Freemasonry in Vermont

Winter 2008 - 2009

Visiting and Important Events

L to R: Cedric Smith, PGM, Grand Secretary, Robert Hatfield, Grand Master of New Hampshire, Richard Sokoll, Grand Master of Rhode Island and Calvin Keyler, Grand Master, VT. Attending the Grand Master's Banquet in Connecticut on March 29, 2009.

L to R: Dr./Bro. Paul D. Gleason, R. W. Deputy Grand Master, District of Columbia, Brother Calvin K. Keyler, Grand Master of Vermont. Dr. Gleason is Grand Master Calvin's personal Dr. when Brother Cal visits the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia.

Brother Cal and Joanne Keyler, celebrating their 49th wedding anniversary at Vermont Freemasons Day, March 11, 2009.

Young Masons "Ladies at the Table Lodge" held at Boutwell Masonic Center in Montpelier on April 4, 2009.

This was the first Ladies at the Table Lodge for the Young Masons Lodge and it was a great success. All the ladies received a red rose. A good time was had by all!

 

New England Broother Hood Night in Brattleboro, VT

L to R: Robert Landry, Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Maine and Calvin Keyler, Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Vermont, at the Annual New England Broother Hood Night in Brattleboro, VT on March 21, 2009. Grand Master Calvin Keyler was the host Grand Master.

L to R: Richard Sokoll, Grand Master of Rhode Island, Robert Hatfield, Grand Master of New Hampshire, Calvin Keyler, Grand Master of Vermont and host, Roger Pageau, Grand Master of Massachusetts, Robert Landry, Grand Master of Maine and Robert Stika, Grand Master of Connecticut. The event was the Annual New England Brother Hood Night hosted by Calvin Keyler, Grand Master of Vermont at Brattleboro Lodge No. 102, Brattleboro, Vermont. 82 Masons from the New England Grand Lodges attended this annual event.

Vermont Freemasons Day, March 11, 2009 at Sahib Shrine Temple in Sarasota, Florida

The welcome at Sahib Shrine Temple

Brother Lloyd Monroe receiving his 55-year membership button from Brother Calvin K. Keyler, Grand Master, on March 11, 2009 at Vermont Freemasons Day held Sahib Shrine Temple, Sarasota, Florida.

Brother Joseph H. Harrington receiving his 55-year membership button from Brother Calvin K. Kelyer, Grand Master on March 11, 2009 at Vermont Freemasons Day held at Sahib Shriners Temple, Sarasota, Florida.

Brother Chester Waters receiving his 55-year membership button from Brother Calvin K. Keyler, Grand Master, on March 11, 2009 at Vermont Freemason Day held at Sahib Shrine Temple, Sarasota, Florida.

Brother Harvey M. Lincoln, receiving his 50-year membership button from Brother Calvin K. Keyler, Grand Master on March 11, 2009 at Vermont Freemasons Day held at Sahib Shrine Temple, Sarasota, Florida.

Brother Richard E. Brown receiving his 50-year membership button from Brother Calvin K. Keyler, Grand Master, assisted by Brother Erin M. Ryan, Grandson of Brother Brown, on March 11, 2009 at Vermont Freemasons Day held at Sahib Shrine Temple, Sarasota, Florida.

Brother Erin M. Ryan receiving the Lewis Jewel from Brother Calvin K. Keyler, Grand Master assisted by Grandfather Brother Richard E. Brown on March 11, 2009 at Vermont Freemasons Day held at Sahib Shrine Temple, Sarasota, Florida

Brother Kenneth Mason, a member of Morning Flower Lodge No. 71 recieving his 50-year membership button from Brother Calvin K. Keyler, Grand Master, at Vermont Freemasons Day, March 11, 2009 at Sahib Shrine Temple in Sarasota, Florida.

One half of the Group that attended the Vermont Freemasons Day on March 11, 2009 held at Sahib Shrine Temple, Sarasota, Florida.

The other half of the group that attended the Vermont Freemasons Day on March 11, 2009 at Sahib Shrine Temple, Sarasota, Florida.

Brother Calvin Keyler greeting Brother John R. Wermann, District Deputy Grand Master of the 27th Masonic District in The Grand Lodge of Florida representing the Grand Master of Florida, Brother Joseph Fleites of The Grand Lodge of Florida at The Grand Lodge of Vermont's Freemasons Day held at Sahib Shrine Temple in Sarasota on March 11, 2009.

 

 

 

Donation to Family Center

The Chester Andover Family Center got a much appreciated donation recently when Chester's Olive Branch Masonic Lodge gave the center a check for $5,000.

"We were pleased to do this," said Mason Secretary Don Webster."This is one of our more worthwhile donations." Gert Bennett, the executive manager of the center, said that local demand is extremely high, with nearly 60 households being helped with food each month, three times as many as just a year ago. With more layoffs happening each week, Bennett said they expect the demand will continue to increase.

Above, from left, Don Webster, Gert Bennett and Family Center treasurer Jonne Adler

February 2009 Events

Calvin Keyler, Grand Master and Thomas Johnston, IV, Deputy Grand Master, taken at the Conference of Grand Masters,
February 17, 2009.

