your lady and your Masonic friends are cordially and fraternally invited to join us at our upcoming celebration of Washington’s birthday on the grounds of DeWint House, the historic Washington Headquarters and Museum at Tappan.

Sean Brady and Gary Petagine, educators and historians, have visited us several times and presented stirring dramas centered on the events preceding the Benedict Arnold-John Andre treason. This play picks up on events following the treason trial. Light refreshments will be served.
     

‘Grand Masters Day at Tappan’

     

Magpie file photo

DeWint House is located at 20 Livingston Avenue in Tappan, New York.

I think I’ve neglected to spread the news of this year’s Grand Masters Day, but it’s coming soon. On Sunday, October 15 at 1 p.m., the brethren and the public are welcome to visit DeWint House, the George Washington Headquarters historic site owned and operated by the Grand Lodge of New York, for the special occasion.

It is a historic treasure and beautiful piece of property. The museum and the grounds are a must see. That is 20 Livingston Avenue in Tappan, New York. Click here to have a look at the place.
     

‘Who is Liberty Lodge No. 7?’

     
Two events this week in the Hudson Valley must be mentioned.

The Master of Solomon’s Lodge 196 in Tarrytown will present a lecture Thursday at the lodge’s meeting.

EDIT: Lecture is rescheduled to Thursday, December 7.

“Who Is Liberty Lodge No. 7?” is the result of W. Bradley Corsello’s research into the period of New York Masonic history characterized by the schisms that might have left the state with various competing grand lodges.

Solomon’s Lodge is located at 54 Main Street. Dinner at 7 p.m. Lodge opens at eight.

On Saturday afternoon, Colonial Day at Tappan will be hosted at DeWint House, the Washington Headquarters owned and operated by Grand Lodge.

That’s noon to five o’clock at 20 Livingston Street. Sponsored by Tappantown Historical Society. From the publicity:

Step back in time and visit Colonial America. Tour the Carriage House Museum and the DeWint House with costumed guides. See Colonial Army re-enactors, encampment soldiers, farm animals, and preparations for winter in the DeWint House kitchen. Watch spinners, lace-makers, quilters, embroiderers, woodcarvers, a sheepshearer, blacksmith, and colonial singers and dancers. For the children there is apple-pressing, stenciling, candle-dipping, writing with quill pens, making tussie mussies, juggling, and making a mob cap. Refreshments available.
     

‘Captor in Question at Tappan’

     
DeWint House, the headquarters of General George Washington in Tappan, New York owned and operated as a museum and historic site by the Grand Lodge of New York, will host a celebration of the 285th anniversary of Washington’s birth next month. From the publicity:

Magpie file photo

The 285th anniversary of the birth of our distinguished Brother and our nation’s first President will be observed in the Carriage House on the grounds of DeWint House.

Captor in Question

A new play and re-enactment

DeWint House

20 Livingston Street

Tappan, New York

Sunday, February 19

1 p.m.

The program will feature “Captor in Question,” a new play and re-enactment by Sean Brady and Gary Petagine of a historic event sure to capture your imagination and interest. Everyone is invited to this affair. Bring your families and friends. We always try to promote this beautiful site. Anyone interested in the history of our country, this site had a part in that formation. If you have never been there, now is the time to see the beautiful grounds and walk in the footsteps of George Washington and his troops. Honor the memory of our first President and Brother George Washington with your presence. The committee will be happy to show you the interior of DeWint House and the Carriage House, filled with artifacts from the Colonial era. This is a site that, as a Mason, will fill you with much pride as a member of this fraternity. (Snow date: February 26.)

There also will be a brunch at 11 a.m. at Casa Mia Manor House in Blauvelt. $37.50 per person, paid in advance, by contacting W. Bro. Ken Merring.
     

‘Looking to October in Tappan’

   

Magpie file photo

DeWint House historic site, owned and maintained by the Grand Lodge

of New York for the enjoyment of the public, located in Tappan, NY.

It’s hard to think of October right now, but Grand Master’s Day will take place Sunday, October 2 at DeWint House in Tappan, New York.

Masons, family, and friends are invited to take part in what I consider to be one of the most enjoyable afternoons on the Masonic calendar. I have been attending since, I think, 2009, and the weather has been perfect all but once, and even that was just a little brief rain.

A terrific buffet brunch (the most important meal between breakfast and lunch!) at The ’76 House (110 Main Street, Tappan) begins at 11 a.m. Seating is very limited, so advance payment is required to hold your place. Those details still to come.

