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STANLEY F. MAXWELL 1910-1997

StanleyMaxwell1977.jpg

Grand Standard Bearer, 1956
Deputy Grand Master, 1964
Grand Master, 1975-1977
Grand Treasurer, 1989-1990


TERM

1975 1976 1977

NOTES

BIOGRAPHY

FROM TROWEL, 1984

From TROWEL, August 1984, Page 6:

StanleyMaxwell1984.jpg

Sovereign Grand Commander
Stanley Fielding Maxwell, 33°

The son of James M. and Alice (Chadwick) Maxwell, is a native of Reading, MA. Educated in the Reading public schools and Burdett College, Boston, he was elected Executive Secretary at Supreme Council headquarters in 1965. He was elected to preside over the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite in 1975. As principal administrative officer at Lexington he has played a leading role in the planning, construction, and opening of the Museum of Our National Heritage. In addition to serving as Sovereign Grand Commander, III.-. Bro. Maxwell is President of the Trustees of the Supreme Council.

Raised a Master Mason in Good Samaritan Lodge, A. F. and A. M., of Reading, December, 1931, he served as the chairman of the Service Committee of his Lodge for several years, was appointed to line, and became Worshipful Master in 1944-45. He has served as a Trustee of Lodge funds since 1948.

He was appointed Senior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts in 1952; D. D. G. M. of the Malden 7th, 1954-55; Grand Standard Bearer, 1956; Deputy Grand Master to M.W. A. Neill Osgood in 1964, and was Grand Master 1975-77. He had held the post of Chairman of the Grand Lodge Service Committee for eight years.

Bro. Maxwell has been the recipient of the Henry Price medal from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, the Philip C. Tucker Award from the Grand Lodge of Vermont, the Christopher Champlin Award from the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island, the Benjamin Franklin Medal from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and the Daniel Coxe Medal from the Grand Lodge of New Jersey. He is an Honorary Member of the Grand Lodge of Guanabara (Brazil) and the Grand Lodge of Chile, which has appointed him its Grand Representative near Massachusetts.

In Capitular Masonry, Ill. Brother Maxwell was Exalted in Reading Royal Arch Chapter in 1946 and served as High Priest in 1955 and as Secretary 1956-66. He was Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts 1961-63 and General Grand Master of the Second Veil of the General Grand Chapter, International, 1966-69. He has received the Benjamin Hurd and Paul Revere Medals from his Grand Chapter. Greeted in Melrose Council, Royal and Select Masters, in 1957, he was Knighted in Reading Commandery No. 50, in 1951. He is also a member of St. Bernard Commandery No. 12.

In the Scottish Rite he received his degrees in the Valley of Boston in 1959 and served Massachusetts Consistory as Commander-in-Chief 1969-72. He was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33 °, and made an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council in Cleveland on September 29, 1965, and was crowned an Active Member-at-Large of the Supreme Council at Detroit on September 27, 1973. He is the recipient of the Supreme Council's Gourgas Medal, the Killian H. Van Rensselaer Medal of the Valley of Cincinnati, the Barton Smith Medal of Toledo, and is an Emeritus Member of Honor of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States. He holds Honorary Membership in the Supreme Councils for the Dominican Republic, Peru, Canada, England, Chile, Panama, Venezuela, France, Mexico, the Philippines, Colombia, Central America (Guatemala), Bolivia, Turkey, Brazil, Belgium, Greece, Finland, Scotland, and Germany.

Other memberships include Bay State Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, of which he is a Past Sovereign, and during 1977-78 he was Grand Sovereign of the United Grand Imperial Council of the Red Cross of Constantine. He is an Honorary Member of Canada's Grand Imperial Conclave. He is a former Secretary-General of the High Council, Societas Rosicruciana, and Chief Adept, Massachusetts College. Ill. Bro. Maxwell holds membership in the IX Grade/Great Priory of America, C.B.C.S.; Royal Order of Scotland; Taleb Grotto, M. O. V. P. E. R.; he is an Honorary Member-at-Large, National Sojourners, Inc.; an Honorary Member, High Twelve International, and of Aleppo Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of which he was Potentate in 1969. He was formerly a member of the Board of Governors of the Shrine Burns Institute in Boston and an Honorary Trustee of the Illinois Masonic Medical Center. He is the immediate Past President of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association at Alexandria, VA.

In DeMolay he has been a member of the Advisory Board and for several years was Chairman of the Trustees of the DeMolay Foundation in Massachusetts, and is a recipient of the Honorary Legion of Honor Degree. He was elected to Active Membership in the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay, in 1975. He received the Cross of Honor from the Supreme Council for Germany in 1983.

In civic affairs, Ill. Bro. Maxwell served Reading as a Trustee of Cemeteries, a member of the Capital Expenditures Planning Committee, and was a member of the Reading Rationing Board during World War II.

Ill. Bro. Maxwell was married in 1933 to Dorothy Allen Russ and they reside in Lexington. They are parents of Stanley F., Jr., and Allen Russ Maxwell, and have four grandchildren.

FROM TROWEL, 1987

From TROWEL, Winter 1987, Page 6:

The son of James M. and Alice (Chadwick) Maxwell, is a native of Reading, MA. Educated in the Reading public schools and Burdett College, Boston, he was elected Executive Secretary at Supreme Council headquarters in 1965. He was elected to preside over the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite in 1975.

As principal administrative officer at Lexington he has played a leading role in the planning, construction, and opening of the Museum of Our National Heritage. In addition to serving as Sovereign Grand Commander, Ill. Bro. Maxwell is President of the Trustees of the Supreme Council.

Raised a Master Mason in Good Samaritan Lodge, A. F. and A. M., of Reading, December, 1931, he served as the chairman of the Service Committee of his Lodge for several years, was appointed to line, and became Worshipful Master in 1944-45. He has served as a Trustee of Lodge funds since 1948.

He was appointed Senior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts in 1952; D. D. G. M. of the Maiden 7th, 1954-55; Grand Standard Bearer, 1956; Deputy Grand Master to M. W. A. Neill Osgood in 1964, and was Grand Master 1975-77. He had held the post of Chairman of the Grand Lodge Service Committee for eight years.

Bro. Maxwell has been the recipient of the Henry Price medal from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, the Philip C. Tucker Award from the Grand Lodge of Vermont, the Christopher Champlin Award from the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island, the Benjamin Franklin Medal from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and the Daniel Coxe Medal from the Grand Lodge of New Jersey. He is an Honorary Member of the Grand Lodge of Guanabara (Brazil) and the Grand Lodge of Chile, which has appointed him its Grand Representative near Massachusetts.

