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VOICE OF
Thc Grand Lodgc joincd by Alnlas TOPI* AA.0.W . M . S . a R d ~ ~ ~ ~ ) dthc Diffdu & C d u ~ M a&mkU from tk wan&& tir p f s aumbMing clfiwfix b m h r Fmawms on 1te d O c lm ~ hplq m b a ew h w s p n t m night6 e d bdm boudiqj lhcbttrtful*.'The~~hSau"
aftcr onc ycar still sho~vsmuch of thc Ldamagr tc ~ }.car's hurriit wfIcrsd f m last cane. Maff).&rildi~~stiIlhavc nopcmlancnt r d uM ltrc cwercd by tarpaulins. w k a you can spcnd This ir M p u had sornc Icft your mmq k casino on board, whcrc aftcr visiri* t many of us gatl~crcdjust lo havc fun. ~ b y i k ~ C 4 i b b s r C m u Wc Il~cncniscd to our final Pon of L i m . T k ahip was lcrn d m anc year bld Call, San Juan, Pucno Rico to board airand scvcnry tons with clcvcn dccks. plancs for thc flight hoinc and back to A h wc boardcd thc ship wc cnjoycd rcdity. clcvcn days aboard with a Pon of CaIl in Whilc on board ~ h cship n-c hcld Caldcra, Costa Rica for a day. thcn cn~iscd mccting for ail masons and found that ivc thc Panama Canal whcrc wc ~vcrcliftcd 88 had scvcral brcthrcn from othcr Statcs, fcct abovc sca icvcl and lowcrcd back down including Califonlia, Pcnnsylvmia and to lhc C a n b b c , ~Sca, all of which took a Tcsas. WL' had me Brothcr uavcling lotal of 8 hours to acconiplish. Thc canal is from Moscow, Russia. and frft).-cight rcally onc of thc marvcls of thc ivorld. Wc lncn~bcrs of Moliammcd Tcnipic thcn wcnc on to Willcmstad, Curacao: and A.A.O.N.M.S. locatcd in Pcoria, Illinois. Oranjcslad, Aruba in thc Ncthcrland I bclicvc that wc all had a grcat Linw on a Antilles, to Caralina Island and thcn to beautifulship. cvcn ifrvcdid cat JScc cover phol Charlotte Amalic, St. Thomasisland, which
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Cornerstone Laying at George Washington University Assisted by the officers of the Grand Lodge, the Grand Master, WilliamE. Chaney, Jr., laid the cornerstoneof a new residence hall on the campus of George Washington University on Saturday, October 19, 1996. Included in the group of supportingMasons were the Worshipful Masters of seven metropolitan area Lodges and a host of otherMasonic dignttaries. PotomacLodge No. 5 brought the George Washington gavel and Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 brought the George Washingtontrowel for use in the ceremony. On hand to observe the festivitieswere hundreds ofparents, in town to celebrate "Family Day" at the University. Ms. Jill Kasle, Marshal ofthe University, opened the program by welcoming the crowd and observing that the purpose of this program was to lay the cornerstonefor the first new residence hall to be built at the George WashingtonUniversity in nearly 60 years. The Grand Master respondedwarmlyand then requested the Grand Secretary, Stewart W. Miner, P.G.M., to deliver the Exordium, following which the cornerstone was laid in accordance with ancient Masonic tradition.
The Grand Lodge Officers, led by G. Lee Ferguson, Grand Marshal (I) and Gerhard Meinzer, Grand Tiler, walk in procession to thesite ofthe cornerstonelayingceremony.
