Newest items first
Ben Gilman Library Dedication
March 27th 2008 at 11:00 AM
SUNY Orange Campus
April 19th 6:30 PM
Turkey Dinner for Rainbow Girls
Tickets only $8.00
Hoffman Lodge Awards Night, Plaque Dedication and, Time Capsule Sealing to follow Dinner.
Kitchen Crew From George Washington Dinner Dance.
The George Washington Dinner Dance has been rescheduled from Feb. 23, to
the new date of Feb. 16th, 2007
Tickets $25 per person. Live entertainment during and after the meal as well as
a DJ from 8-11pm for dancing.
Menu: Roast Beef with all the trimmings, beverages and desert.
May 2006 - The Brothers of Hoffman Lodge have elected Bro. Eugene McGill to be their Master for the 1006-2007 term. Also elected were W:. Joseph Ryder & Bro. Bruce Wiegand. Appointed officers to be announced. Installation of officers will be on June 10th - details to follow...
The benefit dinner on Saturday Jan 21 for Barry Cox's family was a huge success. We thank all the Hoffman and Concordant Bodies, Brothers and Ladies for putting together a wonderful evening. There was over $1800 raised, and more to come. This is proof that when we all work together, we can do great things.
Come to the
Spaghetti Dinner - All Proceeds to Benefit Goshen
Science Olympiad Team
Saturday, Dec. 3rd, 2005 5:30-7:30pm
Hosted by Hoffman Lodge No. 412 F.&A.M. Middletown, NY
Science Olympiad offers a wide spectrum of goals in science and technology
education, which includes science concepts and knowledge, science processes and
thinking skills, and science applications and technology. The Goshen Central
School District's Science Olympiad Team involves 50 to 60 students from sixth
to twelfth grade. The extracurricular time spent by coaches and students in
preparing for the invitational, regional, state, and national competitions is
incredible. Hundreds of hours of intense teamwork are spent after school and on
weekends to master the subject matter and prepare for problem solving events.
More than 29 events are competed at the National level covering areas such as:
Biology, Chemistry, Genetics, Physics, Earth Science, Forensics, Forestry,
Fossils, Robotics, Bridge and Tower Building, Meteorology, Astronomy,
Experimental Design, Water Quality, Disease Detectives, Geocaching, Rubber
Powered Airplanes, Bottle Rockets, Water Aquifers, and Rube-Goldberg-like
Devices involving the use of simple machines and/or different forms of energy
transfers. Goshen's Team currently has the best all-around performance record
in New York State over the past 10 year period and has won the honor to
represent the state six times in the past eight years in the junior division at
the National Tournament. They finished fifth in the state behind the current
National Champions in the senior division last year. Goshen Central School this
year is on an austerity budget and the Science Olympiad Team is in need of
financial support to fund transporting our team, coaches, and equipment to
Rochester, NY for the Junior State Tournament and to the University of Illinois
at Champagne-Urbana for the National Tournament.
Spaghetti with Meat or Marinara Sauce Garlic & Italian Bread Tossed Salad
Soda, Lemonade, Coffee & Tea Ice Cream (Take-out available)
$8.00 per person
For Tickets, Information or to Send a Donation: Bruce Wiegand, Event Chairman -
1915 Goshen Tpk. Middletown, NY 10941 (845) 692-6583 - bwiegand@hvc.rr.com
(Make checks to: “Bruce Wiegand”)
Brothers all, Get in the "Spirit" - Come
in Costume to: DINNER & A SCARY MOVIE THIS SATURDAY - Oct 29th, 2005 Bring
your wives, girlfriends, friends, relatives and prospective candidates!
ANNOUNCEMENT Hoffman Lodge’s Phoenix Club Presents "Dinner and a
Scary Movie" A “Brother Bring a Friend” Night - Ladies invited!
All are welcome! With proceeds going towards the restoration of our Billiard
& Card Rooms Saturday, Oct. 29th, 2005 at 6pm Hoffman Masonic Lodge North
& Courtland Streets, Middletown
The complimentary movie is: "Young Frankenstein" (Rated PG) >From
the deep dark recesses of the mind of Mel Brooks Starring: Gene Wilder, Terri
Garr, Madeline Kahn, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman & Cloris Leachman
PROJECTED FULL-SCREEN WITH our new 1000 watt SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM For a funny
movie preview trailer go to: http://videodetective.com/home.asp?PublishedID=279
Roast Beef with Gravy, Baked Potatoes, Peas, Tossed Salad, Rolls & Butter,
Soda, Coffee & Tea Popcorn! Ice Cream Sundaes at Intermission!
