Gorham-Sabatis Lodge #73 Presents New Flag to Town
On 6 June 2011 Gorham-Sabatis Lodge #73, Free and Accepted Masons, presented a new USA flag, pole, and stand to the Town of Gorham for use in the renovated Town Auditorium.
The Town Selectmen and other citizens were assembled for the Selectmen’s Meeting in the Public Meeting Room of the Town Hall. Rod Davies, Secretary of the Lodge, presented the flag and addressed those present about the history of Flag Day, which is celebrated on 14 June.
Shown right are PM Rod Davies, Selectman David Graham, Selectman Paul Robitaille
June 11 Service for PGM Ellis Woodruff Howard
With a heavy heart the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire F & AM announced the passing our Senior Past Grand Master Most Worshipful Brother Ellis Woodruff Howard at 5 AM this morning June 3, 2011 at the New Hampshire Veterans Home, Tilton, NH. The details and wishes of the family are below. A Masonic Service will be done at the Church at the request of the family and will be done first in long form.
Service will be on Saturday, June 11th 2011at 2:00 PM at the
Congregational Church of Laconia
United Church of Christ
69 Pleasant Street
18 Veterans Square
Laconia, NH 03246
(603) 524-0668
The family now realizes there is an unfortunate overlap with the memorial service planned for Right Worshipful Brother Bernard “Skins” Watkins in Bellows Falls, VT, at 11: 00 AM that same day, but the conflicting times cannot be resolved. Those who can attend Ellis’ memorial service are warmly welcomed and the family understands that many have already made the commitment to attend Skins’ service and will not be able to attend both services. They know how much respect and brotherly love the Masonic Brotherhood has for Ellis.
The family would like all donations to be made to the Ellis W Howard Fund at the
New Hampshire Veterans Home
139 Winter Street
Tilton, NH 03276-5415
This fund is for the particular purpose of constructing a hydrotherapy pool for injured veterans, particularly those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with catastrophic injuries. The NHVH currently has no such facilities for treating the types of injuries these younger veterans are sustaining and surviving.
North Star Lodge Performs The Fellow Craft Degree
On Thursday June 2, 2011, on a Stated Communication of North Star Lodge, the Fellow Craft Degree was conferred on brother Joshua Towle, 19, of Lancaster. Brother Towle had given his proficiency lesson on the last Stated Communication and was anxiously awaiting his Second Degree. The evening started with a nice Ham Dinner catered by my Junior Warden and his crew at 6:30 p.m. The Brethren always look forward to the meal before the Lodge Meeting and the fellowship associated with dining together.
The Lodge Opened in the Fellow Craft Degree, and the Secretary was asked if he had any business that needed our attention before beginning the degree work. The answer was negative so we immediately started the degree. Brother Towle was escorted into the Lodge and took his obligation as a Fellow Craft. After concluding the First Section and being reinvested with what he had been divested, he returned to hear the Staircase Lecture demonstrated most efficiently by RW Brother Thomas A. Ladd, PDDGM, and yours truly managed to complete the Letter “G” and Charge. It had been close to 15 years since I actually did that bit of ritual and it was nice to perform it again.
Following the degree, the brethren were called to the East to congratulate our newest Fellow Craft. I informed him he again had another lesson book to work on and set up a time for his studies to begin. I had jokingly said that when I originally was in his position I learned the lesson in 2 weeks, which may have been a little stretch, but encouraged him to try to do it as quickly as possible and if ready we would call a Special Communication to hear its demonstration.
Brother Robert D. Steel announced that Grafton-Kane Lodge intended to hold a Master Mason degree on their next month’s Stated Communication which will be on the July 20, 2011 in North Haverhill, NH. I immediately set forth the challenge to our candidate to be ready prior to that date and we would be pleased to bring him there and join their candidate for a 3rd Degree, stating our willingness to work together with their Lodge if possible. I would be happy to assist them in its performance and look forward to raising him at that time, hopefully. I will inform you later if that happens.