At 1 p.m., the festivities at DeWint House (20 Livingston Avenue, Tappan) will begin. The program details are still to come.


Click here to see more of this wonderful historic site and museum, but better yet, get there some time to visit. If you cannot attend Grand Master’s Day, go to DeWint House during its regular hours and see this treasure for yourself.
      

‘Grand Master’s Day’

   

Magpie file photo

It’s that time of year! Well, not really. Grand Master’s Day 2015 was canceled for October 4, but has been rescheduled for March 13, 2016 at DeWint House in Tappan, New York.

Masons, family, and friends are invited to take part in what I consider to be one of the most enjoyable afternoons on the Masonic calendar. I have been attending since, I think, 2009, and the weather has been perfect all but once, and even that was just a little brief rain.

A terrific buffet brunch at The ’76 House (110 Main Street, Tappan) begins at 11:30 a.m. Seating is very limited, so advance payment is required to hold your place. Make $25-per-person check payable to The ’76 House, and remit to Ken Merring. Contact him here.

At 1 p.m., the festivities at DeWint House (20 Livingston Avenue, Tappan) will begin. The program starts with brethren from West Point Lodge No. 877 presenting the colors with the assistance of cadets from the U.S. Military Academy and Masonic War Veterans of the State of New York, the National Sojourners, and the Heroes of ’76. In addition to addresses by both Grand Master William J. Thomas and Deputy Grand Master Jeffrey M. Williamson, there will be entertainment provided by the Chorus of Tappan Zee, and Mr. Jack Sherry appearing in his guise as Benjamin Franklin.

Continuing the tradition, a tree—a sycamore this time—will be dedicated in honor of the Grand Master.

Click here to see more of this wonderful historic site and museum, but better yet, get there some time to visit. If you cannot attend Grand Master’s Day, go to DeWint House during its regular hours and see this treasure for yourself.
    

‘Washington’s birthday at DeWint House’

     

DeWint House in Tappan, New York.

CANCELED DUE TO SNOW

DeWint House, the George Washington Headquarters historic site and museum—owned and operated by the Free and Accepted Masons of New York—has announced its 2015 Washington’s Birthday plans. From the publicity:

His Excellency George Washington’s

Birthday Celebration

The George Washington Masonic Historic Site

20 Livingston Avenue

Tappan, New York

Sunday, February 8

(Snow Day Sunday, February 15)

All are welcome to attend services at the Tappan Reformed Church. Services begin at 10 a.m.

A brunch will be served at Old ’76 House. Serving will begin at 11:30 a.m. Details below. Reservations required.

The Annual Washington’s Birthday program at DeWint House will begin at 1 p.m. Program: Re-enactment of Revolutionary War Events by Gary Petigienne and Sean Grady.

Refreshments will be served following the program.

     

‘A sacred retreat’

     
Honestly, it feels like it was ten years ago, but it was only in 2012 when I was guest speaker at Grand Master’s Day at DeWint House in Tappan, New York. It is an annual celebration that I enjoy attending for a variety of reasons. Earlier this week, I accidentally found the text of my remarks from that day, from which the following is excerpted for today’s Flashback Friday. When the arrangements were made originally, I was told to prepare for ten minutes; on the day of, I was told by Head Honcho Norman Moon that the schedule was tight, and I now had four minutes. Norman!

Grand Master’s Day 2014 will take place next weekend, on the 24th, and RW Norman Moon will be the much deserving honoree. I am looking forward to it. But now, a look back at two years ago, with apologies to William Wordsworth.

Temples Lie Open unto the Fields

Presented to DeWint House

On Grand Masters Day

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master, Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master, Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Home, distinguished brethren, friends of Freemasonry, and supporters of the DeWint House all:

Thank you for the honor of being able to speak at this place today. 2012 is the eightieth anniversary of Grand Lodge’s acquisition of the DeWint House, and is the 260th anniversary of Bro. George Washington’s initiation into Freemasonry, and is the 280th anniversary of Washington’s birth. So I was hoping the stars would align, and keep the rain away.

I have come to praise the DeWint House. I’m a New Jersey Mason, so I’m kind of looking at things from the outside, but maybe that is a better vantage point – that of a visitor – to gain added perspective. I see the DeWint House as more than a historic site, and even as more than a Masonic treasure made accessible to the public. Having attended Grand Master’s Day and other events here for several years, I recognize this special place as nothing less than a temple dedicated to the heroes and ideals that made the creation of our nation possible. Perhaps you don’t hear it often enough, but these buildings and grounds you maintain so carefully serve to inform the American citizen of so many lessons that must be understood and appreciated in order for the meaning of America to be handed down to posterity.