In Capitular Masonry, Ill. Brother Maxwell was Exalted in Reading Royal Arch Chapter in 1946 and served as High Priest in 1955 and as Secretary 1956-66. He was Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts 1961-63 and General Grand Master of the Second Veil of the General Grand Chapter, International, 1966-69. He has received the Benjamin Hurd and Paul Revere Medals from his Grand Chapter. Greeted in Melrose Council, Royal and Select Masters, in 1957, he was Knighted in Reading Commandery No. 50, in 1951. He is also a member of St. Bernard Commandery No. 12.

In the Scottish Rite he received his degrees in the Valley of Boston in 1959 and served Massachusetts Consistory as Commander-in-Chief 1969-72. He was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33 °, and made an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council in Cleveland on September 29, 1965, and was crowned an Active Member-at-Large of the Supreme Council at Detroit on September 27, 1973. He is the recipient of the Supreme Council's Gourgas Medal, the Killian H. Van Rensselaer Medal of the Valley of Cincinnati, the Barton Smith Medal of Toledo, and is an Emeritus Member of Honor of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States. He holds Honorary Membership in the Supreme Council for the Dominican Republic, Peru, Canada, England, Chile, Panama, Venezuela, France, Mexico, the Philippines, Colombia, Central America (Guatemala), Bolivia, Turkey, Brazil, Belgium, Greece, Finland, Scotland, and Germany.

Other memberships include Bay State Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, of which he is a Past Sovereign, and during 1977-78 he was Grand Sovereign of the United Grand Imperial Council of the Red Cross of Constantine. He is an Honorary Member of Canada's Grand Imperial Conclave. He is a former Secretary-General of the High Council, Societas Rosicruciana, and Chief Adept, Massachusetts College. Ill. Bro. Maxwell holds membership in the IX Grade/Great Priory of America, C. B. C. S.; Royal Order of Scotland; Taleb Grotto, M. O. V. P. E. R.; he is an Honorary Member-at-Large, National Sojourners, Inc.; an Honorary Member, High Twelve International, and of Aleppo Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of which he was Potentate in 1969. He was formerly a member of the Board of Governors of the Shrine I Burns Institute in Boston and an Honorary Trustee of the Illinois Masonic Medical Center. He is the immediate Past President of I the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association at Alexandria, VA.

In DeMolay he has been a member of the Advisory Board and for several years was Chairman of the Trustees of the DeMolay Foundation in Massachusetts, and is a recipient of the Honorary Legion of Honor Degree. He was elected to Active Membership in the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay, in 1975. He received the Cross of Honor from the Supreme Council for Germany in 1983.

In civic affairs, IIl. Bro. Maxwell served Reading as a I Trustee of Cemeteries, a member of the Capital Expenditures Planning Committee, and was a member of the Reading Rationing Board during World War II.

Ill. Bro. Maxwell was married in 1933 to Dorothy Allen Russ and they reside in Lexington. They are parents of Stanley F., Jr., and Allen Russ Maxwell, and have four grandchildren.

MEMORIAL

FROM PROCEEDINGS, 1997

From Proceedings, Page 1997-189:

Born in Reading, Massachusetts, on April 27, 1910
Died in Woburn, Massachusetts, on October 8,1997

On Wednesday, October 8, 1997, one of the most dynamic leaders of modem Freemasonry passed away, Most Worshipful Stanley Fielding Maxwell, Past Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts.

Brother Maxwell was born in Reading, Massachusetts on April 27,1910, the son of James M. and Alice (Chadwick) Maxwell. He attended the public schools of Reading and earned a business diploma at Burdett College, Boston, in 1929. He went to work for the Quincy Market Cold Storage and Warehouse Company of Boston in the office of the Assistant Treasurer. In 1945, he joined the staff of United Farmers of New England, Inc., (a cooperative dairy products marketing company) as Office Manager, a position he held for nearly 20 years before accepting appointment in 1965 as the first Executive Secretary of the Supreme Council forthe Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. During his tenure as Executive Secretary, the offices of the Supreme Council moved from the Statler Offrce Building in Boston to Marrett Road in Lexington, Massachusetts, and the construction of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum of Our National Heritage was completed.

On May 13, 1933, Brother Maxwell was married in Wakefield, Massachusetts, to Dorothy Allen Russ, who survives him, along with their two sons, Stanley F. Maxwell, Jr., Associate Dean of Students at Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio, and Allen R. Maxwell, President of DAKA International, Inc., Danvers, Massachusetts, and four grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.

Brother Maxwell was actively involved in the affairs of his community, having served the Town of Reading as a Trustee of Cemeteries, the Capital Expenditures Planning Committee, and on the Rationing Board during World War II.

Most Worshipful Brother Maxwell's Masonic record is one of superlative achievements. He was raised in Good Samaritan Lodge, A.F. & A.M., in Reading, Massachusetts, on December 2,1931, and served as its Worshipful Master in 1944-I945. He was appointed Senior Grand Steward in 1952, District Deputy Grand Master of the Malden Seventh District in 1955-1956, Grand Standard Bearer in 1956, and Deputy Grand Master in 1964. He was elected Grand Master, December 11, 1974, and served in that capacity for three years. He was a Director of the Grand Lodge from 1978 to 1993. He was Grand Treasurer in 1989 and 1990. He was Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Virginia near the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts from 1965 to 1979, Grand Representative for the Grand Lodge of Chile from 1979 until the time of his death. He was awarded the Henry Price Medal in 1964. He received the Philip C. Tucker Award (VT); the Christopher Champlin Medal (RI); the Benjamin Franklin Medal (PA); the Daniel Coxe Medal (NJ); the Charles H. Johnson Medal (NY); the Josiah H. Drummond Medal (ME); from the Grand Lodges of those states. He was affiliated with Simon W. Robinson Lodge and Washington Lodge of Lexington. He was the Charter Master of The Masters Lodge of Newtonville.

In Capitular Masonry, Companion Maxwell was exalted in Reading Royal Arch Chapter in June, 1946, and served as High Priest in 1955 and as Secretary from 1956 to 1966. He was a Grand Lecturer of the Grand Chapter from 1955 to 1965, was elected as Grand King in 1960, and was elected as Grand High Priest for the years 1961-1963. He served as Grand Master of the Second Veil for the General Grand Chapter, International from 1966 to 1969. He was honored with the Benjamin Hurd and Paul Revere Medals from the Grand Chapter.

Companion Maxwell was greeted in Melrose Council, Royal and Select Masters in May 1957.

In Chivalric Masonry, he was knighted in Reading Commandery No. 50 in April 1951, and affiliated with St. Bernard Commandery No. 12 in 1965.