I want to thank the brethren from Gilkey and Burns Lodge who came down to assist us in the FC presentation. It demonstrates the 5th District’s willingness to support their fellow Lodges when needed. I invited all to attend the Services at the Mountain View Baptist Church on June 12th as our Lodge has been invited to attend that day as a Lodge and consider it our St. John’s Day Service. I also informed them we are planning a Special Ladies and Veterans Program on August 21 and will send out more information when the arrangements were completed. We have 3 brothers eligible for 60 year Certificates and strongly desired to complete that task. I informed the brethren that a nice air conditioned restaurant would be my first choice of locations, and on a ground level making the easiest access possible for our Veterans and Special Ladies.
It was announced that the next Communication of Gilkey Lodge would be June 21, 2011 at which time they would propose suspending their by-laws. The motion will lie over one month and at their July Meeting would be voted on officially. Their Worshipful Master Brother David Howe, who happens to also be my Tyler, brought forth their greetings and informed us that beginning in September they would be attending North Star Lodge on our meetings and it would be considered their Lodge meeting from then on. We had been informed that the Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Paul M. Leary, planned to officially merge the Lodges at the Semi-Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge in November.
We are looking forward to the summer’s events and invite any who wish to join us at any of the occasions listed here. I look forward to seeing the fruits of our work pay off when Brother Towle is raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason hopefully before the September Lodge of Instruction.
Submitted by:
Dennis A. Sheridan, RW PDDGM District Five of NH
Worshipful Master of North Star Lodge No. 8, F & AM of Lancaster, NH
North Star Lodge #8 Welcome Their New EAs.
May 08, 2011
Dear Brethren:
Last Thursday Evening at the Lodge’s Stated Communication, we had the privilege of beginning another man’s journey into the mysteries of Freemasonry. The Lodge performance was very good, in my humble opinion. I want to thank my Officers for their work; their contribution certainly makes the Lodge look good.
We enjoyed the fellowship of a fine meal beforehand. RW Brother Ronald N. Crane, DDGL and RW Brother Allvin L. Leonard, PDDGM, did another fine rendition of their “Past Masters’ Meatloaf.”
The best part for me personally was after the degree when our last Entered Apprentice, the 19 year old mentioned in earlier communications, stood before the Lodge and delivered his lesson before the brethren assembled. He was understandably nervous, almost as much as I and he remembered his work where I had to constantly refresh myself to make sure I didn’t ask the incorrect question.
The rewards of a mentor when his work is received and returned are amazing. It does much for one’s ego to see his student grow before him. I immediately charged him with working with our newest member and aiding the Master Mason who will be assigned to mentor our latest Entered Apprentice. It seems only fair that what goes around comes around.
As time constraints and another conflict prevented the presentation of the EA History, we have altered my original plans (again) and will hold a Special Communication for it on Thursday May 26, 2011 at 7:00 pm and my invited guest will be the Worshipful Master of Burns Lodge No. 66, F & AM Brother George Papadimatos. After concluding the work, we will finish our discussion of plans for the summer months and when a future Master Mason degree might be possible.
The Fellow Craft degree will be exemplified in full at the June Stated Communication. I instruct the officers to wear Tuxedo for the candidate’s sake of impression; however, a short sleeved white shirt is fine in case of unbearable temperatures. I would rather everyone be comfortable and enjoy themselves than suffering heat stroke. But as this is the North Country, the weather could still be in a bearable condition.
On June 14th, we have an opportunity to visit Gorham-Sabatis Lodge and see another FC degree for one of their newest candidates. I hope to be able to take our young man visiting and see that degree performed as well.
I do know we plan to attend Church Services at the Mountain View Baptist Church in Lancaster on Sunday June 12, 2011 at 11:00 am and will meet prior to at the Lodge at 10:30 am to Open and form a procession of driving to the Church. A walk would be a little too far I am afraid. We will consider this our St. John’s Day Service; however the next two Sundays will have other such opportunities in Rindge and Portsmouth supported by the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire.