This land is alive. The exotic trees and beautiful plants that please our eyes are much more than decoration. They tell the visitor to the DeWint House that Freemasonry and Americanism possess a vitality that feeds on new sensory experiences. This is not a
historic site frozen in time, despite its lovingly preserved structures and artifacts. This is a place to walk. Yes, it is remembered for who and what happened here way back when, but it also is a place that looks to its tomorrows. The landscape is so enticing, I wouldn’t be surprised if newly married couples came here with their photographers for wedding pictures, making their own histories. This cannot be taken for granted.

We face a crisis in American culture in which the creators of modern memorials to America’s great heroes and remembrances seem to not know what they are doing, while simultaneously those who visit these new places appear unable to dedicate their hearts and minds, even for a moment, to the purpose of the monuments.

Just an hour’s drive to the south, at the National September 11th Memorial where the World Trade Center once stood, many visitors – apparently detached from the loss of life there – regard that place not as hallowed ground, but as another tourist spectacle on the doubledecker bus route. The September 2 edition of the New York Post puts it this way:


They’re treating it like a national playground. At the National September 11th Memorial, tourists balance coffee cups and soda bottles on the parapets bearing the names of the dead.

Parents hoist their children to sit on the bronze plaques, while other visitors splash water from the two waterfalls onto their faces to cool themselves on a hot summer day.


It hasn’t even taken one generation to reach this point. It’s been eleven years.

Last October, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial was unveiled in Washington, DC. Known for his inspiring oratory, the monument actually manages to misquote King, putting words into his mouth that he didn’t actually say. I guess fact-checkers weren’t available. Worse still, in terms of symbolism, is the fact that the sculptor hired to create the statue comes from Communist China, where any fledgling Doctor King, and many a Christian in general, would find himself at the mercy of the police state. Furthermore, in a typical Chinese insult to America, the sculptor worked only in granite imported from China. I suppose quarries in the United States are fresh out of granite.

Also in the Federal City, but still in the planning stages, is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, which will be built near the base of Capitol Hill, and in proximity to Carter-era bureaucracies the planners say were in some way inspired by Eisenhower’s
presidency. But what really catches the critical eye is a depiction of Eisenhower himself. There is to be a sculpture of Eisenhower shown as a country boy. This is to symbolize the humble beginnings and great potential of so many Americans, and of America itself, but is it proper to show the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Force that liberated Europe, and that introduced the Pax Americana that interrupted a thousand years of war in Europe as a kid from Kansas? It gravely misses the point of it all. And seemingly deliberately, as the likeness of a child can hardly communicate the immense importance of what Ike accomplished in humanity’s most existential crisis.

I think what these projects need is a Masonic cornerstone-laying, or some other employment of the steady hand of Freemasonry. We aren’t afraid to champion grand ideas or to celebrate the greats of our history. They are key to our education as thinking, sentient, people.

Yes, George Washington slept here. And ate here. And commanded here. His personal staff flag flies here today because it has meaning that cannot be shelved like a book, or filed like a document. What New York Freemasonry gives to its fellow citizens by providing this special place cannot even be measured in a tangible way. It is something spiritual and educational. If properly understood, the DeWint House is a living testament to the virtues and morals that are the foundations of any free society, but especially ours.

You know the story of General Benedict Arnold’s treason and Major John Andre’s espionage, and how they came to involve this historic town and this very land where we meet today. But always remember what endures beyond the historical facts of those events in September and October of 1780. (Tuesday was the 232nd anniversary of Andre’s execution.) America has elected civilian leadership of her armed forces, so that no general in pursuit of greater personal glory can be positioned to destroy the nation. Appreciate how loyalty, truth, and honor are the supports of all square dealings among citizens. No social, economic, or political life can exist without these virtues being upheld by the people. No future worth having is possible without these fundamental ethics being visible in the actions of the government and the governed.

There can be no brotherly love among peoples who are bereft of loyalty, truth, and honor. To me, everything we see here stands for something. The graves of the slaves can remind us that slavery in the civilized world is dead. The exotic trees from so many distant places almost seem to teach us that if unity is achieved from diversity, greatness will follow. And of course the many representations of George Washington speak to his principled leadership as an underdog military commander who could not have achieved his immortality without his steadfast virtue.

