‘Ukraine grand master to be feted’

    

Click to enlarge.

Columbia Lodge 1190 will honor Steven Rubin, Ted Harrison, and the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ukraine at its fall festive board/brunch next month.

Our Deputy Grand Master needs no introduction. Ted, of course, is the ubiquitous presence in New York Freemasonry who, among many other things, quarterbacked Grand Lodge’s Fraternity on Campus Committee, thereby seeing Columbia 1190 set to labor. Anatoliy Dymchuk will visit via Zoom. And brunch? Well, that’s the most important meal between breakfast and lunch.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Tuxedo at…at noon?!” If you don’t have a morning suit, just do it.

     

‘Portuguese Masonic lodge to gain a sister in New York’

     
Grand Lodge aims to launch a third lodge in the near future, and is seeking brethren to affiliate with it.

In addition to the two new lodges intended for the Columbia University and City University of New York communities, a sister lodge for John Philip Sousa Lodge in Portugal will be set to labor in New York City, and be warranted with that same name.

Sousa (1854-1932) was at labor in Hiram Lodge 10 (now Hiram-Takoma 10) in Washington. He was a Royal Arch Mason, a Templar, and a Shriner.

RW Ted Harrison again is the point man. He says:

Noble John Philip Sousa

“The Grand Master has given us the green light to form a new lodge dedicated to promoting international universal Freemasonry. The new lodge is proposed to be named John Philip Sousa Lodge in memory of a great Mason, well known for his military march music and also for his Portuguese lineage. Sousa was an active Mason, raised in Washington, DC.

“There is currently a John Philip Sousa Lodge in the Grand Lodge of Portugal, and its founding Master is in the process of moving to New York. It is his vision to form this new lodge not only to fulfill the normal obligations of a lodge to raise candidates and teach Masonry, but to assist Masons visiting New York to properly connect with local lodges which can welcome them, and also to provide contacts for New York Masons traveling overseas to be able to connect with a lodge at their destination.

“A list of prominent New York Masons and eager younger Masons have already agreed to support this venture, and if you have interest in being involved in working with Masons from foreign jurisdictions, please contact me and we would welcome an opportunity to discuss this with you. It will be a rare chance for you to be a part of a new lodge, and one with this purpose and mission.”
     

‘Illumination Lodge (UD)’

     
RW Bro. Ted Harrison is leading an effort to lend purpose to this newfangled trend of bringing teenagers into Freemasonry with an approach I can agree with, so I thought I should promote it here.

While I disagree, for reasons I think are obvious, with the growing movement in American Freemasonry to lower the minimum age for initiation to 18, in New York there now is a plan to make it worthwhile for the fraternity to make that change. I still don’t want to sit in lodge with teenagers, but I’ve been an admirer from afar of the United Grand Lodge of England’s Universities Scheme, and I like the idea of New York Freemasonry attempting something similar, although this endeavor is not quite the same thing. (As an aside, years ago I tried to work with my alma mater’s alumni relations department, which was working to organize “affinity clubs,” to create a Masonic club for NYU people, but to no avail.) Ted circulated an e-mail yesterday on the subject:

Courtesy CUNY

“Some of you may be aware that, at our last Grand Lodge session, a motion was passed to lower the admission age to 18. Since then, the Grand Master has formed the Fraternity on Campus Committee which was tasked to establish lodges to be dedicated to serving specific institutions of higher learning, and identifying young men who are interested in Freemasonry and facilitating a safe environment for them to learn and grow. After months of meetings and planning, the Committee is finally ready to start working on a lodge under dispensation which will cater to City University of New York students. Any alumni, faculty, or staff from any CUNY institution, who wishes to take part in this historic event and become founding members of this lodge, are encouraged to contact the committee here.”
     

‘Whither Art Thou Traveling’

     
This week at Mariners Lodge 67, a very special lodge meeting. From the publicity:


Work of the Evening: Talk by R∴ W∴ Ted Harrison titled “Whither Art Thou Traveling.”

Magpie file photo

Ted Harrison

Bro. Harrison is a Past Master of Independent Royal Arch Lodge No. 2, a Past District Deputy Grand Master of the First Manhattan District, and Past General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons International. In this presentation, he will talk about the Blue Lodge relationship to Royal Arch.

Wednesday, April 13

7 p.m.

Masonic Hall

71 West 23rd Street

Doric Room, Eighth Floor

Manhattan

Maritime Festive Board Menu: an Indian feast of Chicken Keema Shishkebab; Clay Oven Grilled Chicken Tandoori; Beef Bryani (Beef and Seasoned Rice Cooked Together); Mixed Vegetable Curry; Chana Daal and Potato Masala; Jasmine Rice Pulao with Peas; Naan Bread with Yogurt Chutney; Samosas; Assorted Traditional Sweets; Soda, Seltzer, and Mariners Punch.

Cost of the Festive Board is $35 plus transaction fees. Click here to book your seat, and don’t delay because these dinners sell out quickly.
     

'2012 Ingathering'

    
Alexandria Council No. 478 will host New Jersey’s Harold V.B. Voorhis AMD Ingathering this year on Saturday, July 28 at Livingston Lodge No. 11 in Livingston.

Papers will be presented by Bro. Frank Conway, Bro. Mark Koltko-Rivera, Bro. John Lawler, and Bro. Michael Neuberger.

The Grand Tilers of Solomon Degree will be conferred.

Honored guests will include:

• MV Joe R. Manning, Sovereign Grand Master of the Grand Council of AMD
• RV Matthew D. Dupee, Deputy Grand Master AMD
• ME Edmund D. Harrison, General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International

Registration is transacted on-line. Click here to sign up.

Thanks to V. Henry and V. Jose for the info. Graphic courtesy of Bro. Jeff at Lodgical.

‘Ted’s testimonial’

    

On Saturday, March 24, the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of New York will host a testimonial dinner honoring one of its own, M.E. Ted Harrison, General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chapter.

Any and all inquiries should be directed to Ted Jacobsen, chairman of the event, who can be reached at: thjnycusa(at)aol.com

The announcement:

The Grand Chapter of New York is delighted to announce the date of the Testimonial Dinner honoring M.E. Edmund D. “Ted” Harrison to be March 24. The event will take place at the Ramada Plaza Hotel at Newark International Airport, at 160A Frontage Road (Exit off Routes 1 and 9) in Newark, New Jersey.

Everyone is invited to join the General Grand High Priest and his officers and worldwide guests who will be in attendance. Ladies are invited also. Dress is tuxedo (or dark suit).

Social hour will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and entertainment at 7:30. A hospitality suite will be provided by the Chapters of the State of New York in rooms 1 and 2 on the main floor, and they will be open before and after dinner.

The cost of the dinner is $95 per person. Special diet meals are available upon request. Click here for the reservation form, and the contact information.

Reserve hotel rooms directly with the Ramada at (973) 589-1000. Rooms are priced at $79 or $89, and include two breakfasts. The hotel will provide free parking, and there will be valet service. The Ramada Plaza offers free shuttle service from Newark Airport for those flying in, and for those coming to the airport by train or bus.