The Voice of Freemasonry | Vol. 6 No. 1

AN OFFICIAL PU LICATION OF THE GRAND LODGE, D ACCEPTED MASONS, OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUM Volume VI

Winter, 1989

INSTALLATION REMARKS OF THE GRAND MASTER (Our Worshipful Master's remarks at his installation ceremony, are provided for those who could not attend) Good evening distinguished Brethren, guests, ladies and gentlemen. It is a pleasure to welcome you here on the One Hundred SeventyEighth Installation of the Grand Lodge F.A.A.M. of the District of Columbia. In the immortal words of the President of the United States, Ronald Wilson Reagan, "there you go again." Yes, and here we go again.

Another year, wiith a new group of Worshipful Masters in our lodges, and as I look them over, I can truly say I am quite proud of the quality of men who will lead the Lodges in the District of Columbia next year.

I want to thank you all for attending this installation of the Officers of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. I know some of you have traveled quite a distance to be with us tonight and we extend to you a warm fraternal welcome.

In 1989 we will inaugurate a new president with the promise and hope of great things to come for our nation.

Tonight, you have installed a new line of Grand Lodge Officers who will carry on the rich tradition of the Grand Lodge, established by the great men you see sitting here, our Past Grand Masters. We pledge to you our best efforts to provide the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia leadership, to render decisive, just, and fair decisions, and to temper our actions with Brotherly love and charity.

My grateful thanks is extended to Most Worshipful Brother Marvin E. Fowler, our installing Grand Master, and to Most Worshipful Brother John

C. Schleter, our installing Grand Marshal, for the outstanding manner in which they performed the installation ceremony. These two brethren mean a lot to me; not only are we together on the degree team of the Royal Order of Scotland, and therefore travel throughout the United States quite a bit, but John Schleter was Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1981, the year which I had the pleasure of serving as Worshipful Master of LaFayette Lodge #19 and as his president of the 1981 Worshipful Masters Association. Our personal relationship grew closer that year and has remained so for all the years since.

Most Worshipful Brother Marvin E. Fowler is known not only throughout this jurisdiction, but in most of the United States and many sections of the world. Marvin is a wearer of many hats. He .is not only our senior Past Grand Master, but also the Most Eminent Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States and the Provincial Grand Master of the Royal Order of

Number 1 Scotland. Therefore during the day, he is my boss. He is also my fatherin-law and my Masonic Brother. It was something special to have them do the installation ceremony for me this evening.

In 1985the Grand Lodge instituted the Solomon I1 program in an effort to stem the tide of declining membership. At that time Most Worshipful Theodore Kahn said that he hoped this would be the start of a seven-year program. As we enter our fourth year of Solomon 11, I am happy to pledge the support of the 1989 Grand Lodge Officers to continue to improve the concepts of Solomon 11. We want to perfect the ritual in our Lodges, make the programs more interesting, shorten the meetings to permit more time for refreshments and fellowship, and allow us to return to our wives at an earlier hour. In short, we hope to make attending lodge more attractive to bring out the members. We also instituted the idea of identifying men who we would like to have in the Masonic fraternity and to let them know what the Masonic bodies can offer them. This program has met with varying degrees of acceptance in those lodges which have devoted themselves faithfully t o the precepts of the Solomon I1 program. The advancing age of members in our fraternity continues to result in the loss of membership through death in excess of our ability to attract new members.

While it is true that our net losses were less this past year than the year before, we must continue to intensify our efforts to replace our losses by new, viable, active members. Our Solomon I1 committee will work hard during the coming year to stimulate our lodges to achieve new growth and vigor. continued on page 4

ERT A. STATLER, GRAND MASTER Our Grand Master, M.W. Robert A. Statler, was born and educated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. He is an army veteran who saw four years of service in World War 11, being discharged with the rank of 1st lieutenant.

He is a registered pharmacist who served a 30-year career in the Veteran's Administration. At the time of his retirement in 1971, when he was Director of Pharmacy Service for the Veterans Administration, he was presented that Agency's Distinguished Service Gold Medal.

