USA > Iowa > Annals of the Grand Lodge of Iowa > Part 8
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As one of the results, this Committee already has been able greatly to enlarge and to diversify the program of its own services to the lodges, not as something for the vague future, but as something already accomplished in part. How that will work out can best be exhibited by referring in detail to three or four tasks already com- pleted, or in process of completion:
1. Each of the members and associates of the Committee has been supplied with a handbook, in loose-leaf form, letter-size, in which are described many lodge methods, educational programs, and social programs in detail, 102 in all. During the coming year this will be a blueprint which the Committee will follow.
2. Your Committee authorized the preparation of a series of new informational booklets on a number of those Masonic subjects in which the great majority of our members are most interested. Thus far four have already been published. Any Mason in the State may receive up to three of any one of them upon his request, and without charge. Any lodge may have a number sufficient to mail to each of its members in lots of fifty or one hundred at actual cost of print- ing. The titles now available are: An Omnibus of Facts About Free- masonry. The Story of Freemasonry. Ideas and Suggestions for Masonic Social and Educational Programs. Fifty Words in Free- masonry.
3. In December each year, every lodge elects a Master and other officers. The Master appoints certain other officers to carry on the activities of the lodge throughout the year. The Master realizes his responsibilities and begins to think about the program of activities for the months ahead. He is aware of the regular monthly com- munications and hopes for a certain amount of degree work. He may have in mind the setting aside of certain nights for a "Past Master's Night," a "Friendship Night," a "Charter Anniversary," "Party Night," etc. The question comes to his mind as to how to go about it. This Committee has been answering this problem down through the years by furnishing speakers, information, programs,
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films, outlines for study clubs, and the like. However, the Committee proposes to enlarge this service and has caused to be printed for distribution to the lodges a booklet entitled "Ideas and Suggestions for Masonic Social and Educational Programs," and a program sheet for George Washington meetings. These are but the beginning of a service which the Committee hopes will be ever more broadening and helpful.
4. There are some thirty-five other Grand Lodge Educational Committees throughout the United States. Your own Committee has set up a correspondence circle among them. By means of it we are able to exchange ideas and materials with each of them. It enables us, as it enables each of the others, to make use of the experience, thought, accomplishments, and plans of all of them. At the same time, it renders it henceforth unnecessary for any Grand Lodge Committee to do over again something already done by another. We have been proud of the responses received by your Committee to its invitation to form such a circle.
5. The 546 lodges in this Grand Jurisdiction initiate within them- selves, with very few exceptions, and out of their own needs and activities, their own social and educational programs. But those same lodges oftentimes find it difficult to obtain the materials they need, such as prepared programs, lists of music, lists of movies, lists of plays, and many other such things. We therefore take it that one of our duties, laid upon us by the Grand Lodge, is to act as a service bureau for these lodges. They decide for themselves what they wish to do; we assist them to find the materials they need. In order to equip ourselves to give that service to them we have set up a system by which we are accumulating those materials, and our . ambition is so to equip ourselves that any lodge in Iowa will never call upon us in vain. To assist in this activity the Committee has created an "Accumulation File," which contains a folder for each of over 100 subjects pertaining to lodge needs and activities. As new ma- terial on these subjects is obtained from various sources it will be added to the file. Included are suggestions and plans for a large number of new and interesting lodge programs, both educational and social, lodge plays, music, etc. This file also includes an as- sortment of recent catalogues published by dealers in all types of lodge equipment and paraphernalia. This information would be of definite value to a lodge planning to purchase such articles but in doubt as to where they may be obtained and at what price. The information is available to Iowa Masonry, but it must be remembered that this Committee has no part of or interest in such sales except to supply the data above mentioned. All exchange items from other Grand Lodge Committees on Masonic Education are filed here. The Accumulation File information is available for use by any lodge upon request.
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Charter Anniversaries
During the fiscal year just closed, there were 15 such anniver- saries celebrated where speakers were furnished by this Committee, as follows:
50 Years: Granite 557, Thornton
60 Years: Beacon 495, Hartley
65 Years: Carnelian 425, Dows; Banner 437, Grand River
70 Years: Wapsinonoc 381, West Branch
75 Years: Sincerity 317, Moulton; Astral 324, Preston; Alpha 326, Greene; Sirius 323, Rockford; Bethany 320, Block- ton
80 Years: Fountain 219, Ackley
90 Years: Lewis 137, Lewis (Dispensation); Marengo 114, Ma- rengo; Decatur 109, Decatur
100 Years: Ottumwa 16, Ottumwa
Charter Anniversary Celebrations continue to be observed by an increasing number of lodges throughout this jurisdiction, and the attendance of the local members and visitors is very gratifying.