L to R: Andy Hirst, Area Representative, National Sojourner,
Clayton Clark, Director, Office of Veterans Affairs in Vermont,
John R Campbell, Jr, President of Green Mt. Chapter No. 527, National Sojourners in Vermont and Calvin K. Keyler, Grand Master, Masons of Vermont. Clayton Clark was the guest speaker at the Green Mt. Chapter No. 527 meeting held on Saturday, February 21, 2009 at the Hill Top Restaurant in Barre, Vermont

L to R: Andy Hirst, Area Representative for the National Sojourners, Inc., John R. Campbell, Jr., President of Green Mt. Chapter No. 527, National Sojourners, David C. Jeffery, new members, John MacWalters, new member and Calvin K. Keyler, Grand Master of Masons of Vermont. Brothers Jeffery and MacWalters were inducted into Green Mt. Chapter No. 527, National Sojourners, Inc. on Saturday, February 21, 2009.

L to R: Brother Gordon Eurich, PDDHM#6,
Brother Edward Eurich, M. W. Past Grand Master
and Ed's daughter, February 22, 2009.
Brother Eurich later received his 70-year membership button.

February 22, 2009 Brother Gardner Palmer being greeted by Brother Calvin K. Keyler, M. W. Grand Master. Brother Palmer is in a nursing home in Berlin, Vermont

L to R: Brother Gordon Eurich, PDDGM #6, Brother Ed Eurich, M. W. Past Grand Master, Brother Calvin K. Keyler, M. W. Grand Master, Brother Richard Backus, R. W. District Deputy Grand Master, No. 6. Grand Master Keyler present Brother Ed Eurich his 70-year membership button. Brother Gordon, Brother Ed Eurich and Brother Richard Backus are members of Mad River Lodge No. 77, Waits River, Vermont. February 22, 2009

Brother Robert Bragg, Wyoming Lodge No. 80, Plainfield, VT with Brother Calvin K. Keyler February 22, 2009.
Brother Bragg came to wish Brother Ed Eurich congratulations on obtaining 70-years of membership in Freemasonry.

Brother Carlos Carpenter, a member of Granite Lodge No. 35, Barre, Vermont visited by Brother Calvin K. Keyler, Grand Master. Brother Carlos is in a nursing home in Berlin, Vermont.

Brother Urban Wakefield, a member of Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 8, Morrisville, VT. received his Centenary Certificate on
February 12, 2009.

Sixty-year member, Ken Pollard honored at
Vermont Lodge, No. 18 in Windsor

On hand for the presentation were Cal Keyler, Grand Master, Ken Pollard, celebrating sixty years as a Mason, Kevin Anderson, Worshipful Master and Mitch Holden, Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master of District, No. 1.

White River Lodge, Bethel, VT

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L to R: Brother Calvin K. Keyler, Grand Master, Brother Clyde Reynolds, Mitchell Holden, District Deputy Grand Master No. 1 and Brother Frank E. Pratt, Master of White River Lodge No. 90, Bethel, Vermont. Brother Clyde Reynolds received his 50-year membership button, from Grand Master Keyler at a regular meeting of White River Lodge No. 90, Bethel, Vermont.

Brother Frank Pratt, Master of White River Lodge No. 90, Bethel, VT and Brother Calvin K. Keyler, Grand Master. Grand Master Keyler made a visit to White River Lodge No. 90 on February 12, 2009.

Vermont & New Hampshire Grand Officers Meeting, February 7, 2009

L to R: Karren Hinton, Joanne Keyler and Judy Crouse at the Vermont New Hamsphire Weekend in Lyme, NH on February 7, 2009 showing their "Proud to be a Masonic Lady" shirts.

Vermont and New Hampshire Grand Officers with there "Proud to Masons" shirts on February 7, 2009 at Lyme, New Hampshire.

Grand Lodge Officers and their ladies from Vermont and New Hampshire showing off their "Proud to Masons" shirts.

Three Past Grand Masters from Vermont and New Hampshire and the Deputy Grand Master from New Hampshire and their ladies at the meeting of the Vermont and New Hampshire Grand Officer's meeting on February 7, 2009.

Winter Activities

Brother Errol Hinton, Grand Lecture, center, residing over the mid-winter assembly of the District Deputy Grand Masters on January 24, 2009.

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Brother Paul Mousher, his two boys and his wife Terri attending the reception of Noble Wilfred A. Desilet, new Potentate of Mount Sinai Shrineres No. 3 in Montpelier, VT. Brother Paul was installed as the Outer Guard of Mt. Sinai Shriners No. 3. Brother Paul is also serving as District Deputy Grand Master, District No. 12 for the Grand Lodge of Vermont.

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Brother Michael Ladd, Master of Orleans Lodge No. 55, Barton, Brother Maurice Smith, Brother Calvin K. Keyler, Grand Master and Brother Roland Woodard, Secretary of Orleans Lodge
No. 55, Barton.

