News

August 10th, 2008

Erie County Fair Update, 7 Days remaining, have you helped?

Congratulations are in order for all volunteers at the Erie County Fair.
(Masons and Non Masons)

Yesterday they processed 192 children. On Friday, there was a surprise visitor, Sparky, the Fire Safety Dog, courtesy of the Hamburg Fire Department.

The committee is ready and prepared to process more children in less time than ever before. They have 10 systems ready and operating. If you plan on visiting the Erie County Fair, please stop by the second floor of the 4-H building and see first hand what can be done with the participation of many.

The July 2008 issue of "Emessay Notes" (a publication of The Masonic Service Association of North America) states --

"When David Paterson was sworn in as Governor of New York he represented the 20th Freemason to hold that office..."

The article goes on to cite records of our Grand Lodge showing service in that office of 19 other Brothers, from George Clinton in 1777 to Thomas E. Dewey in 1942.

An earlier on-line article goes into more detail, indicating that Brother Paterson is a member of Boyer Lodge #1 under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New York, with which our Grand Lodge is in amity.

On July 19th, the Fox Business Network aired an Eye on America segment showcasing the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory.

The MMRL is a beacon of hope to those who have been touched by the number one killer of men and women, heart disease.

We are making a difference in today's world.

The link below is to another short movie (not the Eye on America segment).

We ask that you consider embedding the link below in all your emails and encourage others to do the same.

With your help, this movie can circle the globe with the click of a button and inform millions about our life-saving cardiac research.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SEMINAR FOR PR LIAISONS IN METROPOLITAN NYC AREA

The first of a series of Public Relations Seminars to be conducted throughout the state this fall will be held on Saturday, July 19th in Masonic Hall in New York City at 9:30 AM in Room 19 East.

RW William Feingold is the site coordinator.

The seminar is designed for all District and Lodge Public Relations Liaisons and interested Brothers and is intended to give an overview of communications techniques to tell our members as well as the outside world who we are as Masons and what we do.

Topics will range from preparation of Lodge Trestleboards to print and electronic media. The seminars will be conducted by Brothers who are or have been professionals in the communications arts. It is designed to make as many Brothers as possible comfortable in communications.

MESSAGE TO THE MASONIC FRATERNITY IN NEW YORK AND OUR EXTENDED MASONIC FAMILY

My Brethren, families and friends ...

It seems like so very long ago that the church bells in Philadelphia rang out to proclaim our nation's independence from the yoke of tyranny imposed by the English monarchy, but it was only 232 years ago on July 4th 1776 that our Declaration of Independence was announced to the colonies.

As Masons, we must always remember that that precious Declaration, crafted for the most part by our Brother Masons on Masonic principles, was written with the blood of patriots, and not professional soldiers. Our young men and women today, are still paying the price for the hard won liberties we all still enjoy.

Address of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Edward G. Gilbert, to the District Deputy Grand Masters and Grand Lodge Staff Officers for the years 2008 – 2010 and Assistant Grand Lecturers in the Daniel D. Tompkins Memorial Chapel, Masonic Care Community at Utica, New York; on Saturday, June 21, 2008.

Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master, Vincent Libone; Right Worshipful Elected Officers of the Grand Lodge; Most Worshipful Past Grand Masters; the Appointed Grand Line and Officers of Grand Lodge; my Brothers all and especially our Ladies and guests:

Good afternoon my Brothers! This is indeed a fine and glorious day and I thank the Great Architect for having blessed us with this opportunity to dwell together in Brotherhood. Today marks the summer solstice, the first day of a new season and the beginning of a new era of Masonry in the Empire State. It also marks the longest day of the year and I assure you that my address shall not live up to that definition.

FROM: The Valley of Chicago, AASR, NMJ , USA
DATE: Monday, June 23, 2008

On Sunday, June 22, 2008, between 2:00 am and 4:00 am, the office of the Valley of Chicago, along with several other offices located in the building that we are temporarily operating from until the development of our new headquarters is complete, was burglarized. As of this morning, upon discovery of the burglary, the proper law enforcement agencies have been notified.

During the burglary, our secured vault was compromised. As a result, many of the Valley’s precious metals and historic jewels were taken. Among those items removed from the vault include, but are not limited to:

The Tech Committee has received several requests that we post "The Short Talk Bulletin" published by The Masonic Service Association of North America so we asked MSA.

They explicitly grant permission to reprint any but not all of their materials: that is, if we want to reproduce one or more specific issues of Short Talks, that's fine; but we are not to put all the back issues on-line, nor to scan each new issue as it appears and post it. We also could excerpt briefly from each new issue under "Fair Use".

They do not have Short Talks in softcopy format. If anyone would like to scan and OCR a particular issue and send it to us in a web-friendly format, we will post it.

June 14 – 15, 2008

My dear Brothers, families and friends …

Flag Day this year will be observed on Saturday, June 14th and Father’s Day is celebrated the very next day on Sunday, June 15th. How appropriate that these two national holidays are so closely linked. If we stop a moment and think of all the lessons we learned from our Fathers … the sense of patriotism and loyalty to our nation and its flag … taught to us by our Fathers and passed down through the generations by our forefathers, we can all appreciate how important these lessons are in today’s world.

Masons have always had a deep and abiding respect for our flag instilled by a fervor and zeal for the institutions of Masonry and Democracy. It is part of our Masonic heritage to do honor to our flag at every Masonic gathering. Likewise, it is part of our Masonic teachings to remember the values of family as demonstrated by lessons taught to us early on by our Fathers. Masonry did not invent these moral codes, but we try to reinforce them and, in turn, practice them as a rule and guide in all our actions throughout life.

We again sincerely thank our Grand Master, M.'.W.'. Edward G. Gilbert for his permission to continue the iDC Program.

The 2008-2009 fourth iDC Course can be held at anytime (i.e., Saturday, Sunday, two weekday nights, etc.) and can begin at anytime at the discretion of the Site Coordinator, training team and trainees.

There are no longer any time constraints between sessions (i.e., one month in the past). Based on the learning/skill level of the students, the interval between sessions may vary from three to five or six weeks. As the course progresses the period between sessions maybe extended.