He received the Scottish Rite Degrees in the Valley of Boston in 1959 and served Massachusetts Consistory as Engineer and Seneschal in 1960, Orator 1961-1963, and Master of Ceremonies in 1964-1967. He was elected First Lieutenant Commander in 1967-1970, and Commander-in-Chief in 1970-1973. He was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33rd degree, Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of the United States of America, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction on September 29, 1965 at Cleveland, Ohio, and crowned an Active Member At Large at Detroit, Michigan, on September 27, 1973. At the annual meeting held in Boston in 1975, he was elected Sovereign Grand Commander for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, and was installed into that office by his predecessor, Ill. George A. Newbury, 33'd degree. In addition, he was elected President of the Trustees of the Supreme Council and President of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library, Inc.

At the Supreme Council meeting held at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1978, he became the 18th recipient of the Gourgas Medal, the highest award given by the Supreme Council for distinguished service to Masonry, to country, or to humanity. He was also the recipient of the Killian H. Van Rensselaer Medal from the Valley of Cincinnati and the Barton Smith Medal from the Valley of Toledo. He was the Grand Representative near the Northem Jurisdiction for the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A.; the Supreme Council for Canada; the Supreme Council for Chile; and the Supreme Council of England and Wales.

His tenure as Sovereign Grand Commander ended on September 26, 1985, at which time he was granted the title of Sovereign Grand Commander Emeritus.

Most Worshipful Brother Maxwell was a member of Aleppo Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., of Wilmington, Massachusetts, where he was Potentate in 1969. He was also a member of the Masonic Relations Committee of the Imperial Council, A.A.O.N.M.S.; Boston Court No. 103, Royal Order of Jesters; a past Puissant Sovereign of Bay State Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine in 1966-1967; Past Grand Sovereign and Knight Grand Cross of the United Grand Imperial Council of Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine; Great Priory of America, C.B.C.S.; a past Chief Adept of Massachusetts College, S.R.I.C.F.; a past Secretary General of the High Council, S.R.I.C.F.; a recipient of the purple Cross of York Rite Sovereign College ofNorth America; and the Royal Order of Scotland. He also served for several years on the Board of Governors of the Shriners Burns Institute in Boston. For the Order of DeMolay, he was a member of the Advisory Board for Middlesex Chapter, Reading, and for a number of years was Chairman of the Trustees of the DeMolay Foundation of Massachusetts. He was recognized by the DeMolay Supreme Council with the Honorary Legion of Honor. He was elected to Active Membership inthe Intemational Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay, in April 1975, and was later designated an Honorary Past Grand Master of the DeMolay Supreme Council.

Most Worshipful Brother Maxwell was also a director and member of the Executive Committee of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association of Alexandria, Virginia, for a number of years and became its president.

Most Worshipful Stanley Fielding Maxwell was memorialized at a private ceremony at the First Baptist Church in Lexington, Massachusetts, on Saturday, October 25, 1997. His ashes are interred at the Forest Glen Cemetery in his hometown of Reading, Massachusetts.

May the Grand Masters of all the ages form a suite to welcome him into the Celestial Grand Lodge above where the Grand Architect of the Universe presides.

M.W. Donald W. Vose
M.W. J. Philip Berquist
M.W. David B. Richardson
M.W. Albert T. Ames
M.W. Edgar W. Darling
M.W. David W. Lovering
Committee

FROM TROWEL, 1998

From TROWEL, Spring 1998, Page 9:

StanleyFMaxwell1998.jpg

Most Worshipful STANLEY FIELDING MAXWELL 1910-1997

On October 8, 1997, Freemasonry in Massachusetts and truly throughout the world lost one of its most devoted, prominent and productive Masons of this century in the passing of Most Worshipful Stanley Fielding Maxwell. A leader in almost every facet of our great Fraternity, Brother Maxwell made a lasting impression with his thoughtful influence and his dedication to the basic principles under which we practice fraternalism.

Our Past Grand Master was born in Reading, MA on April 27, 1910, son of James M. and Alice Chadwick Maxwell. He was educated in the Reading Public Schools and graduated from Burden College in 1929. He was first employed as Assistant Treasurer of the Quincy Market Cold Storage and Warehouse Company and subsequently by the United Fanners of New England, Inc. as Office Manager, a position he held for over 20 years. In 1965 he became the first Executive Secretary of the Scottish Rite Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction then located in the Statler Office Building in Boston. The headquarters later moved to its present location in Lexington and the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum of Our National Heritage was completed during Brother Maxwell's tenure.

His Masonic career began in Good Samaritan Lodge, Reading in 1931; he served as its Worshipful Master in 1944-45. He was appointed Senior Grand Steward in 1952, District Deputy Grand Master of the Malden Seventh Masonic District in 1954-55, Grand Standard Bearer in 1956 and Deputy Grand Master in 1964. On December 11, 1974, he was elected Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts and served in that capacity for the years 1975, 1976 and 1977. He was a Director of the Grand Lodge from 1978 to 1993, Grand Treasurer in 1989 and 1990 and Grand Representative from the Grand Lodge of Virginia from 1965 to 1979 and from Chile from 1979 until his death. He was honored by the presentation of the Henry Price Medal, the highest honor given by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, the Philip C. Tucker Award by Vermont, the Christopher Champlin Medal by Rhode Island, the Benjamin Franklin Medal by Pennsylvania, the Daniel Coxe Medal by New Jersey, the Charles H. Johnson Medal by New York the Josiah H. Drummond Medal from Maine from the Grand Lodges of those states. He was an affiliated member of Simon W. Robinson Lodge, Lexington, the Charter Worshipful Master of The Masters Lodge, Newtonville, and held numerous Honorary Memberships throughout the Jurisdiction of Massachusetts and in other states and countries.

In Capitular Masonry, Companion Maxwell was exalted in Reading Royal Arch Chapter in 1946, served as High Priest in 1955 and as Secretary for ten years. He was a Grand Lecturer of the Grand Chapter of Massachusetts, was elected Grand King in 1960 and was Grand High Priest for the years 1961, 1962 and 1963. He served the General Grand Chapter, International as Grand Master of the Second Veil from 1966 to 1969 and was the recipient of both the Paul Revere and the Benjamin Hurd Medals from the Grand Chapter. He was greeted in Melrose Council, Royal and Select Masters, in 1957 and was Knighted in Reading Commandery No. 50 in 1951, affiliating with St. Bernard Commandery No. 12 in 1965.

Brother Maxwell received the degrees in the Scottish Rite in the Valley of Boston in 1959 and served Massachusetts Consistory as Commander-in-Chief in 1970- 1973. He was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Thirty-third Degree, Honorary Member of the Supreme Council in 1965 at the Session in Cleveland, OH and crowned an Active Member At Large in Detroit in 1973. In Boston two years later he was elected Sovereign Grand Commander of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America, an office he held until 1985. He received many awards and medals throughout the world during his tenure and the auditorium at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum of Our National Heritage is named in his honor. Brother Maxwell was the 18th recipient of the Gourgas Medal from the Supreme Council of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.

