SUMMER 2019 PGM RICHARD P. THOMAS PGM EARLE J. HINO, Jr. B: 1932 D: 2019 B: 1933 D: 2019 GRAND MASTER GRAND MASTER 1990 – 1992 1995 – 1998 From the Grand East MW WILLIAM M. SARDONE Grand Master 212/337-6643 hese have been difficult months as we learned of the And of course, St. John’s Weekend is just around the corner. passing of two of our Grand Masters, MW Richard There are some changes for this event, as well: a free concert TThomas and MW Earl Hino. I remember working with each on the grounds of the Masonic Care Community on Thursday of them in various capacities. Each brought vision, experience night; picnic and fireworks on Friday; of course, the parade and passion to our Fraternity and they will be missed. They and fanfare on Saturday. We will enjoy all this and that special realized that while sadness would befall our Craft we still thing that cannot be orchestrated: friends spending time needed to face forward and carry on. The memory of their together—friends who see each other all the time or once a wisdom will indeed inspire our drive to continue, while year at this event. remembering their legacy. By the time you receive this our Cruise to Bermuda in July As you can see by some of the articles in this issue, your will be locked down and sold out and our new cooking contest Grand Line has been busy. We dedicated the cornerstone will be underway. As we approach the summer months I look for the Greenhouse, which has developed into becoming the forward to the continued activities of our Lodges. Some say Horticultural Center at our Masonic Care Community. our Lodges go dark during the summer. I think they just go But probably the biggest buzz that is still resonating is our outside. successful New York Grand Lodge Telethon. We came up with We are not slowing down, we are speeding up. You have the idea and gave ourselves three months of planning for this worked hard to build the future; now share the experience. historic event. We went live for one hour and fifteen minutes as we broadcast to the world. More information appears in another article in this issue. But as we round the turn at our Grand Lodge session, we are looking to the next stages of forward movement. We are aggressively using our talents and technology to elevate the awareness of our Fraternity. Awareness attracts quality MW William M. Sardone individuals to join with us. City honors Bronx District n May 8, 2019 the New York City Council formally recognized the Bronx Masonic District for its 100th Anniversary and its “extraordinary service and enduring contributions to the Bronx and beyond.” An official proclamation was presented by OCity Council Members, Robert E. Cornegy Jr. and Andrew Cohen. Receiving the tribute were District Deputy Grand Master of the Bronx District RW Raymond Vargas and the Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York, MW William Sardone. The proclamation would not have been possible without the support of City Council Member Mark Gjonaj. The Proclamation reads, in part: WHEREAS: The Bronx has been the proud home to various Masonic Lodges since as early as 1797. The Bronx Masonic District was formally established in 1918 with a dozen original Lodges, including four that continue to function successfully today: Wyoming Lodge, No. 492; Guiding Star - Angle Lodge, No. 565; Pelham Lodge, No. 712; and Hebron Lodge, No. 813; and WHEREAS: By providing humanitarian work benefiting residents in and outside of the borough, the Bronx Freemasons continue to demonstrate the importance of community service and also inspire others to shape their community for current and future generations. 2 THE EMPIRE STATE MASON MAGAZINE Share the Experience SUMMER 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE Volume 68 / Number 2/ SUMMER 2019 featured HigHligHts: MW Richard Thomas’s Eulogy 4 MW Earle J Hino, Jr ’s Eulogy 6 SUMMER 2019 Be It Known 11-16 Citation 18 Grand Master’s Day at West Point 39 St John’s Day Schedule 56 Officers and cOmmittees: From the Grand East 2 PGM RICHARD THOMAS PGM EARLE HINO Deputy Grand Master 8 B: 1932 D: 2019 B: 1933 D: 2019 GRAND MASTER GRAND MASTER 1990 – 1992 1995 – 1998 Senior Grand Warden 9 Images Courtesy of Junior Grand Warden 10 Robert R Livingston Grand Secretary 11 Library and Museum Grand Treasurer 17 Grand Historian 20 Masonic Care Community 23-31 Grand Cinamatographer 32 Masonic Brotherhood Fund 33 Acacia Village 35 Organization of Triangles 40 New York DeMolay 41 Masonic Youth Committee 42 From the Webmaster 43 Awards Committee 44 Masonic Medical Research Institute 45 Years of Service 46-51 Grand Lodge Educational Assistance Program (EAP) 52 Round Lake 53 Camp Turk 54 Dates to Remember 55 Grand Lecturer 55 TRUSTEES OF THE MASONIC HALL AND ASYLUM FUND Publisher The Empire State Mason is an Official