I look forward to the Lodge’s future endeavors which are invigorating to the soul.
Submitted by:
Dennis A. Sheridan, RW PDDGM District Five of NH
JOHN WOOD BAKER NIGHT PROGRAM CONTINUED
April 27, 2011
The Annual John Wood Baker Night was held on the above date in Lancaster, NH. Over 50 of the brethren were present for the occasion. A delicious Pot Roast Dinner was prepared by the lovely ladies of the Olive Branch Chapter OES and most enjoyed by yours truly.
At 7:30 p.m. sharp the gavel was sounded, and Officers from the six District 5 Lodges assembled to form a special Officer Team for the Opening & Closing Ceremonies. I had the privilege of being chosen to preside in the East. The Lodge was opened in the Entered Apprentice Degree as two young masons of that level had come to enjoy the work and fellowship.
Playing delightfully at the not nearly played enough full tracker pipe organ was Brother Raymond Burton, well known Mason from Grafton-Kane Lodge No. 46 of North Haverhill. We were privileged that he was able to be with us for the event.
After the Lodge was opened, all the Lodges of the Fifth Masonic District were declared open by their respective Worshipful Masters. All six were present to perform that ceremony personally. The side lines were filled down both sides, a pleasing sight indeed.
RW Brother David S. Collins our RW DDGM, assumed control of the program and called on the Lodge Representatives to give their presentations. Up first for his first time as a speaker for this event was Brother Richard Crane of North Star Lodge who spoke on “What does it take to change the essence of a man? What Masonry has taught me?” The Lad did a good job at his work and his Worshipful Master was pleased indeed.
Worshipful Brother Ralph Lynch of Evening Star spoke next on a paper written by the Rev. and Brother Granyvl G. Hulse, Jr. about some history of the original Colebrook Lodge and the area. Another young Master Mason Brother Kerry McCall of Grafton-Kane Lodge spoke of “The Story of the Blacksmith” in relations to the scriptures and King Solomon’s Temple era. Brother Robert Steel spoke for Burns Lodge of “The Mirror” and spoke of reflections of personal aspirations. Worshipful Brother Rod Davies of Gorham-Sabatis gave a humorous and interesting tale of what the young Mason goes through joining the Lodge and learning his lessons. Lastly Worshipful Brother David Howe of Gilkey Lodge spoke of the History of that Lodge and why it has decided to close its doors and make him the last Worshipful Master of that Lodge.
After the presentations were concluded, three brethren from Parker Lodge No. 97 of North Woodstock from District 8 were excused to consider who might be the choice selection for this year’s John Baker Award Plaque. They were excused and Brother Collins called for a Roll Call of Lodges within and without the District.
The DDGM gave several comments and asked for announcements while waiting for the Judges. They had taken what seemed an awful long time before asking for permission to reenter the Lodge Room. Their choice was the presentation of W. Bro. Rod Davies “You Gotta Laugh” with Gilkey’s a close second.
The brethren from Gorham-Sabatis Lodge had also brought the most members with them and won the attendance plaque as well as the winning program plaque. The DDGM announced that the last plate had been filled and the plaque would remain as a permanent part of Gorham-Sabatis Lodge.
They were assembled in the East and the attached picture was taken of them with the DDGM. Following that and closing comments from the DDGM about John Baker, the Lodge was closed in due form and the individual Lodges were also closed by their respective Worshipful Masters. We had finished a long nights of entertainment and were closed by 9:05 p.m. which was probably a record.
What is John Baker Night? To the Fifth District it is a symbol of brotherhood, it is our program and we are proud of it. It has been going on for some 30 years off and on and never lets me down for its refreshing approach to Masonic Education of the Brotherhood inside the Lodge Room and not just inside the members personal self-educated understanding from years of book reading and internet article surfing. Next year will be the 4th Wednesday of April in Lancaster and I hope you can join us.
Submitted by:
Dennis A. Sheridan, RW PDDGM District Five of NH
Worshipful Master of North Star Lodge No. 8, F & AM of Lancaster, NH