My Brothers,

May 25 is Memorial Day. Since this year is the 250th anniversary of our country the importance of this holiday and its impact are especially apparent. Were it not for those who fought and died for this country, we would not be celebrating this milestone anniversary and they should all be remembered with the utmost reverence and gratitude.

From a Masonic perspective, there is another dimension to this holiday that may sometimes be overlooked. Both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, the former fought to establish the United States of America and the latter fought to preserve that Union, included American Freemasons on both sides of those conflicts. This fact reminds us that the tenets and bonds of Freemasonry transcend politics and government and Freemasonry is a true Brotherhood of men. This truth is most eloquently and succinctly captured in the following inscription on the Gettysburg Battlefield monument named the Friend to Friend Masonic Memorial:

“This monument is presented by the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania and dedicated as a memorial to the Freemasons of the Union and the Confederacy. Their unique bonds of friendship enabled them to remain a brotherhood undivided, even as they fought in a divided nation, faithfully supporting the respective governments under which they lived.”

Thus, this Memorial Day, in addition to remembering our fallen heroes, we should also remember that Freemasonry remains a Brotherhood undivided even by war.

I would also like to call your attention to our first Stated Communication this month on May 1. As part of our commemoration of the 100th anniversary of DeMolay

International, Milford Chapter, members of DeMolay will be portraying the DeMolay Degree. I highly recommend that you attend this dramatic and educational Degree.

Also, at our second Stated Communication on May 15, our Secretary RWB Chuck McCollum will be giving a highly informative presentation titled “A Lesson on Death

from the Master Mason Degree”. For those of you seeking further Masonic education, you do not want to miss this presentation.

Finally, we will be having our second Fifth Friday Fellowship happy hour at Bar 3 Thirty Three in Milford on Friday, May 29 (see calendar below for more details). Please join us for food, drinks, and fellowship. Spouses, significant others, and those who may be interested in Masonry are welcome as well.

Fraternally,  

Jeffrey J. Scepanski

Worshipful Master