Document Title STB-FE78 IN MEMORIAM CONRAD HAHN 1906 - 1977
STB-FE-78
Music on this page is: piano sonata no. 3. in bb Movement #1 allegro by Brother Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
IN MEMORIAM CONRAD HAHN 1906 - 1977
"PREACHING .
TEACHING . . .
HEALlNG . . ."
This Short Talk Bulletin is the funeral
sermon delivered by Rev. John G. Marvin,
D.D., Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church, at
the funeral of our beloved Most Worshipful
Brother Conrad Hahn, P.G.M. (Connecticut), who served as Executive Secretary/
Treasurer of the Masonic Service Association of the United States from 1964 to
1977.
The moving message of "Preaching . . .
Teaching . . . Healing" is of special tribute
to Most Worshipful Brother Hahn; however,
it contains important insight into the application of Masonic Ideals.
Dr. Marvin graciously permitted the use
of this sermon as a Short Talk Bulletin for
which deep appreciation is expressed.
"God is our refuge and strength, a vary
present help in trouble.--I will lift up mine
eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my
help. My help cometh from the Lord, which
made heaven and earth." (From Psalms 46
and 121).
"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though 1 walk through the valley of the
shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the
presence of mine enemies;
Thou anointest my head with oil; My cup
runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever."
(Psalm 23 )
Let us pray: Lord, we would lift up our eyes
unto the hills, beyond the limits of our physical
sight to the light of Thy presence. We confess
that we are temporal; but we affirm that Thou
art eternal. Lord, we are weak, but Thou art
strong. In Thee do we put our trust.
Help us also to remember that Thou are
our shepherd and dost lead us through green
pastures; beside still waters; and in the paths
of righteousness. And when Thou dost call
us to go into the valley of the shadow we
would say with the Psalmist, "Yea, though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with
me." And, Lord, point us to the greener
pastures on the other side of the Valley.
And now as our Savior Christ has taught
us let us pray together saying: "Our Father,
who art in heaven; Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread; and forgive us our debts as we forgive
our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the king-
dom, and the power, and the glory, forever,
Amen."
This service is to the Glory of God and in
loving memory of Conrad Hahn who was so
closely related to the three great professions,
those of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:
preaching, teaching, and healing. We will express our gratitude for this life of dedicated
service.
* * * * *
Let us give thanks for the life of Conrad
Hahn as one who was closely related to the
preaching ministry of the church. He began
his life as a child of the Manse and a son of a
minister. Throughout his whole life he was
dedicated to the Church, and ecumenical in
his loyalty. Having begun his life as a Presbyterian he became a Baptist while he served as
Headmaster in a Baptist country Day School.
Then he became a member of the Congregational Church, serving on the Board of
Stewardship while in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
And when he came to Washington, he became
a loyal member of this congregation for 18
years and concluded his life as a Presbyterian
once again. Even though he was a layman he
served as a supply minister and was a fine
public speaker.
The author of the book of Hebrews speaks
of this characteristic and dedication in the
familiar words: "Now faith is the substance
of things hoped for, the evidence of things not
seen. For by it the elders obtained good
report. These all died in faith, not having
received the promises, but having seen them
afar off and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were
strangers and pilgrims on the earth. But now
they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called
their God, for he hath prepared for them a
city. (from Hebrews 11 )
One of Conrad Hahn's favorite hymns
speaks of this faith which was the treasured
po~session of our fathers.
"Faith of our fathers! living still
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword.
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene'er we hear that glorious word!
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
Faith of our fathers! we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife,
And preach thee, too, as love knows how,
By kindly words and virtuous life:
Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!
Frederick W. Faber
* * * * *
Let us give thanks for the life of Conrad
Hahn as one who was closely related to the
teaching ministry. As Teacher and Headmaster in the Unquowa Country Day School,
Fairfield, Connecticut, and the Suffield Academy in Suffield, Connecticut. As a teacher and
scholar he never gave up his dedication to the
search for knowledge and particularly in the
spiritual things.
