AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GRAND LODGE, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Vol. I
February 1978
No. 1
Posthumous Award
Morris F. Hewitt, G .\I
Grand Master Elected hlr. Wor. Morris Franky Hewitt was elected and installed Grand Master of hlasons in the District of Columbia on St. John's Day, December 27, 1977. He was ii'orshipful Master of Potomac Lodge No. 5 in 1961. Bro. Hewitt was born on August 1, 1916 in Washington, D.C., ivhere he attended the public schools of the city. Later he studied public transportation at George Washington University and completed data processing courses offered by IBbl and UNIVAC. An employee of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metrobus) and predecessor companies for the past 41 years, he now serves that organization as Supervisor, System Service and Planning, in the Traffic Branch. Bro. Hewitt was raised to the Sublime Degree in Potomac Lodge No. 5 on April 10, 1951. Following his term as Worshipful hlaster he accepted the office of Secretary, which he held continuously from 1963 through 1976. He is a charter member of John Blair Lodge No. 187 in Alexandria, Virginia, and represents that Grand Jurisdiction near the Grand Lodge of D.C. Bro. Hewitt served as the Most Illus-
On December 21, 1977, Conrad Hahn was elected, posthumously, to the rank of Honorary Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M., of the District of Columbia. By this action the Grand Lodge, responding to the recommendation of Past Grand Master Samuel W. McIntosh, recognized Bro. Hahn's continuous full time service to the Craft for a period in excess of 20 years. Coronated a 33rd Degree Mason with Bro. Gerald R. Ford in the Northern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite, he was a Past Grand Master in his own right, having served the Grand Lodge of Connecticut in that capacity in 1957. He came to Washington in 1958 as an employee of the Masonic Services Association, an organization which he led as executive secretary from 1964 until his sudden death on December 15, 1977. During these years Bro. Hahn gave generously of his time, talent, and service to Freemasonry in and about the nation's capital as well as to Grand Lodges throughout the world. ' The framed resolution o f his election, adopted unanimously, has been presented to his wife Margaret.
trious Grand Master of the Grand Council, Royal and Select Masters, in 1965 and as the Grand High Priest, Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, in 1968, both in the District of Columbia. A member of Albert Pike Consistory, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, he was made a KCCH in 1977. Appointed Grand Pursuivant of the Grand Lodge in 1967, Bro. Hewitt was elected Junior Grand Steward in 1970. Since then he has progressed through each station and place in the Grand Lodge. On June 9, 1937, Bro. Hewitt married Louise F. Johnson, also of Washington, D.C. They are the parents of two fine sons, Kenneth W. and Stephen M. Hewitt.
Charles 1'. Brcbkrr, P.G A1
Past Grand Master Reflects In his final report to Grand Lodge, where he accounted for his stewardship in 1977, hit. Wor. Bro. Brewer expressed both satisfaction with and concern about Freemasonry in the District of Columbia. H e stated that relations with adjacent sister Grand Lodges in Maryland and Virginia continue to be excellent, and he spoke highly of the cooperative spirit that prevailed in all of his dealings with the Grand blasters of those jurisdictions. H e was particularly pleased with the 1977 Association of Worshipful Masters, which, under the leadership of Warren H. Jernigan, raised more than $50,000 for the Masonic and Eastern Star Home. In addition, he noted, the Association was of immeasurable assistance in promoting the programs of the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge. Heartfelt thanks and commendations were extended by Bro. Brewer to the Grand Lodge officers, elected and appointed, the Grand Lodge committeemen, and the Past Grand Masters. All, he said, were most generous in their acceptance of responsibility and in their support of the Grand Master. It was his lot, he stared, to wrestle with (Conrigued orr Page 2)
(Continued From Page I ) some very difficult problems, and he expressed hope that his decisions, reached after prayerful study and consultation, will prove to be just and proper. With respect to the future, Bro. Brewer voiced concern about three inter-connected issues - the continued decline of Masonic membership in the District of Columbia; day-to-day operations of the Grand Lodge; and the renovation, maintenance, and utilization of the Masonic Temple. These matters were of sufficient import, he said, to justify adoption of an immediate assessment as well as consideration of future graduated increases in Grand Lodge dues (see "Money Matters," elsewhere). At the conclusion of his remarks, Bro. Brewer received a standing ovation in the Grand Lodge, which accepted his report and acceded to his recommendations.
