Category Archives: Members

On behalf of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and Right Worshipful Grand Master Robert J. Bateman, George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531 presented Bro. Peter Calkins with the Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award. The award was presented to Bro. Peter Calkins by Bro. Donald Weaver, Acting District Deputy Grand Master of the 12th Masonic District for his outstanding service to youth and Freemasonry by serving as a dedicated member of George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531, and a devoted Scout Leader of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council No. 501 and Dallas Troop 281 of the Boy Scouts of America. Bro. Peter Calkins was nominated for the award by Bro. Barry Wagner, past master.

Bro. Peter Calkins is currently serving as Senior Warden of George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531 and will serve as Worshipful Master in 2016. Calkins has been a devoted scouting leader serving as a Den Leader for Cub Scout Pack 281 and currently serving as Scoutmaster for Troop 281 in Dallas.

Shown in photo above, from left are: Donald Weaver, Acting District Deputy Grand Master, Peter Calkins, Senior Warden and Donald Holdredge Sr., Worshipful Master.

Family and friends joined us at our our Lodge for Family Night as part of our June meeting. We shared dishes and conversation before and after the meeting which featured our famous Strawberry desserts prepared by Brother Frank Wagner and a presentation on Back Mountain history by Brother Harrison Wick.

During our regular meeting, a $250 donation was made to the Back Mountain Food Pantry’s Community Garden. Brother Robert McGuire Jr. is the Garden Director coordinating the plowing, seeding, and maintaining of the garden which benefits local families in the Back Mountain area. The donation will be used to purchase seeds and gardening equipment needed to make the garden’s harvest plentiful.

June’s meeting is the last before our Lodge’s summer break. The Lodge will reconvene on Tuesday, September 3.

Bro. Leon F. Brokenshire Jr., PM, reviewed the process of the Examination of a Visitor during our April Stated meeting.

The demonstration explained how Lodges accept visitors and how visitors must present themselves in order to gain entry into another Lodge. Some of the Brethren also shared their experiences with examinations and visiting other Lodges in PA and neighboring states.

Bro. Brokenshire was Worshipful Master at our Lodge in 1973 and served as a Trustee for many years. He also instructs Brothers is Masonic ceremonies and volunteers during our annual charity golf tournament.

The Lodge’s Warden’s were recognized by the Brethren for their service at March’s Stated Meeting. This year’s Wardens are a son and father – Bro. Donald Holdredge Jr, Sr. Warden, and Bro. Donald Holdredge Sr., Jr. Warden. Bro. Robert Wagner, WM, presented pins to the Wardens and thanked them for their service. Wardens assist the Worshipful Master with Lodge meetings, degrees, and organizing Lodge events, and – if qualified – preside over meetings and degrees in the Master’s absence.

Following the meeting, the Susquehanna Chapter of the DeMolay demonstrated the Ceremony of Lights which is part of the youth fraternity’s activities. One of the Chapter’s leaders, Bro. Martin Braen, closed the presentation with a brief explanation of the youth fraternity and thanked the Lodge for a recent donation.

Brother Braen is a member of Lodge No. 442, Wilkes-Barre, and has been at speaker at our Lodge on a few occasions. At his last appearance in November 2012, he spoke on the subject of Freemasonry during the American Civil War.

On a historical note, March signifies the Lodge’s 138th Anniversary. To learn about the Lodge’s history, go to Lodge 531.

During our February Stated Meeting, Brother Mark Stavish from Wyoming Lodge No. 468 spoke on the subject of Freemasonry with “The Chamber of Reflection“. Brother Stavish is a frequent visitor of Lodge 531 and an accomplished author and historian who has been used as a consultant for programs on the History Channel, Animal Planet, and appeared on the nationally-syndicated late night radio show Coast to Coast AM with George Norry. He has also published several books related to Freemasonry.

The meeting also featured the presentation of 50 Year pins and visitations from Brethren of neighboring District 12 lodges.

The Stated Meeting of Monday, January 7, was the premiere of our 2013 Worshipful Master Bro. Robert Wagner, PM. Brother Wagner previously served as WM in 2004. Bro. Barry Wagner, PM, took the reigns as the new Secretary following the retirement of Bro. Severn Newberry after 28 years of service. This meeting also welcomed new Officers Brothers Bill Slabinski, Junior Master of Ceremonies; Jeff O’Donnell, Pursuivant; and Jim Byers, Junior Deacon. And with 2 Holdredges holding 2 offices, Donald Jr. as Senior Warden and Donald Sr. as Junior Warden, they will surely keep our Master on his toes.