Arnold is remembered as a traitor, his name is even synonymous with betrayal, while Major Andre was mourned as an officer killed in the service of his country – much as Nathan Hale is remembered. His statue stands in City Hall Park in Manhattan – so there are different perspectives. And it was not entirely preordained that Andre would hang. He could have been returned to the British lines in an exchange of prisoners. Congress would have stayed the execution. But when it was time to issue the death warrant, it fell to George Washington to administer the deadly lesson in what awaits those who would betray the new nation.

Here at the DeWint House we stand upon the shoulders of giants, which allows us to benefit from the successes of America’s past, while looking ahead into the future.

I thank you for your time.
     

‘Grand Master’s Day next month’

     
Usually held on the first Sunday of October, Grand Master’s Day this year is scheduled for Sunday, August 24. The typical great day of events remains unchanged. From the publicity:

Magpie file photo

DeWint House in Tappan, NY.

MW William J. Thomas, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York, will make the annual Grand Master’s Day visit to DeWint House, the George Washington Historic Site at Tappan, New York on Sunday, August 24. Masons, families, and friends are invited.

10 a.m. – Worship service at Tappan Reformed Church, located at 32 Old Tappan Road.

11:30 – Luncheon at Old ’76 House, at 110 Main Street. $25 per person in advance only. Make checks payable to Old ’76 House, and mail to Robert Blanke, 27 Pine Lane, New City, NY 10956-6534 no later than August 14.

Magpie file photo

Old '76 House, a great place to eat and drink, and a historic site itself.

1 p.m. – Grand Master’s Day Ceremonies at DeWint House, located at 20 Livingston Street.

Attractions:

An honor guard from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, accompanied by the National Sojourners and the Heroes of ’76, who will present the flag of the United States.

Back by popular demand, we will enjoy the choral group Chorus of the Tappan Zee, singing patriotic songs during the program.

Jeffrey M. Williamson

Remarks by the Deputy Grand Master, RW Jeffrey M. Williamson; and the Address by MW Grand Master William J. Thomas.

Tree dedication honoring RW Norman Moon, Chairman Emeritus of the DeWint House Committee.


Light refreshments will be served following completion of the program.

Everyone is invited to this affair. Bring your families and friends. We always try to promote this beautiful site. Anyone interested in the history of our country, this site had a part in that formation. If you have never been there, now is the time to do it. See the beautiful grounds, and walk in the footsteps of George Washington and his troops. Honor our Grand Master with your presence as Masons. The committee will be happy to show you to the interior of the DeWint House and the Carriage House, filled with artifacts from the Colonial era. This is a site that will fill you with much pride.

For further information, contact RW Louis Irizarry at athelstanian839(at)yahoo(dot)com


I also encourage attendance at Grand Master’s Day. I know Sunday is less than perfect timing for Masonic doings, but even if you want to forego the brunch (you’d be foolish) and the church service, and attend only the event at DeWint House, you’d be glad you did. It’s not an all-day affair. It starts on time at one o’clock and concludes in about an hour. Tour the museums. In addition to the period furnished DeWint House itself, there is the Carriage House, which is packed with antiques and interesting things to see. The grounds of DeWint House are beautiful, with many exotic trees, plenty of flowers, historic sights, etc. It’s always a great day. Click here to see photos of past events at this treasure of a site.
     

'Flashback Friday: Where no man has gone before'

     

DeWint House in Tappan, New York.

DeWint House is one of my favorite places in Freemasonry. Owned and operated by the Grand Lodge of New York as a historic site and museum in service to the public, it is a gem in Tappan. It was used repeatedly as headquarters by General George Washington, most significantly during the grim days of autumn 1780, when General Benedict Arnold’s treason was discovered. Bro. Arnold’s conspirator, British Major John André, was tried, convicted, and hanged in town.

So it was a no-brainer to visit the spot again on the sunny blue sky morning of Sunday, February 19, 2012 to hear Bro. Mark Tabbert speak as the highlight of the celebration of Washington’s 280th birthday. (Click here to see past Magpie posts of DeWint events, including some nice photographs.)

