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Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania - all activities suspended due to COVID-19 threat

Keith C

Registered User
A letter was just released from RWGM Thomas Gamon, IV informing us that ALL Blue Lodge activities are to cease, effective immediately, until May 1st. No Stated, Extra or Special Meetings, No Education or Social activities, No seminars or Training activities, District or Regional Schools of Instruction. Additionally the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia is closed to visitors, all Youth Activities are suspended and no outside events or meeting will take place at the several Masonic Villages.

If I understand correctly the GL of Massachusetts similarly suspended all activities earlier this week.

We had out March Stated Meeting last night, so it looks like that came in under the wire.

As an additional piece of information, we just found out that the Governor of Pennsylvania has issued a "Lockdown" order for the County where I live and our lodge is located. All Schools and Educational facilities, entertainment venues, gyms and non-essential retail establishments are closed for 2 weeks per this order.

We ask for your prayers, Brethren, and offer up our own to anyone affected by this virus.
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
Ouch. I'm waiting for my GM to announce something similar. We have our grand lodge communication in April for voting and installation. I really don't feel like going to vote.
 

Keith C

Registered User
Also, I'm assuming may was chosen because lodges go dark in the summer. Do you have any meetings in June?

Not sure why they picked May 1st, I suspect just to give this whole thing time to pass. We do generally not meet in the summer, that being July and August, we do hold Stated and Extra Meetings in June. Not meeting in July and August is permitted but not required by GL and is up to the individual Lodge. We must vote at a Stated Meeting in order to not hold the Summer meetings and also to authorize the Officers to pay bills over that period.

Over the past 5 years we have had improvements to our building while Lodge was not meeting. This year we are renovating our kitchen, our June Stated Meeting is on June 1oth. We have a clean-out scheduled for the 13th and work starts by the Contractors on the 15th!
 

Keith C

Registered User
I am hoping to complete my SR degrees before something like this happens in my jurisdiction.

The Spring Reunion for my AASR-NMJ Valley is scheduled for May 5th. Pretty sure that will have to change since we will not be able to gather and practice the Degrees or work on sets.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
MWGM Geary Laird suspended all Masonic activity in Kentucky on March 16th for 30 days. I look for that to be extended.
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
I'm wondering if I hold an officer meeting to discuss repeating our chairs for next year if this goes through our summer break or just chalk this up to a crappy year and move on.

Our installations are in December. However, nominations are in October. We've had 6 meetings since my installation. Coming back after summer would mean 3 meetings before nominations. 9 total meetings out of 17 with rehearsals being banned means no practice for anyone as a group.

Can the lodge ... Should the lodge blindly nominate the current JW and SW without seeing them perform the work?
 

Pointwithinacircle3

Registered User
I am hoping to complete my SR degrees before something like this happens in my jurisdiction.
FYI: It didn’t happen. After receiving the 14th degree all Masonic activities in my jurisdiction were suspended. The Spring reunion has been cancelled so it looks like I won’t be able to complete my degree work until the fall or possibly next spring.
 

Keith C

Registered User
We had to make a tough decision this past week, and though it shouldn't be in my mind I kind of take it personally as another blow to the year I had planned as WM.

We decided to cancel the plans to re-do our kitchen in the Lodge and thus complete a multi-year renovation and modernization scheme.

As a result of the actions of our Commonwealth Government in response to the COVID-19 crisis, construction is considered a "non life sustaining" business, except on Hospitals and the like we are unable to obtain bids for the work. In addition the situation with the stock market has had a significant impact on the value of our investments, making the wisdom of the expenditure on the renovation questionable.

Very difficult times, but thankfully, there are no known cases of this virus in Lodge Members or their families.
 
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Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
We had to make a tough decision this past week, and though it shouldn't be in my mind I kind of take it personally as another blow to the year I has planned as WM.
Very sorry that this is happening to you during your year in the East Brother. This is my year in the East of my Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and my plans have been disrupted big time.
 

Alan1610

Registered User
We decided to cancel the plans to re-do our kitchen in the Lodge and thus complete a multi-year renovation and modernization scheme.

Brother Keith,
The call to hold off, or postpone, makeover plans shows good financial responsibility and that you are thinking of the wellbeing of your Lodge. It's always good to see brothers who can distinguish between the Lodge and the Bulding the Lodge meets in.
We got the RWGM email just a few hours before a scheduled official visit in our district, so we only made 3 of the 7 visits.
Stay Healthy and Enjoy Your Year in the East.
S&F
 

Bloke

Premium Member
We had to make a tough decision this past week, and though it shouldn't be in my mind I kind of take it personally as another blow to the year I had planned as WM.

We decided to cancel the plans to re-do our kitchen in the Lodge and thus complete a multi-year renovation and modernization scheme.

As a result of the actions of our Commonwealth Government in response to the COVID-19 crisis, construction is considered a "non life sustaining" business, except on Hospitals and the like we are unable to obtain bids for the work. In addition the situation with the stock market has had a significant impact on the value of our investments, making the wisdom of the expenditure on the renovation questionable.

Very difficult times, but thankfully, there are no known cases of this virus in Lodge Members or their families.
Tough call, but I think you did the right thing...
 

Matt L

Site Benefactor
Everything is suspended in my jurisdiction. They are looking at 6 June for our annual communication. We'll see what happens. I miss my Brothers.
 

Keith C

Registered User
RWGM Thomas Gamom IV has now decided all Masonic Activity to remain shut down until June 1st. No announcement on June Communication yet, but the MEGHP of the PA Grand Chapter of Holy Royal Arch Masons has cancelled the Grand Chapter Communication for June and has confirmed all Capitular Masonry remain shut down until June.

My prediction is that this will continue until September.

Stay safe and wash your hands Brethren!
 

Brother_Steve

Premium Member
RWGM Thomas Gamom IV has now decided all Masonic Activity to remain shut down until June 1st. No announcement on June Communication yet, but the MEGHP of the PA Grand Chapter of Holy Royal Arch Masons has cancelled the Grand Chapter Communication for June and has confirmed all Capitular Masonry remain shut down until June.

My prediction is that this will continue until September.

Stay safe and wash your hands Brethren!
Right now we are may 1, but I also do not see us getting back until after the summer break.
 
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