Grand Master's District Fellowship Meetings
The holding' of Grand Master's District Fellowship meetings has, almost without exception, persisted in this Grand Jurisdiction for about 20 years. It is certain that these meetings stimulate a healthy interest in the territory surrounding the host lodges, as well as being a great satisfaction to the visiting Grand Master. Such meetings with the Grand Master in attendance were held during the past year at the four locations listed below:
Town
Lodge
Date
Speaker
Att. Lodges
Iowa City Iowa City No. 4.
Oct. 7
Realff Ottesen, P.G.M. 200 25
Fort Dodge. Ashlar No. 111.
Oct. 25
Rev. F. E. Burgess.
130
24
Grinnell
Hermon No. 273.
Nov. 3
Prof. H. J. Thornton. 150
22
Waterloo Waterloo No. 105. Nov. 4 Realff Ottesen, P.G.M 160 18
District Rallies
The plan of conducting large Masonic meetings at strategic points over the State has long been considered. Such meetings have been held at various times in order to set a pattern for such an activity. During the past year, two of such meetings have been held. One on October 20, 1948, at Storm Lake, at which Brother Virgil M. Hancher, President of the State University of Iowa, was the speaker. The other on November 15, 1948, at Chariton, Iowa, where Brother Charles L. Friley, President of Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, was the speaker. Both meetings were successful and largely at- tended.
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Washington's Birthday Observance
The Committee, for some time, has been proposing the observance of George Washington's Birthday as a fitting and proper Masonic occasion. This custom has been established by a great many lodges . for a number of years, and the number is growing. The Masonic recognition of George Washington is also growing in that meetings in his honor are being planned and held throughout the State at all times during the year and not only upon his birthday. This Com- mittee has been mailing suggestions to the lodges, furnishing pro- grams, and otherwise doing everything in its power to be helpful. These meetings amount to hundreds each year, and many thousands of Masons attend. The pattern has been set to the extent that many lodges hold such meetings without contacting this Committee. This movement is being further augmented by this Committee by the printing and distribution this year of a new four-page prepared pro- gram upon George Washington meetings.
Motion Pictures
This Committee has been distributing movie films for the past five years. The topics of these films are many and varied and in- clude subjects which are Masonic, Educational, Historical, and those which are simply entertaining. These films are available upon re- quest from the Committee, and the only expense to the lodges is the return postage and a special handling fee very small in amount. However, this entire program is in the process of reorganization, and the Committee hopes to be able to extend this service in many ways.
Resignations
The rapidity of that passage of time to which we adverted in the first paragraph of this report was brought home to us during the past year by the resignation of two veterans.
M .:. W. . Realff Ottesen, Past Grand Master, has been identified with Iowa's educational endeavors since they began, and had been a member of the Committee most of the time since 1921. When he resigned his membership of the Committee because of the pressure of his own private circumstances, it was brought home to all our members that the Committee had passed a line in its own history. We pay our tribute, and a sincere one, to his long period of years in service to Iowa's educational work. His tenure of office in that division of Grand Lodge work is one seldom equalled by any other Mason in America, and probably has been seldom, or never, sur- passed.
We have also to report another veteran, M. . W .. Burton H. Sax- ton, Past Grand Master, one who became identified with Iowa's educational services to the Craft, and not merely to Iowa but also the Craft throughout America, almost from its beginning. For thir-
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teen and one-half years he has given the whole of his time to the secretaryship of your Committee on Masonic Education, and in that capacity has written to, or phoned to, or visited every lodge in the Grand Jurisdiction. During all those years he imprinted upon the work done by your Committee his own personality. To him also we pay our tribute for services rendered over many years.
Beginning April 1, 1949, M. . W .. Burton H. Saxton's place was taken by R. . W .. Cecil Smith Myers, Junior Grand Warden. We are happy to have him with us, and we have as a Committee pledged to him our fullest co-operation. His endeavor will be to give as much as possible of his time to field work among the lodges.
This Committee recognizes with pleasure and appreciation the two new members of the Committee, Charles B. Hayes, P.S.G.W., who was appointed on June 9, 1948, and Raymond H. Sawyer, who was appointed on January 14, 1949.
Recognition
This Committee wishes to especially recognize the co-operation, inspiration, and contributions of M. . W.C. J. Guy Swartslander, Grand Master, R. . W. . Earl B. Delzell, Grand Secretary, M. . W .. John T. Ames, P.G.M., and Brother Clyde H. Robinson.