The Voice of Freemasonry Issued Biannually by The Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M., of D.C. Grand Lodge Officers - 1978 Morris F. Hewitt Grand Master Deputy Grand Master George F. Moyer Senior Grand Warden Perry A. Lester Junior Grand Warden John C. Schleter William H. Minnick Grand Secretary Robert F. Sutphin Grand Treasurer Carl L. LeVine Grand Lecturer Grand Lecturer Emeritus George W. Feidt W. Kenneth Lyons Grand Chaplain Grand Chaplain Emeritus Edward G. Latch Senior Grand Deacon Elmer F. Stein Junior Grand Deacon Donald L. Mallory Senior Grand Steward James hf. Burns Theodore bf. Kahn Junior Grandsteward John J. Robertson Grand klarshal Grand Sword Bearer Harry B. Smith Julius Gordin Grand Pursuivant Harry Silverstone Assistant Grand Chaplain Charles S. McDaniel Grand Tiler William E. Chaney, Jr. Assistant GrandTiler Ralph H. Gauker Grand Historian and Organist Special Advisor to Grand Raymond F. Brown hlaster C. Willard Camalier Grand Lodge Physician Aide to Grand Master and William H. Doblog Assistant to Grand Secretary William C. h3iscovic Aide to Grand Masrer Tiler. Grand Lodge School Bernard Geffen
Ford and Camalier Honored
Trustees K. Kenneth Kingsbury
Samuel W.hlclntosh
Frank A. Kenyon
Past Grand Masters Marvin E. Fowler '50 Renah F. Camalier '52 Frederic B. Blackburn '54 Samuel W. hfclnrosh '56 William H. Rohrman '58 Charles B. Gilley, Sr. '63 Charles T. hlacdonald '67 William P. Jacobs, Jr. '68 Milton D. Korman '69
H. Kenneth Kingsbury '70 Robert F. Sutphin '71 Frank A. Kenyon '73 Robert L. Morris '74 .Stewart W. Miner '74 William E. Eccleston '75 John 6 . Layton '76 Charles V. Brewer '77 *Honorary
Mailing Address: The Voice of Freemasonry Masonic Temple 801 13th St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005
A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE With this, the first issue of The Voice of Freemasonry, the Grand Lodge launches into a new field of fraternal scrvicc. This publication is designed to be an organ o f information, instruction, and inspiration for all who hold allegiance to this Grand Jurisdiction. Comments and contributions, directed to the attention of the editors, care of the Grand Secretary, are invited. Thc deadline for news items to be included in thenext issue is September I , 1978. Srewart W. hlincr, Editor Louis R. Bakcr, Assistant Editor
and fraternal circles, particularly citing his many years of service as the Deputy of the Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, for the District of Columbia, a body in which he is now an emeritus member of honor.
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The Grand Master's Awards for 1977 were presented by Mt. Wor. Bro. Brewer to former President and Bro. Gerald R. Ford and to Mt. Wor. Bro. Renah F. Camalier, Past Grand Master of this Grand Lodge. The presentation to Bro. Ford took place in Grand Lodge on December 21, 1977 before a large assemblage of D.C. and visiting Masons from several other jurisdictions. In addressing Bro. Ford, Grand Master Brewer noted the particular esteem in which the immediate past President is held by Masons in the District of Columbia, wherein, by courtesy, Ford was raised to the Sublime Degree in Columbia LodgeNo. 3 o n M a y 18,1951. The Grand Master stated that the award was tendered in recognition of Bro. Ford's record as a citizen, statesman, patriot, and Freemason - one who assumed the reins of responsibility at a time of crisis and successfully led the nation back to peace, harmony, and tranquility. Mt. Wor. Bro. Carnalier, Past Master of Benjamin B. French Lodge NO. 15 (1931) and Past Grand Master of Masons in the District of Columbia (1952), received an identical award in the presence. of more than 700 Masons and their guests at the annual Grand Lodge banquet that evening at the Shoreham-Americana Hotel. , In-his presentation remark? to Bro. Carnalier, Grand Master ~ r i w e rtook note of the latter's outstanding achievements in legal, governmental, spiritual,
Theodore M.Kahn, G.J.S.