Upon conclusion of the ceremony Ms. Kasle spoke of the long and happy relationship that has linked George Washington University and the Masonic fraternity, noting particularly that Masons had been very generous in their scholarship support of promising students. One such student, according to Ms. Kasle, was a young lady by the name of Britta Jensen, a senior in the University Honors Program and a recipient of a Scottish Rite Scholarship. Britta was invited to the lectern to express her views of the scholarship program. She responded with these words: "Good morning. I am a student at this University as a result of my great personal love of George Washington, the father of this country,who was a Mason, and of my own father, who was a Mason. When I was applying to college I received a brochure from the George Washington University listing scholarship opportunitiesand found that one of the scholarshipsoffered was the ScottishRite Scholarship. At firstI thought that yon had to be Scottish to be eligible for that scholarship, and as you can imagine, judging by my name and looks, I am not Scottish. So I paid no further attention to that opportunity." "Fortunately, some days later, I was discussing scholarship optionswith my mother and I happened to mention the Scottish Rite Scholarship was one that I couldn't get. My mother then explained, Britta Jenson, that's not a scholarship h r Scots; that's a Masonic scholarship and your father was a Mason! My father, who died when I was sevenyears old, was the head of the child psychiatry departmentof the University of Minnesota and a 32' Mason. So because of that connection I applied and was
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successful in receiving scholarship aid." "Specifically, I have been the fortunate recipient of a half tuition scholarship from the Masons for the four years of my undergraduate career at the George Washington University, without which I could not have come to this university. At GW I have designed my own major in the Philosophy of Logic and Linguistics, with an emphasis on linguistics, philosophy and literary theory. I hope to study abroad for a year before I finish the PhD program, and ultimately I hope to teach at the college level." "I am very grateful to the University Honors Program and I would like to thank the Masons publicly for allowing me the opportunityto come to this wonderful university. Thank you for what you've done for me and for this university." Mr. Ron Jacobs, President of the Resident Hall Association, then introduced Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, President of the George WashingtonUniversityby noting that the President had come to the University nine years ago with, among other things, "a reputation for getting things done." Duringthose nine years,
"Our presence today is not only to celebrate this building but also to pay tribute to the supportthat the Masons have given GeorgeWashingtonUniversity. I want to invite C. Fred Kleinknecht to join me at the podium together with Professor John D. Boswell, Chairman of the Executive Committee ofthe George Washington University Faculty Center." At the lecternPresident Trachtenberg then presented the Sovereign Grand Commanderofthe Scottish Rite, Southern The George Washington gavel is placed into Jurisdiction, Brother C. the handsof Brother StephenJ. Trachtenberg, Fred Kleinknecht, with President of GW University. thePresident'sMeda1. the highest award that ii within his power to bestow. He did so, he proclaimed,because Brother Kleinknecht was the kind of a man "on whom our democracy relies" and because of his support of the educational goals of the George Washington University. In his response Brother Kleinknecht said "I humbly accept and thank youDr. Trachtenbergand the George WashingtonUniversity for bestowing this great honor today. The President's Medal represents a72-year continuousrelationshipbetween the University and the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Scholarships are part of the mortar that holds institutions together and I am proud to be a part of this wonderful relationship. I thank you for this great honor." Upon conclusion of the festivities at the building site, and the closing of the Grand Lodge in ample form at the Marvin Center, the President oftheUniversityand his staffhostedadelightful luncheon at Kinkeads, a campus retreat, for the leaders of the Grand Lodge, including the Grand Master, the Deputy Grand Master, and the Grand Secretary, and for the Sovereign Grand Commander, his staff, and family. All in all, Family Day at GW was a good day for Masonry.
I
Grand Master William E. Chaney, Jr. explains the use of th,e trowel during the cornerstone laying ceremony.
he said, President Trachtenberg had transformed the appearance of the University and by his deeds had earned the title of "Master Builder." President Trachtenberg responded graciously to this introduction as follows: " I'm delighted to have yon all here. I'm just as pleased as I can be that the weather held up for us. I'm committed to Masonic work. A cornerstone ceremony such as this carries with it an air of real excitement,the challenge to completethe work that has been so well started, and the promise of things to come. Invariably a work as intricate and as complicatedas this building owes it's existence to many people and I am grateful to each and every one of them. And, of course, I am grateful to my Brother Masons for blessing this event with their presence and by laying the cornerstone of this building according to Masonic custom."
The gavel and trowel used by President George Washington to laythecornerit& of the U.S. Capitol Building in 1793 were also present for this special ceremony.
