‘Sorcery in a research lodge and gobo on a temple’

    

GL of Pennsylvania

The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia
aglow in Eagles green.

If you find yourself in or near Philadelphia next Tuesday at five in the afternoon, get over to 1 North Broad Street to see the Masonic Temple’s public lighting ceremony.

From the few photos shared on social media this week, the temple’s new exterior lights look beautiful. “Let there be Light” and, with modern diode and gobo technologies, color and shape possibilities abound.

Grand Master Larry Derr and others will offer remarks before throwing the switch. Masons, our families, and the public are invited.

Looking ahead to the weekend, Pennsylvania Lodge of Research will meet at the far away Scottish Rite of Harrisburg. That’s Saturday the 13th at 10 a.m. From the publicity:

Program:

25-year gavel presentation by Bro. S. Eugene Herritt, RWPGM 

“Reflection on Knowledge” by Bro. Jack H. Speece

“A Very Queer Sorcery: The Anti-Masonry of James Shelby Downard” by Bro. J. Leavitt Pearl 

Lunch will be available ($20) after the meeting. 

2701 North Third Street, Harrisburg.

    

‘Pennsylvania researchers next month’

    

Pennsylvania Lodge of Research will host the first meeting of its twenty-fifth anniversary year in June to hear two presentations and to vote on a slew of new members. From the publicity:

Pennsylvania Lodge of Research

Saturday, June 14 at 10 a.m.

Altoona Masonic Center

600 Jackson Avenue, Altoona

Presentations

Bro. Jerry Hamilton, a Past Master of the lodge:

“Regius Poem or Halliwell Manuscript”

Bro. Ronald E. Stuver:

“Exactly Different: Masonry in Pennsylvania and Ohio”

And about those petitions for membership: The lodge has thirteen Masons from around the state seeking membership by affiliation. Not too shabby! To pursue membership in this lodge, contact Secretary Michael Moran here.

Sorry to say I cannot visit this meeting as New Jersey’s research lodge will meet at that hour, and, frankly, Altoona is a haul. Hopefully a future Worshipful Master will steer the lodge eastward—like Easton or East Stroudsburg, if I may boldly pitch ideas. But if Altoona is feasible for you, check out your research lodge.

Pennsylvania Lodge of Research will mark its silver anniversary in December. The brethren will meet on the thirteenth at the Scottish Rite Valley of Harrisburg.

     

‘Keystone researchers to meet’

    

The Pennsylvania Lodge of Research will meet next on December 14 for two presentations and the election and installation of its officers. This time they’ll be at the Scottish Rite Valley of Harrisburg. That’s a Saturday morning at ten o’clock.

Too far away for me, and it coincides with New Jersey research lodge’s own installation of officers, but my congratulations to Bro. Chris Rodkey on completing his term as Master, and best wishes to Bro. Jack Speece, Senior Warden, who I assume will ascend to the Solomonic Chair. (I envy these guys. They have two meetings per year, six months apart!)

The presentations for the day will be Bro. George Haynes on “Craft Freemasonry in England and the Appendant Orders” and Bro. Robert Burtt on “The Masonic Jurisprudence of Roscoe Pound.”

Luncheon fee is $18, payable at the meeting.

After all these years, I still haven’t visited this lodge—and I even own a necktie that kind of matches their regalia. Maybe some day it will meet in the eastern part of the Keystone State, but I’m told it is likely the 2025 meetings will be out west.

     

‘Geometry and Joyce at Pennsylvania lodge’

    

Be sure to attend The Pennsylvania Lodge of Research’s meeting in June at Williamsport.

From the summons:

You are hereby summoned to a stated meeting of the Pennsylvania Lodge of Research to be held on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Williamsport Masonic Lodge, 360 Market St., Williamsport, PA 17701, beginning at 10:00 o’clock ante meridian, Eastern Time. A luncheon will be held following the meeting, at approximately 12:00 p.m. (Reserve here.)

Presentations:

Bro. Theodore Schick, PM, Fellow of the Lodge of Research: “How Geometry Demonstrates the More Important Truths of Morality.”