Since his retirement, he has served as the Assistant Executive Director and then Acting Administrator at Sibley Hospital (January 1972December 1973), as a pharmacist in the Annandale Apothecary, and, most recently, as the Provincial Grand Secretary of the Royal Order of Scotland.

Most Worshipful Brother Statler was raised in Milnor Lodge No. 187 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from which he demitted to affiliate with Lafayette Lodge No. 19, where he served as Worshipful Master in 1981.

He is a Scottish Rite Mason (33rd degree); a member of the York Rite Bodies; Almas Temple, A.A.O.N.M. S.; National Sojourners; High Twelve; a Past Patron of Columbia Chapter, O.E.S.; and a member of the Order of the Amaranth. Since 1978 he has been the Provincial Grand Secretary of the Royal Order of Scotland.

ER SOLO DON'T FORGET TO TIAL CANDIDATES THAT THEY

AND ALSO HAVE A ETITION HANDY.

DISTINGUIS SERVICE MEDAL AWARDED On January 17, 1989, the Grand Lodge Distinguished Service Medal was presented to Brother Charles Arthur Carrico in the presence of 21 Master Masons at the Kensington Gardens Nursing Home.

This Medal, which had been awarded by the unanimous vote of Grand Lodge at its Annual Communication on December 21, 1988, was presented to Brother Carrico by Most Worshipful Theodore M . Kahn, Chairman of the selection committee.

On this occasion Brother Carrico was surrounded by many of his friends from Lodges he has served as Tiler.

Among those present were representatives from his mother Lodge, George C. Whiting No. 22; Justice-Columbia No. 3; Singleton-Hope-Lebanon No. 7; Temple-Noyes-Cathedral No. 32; Potomac No. 5; and Mt. Pleasant R.A. Chapter No. 13.

On this occasion Worshipful Charles Booth, Jr., P.M., George C. Whiting Lodge No. 22, also presented Brother Carrico with his 50-year lapel pin and gold card.

Brother Carrico attended the District of Columbia public schools and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from George Washington University. He spent his entire working career at the Washington Navy Yard, from which he retired in 1962.

Brother Carrico was raised to the Sublime Degree on February 23, 1928 at the age of 22. Over the years since then he has toiled in the Blue Lodge, the York Rite, in the Masonic Veteran's Association and in the High Twelve Club. In the process he has

WILLIAM E. CHANEY, JR. JUNIOR GRAND STEWARD The new man to enter the progressive line in the Grand Lodge is William E. Chaney, Jr., who served in 1988 as Grand Marshal of the Grand Lodge. He is also known for his years of service as the Assistant Grand Tiler (1976-85) and as Grand Tiler (198687).

Brother Chaney is a native-born and educated Washingtonian. He was raised in George C. Whiting Lodge No. 22 on 10 April 1952 and served that Lodge as Worshipful Master in 1961. Later, in 1973, he also served Hiram Lodge No. 10 as its Master.

His diversified interests in the fraternity include the Scottish and York rites; Almas Temple, A.A.O.N. M.S.; the Tall Cedars of Lebanon (Past Grand Tall Cedar of Capitol Forest No. 104); the Order of the Eastern Star; and the International Order of Job's Daughters. become a very familiar friend to every Mason coming within his circle of activity. Few indeed, are those who have not been charmed by Brother Carrico's friendly manner, his pleasant smile, his pure white hair and white mustache, distinguishing features well known to most Masons in this jurisdiction.

Also present for the presentation were Brother Carrico's sister and niece, as well as a number of staff personnel at the Kensington Gardens Nursing Home.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS: 1989

VOICE OF FREEMASONR

This publication is designed t o be a n organ of information, instruction, and inspiration for all who hold allegiance t o this Grand Jurisdiclion. Comments and contributions, should be directed to the attention of the editor, care of the Grand Secretary.

