Dear Brethren, I want to thank the 31 brothers that attended our first lodge ZOOM meeting of 2021! Jeff Slike, WM from Friendship Lodge N...
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MARCH 2021
Dear Brethren,
We had a great turn out for our February Zoom Meeting in which we had a presentation from three brothers from the Masonic Round Podcast. The Masonic Roundtable is a weekly panel of Masons from around the United States who discuss the latest and greatest in Masonic news, events, scholarship, and happenings. Follow them on YouTube http://themasonicroundtable.com/
Here is a portion of the remarks from 42nd District Zoom meeting, Feb 10th, Darrin D Catts DDGM reported:
As promised in last month’s message, I’d like to inform the members of the 42nd Masonic District the status of our reopening plans. We scheduled an online zoom meeting for Wednesday February 10 with the WM’s and wardens of each of the district lodges. Prior to this online gathering, I had reached out and spoken with the WM’s. I asked for each of them to share with me their honest thoughts on the ability to safely reopen our lodges in March. I will share with you that the responses from the WM’s was pretty evenly split between reopening now, versus waiting one more month. With that input in my mind, I researched the COVID numbers for York and Adams counties. I discovered that right around 25% of the total positive numbers for each county had occurred in the last 30 days. These numbers surprised me a bit and clearly indicated that community spread is still a problem in our region. I shared this information with those on the zoom meeting and stated that we will not be reopening for Stated, Special or Extra Meetings in March. I informed the officers that we could begin holding smaller scale events such as officer training, mentoring sessions, Hall Association meetings and gatherings like that. These would still be required to adhere to all guidelines that are still in place like social distancing, proper sanitation, masks, and participant limitations. I encouraged them to reach out to those candidates and petitioners who have been delayed attempting to keep them engaged by scheduling mentoring sessions whenever possible.
Since our lodge will be closed again for in-person stated and extra meetings we will meet again via ZOOM, Thursday March 4th at 7:30PM. (please see the link at the end of this email)
We will be having two speakers that evening first Bro. Jason Martin PM from Ephrata Lodge 665 will present a Masonic Minute, “Postage Stamps of the Past with a Masonic Twist”. I’m happy to report that Jason is in the process of petitioning Red Lion Lodge for duel membership! (please see his bio at the end)
Our program speaker is our own Bro. Sam Laucks PM. Sam will be presenting a great program on the “Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918” Sam gave this same program to the Hi Twelve group and I wanted to share it with you all!
Lastly I am happy to report that the officers and mentors are meeting at the lodge on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM to practice ritual. (we are knocking off the cobwebs after so many months of not meeting)
ZOOM Link:
Kelly Henshaw is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Red Lion Lodge No 649 Zoom Meeting
Time: Mar 4, 2021 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 831 5659 7764
Passcode: 261543
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Meeting ID: 831 5659 7764
Passcode: 261543
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Sincerely and Fraternally,
Kelly A. Henshaw, WM
Jason A. Martin
-Past Master of Ephrata Lodge No. 665
-Raised February 1998 in Rockford Illinois -Senior DeMolay and Chevalier from Campbell Chapter, San Jose, California -Assistant principal instructor of the First Masonic District -Author to the Ritualistic Floorwork for the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania -Past High Priest of Lancaster Royal Arch Chapter No. 43 -Current Principal Conductor of Work (equivalent to the JW) of Lebanon Council No. 27 of Royal and Select Master Masons -Current Sword Bearer of Lancaster Commandery No. 13 -Member of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Lancaster Forest -Member and ritual contributor for the Scottish Rite, Lancaster Lodge of Perfection -Member and ritual contributor for the Scottish Rite, Valley of Harrisburg
I have a passion and enthusiasm for the Craft, especially in the ritual, but I enjoy talking about the Craft in general. I find pleasure in seeing our beautiful craft throughout my daily walk in life through history and symbols that are commonplace to the uninitiated. Since 2014, I have managed a stamp collecting for kids website for my father and through it I decided to start my own Masonic stamp collection. As my interest in stamp collecting progressed, and wanting to dispense Masonic light and knowledge with my brethren, I found fun ways to share stamps by putting together personalized presentations, the largest in 2017 for Bro. Raymond T. Dietz, RWPGM where over 200 stamps were used. In 2017 I began the personalized presentations for the 50, 60, and 70 members of the lodge and in 2019 began making presentations for several lodges.
February 4, 2021
Hello Brethren!