$15.00 per person $10.00 per child The movie is FREE For Dinner Tickets,
Information or to Send a Donation to the Hoffman Lodge Phoenix Club: Bruce
Wiegand, Chairman - 1915 Goshen Tpk., Middletown, NY 10941 (845) 692-6583 -
bwiegand@hvc.rr.com
(Please make checks to: “Hoffman Lodge” / put “Phoenix
Club” in memo line)
May 3rd 2005
- The Brothers of Hoffman Lodge elected a new Master and Officers for the
ensuing year. Bro. Alfred H. Denninger will be Master for the year 2005-2006.
Here are your newly elected officers: Bro. Eugene McGill - SW; Bro. John Tuomi
- JW; Bro. Charles McLean, DSA - Sec; Bro. John Stoltz, DSA - Treas; Bro. Ralph
Surita - Trustee. Stay tuned for the list of appointed officers.
An open Installation of Officers will be held on June 4th 2005 at Hoffman
Lodge
Dinner at 6pm
Installation at 7:30pm
Come to the Dinner and a Movie for a
"Brother Bring your Wife and Friends Night" on Sat. January
28th, 2004. Roast Pork and "The Man who would be King"!
Hoffman Lodge’s Phoenix Club Presents
"Dinner and a Movie"
A “Brother Bring a Friend” Night - Ladies invited!
With proceeds going towards the restoration of our Billiard & Card
Rooms
Saturday, Jan. 29th, 2005 at 6pm (Snow Date - Feb. 5th, 2005)
Hoffman Masonic Lodge North & Courtland Streets, Middletown, NY
The complimentary movie is: "The Man Who would be King"
From the story written by Bro. Rudyard Kipling With Masonic ties
throughout…
Starring Sean Connery & Michael Caine
Popcorn!
Ice Cream Sundaes at Intermission!
Roast Pork Tenderloin with Gravy, Baked Potatoes & Sour Cream, Baby Carrots
& Applesauce, Tossed Salad, Rolls & Butter, Soda, Lemonade, Coffee
& Tea, Ice Cream Sundaes
$15.00 per person $25.00 per couple for Dinner
The movie is FREE
For Dinner Tickets, Information or to Send a Donation to the Hoffman Lodge
Phoenix Club:
Al Denninger, Chairman - 77 Whipple Road. Middletown, NY 10940 (845) 343-2229 -
al@denninger.com
(Please make checks to: “Al Denninger” / put “Phoenix Club”
in memo line)
December 4th, 2004
Over $1,400 Donated to Goshen Science Olympiad Kids
In a joint effort, Brothers of both Hoffman Lodge No. 412 & Goshen Lodge
No. 365 hosted a fund raising Spaghetti Dinner with the entire proceeds donated
to the kids from Goshen Science Olympiad Club. The kids helped wait on tables
and sold candy, and entertained us all with their fine displays. The event was
attended by over 150. There were two public tours of the Lodge and we are proud
to say that several attendees expressed an interest in Freemasonry.
December 1st 2004
Brothers all, This article appeared 12-1-04 in the USA Today.
www.usatoday.com(Type in Masons in the search
feature) or read the text below... Thought you might be interested... Al
Text of USA Today 12-1-04
Dwindling Freemasons hope to attract new blood
By Mark Hazlin,
USA TODAY
Freemasons say reports that they're trying to take over the country are greatly
exaggerated. National Treasure's central plotline revolves around a treasure
stash protected by the Masons. Touchstone Pictures But they are having a
recruitment drive. The Free and Accepted Masons, a fraternal organization whose
roots may stretch back to the Middle Ages, has long been a popular target of
conspiracy theorists. It figures prominently in the movie National Treasure.
