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MOTHER’S DAY 2008 MESSAGE TO THE CRAFT
May 6, 2008
To all of my Brethren, families and friends,
This weekend we celebrate Mother’s Day and as one of my first messages to you as your new Grand Master, I think it is so important that we pause in our daily routine to say a very special THANK YOU and pay homage and remember all of those we cherish and love as Mothers … be they our own Mothers or the Mothers of others whom we love and admire. We are all a product of our environment and our upbringing. Therefore, all that we are today, everything we have accomplished in life thus far, and everything we strive to achieve, we can and should thank our Mothers. It was our Mothers from whom we learned the meaning of love as demonstrated by their loving care and devotion and the lessons we learned from them as children. Now, as adults, as mature family members ourselves, and especially as Masons, it is not only appropriate, but it is imperative that we remember and take the time to count our blessings, and to say “thank you!” to all of the Moms in our lives. May your Mother’s Day be extra special and meaningful. May the warmth of this Spring season touch your heart and may we all fully appreciate all of the wondrous beauty and joys of life as our Mother would have wished for us. May we take an extra moment to remember the young men and women in uniform who will not be spending this Mother’s Day at home. May the Great Architect of the Universe watch over them and protect them and bring them home safely. God bless you and your loved ones and may God continue to bless our great fraternity and these United States of America. On behalf of Helen and myself and your entire Grand Line, “Happy Mother’s Day!”
With warmest fraternal regards,
MW Edward G. Gilbert
Grand Master
Results of Grand Lodge Elections
The following were elected and installed as Grand Lodge officers:
Most Worshipful Edward G. Gilbert, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York
Right Worshipful Vincent Libone, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge F&AM of NY
Right Worshipful W. Bruce Renner, Senior Grand Warden
Right Worshipful Thomas M. McMullin, Junior Grand Warden
Right Worshipful Marino Cesarini, Grand Treasurer
Right Worshipful Gilbert Savitsky, Grand Secretary
We congratulate these Brothers on their election and look forward to working with them for our Craft.
Check back here for appointments, photos and bios.
Video Streaming of the 227th Annual Communication of our Grand Lodge.
We broadcast the public segments live. If you missed it, we will be posting the video shortly.
Divas With Heart concert a huge success!
Both the afternoon and evening shows of the Divas With Heart concert not only were great entertainment, they also were well attended fund- and consciousness-raisers for a great cause, the life-saving work of the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory. Watch this space for reports!
Photo & Image
"Music legend Diana joins divas uniting for New York benefit" Hello Magazine.
Variety
New York Daily News
New York Times
FACTS ON THE 227TH COMMUNICATION
I hope this message finds everyone well and staying warm.
This year's Grand Lodge session promises to be a great weekend of events as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of our Masonic Medical Research Laboratory and the 227th Annual Communication of our Grand Lodge.
The Convention Committee has worked very hard to arrange for more rooms at the headquarters hotel and the Marriott Hotel across the street, in East Elmhurst, Queens. They have arranged for a rate of $149.00 per night per ROOM and because the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory is hosting the celebration and the Communication, you will only have to pay $3.50 per ROOM per night in additional fees. The rooms are all double occupancy.
Welcome
Our doors are always open! We practice the principles that make our country great — at Masonic lodges, all men are equal, regardless of income, race, or religion. There are over 13,000 lodges in the U.S. You’ll find one in most small towns, and large cities usually have several. You can travel almost any place in the world and find the warm hand of brotherhood extended to you.
Who We Are
We are the Masons. We believe in helping others. We believe there is more to life than pleasure and money. We respect the opinions of others. And we all want to grow and develop as human beings. Masons are moral, honest men who work together to improve themselves and their communities. Our motto is “friendship, morality, and brotherly love.”
Masonry and You
Are there things you want to accomplish in your life? Are there ways you want to enrich yourself? Do you enjoy being with people you like and respect? As a Mason, you’ll find friendship and fraternity. You’ll develop life skills like self-confidence, leadership, and effective communication. You’ll learn to work as part of a team — and to better yourself as you help others. Think about becoming one today.
What We Do For Others
Our main focus is on community service. We organize blood drives, volunteer at local schools, and run a Child ID program that reaches 15,000 children each year. We operate the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory in Utica, NY. And New York State Masons also sponsor training sessions for school districts to help them identify children at risk for substance abuse.
History
Masonry is the oldest fraternity in the world, although no one can claim to know its exact origins. There is evidence that the Masonry we know today probably grew out of the guilds of stonemasons who built the castles and cathedrals of the Middle Ages. In the U.S., many of the Founding Fathers were Masons, including Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. From presidents, astronauts, and sports heroes to carpenters, CEOs, and bus drivers, millions of Masons have made our country what it is today. As Masons, history, tradition, and pride are central concepts in our lives.