His affiliation with numerous other Masonically-oriented organizations included Aleppo Temple in which he served as Potentate in 1969; Boston Court No. 103, Royal Order of Jesters; Bay State Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine in which he served as Puissant Sovereign in 1966-67; Past Grand Sovereign and Knight Grand Cross of the United Grand Imperial Council of Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine; Great Priory of America, C.B.C.S.; and the Masonic Rosicrucian Society of America, which he served as Chief Adept of Massachusetts College and Secretary General of the High Council. Brother Maxwell was the recipient of the Purple Cross from the York Rite Sovereign College of North America and was a member of the Royal Order of Scotland. He was a director of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association and served as its President. Active in the Order of DeMolay as an Advisor for Middlesex Chapter, Treasurer of the DeMolay Foundation of Massachusetts, he was an Honorary Legionnaire of Honor, an Active Member of the International Supreme Council and was elected an Honorary Past Grand Master of the Order.

Brother Maxwell was married to Dorothy Allen Russ, who survives him, in Wakefield, MA on May 13, 1933. Into this union of over 64 years were born Stanley F. Maxwell, Jr., Associate Dean of Students at Baldwin-Wallace College, and the late Allen R Maxwell, former President of DAKA International Inc., in addition to four grandchildren and two great granddaughters.

He was memorialized at a private ceremony in the First Baptist Church in Lexington, MA on October 25, 1997, and his ashes were interred at the Forest Glen Cemetery, Reading, MA. The memories he leaves with those who knew him and the contributions he made to his beloved Freemasonry will insure his immortality.

REMARKS AND ADDRESSES

DEDICATION OF JUNIPER HALL, JULY 1975

From Proceedings, Page 1975-128, at the dedication of Juniper Hall, Charlton:

"How many pleasing considerations, my Brethren, attend the present interview. While in almost every other part of the world political animosities, contentions, and wars interrupt the progress of humanity and the cause of benevolence, it is our distinguished privilege, in this happy region of liberty and peace, to engage in the plans and to perfect the designs of individual and social happiness. While in other nations our Order is viewed by politicians with suspicion and by the ignorant with apprehension, in this country its members are too much respected, and its principles too well known, to make it the object of jealousy or mistrust. Our private assemblies are unmolested, and our public celebrations attract a more general approbation of the Fraternity, indeed, its importance, its credit, and, we trust, its usefulness, are advancing to a height unknown in any former age. The present occasion gives fresh evidence of the increasing affection of its friends; and this noble building, fitted up in a style of elegance and convenience, does honor to Masonry, at whose expense it is erected.

"We commend the zeal of our members and hope it will meet with the most ample recompense. May this edifice be the happy resort of piety, virtue, and benevolence; may it be protected from accident and long remain a monument of their attachment to Masonry; may the Fraternity continue to flourish and strengthen, with happiness to abound; and when we all shall be removed from the labors of the earthly Lodge, may we be admitted to the brotherhood of the perfect, in the building of God, the building not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

DEDICATION OF BUTLER MONUMENT, AUGUST 1975

ANNIVERSARY OF PILGRIM MONUMENT, AUGUST 1976

From Proceedings, Page 1976-173, at the rededication of the Monument, Provincetown:

"On August 5, 1910, the monument was dedicated with the President of the United States, William H.Taft, present as well as Governor Eben S. Draper, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, President Charles W. Eliot of Harvard University and a host of visiting dignitaries, including the Provincetown Board of Selectmen and the Members of the Pilgrim Monument Association. In all, more than 3,000 witnessed the ceremonies. On this special occasion, a prayer was given by the Reverend James DeNormandie of Boston.

"As no great or important undertaking should ever be taken without the blessing of Deity, I have asked the Chaplain of King Hiram's Lodge, Brother Dominick DeMuro to read the prayer used at the original ceremony."

Brother DeMuro read the following:

"O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, in whose hands are the destinies of nations and the afiairs of men, and the issues of life, as we gather to dedicate this monument to those who hereabout helped to lay the foundations of this country, and laid them in Thy fear, and covenanted to walk together in helpfulness - we crave a blessing at Thy hands, Thou who are so full of blessings.

"We thank Thee that Thou hast put it into the hearts of their children to build this memorial to the labors and sufierings, the hopes and promises and the virtues of their fathers, and for those who see the earnest purpose of years this day fulfilled.

"Now that we have grown to be a nation so great and powerful, and prosperous and free, may we dedicate ourselves anew to those things which are the true greatness and glory of a land, not its size, nor its strength, nor its merchandise, nor the munitions of war, but its justice, its truth, its honor, its peace, its righteousness.

"May we, too, covenant to walk together in helpfulness.

"Bend with Thy gracious and protecting Providence over all these Thy servants who have been called by this people to places of trust, from the highest to the humblest officials, and make them faithful to their duties, without regard to the favor or the fear of man. Give them wisdom and guidance from Thyself. May there not be one to shrink from truth and honor or to stand indifferent to the higher things - the things that abide and are eternal. 'We thank Thee that we live at the end of so many years with their revelations of Thy will, and with all human experiences, and the memories of all the noble men and women who have walked in Thy ways, and that we live at the beginning of so many years with all their obligations and opportunities. Help us to pay the debt we owe to the past by the added inheritances of truth and virtue we bequeath to the future.

"As long as the heavens bend over the earth, and the hills stand firm, and the rivers rup 'into the sea, and the tides come and go may Thy Spirit rest graciously upon this land, and may there be more and more to follow the good examples of the departed and to labor for Thy Kingdom.

"We thank Thee that since the world began it has been growing better, and may one evil after another be removed from our midst, and unto Thee will we all pray together, as He who is to us the way, the truth, .the life, taught us to pray --

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen."

The Grand Master continued his address as follows:

"Today we are gathered to commemorate the memory of those 233 hardy souls who had reached these shores by 1623i 102 on the Mayflower; 35 on the Fortune; and about 96 on the Ann and Her Consort. Men, women and children who came to this land to obtain freedom; freedom of thought, freedom of the press, freedom of education and of worship. The love and great desire for these freedoms was not automatically won by landing on these shores. They too, had their dissenters and before landing in 1620, they formulated and signecl The Compact, setting up a government which did not derive its power from a sovereign or parent state, but rested on the consent of those to be governed and on manhood suffrage.

"Listen to the essential clauses:

"We, whose names are underwritten . . . having undertaken for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and country, to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and of one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.

