Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania The 50 th Masonic District November / December 2007 Newsletter Here s Wishing you and your family a most joyous and Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas. Mike and Connie Febbo 1
Grand Lodge Brother Stephen Gardner To be installed 117 th Right Worshipful Grand Master December 27, 2007 Annual Grand Communication Of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Thursday, December 27, 2007 * Philadelphia Marriott Hotel This will mark the Installation of Brother Stephen Gardner as the 117 th Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania! Everyone is invited! As you know Brother Gardner is from our area and well known to many of you. 2
In his honor The Grand Master s Banquet will be Thursday, December 27, 2007 at the Philadelphia Marriott Hotel, 1201 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA. The Grand Master s Banquet will begin with a social reception at 5:00 pm. Followed by dinner at 6:00 pm., and concluding with entertainment by John Bressler. You are cordially invited. The banquet is open to all Masons, as well as Non-Masons, families and friends. Cost is $50.00 per person. I have tickets available. 10 to a table. Make checks payable to Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Please contact me for tickets. Home Phone (610) 759-0605, work phone (610) 759-3826. Email: ddgm50@yahoo.com I will make my room available to anyone who wants to rest or change before the banquet. Don t want to drive? Take SEPTA. The train runs every hour from Colmar or Lansdale and stops at the Market Street Station, one block away from the hotel. To the Members of Grand Lodge, Quarterly Communication You are hereby requested to attend the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 to be held at the Masonic Temple, One North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA at 10:00 am. Work will be The Election of Grand Lodge Officers as well as regular business. 3
The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania Masonic Charities Appeal A note from the R.W. Grand Master, It is my hope that you will continue your individual support by contributing to our 2007 Fall Masonic Charities Annual Appeal. You and thousands of other Freemasons have kept the Masonic Charities going strong for many years. I am once again asking for your help in keeping this tradition alive. I truly appreciate your previous support and hope you will consider making another contribution toward this worthwhile cause. Masonic Temple Library/ Museum. We have embarked upon the Restoration and preservation Project of the exterior of our historic and majestic Masonic Temple. This will include the replacement of the roof, clean and repoint all the granite, detail the windows and stained glass, and replace the wrought iron fence and sidewalks. This is the first time we have restored the exterior of the building in nearly 125 years at a projected cost of $8.1 million. Masonic Villages Our five villages where we care for our seniors and they receive medical care, social support, companionship and peace of mind. To the benefit of Masons the villages continue to offer care to our residents, even if they should become unable to pay for it. This would not be possible without your charitable gifts. Masonic Children s Home Opens the door of opportunity and a chance for up to 40 kids to build a better life in a nurturing environment. They receive an education, necessities, friendship and hope for the future. Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation Our youth in Job s Daughters, Rainbow for Girls and Demo lay are encouraged to explore the principles of faith and patriotism, learn leadership and social skills. The foundation also offers educational programs and service projects and awards several scholarships. In your community the foundation sponsors the CHIP program as well as D.A.R.E. training on its campus. Masonic Charities Fund Provides help where and when needed. 4
Regardless of the amount you choose to give, your gift will be valued and make an impact on our family of Freemasonry. I don t ask to give until it hurts, but Give Until It Feels Good! Grand Master s Award for First Line Signers and Newly Raised Master Masons. The Cast License Plate for the First Line Signer and Newly Raised Master Mason ends December 27 th. If you are the First Line Signer on a petition for Initiation and Membership or a Newly Raised Master Mason and did not receive your award contact your Lodge Secretary. Pennsylvania DeMolay 2008 Yearbook. Every Worshipful Master has received an appeal letter from Pennsylvania DeMolay asking your Lodge to consider sponsoring a photo page in the 2008 Pennsylvania DeMolay Yearbook. I am asking for your Lodge s support. Please consider sponsoring a full page $100 or partial page $50 to encourage our youth in DeMolay. Your Worshipful Master received a copy of the 2007 Yearbook. Ask to see it; I think you ll agree it s a first class publication. 5
50 th Masonic District www.50thdistrict.com Make sure to check The Daily News often. Here you will find the latest on up coming events and news of general interest. Worshipful Masters, You should have a member of your Lodge emailing the latest news to the website administrator on a regular basis. It is clear from the reports we get at the School of Instruction that Lodges are not getting their information to the web master. I again remind the Worshipful Master to appoint one member of the Lodge to get the latest information on upcoming Lodge event activities and programs to the web master on a monthly basis. The Mentor Program Many of our Lodges have much Degree work with new members coming in. These men are the future of your Lodge. I trust your Lodge Mentors have been using The Mentor Program booklet and giving these new men the instruction they want and need. I cannot overstress the need for this program. The members deserve it, your Lodge needs it. 6
50 th Masonic District Speakers Manual We have received some response, but need more. I know there are many of you who could, and do give very interesting and informative talks on various subjects. We have the beginnings of a 50 th Masonic District Speakers Manual similar to the Grand Lodge Speakers Manual, but this one would be our local talent and listed on our 50 th District Website. Anyone of us who would be willing to give a talk, or non-masons you know who have an interesting subject they would like to talk on, are welcome to be added to this Speakers Manual. Please e-mail your name, the subject of your talk, a brief description and a contact phone number to me or our Webmaster, Brother George Mason. (secbyte@ptd.net) I am sure over time we could build a nice local talent list. This would make the speakers more available to our current and upcoming Worshipful Masters and have the added benefit of not asking the speakers to travel very far to do their talk. Lodge Meetings I encourage you to get out from your own four walls and visit another Lodge this month. One of your greatest privileges is to visit other Lodges. Take advantage of it! The newly Elected Officers would consider your presence an honor as they are installed in their stations. The schedule herein is the latest as of this printing. ELECTIONS AND INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS WILL BE THE WORK FOR DECEMBER. Portland No 311 Thurs. Dec. 13 Barger No. 325 Tues. December 4 Manoquesy Lodge No. 413 Thurs. December 13 7
Pen Argyl Lodge No. 594 Tue. December 6 Whitfield Lodge No. 622 Monday, December 10 J. Simpson Africa Lodge No. 628 Wed. December 26 Pocono Lodge No. 780 Wed. December 12 50 th Masonic District School of Instruction. Monday, November 26. 7:30 pm Barger Lodge No. 325 - Masonic Education Moment and exemplify the Election and Installation of Officers. Officers are expected to attend. ALL members are Welcome. There will be no school in December. Fraternally, Mike Febbo, DDGM 8