Masonic Family Day of Thanksgiving

The annual Masonic Family Day of Thanksgiving was celebrated this year in the beautiful surroundings of our Scottish Rite Center of the Valley of Washington, Orient of the District of Columbia, on Sunday, June 3, 2007. This very special event is held each year under a Proclamation made by our Grand Master. The proclamation reminds us of the blessings of freedom of life, in a society with privileges of freedom of thought and action, and the opportunity to promote and practice Brotherhood among men we so enjoy and cherish. It further reminds us that as we profess a belief in the ever presence of the Supreme Architect of the universe, and our reliance on His great and holy presence for guidance in our daily lives, we must, therefore, unite and publicly display our gratitude and thanksgiving for His manifold blessings and mercies. The Service commenced with the processional entry of the Grand Lodge officers, the Grand Chapter of the Eastern Star officers, and the heads and officers of the appendant bodies of our fraternity in the District of Columbia, led by our Grand Marshal, W. Bro. James Feezell, PM and with the accompaniment of the beautiful sounds of processional music titled Te Deum, a composition by Charpentier. It was played by our Grand Organist, W. Bro. Christopher Taylor, Master of Sojourner Kilwinning Lodge No. 1798, who had earlier been playing a prelude. The chairman for the event, Assistant Grand Chaplain, W. Bro. Bilal Raschid, PM, welcomed and thanked the Brothers and their families for their attendance; and commented that the great attendance was a testimony of our devotion to the Creator, and must be pleasing to Him. The Invocation was given by the Grand Chaplain, the Rev. and Bro. David Balcom. He was followed in a smooth and quick succession by the Deputy and Assistant Grand Chaplains, W. Bros. Walter Simon, Richard Weaver and Bilal Raschid, PMs, who read appropriate chapters and verses from the Holy Bible’s Old and New Testament and the Holy Quran, in keeping with the main theme of the Rev. Michael Marrett’s Thanksgiving message on the topic of The Bilal M. Raschid, PM, Assistant Grand Chaplain , Chairman, Masonic Day of Thanksgiving Committee

Power of Love . His message is published and will follow this writing in this issue of The Voice of

Freemasonry . The readings and messages were interspersed with beautiful music and songs provided by the Lincoln Middle School choir, under the direction of Mr. Vincent Pope. The school is in close proximity of the D.C. Scottish Rite Center, and has at its head W. Bro. Francis Nicol, PM, to whom the Committee is thankful.

A musical piece performed by Brother Gregory Martin, the Senior Warden of Albert Pike Lodge No. 33, was also much appreciated. The piece was composed by him, and is titled Meditations on the Spirit of Mankind . Brother Gregory Martin was on the piano, and accompanied by a former colleague, Ms. Alison Candela, on the violin.

Brief messages were also given by Jane Francis Grolig, Worthy Grand Matron and W. Bro. Ralph Connolly, PM, Worthy Grand Patron, of the Order of the Eastern Star. The heartwarming service of thanks concluded appropriately with a Benediction given by the Grand Chaplain of the Order of the Eastern Star, Marjorie J. Bennett.

The gathering of family, friends and brethren then retired to the banquet room to partake of delicious catered refreshments, to conclude a beautiful and smoothly conducted day of thanksgiving to the Great Architect of the Universe, for His many blessings and

mercies.