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Connecticut 229th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge by Charles W. Yohe CT 06492 Wallingford, Avenue 69 Masonic LodgeGrand Connecticut, of AF & AM May 2018 Officers of the TABLE OF CONTENTS Connecticut Grand Lodge of Connecticut REEMASONS A.F. & A.M. 2017-2018 F 229th Annual Communication............................3-4 Grand Master’s Trestleboard...................................... 5 Volume - 15 • Number - 9 Grand Master’s Message...........................................6-7 Publisher THE GRAND LODGE Bro. Marshall K. Robinson The Masonicare Experience........................................8 Worshipful Grand Master OF CONNECTICUT A.F. & A.M. 75 and 50-Year Brothers..............................................9 Bro. Melvin E. Johnson Publications Committee RW Deputy Grand Master Grand Chaplain/Organist..........................................10 Bro. Stephen W. Petri Theodore J. Nelson, RW Grand Senior Warden Grand Historian’s Corner...........................................11 Chairman Bro. William E. Bohman Bro. Jon-Paul Venoit...................................................12 Francis G. Way, RW Grand Junior Warden Editor Bro. Newton Buckner, III COCA Grand Lodge Report.....................................13 RW Grand Treasurer Jeff S. Bartlett Donate Life..................................................................14 Bro. Grant S. Gould Robert Dorr RW Grand Secretary Why a Perfect Temple?..............................................15 Margaret Steeves, Masonicare Bro. Bruce R. Bellmore Rev. Carl Anderson, Masonicare RW Grand Senior Deacon Welcome New Brothers..............................................16 Adam Raider, Masonicare Bro. Joseph J. Porco 229th Annual Communication Photos...............17-18 RW Grand Junior Deacon Creative Richard Hodgson In Memoriam.......................19-20 Bro. Edward C. Page Saryna A. Jones RW Grand Marshal Save the Date................................................................20 Bro. Les King Contributors District 1......................................................................21 RW Grand Senior Steward John A. Amarilios Bro. Rinaldo Magliano District 5......................................................................22 Carl H. Anderson RW Grand Junior Steward David J. Blythe, Sr. Bro. Carl H. Anderson Wine & Beer Event....................................................23 RW Grand Chaplain Donald M. Casey, Jr. Called by the Grand Architect..................................24 Bro. Gary A. Littlefield Richard Denno RW Grand Historian Valley of Hartford, AASR...........................................25 Gary A. Littlefield Bro. Carl H. Anderson Be a CT Freemasons Booster...................................26 Perne R. Maynard RW Grand Organist Adam Raider Bro. Richard C. Memmott, Jr. Craft at Labor.............................................................27 Marshall K. Robinson RW Grand Tiler Craft at Refreshment..................................................28 Kevin Tate Bro. Frank R. Mangiero Associate Grand Tiler Boosters..............................................................29 JP Venoit Bro. Joseph F. Massa Associate Charles W. Yohe Grand Tiler Call For Nominations...............................................30 Bro. Brian E. Beals Change of Address......................................................31 Deputy Grand Treasurer Grand Lodge of Mentoring...........................................................32-33 Bro. James M. Anderson Connecticut A.F. & A.M. Deputy Grand Secretary Easter Celebration......................................................33 69 Masonic Avenue • Wallingford, CT 06492 Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MW Bro. Charles W. Yohe 191st Annual Conclave.......................................34-35 1:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday Director of Communication 203-679-5903 • 800-529-4161 (in-state only) Bro. Shane Dufresne Family Festival Event.................................................36 Fax: 203-670-5996 Grand Almoner email: [email protected] web: www.ctfreemasons.net 2 Connecticut Freemasons • May 2018 229th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge by Charles W. Yohe The 229th Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful by the Scottish Rite and to talk about the latest initiative, The Grand Lodge of Connecticut, A.F.