Brother Maurice Smith received his 70-year membership button from Grand Master Keyler. Brother Smith will be 98 on July 26, 2009. He asked if we presented 75-year membership buttons. He will be looking forward to receiving it. Brother Smith is so sharp, he kept us all laughing, and he gave at least a 10 minute speech about his life in the military and Freemasonry. He lives in Northfield, VT in the home that he had build many years ago.

 

Vermont Freemasons Donate Welcome Building

The Vermont Freemasons Donate a Welcome Building to the Veterans Memorial Cemetery

During the District Meetings this last year, Masons attending the meetings enthusiastically made personal donations to the Grand Master's project to raise enough money to donate a Welcome Building at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center. Recently the new building was delivered culminating a year long project in which hundreds of Vermont Masons participated. The Welcome building, which stands at the very entrance to the cemetery will house maps of the cemetery, informational literature on the services of the facility and will serve as a welcoming point for those conducting and coming to funerals.

A stone plaque commemorating our fraternity's support for veterans will be placed on the building at a dedication ceremony planned for this spring. Your Grand Master sincerely thanks every Mason and the number of Lodges which donated to this very worthwhile project. It will demonstrate to all who enter the beautiful grounds the support of Vermont Freemasons for veterans. It certainly will add another reason for all of us to be "Proud to be Masons" in Vermont.

"Proud to Be A  Mason"

A man who epitomizes a Brother who is " Proud to be a Mason " is Arnold Preston of George Washington Lodge, No. 51 in Chelsea.

Having served as Master in Chelsea on several occasions, and for Grand Lodge as District Deputy Grand Master in 1983 of District No. 9 and as Grand Senior Deacon in 1989, Arnold is known throughout Masonry in Vermont for his precise rendition of all sections of the ritual. He is concluding his current term in Chelsea as Master with a record of once again recharging the Lodge with many new young Brothers initiated in the last two years. Recently our Grand Master Cal visited George Washington Lodge and reminisced on their over 30 years of friendship as brothers and friends.

  Brother John H. Davis, Jr., DDGM No. 4, raised his son, Brother Evan Davis in Eureka Lodge No. 75 on Saturday, January 4, 2009.

 

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Recently our Grand Master took the time to visit Brother Dave Smith at his home in Chester. Dave is a Past Master of Olive Branch Lodge, No. 64. Sometime ago Brother Dave suffered an unexpected seizure that left him almost completely unable to operate physically. It has been a long hard time for Dave and his wife Deborah, but now Dave is starting to make progress. He can talk and move around to some extent.

Throughout this demanding challenge Dave remains devoted to Masonry. He can watch television and go on the Internet and is continually kept up to date on the progress of the lodge by Secretary, Don Webster. As Grand Master Cal described it in his talk at the District 11 Meeting, "there is no brother in Vermont more proud of his Masonic membership than Brother Dave. Dave wears his Masonic pin with great pride and is to be admired for his tenacious wish to return to attending meetings.
We all are pulling for his recovery.

Eureka Lodge No. 75, Fair Haven, VT

Four new Master Masons raised on Saturday, January 4, 2009.

Awards, Medals & Buttons

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L to R: John R. Campbell, Jr, PGM, Brother Richard Downer, Washington Lodge No. 3, receiving the Grand Lodge John Barney Medal, Calvin Keyler, Grand Master.

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L to R: Buster Seward, W. M., Allyn Seward presented 70 Year membership Button from Calvin Keyler, Grand Master, David Seward, George Gage, presented 55 Year membership Button from Calvin K. Keyler, Grand Master and Bill Seward.

L to R: Cedric Smith, PGM, Grand Secretary presenting Brother Gary A. Burgess, District Deputy Grand Master, No. 2 his Lewis Jewell. The names on the Jewell are Charles Burgess, Grand Father, Robert Burgess, Father and Gary Burgess. Brother Charles Burgess, Grand Father, was District Deputy Grand Master No. 9 in 1959-1960 and Grand Junior Deacon in 1963.

L to R: Brother Cedric Smith, Master of Pulaski Lodge No. 58, Brother M. Ross McLeod, Brother Glenn Dow, DDGM, No. 9 presenting Brother Ross McLeod his 50-year membership button, June 2, 2008.

L to R: Brothers Stuart Stevens and James Stevens receiving their 25-year membership button from Cedric Smith, Master of Pulaski Lodge.
Brothers Stuart and James were raised on March 5, 1983 by their Dad, Brother Gordon Stevens.

 

Grand Master's "Proud to be a Mason Tour" to Gettysburg and Washington DC.

The contingent of our Vermont Masons at the "Friend to Friend" Masonic Monument in Gettysburg conducting our Vermont Civil War Veterans Appreciation Ceremony held early in November.

One of the highlights of the recent "Proud to be a Mason" trip to Gettysburg and Washington DC was a tour through the famous House of The Temple Building, the headquarters of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction. The massive building houses large meeting rooms, a museum and one of the largest libraries of Masonic information in the world. Our group, shown here on the front portico of the building, was fortunate to be guided through the tour by Brother Jules Tepper, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia.

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