The PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF T HE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF PENNSYLVANIA VOLUME XLII NOVEMBER 1995 NUMBER4 Friend to Friend Growing In Pennsylvania and Around the World Page 19 GRAND MASTER Letter to Brethren Page 2 FRIEND TO FRIEND Visionary Honored Page 7 HELP TO MANKIND Outreach Program Page 11 THE GRAND LODGE F. & A.M. OF PENNSYLVANIA Second Class Masonic Homes POSTAGE PAlD Development & Public Relations Lancaster, PA 17604-9998 One Masonic Drive and Additional Offices Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2 199 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to above. Please include complete imprint of address on your postal return clipping. Service is a Life-Long Habit Traditional Strawberries The Some men join Freemasonry and then set ing chocolate ice cream sundaes, but instead, for Fathers and Sons at aside retirement as the time to become active got into some mischief dropping cups of water Grand Master Speaks ••• in Masonic work. But if Brother J. Franklyn out of the 7th floor wind ow of the old Newtown Lodge No. 427 Runkle had done that, he would still be wait­ Masonic Temple in downtown Harrisburg. The traditional June Strawberry ing for the "right time" to aiTive. When the inevitable complaints finally Night was for all ages at Newtown At age 80, Brother Runkle is still working an reached the DeMolay Advisor, Runkle Lodge No. 427, Woodside. It was a eight-hour day, in his 43rd year as an architec­ stepped forward and confessed his guilt. That Friend to Friend Father-a nd-Son act of accepting responsibility, at1d the conse­ tural hardware consultant for Hershocks, IJ1c., Night with Rainbow Girls "hired" quences of his actions, showed a big step in of Harrisburg. Five years ago Brother Frank to supervise the younger sons requested a change to patt-time status, to take his personal development, and allowed the Brethren: Advisory Council to recognize this growth in while the Brethren attended the some extra vacation, but that bas only amount­ Lodge Meeting. (The Rainbow Brethren, it is with great, mixed prospective Election and serving as ed to two months, in short segments during bis maturity, as an example to the other Girls' "pay" was tickets to the emotions that I write this, my final our Grand Master. He needs and the year. Chapter members. Shrine Circus.) Sixty-eight " Grand Master Speaks." These deserves all of our support as he Runkle still wears the sterling silver Chevalier Combine this work ethic with visits to his son Brethren, some of whom were past two years have been the most leads us into a bright future. at1d grat1dchildren in Arizona, and his continu­ ring he received in 1932, although it has wom fathers and sons, attended the inspiring, challenging and reward­ Achievements ing work in the Faith United Presbyterian smooth with time so that the bas-relief portrait I close with words of my most ing experience of my life. Church and Sunday School, and you would of Jacques DeMolay has all but disappeared. Lodge Meeting and 25 more were humble and profound appreciation g g say that Frank Runkle has an active Lifestyle. Young members of DeMo lay today look at his visitors for the program. Never have I owed so much to so to my wife, Lena, whose steadfast ring, and at Frank Runkle, with awe. At his many who have helped make those support and dedication to me and Resolve to Succeed But anyone who knows Brother Runkle in age, he relates better to teenage boys than As the Lodge Youth Represent­ Masonic circles wonders how he has found ative, Bro. Charles H. Pruitt experiences and accomplishments to our Fraternity is the distinctive some parents do. He is known and respected the time to work! He has served in the East of by DeMolay members across the state as arranged the Meeting. Bro. Paul of the last two years possible. mark of a true First Lady. in Building Harrisburg Lodge No. 629, and all of the local Literally, thousands upon thou­ ''Dad" Runkle, and is the focus of one more Anderson spoke on the topic of Freemasonry is very much alive York Rite bodies. His record of service to the sands of Masons and their families for the Future very special honor tlus coming December. "Drug and Alcohol Abuse." and well in Pennsylvania and Scottish Rite, Shrine, at1d numerous affiliated and friends have helped move this The program for progress was A distinction usually reserved only for Grand After refreshments, R.W. Deputy Around the World. May it always bodies would fill this page. Fraternity forward . The words, well defined by Bro. Hohen­ Masters, or other presiding Masonic leaders, Grand Master Bro. Edward 0. be so! Bro. Frank is almost a permanent fixtme in the Bro. Runkle will be the honoree at the "Dad" "Help to a Brother" and "Help to shildt and, like etchings on a Weisser, a Past Master of kitchen at Harrisburg Consistory, A.A.S.R., Runkle State-wide DeMolay Membership Mankind," mean something very Sincerely and Fraternally, Trestleboard, work for the where he has been an Assistant Steward for as Class at the Masonic Conference Center­ Newtown Lodge, invited the group special to them - and to all of us Craft was delineated on the long as anyone can remember. He was Patton Campus in Elizabethtown on Saturday, to the Lodge Room of Woodside as Mason s. Freemasonry is an ~~ . ~ Grand Master's Medallion. On Coroneted with the 33rd Degree in !984, but December 2, 1995. Temple for a Friend to Friend dis­ obvious and very vital way of life in the face, three ele m ents of even reaching that pinnacle in his Masonic cussion. At this time, the Associated Chapters, Order this world of ours. George H. Hohenshildt, service in the Circle of resume hasn't prompted him to slow down. of DeMo lay in Pennsylvania, will initiate a R. W. Grand M aster Friendship surround th e Freemasonry and Fraternalism, it seems, is in "Freemasonry First , Friend to class of 65 new members- one for each year Square and Compasses. They his blood- it is the very essence of his char­ Friend, Youth and Education" ~ acter. of his service to the Order. Both Degrees will are "Preserve and Enhance, have been the four cornerstones of be Conferred by Championship Ritual Teams STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP Help to a Brother ... Help to You see, Brother Runkle got his introduction my administration. My thanks to during a weekend activity which will also (Act of Oct. 23, 1962; Section 4369 Mankind." to the Fraternal way oflife in 1930, at age 15, include a visit to the Masonic Homes, a dance each and every one of you! Title 39, United States Code) when be became a member of Pilgrim with the Job's Daughters and Rainbow Girls, Beca use of you, those programs Inside the circle are the Seven Chapter, Order of DeMolay. It was in and the "Uncle Runkle Catnival," a fun activi­ November I, 1995. The Pennsylvania Freemason: • ...A 11 A& published quarterlcy at t he Masonic H omes, indeed are working exceed ingly Cardinal Virtues: DeMolay that he initially learned the values of ty for DeMo lays and their Advisors. well. We are on the very threshold ~VH~ .""'"._. - Brotherhood, honesty and fair play which be Elizabethtown, PA 17022. Publisher: The Rig ht Will this be the culmination of Bro. J. Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and of turning our Membership decline There has been col01jul art­ Freedom practices to this day. Sixty-five years later, Frat1klyn Runkle's Fraternal career? Not like­ Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of work along the highways depicting Education Runkle is still patticipating in DeMolay as the around. I ask you to keep up this ~ ly for this man who has lived a lifetime of ser­ Pennsylvania. Editor: Willia m J. Prazenica. ~wn er: most noble effort. great Americans and great Community Chapter Advisor to Pilgrim Chapter, and as a T he Rig ht Worshipful Grand Lodge o f the Most Freemasons from President George Deputy Member of the rntemational Supreme vice to his brothers in DeMolay and A nc ient and Honorable Fraternity o f Free and Family Freemasonry. "I just have a good outlook on Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania. Known bond-hold­ I am especially proud of all of the Washington to Astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Cmmcil. He has been rewm·ded with all of the life," he said recently. "Live 'til they bury ers: none. No advertising handled. Free distribution El ected and Appointed Grand Leadership awards and honors issued by the Supreme It is part of the Fraternity's "Frie11d me." And we hope that attitude will sustain averages 170,000 each quarter. I certify that the state­ Lodge Officers, Committees and to Friend " public awareness pro­ Participation Council, including the Degree of Chevalier, ments made by me are correct and complete: William the Cross of Honor, the Legion of Honor, and hin1 for many yem·s to come! employees; of all of the Elected gram to say who Masons are, what Membership J. Prazenica, Editor. in 1985, the Guild of the Leather Apron, also and Appointed Subordinate Lodge they stand fo r and what they do. On known as the prestigious Advisor of the Year Officers and Committees; of all of The Pennsylvania Freemason the cover of this issue, Bros. Dean E. Award. the Scottish Rite, York Rite, Cedars Vaughn (right), the creator of the chronicles the achievements. It is th e Degree of Chevalier that perhaps and Shrine Officers and Frie11d to Frie11d program and of the Family of Freemasonry Committees for their leadership working to m eet their resolve.