Mailing Address

Voice of Freemasonry Grand Lodge Office 600 F Street, N.W., Suite 503 Washington, D.C. 20004 Editor Theodore R o t h m a n (468-1019) Editorial Board Nelson L. Fink Milton Fields Harry Hofberg Vincent M . Mahoney Stewart W. Miner Robert T . R u a r k Charles L. Sherzer, J r .

Ernest A. Will

Front Row (L TO R): Robert F. Sutphin, Grand Treasurer; Jerold J. Samet, Junior Grand Warden; Charles S. Iversen, Deputy Grand Master; Robert A. Statler, Grand Master; Darwin A. Brock, Senior Grand Warden; Stewart W. Miner, Grand Secretary; Floyd E. Werle, Grand Lecturer.

Second Row (L to R): Robert H. Younger, Grand Pursuivant; Eugene N. Richardson, Grand Chaplain; Wm. E. Chaney, Jr., Junior Grand Steward; William T. Jenkins, Junior Grand Deacon; George R. Adams, Senior Grand Deacon; J. Philip Smith, Senior Grand Steward; Vincent M. Mahoney, Grand Marshal; Robert B. Riley, Jr., Assistant Grand Chaplain.

Third Row (L to R): Anthony S. Murray, Aide to the Grand Master; Jules S. Tepper, Grand Sword Bearer; Stafford Appel, Deputy Grand Lecturer; Dr. Harold A. Blood, Grand Lodge Physician; Bernard Geffen, Grand Tiler; Elmer F. Stein; Grand Historian; Morris Gevinson, Assistant Grand Chaplain; Gerhard Meinzer, Assistant Grand Tiler; Edward A. Reed, Aide t o the Grand Master.

THE GRAND

ASTER'S ITINERARY (Partial)

March March March March April April April April

3 7 25 29

9 18-19 24 30

Robert LeBruce Chapter, Order of DeMolay Anacostia Chapter, Order of DeMolay Potomac-Chevy Chase Chapter, Order of DeMolay Brotherhood Night, Nur Temple, Delaware Masonic Day of Thanksgiving, Foundry U.M. Church Grand Lodge of North Carolina Annual Golf Tournament Grand Chapter, O.E.S., banquet

May 10

Semi-Annual Communication

July 1-15 July 16-17

Viking Fling (Grand Master's Trip) N.E. Conference of Grand Masters, Deputy Grand Masters, and Grand Secretaries

Elected Robert A. Statler Charles S. Iversen

Grand Master Deputy Grand Master Darwin A. Brock Senior Grand Warden Jerold J . Samet Junior Grand Warden Stewart W. Miner, P G M Grand Secretary Robert F. Sutphin, PGM Grand Treasurer Floyd E. Werle Grand Lecturer George R. Adams Senior Grand Deacon William T. Jenkins Junior Grand Deacon J. Phillip Smith Senior Grand Steward William E. Chaney Junior Grand Steward

Appointed Grand Marshal Grand Chaplain Grand Sword Bearer Robert H. Younger Grand Pursuivant Morris Gevinson Assistant Grand Chaplain Robert B. Riley, Jr. Assistant Grand Chaplain Elmer F. Stein, PGM Grand Historian Bernard Geffen Grand Tiler Stafford Appel Deputy Grand Lecturer Grand Lodge Harold A. Blood Physician Anthony S. Murray Aide to Grand Master Edward A. Reed Aide to Grand Master Gerhard Meinzer Assistant Grand Tiler Vincent M. Mahoney Eugene N. Richardson Jules S. Tepper

aster's Message cont'd The work and programming in our lodges still need improvement. The programs must be made timely, interesting, and all aspects of lodge activities must be strengthened in order to interest and retain old and new members alike.

I am assigning each of the Grand Lodge elected and appointed Officers specific Lodges to visit throughout the year. They will offer assistance to the Worshipful Masters on new programs, information on Grand Lodge activities, and innovative ideas to keep our lodges alive and interesting.