Nicolas Cage's character learns about a legendary treasure protected by the
Freemasons, the location of which is hidden in a map etched on the back of the
Declaration of Independence. The movie perpetuates both good and bad
stereotypes about the group, including the notion that it has been involved in
a centuries-old plot to run the country. Freemasons are now trying to change
those perceptions with advertising and public relations campaigns. And, for the
first time, some Masonic lodges are engaging in recruitment drives. Historians
say the modern era of Freemasonry began in England in the early 18th century as
a union of stonemasons. Others link the Freemasons' origins to medieval times,
as far back as the Crusades and the infamous Knights Templar. Conspiracy
theorists often cite circumstantial evidence to support their belief that
Freemasons secretly wield great power and influence. According to Freemason Web
sites, nine of the Founding Fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence
were members, as were 14 U.S. presidents, eight vice presidents and at least 35
Supreme Court justices. Members have historically shunned publicity; they use
symbols and rituals that members vow not to reveal; and they hold closed
meetings. The story goes that President Theodore Roosevelt, a member, couldn't
even get his Secret Service agents in. "We prefer to use the word
'private' instead of 'secret,' " says Robert Leonard, a public relations
specialist hired to help recruitment efforts. "Secrecy came from the
initial thing where a password or secret handshake was exchanged so people
would know they were professional stonemasons. Now we use it as part of our
tradition." Grand Master Richard Fletcher, executive secretary of the
Masonic Services Association in Washington, D.C., points to the organization's
charitable work. He says Freemasons raise about $750 million annually
nationwide for nursing homes, day care centers, educational facilities and
other programs. "That's a lot of money (just) to lull somebody into
thinking you are a good person," Fletcher says. But officials may be more
concerned with their membership numbers than their Hollywood image.
Organization data show that U.S. membership peaked in 1959 at 4.1 million. New
York Grand Master Edward Trosin says: "We had this huge quantum
leaps-and-bounds growth in World War II. ... It was a generation of
joiners." That number has dropped steadily over the years to about 1.6
million this year, many of them older members. To refill the ranks, Masons are
looking to appeal to the 21-to-55 age group, says New Jersey Grand Master
Daniel Wilson. To do so, lodges in New York and elsewhere are taking steps such
as cutting the year-long initiation procedure, in which members must pass the
first three (of 33) Masonic "degrees," down to a two-week course.
California has launched two support programs intended to help its 355
individual lodges sign up at least five new members each year. But the
organization will change only so much. The one key requirement is that each man
must believe in one Supreme Being, "the Grand Architect of the
Universe." In most lodges, women are excluded from the inner sanctum,
although there are affiliated organizations that women can join such as The
Order of the Eastern Star. "I don't think you'd want to change the
organization just to fit the times," Leonard says. "Brotherhood is an
important part of being a Mason."
August 2004
The Worshipful Master, W:. William J. Fitzhenry
announces the new Program and Degree schedule for the ensuing year:
Sep. 7th - Short Talk by Bro. Al Denninger (SW) on "The Wardens"
Oct. 5th - Short Talk by Bro. Eugene Mc Gill (JW)
Oct. 19th - 1st Degree
Nov. 2nd - Short Talk by Bro. John Tuomi (SD)
Nov. 16th - 2nd Degree
Dec. 7th - Short Talk by Bro. Bruce Wiegand (JD)
Dec. 21st - 3rd Degree
Jan 4th 2005 - Short Talk by Bro. Charles Brodie (SMC)
Feb. 1 - Short Talk by Bro. John Sabella (JMC)
Mar. 1st - Short Talk by Bro. Robert L. Clawson (M)
Mar. 15th - 1st Degree
Apr 5th. - Short Talk by Bro. Andrew Swiat (SS)
April 19th - 2nd Degree
May 3rd. - Short Talk by Bro. George Gilbert (JS)
May 17th - 3rd Degree
Jun. 7th - Short Talk by Bro. John P. Stoltz, DSA (Treas. & Organist)
December 20th 2003
8 interested Brothers & Officers met on Sat. the 20th of December. The
purpose of the meeting was to find some things in common among the current
working Brothers. We talked about projects we ALL would like to do; not
necessarily things that one of us wants to do.
We talked about: things we can do to instill PRIDE once again in Hoffman, how
to generate membership interest, how to improve communications amongst
ourselves, programs and events we as a group would like to help with and last,
but not least, we defined some goals for our group. We discussed what our
individual hobbies and interests are and what we would like to do together
after regular lodge meetings. The most common interests were: Ladies night,
pool, music, cards (Pinochle and other games) Backgammon and Ping Pong. After
much discussion we decided to set the long-range goal of restoring our Pool
& Card Rooms. We will be getting estimates for the supplies and services
needed, and once we have an idea of a budget we will set up the appropriate
fundraisers to accomplish this thrilling goal. This is the first of many ideas
to renew and restore Hoffman Lodge.
We are committed to our pledge to see Hoffman once again rise from the ashes.
We resolve to help each other and we welcome other interested Brothers to join
us as working members of this exciting committee.
