Showing posts with label Robert L. Hogan Jr.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robert L. Hogan Jr.. Show all posts

Monday, June 1, 2026

‘World Conference chooses New York for 2027’

    

If you were looking forward to a trip to CancĂșn next November for the World Conference of Regular Masonic Grand Lodges, forget it. They’re coming to New York City!

The twentieth conference in Cape Town, South Africa concluded about a week and a half ago, but not before choosing the Grand Lodge of New York to host the 2027 event from November 8 to 12. It’s not for the first time, of course, as our Grand Lodge hosted the third conference in 1998.

Gil Calderon photo
MW William Sardone, MW Robert Hogan, and RW Richard Schulz in Cape Town last month at the Twentieth World Conference of Regular Masonic Grand Lodges.

CancĂșn had been the choice for next year, but—uh, buy me a beer sometime and I’ll tell you —so add this to your calendar. The conference’s theme, agenda, topics of discussion, etc. are yet to be decided, but I’ll certainly keep you updated.

If I had the chance to address the assembly, I’d welcome everyone to New York with an explanation of how Freemasonry here has been naturally international since the 1700s. We invented this kind of thing.

It’s no secret how New York City is not a first choice when national and multi-jurisdictional Masonic bodies look to place their annual meetings and other big events. Scottish Rite NMJ, General Grand Chapter, Grotto, and Shrine—despite having roots in New York—prefer other metropolises, like Grand Rapids. (Some say it’s kind of expensive here.) But now that everyone is talking about how the Masonic Library and Museum Association is coming this October, I guess other planners are giving the city a second look.

Gil Calderon photo
FRONT AND CENTER—MW Robert L. Hogan, Jr., center column on right, at the World Conference of Regular Masonic Grand Lodges in South Africa last month.

Congratulations to the Most Worshipful Robert L. Hogan, Jr., Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York, for landing Conference XXI.
     

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

‘Elected Grand Officers installed’

    
Ted Jacobsen photo
The Most Worshipful Robert L. Hogan, Jr. takes the obligation with the help of Past Grand Masters Vincent Libone, William Sardone, and Steven Rubin. That is the George Washington Inaugural Bible atop the cushion.

PricewaterhouseCoopers has counted and certified the votes, and the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the State of New York has new elected leadership for the term.

Ted Jacobsen photo
R∴W∴ E. Oscar Alleyne takes the obligation to become our Deputy Grand Master yesterday in the Grand Lodge Room of Masonic Hall in New York City.

The 244th Annual Communication at Masonic Hall in Manhattan concluded yesterday. Congratulations to:


Most Worshipful Robert L. Hogan, Jr.
Grand Master

Right Worshipful E. Oscar Alleyne
Deputy Grand Master

R∴W∴ John Haslam, Sr.
Senior Grand Warden

R∴W∴ William Toth
Junior Grand Warden

R∴W∴ John Hansen
Grand Treasurer

R∴W∴ Richard Schulz
Grand Secretary


I haven’t heard anything about the appointed officer line. I think that news will come when they are installed during St. John’s Weekend at Utica.

Ted Jacobsen photo
Installing Grand Marshal William Sardone conducts Deputy Grand Master-Elect Oscar Alleyne to the altar  to take the obligation of his office. This dynamic duo put The ALR back in business five years ago.

(If you’re in north Jersey tonight, get over to Adoniram Lodge 80 in Lyndhurst where Oscar will be guest speaker. The guy never stops. What can I say?)