Beacon 8 2011 summer

VOLUME 18, ISSUE 3

SUMMER 2011

BEACON Donate A JOINT PUBLICATION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF OHIO AND THE OHIO MASONIC HOME

Ohio Freemasons $200,000 to Special Olympics

Four hundred Freemasons joined Grand Master Bradford A. Goebel at the opening ceremonies of the 2011 Ohio Special Olympics Summer Games.

Grand Master Goebel was proud to present a check for $200,000 from Ohio Freemasons to help sponsor the athletes who participated in this two-day event.

Grand Lodge Museum Receives Facelift This summer the Grand Lodge Museum received a well deserved facelift. The brick building was tuck pointed and the emblems on the west gable were restored. The museum building was built in 1820 by New England Lodge #4 and is the oldest structure built as a Masonic lodge west of the Appalachian mountains.

The museum collection includes Masonic artifacts from lodges around the state, which are displayed on the first floor. The second floor retains the appearance of an 1820s lodge room, where lodges may hold meetings by special dispensation.

New England Lodge deeded the property to the Grand Lodge

of Ohio in 1955 to preserve this important part of Ohio’s Masonic heritage.

Past Grand Master William M. Judd of Cincinnati, who first recommended that a Grand Lodge headquarters be built in 1952, explained the benefits to all Ohio Masons that would come from accepting New England’s gift.

“First, we would preserve the old building as a place of Masonic historic interest. Second, it would furnish the ground on which to build a Grand Secretary’s office. Third, it would be centrally located in the state.”

The museum is located adjacent to the Grand Lodge headquarters and tours are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by special appointments.

In This Issue: Living a Normal Life Again ................................4 Cornerstone Expansion .....................................5 Families Look Forward to New Dementia Units .6 Ohio Mason Still Dominates Baseball Statistics ..7 Grand Master Scrapbook .............................. 8-9 EA Degree with a Colonial Twist ......................11 Masonic Charity among CSA Prisoners ............13

Ohio’s

We are

Masonic Foundation

By Bradford Allen Goebel, Grand Master

Over the years, I’ve often been asked, “Who are the Freemasons?”

I have several partial answers.

One of my favorites tells how the roots of our fraternity can be traced to the stone masons who were the builders of the temples, churches and other majestic buildings of the past. It explains how as they completed their work, they traveled to other areas in search of new employment, earning the title Free Masons.

Over time, these craftsmen developed a system of education that was divided into three levels of training. Their basic training earned them the title of apprentice.

This was the training of their youth. They learned additional skills and proved themselves as journeymen masons in their middle years. Eventually, some proved to be masters of their craft in their later years, having acquired the skills of the most trained and educated builders.

With this operative heritage in mind, I would like you to help me symbolically design and construct a building. We need an Architect to develop and layout the plans for

The Beacon is published quarterly.

Please report all changes of address to your lodge secretary, who, in turn, will notify the Grand Secretary, who maintains the database that produces the BEACON mailing labels.

Chad Simpson Director of Program Development The Grand Lodge F.&A.M. of Ohio P.O. Box 629 Worthington, OH 43085-0629 614/885-5318 csimpson@freemason.com Thomas J. Hickey, Director of Sales, Marketing and Communications The Ohio Masonic Home 2655 W. National Road Springfield, OH 45504-3698 937/525-3074 thickey@ohiomasonichome.org

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our building. As Freemasons we are taught to look to the Supreme Architect for the blueprint of our lives. He is the one in whom we place our trust and faith for our lives. In like manner, we will look to an additional type of architect for the plans of our structure.

Our building will need to have walls. Let’s call one the Scottish Rite wall; another the York Rite wall. We’ll have a Shrine wall; a Grotto wall, and an Eastern Star wall. We will even have walls for the DeMolay, Rainbow and Job’s Daughters, as well as possibly others. (I hope you get the idea.)

These walls will need to be strong and tall. They will meet at corners, which will help to support more than one wall at the same time. Oh, yes, don’t forget the cement that holds our building together. It too needs to be strong for it will hold all the bricks of our structure in place.

We know that from time to time we will have bricks that will not suit their intended use. It is our hope that we sort out these bricks before they are detrimental to the integrity of our structure. We also know that some sound bricks may crumble and decay over time. Our bricks may need to be replaced or fixed. We will need bricks that will be the stronghold of our building, the leaders, and we know that we need many other bricks to complete our structure.

As we build and watch our plans take shape and become a Temple, we realize that the real strength of the edifice is greatly dependent on the strongest possible foundation.

We know that with every day comes the opportunity to see our

Bradford Allen Goebel, Grand Master

building progress and become more functional for the tenants. We will need more bricks in the days to come. If we do not plan ahead, our Temple can not grow.

So, up to now, how have you done in helping build this wonderful building? Is it something we can all be proud of? Is our facility a showpiece for others to admire? Would your friends and acquaintances like to be a part of our building? Have you done your part in planning for the future when new bricks and mortar will be needed?

It matters not if you are a brick or the mortar, as long as you are doing your part to make our Temple as strong as possible. Our “Blue Lodge” Freemasonry is the strength of our fraternal heritage.

It is the foundation of not only our building, but the foundation of so many appendant organizations.