As I was being installed, and then as I witnessed the installation of the other Grand Lodge Officers, I was filled with a sense of the responsibility all of us are undertaking. The position of Grand Master is one of great power and yet one which inspires the individual to the utmost in leadership. I am confident that each of the Past Grand Masters in this room recalls his own installation, and the feelings that he felt at that time. Probably he felt, as I do now, the joy, the humility, the challenge of this singular event. You, who have held this position before me, have set high standards, by which we, as your successors, are measured.

Our Masonic day of Thanksgiving will be held on April 9, 1989 at Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. The message will be brought to us by the Rev. Edward Bauman, senior minister of Foundry Church and a television and radio personality in this area. I am looking forward to seeing most of you at that service.

We are currently busy planning the renovation of our new Grand Lodge office building at MacArthur Boulevard and Cathedral Avenue. This magnificent new structure should be ready for occupancy early next year and we look forward with pleasure to the dedication ceremonies of our new offices, Masonic library and museum.

Speaking of dedications, the new aphasia clinic being built in the rear of this beautiful temple will probably be ready to open this spring. If invited, the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia stands ready to participate in the dedication ceremonies.

MASONIC DAY OF THANKSGIVING The Grand Master of Masons in the District of Columbia, M.W. Robert A. Statler, has declared that the annual Masonic Day of Thanksgiving will be Sunday, April 9, 1989.

The services will be held at 3:00 p.m. in the Foundry United Methodist Church, located at 16th and P Streets, N.W. The sermon will be delivered by the pastor of the church, the Reverend Dr. Edward Bauman, an inspiring and gifted speaker. Dress will be morning clothes with jewels and name tags for the Grand Lodge Officers and tuxedos and jewels for members of the 1989 Masters Association. All Master Masons, their families, and friends are cordially invited to participate.

BL D SUPPLIE ARE

If Masonry is to continue to be truly representative of the brotherhood of man under the Fatherhood of God, we must renew our commitment to this basic precept. Let us work together now and share the God given benefits which we have received from Masonry with those qualified men who are out there, but as yet are uninformed and unaware of the profound depths of our Masonic way of life.

Finally, with the caliber of men serving as Worshipful Masters in 1989 and the quality of our Grand Lodge Line, I predict that we will have a great year together! God Bless You All!

ALMAS TEMPLE POTENTATE 1989 CARL GORDON ENGLAND Born-January 28, 1938, Hemphill, West Virginia.

Graduated f r o m Welch High School, Welch, West Virginia.

Enlisted in U.S. Air ForceHonorable discharge 1960. Accepted a civilian position with the Department of the Air Force in Civil Engineering: retiring after 32 years, on April 1,1988. Was awarded the United States Air Force Commendation Medal and the Air Force Achievement Medal. Active Member of the Air Force Reserve Program.

Masonic Affiliations: Camp Springs Lodge No. 227, A.F.A.M. Albert Pike Consistory, Washington, D.C. Kallipolis Grotto M.O.V.P.E.R. Almas Temple Shrine, elected Oriental Guide 1986.

Progressed through elected Divan. Elected Potentate 1989 Northwest Shrine Club Southeast Shrine Club Greeters Unit Knights of Mecca Screwballs Residence-Brandywine, Maryland Married 29 years-Wife Jean nee Gildroy of Uniontown, Pa. Two children-son Jamesdaughter Bonny-4 Granchildren Member St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Owens, Maryland

ROM

ITOR'S

Upon being appointed editor of the Voice of Freemasonry last year, I asked myself what direction the Voice should take. After a great deal of thought, I realized that aside from the year-end Grand Visitations and an occasional visit to a Lodge by a Grand Lodge Officer, the Voice of Freemasonry is YOUR only contact with the Grand Lodge Officers and/or Grand Lodge activities. I therefore attempted to report to you most of the "goingson at the Headquarters level" and I plan to do so again this year.

I urge all Worshipful Masters and Lodge Bulletin editors to continually remind their members to read the Voice so that they can keep abreast of the activities in our jurisdiction and become active participants in many of these activities.