Bro. J.L. Pearl: “Craftygild Pageantries: a Masonic Introduction to James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake.”

There was talk at New Jersey’s research lodge about carpooling to this meeting. Usually our Saturdays coincide, making visitation impossible, but not this time.

     

‘New team at Penna research lodge’

    

Myself and plenty of others at New Jersey’s research lodge would love to visit Pennsylvania Lodge of Research, but time and space prevent it. Their meetings often coincide with ours, and the commonwealth is so large that their meetings can be hundreds of miles away. That was the case yesterday; we held our meetings, and theirs was in Pittsburgh.

Their lodge reorganizes its officer line every December, and Bro. Seth Anthony, on Faceypage, reports:

“After several years of service, today was my last meeting as the secretary of the Pennsylvania Lodge of Research. I wish my successor, Mike Moran, all the best as he assumes the role. Also, congratulations to Richard Muth on a great year in the East, and best wishes to Christopher Rodkey on his upcoming year as Worshipful Master. You’re doing great work, Brothers!”

It’s extra notable news to me because Bro. Moran was the book reviews editor, and Bro. Rodkey was an assistant editor of The Journal of the Masonic Society for a number of years. They and Seth have been frequent writers in The Journal also. Congratulations, everybody!

(Coincidentally, Pennsylvania L of R Past Master Aaron R. White will be the guest speaker at Mariners Lodge 67 on Wednesday, presenting “The Tyranny of Memory.” I always say Mariners communications are not to be missed, although I myself never seem to get there, and this one will be no different. Great lodge. Great people. Great meal. And Aaron!)

Looking to the new year, Pennsylvania’s research lodge will meet June 15 at Williamsport; and December 14 at York. The former will not coincide with New Jersey’s meeting, but the latter will—and both are too far away. D’oh! I would join if they came east once in a while, but don’t let that stop you.

     

‘Keystone State dates’

    

The Pennsylvania brethren have announced upcoming events you may want to attend.

The research lodge will meet Saturday the 18th in Jim Thorpe. That’ll be one o’clock at Carbon Lodge 242.

Two presenters: Bro. Jerome Phillips on “The Five Orders of Architecture from Antiquity and Their Masonic Relevance,” and Bro. Aaron White’s “The Tyranny of Memory.”

I don’t know where Aaron is headed with that, but I’m certain it’ll be interesting. For your calendar, the lodge will meet next on December 10 at a site to be determined.

The Pennsylvania Academy of Masonic Knowledge will convene its Fall Symposium on Saturday, October 22. The scheduled speakers are Bro. Tom Worrel and Bro. Dave Hosler, and you can read about them here.

In the meantime, the Masonic Library and Museum’s lecture series continues. On Saturday, July 16, Bro. Michael Ernst will present “Raising the Nile: Ethnicity and Politics in the UGLE Masonic Lodges of British Egypt, 1860-1956.” That will be both in person and online. Click here to read more about that.

     

‘Congratulations are in order’

    

Tremendous news broke earlier today.

Bro. Oscar Alleyne, the Right Worshipful Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of New York, the First Vice President of the Masonic Society, and a lot more, has been elected to membership in Quatuor Coronati Lodge 2076 in London.

Holy cow!

If you’re not familiar, that’s a kind of immortality in Freemasonry.

Meanwhile, at the meeting of Pennsylvania Lodge of Research, Bro. Moises Gomez was named a Fellow of the lodge! Huzzah! Moe is the RW Grand Historian of New Jersey.

I don’t know if I can sit with you guys at lunch anymore. I’ll certainly avert my eyes in the hallway.

But, wait, there’s more!

In the outside world, two Prince Hall brethren are on their way to elected public office.

RW Bro. Darren Morton, the Grand Senior Warden of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York, won the Democrat Party primary Tuesday for Comptroller of the City of Mt. Vernon. And Bro. Malik Evans, of Eureka Lodge 36, won the party’s nomination for Mayor of Rochester.

Well done, brethren, and good luck in November!

     

‘Don’t be like Joey Ramone!’

     

I never imagined these words could pass my lips, but, for this one time, in this unique context, never to be repeated:

Don’t be like Joey Ramone!