We need each of you to continue to do your part in helping maintain our strength. In doing so and working together in harmony, we know that we can plan and celebrate future efforts toward “Freemasonry . . . Faith, Family, Brotherhood, and Charity.”

Wave

Heat

By Tom Stofac, Chief Executive Officer of The Ohio Masonic Home

Tom Stofac chauffeurs SMC residents at the 27th Annual SMC Day.

Greetings to each and every one of you; let me thank all of you who have been a part of my adjustment in coming to The Ohio Masonic Home. You have made me feel very welcomed and comfortable.

The history of this organization is amazing. Did you know that I have met people on our Springfield campus who have been with us first as children, when that was part of our service model, then returned during their retirement years. The gems of our rich history and the living legends we have are just a part of what makes us great.

Though the summer months can be “hot” and drain us of energy, let me assure you we are hard at work moving the organization forward.

In this edition of the Beacon you will read stories about the 31 county expansion of our Cornerstone Home Health and Hospice business. You will see an artist’s rendering of our new dementia facilities that are currently being planned for Browning community in Waterville and Western Reserve

The weather forecast for this week is temperatures in the mid 90s with heat indexes exceeding 105. We’re having a heat wave and it is only mid July. What is the weather going to be like in August when you receive your summer edition of the Beacon? community in Medina. And you will read a story about how we added a cardiac recovery program to our Springfield community and the positive impact it is having on people who have recently had a cardiac event.

We are also busy across the state with some of our summer activities; such as the 27th annual Springfield Masonic Community Day held on June 12; the annual Browning Masonic Community Car Show held on July 23; and the Jim Perry Legends Golf Classic held on July 25 in Medina; and let us not forget the Jim Perry Legends Golf Classic that will be held on September 12 at the Greene Country Club in Fairborn. I encourage you to check out our website at www.ohiomasonichome.org for more detail.

In addition to the growth we are experiencing and the activities we are hosting, we are busy at work dealing with the state budget and the impact it has on retirement communities such as ours.

The work will never end but you can trust we will do our part to keep The Ohio Masonic Home moving in the right direction.

My dream for the organization is to have OMH be “the trusted resource to help people age respectfully.” We want you to be a part of that journey. Please consider visiting us at any of our locations or come and we will have lemonade at the “castle” together during these summer months. I would love to share our visions, dreams and all the good work we do within our organization. So as you relax this summer please keep us in your thoughts and consider how you might want to be a part of our new and exciting journey.

May your summer months be filled with rest and relaxation.

May the warmth of the summer sun and the breeze of the summer night sky keep you safe. May the long days of the sun renew your spirit and give you comfort in the night times of your life.

The 2011 Masonic Financial Assistance Corporation Scholarship presenters and winners from the left are John White, CFO and President of MFAC, Bethany N. Ellis, Kaitlyn M. Fields, Hayden Kimes, Anthony King, Elizabeth Roach, Christopher Shupert, Jolene Hubler, and MEC William Berry, Scholarship Committee member. Unable to attend were Samantha Searls, Erin Stevens, Nathan Woodrum, Joseph M. Carrier, Cassandra Terry, Aaron Hare and Matt Hare. A total of $17,500 was given this year to the students.

SUMMER 2011

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Normal

Living a D

onald Sipe’s admission papers included a long list of health problems when he arrived at the Springfield Masonic Community Homeward Journey Cardiac Recovery Program.

“He came to us from the hospital, where he was sent after a heart attack,” recalled Heather Herier, a nurse at the Springfield cardiac care unit. “When he arrived here, both his heart and kidneys were in failure, and he was experiencing the depression that’s common following a life-threatening event like a heart attack.”

Donald’s health continued to decline, but Heather and the other staff members were determined to help him back to good health.

“With both heart and kidney issues, diet plays a very important

Heather Herier supervises Judith Pauley, a patient in the Cardiac Recovery Program.

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Life Again

part in treatment,” she said. “We developed a diet and advised him on nutrition. He also received some counseling to help deal with the emotional side of his illness. Of course we also provided medical treatment for his very serious heart and kidney problems.”

Heather was surprised and pleased to see a marked improvement in both Donald’s health and outlook. Within a few weeks, he was able to begin doing therapy and work toward returning home. Heather attributes his success to the outstanding care he received.

“We offer patients like Donald so many services … medical care, nutrition, therapy, social services, nursing … all delivered in a well-coordinated approach,” Heather explained. “We have a whole team to work with the patient. Most facilities can’t provide the level of support and coordination of care we can.”

Donald was able to return home and resume most of his normal daily activities, a wonderful outcome for someone who, just months before, had a rather grim prognosis. He left the Cardiac Recovery Program with a new diet plan and special exercises to continue building strength. He left Springfield without the oxygen tank that he’d required in the months before his heart attack.

“It’s wonderful that our program is able to take someone and bring him back to a level of health and activity that is better than he had enjoyed in many years,” Heather said proudly. “We are lucky to have such a great staff and facility available to help patients like Donald.”

For more information on Springfield Masonic Community and the Cardiac Recovery Program, call 888/290-2664 or visit us at www.springfieldmasoniccommunity.org.

Expansion

Cornerstone

Creates New Healthcare Options

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities have enormous medical resources close at hand. For most people, however, these facilities can be uncomfortable and even frightening places. Given the choice, they would strongly prefer to receive care in the comfortable, familiar surroundings of their home. Beyond the additional stress of a hospital stay, healthcare delivered in a medical facility is far more expensive than in-home care.