-Ted Rothman

125TH ANNIVERSAR LAFAYETTE LODGE NO. 19 The 125th Anniversary celebration of Lafayette Lodge No. 19, held on the 18th day of December 1988 at the Bolling Air Force Officers Club, was a memorable occasion. Present for the affair was M.W. Robert A. Statler, a Past Master of Lafayette Lodge, who was installed as Grand Master of Masons of the District of Columbia on the previous evening. On this, his first official function as Grand Master, he was accompanied by his Grand Lodge Officers and a number of Past Grand Masters. Also in attendance were the heads of most of the appendant bodies, the presiding officers of the Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, and a large number of Lafayette Lodge members and their friends. It was, in short, a fitting tribute to both the Grand Master and his Lodge.

VAL At the Annual Communication of Grand Lodge on December 21, 1988, Most Worshipful Raymond F. McMullen announced that in 1988, he had established a new award to be known as the Valentine Reintzel Medal in honor of the first Grand Master of this Grand Jurisdiction.

It is to be awarded, he said, "to Masons who have proven t o be exceptional in their devotion, zeal, and loyalty to the Craft." He then presented the first three Valentine Reintzel Medals to Brothers Elmer Morris, who for years has provided music at our Grand Visitations; Charles S. McDaniel, Grand Lodge Tiler, Emeritus; and Harold Grainger, who has labored for at least 25 years in the cause of Masonic education in the District of Columbia.

VALENTINE REINT EL MEDALISTS

DEMOL NEW PROGRAM

S

DeMolay International recently announced a new membership contest for 1989. In honor of astronauts and DeMolay alumni Frank Borman, Vance Brand, Edgar Mitchell, Alfred Worden and Charles Bassett 11, DeMolay is sponsoring the "1989 Reach For the Stars" Membership Contest.

T o encourage membership recruitment, chapters will be eligible to win special awards based on the results of their recruiting efforts. The awards

correspond to the evolution of the United States Space Program.

Any chapter initiating between 711 new members will receive the Mercury Missions membership award. Chapter initiating 12-20 will receive the Gemini Missions award.

Chapters initiating 21-32 members earn the Saturn Missions award and those initiating 33-49 new members will be granted the Apollo Missions award.

Chapters with extra special results will receive extra special recognition.

Chapters that initiate 50 or more new members will receive the Shuttle Missions award and DeMolay Inter-

national will have the International Star Registry redesignate a real star to be named after the chapter.

Also, in commemoration of this special contest, new members initiated into DeMolay during 1989 will receive a special "1989 Reach For The Stars" membership patent. The special patent bears the likeness of the five astronauts.

For more information on DeMolay's new membership program, contact DeMolay's Director of Marketing and Leadership Development, Dan Houlahan at 816-8333.

SECRETS

By RabbiDr. andBro. Herman E. Snyder

Perhaps the best-kept Masonic secret is that we do not solicit for membership, that no one is invited to submit an application. The individual must make the first move and indicate the desire. Every Mason knows that.

But what about non-Masons? Do they know our secret?

The public holds the impression that we are not only a secret society but also a closed organization that implied we do not want new members.

To be a member of a family that includes a Mason, or an intimate friend of a known Mason, and yet have no inkling that one may become a Mason by asking, can leave only one impression: not wanted, rejected.

Many of us chuckle at the story of the son of an active Mason who did not learn for many years that he could have applied. The silence of his father was interpreted to mean that the son was not wanted. I fail to find anything to chuckle at in this story; it is tragic.

We d o not divulge any Masonic secret when we inform the non-Mason that applications for degrees are welcome but, as Masons, we may not solicit, invite, or even initiate them.

Actually, we are not a "secret" organization, even though we may use secret words and grips so that one Mason may know another in the dark as well as at noonday. But are we telling the world about our good work? At best, our silence is misplaced modesty.

We have been paid the highest compliment by the dictators of the world, past and present. It is both complimentary and flattering that Masonry was the first organization to be outlawd by Stalin in Russia, by Hitler in Germany and by Mussolini in Italy. Whether it was Communism, Nazism, or Fascist oppression, Freemasonry was suppressed because these dictators knew we were and are the staunch defenders of democracy and the strongest opponent of tyranny.