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membership is growing older and our revenues are falling. Has anyone ever considcade to the end of the service, and as is the ered that maybe Masonry is doing it to practice in this church the minister offered itself? Too many groups, too many meetan invitationto all who would comeforward ings and not enough substance anywhere? Sometimes going back to the basics is and join the church, profess their belief, or rededicate their lives. As the music began, not a bad idea. How did Masonry start and an older lady who was recognized as a pillar why was it so popular? What attracted you ofthe church stepped forward and walked to to the Institution? Why did others seek the the chancelrailby the minister. Many in the Light? Hard questionsto answer truthfully. congregationwere bemused, and the minis- And the same original question: once you ter was somewhat confused,for he knew this are in, how do you get out? How do you lady to be very strong in her religion and gracefully back down? The older lady in beliefs. The minister bent forward to ask in church felt that a public profession began a whisper what the lady's intention might her church life, so likewise a public profesbe, and she told him that she wanted to quit. sion of retirement would end it. How can She figured that when she joined, she you as an active Mason say, enough! You walked down the aisle of the church, and want to stay home and watch Monday night now she was tired and old, so she thought a football and not feel guilty about not atter Asimilar ceremonywas appropriatewhen she wanted to quit. How do you quit? So many of us today Suddenly, your entire l$e join Freemasonry and become active (as we all should), then someone sees our interest revolves around attending and activity and decides that we should become an officer. Up the chairs we go and fraternal gatherings where become more active. Suddenly, another Brother notices our interest and decides that you see the same people the "Rite" is where we shouldbe. So wejoin and start attending meetings and are drawn over and over again... into degree work and finally officership. We become more and more involved. A good friend then shares the information on ingthe semi-monthlymeetingofthe "Broththe Shrine and insists that wejoin in the fun ers of the Enlightened Trapezoid. You and fellowship. We join and attend meet- enjoy a weekend with nothing to do around ings and get pulled into a Unit and become the house and relax and not feel bad about more active. A friend's wife talks to your not attending the Grand Master's Workwife and suggests that the Eastern Star shop on how to receive the GrandMaster. Is would certainly be an excellent organiza- this a "Let George do it!" attitude? Perhaps; tion for the two of us to join together you but, considerthis: Meetings are attended by do. Your son and daughter must become fewer and fewer members quorums are members of DeMolay andRainbow and you getting harder and harder to achieve. Men and your wife must become Advisors. You are bored with meetings where poor ritual, are asked tojoin this and that, you receive an bad minutes and announcements and the honor and attend more associated meetings. overly-long cancer reports are the mainstay Suddenly, your entire life revolves around of a meeting. Add to this bad meeting place attending fraternal gatherings where you locations and building conditions, lousy refreshments, and men who attend in any see the same people over and over again each time dressed a little differently with a form of dress imaginable, and suddenly the different cap or hat or jewel or ribbon. "magic" of going to Lodge is no longer magic. When the major topic ofthe meeting Where does it end? How do you quit? What are you doing is finances (how to pay the taxes and insurto yourself in Masonry? We all bemoan the ance "raise the dues", of course!), whenthe fact that Masonry's numbers are falling. Brothers sit around and berate each other We can not attract new members. Our and can't imagine doing any project for
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anyone -then it is no wonder that good men who have good intentions will find something else to do, and someplace else to go. Being a member of the Lodge, and staying in good standing no longer has that special meaning that it did to your father and grandfather. Many men might begin looking at the Lodge as just another club that is not doing anything worthwhile so why waste the time to go and spend two or three hours of uselessness. How doyou stepback and reflect? Look at the basics of Freemasonry! Why did good men band together and forge a great Institution, build beautiful temples in the heart of great towns and cities, encourage good projects to benefit mankind? Are you today looking for the best? Is your lodge building that impressive building on the main thoroughfare? Are you performing great and good projects for mankind? Probably, if your Lodge is like so many today, you are excited to get apetition fromanybody, ifyou have a new building, it is an undistinguished structurestuckinanundistinguished area, and your good and great works become trying to gather enough members to perform a funeral rite for a departed Brother. Who are you and what do you want to be? Look back at the Charges in the three degrees. These lecturesare who you are and what you shouldbe. Get out your monitorial books and review the words spoken to you and reflect. Study again the lessons of the degrees, and think back to that old Brother who patiently taught you the words that you so nervously had to recite in open Lodge. Who were you then and what did you want to be in Masonry? If you were like so many, you had this wonderful new world opening before you with exciting thoughts and ideas that you had never experienced previously What happened? Go back and reread those Charges. How do you quit? You can't ifyou truly believe. The older lady wasn't quitting church. She was tired and wanted to retire from teaching Sunday School after forty years. She wanted to attend a Sunday School class and listen and learn. She wanted to be able to sit back and watch others prepare the Sunday Social after church. She wanted to enjoy a med in the fellowship hall rather than being the one who prepared it. She had served her time, stood her watch, answeredthe call over and over now she wanted to be relieved and sit back. She wasn't quitting, she wanted to enjoy the fruits of her labor. So we in
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Wheelchair Bus Presented t o TA. Hospital
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In this c o u n w w all 1,akc pridc in our vcLcrans, mcn and womcn ivho gavc so much in dcfcnsc of our nation. May lhis vchiclc s c n c thcm in the mamm thcy so richly dcscrvc." P W G r a d Wlm Arattrpbndcd to the Dircclors invitat i o n 8 6 f o h : "Wsl ddJ I d &to thank our cilrrcnt Grand Mast#, Most Wa&@lW B ~ W ~ r C b h c for y , bringing t h ~ projca s toa fanlasric cor~clwjim.Im L b aIw likc lo I l m k our Past Grand Chaplain now -, Wkipbl Brolhcr Tom Wcir. Toin put lhis idca inlo my Ixad. Brother Tom, as many of you know. was thc hlSA Dircclor of Hospilal VisiraLion. Tom gavc lhc firs1 SI,OOD lowards h i s bus and whcn I look a1 lhjs bus I tlunk ofTom Wcir. Thank you v c y much. Sandy Garfi1klc noling h a t this dcdicarion was talcing placc on thc b i w dLh6 Grad W. hlincr, lhcn invited thc G?id m n lojain in culling rhc ribat h e w h a i r rn LIS bus. After lhc ribbon cutting those asm1blcd were h 4 c d lo c o n ~ p l i n i m t arides ~ on the buff follo\vingwhich thc Grand LodgcOficm and thc MSA reprcscnlativcs joincd the hospital slaff for lunch.