Thankfully, there is an increasing trend to allow patients to be cared for in their home.

Cornerstone Home Health and Hospice, part of Masonic Senior Services, provides skilled, in-home, palliative and end-of-life care in addition to many other services. To meet the growing need for these services, and to include each of the state’s Masonic Communities in its authorized service areas, Cornerstone is progressing on a strategic plan to expand its services into every one of Ohio’s 88 counties.

“This is part of the Masonic Communities’ care approach,” according to Cornerstone President

Mary Lough-Pencil. “At our campuses, residents can transition easily from independent living to assisted living to skilled nursing.

We provide in-home care that adds an option to age respectfully wherever they call home.”

Cornerstone was providing services in five counties; three around its Urbana office and two around its Boardman office.

The state recently approved Cornerstone’s expansion into 31 more counties. Mary and her team are ramping up to serve the newly increased area.

“We have a high quality staff with a great work ethic,” Mary said.

“They are dedicated to our vision of

expanding services to every county in the state, so I know the expansion will go smoothly.”

In addition to hospice care, Cornerstone provides other services that enable people to stay in their homes as long as possible.

“We provide home health aides, companion services, physical and occupational therapy, and more right in their home,” Mary said.

The recent six-fold increase in counties served is just the most recent milestone on Mary’s quest to serve the entire state. “We have a request pending to serve an additional 14 counties around Boardman,” Mary explained. “Our next strategic plan will include an expansion encompassing Wood and adjacent counties that surround our Browning Campus.”

It’s clear that Mary and her team won’t rest until they achieve their vision of serving every county and every OMH campus in the State.

To learn more about Cornerstone, check out the website at www.cornerstonehealthcare.org.

Blue Ashlars to Play Vintage Base Ball Next Spring After a one year hiatus, the Masonic Blue Ashlars will again play 1860s-style vintage base ball in the Spring of 2012.

The Blue Ashlars played their début game against the Keystone Reds during the Grand Lodge Bicentennial picnic at the Ohio Historical Village in the summer of 2008.

What is known today as vintage base ball (yes, the name originally had a space between the two words) began with afterhours ball games among the employees of the Ohio Historical Society in the 1980s, who

called their team the Muffins. It has since grown into another national game. The Muffin’s 1860s rules are the most widely played among vintage teams.

Freemasonry and baseball have been hand in glove since the game was invented by Brother Alexander Cartwright in 1845.

The Blue Ashlars continue the tradition from the days when base ball was a gentleman’s sport, hurler’s threw a ball so that the striker could best hit it, and swearing or spitting earned a player a stiff fine.

To join the Blue Ashlars or to schedule a game at a Lodge or District picnic contact Brother Mike Cotter at 614/571-9567 or cotter378@yahoo.com.

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Families Look

Forward

to New Dementia Units

There’s great excitement among the staff and administrators at the Western Reserve (Medina) and Browning (Waterville) Masonic Communities. Both are looking ahead eagerly to the completion of the 24-bed dementia units to be built on each of the campuses.

There are other people even more eager to see the units completed: the children and spouses of Masonic community residents whose loved ones had to be moved off-campus as their dementia progressed.

Their stories make very clear the tremendous improvement the dementia units will make in the lives of residents and family members.

The Waneks Evelyn and Nate Wanek moved to their garden villa home in the Western Reserve Community in 2000. In 2006, it became clear that Nate needed more care and attention than Evelyn could provide. After a hospital stay for an injury, Nate’s worsening dementia required that he transfer to an appropriate facility outside of our Masonic Community.

“I had to find a place for him,” Evelyn said, “and the closest I could find was several miles away. I went to see him almost every day, yearround, but it was a difficult trip for an 80-year-old woman like me – especially in the winter.”

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While Evelyn says he got excellent care at the other facility, she says that Nate was upset about being there.

“He really wanted to stay here at Western Reserve,” she said.

Evelyn doesn’t want to see other couples separated like she and Nate were, and looks forward to the day when the new dementia unit will enable husbands and wives to stay together on the same campus.

“If I could, I would help them dig the hole for the foundation,” Evelyn said.

The Robertsons Paige Koosed’s parents, Barb and Pete Robertson, were already in poor health when they moved to an apartment at the Browning Masonic Community in 2007.

“Mom was in terrible physical shape,” Paige said. “She couldn’t even carry a plate with a piece of toast. Dad had been taking care of her, but eventually couldn’t. Because

of his dementia, he would actually forget how to walk some days.”

Despite their health issues, Browning President David Subleski said that he “never met a more genuine, positive and grateful couple. They always seemed happy and content, even as illness set in and their health declined.”

Paige said that her parents “Absolutely loved Browning. I can’t say enough about the campus and the staff. From the very first day, my parents both blossomed there.”

As his dementia progressed, Pete was moved to a nearby Alzheimer’s facility.

“It was so different there,” Paige said. “The quality of care wasn’t nearly as high. Here at Browning, it’s more like the staff members are your friends, not someone who clocks in and just does their job. It’s more personal, more secure and more like being in a real home. “ Paige confesses that she’s not one who easily passes out praise, but “when it comes to the Browning Community and staff, I can’t give them enough praise.”