Masonry has no fortifications, no armaments; we subscribe t o the eternal. indestructible values bv which

people live in freedom, peace, and brotherhood-and without compulsion! We can take solem pride in the roles portrayed in molding and protecting American democracy. Why not let our non-Masonic friends know about it as well as ourselves?

The world knows we are not a religious sect; we have no theology and no divisive religious symbols. Our members include all faiths and denominations and come from every ethnic background known to man. We share these basic qualities in the things we do and say and in our attitudes toward all people, without bias or prejudice.

Perhaps more significant, are our symbols, the Square and Compasses, recognized universally. They denote a building up, not a tearing down; construction, not destruction. They cannot be changed by politics, prejudices, or races. Our symbols proclaim integrity, truth, humanity. We embrace in affection and mutual respect the world of humanity.

The late Edwin Markham once composed a quatrain entitled, "Outwitted." It describes Masonry as I view it. It says, as well as I can recall: They drew a circle that kept me out, (calling me) heretic, rebel, a thing to flout: But love and I had the wit to win- We drew a circle and took them in! Reprinted from The Delaware Freemason

In 1988 the Grand Master established an awards program to recognize qualifying Lodges for program excellence and service. A number of Lodges responded and eight of them qualified-five for the Grand Master's Award and three for the more prestigious Grand Master's Award of Excellence.

Lodges qualifying for the Grand Master's Award were WashingtonCentennial No. 14, Lafayette No. 19, Albert Pike No. 33, Semper Paratus No. 49, and Fort Dupont No. 52.

Winners of the Grand Master's Award for Excellence were JusticeColumbia No. 3, Osiris No. 26, and Samuel Gompers-Benjamin Franklin No. 45.

At the Annual Communication, appropriate plaques were presented to the Masters of each of these Lodges.

ASTER'S ASSOCIATION: 1989 The 1989 Association of Worshipful Masters held its initial meeting on Saturday, January 7, and elected the following officers: President

1st Vice President

2nd Vice President

Sheldon I. Rappeport S a m u e l Gompers-Benjamin Franklin Lodge #45 Irving McWhorter Semper Paratus Lodge #49 John S. Harris Anacostia Lodge #21

Secretary

Michael E. Greene Joppa Lodge #35

Treasurer

David A. Holley Albert Pike Lodge #33

Trustees

Edward F. Nuzman Federal Lodge #I Hugh A. Shawen Dawson Lodge #16 William C. Hillmuth East Gate Lodge #34

Chaplain

Albert C. Allen Fort Dupont Lodge #52

This year's Association will again have a fund-raising objective. We will be supporting the Masonic Foundation and through the Foundation, the Masonic and Eastern Star Home Corporation and the Order of DeMolay. Details on the activities to raise money will be forthcoming shortly.

The Association will also attempt to improve communication throughout the jurisdiction. We will be working closely with the Grand Lodge-Lodge Activities Bulletin Committee to keep all informed of upcoming events in the various Lodges.

The Worshipful Masters will also assist at the golf tournament, the Masonic Day of Thanksgiving, and the Grand Lodge Annual Communication. The Association is looking forward to a very busy year.

GRAND LODGE Last year, under the excellent leadership of Chairman William T. Jenkins, now Junior Grand Deacon, the Grand Lodge Blood Bank Program was a great success. The Grand Lodge attained 143% of its overall goal and every Lodge in our jurisdiction participated in some degree.

Based on records as of September 30, 1988, twenty Lodges met or exceeded their quotas. Comprising this group were the following Lodges: Justice-Columbia No. 2 Potomac No. 5 St. John's No. 11 Washington-Centennial No. 14 Benjamin B. French No. 15 Dawson No. 16 Harmony No. 17 Anacostia No. 21 George C. Whiting No. 22 Arminius No. 25 Osiris No. 26 King Solomon No. 3 1 Temple-Noyes-Cathedral No. 32 Albert Pike No. 33 East Gate No. 34 Joppa No. 35 Theodore Roosevelt No. 44 Samuel Gompers-Benjamin Franklin No. 45 Semper Paratus No. 49 Fort Dupont No. 52 The Blood Committee Chairmen in these Lodges are particularly commended. This year the Grand Lodge Blood Bank Committee is determined to do all it can to top last year's excellent record. With the full cooperation of all of the Lodges, this can be done.

