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RESUME OF RETIRING MASTER, WOR. BRO. ALVIN O. BENTON |
The first high light of our meeting of January 8th was the report or resume of the past year as given us by our retiring Master, Wor. Bro. Alvin O. Benton. We have heard many fine reports given but this was we believe without exception the finest one we have ever heard. A few words will not do it justice and space will not permit our printing in in this issue; however, we will bring it to you in our next issue as it is too well done to be left in the files unread. -- Feb. 1943 issue of The Gavel
As stated in our last issue the resume of our retiring Master, Wor. Bro. Alvin O. Benton, was a masterpiece and too well done to be let go into the files unread. It is more than a report, it is 'Masonry Speaking' and gives food for thought to a contemplative mind. Therefore, (against his wish) we (the other editors) bring it to you and regret that we have had to cut it some. -- March and April 1943 issues of The Gavel
The year 1942 has been an eventful one for me. In my diary I have recorded experiences which were both enjoyable and regrettable. Most cherished of all shall be my memory of a busy year as your Master. It has been my pleasure and satisfaction to burn the midnight oil and to devote my holidays and Sundays to the writing of a history of this and other Lodges in this District but more than that my association with the Brethren has been most enjoyable.
These experiences have left a comforting imprint upon my mind which shall never be erased. Had it not been for the warm friendly grip known only to Masons and word of encouragement and sympathy which came from the Brethren perhaps I would have faltered along the way. Masonry and its great teachings helps one to live right and to live on.
During the past year I have done my very best to create a better understanding among our Brethren. I have studied Masonry and have made every possible effort to bring to your attention, interesting, valued and noteworthy facts concerning our Fraternity.
With the help of your Lodge Officers and faithful brothers Monticello Lodge has enjoyed a successful Masonic year. Although war and economic conditions have deprived us of the financial prosperity the Lodge has enjoyed in other years I doubt if there is anyone he tonight who will agree that we haven't had the real essentials of Masonry.
As members of our Lodge I believe you have the right to ask yourself if your investment in dollars and cents and time spent in Masonic work is worthwhile. As your retiring Master I feel that it is my duty to give you an accounting and to set you at ease in believing that you as Masons are among those who are rendering a great service to humanity by preserving precious essentials of life so necessary for a free and peaceful people. You have helped your Lodge to do its share in maintaining a great institution at Utica. You have helped to ease pain arid have comforted your fellowmen in this community. You have helped to case the loneliness of our soldier Masons in the far flung corners of the earth and have helped to perpetuate teachings which make men great and to keep alive doctrines which Masons of yesteryear conceived and shed blood for that we might enjoy freedom and peace.
The money you have invested in Masonry has given splendor in both the sunrise and set of life. Representing the sunrise are orphans of Masons whom you are helping to bring into maturity as reputable and useful citizens. They will some day help to carry the torch. In the Sunset of Life you have helped to dispel the gloom of loneliness and fear which comes when feebleness grips the human frame and friends and relatives leave for that undiscovered bourne from which no traveler returns.
Through you Masons the effects of Masonry have been felt at the bedside in the homes of our sick and distressed Brethren. You made it possible for your Master and Secretary to visit several of our Brethren on Christmas Day and during the holidays and helped in bringing words of comfort and encouragement to some whose weary feet were nearing the end of life's toilsome journey. No Master can fail to remember his visits to sick rooms and it is unlikely that any Master is without memories of Brethren in despair being brightened to tears of joy. Doctor bills, burdensome expenses of our Brethren have been paid by our Lodge and we have helped men to live again. This is one way in which Masonry expresses itself and I am sure that you all take great satisfaction if1 knowing that your investment in Masonry makes this possible and believe that you feel amply repaid for your work in supporting our great institution.
Many things have happened during the year and it is impossible to review other than important events and comment briefly on the work we have done during the past year.
Shortly after we were installed members of this Lodge received a mimeographed program which proved useful not only to us but also to the Grand Lodge Board of General Activities which has used it as a specimen for other Lodges of the state to follow. Considerable study and careful planning was necessary before the program was completed but time spent in this work made it possible to bring many facts concerning the Lodge to the attention of the Brethren. the committees named in this program had their duties defined and I can say with pride that all worked with efficiency. I cannot give too much thanks to our workers, particularly those who served on the sick committee.
Our new and revised "Gavel" has been received by the Brethren with general satisfaction and enjoyment. When a four page "Gavel" was first suggested some thought that we would be unable to write sufficient copy to complete the pages. This was not so, however, and it was found necessary to omit many important features. The Gavel has been read by our Brethren throughout the year in this and foreign lands with great pleasure. It has been a timely reminder that Masonry still survives at home.
During the year our meetings have been well attended despite a shortage of tires and gasoline. This has greatly pleased your Master and Officers and gave us all encouragement to make elaborate plans for our Eightieth Anniversary Celebration which took place on November 13th. Without doubt this celebration was one of the most notable Masonic occasions ever to take place in this district. It was gratifying to have the Grand Master; the Grand Secretary, Grand Treasurer and the Grand Marshal present on this auspicious occasion and very pleasing to know that the Grand Master had declined an invitation to attend the dedication of a large and important Masonic Service Center at Rome, New York in order to be present. The Grand Senior Warden substituted for him and his was the reason why he was not among our honored guests.