Work continues on the two new units. Once completed, they will greatly improve the lives of both the residents and their family members. For Evelyn Wanek and Paige Koosed, the doors can’t open soon enough.

Dominates

Ohio Mason Still

Baseball Statistics

By George Braatz, Past Grand Master

As the 2011 Major League baseball season pushes toward its conclusion, at least one historic, statistical record shows no chance of being broken.

That record is held by Hall of Fame baseball player – and Ohio Mason – the late Cy Young.

In his astounding baseball career of more than 20 years, Cy Young won 511 games as a pitcher.

On the Hall of Fame list of pitchers, no one else has even won 500 games. Walter Johnson has 417; Grover Alexander and Christy Mathewson, 373 each; and Warren Spahn, 363. In the modern era, winning 300 games is a sought-after accomplishment.

No wonder, one of the most prestigious awards given out each year to the best pitcher each in the American and National Leagues is the Cy Young Award.

Denton True Young was born March 29, 1867 in Gilmore, Ohio.

He earned the nickname, Cyclone – later shortened to “Cy” – because of his fast ball pitching. He won more than 30 games a season 5 times, and recorded 20 or more victories 15 times.

It was during the peak of his baseball career – 1904 – that he became a Mason. It was, of course, in the winter before he had to report for spring training.

Cy Young

Brother Young, according to records at the Grand Lodge of Ohio, received his Entered Apprentice Degree on February 1, 1904; his Fellow Craft Degree on February 15, 1904; and his Master Mason Degree on February 29, 1904, all in Mystic Tie Lodge, #194, in Dennison, Ohio, in the 21st Masonic District.

Old timers over the years say they remember Cy Young, long after he retired from baseball. He would occasionally attend Lodge meetings and Masonic funeral services.

Cy Young’s baseball career included two stops in Cleveland.

One, from 1890 to 1898, was when Cleveland was in the National League; the other, from 1909 to 1911, with the current American

League franchise. Over his career, he also pitched for teams in Boston and St. Louis.

Brother Young died on November 4, 1955, at the age of 88, in Newcomerstown, Ohio.

The memory of Cy Young is still vivid today.

In a 2011 issue of MLB Insiders Club Magazine, noted baseball historian Bill Francis was asked who he would select, if he could invite three baseball-related guests – living or dead – to dinner. He responded that he would invite Jackie Robinson, who broke Major League baseball’s color barrier, and Albert Spalding, who was a 19th Century baseball player and founded one of America’s prominent sporting goods businesses.

The third choice by historian Francis for a dinner guest was Cy Young. Here’s why: “…because he had such a long career. He lived from 1867 to 1955, so he was born two years after the Civil War. Even though he retired to his farm (in Ohio), this is a guy who was always trotted out to every baseball winter banquet.

Young… was there for everything.

So if you want to see how baseball changed from becoming a farm boy sport to an international, televised, air travel sport, it’s all there with Cy Young.”

AFLAC added to Members’ Benefit Program The Grand Lodge of Ohio is pleased to announce a new members’ benefit program from AFLAC, which will offer supplemental health insurance policies at group rates to qualified applicants.

www.freeemason.com, under “Member Benefits,” which will allow members to link to the AFLAC site and obtain information on AFLAC Insurance and policies that are available.

A new web link has been added to the Grand Lodge web site,

Ohio Freemasons who are AFLAC agents licensed in Ohio

should contact RWB Joe Levy to help manage this new statewide group established for the benefit of Ohio Freemasons. His contact information is 330-612-5018 or joseph_levy@us.aflac.com SUMMER 2011

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Master includes many and varied experiences. Grand Master Goebel’s year has been no different. You can see from just these few photos that it has been a year full of Freemasonry...Faith, Family, Brotherhood, and Charity, which he and his wife Kathy have shared with the Masons of Ohio.

SMC Day 2011 Over 1,500 people enjoyed the 27th annual SMC Day on June 12. Over 35 Shrine Parade Units were on site to entertain our guests. MWB Bradford A. Goebel, Grand Master and Grand Lodge Officers accepted a challenge by the residents to a friendly game of Wii bowling.

SUMMER 2011

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Scrapbook

The year a Mason serves as Grand

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BMC Car Show 2011 From vintage to V-8 and modern to modified, more than 250 vehicles were on display for over 3,000 visitors. With plenty of refreshments and activities for the kids, it was an enjoyable day for everyone.

SUMMER 2011

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News from the

Lodges

Marion Lodge #70 Remembers Brother Harding President Warren G. Harding was a member of Marion Lodge #70 in Marion, Ohio. Every year, the Lodge gathers at the Harding Tomb to lay a wreath in Brother Harding’s memory. Grand Master Bradford A. Goebel is pictured with members of the lodge at the recent ceremony. The Grand Master of the District of Columbia was also in attendance and can be seen in the front row on the far left.

Masonic Lodge Held at Civil War Reenactment The Pioneer Civil War Craft Club celebrated its first meeting during the Civil War reenactment held at Sharonwoods. A lodge meeting was held by virtue of a special dispensation issued to Oxford Lodge at the Sharonwoods Heritage Church.

All the officers were dressed as Civil War soldiers and had participated in the day’s historical reenactment.