wc hardall hc loworkcd obtain bus that for so
Lhc Vclcran's Adm i n W on Hospihi Cmlix iP Washingm&&rllqluka61ivcrcd E m & -aid in andwmw m wW w i c c , in an i thc -#the W Oficcrs OudmrS, 1996. andmc-d L a m Baluh, Chici, Voluntan Scnicc at thc VA Medical Ccnlcr. wclcoincd 1110s~prcsent and lhcn called on Chaplain John Fortc 10 offcr a dedicaloq praycr. Chaplain Fortc rcspondcd as follow+: "Lord, wc wan1 lo I cll You how glad wc arc for 111c opponuniy and privilcgc of I S h You, inlo Your prcscncc ukb Riadlr rrl coinradcs who h a w WFWW h c d so hard lo niakc surc llm w h mlXcr as a rcsull of dcdiC I L ~ S I F ~ F R bc ~ #scnrcd. II Wc prcscnt U W W m Y o u todayandaskYour upln I1 and upon cvcry vacran rillk B p o n c d by it. Wc thank T hW h h g h t n d for thc dcdicalion and EA ~ h proccss c of caring cxhibited@FhmesM~oprovidcd il. Wccspccially ask Your blcssing upon lhc group that has laborcdand workcd and m d to bc surc dW w hd lhn4g.l~ a1 our scrvicc. W p q W h Yor will bc conlinuallywiih ts,d m - 1 and in rhedaysahsCd -mbdiI+nhc nccd 10 enhanca +u V yrl dcdicatienurtht1Chimd~~mems.Wc thank YOUhrFAl!~WB&I for ils d i r c c ~ : ~ ~ a nudddi .k a U w b d c d i c a ~ c & ~ u h d @ lr k s m i n g o u r mterans. Lbb m d b t u r r d c n c c bc an hspiratjlPn la4l d~ m;Lh end thal WwillbahWemlhb-inThy Ihgdoro. L lh.ua. d Lord, wc . ...".." . . .."... .. . pray. Aiam' Mrs. B a h d ~ ~ Sandy u Garfinkle,DimrarvM~I~ Ccn~cr, w h o W & - W T h m k y & h l h a r r c n l has ~ ~ ~ m ~ a me U w d .tknlkd W acccpt this bcautifl&lxm dhm 45 F m m d Ac~ ~ b L m i c t d € k l u n i b i a Tbismd~adbmM Mastcr W i U h JeGw u w a d r l l y corn,.
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t ~ r a d r n * T ~h h m b * c ~ i v k k l k ~ i r l ~ cYIpdlt0dwd-r~) ti-. l w k b L o @ s & i k ~ h t conuibuld nmwy for t h s bus; Mmrx Bcloff, VAVS stafXcr and MSA rcprcscntativc, lor his suppon; and for Lhc cffons of Grand ~MasrcrChancy and Pas1 Grand Maslcrs Snlih and Jcnkins. I would bc happy lo hcar from cach of you." Grand Master Chancv rcspondcd lo lhc Dircclor's invimion by noling h a 1 Pas1 Grand Master Smith and his lady, Gcorg i a , m a t t h a ~nlHa hen b l ~ said, ';I1~ isa' d m nlc to sland hcrc t l i rmmmg lhis projcct to a c m & a h WW approsirnalcly 6,2m W & Pk n of Columbia, d wd w cb m) dtkm lrict slands proud today, gbvriry in hb thal thc Masonic M t y hm .in whcrc g o w r n m c l ~ MIXM. t b h a t othcr m $ m i i * a ~ m ~ ~ in Iikc projedsand 1bakmmMing.