&A.M. was opened in due Path Forward together with the public relations campaign “Not form by Grand Master, M.W. Theodore J. Nelson, at 9:30 a.m. just a man, a Mason!” in the ballroom of the Red Lion Hotel, Cromwell, CT on April 9. A partial roll call found a constitutional number of Lodges in After the lunch break, the Grand Master once again called the attendance. Accordingly, the Grand Master proceeded to conduct Grand Lodge from refreshment to labor and continued with the business of the Grand Lodge. his agenda. A report of the Credentials Committee found one Lodge, Harmony Lodge No. 67, with no representation. The As is customary for the Annual Communication, the delegations Grand Master recognized the District Deputies and Associate of various dignitaries from within and without the jurisdiction Grand Marshals who have served this jurisdiction during his were received and greeted. Those delegations included term. He also recognized the Grand Representatives present. representatives from the Appendant bodies in Connecticut, Most RWB Newton “Bud” Buckner III presented the report of the Worshipful Grand Masters or their representatives from other Grand Treasurer. Grand Master Nelson then called upon MWB Grand Jurisdictions, and a delegation of Past Grand Masters Peter Iacobucci, Grand Master of the State of Rhode Island and of Connecticut. Of particular note was a very large delegation the Providence Plantations, to deliver a response on behalf of the from the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, Prince Hall Affiliate, Inc. visiting invited dignitaries. and a strong representation from the Past Grand Masters of Connecticut. The Grand Master then proceeded to address the proposed changes to the rules and regulations. The first item was to Members of Camp Trumbull Heroes of ’76, an affiliate of Chapter consider a change to the Constitution regarding the method(s) 58, National Sojourners, attired in period costume, presented of notification of the Grand Lodge Annual and Semi-Annual the flags of the United States and Canada. After the Pledge of Communications. This was presented in October and laid over Allegiance and the singing of the national anthems of the United to this session for action. The proposal passed overwhelmingly. States and Canada, the Grand Lodge was called from labor to refreshment and the remaining delegations, some of which A proposed change to correct a previous mistake with regard included non-Masons, were received and seated in the Grand to Section 3301 (Residency Requirements for Candidates) also East. At the invitation of the Grand Master, representatives of passed. A third item to broaden the exemption from Grand the Amaranth, Order of Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile, Lodge Dues, Assessments, and Per Capita as delineated in Section International Order of Rainbow for Girls, and Connecticut 3508 to include any Brother who is a resident under the care of a DeMolay brought greetings to the members assembled as did licensed Skilled Nursing Facility also was approved by the Craft. A Bro. Ronald D. Sortino, National President of the National proposed new Section 3513 (Grand Lodge Lifetime Membership Sojourners, W.B. Robert Polito, Chairman of the Masonicare Plan) was also passed by the voting members present. Board of Trustees and W.B. Jon-Paul Venoit, CEO of Masonicare. Finally, Section 8001 (Distribution and Consumption of Alcohol) Words of greeting were also shared by representatives of the was addressed. After comments from members of the Craft, most York Rite and Scottish Rite bodies as well as a brief presentation of which spoke in favor of passage of this legislation, a vote was by Brother George Seghers, Executive Secretary of the George taken and the necessary two-thirds majority was confirmed. This Washington Masonic National Memorial Association in revision confirms the need for Lodges to conduct themselves in Alexandria, Virginia. Brother Segher commented on the multi- a manner that is in compliance with State of Connecticut law million dollar renovation effort now under way to preserve this with regard to the distribution and consumption of alcohol in most important Masonic edifice. He also presented a plaque to relation to any Masonic events. MWB Nelson in appreciation of the Grand Lodge’s support of the Memorial. Following the report of the Masonicare Board of Trustees presented by WB Robert Polito, Most Worshipful Brother Nelson Ms. Linda Patch, Director of Communications for the Ancient delivered his report which included the Necrology. A brief Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction was then service and prayer was offered by the Grand Chaplain, RWB called upon to share the findings of a survey that was conducted and Reverend Carl Anderson. At the conclusion of the Grand Continued on page 4 Connecticut Freemasons • May 2018 3 Continued from page 3 Master’s report, a motion was made to accept all remaining reports which had been printed and distributed. After thanking Masonicare for their assistance in moving the Grand Lodge furniture to and from the session and the announcement that Grand Masters Day will be June 9, the Grand Lodge was called to refreshment at 3:38 p.m. for the purpose of preparing for the semi-public installation