"This represents responsibility from well thinking people.

"It is said of Columbus, that he set out not knowing where he was going, and when he got there, he didn't know where he was, and when he returned, he didn't know where he had been.

"The Pilgrims who came here from England and Holland probably did not know just where they were going, but it is certain that they very soon discovered where they were and were satisfied to stay here. The Pilgrims had many long days and long nights to struggle through before they could really establish homesites, but they had determination and a great faith in the everlasting God of their Fathers so that they could, through many sacrifices, establish themselves in a new land and have a sense of freedom. Freedom of worship, freedom of life and a freedom from tyranny.

"This monument, erected in 1907-1910 to commemorate the faith, the sufferings and the determination of a noble group of People will stand as a memorial to their courage for generations to come. But this freedom, which the Pilgrims sought, did not come to them without great responsibilities. They were responsible to each other for protection and security in a new land. They established what we today would call the American work ethic, that is, He who won't work won't eat. And how true that was in the 1620's, because if they didn't produce, they sure couldn't eat.

"In the mid 1700's, we faced in this nation another time when people were called upon to demonstrate their desire for freedom in several areas. Unfortunately, the rulers of England at the time felt that they would have to keep the new Americans under control by way of taxes. In spite of appeals that were made to King George the Third, and in spite of 'The Olive Branch Petition', which was transmitted to the King, appealing for an opportunity to reconcile the differences prevailing, the British endeavored to control the rebellion by the use of force.

"Men like Adams, Revere, Warren, Hancock, Washington and a host of other stalwarts had other ideas and here great responsibility again had to be shown. We have just about completed our celebration of the 'Declaration of Independence' but we have many other Bicentennial events yet to be celebrated, even as far distant as 1789 when George Washington was inaugurated as our First President.

"The freedom, resulting from the sacrifices of the founders of their Republic, came with a tremendous amount of responsibility. Following the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1782, a five-year depression, a period of disagreement, uncertainty and unbelievable economic problems truly shook the new Republic to its very roots and still our devoted servants, who had already sacrificed so much, were able to bring us together again as a loyal unit of government dedicated to serving the People.

"Since that time, many of us can remember World War I, the Great Depression of the 30's, World War II, several undeclared wars and several periods of economic and political difficulties. Today we stand on hallowed ground, testifying to the responsibilities shouldered by those who have gone on before. Today we should all rededicate ourselves to the fact that if we are to remain free, we must assume the responsibilities that will keep us free. Those responsibilities call for our involvement, as citizens, in decent and honest government. It calls for a greater awareness and concern for the welfare of our people, not for a handout, but for the tender care of those who need such care. It calls for honesty and respect for good laws that are made for our protection.

"The Masonic Fraternity, under whose auspices these ceremonies are held here today, is dedicated to works of charity and benevolence, as well as endeavoring to make good men better. It is not a religion, although it could certainly be classed as 'religious'. As an organization, we are not interested in politics, but as individuals we are much concerned, and as we approach November Znd, we urge each and every citizen to vote as their conscience may dictate, but accept the responsibility that is ours and vote.

"Freemasonry challenges no man's political creed, leaving that to his country and to himself! It does not interfere with any man's religious opinions, leaving that a matter between his God and his conscience, and yet, it does seek to impress by the most sublime and beautiful lessons, enforced by the most profound reasoning, the almighty power of truth, appealing to the highest and purest sentiments of the human soul for the enforcedrent of its principles. fgnorance, tyranny and fanaticism are the foes of Freemasonry. Liberty, equality and fraternity are its watch-words. Yes, freedom means responsibility. Will you assume your fair share in this and the coming years of our Bicentennial celebrations?

"We now pour this mixture of the traditional corn of nourishment, the wine of concord and refreshment and oil, a symbol of union, harmony and love, at the foot of this monument. May corn, wine and oil, and all of the necessaries of life abound among men throughout the world. Muy the blessings of Almighty God be upon this people, and may the structure here erected remain a monument of beauty and strength and be preserved to the latest ages, a symbol of the liberality, the patriotism and the loyalty of the people for whose service it was erected and may we remember with respect and admiration the band of hardy and loyal men and women who had great courage and faith to establish what we now accept. May this monument long continue to be a beacon of light to all mankind for generations yet to be borne. A beacon of freedom with responsibility."

175TH ANNIVERSARY OF MERRIMACK LODGE, 1977

"It is especially fitting, as we join here to celebrate the one hundred seventy-fifth anniversary of Merrimack Lodge, that we think about the great heritage that we have received from those dedicated men who formed this Lodge.

"Masonry is fond of reviewing its history and recounting its antiquity, and it has been said that we cannot know where we are going until we understand where we have been.

"During the celebration of the Bicentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we heard, again and again, that phrase, pride in our past and faith in our future, in fact, that slogan is permanently affixed in the art glass window in the Scottish Rite Museum and Library at Lexington.

"The words flow so easily, that I sometimes wonder whether or not we truly appreciate their significance and_their meaning. Let us examine them more closely.

"We are all very familiar with the stories relating to Paul Revere and his famous ride; John Hancock and his famous signature; George Washington and his great leadership as the commanding general of a truly 'make-shift' army, but there are others who should be honored and remembered with great pride for their contribution to our past.

"I think of Colonel and Major General Henry Knox who left Boston on November 16, 1775, traveling to New York City and then on to Fort Ticonderoga which had been caprured by Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, and brought the captured cannons and ammunition overland into Boston by ox-team, traveling through woods and swamps in the cold of winter and arriving in Boston in time to have the cannons placed on Dorchester Heights, a formidable force against the British who were forced to flee the city and the harbor on March 17, 1776.

"We are all familiar with the Battle of Trenton and the familiar picture of Washington crossing the Delaware. What we may not have known is the fact that the boats for that famous crossing were manned by the amphibious regiment of General John Glover, a Charter Member of Philanthropic Lodge of Marblehead, Massachusetts. Washington was also supported at the Trenton battle by cannon under the leadership of Major General Henry Knox. Dr. Joseph Warren, the then Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts and an eminent physician in Boston, l,ed the troops at the Battle of Breeds Hill, commonly known as Bunker Hill.

"Many more Masons might be named as great patriots and contributors to our cause for independence, including a number of additional men from Saint Andrew's Lodge. All of this gives us the opportunity to share in the great pride we have in the Masons and Nllasonry of the Revolutionary days.

"Our greatest task at the moment, it seems to me, is to instill in our sons and grandsons the faith that we should show toward the future. True, this is a difficult task in these days of dissension, demonstrations, crime, political turmoil and promises that are quite surely to be readily broken, and yet, we, as Masons, must lead and show the way to peace, tolerance, and brotherly love.