The Craft Club is named after Pioneer Lodge UD, which was the first traveling military lodge formed by the Grand Lodge of Ohio during the Civil War. The Pioneer Civil War Craft Club hopes to educate the public and Freemasons about the role of Freemasonry in the Civil War and to add the Masonic experience to historical reenactments.

Freemasons who are also Civil War reenactors and would like more information about the Pioneer Civil

War Craft Club should email CivilWar@freemason.com.

Somerset Lodge Ends Lithopolis Lodge’s Record Stretch with Traveling Lantern Members of Somerset Lodge were able to end the record stay of the 13th District’s Traveling Lantern at Lithopolis Lodge.

The Traveling Lantern has been used to promote inter-lodge visitation in the 13th District since 2008. At least five members of a lodge must attend another lodge’s meeting in order to take possession of the lantern.

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Three Generations Serve Ashland Lodge #151 Ashland #151 is proud to have three generations of Brothers from the Stackhouse family serving in the officer line this year. Chris D. Stackhouse (left) serves as Master while his father Chris L. and grandfather Dave serve as Senior and Junior Wardens respectively. They recently teamed up to raise the Master’s older brother Daniel (2nd from left) to the sublime degree of Master Mason.

Oakley Lodge #668 Supports Research of Juvenile Diabetes Pictured is Senior Steward Sam Benzinger of Oakley Lodge presenting a check for $1,000 to Bill Rice of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The Lodge raised the money by hosting a rummage sale. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

Portland Lodge #366 Donates Masonic Books to Oak Hill Public Library Portland Lodge recently donated a number of books on the topic of Freemasonry to the Oak Hill Public Library. The Lodge plans to make a similar donation to the Ohio Hill High School library. Pictured in the photo is Worshipful Master Doug Crabtree presenting the books to Peggy Johnson, the library director.

Entered Apprentice Degree Conferred with a Colonial Twist Members of the Scottish Rite Valley of Dayton have organized a team to confer the Entered Apprentice degree in an American Colonial style.

The “Patriots” held their début performance at Farmersville Lodge #482 to the acclaim and appreciation of the Brethren.

The idea was the brainchild of Rodger Caplinger.

All but two of the team members are Past Masters.

The team will gladly confer the Entered Apprentice degree at the request of a Lodge within the jurisdiction of the Valley of Dayton. To schedule a degree, one should contact the team’s director, Past District Deputy Walt Barner.

Pictured at left, back row: Steve Argast, Don Wilcox; front row: Del Braun, Bryant Artz, Walt Barner, Hal Brown, Brian Arehart, Troy Davis and Leo Budentz SUMMER 2011

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Reminder

Important

for People with Medicare

Coverage and timing • If you enroll in a plan or switch to a different plan during the annual election period, your new coverage begins Jan. 1 of next year.

• If you do switch to another Medicare prescription drug plan, don’t cancel your existing plan.

When the new plan takes effect on Jan. 1, your old plan will automatically end.

Each year during the annual enrollment period Medicare offers recipients a chance to change their prescription drug coverage or enroll in a plan if they missed earlier deadlines. The Ohio State Health Insurance Information Program, (OSHIIP,) is reminding us that this year begins a change you should note. The annual enrollment or election period has changed and now runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 each year.

If you already enrolled in a prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D), it’s a good idea to examine your coverage to determine if it will continue to meet your needs next year.

Plans can change each year. The premium will likely change, the drugs your plan covers may change, the pharmacies your plan works with may change and the plan may put certain limitations on the drugs it covers.

Ohio Mason Serving as Grand Master of the Ohio Odd Fellows Bill Fannin, a member of St. John’s Lodge #13, Dayton, and Senior Warden of the Ohio Lodge of Research, is currently serving as Grand Master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Grand Lodge of Ohio.

Like Freemasonry, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a fraternal order with roots in England. The first American Odd Fellows lodge was founded on April 26, 1819 in Baltimore Maryland.

Bill was employed in the Air Force Materiel Command at Wright Patterson Air Force Base as an Occupational Safety and Health Manager. He is a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers. He retired on May 31, 2011 with 31 years of service to the Federal Government.

The universal symbol of the Odd Fellows is the three links of a chain with the letters F, L and T, which stand for Friendship, Love, and Truth. By 1860, the I.O.O.F. membership had grown to twice that of the Freemasons in the United States, partially because of the insurance and disability benefits offered by the Odd Fellows.

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Be sure to watch and not throw away your mail without reading it first. If you don’t understand something you receive about Medicare or Medicare prescription drug plans, you can contact your I-CARE coordinator. We’re here to help.

For more information on the I-CARE program or how your Lodge can form a committee, check out the I-CARE website at www.mssohio.org, contact the Service Coordinator in your area or call 888-286-0010.

MasonicCharity

Letter Reveals

Among Confederates Held Prisoner in Ohio T

he following letter is a part of the Official Record of the Civil War, established by Act of Congress.

It was written by Confederate Captain Joseph J. Davis, who was a Freemason and President of the Masonic Prison Association at the POW camp on Johnson’s Island, located in Lake Erie. The letter reveals the suffering common to men held as prisoners by both the North and South as well as the role that Freemasons hoped to play to alleviate that suffering.

Prisoner’s sketch of POW camp on Johnson’s Island circa 1863.