When Jesus Christ described His call to His
family and friends in the synagogue at
Nazareth, He spoke of the preaching-teaching
ministry in these words: "The Spirit of the
Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed
me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath
sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, and recovering of
sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that
are bruised . " ( Luke 4 :18 )
No part of his teaching ministry was more
important than the words He spoke to His
disciples in the upper room on the night before
He went to His cross and explained to them
eternal things and an eternal home: "Let not
your heart be troubled; ye believe in God,
believe also in me. In my Father's house are
many mansions; if it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again, and receive you unto myself; that
where I am, there ye may be also." (John
14: 1-3)
The poet speaks of the importance of the
teacher's vocation in the words:
" A builder builded a temple,
He wrought it with grace and skill;
Pillars and groins and arches
All fashioned to work his will.
Men said, as they saw its beauty,
'It shall never know decay.
Great is thy skill, O builder:
Thy fame shall endure for aye.'
A teacher builded a temple
with loving and infinite care,
Planning each arch with patience,
Laying each stone with Fayer.
None praised her unceasing efforts
None knew of her wondrous plan;
For the temple the teacher builded
Was unseen by the eyes of man.
Gone is the builder's temple,
Crumbled into the dust;
Low lies each stately pillar,
Food for consuming rust.
But the temple the teacher builded
Will last while the ages roll,
For that beautiful unseen temple
Is a child's immortal soul."
Let us give thanks for the life of Connie
Hahn as one who was closely related to the
healing ministry. As Executive Secretary of
the Masonic Service Association of the United
States, he supervised not only research and
education but also the outstanding Hospital
Visitation Program. In addition he was author
and editor of "Your Masonic Hospital Visitor."
And now his family has designated the Masonic
Home and Hospital of Wallingford, Connecti-
cut, to receive Memorial Gifts. Certainly his
faith was reflected in his love and concern for
others.
The Apostle Paul speaks of this in his letter
to the Church at Rome when he says: "And
we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose. What shall
we then say to these things? If God be for us,
who can be against us? Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through
him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor
things to come; Nor height, nor depth, nor any
other creature, shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus
our Lord." (from Romans 8)
The Quaker poet, John Greenleaf Whittier,
has captured the thought of this loving service
and its eternal dimension in the familiar poem:
"Immortal Love, forever full,
Forever flowing free,
Forever shared, forever whole,
A never-ebbing sea!
The healing of His seamless dress
Is by our beds of pain;
We touch Him in life's throng and press,
And we are whole again
O Lord and Master of us all,
Whate'er our name or sign,
We own Thy sway, we hear Thy call,
We test our lives by Thine."
Into the hands of our loving Heavenly
Father we commit the life and work of Conrad
Hahn.
* * * * *
Let us pray: Our Father, we thank Thee
that Thou are the Giver of all good gifts
and we know that all that we are and all we
hope to be, all that we have and hope to
possess are gifts from Thy loving hand. But
especially we give Thee thanks for the Supreme
Gift of Thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ. At
this glorious season of the year, we are especially grateful for Bethlehem and the voice of the
angel who said, "Fear not, for behold I bring
you good tidings of great joy which shall be
to all people, for unto you is born this day in
the city of David a Savior who is Christ the
Lord." We thank Thee for His birth in Bethlehem, His life and teaching, His death and
resurrection and the assurance that His presence is with us.
We would claim His promise that where
two or three are gathered together in His name,
that He is there in the midst, and again, "Lo, I
am with you always, even unto the end of the
world."
And now we pause to thank Thee once
again for the life that has lived among us. The
Psalmist has told us that the days of our years
are three score years and ten, and we give Thee
thanks for one who knew the full span of life.
The Psalmist has also told us that, "God is
our refuge and strength. A very present help
in trouble." And we are grateful for a man
of faith who could say with Thy servant Martin
Luther, "A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing."
Once again in the Scripture Thou hast told
us, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it
with all thy might." We thank Thee for one
who was totally given over to his work, taking
time from himself and other interests to be of
service to those in need. And now that sickness and death is passed we are grateful that
Thou has called him so quickly from this life
to the life eternal, and that he may be reunited
with many whom he has loved long since and
lost awhile.
Thine especial blessing rest upon those who
are conscious of the severing of ties of blood
and of friendship, especially his immediate
family, his wife, daughters and grandchildren,
those who are bound to him by fraternal ties,
and others who are gathered here due to their
ties of affection.
And may the "peace of God which passeth
all understanding keep your minds and hearts
in the knowledge and love of God, and of His
Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and may the
blessing of God the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit be and abide with you all both
now and forever." Amen.