Here is the link to tonight's meeting:
Thursday February 4, 2021 Zoom Meeting 7:30pm Kelly Henshaw is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Red Lion Lodge No. 649 Meeting Time: Feb 4, 2021 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting TER6NE1zQWl5dz09
Meeting ID: 812 6466 7918
Passcode: RL649
One tap mobile +19294362866,,81264667918#,,,,*563442# US (New York) +13017158592,,81264667918#,,,,*563442# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 929 436 2866 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 812 6466 7918 Passcode: 563442 Find your local number:
December 27 2020
Happy St. John's Day!
and...
Congratulations to Brother Kelly Henshaw, Worshipful Master!!
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An important message from the Right Worshipful Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
December 9, 2020
Due to the unfortunate rapid and severe spike of the Coronavirus in Pennsylvania, effective immediately and until further notice, I am directing any and all lodge activities be cancelled, including, but not limited to; extra, special and/or stated lodge meetings; social functions; schools of instruction, etc., as well as youth groups and community meetings/events that may be scheduled in your lodge building. Lodge officers may continue to pay lodge bills in the ordinary course without lodge approval. This will be in effect through January 31, 2021.
While it is extremely disappointing to once again cancel events, these measures are being taken out of an abundance of caution to safeguard the wellbeing of our brethren, their loved ones and our communities.
Please continue to reach out to your brethren and offer assistance and support. Reassure them that we are all in this together, that their health and welfare are paramount and that we will be back in lodge enjoying the fraternal bonds that we all so love real soon!
We will evaluate the situation and provide additional guidance by January 15, 2021.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Thomas Gamon, IV R.W. Grand Master
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December 5, 2020
Greetings Brethren,
November was a good month for Red Lion Lodge No. 649, especially considering the many restrictions and roadblocks that Covid has thrown at us! At our November Stated Meeting, we honored the Brothers, living and deceased, who have guided our Lodge as Worshipful Masters for the past 113 years. We also honored Brothers Mark Heaps, Ed Potter P.M., and Ted Trout-Landen P.M. with the prestigious “Blue Lodge Star” award, in recognition of their exemplary service to our Lodge over the past many years.
In November, also, we conferred the Entered Apprentice Degree on Brothers John Brindle, Justin Crone, Rick Hill and Brandon Ferrance. (It is an interesting and creative experience to confer Degrees with social distancing, masks, and other Covid precautions!) In addition to these four new Brothers, Brandon’s Dad, Ronald Ferrance, transferred his Masonic affiliation to Red Lion Lodge. Welcome Brothers!!
It will be with both a sense of relief and a sense of sadness that I will soon leave the East and join the ranks of the Past Masters! It has truly been an honor and a privilege for me to serve as Worshipful Master this year. It has been a very enjoyable, memorable and meaningful year for me, but, of course, one filled with unique challenges and a great deal of uncharted territory. (I had never even heard of “Zoom” before this Spring!) I am extremely grateful to all the Officers, to all my Mentors, and to all the Brothers who supported and assisted me throughout the year! I will be honored to pass the gavel to Brother Kelly Henshaw on “Saint John’s Day next.” He is well prepared; I am fully confident that he will do a wonderful job leading our Fraternity in the coming year!
In light of the recent spike in the number of Covid 19 cases in our area, as well as the predictions of a worsening public health crisis in the coming weeks, Lodges were given permission by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to postpone their December meetings, if it is felt to be in the best interest of the Members’ health and safety. Your Officers, Trustees and I agreed that it was most prudent to do so. Next year’s officers will still assume their new positions on December 27th as is customary, but their official Election and Installation has been postponed until we are able to hold our next Stated Meeting.
Another of the many “casualties” of Covid is our annual Table Lodge. Unfortunately, there is no way that we can host a large banquet, with eating, drinking, and fellowship, and still maintain safe social distancing. We are not permitted to conduct ritual activities on Zoom at this point, and, of course, the traditional Table Lodge is considered to be a “tiled” event. However, as an alternative, I am inviting members and guests to an informal, virtual, non-tiled, non-ritualistic banquet on the Zoom platform, on Tuesday evening December 22, at 7:00 PM. All you will have to do is provide your own food, beverage and chair; then, log on and enjoy an evening of fun with your brothers! We’ll have a brief program about the history of Table Lodge, then follow with stories, jokes, and as many toasts as we like! We’ll send that Zoom invitation by email a few days ahead of time.
Finally, an important reminder: If anyone is in need of assistance with shopping, transportation, or other logistical issues, please contact any of the officers or Bro. Rodney Ream. If anyone is in need of financial assistance, please contact our Almoner (Bro. John Sharp PM) or me. We do have some funds available that we can use to assist with bill payments, and the like.
Stay well! Best wishes to all for a Merry Christmas, a Joyful Holiday Season, and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Sam Laucks, W.M.
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