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8 QUIT - con tinued from page 5
Masonry should have some mechanism where people can sit back after a period of service. A few ideas to allow members to step back and enjoy attending might include: 1) Levels of membership might be offered: Active membership could result in annual fees for a certain amount; and, an inactive, associate, emeritus or retired membership would result in a much reduced fee that would only keep the member's name on the role. This way a person would not feel tied to a group forever with a demit or nonpayment suspension being his only "outs." 2) Informative and educational programs being offered to the membership can only help make a person feel that he gained something by attending a gathering, and in fact could "draw" membersto a meeting. 3) Projectsby a group give it purpose: a family day picnic, cutting a widow's lawn, taking
flowersto a retirement home, agroup outing to a show, presenting a needy family with clothes or food, the lodge attending church together, going to a police stationand washing all of the cars, touring a manufacturing plant as a group, attending the city council meeting as a group all of these are projects, and only your imaginationlimits the list. 4) Concentrating onyour place in the Masonic Family: perhaps you are best suited to be involved in the Scottish Rite. if so, go and stay wildly active. Do not berate any other Brother who feelsthatthe Lodge is where he needs to be, or a Brother who feels that unit or club work at the Shrineis his place, orthe man who wants to work as an Advisor for DeMolay. You should have your place. You have only so many hours to devote to your avocation - remember the lesson of the 24 inch gauge. 5) And finally, speak out. Masonry will change when you want it to change, and when you convince enough
others that it needs to change. The "Sacred Landmarks of Masonry" were not engraved on golden tablets handed down from God. Men developed and wrote them. Don't forget today that Landmarkscan change, be refined, and be expanded. In many Grand Jurisdictions, you have seen the Landmark of the admission age change, the Landmark oflearning the catechismchange; and, other changes may be necessary, needed and past due. How do you quit? You don't quit unless you admit that you joined for the wrong reasons and you want out. Otherwise, you redouble your efforts and truly earn your retirement when that day arrives. You work for the good of the Institution, the true purposes, until that time when you can walk to the chancel rail and say that it is time to stepback and let others thatyou have helped train take the reigns and do the wo
1 Restoration
Creation and Evolution
moved. The tomb was never occupied. In the year 1832 the idea of a statue was back and a then huge sum of $5,000.00 was authorized for its creation. An American sculptor working in Italy, Horatio Greenough, won the commission. But the public was shocked when Washington was shown as a seated figure with a bare chest and loosely draped in a sheet of fabric. Meanwhile, a civic movement was getting startedwith the idea of the towering obelisk now in place. But just as the idea of how to honor George Washington proved to be difficult, so did the building of the monument to him. The monument was designed by a man by the name of Robert Mills. His original design included a circular colonnadedbuilding, 100 feet high, from which the obelisk shaft would rise. The total elevation was to be 600 feet. Not only did this original design not materialize, the monument itself nearly did not. From 1848 until 1854, the monument grew slowly but surely. Then, financial problems and the Civil War slowed construction to a halt. For 25 years there was littleor no activity as the 156-foot unsightly stump stood as areminder of the turmoil the nation was facing. Finally, in 1878, Congress passed a law, signed by President Grant, providing for Government completion and maintenance of the monument. When construction was continued, the
Approached from the air, upstream or downstream along the Potomac, Washington, D.C. is a city of consummate beauty, and one seeing it for the first time is awestruck by the panorama that he or she beholds -- the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the JeffersonMemorial, the Cathedral, and the White House. Risingmajesticallyabove all, however, is the Washington Monument, pointing eternally and gracefully upward towards the heavens. This monument to our firstPresident and our Brother Mason has a history that should be of interest to every Freemason in America. The struggle to build the Washington Monument is evident in both the structure itself and the length of time necessary to bring the project to a successful conclusion. ~ n ~ u g uofs 1783 t &continental congress unanimouslyagreed that a statue of General Washingtonbe erected. But due to a lack of funds, this idea was not acted upon. After Washington's death, John Marshall -- destined to becomethe pioneering Chief Justice -- who would establish the power of the Supreme Court, proposed another idea. He Aled for a marble memorial inside the Capitol Building, to which Washington's remains were to be transferred. Martha Washington reluctantly agreed, but by the time such a mausoleum was provided, Washington's grandnephew, John Augustine, refused to allow the remains to be
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marble used was slightly darker, creating the line around the monument which is visible to this day. On December 6, 1884, the very peak of the Monument was placed. Not of stone, it is madeof 100ounces of solid Aluminum as a part of the Monument's protection system. OnFebruary21,1885, the Washington Monument was dedicated in memory of the Nation's first President, and at that time it stood as the tallest building in the world. But the monument enjoyed this distinction for less than five years before being swpassed by Paris's EBel Tower at 924 feet. However, the Washington Monument is still the world's tallest freestanding masonry structure. It contains no metal structural supports. In commemoration of the 190th anniversary of the birth of George Washington, 48 American flags, representing as many states in the Union, were raised encircling the monument on February 22, 1922. The current configuration of more durable flagpoles dates from 1959, following the inclusion of Alaska and Hawaii into the Union as the 49th and 50th states. Other additions to the monument were due to the necessity to provide for the safety of aircraft. As early as 1929 a search light was installed on the roof of the Navy Building to help illuminate the monument for pilots, In 1931aircraft warning lights were hung in the windows of the Monument itself. In 1958the current systemofflashing lights was installed. To further help pilots, flood lighting was installedin 1932,thereby making the Monument a nighttime attraction as well as a daytime one. The memorial to George Washington had one final additionin July 1994. A statue of the first president was placed in the lobby -- abronzereplica of a marble statueby Jean Antoine Houdon now in the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond.