Furthermore, the Grand Lodge should be informed and record made of the fact that R. . W. . H. L. Haywood of the Iowa Masonic Library has had a major part in the developments in and about the Committee and its activities and plans. The Committee pays tribute, as should all Masonry, to the great value of his work, his leadership, and his inspiration.
Finally, it should be re-emphasized by repetition and otherwise that one of the greatest developments during the past year, which could or should be recorded in this report, is the co-ordination of the various officers and committees of the Grand Lodge, and in and of which this Committee is most pleased to be a part.
B. F. BUTLER, Chairman H. J. THORNTON RAYMOND H. SAWYER CHARLES B. HAYES DON G. MULLAN
Cecil S. Myers, Secretary.
Members of the Speakers Bureau Who Accepted One or More Assignments for the Committee on Masonic Education During the Past Year
C. C. Anama Osceola Rev. E. L. Baker. Creston Judge W. H. Antes. West Union
Rev. Sterling Baldwin
Dr. Marcus Bach Iowa City
West Union
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Rev. C. William Bast. Cromwell
Rev. F. E. Burgess Algona
Rev. U. E. Burroughs Mt. Ayr
Ben F. Butler. Waterloo
Marshall Camp Creston
Rev. W. E. Craig Massena
S. A. Cohagan Waterloo
Rev. Frank W. Court Waterloo
Judge H. E. Davidson Clarinda
Rev. J. Hamilton Dawson
Des Moines
Rev. C. V. R. DeJong Marion.
Irvin F. Duddleson Oxford
Rev. George W. Dunn .. Sioux City
Rev. F. W. Eastwood .. New London
Dr. Charles E. Friley Ames
Samuel Garvin Dubuque
Remley J. Glass Mason City
John M. Grimes Des Moines
Rev. Hugh C. Guy Nevada
Forrest P. Hagan .... Cedar Rapids
Dr. C. C. Hall. Maynard.
Virgil M. Hancher
Iowa City
E. E. Harper. Iowa City
Rev. Ross B. Hartman
Rock Rapids
L. D. Havinghurst.
Clinton
Charles B. Hayes
Des Moines
W. Russell Hayes. Prairie City
Rev. L. W. Hauter Oelwein
H. L. Haywood.
Cedar Rapids
Walter L. Hetzel
Cresco
Rev. Paul H. Hicks. .... Des Moines
Rev. George G. Hunt .. Mt. Pleasant
Rev. H. E. Hutchinson ...... Pierson
James P. Irish Des Moines
Wm. S. Johnston. Estherville
Rev. W. R. Keesey Ottumwa
G. A. Kenderdine.
Des Moines
Rev. H. J. Krenmyre Woodward
R. L. Logan.
Ruthven
Ivan M. Maxson Archer Rev. Glenn McMichael .... Waverly Rabbi Eugene Mannheimer. ...
Des Moines
C. D. Mitchell
Jefferson
Francis J. Mullan
Ft. Dodge
Hugh Mossman. Vinton
Cecil S. Myers Grinnell
Hobart E. Newton Stuart
Burton North Arlington Realff Ottesen Davenport Harry A. Palmer Cedar Rapids Dr. Wm. J. Peterson. Iowa City Floyd Philbrick. Cedar Rapids Rev. Morell C. Ruby Montrose Burton H. Saxton .... Cedar Rapids Oswald Sandbach Monticello Frank E. Sharp Elkader Dr. Ray V. Smith Iowa City George W. Swan Blockton Prof. H. J. Thornton Iowa City
T. B. Throckmorton.
Des Moines
F. W. Tomasek Grinnell
Clinton H. Turner. Clarinda
A. O. Voogd.
Rock Rapids
Lee R. Watts
Corning
CALLED FROM LABOR
Grand Lodge was called off until 9:00 A. M., Wednesday.
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SECOND DAY --- Morning Session
Wednesday, June 15, A. D., 1949.
Grand Lodge resumed labor at 9:00 A. M., with Grand Master J. Guy Swartslander presiding.
INVOCATION
The invocation was given by Clayton B. Wittstruck, Grand Chaplain.
MINUTES OF FIRST DAY'S SESSIONS
The Deputy Grand Secretary, George E. Farmer, read the minutes of the first day's sessions, which were approved.
REPORT ON GRAND LODGE RECOGNITION
Glen G. Radcliffe (175), P.J.G.W., Chairman, presented the report of the Committee on Grand Lodge Recognition, and on his motion the report was-
ADOPTED.
