STB-NO93
Friend to Friend
Masonic Memorial
By: Edward A. Fowler, Jr. GM.
On August 21 1993 the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
dedicated the "Friend to Friend Masonic Memorial" at
Gettysburg, Pa. This STB is the text of the address given by
R.W. Bro. Edward Fowler, Jr., Grand Master of
Masons of Pennsylvania on that occasion.
Editor
Background
The memorial conceived and sponsored by the Grand
Lodge of Free and accepted Masons of Pennsylvania,
centers on a monument of two sculptured bronze figures
atop a large granite base. The figures portray the historically
verified encounter between Confederate Brigadier
General Lewis Addison Armistead and Captain
Henry Harrison Bingham. Bingham was an aide to
Union Major General Winfield Scott Hancock on Cemetery
Ridge during Picket's charge of July 3 1863. This
attack became known throughout the world as the "High
Tide of the Confederacy"
Although Armistead and Hancock had been friends
and fellow officers for many years, their political differences
came between them at the outbreak of the Civil
War. Armistead joined the newly formed Confederacy
while Hancock chose to stay by the flag of the United States.
Both officers served their counties well and were promoted
into leadership positions.
After the two men went their separate ways, it was
twenty-seven months before they were to meet again.
This meeting finally took place on the battlefield
remembered forever as "Gettysburg." During Pickett's
charge, both officers were wounded. Armistead was mortally
wounded and Hancock received a wound from which he would be in
hospital care for many months. Armistead's cries for help
were heard by several officers nearby, and it was a fellow
fraternity brother, Captain Bigham, who arrived and offered
aid to his fallen comrade-in-arms.
Armistead spoke of his close relationship with Hancock
and he asked Captain Bigham to relay a message to his
friend. He entrusted his personal effects to the captain.
Armstead died two days later at the George Spanger farm
hospital site.
(From "Freemasons at Gettysburg" by Sheldon A. Munn)
Oration by R.W. Edward Fowler Jr.
Can there be anyone here today not stirred
with emotion as we look over these grounds
that hold the remains and the heroics of our
countrymen who gave their lives in the wars of
our nation?
Is there anyone here today who can look
upon this larger-than-life statue of "Brother
Helping Brother" without sensing a love for
humanity--without feeling the compassion
and charity that comes from the Fatherhood of
God and a Brotherhood of Man!
Can't you see in this masterful sculpture. the
tenderness of a human Brotherhood, a compassion
that surpasses personal allegiances
even the harsh political differences of a bitter
war?
It is the spirit of Fratenalism-the bond
that exists among men of principle whose
values lead them to do the right things ... the
good things ... instinctively, willfully and
lovingly.
No doubt, it was with that kind of spirit of
unanimity with which-in these difficult times
President Abraham Lincoln spoke the oft
repeated words:
"With malice toward none, with charity for
all, with firmness in the right as God gives
us to see the right, let us striver on to finish
the work we are in, to bind up the nation's
wounds, to care for him who shall have
borne the battle and for his widow and his
orphan ... "
Abraham Lincoln was not one of the fourteen
United States Presidents who was a Freemason,
but there were occasions when he
spoke of the fraternity with praise and shared
an appreciation for its values.
But, there were other Presidents, Generals
and great Americans who joined in tribute as
men and as Freemasons. On July 4, 1865, right
behind us in the National Cemetery, the Right
Worshipful Grand Master of Free and Accepted
Masons of" Pennsylvania dedicated the
cornerstone of the Soldiers' National Memorial
That was the first monument of its type to
be placed in Gettysburg.
Among the more than ten thousand people
here were President of the United States
Andrew Johnson; former President James
Buchanan; Major General John White Geary
who was the parade marshal; Lt, General
Winfteld Scott; Vice Admiral David Farragut,
and Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin--
all Freemasons!
It is the reflection of those values-specifically the "Bonds of Brotherhood and Compassion"-and as a tribute to the men who lived
and died for them-that the Grand Lodge of
Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania
has sought to portray in this "Friend to Friend
Masonic Memorial Monument."
Sculptor Ron Tunison skillfully captured
with precise detail the emotion and the compassion that was displayed 130 years ago on
the field of war.
I feel I can almost hear General Lewis
Armistead asking Captain Henry Bingham to
"Tell Gencral (Winfield) Hancock for me that
I have don him, and done you all, an injury..."