"In the past two years, Masons have fostered many programs to celebrate the Bicentennial of the Independence of this great country, and not for pure entertainment alone. But to endeavor to show to our members and their families that we have much to be proud about and much in which to hold a true faith for the future. Our future lies in what we make it. Too many people tell us of all the things that cannot be done. Listen as I relate a few examples.

  • In 1801, William Wilberforce, an English philanthropist, said, 'I dare not marry; the future is too unsettled.'
  • In 1806, William Pitt said, 'There is scarcely anything around us but ruin and despair.'
  • In 1849, Disraeli, the English stateman, said, ,"In industry, commerce and agriculture, there is no hope.'
  • In 1852, the Duke of Wellington said, 'I thank God I shall be spared f rom seeing the consummation of the ruin that is gathering around us.'
  • In 1865, during the Civil War, the records show that the draft riots in New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore make pale, by comparison, any draft problem that we had during the last conscription or on our campuses.
  • In 1873, a Boston newspaper, six years before Bell perfected the telephone, reported that 'well informed

people know that it is impossible to transmit the human voice over wires as may be done with dots and dashes or the Morse Code, and were it possible to do, the thing would have no practical value.'

  • And in 1899, the Literary Digest predicted the failure of the the Horseless Carriage.

"I am certain we could continue for many more years to find such recorded ridiculous statements probably even up to yesterday and today.

"When we think of our membership statistics' several states continue to show steady growth and we have many states that either stand still or slide backwards. Our future lies in what we make it. Let us face our civic responsibilities squarely and honestly. Let us establish closer communications between ourselves and our Lodges and endeavor to bring Grand Lodge closer to the individual Lodges. Let us review our education programs and endeavor to learn more about them, so that each Mason, however new in the Craft, may know the Masonic heritage that is his. Let us solve the inertia that is sapping the lifeblood of our Lodges. Let us ponder the question of motivation that each Mason may find the zeal, the enthusiasm and the dedication that is currently found in so few, but is so necessary in our Craft.

"Let us, therefore rededicate ourselves to the cause of Freemasonry so that many of our present members may be imbued with the spirit of Brotherhood and Fellowship which we can offer to them. Let us remember the past with great pride, and let us move on into the future with great faith in our country, its people and Freemasonry in all of its divisions.

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION, DECEMBER, 1977

"I would like to spend a few minutes with you on the subject of Responsibility.

"There is much we can learn from incidents out of the past. As far as the history of mankind is concerned, what took place on a windy winter day in 1827 is not very important. Yet, what happened when a young German by the name of Siegfried Von Arnim arrived in the snowbound city of Weimar has a significance for all of us.

"The young man had made the difficult journey from faraway Berlin for one reason; to obtain the autograph of Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, Europe's great poet, novelist and philosopher. Autograph collectors of 150 years ago were quite difierent from 'autograph hounds' of today. They were eager to get more than a scrawled signature on a scrap of paper. What they were after was some brilliant forecast or profound advice, a thrilling quote. Dusting his clothes and shining his shoes, yottng Von Arnim presented himself at Goethe's home and sent in his calling card. He was welcomed at once, and after a few minutes of general conversation, the great philosopher reached for the autograph album. He closed his eyes, opened them again, sized up his young visitor, and then wrote in a clear firm hand these words: 'Let everyone sweep in front of his own door and the whole world will be clean.' He signed his name and handed the album back to Von Arnim. The audience was over.

"The years went by. One hundred and fifty often difficult, even tragic, years have passed. Wars and revolutiotrs have been fought. Grandiose plans proclaimed. But fear and distrust are still with us. Once in a while, an obscure scholar would come across Goethe's homespun bit of philosophy and shake his head sadly. It seems incredible that the man whom Napoleon hailed as the greatest human being of his generation could have been so trite. But that's just the point. To some people, even the golden rule seems trite. It takes a wise man to recognize that after we have tried every conceivable shortcut, after we have been given all the instant answers, after we have been presented all the profound plans, we come back to basic principles. That is what the philosopher Goethe wanted to convey that cold day in 1827, when he wrote the simple words: 'Let everyone sweep in front of his own door and the whole world will be clean.'

"As Masons, we know he was right. The most important issue of all is personal responsibility. Things have not changed very much in 150 years. We are still trying everything other than basic principles. It is much more exciting and much more thrilling to talk about rights; for example, 'demanding your rights' is popular today. For some reason, far too manv people seem to think that life will be better if in some magical way they are given what they call 'their rights.' They are waiting for someone, maybe the government, to 'sleep' for them. It is time to make it verl'clear that hunran happiness, as well as the very welfare of our nation, depends on accepting personal responsibility. We have tried everything else and now it is time for us to try the 'tried and true'.

"You and I know how easy it is to nrake demands on others. But the truth of life is that improvement and progress conre only when individuals make more and more demands on themselves. That is what it means to be responsible. As IIasons, we have an obligation to keep alive the enduring value of responsibility. Even though many people choose to push other people around rather than push themselves forward, the responsible person believes in achievement.

"It is distressing to realize that pride in accomplishment is seen as almost a negative idea today. Reaching for the heights is looked down upon. Anyone who excels, anyone who tries to do his best, anyone who stands out, is viewed as a bit strange.

"Our young people have a phrase which describes the situation. You have heard them say, 'Get lost'. That is exactly what too many Americans seem to be doing. They work at getting lost in the crowd. They refuse to do anything that will cause attention to be drawn to them. For the most part, they simply do not want to do anything at all. Ask someone to work on a committee and see what happens. The excuses pour out, one after another. Why is it that we are so afraid to accept responsibility, even for things that will benefit our community and our country? We would rather remain faceless. Evidently, being mediocre is of greater value than aiming for the stars. If that is true, then we are setting a standard that will bring us only tragedy.

"The newspaper columnist, Sydney J. Harris, said it very well: 'A loser believes in Fate; a winner believes that we make our fate by what we do or fail to do.' That is what we believe as Masons. We have the basic responsibility to keep alive the idea that each of us has the inner capability of achieving greatness. It may sound trite to say that the fate of the world depends on each man sweeping his own doorstep, but it happens to be true. Achievement and, then, accountability. This is another very unpopular idea. As one comedian says, 'The devil made me do it'. Too many are willing and ready to blame everything and everyone for why they are the way they are. Children blame their parents. Parents blame the schools. Employees blame the boss. And everybody blames the government.

"The responsible person is accountable for his actions. He recognizes that there should be a relationship between productivity and pay. Putting in time on the job is not the same as being a productive worker. Sitting in a classroom is not the same as being a student. Wearing a Masonic emblem is not what makes a man a Mason. No-fault automobile insurance is a good example of what happens when we're not held accountable for our actions. Insurance claims skyrocket, and so do insurance rates.