Junior Grand Steward Elected Wor. Bro. Theodore M. Kahn was elected and installed Junior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M., on December 27, 1977. H e was Worshipful Master of Samuel Gompers Lodge No. 45 in 1976. Bro. Kahn was born in New York City on October 31, 1926. H e served in the U.S. Navy from 1944-46, and graduated from the City College of New York in January 1950. H e then came to Washington to work for the Congressional Quarterly News Features. H e became a real estate broker in 1955, and since then he has owned and operated his own firm. H e was raised in Samual Gompers Lodge in 1956 and was elected Junior Steward in 1969. In the meantime he served as a .delegate t o the Masonic and Eastern Star Home for seven years, five of them as Chairman of the Securities and Investments Committee. H e has served as chairman of every committee in his lodge. H e and several other Senior Wardens formed a "Bicentennial Degree Team" which helped to confer the Master Masons Degree during 1975 and 1976. Bro. Kahn now serves as Vice President of the 1976 Masters Association and as Grand Representative o f the United Grand Lodge of Victoria. I n 1977 he was the Grand Sword Bearer. . Married in 1955, he a n d his wife Eunice are the parents of three children: Meryl, 20; David, 17; and Lynn, 16.
Marvin E. Fowler Cited In one of his last official acts as Grand Master, Mt. Wor. Bro. Brewer presented Mt. Wor. Marvin E. Fowler with a certificate of appreciation in recognition of the latter's "outstanding leadership in Masonry in general and this Grand Lodge in particular." The senior Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, Mt. Wor. Bro. Fowler has for many years chaired the Jurisprudence Committee of that body. In that and other capacities, the Grand Master stated, Mt. Wor. Bro. Fowler provided him with valued council and assistance throughout the course of the past Masonic year.
~ i s t i n g u i s h e dService Award The 1977 Distinguished Service Award of the Grand Lodge was presented to Bro. George P. Zillig, Chairman of the Grand Lodge Blood Bank Committee, at the St. John's Day Communication on December 27, 1977. Under his leadership 1,546 pints of blood were donated by or on behalf of lodge members last year. Knowledgeable sources state that this total has been surpassed only under the stress of World War 11. Nevertheless Bro. Zillig looks forward to 1978 with optimism, confident that the 1977 record, when 106.9% of the quota was collected, will be broken.
Deputy Chosen William E. Eccleston has been selected as Deputy for Washington, D.C. to the Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction, A.S.S.R., to succeed Renah F. Camalier, retired from that post. Bro. Eccleston was Worshipful Master of Mount Pleasant Lodge No. 33 in 1948, High Priest of Mount Pleasant Chapter, R.A.M., in 1951, and Grand Master of Masons in the District of ~ o l u m b i a ' in 1975. On February 10, 1978, members of his Royal Arch Chapter, along with York Rite Masons throughout the area, will gather at the Masonic Temple, 4441 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., to recognize his preferment and to wish him success in his new undertaking.
"I have long and fond memories of associations with Masonry here in the District. I was a courtesy recipient (of the degrees), and it has meant much to me that I was able t o start in the path of Masonry here in the District of Columbia. It has given me many wonderful experiences over the years. I thank you not only for that, but (also) for the recognition o f this morning. "Masonry in my family goes back a long ways: (to) my grandfather, my father, and my three brothers.. It has had a great and meaningful impact on our lives, (just) as I feel that Masonry has had an impact o n the lives of each and every one of you. "I am proud of my association with all of you brethren, and I a m deeply grateful for the honors that have been afforded me on this_occasion. . . . Thank you, and to you and y o y loved ones - a Merry Christmas a n d a very Happy New Year."