I can sense the tenderness of Captain
Binghan asking, "If you have anything valuable in your possession which you desire taken
care of, I will take care of it."
I can relate as a man ... as a Freemason ...
as a human being ... to the confidence with
which General Armistead is consigning his
very personal possessions-his spurs and his
gold watch with the Square and Compass and
the Letter "G" on the chain to one he can trust
as a Brother, even though they have been
combatants on the field of war.
Freemasons have placed this statue and
developed the grounds around it in the Cemetery Annex as a never-to-be forgotten tribute
to the values of Brotherhood, Compassion and
Patriotism.
Freemasons and the Masonic Fraternity are
proud to be a part of our national heritage here
at Gettysburg.
The dedication of this statute is the climax
of a wonderful suggestion by two Freemasons
from the Gettysburg area-Brother Sheldon
Munn, a jeweler and Gettysburg Battlefield
Guide, and Brother John Schwartz, an optometrist and also a Battlefield Guide.
They conceived the idea for a monument at
Gettysburg to be dedicated to "Brotherhood
Undivided." It started several years ago when
the two wrote their idea for a monument as a
recommendation to the Grand Lodge Officers.
Now, through several years of dedication,
development, negotiation, research and hard
work, we stand in reverence, awe and pride
beneath the "Friend to Friend Masonic Memorial Monument."
As soon as the Grand Lodge Officers accepted the recommendation of Brothers Munn
and Schwartz, a Committee under the leader
ship of our Right Worshipful Deputy Grand
Master George Hohenshildt set out on a task
that some said would take a miracle to accomplish. Perhaps it seems close to being a miracle
when we look back on all of the negotiations,
the trips to Gettysburg and to Washington, the
planning, designing , commissioning and creating the monument and reconstructing the Cemetery Annex. It was a task far more complex
than anyone involved had anticipated.
It is significant that this is the first time that
an effort of this nature has been carried out
jointly by a private organization and the
National Park Service.
Superintendent Jose Cisneros and The
National Park Service staff at Gettysburg certainly played a key role in making the monument and the development of the Cemetery
Annex become a reality.
Historical accuracy had to be indisputable.
It was Cathy George-Harrison of the National
Park Staff at Gettysburg who recommended
that we select this historically verified scene
of General Armistead and Captain Bingham
for the "Friend to Friend-Brotherhood Undivided" portrayal.
As we went about the extensive task of
reviews and approvals, the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania got some valuable assistance.
We very much appreciate the help we got from
Michigan Congressman William F. Broomfield
and his Administrative Assistant Miss Helen
Lomax in communicating in Washington and
gaining the approval of the Department of the
Interior.
The accomplishment in itself is a statement
of a unanimity that exists among people with
vision.
The Friend to Friend Masonic Memorial
Monument and the beauty of the plazas and
grounds surrounding it now stand in honor of
our sincere Brotherhood of Man.
Captain Bingham kneeling in compassion
to aid a fallen Brother ... General Armistead,
hand to hand, placing trust and hope in his
fellow man ... makes a dramatic statement
about values. They are good men with differ ent views, faithfully patriotic to their respec tive causes, yet concerned for their Brother's
Welfare The Freemasons of Pennsylvania are exceedinlly proud to have undertaken this project
and to have commissioned the well known
historical sculptor, Ron Tunison, to create this
statue and to have the U.S. Department of
Interior accept it on behalf of the National
Park Service and the Gettysburg National
Military Cemetery.
The Friend to Friend Masonic Memorial
Monument will be here to remind all who
stand in awe of its beauty and its significance
of the bonds of a "Brotherhood Undivided."
It will represent well the message of Brother
hood Abrahaln Lincoln left here:
"Let us neither express no cherish and harsh feelings
toward any citizen who by his vote has differed with us.
"Let us at all times remember that all Americans are
Brothers of a common country and should dwell together in
the bonds of Fraternal feelings.'
With those thoughts of Fraternal feelings in
our hearts and minds, let us look once again
upon the Brotherhood Undivided statue of the
Friend to Friend Masonic Memorial and say as
all Freemasons do in supplication: So Mote It
Be--or, So Be It!
Free JavaScripts provided
by The JavaScript Source