"After we have tried just about everything else, we come to the realization that society can only operate effectively if people are held accountable for what they do. Actions still speak louder than anything else. Responsibility means achieving the best that is in us. It means being accountable for what we do and how we act. And, finally, responsibility involves a sense of urgency. Historian Arnold Toynbee once wrote, 'A life which does not go into action is a failure.' If this is true, then there are a growing number o{ failures in our world.

"Speaking to a national sales executives meeting some years ago, Charles Brower, an advertising executive, said, 'This is the great era of the goof-off, the age of the half-done job', Too many of us opt for the easy rather than the difficult; too many are satisfied with just 'getting by.'

"There was a time when people took pride in being on time. That may not seem very important, but today time seems to mean very little. Few ever apologize for being late and a growing number of people do not even bother to call if they are unable to keep an appointment.

"Such attitudes are not good enough! Thank goodness Daniel Webster thought differently. In his famed Bunker Hill address, he set the record straight: 'Let our age be an age of improvement. In a day of peace, let us advance the arts of peace; let us develop the resources of our land; call forth its powers; build up its institutions; and see whether we also may not perform something worthy to be remembered.'

"Daniel Webster felt a burning sense of urgency. And so did Winston Churchill. During the Battle of Britain, the headmaster of the school Churchill had attended as a youngster asked the great prime minister to address the student body. Churchill obliged and this is what he said: 'Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never, never give in.' Then he sat down, that was his speech.

"But unlike Winston Churchill, too many sit down before they even begin. Only with an overwhelming sense of urgency will we ever accomplish anything worthy to be remembered.

"Achievement, Accountability and Urgency. These three are the marks of responsibility. The man who lives by these basic principles is not worried about his rights. He is too busy building a solid life; he is too busy constructing his community; and he is too busy working for his country. He has discovered a great truth: If I sweep in front of my own door, the whole world is a better place.

"Let us, then, rededicate ourselves to the ideals of Masonry, and remember well the efiorts of members of this great fraternity who gave more than 13,000 pints of blood for the benefit of others. Let us remember our 154 guests at the Masonic Home who are so well cared for as a result of our contributions of man power, love and financial support. Let us remember all who work so diligently and loyally for the betterment of a living as a Master Mason.

"We have a cause in Freemasonry. Let us all continue to work for the brotherhood of mankind, even in our day."

MORTGAGE BURNING OF PHILANTHROPIC LODGE, OCTOBER 1977

The Masonic Altar

"The history of the Altar in the life of man is a story more fascinating than any fiction. The earliest Altar was probably a rough unhewn stone in its crude and natural state. Later, as the concept of faith grew, and the idea of sacrifice developed, the Altar was replaced with a hewn stone-cubical in form, or carved and often beautifully wrought, on which men lavished jewels and priceless gifts, deeming nothing too costly or precious to adorn the place of prayer. It is stated that Abraham, by divine command and as a test of his faith, even offered his own son on a sacrificial Altar. His willingness to comply with this extreme command, the release, victory and blessings that followed, form one of the familiar stories of the Old Testament.

"As far back as we can go the Altar was the center of human society, and an object of peculiar sanctity by virtue of that law of association by which places and things are consecrated. ft was a place of refuge for the hunted or tormented, criminals or slaves, and to drag them away from it by violence was held to be an act of sacrilege, since they were under the protection of God. At the Altar marriage rites were solemnized, treaties made or vows taken in its presence were more holy and binding than if made elsewhere, because there man invoked God as witness. In all the religions of antiquity, and especially among the peoples who worshipped the Light it was the custom of both priests and people to pass around the Altar on special occasions following the course of the Sun - from East, by way of the South, to the West, singing hymns of praise as part of their thanksgiving or worship.

"From the facts and hints such as these, the meaning of the Altar in Masonry, and its position in the Lodge, become apparent. The position of the Altar in Masonry is not accidental, but profoundly significant. For while Masonry is not a religion, it is religious in its faith and basic principles, no less than in its spirit and purpose. Nor does it attempt to do what the Church is trying to do. If it were a Church, its Altar would be in the East and its ritual would be altered accordingly. The Masonic Altar supports no creeds, nor embraces any particular sect. It is first of all, an Altar of Faith - the deep eternal faith which underlies all creeds and overarches all sects - faith in God, in the moral law, and in life everlasting. Secondly, it symbolizes recognition, - recognition of that most inspiring and wonderful of all facts - the Brotherhood of Man. Hear one fact more and the meaning of the Masonic Altar will be plain. Often one enters a great Church or Cathedral and finds it empty or only a few people in the pews, sitting quietly praying or in deep thought. They are seeking an opportunity for the soul to be alone. But no one ever goes to a Masonic Altar alone. No one bows before it except when the Lodge is open and in the presence of his Brethren. Thus the Masonic Altar is an Altar of Faith, of Fellowship, and of acceptance and recognition of the Brotherhood of Man."

FEAST OF ST. JOHN, DECEMBER 1978

The Light of Patriotism

"It was late in the summer of 1775 and John Adams had returned home to Massachusetts from the meetings of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Perhaps more than the other Founding Fathers, John Adams agonized over the American people. He questioned the strength of their commitment to liberty. Over and over again, he asked himself, Will the people love freedom or will they abuse it? Then, one day, an incident took place which caused him great distress.

"While riding his horse, John Adams came upon a man whom he had both defended and prosecuted in the local courts. In his Autobiography, John Adams describes this man as a common horse jockey. He greeted John Adams with a gallant salute. 'Oh, Mr. Adams,' he exclaimed, 'What great things you and your colleagues have done for us! We can never be grateful enough to you. There are no courts of Justice now in this province and I hope there will never be another.' John Adams reports that he said nothing to the man at the time. But later, back at his desk, he wrote rather sadly, 'Is this the object for which I have been contending?. . . Are these the sentiments of such people? . . . And how many are there in the country?'

"John Adams realized that for many of his countrymen the American Revolution meant little more than throwing off all restraint. It was an opportunity to be selfish and irresponsible. The passion for freedom and self-government which burned in the hearts of our Founding Fathers never caught fire in the lives of many other citizens.

"The questions John Adams wrote in his diary were indeed prophetic. Today, we continue to ask, 'How many are there in the country?' Even though the times have changed, the important issues remain the same. A deep, personal devotion to our country by each and every citizen is the backbone of American freedom and independence.

"Cynicism about patriotism is nothing new. John Adams' neighbor was only interested in escaping from the clutches of the law. There have always been those who seek to run away from personal responsibility to their country.

