The Etownian >> Campus Life
Elizabethtown Masonic Village's Centennial
Sunday February 21 2010
When the Masonic Fraternity is mentioned in conversation, the first thing that comes to mind might be a secret organization featured in the movie “National Treasure.” However, for Elizabethtown College students, Masonry hits slightly closer to home.On June 25, 1910, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania opened the doors to its new Masonic Village in Elizabethtown. Over the years, the Village has become not only a retirement community but also a health care center, a children’s home and a valuable asset to the community. Now, in 2010, the Masonic Village is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
“Our centennial is exciting because while much has changed on our campus … our mission to provide loving care and services to our residents and the community … has remained timeless,” Lindsay de Bien, public relations coordinator for the Masonic Village, said.
Some of the many exciting events taking place include a musical celebration culminating in fireworks June 25. A coffee-table-style book titled “Masonic Village: 100th Anniversary” will also be available, beginning June 25.
The Masonic Fraternity is often seen as mysterious, but they are simply an organization of men who have committed themselves to the values of brotherly love, charity and truth.
The Masons chose the location of Elizabethtown for many reasons, such as the availability of land, the large fresh water supply, the fertile soil, the closeness of the railroad station, and the proximity to Harrisburg and York. All of these factors contributed to the Village’s current status as a staple of the community.
Because of the closeness of the Village to campus, Etown students have had the privilege of volunteering and interacting with members of the Masonic Village for years. This is only possible because of the Masonic Village’s shared value of the importance of service.
“I think the attitudes of the people working at Masonic Village definitely reflect Etown’s motto to ‘Educate for Service.’ Everyone there is so willing to help everyone out and answer all the questions that I throw at them,” said Lauren Ott, a junior occupational therapy major completing her field work at the Village.
Not only occupational therapy majors can interact with the Village. Anyone with a heart to volunteer can do so through the Center for Global Citizenship. It is just one of the many ways Elizabethtown students can fulfill the College’s motto.
“We have been given such great opportunities here at Etown, and, honestly, I don’t see the point to education, talents or wealth if we don’t use those things to make our world a better place,” Ott said.
The 100th anniversary of the Masonic Village is another reason to celebrate not only the rich history of the Village, but also the value of service in the community.
“With a farmer’s market, wellness center, a pool which community members may join, rehab services, various employment and volunteer opportunities, tutoring by residents, use of campus amenities by numerous not-for-profits, the Conoy Creek restoration project, and beautiful walking paths, the Masonic Village has something to offer everyone,” de Bien said.
Where does the Village’s commitment to service come from? The Mason community sticks to four main values: quality of life, respect for the individual, quality of service and outreach.
“My father and brother are Masons, and their main goal is to protect the values of the American family. Community service is just one of the many ways they do that,” first-year Courtney Comstock said.
It is hard to imagine such an extensive organization, dating back hundreds of years, that cares so much about the people around them. Yet, the Village is the 10th-largest nonprofit senior living community and service organization in the United States.
“Our community members are our neighbors. We share common needs and interests,” de Bien said.
Perhaps Etown has become so devoted to service by being so close in proximity to this humble organization.
“Service in the community, whether it is local, domestic or abroad, helps to make our world a better place to live and brings us closer to our neighbors,” Nancy Valkenburg, director of civic engagement at Etown said. “Elizabethtown College has a commitment to service. We have that in common with the Masonic Village. ‘Educate for Service’ is a motto worth living!”
Join in the celebration this year through living by not only Elizabethtown College’s motto, but also by the values of the Masonic Village. Get out and help your neighbors, your community and your world!
Freemasonry and fraternity
No, the Masonic Village residents have not been secretly hosting frat parties for the past 100 years, nor do they belong to that kind of fraternity. The Freemasons comprise the oldest and largest brotherhood organization in the world, founded on the ideals of love, charity and truth, sometime in the Middle Ages. As purported on the Masonic Village Web site, Freemasonry aims “to make good men better.”
But don’t worry, ladies; Freemasonry isn’t just a boys’ club. In the 1800s, the Masonic Organization created the Order of the Eastern Star (established 1855), the Order of the Amaranth (1873) and the White Shrine Jerusalem (1894) as women-oriented affiliations of the Freemason brotherhood. The Masonic Organization also supports many youth organizations, including the Order of DeMolay, the International Order of Rainbow for Girls and the International Order of Job’s Daughters. These groups focus on character development, community service and leadership.
Where do I sign up?
In Pennsylvania, Freemason hopefuls have to be recommended for membership through a Masonic friend — and, of course, must be of the male persuasion (sorry, ladies!). Once a dedicated dude receives said recommendation, he must then submit his age, occupation and place of residence via a signed petition. This petition is voted on anonymously by lodge members, and the ballot must be unanimous for acceptance into the Freemasons. Additional membership requirements include the following, according to the Masonic Village Web site:
Age of at least 18 years
Belief in the existence of a Supreme Being
Voluntary candidacy
Motivation to join for reasons unrelated to personal gain or profit
Favorable opinion of Freemasonry
Desire for knowledge and will to earn it
No prior petition for membership
Willingness to conform to the Ancient Usages and Customs of the Fraternity
Name that Mason
Here’s a handy list of famous Freemasons:
Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, U.S. astronaut
Irving Berlin, U.S. composer
Nat King Cole, U.S. pianist and singer
Bob Dole, U.S. politician
Duke Ellington, U.S. jazz musician
Henry Ford, U.S. founder of Ford Motor Co.
Benjamin Franklin, U.S. founding father
J. Edgar Hoover, first director of the FBI
Harry Houdini, Hungarian escape artist
Rudyard Kipling, U.K. author and poet
Charles Lindbergh, U.S. aviator
Harpo Marx, U.S. film comedian
Wolfgang A. Mozart, Austrian composer
Brad Paisley, U.S. country music artist
Arnold Palmer, U.S. professional golfer
Richard Pryor, U.S. comedian and actor
Ed Rendell, governor of Pennsylvania
The Ringling Brothers, U.S. circus promoters
Mark Twain, U.S. author
George Washington, first U.S. president
John Wayne, U.S. actor
Oscar Wilde, Irish playwright/novelist/poet
“This ritual is called … Crossing the Desert”
OK, OK — for all you “Simpsons” fans out there, the Freemasons aren’t actually synonymous with the Stonecutters. However, all Masonic meetings are grounded in ritual. Though each Jurisdiction (regional body of Masonry) may choose its own meeting format, all Jurisdictions utilize medieval stonemason tools symbolically to teach lessons of morality and ethics. Most common among these tools are the square and the compass.
Additionally, a candidate must progress through different degrees (steps) of initiation before he is deemed a member of the Masonry. In some Jurisdictions, a man is considered a Mason after concluding the Initiatory Degree, while other Jurisdictions also require him to complete the Fellowcraft and Master Mason Degrees. Don’t confuse the process with LAIRE from “Role Models;” this is serious business.
However, the secret society rumors do have some justification; Freemasons often use special signs (gestures), grips (handshakes) and passwords to recognize each other and to gain admission to meetings.
The Etownian >> Campus Life