2nd Row: RW C. Joseph Rutherford, Grand Director of Ceremonies, 2nd St. Lawrence District; VW Charles Deacon, Grand Steward, Ontario, Canada; RW Randall G. Ball, Assistant Grand Lecturer, 2nd St. Lawrence District; RW Fredertick Rogers, Grand Chaplain, 1st. St. Lawrence District; RW John Dwyer, Deputy Grand Standard Bearer; RW Clayton Ruggles, Jr. Grand Deacon; RW John Krupp, Deputy Grand Marshal.

3rd Row: RW Douglas Cameron, District Deputy Grand Master, Ontario, Canada; RW Ed Snow, Assistant Grand Lecturer, 1st. St. Lawrence District; RW Terry Covey, Grand Director of Ceremonies, 1st. St. Lawrence District; RW Neil Nicol, District Deputy Grand Master, 1st. St. Lawrence District.

New York’s Deputy Grand Master, RW James Sullivan, and his protocol officer, Deputy Grand Marshal RW John Krupp, travelled from Western New York to preside over this historic event in Massena’s history.  Others travelled from downstate and New York City.  They first conducted a solomn Rededication Ceremony, open to the public, using the Masonic symbols of corn, wine, and oil. Joining them for the ceremony were the Junior Grand Warden, RW Charles Uhle; the Grand Treasurer RW William Thomas, Grand Chaplain RW Frederick Rogers, Junior Grand Deacon RW Clayton Ruggles, Deputy Grand Standard Bearer RW John Dwyer, and the District Deputy Grand Master from Canton, RW Thomas Jenison. 

Afterward, the members of the South Glengarry Pipes and Drums played three bagpipe selections while  parading through the spacious lodge room in their traditional kilts and formal regalia.  W John Schneider, Master of Massena Lodge 513, made a surprise presentation of a Past Master Apron to his predecessor, W Clark Johnstone.  It was a gift from the Lodge for his outstanding leadership for more than three years.

The Ceremony adjourned, and the ladies and non-Masons went to Dar’s Restaurant for tea and activities while the Master Masons held a Lodge meeting at the temple building.  They soon joined the ladies at Dar’s and enjoyed cocktails and Celtic music by the Causeway Ramblers, members of whom joined together especially for this celebration.  Kayte and Chris Camerata from Long Island joined with Leslie Swartz and Bill Olsen to form the enchanting ensemble.

A dinner program hosted by local well-known Mason W R. Shawn Gray, began with the Star Spangled Banner beautifully sung by Master Mason and Crane Music student Rob Valentine, a tenor.  He belongs to Hoffman Lodge 412 in Middletown, NY.  His father, Master of  Lodge 412, and some friends made the journey north to hear him perform the song during two of the three events of the day.

Dar’s Restaurant provided three meal choices, including chicken parmesan, lemon pepper haddock, and roast pork dinner.  Their food, the service, and the atmosphere were outstanding. There were toasts to the President of the United States, the Queen and the Craft, the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario, and the Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York.  Many gifts were also presented.

“The Masons are proud of their Massena heritage, and we wanted our celebration to reflect that,” said W Brother Schneider. “We held three events in one day; the rededication ceremony, the tiled Lodge meeting, and the dinner banquet.  We invited the Grand Lodge officers and all our fellow Masons and wives as a tribute to the Masonic traditions of Massena, and celebrated in a way that we hope shows our reverence and respect to those who built our Lodge to where it is today.  We want to continue to serve the community in the same manner as our forefathers;  by taking men of good character and providing them a place and a means to be among others who want to do the same.” 

To become a Mason, a man must be over 21, with a good reputation and a belief in deity.  For further information, see their website at www.mastermason.com/stlawrencefreemason.