To the Grand Lodge of Iowa:
Your Committee on Grand Lodge Recognition begs leave to submit the following report:
At the Grand Lodge Communication in Sioux City last year this committee recommended that action be deferred upon the requests for recognition of the following Grand Bodies:
Grand Orient of Arabia and Syria Grand Lodge of Campeche, Mexico National Grand Lodge of Syria and Lebanon National Grand Lodge of Palestine
This action by the committee was based upon a lack of information of these bodies, and, inasmuch as no further correspondence has been had with these bodies, we recommend that action on these requests again be deferred.
Various extraneous correspondence has been received by this com- mittee, which does not need action by the committee or by this Grand Lodge, receipt of which is welcomed, however, because of the infor- mation it tends to give us regarding Masonry in those countries from
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which received. Among these communications is one from the Grand Orient of France announcing a Friendly International Masonic Gath- ering in Paris on the occasion of the General Assembly of the United Nations in Paris-the Grand Lodge of Iowa is not in fraternal rela- tions with this particular Grand Body. From the Grand Orient of Arabia and Syria came a rather imposing roster of their Grand Officers-this is one of the Grand Bodies on which action was de- ferred last year upon their request for recognition. A most tragic letter was also received from the Grand Lodge of Greece appealing to all Masonic powers to give widest publicity possible to the terrible conditions under which some of the brethren of that unfortunate country are living due to the guerrilla warfare. We sympathize deeply with these less fortunate brethren.
Three requests for recognition were received by this committee- from the Grand Lodge of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) ; from the Grand Orient of Amazonas and Acre (Brazil) ; and from the Grand Lodge Del Estado of the State of Nuevo Leon (Mexico). The first named body-the Grand Lodge of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil)- requested recognition by the Grand Lodge of Iowa some years ago, but action upon their request was deferred at that time. Further correspondence with this Grand Lodge has satisfied this committee that they now meet all our requirements for recognition, and we are happy to recommend that their request for recognition be granted. In their request for recognition they also ask that we exchange Grand Representatives. We respectfully request our Grand Secretary to advise them that it is not the practice of this Grand Lodge to exchange Grand Representatives, although we do appreciate the courtesy of their offer and the fact that we do not exchange Grand Representa- tives indicates no lack of appreciation of our relations.
In the case of the requests from the Grand Orient of Amazonas and Acre (Brazil) and the Grand Lodge of Nuevo Leon (Mexico) your committee feels that, while these two bodies are now recognized by several Grand Lodges in this country, more information concerning some of their activities should be obtained. Therefore, we recommend that action upon their requests be deferred until such information can be developed.
The matter of inter-Grand Lodge relations between American Grand Lodges and those outside the borders of the United States is of consid- erably more importance than many Masons realize, and there are so many reasons to justify the custom that it would be almost impossible to enumerate them all. Perhaps, however, the heart of the question lies in the attempt of our Grand Lodges to keep Masonry pure and undefiled by recognizing only those Grand Lodges outside our borders which adhere to the same principles, recognize the same landmarks or, in other words, practice Masonry as we do.
1
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"Recognition" of one Grand Lodge by another Grand Lodge is a public acknowledgment that each approves the Declaration of Stan- dards and principles of the other. Also fraternal recognition is our way of saying that we extend the hand of fellowship to our brethren of other lands.
The war and the tragic events of the post war years have brought a new consciousness of the importance of foreign relations to many Grand Lodges. It has brought a new consciousness of the necessity of a desire to understand, a willingness to investigate, and a genuine wish to help the applying Grand Lodge. It has brought a truer realization that Masonry is truly universal in scope. Unfortunately the unsettled world conditions which have and still exist make it extremely difficult at times to secure definite and accurate informa- tion concerning many Foreign Grand Lodges. This we regret exceed- ingly, for we would be happy indeed if it were possible for us to extend the hand of fellowship to all Grand Lodges wheresoever dispersed. We feel that by so doing we would bring hope and comfort to many brethren in other lands, many of whom are forced to live under gov- ernments whose idealogies are, in many cases, in direct conflict with the teachings of Masonry-teachings that these brethren have long believed in. To these brethren who share our ideals and beliefs we would offer, by fraternal recognition, the sense of Brotherhood in a common cause.
The committee desire to express their appreciation of the assistance rendered by Grand Secretary Delzell and the members of his staff in arriving at these findings.
Fraternally submitted,
GLEN G. RADCLIFFE HARRY K. BURMEISTER FRED H. VAN ALLEN
Committee.
