Freemasonry continues to be the oldest and largest fraternal organization in the world. It was established in North America right here in Massachusetts in 1733. That makes the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts the third oldest Grand Lodge in the world following Grand Lodges in England and Ireland. Grand Lodges are the governing bodies that maintain the uniformity of the ritual and provide the cement that bonds individual Lodges together.
The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts is located in downtown Boston at the corner of Boylston and Tremont Streets, and the order is governed by a Grand Master elected to serve a three-year term. Roger W. Pageau of Northboro is the current Grand Master. Two of Grand Master Pageau’s more well-known predecessors are Revolutionary war patriots Paul Revere, and General Joseph Warren who was killed during the battle of Bunker Hill. George Washington, the first president of the United States and fourteen other Presidents were Masons. Yet, political discussion is forbidden within the Lodge as being divisive. One of the treasured artifacts at the Grand Lodge happens to be a lock of George Washington’s hair that was presented to the Grand Lodge by Martha Washington, and is encased in a gold urn crafted by Paul Revere. John Hancock, probably the most recognized signer of the Declaration of Independence, was also a Mason.
Today, many young men remember their father, a favorite uncle or their grandfathers as being Masons. Masonic rituals and ceremonies have a long tradition. But, make no mistake, this is not your Grandfather’s Masonic Lodge any more. Younger men are finding an opportunity join with other men of good character in Brotherhood and community service as Lodges organize more programs and activities that involve their entire family.
But what do Freemasons do today other than meet initiate candidates? The answer may surprise you. Freemasons in North America contribute more than $3-million each day to charity. Freemasons operate the two Shriners Hospitals for Children in Massachusetts. More than 750 severely burned children are admitted each year and treated at no charge at the Shriners Burns Hospital in Boston. Some 3,700 children are treated each year at the hospital’s clinic, again at no charge. Freemasons also operate the Shriners Orthopedic Hospital in Springfield and 20 other hospitals throughout North America where children are treated without charge. Scottish Rite Masons operate the highly successful Learning Centers for Dyslexic Children, and York Rite Masons provide substantial funding for schizophrenia research and other important charities. Scottish Rite Masons also operate the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, Massachusetts.
For nearly a century, The Masonic Health System of Massachusetts has been, and continues to be one of the state’s leading providers of health care services to individuals of all ages.
Services include the Overlook Health Center, Overlook Life Care Community in Charlton, Overlook Visiting Nurse Association, with a service area covering more than half the state of Massachusetts, and Overlook Health & Wellness InfoSource that provides, information and answers to guide you through your family’s wellness needs.
Masons are responsible for collecting a large amount of the blood collected by the Red Cross in Massachusetts. They also provide more than $500,000 in scholarship assistance annually. Masonic Lodges promote child safety through statewide Child Identification Programs. To date it is estimated that more than 255,000 children have participated in this highly successful program that is conducted by Massachusetts Freemasons in cooperation with the Massachusetts Dental Society and the Massachusetts Crime Prevention Officers Association.
Toothprints® make Massachusetts Masonic Child Identification Programs (CHIP) the most Comprehensive in the world and were introduced into the Masonic CHIP program by Dr. David B. Harte, a Dentist and a Past Master of Milton Lodge.
The ToothPrint® impression is a relatively new means of identification where the child bites down on a wafer, making a permanent, archivable record of their teeth. Toothprints were developed by Dr. David Tesini of Framingham, a pediatric dentist (and Mason) who developed Toothprints as another means of identifying a child that fingerprints alone may not guarantee.
According to Peter Banks, Director of the Dental Division of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, when a Toothprint is taken, sufficient proteins remain in the saliva on the wafer from which a DNA test can be successfully performed for yet a second means of identification from the Toothprint. He also stated that, since the Toothprint wafer is sealed in a "zipper"-type plastic bag, enough scent remains for a trained dog to identify and track it. But, recently, a formal DNA swap kit has been added to the program making it an even more powerful tool to enhance child safety.
Masonic Child Identification programs are held periodically throughout Massachusetts and may be sponsored by any group but are generally sponsored by local Masonic Lodges as part of their community service programs. Many school officials have requested that the program be brought into the school systems in their municipalities.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that over one million children are reported missing in the United States each year. There are over 100,000 attempted abductions by non-family members for the same period, and over 3,000 Americans remain unidentified. Considering these frightening statistics, the value of the CHIP program is enormous.
This powerful program is completely funded by the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts. CHIP programs are held periodically throughout Massachusetts. For more information regarding the CHIP program and the date and location of the nearest Massachusetts Freemasons CHIP program, call 1-800-882-1020 or visit the Massachusetts Youth Child Identification Program (MYCHIP) web site at: www.mychip.org
Since September 11th, Massachusetts Masons have stepped up their efforts to support our service men and women, especially those who have been recently called to serve in the Middle East, assuring them that there is help for their families here at home while they serve.
The foundation of Masonry is the “Blue” Lodge which is comprised of Masons who have been initiated as entered apprentices and then progressed to the Fellowcraft and Master Mason degrees. In addition to Blue Lodges, there are also very active Scottish Rite and York Rite bodies that meet throughout Massachusetts. The Scottish Rite includes confers degrees from the 4th to the 33rd and the York Rite includes three bodies: The Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, The Council of Royal and Select Masters and The Commandery of Knights Templar. One must be a member in good standing of a Blue Lodge to be eligible for membership in the Shrine of which there are two organizations meeting in Wilmington and in Springfield. Most people are familiar with the Shriners and the good work they do, but few know that one must be a member in good standing of a Masonic Lodge before he can join the Shrine.
Masonic Lodges also sponsor and support DeMolay Chapters for young men and Rainbow assemblies for young women. There are many active groups of both organizations in Massachusetts.
In Massachusetts, any Mason may ask a man, age 18 or older, of good character who professes a belief in God, regardless of his race or religion, to join his Masonic Lodge. Freemasonry is proud of its philosophy and practice of “making good men better.” A moral and ethical way of life is taught in the ritual of the degrees through which a candidate participates to become a Master Mason. There couldn’t be a better choice for today’s men who are seeking association with like-minded men who want to contribute their energies to making their community and their world a better place.
Freemasonry is indeed alive and well here in Massachusetts. For more information, visit the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts web site at: www.massfreemasonry.org or call 800-882-1020.