"As Brethren one of another in mutual dependence and support",
The Phoenix Committee
Bob Clawson, Al Denninger, Charlie McLean, Bill Robacker, John Sabella, Ralph
Surita, John Tuomi & Bruce Wiegand.
November 26th 2003
Hoffman Lodge has merged our online calendar with the new ORDMA Website and
Calendar.
The Orange-Rockland District Masonic
Association has created a new state of the art website to encompass all
of the Lodges and Concordant Bodies of the O/R District. You will find this new
interactive calendar of events to be a superior planning tool. There you can
view all Masonic Events in the O/R District or just the Organizations you are
interested in, simply by choosing the calendar you want from the drop down
list.
You can find our new calendar here.
September 2003
Pre-Meeting Dinners are Back!
Thanks to our Junior Warden and the Stewards, dinner will once again be served
before each meeting. Dinner is at 6:30pm sharp. Meeting is at 7:30pm and will
be followed by dessert and coffee. Come on out and be a part of the
festivities. I look forward to seeing you all at the next communication or
degree. I hope this message finds you all well.
Fraternally yours,
W:. Wm. J. Fitzhenry, Master
Feb. 4th, 2003
"ORDMA Drama Team helps Hoffman Lodge to raise 4 new Master Masons in
Style"
The ORDMA Drama Team performed the Drama of the 3rd Degree in full costume on
Feb. 4th, 2003 at Hoffman Lodge No. 412. The newly raised Brothers are: Bro.
John Sabella - Hoffman #412 and Bro. Angello Lallis, Bro. Peitro Cracolici,
& Bro. Antonio Simoni all from Hudson River #309.
Lodges represented that night were: Cornerstone #711, Goshen #365, Hoffman
#412, Hudson River #309, Port Jervis #328, Wallkill #627, Warwick Lodge #544
& West Point #877.
The ORDMA Drama Team:
Kneeling L-R: Bro. Gill Torres-Cfmn, W:.Dave Blasch-3C, Bro. Leon
Deaver-Cfmn, W:.Art Jefferson-2C, W:.Scott Geiger-Cfmn, R:.W:.Lloyd
Buchalter-1C, W:.David Unsull-Cfmn, R:.W:.Dan Jonas-Cfmn & Bro. Charley
McLean-Cfmn.
Standing: R:.W:.Bob Reynolds-Grd, R:.W:.Dick Dahlgren-Cfmn, Bro. Al
Denninger-GMHA, Bro. Russ Anderson-Sfm, V:.W:.Joe Leo-KS (& Ritual
Director), R:.W:.Dave Tice-HT, Bro. Bob Clawson-J-o, W:.Bob Hockenberry-J-a,
R:.W:.Norman Moon-J-m, Bro. John Stoltz-Cfmn & W:.Phil Herbst-Cfmn.
Not shown: Bro. Don Brown, DSA-Sec/Narrator
SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2003
THE NEW YORK TIMES
"Freemasonry Lifts Veil To Fill Its Ranks"
By MARC FERRIS
As a boy, Albert Ahrens knew that his father belonged to the Freemasons, the
nation’s oldest fraternal organization, but had no idea what went on.
"Nobody talked about what they did," Mr. Ahrens said. Freemasons,
formally known as Free &Accepted Masons, are an all male fraternity that
traces its roots to the stonemasons who built Europe's castles and cathedrals.
What distinguishes Masons from civic groups like the Kiwanis or Rotary Clubs is
their rituals, which date to the 1700's or even earlier. But beneath the
group's grandiose nomenclature and mysticism is an organization devoted to
integrity and good causes. Last year, Grand Master Carl J. Fitje of Valley
Stream, the highest elected official in the New York Grand Lodge, a
confederation of some 500 local lodges, pledged 100,000 hours of volunteer
service in local public schools, partly in homage to De Witt Clinton, the
Governor of. New York from 1817 to 1821 and again from 1825 to 1828 and himself
a Mason. Women are not allowed to join the Masons, but the group has several
women's auxiliaries, including the Order of the Amaranth and the Order of the
Eastern Star. Freemasonry has never been segregated, 'ethnic lodges go back to
the 1800's. In the United States, blacks developed a parallel Masonic
organization, known as Prince Hall lodges.
Since the heyday of Freemasonry in the 1950's, membership has plummeted.
Statewide, membership now stands at about 65,000, down from a peak of over
300,000 in 1958. The number of Masons in Nassau and Suffolk dropped from 9,187
in 1991 to 5,814 in 2001. The average age is climbing, too. At Matinecock Lodge
No. 806 in Oyster Bay, for instance, almost all the regulars are over 65 said
Theodore Haarke, 83, a lodge member for about 50 years.
