Freemasonry in Rhode Island Look Like in Our Case Scenario and Hoping for the Best-Case Scenario
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JUNE/JULY/AUGUST 2020 Rhode Island freem aso n Grand Lodge of Rhode Island Established 1791 Volume Forty-Six, Issue One Most Worshipful Brother Gary S. Kaufman th Our 165 Grand Master for the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations R∴W∴Melvin E. Silverio, Grand Marshal and M∴W∴Gary S. Kaufman, Grand Master Page 2 June/July/August 2020 _______________________________________________________________________ Grand Master’s Message great first step to continue our association and fraternity but does not provide the structure that we are all used to in our regular communications. The ritual of the opening and closing a lodge is the foundation of our fraternal meetings. Dressing appropriately and addressing the brethren as we would in lodge should not be lost just because of our virtual communications. Over the past month, I established a committee to work on rewriting our ritual for virtual meetings over Zoom. In the coming days, the Craft will receive formal ritual approved by Grand Lodge to be used for virtual lodge meetings. With the exception of floor work and other things that just cannot be done virtually, there is little difference between the Zoom meeting and our regular meetings in our lodges. In addition, a dress protocol as if we were physically in lodge will be instituted. The Sentinel or assigned brother will make sure that all are appropriately dressed. The masters and officers need to continue Brother Gary S. Kaufman to learn and conduct their ritual as before. In addition, new masters Most Worshipful Grand Master have arrived in the East and it is only fair that they have the same opportunity to conduct ritual as all other masters have done. The To the Past Grand Masters, Past and Present Grand Lodge upgrading of the Zoom meeting to this format with ritual and dress Officers, Worshipful Masters, Brethren all. code is especially necessary and important, lest we forget our We have entered uncharted waters. Who would think that in 2020 roots. a Grand Master of this jurisdiction would be installed virtually via To learn and conduct the opening and closing of the lodge in this Zoom conferencing! The implementation of the Annual manner is necessary, as it is possible that COVID-19 may have a Communication of Grand Lodge has challenged our perseverance second wave in the fall. We need to be ready for that possibility. to keep certain traditions intact while adapting to a new reality. I As such, I have asked the same committee to start formulating our want to thank all who worked to make this virtual Annual degree work in a virtual format so that we can use it to raise new Communication a success, even though we are apart. brother Masons. We cannot simply wait for all this to go away. The M∴W∴Sokoll, thank you for your virtual installation of me, Brother degree work may not be what we are used to, but I want to make Melvin Silverio as Right Worshipful Grand Marshal, the Grand sure it is as close to our standard ritual as possible. What the Council, the District Deputy Grand Masters and Masters of candidates miss we can catch them up later. I do not want to wait Ceremonies and all the officers in their respective positions for the and lose potential new members to the Craft. In the meantime, we ensuing year. It was not how any of us expected to be installed, may have a window in late July and August to meet face to face, but we have the distinct pleasure of being the first officers of this ‘six feet apart’. We need to take full advantage of this and do the Grand Jurisdiction to be installed in this manner. History has been investigation of new candidates, conduct degree work and catch made! History will continue to be made this year. up other candidates in the pipeline. We are preparing for the worst- So, what does Freemasonry in Rhode Island look like in our case scenario and hoping for the best-case scenario. present situation? The new Masonic year will be anything but This jurisdiction has needed proper education classes for several normal. The pandemic presents a number of obstacles for the years now. I am specifically relating to Officer Forums and Craft. There are many activities we cannot enjoy because we Wardens Workshops which I am renaming “Leadership Training.” cannot meet in person, like lodge meetings and Grand Lodge We need to take this opportunity to provide this valuable learning communications, breakfasts, table lodges, volunteering, officer for the masters, officers and brethren. As of today, and candidate forums, workshops and recruiting new candidates. M∴W∴Hallstrom, III and Brother Stephen Stock, along with While it is hard to visualize what the future may hold as we all M∴W∴Iacobucci and his ‘officers training committee’ are working struggle with COVID-19, with many events cancelled or postponed in the coming months, our Craft is strong, and we are resilient and (continued on page 4) resourceful. Maybe 10 people can meet together in June or July, maybe up to 50 people can meet in August. If we can meet face to face in July or August, with a 50-person maximum, we should be Rhode Island FREEMASON able to have regular communications in our lodges. I will give (USPS 366-750) dispensation to any lodges desiring to meet in July and August. Throughout the months of March, April, and May, Lodges have Published by the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island found creative ways to hold meetings by using Zoom. Even though 222 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914 we cannot meet in person, it is important to put a face to the words, Published in March, June, September, and December. as the brethren truly do like to see one another. These Zoom meetings are a good start and have been well received, judging by POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: the attendance. Our lodges are using technology to take care of The Grand Lodge of Rhode Island necessary business to keep their Lodges running. With little written 222 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914 structure, the masters have opened the lodge with the familiar sound of the gavel and conducted business. Some have integrated Periodicals Paid in Providence, RI prayers and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. This form is a ________________________________________________________________ Rhode Island Freemason Page 3 New England Brotherhood Night Masonic Scrapbook By: R∴W∴Richard Lynch, Editor On Saturday, March 14, 2020 New England Brotherhood Night was hosted this year by the Grand Lodge of Connecticut and M∴W∴Melvin Johnson Grand Master. The event was taking place at the Masonicare, Ashlar Village facility in Wallingford. Masons from throughout New England were in attendance for an afternoon of excellent presentations and a wonderful luncheon. Renewed friendships and wonderful dialogue were the order of the day. All attendees were presented with a copy of “Thank You Mr. Edwards” a bicentennial history of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut as a gift, and certainly a welcome addition to everyone’s library. Because we were at a senior living facility, health precautions were in order because of the newly announced virus. Temperatures were taken prior to admittance and a listing of all attendees was gathered in the event someone was later diagnosed as being positive with the virus. The “lockdown” and “social distancing” orders had not yet been announced throughout the country. The concern for the virus did affect the attendance of the gathering, yet 50+ brothers were present. This proved to be the last major Masonic gathering that we would all experience for some time. M∴W∴ Mitchell, Past Grand Master of RI was part of our RI Brothers Thomas Burdick and Ralph Boone receive their 50-year Service delegation. M W Stephen was fortunate to also have present Medals, presented by R∴W∴Gilbert Fontes, DDGM and W∴Earl Mann, Master. ∴ ∴ M∴W∴Kenneth B. Hawkins, PGM of CT who served the same year (1993-1994) as Grand Master. M∴W∴Ken was integral in working with Prince Hall Masonry and shepherded the resolution in 1989 to recognize Prince Hall Masonry as a legitimate Grand Lodge and to hold fraternal amity with them and included mutual visitation privileges. Connecticut led the way to Prince Hall Freemasonry’s mutual recognition across the country. M∴W∴Lewis P. Myrick, Sr. PGM of Prince Hall (1988-1990) who served with these two brothers was also in attendance and made for a wonderful reunion. R∴W∴Rick Baccus DDGM - Northern District presents R∴W∴Robert Ellston DGM, Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 8 with his 50-Year Veteran’s Medal. Brethren of the new Jenks Lodge No. 24 after the merger ceremony of St. Andrews Lodge No. 39 on February 24, 2020. Page 4 June/July/August 2020 _____________________________________________________________________ (continued from Page 2, Grand Master’s Message) on so many nights out when they were growing up, thank you for your support. You finally learned how much Freemasonry means on ways to implement remote learning programs to keep all our to me. I love both of you with all my heart. brethren engaged in Freemasonry even when we cannot meet face to face. We will accomplish this endeavor with Zoom Lastly, I want to thank my wife Miriam for allowing me to pursue conferencing, podcasts, webinars, videos, and other forms of Freemasonry for the last 23 years. You have always supported remote learning. Now is the perfect time to teach Freemasonry everything I do, and I love you very much. Good Luck with being remotely with a robust training program.