Current Status and Needs The Washington Monument has withstood years of weathering and aging, as it has hosted the visits of some 2,500 visitors each day, and in consequence it now stands in need of major restoration work. Hence such a project has been planned, beginning in 1997 and concluding in the year 2000, given adequate public and private support, not unlike that which was instrumental in leading to the completion of the Memorial in 1885. The restoration process, as now visualized, will necessitate the erection of ad-
equate scaffoldingfor the entire 555-foot, 5 118 inch Monument; pointing up of 64,000 linear feet of exterior joints, pointing up of 39,000 linear feet of interiorjoints; sealing of 500 linear feet of exteriorlinterior stone cracks; repairing 1,000 square feet of chippedlpatched stone; cleaning of 59,000 square feet of interior wall surface; the preservation andlor restoration of 195 interior commemorativestones; andthe sealing of eight observation windows and eight aircraft warning lights. The Park Service estimates that $5,000,000.00 is required to effect this restoration program. This sum, it hopes, will be raised by corporate and private America. Already Target Stores have pledged $1,000,000.00, and other corporations, including3M, Proctor & Gamble, EMI-Capito1 Records, Coca Cola, VISA, and Neutrogena are also participating. It is
Senate and the House of Representatives, ForeignMinisters, distinguished strangers, and of the civil and military services. Also in the group were representatives of the Independent Order of the Oddfellows, the Order of the Red Men, Rechabites, and other Temperance and Benevolent Societies. But it was aMasonic day, and it was the FreemasonsoftheDistrictof Columbiawho were responsiblefor seeingthatthe ceremonies were in accord with Masonic custom and protocol. At the conclusionofthe ceremony Grand Master Frenchpresentedthe architect,Robert Mills (also a Mason), the working tools of his profession, remarking, as he did it: "I now present you, my Brother, the square, level, and plumb, which are the working tools you are to use in the erection of this monument. You, as a Freemason, know to what they morally allude: the plumb admonishesus to walkuprightlyin our several stations before God and man, squaring our actions by the square of virtue, and remembering that we are traveling upon the level of time to that undiscovered country from The WashingtonMonument whose bourne no traveller returns. Never forgetting this sublime moral lesson, you is still the world k tallest are here to use them practically in your profession. Look well to the erection of this freestanding masonry national monument; see that every stone is well squared, and that it is placed in its structure. position both level and plumb, that the noble offering of a nation to commemorate greatness, patriotism, andvirtue,may stand until the end of time." As previously indicated the building of hoped that fund-raising will be well under the monument languished through the war way, if not complete, by 1997. years and thereafter until U.S. Grant, PresiMason y 's Role (Past) The Masons of the United States, hav- dent of the United States and ex-officio ing played a major role in the funding and President of the Washington National erection of the WashingtonMonument, can Monument Society, initiated a fund drive to and should have a major role in the current complete the work. Spurred on by his restoration effort. The cornerstone of this influence, Americansfrom all walks of life, structure honoring the Father of our coun- including the Freemasons of this country, try was laid on July 4,1848, by the Freema- rallied to the cause, with some 250 Masonic sons of America, with our own Past Grand organizations, including Grand Lodges, Master, Benjamin B. French presiding. In Grand Chapters of Royal ArchMasons, and these duties he was assisted by the Grand the Scottish Rite making cash contribuMasters of the Grand Lodges of Pennsylva- tions. The Masonic family of the District of nia and Maryland. Other Masons in attenColumbia was in the vanguard of contribudance included representatives and memtors. The official records of the National bers of the Grand Lodges of Massachusetts, Monument Society record the receipt of Rhode Island, Delaware, Virginia, South @ts from D.C. Masonic organizations in Carolina, Georgia, and Texas, and of the he following order: the Mithras Lodge of Grand Royal Arch Masons of Maryland. 'erfection; Hiram Lodge No. 10, Potomac Records of the occasion inform us that rSo. 5, Federal No. 1, Washington Cententhe procession to the site consisted of the ial No. 14, Acacia No. 18, Hope No. 20, President and Vice President of the United lawson No. 16, Lebanon No. 7, St. Johns states, and of the Heads of Departments, the
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MONUMENT- continued from previous page
/ No. 11, Columbia No. 3, Harmony No. 17,
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL HOLDERS
NavalNo. 4, B.B. FrenchNo. 15,Anacostia No. 21, and Stansbury No. 24; Columbia Chapter No. 1, Eureka Chapter No. 4, and Washington Chapter No. 2, Royal Arch Masons; and WashingtonCommanderyNo. 1and ColumbiaCommanderyNo. 2, Knights Templar.