"It was Samuel Johnson who wrote that Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. While Oscar Wilde commented, sarcastically, that Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious. Tragically, we live in a time when far too many Americans are willingly and actively separating themselves from a belief in loyalty and devotion to our country.

"We have allowed the idea of patriotism to fall into disrepute. We have not stepped forward to challenge those who eagerly castigate pride in our Nation. We have failed to speak up when others decry a love of country.

"But even more important, we have forgotten that patriotism is a normal human feeling. There is nothing strange or odd about a love for one's land. The poet was right when he said, Breathes there a man with soul so dead, who never to himself has said, 'This is my own, my native land.'

"The American people have every reason to be proud of their country. And that pride can give us an abiding basis for living. It can help us overcome that sense of emptiness that attacks the human heart and leads to hopelessness and hate. If we want to become stronger, happier and more productive, we must reaffirm a pride in our past, a persistence of purpose and make our personal pledge to the future. That is every American's patriotic opportunity.

"Pride in our Past. From individuals to ethnic groups, there is a search for 'Roots'. We all want to know who we are and where we came from. Actually, the answers are not as difficult as we may think. Our heritage as a people holds great insights into our national character. We can look back to our Puritan forefathers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It is popular today to criticize their strange and seemingly high-handed ways. The Puritans are said to have been narrow-minded and intolerant. But a closer look at their lives should lead us to quite a different conclusion.

"Yes, they were strict. Yes, they were single-minded and determined. Indeed, they never waivered in their beliefs. They possessed a deep and abiding commitment to survive amid the perils of their new land. They were totally dedicated to building a community in which each person had a role to play so.that the entire population could survive and flourish.

"We can take pride in the strong faith and dedication of our Puritan ancestors. The home, the workbench, and the Church were the foundations for their survival. These three institutions were so important that nothing could be allowed to weaken or destroy them. More than most, the Puritans understood that their community came first because an individual's hope for survival rested upon what happened to each relative, friend and neighbor. Loyalty was not a topic for discussion among the Puritans; it was a fact of life. Hard work was a virtue because there was no other way of life.

'When we are looking for our 'roots', we can look with respect upon our Puritan fathers and mothers whose practical ways continue to give sound instruction today. It was two hundred years Iater, as our people moved westward, that our American 'roots' went even deeper into the soil of our land. Thousands upon thousands knew the meaning of danger, hardship, tragedy and heartbreak. But they persisted and succeeded! They crossed the prairies and mountains. They made it to California and Oregon. According to historian Bruce Catton, the pioneers had a saying which summed up what their terrible and often terrifying trip had taught them. Looking back, they would say, 'The cowards never started, and the weak died along the way.'

"Perhaps these words seem a little callous to our twentieth century ears. Nevertheless, our Nation was built by those who dared to overcome the worst possible obstacles; by those who risked everything they had, including their lives, for the opportunity to build a new life; by those who never turned back, even though returning to the past would have been far easier and safer.

"These are our 'roots' as a people, and they are real' We can be stronger than we ever imagined. We can be more determined than we ever believed possible. And we carl overcome obstacles that others consider insurmountable. That is our heritage as Americans.

"A Persistence of Purpose. Pride in our past and then a persistence of purpose. It is said that many of our people, particularly the young, have lost faith in America. There may be a reason for their disenchantment. How can you believe in something you do not understand? This is why the teaching of history in our schools must never be allowed to die.

"The immense contribution made by our Founding Fathers was not the most perfect system of government ever devised by the minds of men. What they created was a unique system of government which would never knowingly accept or tolerate imperfection. We have injustice, but we are always seeking to find ways to end it. We have corruption, but we are committed to eliminating it from public life. There are those who are irresponsible in their use of power, but we do not justify their actions. This is the genius of our American system.

"Let no young person ever think that 'The American Dream' means perfection. 'The American Dream' is of a society that continues to improve over the years, a society which never forgets its dedication to the ideals of brotherhood and justice. Thirty years before the Declaration of Independence was signed, George Washington wrote, 'Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience'.

"Without that 'spark of conscience,' there would have been no American Revolution. And without that same "spark of conscience', there can be no persistence of purpose for us as a Nation. George Washington understood so well that we must work to keep conscience alive. The heart and soul of patriotism is an unyielding commitment to the belief that we can be better. Let our consciences guide us to an improved society and a stronger nation. Let us ever be persistent in our purpose as a people.

"A Pledge to the Future. With pride in our past and persistent dedication to improvement, we can make our pledge to the future. The future of our country is so important, we should take a lesson from the past.

"In 1730, a group of honorable, concerned Englishmen pledged their wealth to establish a new colony in America. They believed in the project and they dreamed of building a perfect community. The colony was to be established in what is now the State of Georgia. In order to make it as ideal as possible, the men laid down strict rules. Sitting in London, these trustees of Georgia held that no man could own more than five hundred acres. In this way they wanted to control land sale and speculation. Rigid guidelines were drawn up for inheriting land, houses were to be located only so far apart so the colony could be properly protected. In order to serve in the representative assembly, it was necessary to have planted at least one hundred mulberry trees because the trustees had a strong interest in silk production.

"As history records, the perfect community failed. Sitting in London was no way to understand the real world of the colony in Georgia. Daniel Boorstin, the historian, has offered this observation about the trustees. 'Had they been more willing to learn the lessons of the new world, their enterprise might have had a different ending.'

"Our patriotic pledge to the future must be our unending dedication to learn more about our country, to listen to the dreams of our people, and to put our minds to work in the never ending enterprise of creating a more perfect America. Six years after his discharge from the United States Army, one veteran of the Vietnam War looked back over his life as a soldier and what had happened to him after leaving military service. Even with all the difficulties, he considered himself to be more than fortunate. As Dwight Forbes Wolszak says so eloquently, 'America is still the Land of Opportunity. If nothing else, having been overseas to see firsthand other people's living conditions has really made me appreciate the opportunities and lifestyles we have in this country.'

"It is this appreciation that builds a sound patriotism. Author Thomas Wolfe would have agreed with this Vietnam Veteran. When asked what he thought about the United States of America, he said, 'It is a fabulous country, the only fabulous country; it is the only place where miracles not only happen, but where they happen all the time.' Miracles will continue to happen as long as we let the light of patriotism burn brightly, but we must show pride in our past, maintain a persistence of purpose, and make our personal pledge to the future.

"Let us take our stand with our Nation and then we will be able to say with Carl Sandburg, 'If I have added to their pride in America, I am happy.' If you and I add to the pride of our country and Freemasonry, then we have every right to be both proud and happy, for we will have fulfilled our responsibility as citizens of these United States, and members of this great Fraternity."

CHARTERS GRANTED

RULINGS



Grand Masters