When Mr. Ahrens, now 66, joined the Floral Park Lodge No. 1016 in 1968, 350 men
belonged. Of the 160 on the rolls today, he said, most live in Florida or are
over 80. Two years ago, the lodge installed an elevator so that members could
get to the meeting room on the third floor. "We used to have 'standing
room only' turnouts for meetings," Mr. Ahrens said. "Now, we're
swallowed up by the room."
To stem the attrition, Freemasons across the country are attempting to
demystify the organization and mount a recruitment drive and public-relations
campaign. The outreach effort in new York, initiated by Mr. Fitje, includes
several innovations: applications are available to the public on the Internet
(www.nymasons.org), ads have run in movie theaters across the state, including
five on Long Island, and the ornate Grand Lodge headquarters at 23rd Street and
Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan is open for public tours.
"If you don't advertise who you are," Mr. Fitje said, "people
won't sample your product”
Provoking the most controversy among Masons is Mr. Fitje's one-day class,
scheduled in March, which will bestow the first three Masonic degrees in one
sitting. The degrees, Entered Apprentice, FellowCraft and Master Mason, usually
involve memorizing key parts of the ritual and other texts, a process that
normally takes several months.
“But Masonry is not solely about taking degrees over a period of
time,” said .Mr. Fitje (pronounced FITchee). “To make a man a good
Mason, which is our objective, what's most important is his character, his
actions on a daily basis and how he practices the moral teachings of
Masonry."
To mollify critics concerned that the new recruits will dilute the fraternity's
traditions, Mr. Fitje said that participants in the one-day class will also
have to pass a six-month Masonic Development course which stresses the
group’s history and traditions.
Steven C. Bullock, a professor history at Worcester (Mass.) Poly| technic
Intititute, who has written a history of the Masons, sees this as a sea change
for the group. "This is uncharted territory," said Dr. Bull ock, the
author of "Revolutionary Brotherhood: Freemasonry and the Transformation
of the American Social Order, 1730-1840" (University of North Carolina
Press, 1996). "For over 200 years, potential members had to ask of their
own free will. In the mid-1980's they printed bumper stickers that read '2B1,
ASK1,' almost baiting people to ask. Now they seem to be moving into the more
modern hard sell."
Mr. Fitje has set an example for the troops, so in October, the Matinecock
Lodge set up a table at the town's annual Oysterfest and collect-ed half a
dozen applications. But not all local lodges march in lock step with Mr. Fitje.
"The house is divided on the one-day class," said Jeff Clark, 53, who
joined the Floral Park Lodge eight years ago after leaving his business card.
"Masonry is a calling. Initiation is a magical process, and we've lost the
understanding of what the initiative, psychologically, really is."
Mr. Fitje would also like to publicize some of the organization's previously
hidden history. Fourteen presidents, including George Washington, were Masons,
and a list of famous brothers in the United States reads like a Hall of Fame
roll Mr. Fitje, a retired New York City detective, was encouraged to join by
his father, also a Mason. "My father urged me to get involved because he
thought I was keeping company with the wrong crowd," said Mr. Fitje, who
grew up in Brooklyn and moved to Long Island in 1970.
He remembers his father saying DeMolay, the Masonic youth organization, kept
him from becoming a gang member. Nowadays, with the membership a fraction of
what it had been in the 1950's, lodges are turning to some creative ways of
raising money. The Floral Park Masonic building, constructed in 1925, breaks
even each year, Mr. Ahrens said, because it opened a catering hall and rents
out parking spaces, allowing due to remain at les than $100 a year.
The Matinecock Lodge in Oyster Bay transferred ownership of its building to the
tax-exempt Matinecock Masonic Historical Society, which was possible because
Theodore Roosevelt and Gen. John J. Pershing- were lodge members. The lodge
also sells golf shirts, baseball caps and barbecue aprons.
Despite Masonry's collision with the modern world, there are limits to the new
openness. “There's nothing secret about the organization except for a
couple of signs and hand- shakes, Mr. Fitje said, and only brothers may attend
lodge meetings where the Masonic ritual is performed. "We have to keep
some stuff to ourselves," he added. "I don't ex-pect to walk into
McDonald's and find out the patent to their special sauce."
Jan. 7th 2003
See the Newsday
Article on the Masons recruiting new members