Brother Davis’ appeal was approved by the Camp Commandant and forwarded on to the Union General in charge of Prisoners, who also approved it and forwarded it on to the Secretary of War, who in turn rejected it.

In the fall of 1861, the U.S. Army leased 40 cleared acres of Johnson’s Island to be used as a Prison Camp.

The camp operated from April, 1862 to September, 1865.

The Freemasons were numerous enough among the Confederate Officers held prisoner on the Island to have their own Masonic mess and prison association. For a time, some even were granted leave to visit meetings of Science Lodge #50 in Sandusky.

U. S. Depot Prisoners Of War, Johnson’s Island, Ohio

November 28, 1864

Col. Charles W. Hill, Commanding U.S. Forces at Johnson’s Island and Sandusky, Ohio: Colonel: As president of the Masonic Prison Association I desire to make an appeal to you in behalf of the sick confined here. I am sure your nature must be too generous to refuse to do anything in the real interest of humanity that may be in your power, and that you will indulge me a moment. It is cheerless, indeed, to be sick away from home under the depressing influences of the prison, and recovery is often retarded—sometimes prevented—by mental anxieties.

Under present orders, however much we ourselves may be inclined to aid our fellow prisoners, we cannot go beyond the simple offices of the nurse, and mere sympathy, which, though valuable, can never restore the deranged stomach or stay wasting disease. We do not wish to invade the department of medicine, but if allowed we can supply the sick with many things that will cost the Government nothing and will be of vast service in restoring their health and in relieving their sufferings.

Diarrhea is a common and often fatal disease in this prison, and apples and other fruits, jellies, cordials, and what are termed generally hospital delicacies (real necessaries), are much needed for this class of sick. I know that there is real distress caused by the craving of the appetite for changes of diet and for these simple things which cannot be had.

If permitted to do so, many of these wants can be supplied through our association, and we will not confine ourselves to the sick of our own fraternity, for (under the circumstances, I may be pardoned for saying) the diffusive charity inculcated by our Order extends to all mankind and should embrace even an enemy in distress and relieve him with a hearty good will.

Sick prisoners who have relatives within the Federal lines can obtain these things upon application to them, approved by the surgeon, but there are very many who have no such relatives and can get nothing of the kind.

If the orders shall be so relaxed (which we respectfully ask) as to permit us to procure the class of articles alluded to, I give you the most solemn assurance that they shall be appropriated solely for the benefit of the sick, and I will myself, if required, become responsible as a hostage under such penalties as you may prescribe for their faithful disposal.

If you have discretion in the premises I feel quite confident you will go as far as you may deem just in behalf of the sick, and if, as I apprehend may be the case, the subject is not within your discretion, I most earnestly ask that you give us the aid of your kind offices to accomplish the end desired by referring the subject to the Commissary-General of Prisoners or to the Secretary of War, or in such other way as in your judgment may seem best. Pardon me, colonel, for thus trespassing upon your time, which, I trust, will be justified by the subject-matter.

Respectfully, Joseph J. Davis Captain (CSA) & President of Masonic Prison Association, Block 1, Ward 1, Room 16. Johnson’s Island Prison Camp SUMMER 2011

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Memory

FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE

Care Centers

By Right Worshipful Brother Timothy B. Strawn, CAE, President, The OMH Benevolent Endowment Foundation

As you read this, summer is winding down and preparations are being made to return to lodge and the traditional autumn activities.

We hope your summer has been enjoyable, restful and productive.

Here at the Foundation we’ve been busy through the summer… and since early this year…laying the groundwork for the Home’s first-ever, professionally designed/ managed capital campaign which you will be learning more about this fall and early next year. This campaign is being created to raise funds to build 24-unit Memory Care Centers on the Browning and Western Reserve campuses. A total of $5.2 million is needed to create these important facilities to provide services like those currently provided on the Springfield campus in our Pathways Center for Alzheimer’s Care.

Alzheimer’s, a form of dementia which is progressive, degenerative and ultimately fatal, was originally described by the German neurologist, Alois Alzheimer. As so many loved ones and care givers unfortunately know, symptoms of the disease are a gradual loss of memory, reasoning, learning ability, communication skills and the loss of the ability to perform daily functions. Late stage Alzheimer’s frequently results in personality changes and the loss of basic abilities such as walking and swallowing. With these impacts of this disease, it is obvious that specialized care is required and few family members can provide this care in the home.

Add to these facts the following research findings: 1) Every 69 seconds a new Alzheimer’s

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SUMMER 2011

diagnosis is declared; 2) More than 4.5 million Americans currently have Alzheimer’s and the lifetime cost of caring for an Alzheimer’s patient is $174,000; 3) National direct and indirect annual costs of caring for those with Alzheimer’s are at least $100 billion; and 4) By 2050, it is anticipated that 45-50 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s.

And further, unfortunately, at both our Browning and Western Reserve campuses we have had to ask families of residents to move their loved ones to another care facility because we did not have the facilities to properly and safely care for them at their stage in the disease in our existing facilities. At Western Reserve, we’ve had that conversation with 27 families in the last 24 months; at Browning, we’ve had that conversation with 20 families in the last 36 months.

Thus, the need for such specialized facilities on our campuses is not only obvious…it is in keeping with the Home’s founding intent to provide the necessary care for our brethren, their wives and widows.

