| Brother Tom MacPhee of King Solomon’s Temple
Lodge #45 in Bellows Falls held off the challengers on Saturday to
claim the title of “Vermont Masonic Cribbage Champion”.
The finals of the Vermont Masonic Cribbage Tournaments were held
Saturday, April 17th at Granite Lodge in Barre. The top players
from the several district tournaments competed in head to head
play. At the end of the opening round Tom MacPee had won all five
of his first round games and had amassed 605 points. Brother Jesse
Hanson of Libanus Lodge #47 in Bristol was close behind with 4
wins and 604 points. The other two players advancing to the championship
round were Brother Jim McGinnis of Chipman Lodge # 52 in Wallingford
and Brother Paul Stoddard of with 4 wins apiece and 594 and 593
points respectively.
In the Championship Round, Brother MacPhee again won all three
games of the round and eked out the win over runner-up Paul Stoddard
who had won two of his three games and trailed by only 17 points
Brother Tom MacPhee was presented a certificate and a special
cribbage “box-board” suitably engraved in recognition
of that achievement.
Brother Paul Stoddard was named Runner-up, and presented with
a certificate acknowledging his demonstrated skills.
This Championship Tournament was the culmination of a state wide
event benefiting the Masonic Charities of Vermont with the monies
raised specifically earmarked for the Grand Lodge Scholarship Program
which offers to match local Lodge funds for scholarships to be
awarded by the participating local Lodges. More than thirty-seven
of the lodges participated by holding local tournaments in which
the players each donated a five dollar entry fee to the Scholarship
Fund. Twelve of our thirteen Districts held a play-off of the Lodge
Champions where a ten-dollar entry fee was donated to the same
fund. At Saturday’s Championships each contestant entry fee
of twenty dollars swelled the total funds raised by Vermont’s
Masonic Cribbage Players to just over three thousand dollars.
Our Grand Master, Brother Bruce Pomeroy, (no cribbage slouch,
by the way), took on all challengers who donated an additional
five dollars to the charity for the privilege. With due respect
to our Grand Master, we only offer that his contribution of time
playing the challengers added significantly to the funds raised.
Our Wor Grand Tyler, Brother Doug McCarty of Meridian Sun Lodge
in Craftsbury walked away with the dubious honor of posting the
lowest total point score of the tourney but with a win in a challenge
match with an opponent that discretion would best leave un-named.
Our hosts on Saturday, Granite Lodge of Barre, under the leadership
of Wor Past Master Dave Sanguinetti, provided all players and guests
with morning coffee and donuts and after the opening round, with
a lunch of tossed salad, mostaccioli, and crustless apple pie.
Speaking for our Grand Master and all of The Grand Lodge of Vermont,
I thank every one who played, helped organize and run the several
tournaments at all levels, and all those who made contributions
to the Scholarship Fund through this program. Our appreciation
to Granite Lodge and it’s members who gave freely of their
time to help in Saturday’s event. This has been a fun program
for all who participated and it has raised a significant amount
of money that we can make available to the Lodges for Scholarship
presentations. I encourage all of our Lodges to consider creating
and awarding a Scholarship in your local schools if you don’t
already have such a program. Your District Deputy Grand Master
will assist you to initiate one and to secure matching monies from
the Grand Lodge Fund. I also encourage all the Lodges to participate
in next years Vermont Masonic Cribbage Tournaments, again supporting
the Scholarship Funds. It has been wonderful fun and contributed
significantly to the camaraderie, which is the glue of our great
fraternity.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
John R Campbell Jr
Deputy Grand Master
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