Monticello Lodge No. 532, F. & A. M. takes special pride this year in announcing that its Master will have completed his fiftieth year as a member of the Craft during the month of February. Wor. Bro. Hugh R. Richmond has become very active in Masonic work here since he affiliated with the Lodge a number of years ago. He also has retained his membership with his home lodge in Connecticut.
Wor. Bro. Richmond is a resident of Smallwood and although the distance to the Lodge is a little more than twelve miles he has not failed to attend a communication and during the past year he has regularly attended in-between Friday evening meetings. His years of Masonic experience as well as his honest and sincere desire to follow out the ideals of our great fraternity will surely enrich Monticello Lodge and add to the accomplishments of Masonry in Monticello.
Our Senior Warden is Bro. William D. Stackhouse who has been a member of Monticello Lodge since 1924. He is employed at the South Fallsburg post office and while his family is in Florida Bill nevertheless finds it possible once or tWice a year to visit them. He is hoping someday to be transferred to the sunny south by the U.S. Post Office but does not expect that this will happen until after he has served as Master of the Lodge.
John G. Bruce, our Junior Warden. is one of the Lodge's new members and although he has had fewer than two years in which to study the Ritual he nevertheless is as well versed as a veteran. He has mastered all the charges, the Middle Chamber and First Degree lectures and is letter perfect in his work. We were indeed fortunate to have him as our Senior Deacon last year when the Lodge successfully raised 13.
Our Senior Deacon, Alva Unkenholz, is also one of our newer members, having been raised in 1945. Alva mastered the Senior Deacon's work long before he was elevated to his present office. He is faithful in his attendance as are all of the other officers and like his late father, Bro. Charles Unkenholz, he shows a deep interest in Masonry.
The Junior Deacon is George Gregory, who was raised in Monticello during the war. He received two degrees in one day during a special meeting. George has had the distinct privilege of attending Lodges of foreign jurisdiction and has related some very interesting experiences at Masonic meetings away from home. He too has become a student of the ritual and is promising material for the Senior Deacon hip.
The Lodge's Senior Master of Ceremony is Ross Kelley, who is one of the key men on our degree team. His deep voice and acting ability provides a combination which is ideal for the work he performs on the team. Ross is a prison guard at Woodboume and was raised in 1945.
Floyd L. Elmore occupys the Junior Master of Cerempny's chair. He was raised ed in 1937 and if the years to come leads him to the Oriental East he will be the second of a class of three and the third Master raised in the year 1937 to be accorded the honors of the chair Bro. Elmore no doubt would have become an officer of the Lodge sooner if it had not been for the fact that he was called to the service of his country. However it was during his service in the army that he was afforded opportunities to Observe some of the great work Masonry accomplishes outside of the Lodge.
After serving for years as one of our leading characters in Lodge minstrel shows and also occupy Masonic rooms as a tenant, Ralph Master has finally accepted the important office of Tiler. Having been a member of the Lodge since 1922 and being well acquainted with the Lodge's members you can be assured that none will pass those portals except those who are well qualified and have permission from the Master.
Something new has been added in the kitchen and our hopes are high for lucious dainties which can be concocted from bananas. Steve Contos, the banana man, and Charles Finch are the new stewards. At ourclast meeting we had banana short cake. Both Steve and Charlie are always ready to help and in their present capacity they are expected to do their usual outstanding work.
Wor. Bro. Leland W. Silvieus will continue as Chaplain and between Lee and our Marshal, Wor. Bro. Clarence Maine, we shall not lack for spiritual inspiration. Both have churches of their own (Leland at Grahamsville and Clarence at So. Centerville in Orange County). Leland also is Lodge service man for the Sullivan County sectiorl of the Delaware-Sullivan Masonic district and Clarence has just completed an outstanding year as Master.
Least but not last and by no means to be forgotten is Wor. Bro. J. Maxwell Knapp, who provides the Lodge with music. Wor. Bro. Knapp has a melody to fit every occasion and rates tops as our master of ceremony on Ladies' night or other similar occasions. He is looking forward to the time when the brethren of the Lodge will provide him with a new Hammond organ. He says this may seem like asking for too much put the better the equipment the better the music will be and perhaps this too will mean more to the lodge in attendance than the dollars and cents required to purchase it.
Fred H. Durland, who succeeded our late Brother H. Lynden Hatch as Treasurer, performed well and with distinction as Master and is doing likewise as Treasurer. The bills of the Lodge are paid promptly and his records are well kept.
In as much as the Secretary, Alvin O. Benton, contacts each member of the Craft several times during the year, it undoubtedly would be a waste of space to repeat what you already have been told. His recommendation at this time is that you visit your Lodge often. enjoy the brotherhood it affords, live up to; its ideals and always have a current dues card (1948) ready so that you may visit other Lodges without embarrassment. Dues for regular members are $19.00, payable in advance and $2.25 for life members.
Emory Stalker installed officers of Monticello Masonic Lodge Friday evening at the temple on Bank Street. After the installation life membership Gertificates were presented to John P. Mapes and Leland W. Silveus. A memorial service was held for seven members who died during the past year. Refreshments were served following the program. Those installed were front row, left to right -- Alva Unkenholz, senior deacon; William D. Stackhouse, senior warden; Hugh R. Richmond, master; John G. Bruce, junior warden; George S. Gregory, junior deacon; Clarence Maine, retiring master and marshal, and Charles A. Finch, steward. Back row -- Alvin O. Benton, secretary; Floyd L. Elmore, junior master of ceremonies; Stephen Contos, steward; J. Maxwell Knapp, organist; Ralph E. Ma sten, tiler; Mr. Silveus, chaplain, and Fred H. Durland, treasurer. Ross Kelley, senior master of ceremonies, was unable to be present.