This need was verified by a feasibility study, the first step in preparation for a capital campaign, conducted

by PanasLinzy&Associates, the premier capital campaign consulting organization in the country.

Not only will the physical facilities of these units be beautiful, warm and welcoming, the care provided in them through the Rhythm of the Day© program will offer the best opportunity possible for our residents to optimize their quality of life as they continue their

journey in Alzheimer’s. Rhythm of the Day© is a psycho-social program which creates a daily structure to provide a rhythm of ebb and flow to correspond with an Alzheimer’s resident’s peak and low times of physical and mental energy. It has resulted in significant improvement in many Alzheimer’s residents’ abilities and behaviors at our Springfield campus and other similar facilities where it has been employed.

We trust that as you learn more about this capital campaign effort, you will become as excited as we are about the potential it provides us to assist even more brethren, wives, widows and members of the community-at-large with our hallmark care, concern and compassion in fighting Alzheimer’s which has quickly become one of the most feared of all diseases, second only to cancer.

For more information about the campaign and how you can make a gift to it that will make a difference in the lives of others, please call the Foundation office toll-free at 888/248-2664 or write us at Five Masonic Drive, Springfield, 45504-3658.

Also in this issue of the Beacon is a feature about Alzheimer’s care on the campuses and the units to be provided by the campaign.

For more information about how to make a gift, contact the Foundation toll free at 888/248-2664 or write to us at: Five Masonic Drive, Springfield, 45504-3658. Visit us at our new web site: www.omhbef.org.

Generosity

Thank You For Your

We offer our grateful appreciation to the estates, individuals, groups or other Masonic bodies who have supported The Ohio Masonic Home with gifts given between March 1, 2011 and May 31, 2011. $10,000 + Brister, Charles E. Frank, Walter Zorn, Harvey A. $5,000 - $9,999 Colburn, Frank R. Huser, Donald C. & B. Jane Moss, George K. Schulze, Vivian H. Veinott, Cyril $2,500 - $4,999 Davis, Orlando W. Oberle, Betty H. Seifert, Dorothy T. & Myron T. Sheeler, Howard M. $1,000 - $2,499 11th Masonic District Association 16th Masonic District Association 25th Masonic District Association Acme Lodge #554, F&AM Arters, George D. & B.J. Grand Court, Order of Amaranth Hosler, Bessie V. Schlarb, Marjorie A. Sine, Anna Laura $500 - $999 23rd Masonic District Association Community Lodge #684, F&AM Eisiminger, Thomas I., Jr. Galion Lodge #414, F&AM Garrettsville Lodge #246, F&AM Goff, Martha J. Grove City Lodge #689, F&AM Hamer Lodge #167, F&AM Highland Lodge #38, F&AM Karth, Charles E. & Marjorie J. Kelly, Floyd Madison Lodge #221, F&AM Mantua Lodge #533, F&AM Michael L. Finnell Lodge #711, F&AM Minerva Lodge #98, F&AM New Carlisle Lodge #100, F&AM Paragon Lodge #788, F&AM Patriot Lodge #496, F&AM Sharonville Lodge #204, F&AM Shrive, Harold George St. Johns Lodge #13, F&AM Valley of Dayton, AASR Youngstown Chapter #93, RAM $100 - $499 2nd Masonic District Association 3rd Masonic District Association 5th Masonic District Association 6th Capitular District Officers Association 6th Masonic District Association 8th Masonic District Association 9th Masonic District Association 14th District Ladies Association 14th Masonic District Association

15th Masonic District Association 18th Masonic District Association 19th Masonic District Association 20th Masonic District Association 21st Masonic District Association Amelia Lodge #590, F&AM American Union Chapter #1, RAM Amity Lodge #5, F&AM Argus Lodge #545, F&AM Attica Lodge #367, F&AM Beacon Chapter #593, OES Bellevue Lodge #273, F&AM Bellville Lodge #376, F&AM Belmont Lodge #16, F&AM Black, Ross R., II & Linda Buckeye Lodge #150, F&AM Caldwell Lodge #330, F&AM Caliburn Lodge #785, F&AM Carey Lodge #420, F&AM Carr, Jack W. Carroll F. Clapp Lodge #655, F&AM Carroll Lodge #124, F&AM Carter, Hans M. Centreville Lodge #371, F&AM Charity Lodge #530, F&AM Charles T. Raymer-Covenant Lodge #683, F&AM Clyde Chapter #90, RAM Connelly, Ronald L. & Elaine M. Copper Penny Lodge #778, F&AM Cortland Lodge #529, F&AM Creps, Michael R. Debski, Denise Delhi Hills Lodge #775, F&AM Dieckhoner, Craig R. Doric Lodge #172, F&AM Dover Lodge #489, F&AM Easterling, James F., Jr. & Jill Elder, Kate Ely Lodge #424, F&AM Evergreen Lodge #222, F&AM Feller, David Wayne & Bonnie J. Fuller, Jeffrey R. Gee, James K., III & Kathleen L. Geneva Lodge #334, F&AM George A. Holly Lodge #745, F&AM Gustavus Lodge #442, F&AM Hanselmann Lodge #208, F&AM Hasis, John F. Heath Lodge #771, F&AM Heber Lodge #501, F&AM Heights-Lion Heart Lodge #633, F&AM Herr, Richard J., O.D. High Point Lodge #773, F&AM Holcomb, J. Robert & Antoinette Homeworth Lodge #499, F&AM Horace W. Wright Chapter #226, RAM Jerusalem Lodge #19, F&AM Johnson, Owen E., M.D. & Joyce Koeniger, Arthur F. Kreigh, Robert J. & Jean French Lake Shore Lodge #307, F&AM Laughlin, William E. Logston, Tommy A. & Marlene Losasso, Donald L. & Theda