Masonry's Present Challenge The officers of the Grand Lodge have been in communication with the National Parks Foundation and with Gary Scott, National Parks Historian and current Master of NavalLodge No. 4, to securea rolefor the Masonic fraternity in the current restoration project. The GrandLodge hopes to raise a minimum of $10,000.00 for the restoration effort, using the Masonic Foundation of D.C. as the collecting organization to receive taxdeductible gifts and to transmit them on a scheduled basis to the National Park Service Foundation. Further, this Grand Lodge has taken upon itself responsibility for enlisting participation in this effort by all of the other Grand Lodges in this country. If each of them, in turn, would equal the contribution we anticipate making, Freemasonry could contribute more than $500,000.00 to this noble cause. Sucha sum is indisputably a great deal of money, but also indisputable is our capacity to raise it. Let us then join hands and hearts in a truly Masonic response to insure that the Washington Monument, a Masonic landmark, is rbdied for the new millennium. Source: Information for this article provided by the National Park Foundation
Pictured are 10 of the 14 active holders of the DistinguishedService Medal: (I-r) Julius Gordin, Carl R. LeVine, Deputy Grand Master William E. Chaney, Stafford Appel, Harold Grainger,Grand Master J. Philip Smith, Robert F. Drechsler, Arthur B. Crown with his wife Audrey, Hugh Y. Bernard, John Greenwood, Albert C. Allen, and lsadore Rosenthal.
Each year Grand Lodge confers its Distinguished Service Medal on a deserving D.C. Mason. Those who are so honored are carefully selected by a Committee that has previously consideredall recommendations in a selection process that ultimately requires unanimous approval of the winner. The Committeethen reports its selection at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, and before the award is conferred, the Grand Lodge is required to approve the recommendation by at least a two-thirds majority. Winners of this coveted award are selected on the basis of distinguished service over a number of years. The attainment of high office in the fraternity shall not, by itself, constitute a sufficientbasis to warrant selection. Nor shall a long period of Masonic membership alone be so regarded. Thesearefactorsfor consideration, of course, but more germane is the man's service to the
Which Hat? St. John's Lodge No. 11is unusually active in the local Tall Cedars Forests. Daniel W. Miller, (1-r) Senior War&n, is Grand Tall C a k of Frince Wrge'sForestNo. 139;Ralph M. Tolley, Worshipful WerS is Grand Tall Cedar of Montgomery Forest No. 134; asd Paul T. Sumler, Junior Warden, is Grand Tall Cedm of Capitol Forest No. 104.
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Craft, in and outside his Lodge. At the present time 14 active Master Masons hold the Distinguished Service Award. Numbered among them, in the order of their presentation, are Brothers Isadore Rosenthal, Marvin E. Fowler, George P. Zillig, Carl R. LeVine, Albert C. Allen, Ernest J. Higgins, Julius Gordin, Robert F. Drechsler, Harold Grainger,John Greenwood,John T. Adams, StaffordAppel, Hugh Y. Bernard, and Arthur Crown. The last Mason to be so honored was Arthur Crown in December 1995. Arthur was for many years the Secretary of LaFayette-Dupont Lodge No. 19. His service to that Lodge and to a host of appendant bodies inMasonry is of suchmagnitudethat presentation here is precluded. Certainly there are very few Masonic organizations that have not benefited by his presence and his work. Arthur has also distinguished himself by serviceto the GrandLodge. He served Grand Lodgeas Swordbearerin1971;aspursuivant in 1983; as Grand Representative of the Grand Lodges of Brazil (Sao Paulo) and Connecticut, near the Grand Lodge of D.C.; as the assistant to the Grand Secretaryfrom 1983through 1987;and as a workingmember of a number of Grand Lodge Committees. Since 1989 he has been the Treasurer of the Masonic and Eastern Star Home Corporation. The Voice extends congratulations to this corps of hard working Masons, and we look forward, with anticipation, to the as yet undisclosed 1996 honoree.