RESOLUTION OF RECOGNITION
Glen G. Radcliffe, P.J.G.W., presented the following res- olution pertaining to the recognition of a Grand Lodge, which on his motion was-
ADOPTED.
In support of the recommendations of the Committee on Grand Lodge Recognition, as reported, I move that formal recognition be granted to the Grand Lodge of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
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VISITOR FROM NORTH IRELAND PRESENTED
The Grand Master recognized Harry A. Palmer, P.G.M., who, in introducing a visitor from Newporton Lodge No. 315, Ballinamallard, North Ireland, said :
I don't know whether you fellows know it or not, but I emigrated from England in 1896, so I have a fellow feeling for this chap. And I happen to be General Manager of the plant in which he is working as a stationary engineer. That is one of the remarkable things-the boss and worker as brothers in Freemasonry. Brother David Brien of Ballinamallard, North Ireland.
Brother Brien responded as follows:
Most Worshipful Grand Master and Brethren: Firstly, I would like to say I consider it a very great privilege to be able to be here at your 105th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Iowa.
Secondly, I consider it a very great honor to be able to say a word or two to you people here today. I say a word or two, and a word or two it is going to be, because I haven't been blessed with the art of coming forth with an eloquent flow of speech such as the brethren who have preceded me on this platform. I know you would like to hear something of Masonry in Ireland, but I can't take up the time to tell you, and I don't think I have the ability to tell you much about the Masonry in Ireland, but you can take it as first-hand information from me that Masonry in Ireland is flourishing; even in the smallest village you will find a Masonic lodge. In the county where I come from there are three villages within a radius of fifteen miles and the average population of those three villages, I would say, is under 900, yet there is a Masonic lodge in each of those villages.
Before I pass on I would like to bring you fraternal greetings from my own small lodge in the village of Ballinamallard. I would like to bring you greetings from my own lodge, and I know if the Grand Lodge of Ireland knew I was present here they would want me to bring you fraternal greetings from the Grand Lodge in Dublin and from all Irish Freemasons. Thank you very much.
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REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF GRAND CHARITY FUND
Milo J. Gabriel (93), P.G.M., Chairman, presented the report of the Board of Trustees of the Grand Charity Fund. Such portions as related to finance were referred to the Committee on Finance, and the remainder of the report was, on his motion-
ADOPTED.
.
Masonic Sanitarium, Bettendorf, Iowa
To the Grand Lodge of Iowa, A. F. & A. M .:
The Trustees of the Grand Charity Fund respectfully submit their Annual Report for the year ending May 15, 1949.
The work of the Trustees of the Grand Charity Fund in- cludes two major activities :
1. Grand Charity Field Aid.
2. Masonic Sanitarium, Bettendorf.
The Board of Trustees of the Grand Charity Fund con- sists of five members :
Milo J. Gabriel, Chairman, Term expires 1950
Albert Wharton, Term expires 1949
Harry A. Palmer, Term expires 1951
Frederic M. Miller, Term expires 1952
Lafayette W. Lovell, Treasurer, Term expires 1953
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During the year thirteen meetings were held with ·ses- sions averaging six hours each.
1. Grand Charity Field Aid
The report of this activity is set forth in the following exhibits :
(A) Financial report of Treasurer
(B) List of securities in which Permanent Fund is invested
(C) Statement of disbursements from Temporary Fund
(D) List of Field Aid cases and appropriations recommended for the year beginning June 1, 1949
EXHIBIT "A"-TREASURER'S REPORT
To the Trustees of the Grand Charity Fund of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, A. F. & A. M .:
Brethren:
As provided by the laws of the Grand Lodge, I submit my report as Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the Grand Charity Fund for the year ending May 15, 1949:
Temporary Fund RECEIPTS
1948
May 16 Balance on hand last report. $ 0.00
June 24 Per capita income from Grand Lodge dues $12,698.24
1949
May 15 Interest on Securities 30,406.25
May 15 Funds returned by Beneficiary
Trustees 1,052.91
May 15 Dividends on Closed Banks 33.90
May 15 Miscellaneous Income
197.25
$44,388.55
DISBURSEMENTS May 16, 1948 to May 15, 1949
Vouchers for Relief $ 9,703.07
Salaries of Secretary and Stenographer 2,029.56
Travel Expenses of Board mem- bers attending monthly meetings at Sanitarium 281.11
Travel Expense-Others-And pay- ment to Maintenance Fund of one- half cost of operation and deprecia- tion of automobile. 441.68
Office Expense-postage, printing, etc. 87.00
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