Lowry, Harvey Lucasville Lodge #465, F&AM Lynchburg Lodge #178, F&AM Lyndhurst Lodge #508,F&AM Mad River Lodge #161, F&AM Medina Lodge #58, F&AM Mentor Lodge #772, F&AM Miller, Guy Gilbert Mondillo, Robert A. Mowery, John M. Mowry, David Dee & Kathy Negley Lodge #565, F&AM New Burlington Lodge #574, F&AM Newton Falls Lodge #462, F&AM Nichols, Junior A., U.S.A.F., Ret. & Ursaline J. Niles-McKinley Lodge #794, F&AM Ohio State Secretaries Association, F&AM Old Erie Lodge #3, F&AM Oola Khan Grotto Orion Lodge #353, F&AM Oxford Lodge #67, F&AM Posey, Terry W. & Cheryl Puskarich, Michael T. & Judy Quaker City Lodge #500, F&AM Relief Lodge #284, F&AM Reynoldsburg Lodge #340, F&AM Rising Sun Lodge #22, F&AM Rockton Lodge #316, F&AM Rogers, David Stephen, M.D. Saliceti, Jose A., Ph.D. Schmitt, Betty J. Shank, Harold & Josephine Shrine Club of Springfield & Clark Co. Silver Trowel Lodge #776, F&AM Soloman Builders, Ohio Chapter of the Widows Sons Stokes Lodge #305, F&AM Strauss, Philip A. Taubler, Charles Temple Lodge #28, F&AM Tenth Masonic District Theodore Breck Lodge #714, F&AM Toledo Ft. Industry Lodge #144, F&AM Triandria Lodge #780, F&AM Tuscan Lodge #342, F&AM Unity Lodge #12, F&AM University Heights Lodge #738, F&AM Village Lodge Fellowcraft Club W.K. Ricksecker Lodge #606, F&AM Waltz, Jeffrey P. Wauseon Lodge #349, F&AM Webb Lodge #252, F&AM Wellington Lodge #127, F&AM West Milton Lodge #577, F&AM Western Phoenix Lodge #42, F&AM Western Reserve Lodge #507, F&AM William Farr Lodge #672, F&AM Williams, Frank R. Williamson, James M. & Sherry Willoughby Lodge #302, F&AM Youngblood, Bonnie & John H.

SUMMER 2011

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BEACON A JOINT PUBLICATION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF OHIO AND THE OHIO MASONIC HOME

2655 W. National Road Springfield, Ohio 45504-3698 www.ohiomasonichome.org www.freemason.com

Lands

Steven Duncan

Steven Duncan and Superman

have something in common; they both love to fly. Unlike Superman, Steven requires an airplane to fly – something he’s been doing since high school. He enjoyed the experience so much that he went on to become a flight instructor, sharing the joy of flying with hundreds of students.

Ask any pilot what they love about flying, and they will mention the freedom that comes from navigating through the clouds. With his appointment as a new member of The Ohio Masonic Home Board, he’s been giving a lot of thought to helping residents maintain their ability to live with the greatest freedom and comfort possible.

“I recently heard the term ‘agefriendly,’ and it stuck with me,” Steven said. “As providers of retirement and long-term care, we need to keep this idea in mind as we plan the future growth of our communities and services.”

To Steven, the concept of age-friendly implies providing residents with the services and

Board Position

to sit at home on the porch swing, facilities they need to maintain the baby boomers are active and as much of their personal freedom on the go.” as possible.

Steven’s Masonic background “My wife Toni’s experience as a member on the Springfield Masonic includes serving as Worshipful Master, Clarksville #323 in 1997 & Community Board of Trustees 2007; presiding in Chapter, Council opened my eyes to benefits we and Commandery; and serving as provide to our senior population,” Grand High Priest, Grand Chapter, Steven said. As a board member, he RAM in 2003-2004. He has been plans to encourage new and better honored by being created a Knight ways to deliver services to Masonic of the York Grand Cross of Honour Community residents and clients. and a 33° Mason in the “We need to think Valley of Dayton, AASR. of innovative ways to Steven lives in West cater to our older adult Carrollton with Toni. population. We need They have three children to take creative steps – Shelley, Stephanie to ensure that both our community and and Shawn – and four home delivery systems grandchildren. Steven provide people with is proud that both his the services and son and son-in-law are facilities needed.” members of the fraternity.

Steven Duncan Those needs, he says, are And he’s clearly proud to be part constantly changing. of The Ohio Masonic Home Board, “The baby boomer generation saying that “I’ve been impressed demands more from their by the professionalism and genuine concern of every board member.” retirement years. They want There is no doubt they will be activities and programs to travel equally impressed by Steven’s and not necessarily be tied down contributions to the board. to one location. Unlike our grandparents who were content