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Gerald R. Ford December 2 1, 1977
A
Structured For Progress,?
Grand Master's Itinerary Grand Visitations
Date
Lodges
Mar 09 Mar 15 Mar 20 Apr 10 Apr 12 Apr 24 May 08 May 25 Jun 05 Jun 08 Jun 21
739 34 23,44,5 1 31 l7,2O, 11 35,1, 16 3, 12, 14 52,4 21 22,15 26,29,24
Grand Lodge Communications May 10,1978 Semi Annual Dei20,1978 Annual Dec 27,1978 St. John's Day Grand Lodge Workshops Mar 11 0930 A.M. Apr 8 0930 A.M. May 13 0930A.M. Selected Other Visitations (D.C.) Feb 18 Allied Masonic Degrees, Annual Meeting Feb 19-22 Conference of Grand Masters of North America Mar 01 Transit Square Club Mar 03-04 Grand Chapter, RAM; Grand Council, R&SM; Annual Meetings Potomac Lodge NO. 5; Apr 08 Banquet in honor of Grand Master May 14 Grand Commandery, K.T. of D.C.; Annual Conclave Visitations Outside D.C. Feb 12-15 Grand Lodge of Virginia Mar 26 Knight Templar Sunrise Service in Arlington Cemetery The Voice of Freemasonry Masonic Temple 801 13thSt., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005
Date Sep 07 Sep 19 Sep21 Oct 17 Oct 19 Oct 26 Oct 31 Nov 01 Nov 14 Nov 29
Lodges 49,19 43,39,37 47,46 32,41 30,25 50 10 42,33,36 45 5 (Final)
Apr 04-06 Grand Lodge of Connecticut (tentative) Apr 18-20 Grand Lodge of New Jersey Apr 26-28 Grand Lodge.of South Carolina May 01-03 Grand Lodge of Maine May 15-16Grand Lodge of Rhode Island May 19-20Tall Cedars of Lebanon; Atlantic City, New Jersey May 28-30Marion Lodge No. 70, Marion, Ohio Jun 13-15 Grand Lodge of Vermont Ju108-09 Northeast Conference of Grand Masters; Wilmington, Delaware Ju1 17-19 Grand Lodge of Ontario Note: This itinerary is partial and subject to modification as necessary. The Grand Master calls attention to the sessions of the Grand Lodge School on the first and third Saturdays of the month; the Grand Lodge workshops on the second Saturdays of March, April, and May; and the monthly meetings, on thefirst Saturday, of the 1978 Association of Worshipful Masters. He also announces that a leadership course, to be offered in conjunction with the workshops, is now being planned.
Observations on the state of the Craft, presented in the 1977 report of the Grand Master, testify to the seriousness of the atrophy now afflicting D.C. Freemasonry. Our membership is rapidly aging and declining, the Grand Master declared, noting a reduction in numbers from a high of more than 25,000 in 1953 to the approximate 13,000 now carried on our roles. Such trends unquestionably establish the scope of our actuarial imbalance and should cause the contemplative to speculate on the fitness of our organization - in the geographical sense, at least - to cope with these and associated issues. In this Grand Jurisdiction we now have 42 degree-conferring lodges serving a membership that is about half of its former size. Out of this fact at least two questions evolve. First, are all of these lodges essential to the ongoing of Freemasonry in the District of Columbia? And second, if they are, are they properly distributed to cater to the needs of those who would serve the present and build for the future? It would seem that these questions, in view of the high concentration of most of our lodges in a few locations, are well deserving of in-depth priority study.
The men whom I have seen succeed have always been cheerful and hopeful, who went about their business with a smile on their faces, and took the changes and chances of this mortal life like men. -Charles Kingsley