Instead, join me in my travels this month to the research lodges in the general area.

New Jersey Lodge

of Masonic Research

and Education 1786

Saturday, June 12

9:30 a.m.

The lodge will allow me some time to speak from the lectern about the Masonic Society. Real research papers are on the agenda also. Then, we will retire downstairs to watch the first half of Terra Masonica. Then, we’ll enjoy a picnic feast to send us into the summer refreshment.

At Hightstown-Apollo Lodge 41 (535 North Main Street) in Hightstown.

Pennsylvania

Lodge of Research

Saturday, June 26

10 a.m.

Installation of Officers: My old friend, Senior Warden Yasser Al-Khatib, to be seated in the Solomonic chair. Other old friend Moises Gomez to present his paper “Freemasonry in Cuba.”

At Fritz Lodge 308 (1801 Fayette Street) in Conshohocken.

The American

Lodge of Research

Tuesday, June 29

8 p.m.

Finally something close to home: I think this will be The ALR’s first meeting in several years, and it’ll be the Installation of Officers. I’m told a new leadership team is being chosen to get this historic institution back to labor.

Inside the Colonial Room of palatial Masonic Hall in beleaguered New York City.

And, the following night, live from Maryland Lodge of Masonic Research 239:

Click to enlarge.

     

‘Pennsylvania Lodge of Research’

     

Pennsylvania Lodge of Research will meet next month in Conshohocken for its Installation of Officers and to hear Moises present a paper. From the publicity:

Pennsylvania Lodge

of Research

Saturday, June 26

10 a.m. to noon

Fritz Lodge 308

RSVP (a must) here

Agenda items to include:

• Installation of Officers, including the Brother Senior Warden, Yasser Al-Khatib, being seated in the Solomonic chair.
• Moises Gomez, the Right Worshipful Grand Historian of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, to present “Freemasonry in Cuba.”
• Lodge business and lunch.

1801 Fayette Street in Conshohocken.

     

‘Winners at Jim Thorpe’

     
Pennsylvania Lodge of Research will meet Saturday, December 6 at Jim Thorpe Masonic Hall for presentations of papers and its installation of officers.

The lodge will open at 10 a.m. The Masonic Hall is located at 501 Center Street in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania.

The papers to be presented are “The Golden Fleece” by Yasser Al-Khatib, and “The Prevalence of Clandestine Masonry in the United States” by Oscar Alleyne.

50 percent rayon!

Lunch will be served. All Master Masons in good standing are welcome to attend.

I think I will attend. I bought this tie a few years ago because it kind of fits the lodge’s regalia, and I haven’t yet had the chance to wear it.
     

‘Pennsylvania Lodge of Research’

  

Founding Members jewel.

I’m just on my way out the door to attend the Wendell K. Walker Lecture tonight, but not before I spread the news of the next meeting of Pennsylvania Lodge of Research on Saturday, June 29 at Lehigh Lodge in Macungie.

Pennsylvania Lodge of Research will meet Saturday, June 29 at Lehigh Lodge No. 326 in Macungie.

I’ve never been able to catch one of these meetings. The lodge is to meet twice each year, with additional meetings at the discretion of the Master, and I think there always is one meeting in eastern Pennsylvania, but somehow I’ve never made it there. This will be a busy weekend. The American Lodge of Research will meet the night before in Manhattan, and Bro. Piers is hosting his annual barbecue on Sunday. (If you haven’t heard, he graciously moved it from Saturday to Sunday in appreciation of all the Masonic goings on scheduled for Saturday.)

Looking forward to it all... and then to a quiet summer punctuated only by the AMD Ingathering (more to come on that ambitious project!) and maybe the MRF conference in New Hampshire too, but I’m undecided on that one.

Officers apron.

One thing at a time, as we try to explain to the youngest Entered Apprentice. Pennsylvania Lodge of Research will open at 10 a.m. that day. Lehigh Lodge is located at 2120 Route 100 in Macungie, which is not prohibitively far into the Keystone State for us New Jersey guys. It’s only about 90 miles from the headquarters of Magpie Industries, which is notably nearer than Philly, so I got that going for me.