Several Oficers Visit Portugal for World Conference of Grand Masters
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Thc Grmd Maslcr, William E. Chancy, Jr., accompanied @ Past Grand Mastcr William T. Jcnkins. Scnior Grand Wardcn, Dm L Frcdcrick. and Scnior Grand Dmcon Mansour Hatcfi, attcnr4 ~ h crcccntly concludcd World Confcrcncc of Grand Mastcrs m Lisbon, Ponugal. At this c o n f thc ~ Grand Mastcr scrvcd .E o m of lhc confcrencc "Prcsidcnts of Honor" and as such co-chaid onc of the principal confcrcnce discussions. Previous to thc opening of rhc conference dic D.C. dclcgrltiw attcndcd consecration cercmonjcs associated ui1.h the cstabli~b mcnt of the Grand Chaptcr of Royal Arch Masons in Ponugal. )rt that timc thc Grand Mastcr of PortugaI, Fernando Tciscira, wa& inslallcd Grand High Priest. Participants in thc c o n s c c r a b ccrcmony includcd ollccrs of the Gcneral Grand Chaprcr, R o d Arch Masons, International, as wcll as Most Exccllenl Dan L Frcdcrick. Thc World Confcrcncc was opcncd on thc 25th of S c p l c m b 1996 in the prescncc of 39 Grand Mastcrs. Thc agcnda includdl hosl of Masonic conccnls, with emphasis being cspccially fixus* in an opcn fonuat, on how young nlcn vicw Freemasonry and w how Freemasonry's activities in thc profanc ivorld a.rc limitcd. & this confcrcnce. the Grand Mastcr said, "world Masonq took a giant srcp forward." The ncx-t such confcrcncc will bc hostcd by tbe Grand Lodgc of NCWYork in 1998. The Grand Master rcpons [hat during the confcrcncc hc k v i k p i to atrcnd a banquct in St. Gcorgc's C a s k in Lisbon, xhcrc dinncr was scnrcd in a part of thc mstlc that was rcpurcd to x: morc than 3000 ycars old. In thc past, thc Knight Tcmplars, hc xas told. campcd and atc in this samc arca. He aas also privileged o mcct both thc Prilnc Ministcr and thc Prcsidcnl of Ponugal and o prescnt cach of thcm with appropriatc gifts in thc name of thc Creemasonsof thc District of Cohmibia. Following thc closc of thc confcrcncc thc Grand Maslcr and lus iady Jqcc, along with Past G m d Master Jcnkinsand his lady Lois, ipcnt a fcw additional days touring Ponugal. This providcd 11wm hc opportunity to visit a numbcr of communidcs of great antiqurb, wthin a hich many structures datc back to thc 14th ccntury. "Wc :an only hope," says thc Grand Mastcr. "that thcworthwhiIc works >fourday may prom to bc no lcss enduring."
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Left The remains of a 12th century rnonastary buabj by KnKnlphg'Fmplar. Above Right - PGM William T. Jenkins and Grand Water W C l h E. Chaney pause for a photo in rhe gardens of the Presidential Pabcc. Below Right - A postcard view of Lisbon. Portugal
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WashingtonArch at Valley Forge
In Pennsylvania's Valley Forge National Park, there stands a Memorialkch which was dedicatedto Brother GeorgeWashingtonandhis men who wintered there in 17771778. Over the years this Arch has deteriorated due to exposure to the elements. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania has undertaken a project to rebuild this Arch at an approximate cost of $1.58 million. The project, according to Tom Jackson, Grand Secretary, is slated for completion and Masonic dedication on August 24, 1997. In addition to renovating the Arch the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania is striving to raise an additional $500,000 to be set aside to maintain the structure in perpetuity. Every Freemason who makes a tax-deductible contribution of $25.OO or more towards this maintenancefund will have his name recorded in a Gold Book to be placed in the time capsule at the Arch. In addition, copies of the book will be retained in the museum of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and at the Visitors Center at Valley Forge National Park. Contributions should be sent to the Grand Lodge Charity Fund / National Memorial Arch, Masonic Temple, One North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2598 and designated for the Memorial Arch. Contributions may be made in the name of the individual contributor or in honor of or in memory of another person.
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Famous Masons: A New Educational Game
The Fort Washington Chapter of the Philalethes Sociely has announced production of the h t 300 copies of their new 'Famous Mason" board game. Promulgated by the late John J. Robinson, author &Born in Blood and A Pilgrim 'sPath, evenbefore he was made a Mason, the game celebrates andteachesthe accomplishmentsof many of the world's historical Masons. It is a valuable gift for anyone, including new Masons and it is played in "Bingo" fashion. Thefirst editionisexpectto sell out promptly andbecomecollector's items. Proxeds, according to the announcement, will beused to furtherthe Chapter's researchand publication efforts. The game is priced at US $32.00, plus shipping and handling. Your copy may be obtained from Fort Washington Chapter of the Philalethes Society, 4000 Hamilton Av:nue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45223. Further information about the game may be obtained komRobert0.Boyington,P.M. anda Trustee of the Chapter. Brother Boyington may be reached by phone (5 13-451-0530); FAX (513-921-1003); or e-mail at (103222.301 @compuserve.com)
Grand Master of DeMolay , Chooses New Personal Representative for D.C. Brother Beverley T. McKay, a member Hiram-Takoma Lodge No. 10, has been appointedto the position of PersonalRepresentativeof Brother E. John Elmore, Grand Master of the International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay, of North Carolina, effective November 6, 1996. Brother McKay takes over the leadership ofthe DeMolay Program in the District of Columbiafrom Most WorshipfulBrother Jerold J. Samet, P.G.M., who has served as Executive Oflicer since 1980. A Personal Representative has all of the same duties and responsibilitiesas an Executive OfEcer in the Order of DeMolay. DeMolay in the District of Columbia has four Chapters,RobertLeBruceChapter, Capital Hill Chapter, Takoma Chapter and Tenley Town - Chevy Chase Chapter. The Order of DeMolay is a fraternal club for young men of the age of 13 to 21 and was founded to offer young men a wholesome atmosphere and worthy associates. of