TRIBUTE
In 1967, The Grand Lodge l~f Connecticut presented Most
Worshipful Brother Hahn with The Pierpont Edwards Medal
in Silver, for Eminent Masonic Service. The accompanying
citation embodies the spirit of Conrad Hahn. We take pride
in extracting generous portions of that citation.
CONRAD HAHN
Twenty-seven years have passed since Brother Conrad Hahn applied for membership in
Apollo Lodge No. 59 at Suffield, Connecticut.
Tn that relatively short span of time his feet
have trod a path which led from the northeast
corner of his Mother Lodge to a position of
national prominence.
The mantle of service fits comfortably on his
broad shoulders for he inherits from his forbears a dedication to the premise of "others
above self." He is the grandson of Dr. Ferdinand Hahn, a medical missionary who estab-
lished the first mission for lepers in India. A
generation closer, his father, Dr. Theodore F.
Hahn, was serving as a medical missionary and
teacher when Conrad Hahn and his twin brother were born on December 13, 1906 at Fuerte,
Sinaloa, Mexico.
The pursuit of education carried him to the
public school systems of Louisiana, New York,
and Pennsylvania; to the University campuses
of Yale and Columbia; and to the classrooms
and administrative offices of Connecticut preparatory schools. At Yale, he was awarded a
Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors, and
membership in Phi Beta Kappa. In 1933, after
teaching for five years, he received a Master of
Arts Degree from Columbia University, with
highest honors in English. In his search for
knowledge, his athletic prowess was not neglected for he starred in swimming and track
during high school, and won varsity letters in
lacrosse at Yale.
For twenty-four years, beginning in 1928,
he served the students of Suffield Academy. In
his first years there he taught English and German, and in 1961 he was elected Headmaster,
having filled the position of Assistant Headmaster since 1937. After eleven years in this
post, he moved to Fairfield, Connecticut, to
accept the position of Headmaster of Unquowa
School. Here he served with distinction until
1958 when he was called to Washington, D. C.
to fill the vacancy created by the death of Most
Worshipful Carl H. Claudy. Since joining the
Masonic Service Association he has travelled
throughout the United States and his services
as a speaker are in great demand.
Conrad Hahn was elected Worshipful Master
of Apollo Lodge in 1944, only five years after
he was raised. He served as District Deputy,
and on April 3, 1957, after filling the subordinate offices of the Grand Lodge, he was elected
Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in
Connecticut. In September, 1962, at Philadelphia, he was coronetted a Sovereign Grand
Inspector General, 33rd Degree, and an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council for the
Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.
Throughout his career he has had the aid
and encouragement of the girl from Scranton,
Pennsylvania, who became his wife on March
21, 1930. Margaret Ritz Hahn has been his
most ardent supporter in days of success and
his unfailing strength in times of trouble. She
is the mother of their two married daughters,
Marlene Ann and Emily Elizabeth, and is her
husband's willing assistant in spoiling their two
grandchildren.
It is impossible to delineate the reasons for
honoring this man. For how can words describe the unseen facets of a great heart dedicated to the love of mankind? And what
picture can show the working of a keen mind
whose intellect is directed toward benevolent
service in the cause of humanity?
This man whose accomplishments we recognize, embodies a philosophy which is a remarkable blend of the simple and the complex;
simple as a child in his attitude toward morality and truth; complex as the wisdom of the
ages in his knowledge and application of every
commendable virtue.
Tall and erect; combining dignity, humor,
and compassion in his every act; he meets the
problems of life with a firm but gentle hand.
He is dedicated to home, to family, and to his
fellowmen. A man of letters--he is also a
man of God. His words have served to inspire
Masons and non-Masons alike throughout our
vast country.
Conrad Hahn is a living example of a moral
and upright being; a willing servant where
service is needed--a brilliant leader when
called upon to lead. He exemplifies the principles of Freemasonry by precept and example.
It was not for us to teach him the tenets of the
Fraternity at our Altars, for the high ideals
which Masonry teaches are inherent in his
nature.
The contributions of this man cannot be
weighed or counted but his good deeds, like
his friends, are as the sands of the sea.
Man cannot create for him any distinction
save public recognition, for his mantle of
greatness was patterned by God, fitted by loving parents, hemmed by his Masonic vows,
and woven of the moral fiber which is the very
core of his being.
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