Our celebration not only called attention to the fact that Monticello Lodge had rendered eighty years of worthy service to this community but it brought Masons from far and near and helped to create a cordial and friendly feeling among our neighboring Lodges.
Adding considerable to the success of our celebration was the enjoyable music which came from the Hammond Electric Organ which was loaned for the occasion by our kind Brother, Ben Rubin. Arrangements for the organ were made by Wor. Bro. Samuel Levy and Bro, Samuel Sprayregen, We were fortunate in having Bro. Roy Leslie Holmes at the keyboard. Your Master and the Lodge are very grateful to Bro. Rubin for the loan of this valuable organ and I know that there is not one of us who does not appreciate the outstanding musical program provided by our Brother J. Maxwell Knapp, Bro. Holmes, our Organist Charles Atwell and others.
As we look back through the year we note that our Lodge has been mindful of the fact that some of our Brethren are serving our country and us so that we may continue to dwell in unity as Masons. Fifteen of our brothers are thusly engaged and in a Masonic manner they are represented on this flag which should be an ever present reminder that we all have our labors to perform in this great world catastrophe if we are to endure as upright men and Masons. Let us not forget that this flag is an emblem of our esteem for those who fight, work and give so that Masonic principles may live.
Although it required considerable work and research I greatly enjoyed the opportunity of having compiled a 140-page history of, this and other Masonic Lodges in this district for presentation on our Lodge's Eightieth Birthday.
Deserving much credit in making possible the payment of our bills for the year are our Stewards who have provided enjoyable refreshments throughout the year at an exceedingly and surprisingly low cost. Wor. Bro. Leland Silvieus and his able assistant Bro. William Gregory have completed the year with their duties well done.
It is a great honor to be Master of a Masonic Lodge and particularly Monticello Lodge which has been headed by great men and builders. It is a pleasure to hold our meetings in this magnificent building which has been made possible only because we have been fortunate enough to have brethren willing and able to manage it wisely and profitably. These men, you know, are our trustees. To them we are grateful. (Our present Trustees, Wor. Bro. Ralph Pelton, Grant Davison and Fred Goltermann, should never be forgotten as faithful and trusted servants. Although our problems have been great during the past few years they have met every obstacle as men and Masons and tonight they share the great satisfaction with us of having every office and room rented in this building.
It shall be my pleasure this evening to present certificates to four members of our Craft who took up the working tools 30 years ago, Roy Leslie Holmes, Luis deHoyos, John H. Hess and Herbert H. Shannon.
Along with the bright spots and happiness each year brings sorrow and tears. Few if any the years since this Lodge was organized when the Grim Reaper has not made his visit. Three times this year Masonic tears have wet the graves of Brothers of this Lodge and twice we have been saddened by the death of those upon whose honored shoulders there rested the purple of the Craft.
M.W. Harold Richardson with whom many of our Brethren were personally acquainted and from whom came the immortal phrase: "Freemasonry is a life to be lived not a formality to be perfunctorily observed. It is a life to be lived not a set of empty creeds to which lip service is given. It is a life grounded in religion, organized in morality, mellowed by good fellowship; humanized in charity, and dedicated to service."
The other wearer of the Purple was our friend and neighbor, Harry A. Ward, who served as Deputy of this District. His willingness to help aid and assist a fellow Mason was as gentle as his pleasant smile and kind manner.
The workmen of our own temple include Isaac Levine, who would have ended 42 years of faithful service on November 23, 1942. He was called to Eternal Rest on June 6, 1942. He will long be remembered as a good servant of the Lodge who on many occasions found himself almost too infirm and ill to climb the stairs to the Lodge Rooms. Under these adverse conditions he made many visits. He loved to reminisce and his stories of old-time Masonry were enjoyed by all. He was a cigar maker with the ability of an expert and a man who was greatly respected in this community.
Another great loss to our Fraternity was noted when Brother William Whittaker of South Fallsburg, laid down his working tools at the end of life's toilsome journey, Bro. Whittaker had long suffered the agonies which comes from the dreaded cancer but little did he let his friends and associates know about the pain he suffered in the later days of his life he attended lodge in a wheel chair. His smile was always present and his philosophy of life seemed to be "cheer" rather than to be cheered. 'Brother Whittaker' had served his lodge and his community well-he was a good husband, father, citizen and Mason and leaves a. pleasant memory to all who knew him.
On November 28 Bro. John Quick died at Binghamton. He would have completed his thirtieth year as a member of the Craft on March 14, 1943. He had not lived in Monticello for more than a decade but from what we have been able to learn about him he was an upright man and Mason. By his request Masonic funeral services were conducted for him by the Johnson City Lodge which acted for Monticello Lodge.
[LODGE HISTORY]