Once again, my notes of this lecture are with That Which Was Lost, but I had the presence of mind to shoot four and a half minutes of the ensuing Q&A. The audience was a bit reluctant, so I asked Mark to describe what Freemasonry was like during Washington’s time. I expected a sharp and unique answer, so as he began to reply, I reached for my little Panasonic and started shooting video, thus capturing a brilliant analogy that could come only from Mark. Sorry the audio is muffled (I was standing all the way in the rear of the room), but it is audible.

Enjoy.

   

‘Coming to DeWint House’

    

This reproduction of The Unfortunate
Death of Major Andre hangs
in the museum of DeWint House.

The George Washington Masonic Historic Site at Tappan Committee has announced its plans to celebrate the birthday of Bro. George Washington next month. This of course concerns DeWint House, the historic property in Tappan, New York owned and operated as a historic site and museum by the Grand Lodge of New York.

On Sunday, February 17, the committee will host a luncheon just around the corner at The ’76 House. The food there is excellent, and the cost per person is only $25. That will begin at 11:30 a.m. Only fifty (50) seats have been set aside, so make your reservations now. Leave me a note (not for publication) in the comments section, and I’ll reply with the contact info. Then, at 2 p.m., a performance will be staged in the Carriage House at the DeWint House grounds.

From the publicity:

Rendezvous with Treason: The Andre-Arnold Conspiracy

Mr. Gary Petagine as Major General Benedict Arnold, and Mr. Sean Grady as Major John André present an interpretative performance of the infamous conspiracy between these two men. A major part of this story took place in Rockland County, ending in Tappan with the trial and finally the execution of André. Worshipful Brother and General George Washington used the DeWint House as his headquarters during the court martial proceedings, including the signing of the major’s death warrant. Mr. Petagine and Mr. Grady are Master Teachers for the Living History Education Foundation.

Totally unrelated, but in other Washington New York news, click here for an interesting announcement concerning many artifacts from the Revolution.
    

‘Temples lie open unto the fields’

    
(With apologies to William Wordsworth.)

Hard to believe Grand Masters Day arrives next weekend, but here we are. Summer is over; Masons are at labor; and my paltry speaking tour to raise funds for The American Lodge of Research resumes.

If you haven’t heard already (where have you been?) Grand Masters Day will be Sunday, October 7 at DeWint House, located at 20 Livingston Street in Tappan, New York. Just a short drive from Manhattan, and only five minutes outside Bergen County, New Jersey. DeWint House is worth your time on any day. It is open to the public, free of charge, Tuesday through Sunday. The meticulously groomed historic campus consists of the 17th century Dutch Colonial home, that also happens to be the oldest structure in Rockland County, and is famous for serving several times as Gen. George Washington’s headquarters during the American Revolution. (To learn more, click here. Also, scroll down to the Magpie Index at left, and click on DeWint House to see previous posts about this amazing site, including a number of photographs.) In addition, there is the Carriage House, which is packed with Masonic pieces and other antiques. Your eyes won’t know where to look first. In addition, the landscape itself is wonderful, with exotic trees and beautiful plants and flowers, and even a group of graves that will leave a lump in your throat.

If you’ve never been there, make plans to go, even if you can’t make it on October 7. If you do attend on October 7, be prepared to hear me speak. I am much honored to be DeWint House’s guest speaker that afternoon in the presence of so many Masonic dignitaries and friends of Freemasonry. (The good news is they’ve limited me to only eight minutes, so it won’t be too bad!) In “Temples Lie Open unto the Fields,” I will discuss DeWint House as a crucial example of the proper way American heroes and principles should be memorialized for posterity.

It all begins at 2 p.m., but there will be a brunch at 11:30 a.m. at ’76 House, located right around the corner. See the invitation below for RSVP info.

Sorry for the upside down text. The invitation is laid out for folding,
and for some reason I cannot rotate the JPG.


Hope to see you there.
    

‘Terrible news from New York’

    
I have been sitting on this news about New York grand masters for about a week, not knowing whether to share it here or what, but some out there in Masonic cyberspace insist full disclosure is the only way to fix the problems in Freemasonry, so here goes:

The Magpie Mason will be the guest speaker at Grand Master’s Day this October.

Sunday, October 7

2 p.m.

DeWint House

20 Livingston Street

Tappan, New York

There will be a brunch beforehand at The ’76 House, and then we will begin the festivities at DeWint House, the historic site owned and operated by the Grand Lodge of New York which served repeatedly as Washington’s Headquarters during the Revolution.

Click here to see a bunch of photos and some more information on DeWint House.

And, hey, don’t shoot the messenger, okay?