The Committee is in the process of developing a new record-keeping system as suggested by last year's Chairman. This new system consists of a computer program to be based in the Grand Lodge office. It will record donations, blood types, and dates of donations. The input for this program will be compiled from the following data collected by the Committee: 1. A log sheet filled out by the

Blood Chairman of each Lodge. This sheet will list the donor's name, phone number, blood type, and date of blood donation; 2. The American Red Cross computer run-off sheets; and 3. The log book at the Drew Center of the American Red Cross.

This program will enable the Grand Lodge to have a readily available list of donors with rare blood types for any emergency that might arise in our fraternity. It will also keep the program in a central location whereby a data base for the preparation of lists of donors, awards, and certificates will be available.

The Committee also plans to work more closely with the Grand Lodge Public Relations Committee in an effort to enhance our public image through appropriate publicity of our blood program. In this connection, the Committee requests that those Lodges planning a bloodmobile contact and solicit the help of the Public Relations Committee so that the event may be appropriately publicized. Such publicity will help stir up community participation in our program and will also serve to provide our fraternity with well deserved recognition.

Finally, the Committee urges the Lodge Chairmen to make sure that they continue to get the message out to prospective donors that one cannot get AIDS from donating blood and also that non-Masonic family members and friends may donate in the name of a Lodge. Let's make 1989 another great year for our Grand Lodge Blood Bank Program. J. Philip Smith, Junior Grand Steward, is the Chairman of the Grand Lodge Blood Bank Committee.

MARYLAND MASONIC PLATES Maryland Masonic Tags are available any time during the year.

You do not have to wait untilyour expiration date t o transfer from regular tags. No additional charge, except MVA one time fee of $4.00 for new plates.

SOLOMON II Project Solomon I1 is working well in the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. Prior to 1985, when the program was launched, the number of Masons in this jurisdiction was declining at an average of 6% per year, with new petitions received averaging about 30 per year over the period of the preceding 10 years.

As a result of efforts associated with our Solomon I1 program, the number of petitions received each year has more than tripled, and in 1988, 80 Masons were raised, 51 were affiliated, and 19 were reinstated.

Moreover, the net loss for the year was reduced to less than 4%.

The success of the program clearly lies with the Brethren and the Lodges.

We must continually search for good men. To that end every Mason should keep a copy of "Friend to Friend" in his pocket to share with those who have the potential to become Masons.

And by all means let your "friend" know that to become a Mason, one has to ask!

We are now approximately halfway through the program we adopted in 1985. Let us then take stock, as individuals and as Lodges, striving always to be worthy of that with which we are entrusted. Do your part to keep Masonry viable in the District of Columbia Any Master Mason in good standing and a member of a Lodge recognized by the Grand Lodge of Maryland is eligible. Also eligible are his widow, unmarried daughter, or son under 21 years old.

Masonic Tags are available only through the Free State Square Club No. 1182.

Send your request for a MVA Application Certification to: FREE STATE SQUARE CLUB NO. 1182, P.O. Box 903, Silver Spring, Md., 20910. Enclose a check for $6.00 for each vehicle, payable to the Club.

Include your name, address, lodge name and number and location if your lodge is out of state.

Except for operating expenses, proceeds from donations are contributed to Maryland and D.C. Masonicrelated organizations.

1 1

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INFORMATION TO THE FAMILY of the District of Columbia Mason whose name appears on the mailing label. In the event that he goes to the hospital, a nursing home, or is inca-

pacitated in any way, please cut this portion of the page and send it to the Secretary of his Lodge or to the office of the Grand Secretary, 600 F St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004, along

with all information possible concerning his incapacity. The Lodge will then be able to visit and/ or assist him. Lack of communication hurts everyone. We want to know!