Publication of the Trustees of the Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund. Edited by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York for the members of the Masonic Fraternity and their families. CONSULTANTS POStMAStER: WILLIAM M. SARDONE RIChARD J. kESSLER StEvEN ADAM RuBIN Please send address changes to: Grand Master – Editor in Chief Deputy Grand Master Grand treasurer the Empire State Mason Circulation Department JOAN C. BOWER ChARLES M. ROBERtS RIChARD t. SChuLz 71 West 23rd Street Assistant Editor Senior Grand Warden Grand Secretary Ny Ny 10010-4149 Periodicals Class Publication 56874 ELquEMEDO OSCAR ALLEyNE LORAINE DIBLEy 1-(800) 362-7664 Junior Grand Warden Graphic Designer Website at www.nymasons.org Subscription $6.00 Domestic $15.00 Foreign per year. Subscription free to all members of constituent Lodges of the Grand Lodge F. & A.M. State of New york. Copyright ©2019 by the trustees of the Masonic hall and Asylum Fund. All rights reserved. Reproduction by recognized Masonic organizations is permitted with credit. All others must obtain written permission. Published quarterly in Spring Summer Fall and Winter months by the trustees of the Masonic hall and Asylum Fund 71 West 23rd Street Ny Ny 10010-4149. thE EMPIRE StAtE MASON (ISSN 0013-6794 Published at 71 West 23rd Street Ny Ny 10010-4149). Periodicals postage paid at New york Ny and additional mailing offices. Eulogy for the Most Worshipful Richard “Dick” P. Thomas Grand Master (1990 – 1992) b. 1932 - d. 2019 “The most agreeable of all companions is a simple, frank man, the Korean Conflict. without any high pretensions to an oppressive greatness; one who MW Thomas then enrolled in the City University of New loves life, and understands the use of it; obliging alike at all hours; York, where he majored in textile engineering and business above all, of a golden temper and steadfast as an anchor. For such administration. From 1979 to 1991 he held the position of an one we gladly exchange the greatest genius, the most brilliant Manager of Manufacturing at the Megastar Apparel Group wit, the profoundest thinker.” Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. and Campus Sportswear, while residing on Long Island in n this journey along the road of life, we occasionally Manhasset Hills, New York. Iencounter those uncommon men whom we define as being MW Thomas and his family were long-time parishioners at forthright, honest and genuine in character; men who are Hillside United Methodist Church in New Hyde Park, NY. motivated by an inner force to stay on the moral high road of Shortly after retiring from the textile industry, MW Thomas openness and sincerity. There is a simple quality about such and his Lady Margie relocated to Oneonta, NY around 1994. men, founded upon their strength of truth and integrity. Nothing can be more valuable than having the straightforward In Craft Masonry, MW Thomas began his Masonic career reputation of being a good man, true to his principles and to in Solon Lodge 771 of the Noble Ninth Manhattan District, his fellow Brothers. Most Worshipful Richard “Dick” Thomas where he was Raised a Master Mason on December 4, 1962. epitomized the unpretentious and frank man of which the As MW Thomas advanced through the chairs in the Lodge, German philosopher Gotthold Lessing spoke. MW Richard he served as the Secretary and Vice President of the Ninth P. Thomas was indeed a good Man and Mason. Manhattan District Wardens Association. We sorrowfully announce the passing of Most Worshipful In 1967 MW Thomas was elected and served as the Richard P. Thomas, who laid down the working tools of a Worshipful Master of Solon Lodge 771. Then in 1978 Solon Mason on March 18, 2019 as a resident of the Health Pavilion Lodge 771 consolidated with Lessing Lodge 608, as it is which bears his name at the Masonic Care Community known today. He later affiliated with Oneonta Lodge 466 in Utica, NY. He is survived by his son Brother Richard of the Otsego-Schoharie District in 1997. He was appointed “Rick” Thomas, Jr., a member of Lessing Lodge 608, his in 1968 to the Ninth Manhattan District’s German Masonic daughter Linda (nee Thomas) Hendricks, and grandson Erik Home Committee and he served as the President of the Hendricks. His beloved wife of over 60-years, Margie nee German Masonic Home Corporation from 1973 until 1974. Lohrmann, recently predeceased her husband MW Richard MW Thomas was given the honor and appointment Thomas. in 1975 of District Deputy Grand Master of the Ninth MW Richard P. Thomas was born in Yugoslavia on June 2, Manhattan District by MW Arthur Markewich, then-Grand 1932. Upon immigrating to the United States, MW Thomas Master of the Grand Lodge of New York and Associate attended Grover Cleveland High School in New York.