A presentation on The Mystery of the Cable Tow was given by one of the Lodge’s favorite orators, Bro. Rev. Dr. Wm. Lewis, Chaplain. The poignant speech discussed the meaning of this Masonic symbol and how it relates to Brothers’ lives inside and outside of the Lodge.

Our Stated Meeting held on Monday, December 3, was a fine finish for the Masonic year and the tenure of Worshipful Master Jonathan Sinclair.

Following a brief Meeting and Officer Elections, family and friends were invited into the Lodge to witness the Open Installation of Officers for 2013. Brothers and visitors looked on as Bro. Robert Wagner was guided from the West to the East to become our Lodge’s 126th Worshipful Master. This will be Brother Wagner’s second term as WM, having previously served in 2004. Bro. Donald Holdredge Jr., was installed as Senior Warden and Bro. Donald Holdredge, Sr., became the new Junior Warden.

Bro. Severn Newberry concluded his 28 years of service as the Secretary. WM John Sinclair presented a plaque to Bro. Newberry who received a round roaring of applause from the Brethren.

Sinclair announced that the annual Testimonial Dinner will be held Saturday evening on April 27, 2013, at the Apple Tree Terrence at Newberry Estates in Dallas. More details to follow.

Everyone enjoyed dishes prepared by our ladies Mrs. Tara Sinclair, Mrs. Becky Matus, Mrs. Fiorello, Mrs. Holdredge, and a few desserts by Bro. Noel Kline.

The list of the 2013 Officers will be posted after St. John’s Day on the Officers page.

Worshipful Master John Sinclair honored the Lodge’s Past Masters as part of Past Masters’ Night during the Stated Meeting held on Monday, November 5, presenting them with a Masonic tie clip as a token of appreciation. The Lodge also agreed to make a $150 donation to the Blue Chip Farms Animal Refuge, Dallas.

Afterward, there was a presentation on Masons and the American Civil War by Bro. Martin Braen. Brother Braen is the Secretary for the Susquehanna DeMolay in Wilkes-Barre and a member of Lodge No. 442 Wilkes-Barre. Braen spoke about the lives of soldiers who fought in the War as well as Freemasonry in the North and the South.

Braen also told the story of “A Friend of a Friend” which is memorialized by a statue in the National Cemetery in Gettysburg, PA. Union General Winfield Scott Hancock and Confederate General Lewis Addison Armistead were friends and Freemasons. They had served and fought side by side in the U.S. Army prior to the Civil War, but Armistead refused to raise his sword against his fellow Southerners so he joined the Confederate Army in 1861. Hancock and Armistead fought for 27 months never meeting until the Battle of Gettysburg in July of 1863.

During Pickett’s Charge on July 3, Armistead led his men who penetrated Hancock’s line. Ironically, when Armistead was mortally wounded, Hancock was also wounded. Depicted in the sculpture is Union Captain Henry Bingham, a Freemason and staff assistant to Hancock – who was himself wounded – rendering aid to the fallen Confederate General. Armistead is shown handing his watch and personal effects to be taken to his friend, Union General Hancock. Armistead died days later on July 5.

The monument was presented by the Right Worshipful of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania and dedicated as a memorial to the Freemasons of the Union and the Confederacy in 1993.

Our Lodge introduced the new Stated Meeting Bulletin this month! This new version was a combined effort between Worshipful Master John Sinclair; Acting Secretary Barry Wagner, PM; and Brother Jim Byers; but was originally initiated by the late Robert Lewis, … Continue reading →

New Brethren were welcomed into the Fraternity during the 1-Day Masonic Journey hosted by George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531 on Saturday, October 13. The First Degree was conferred by Brother Peter Calkins of Lodge 531; the Second Degree by … Continue reading →

During our October Stated Meeting on Monday, October 1, 25 Year Pins were awarded to Brothers in attendance and the Lodge agreed to make a $150 donation to Back Mountain Youth Basketball. Members were also informed that George M. Dallas … Continue reading →

Worshipful Master Jonathan Sinclair welcomed back the Brethren to the Lodge following this year’s summer break during September’s Stated Meeting held on September 2. The Lodge agreed to make donations to Community Cares For Kids for $200 and Dallas Fire … Continue reading →