From Masonic Families of the Allegheny Valley

Our third, One Day Class is now past. There are too many words to describe it! Some are - enlightening, exciting, solemn, inspiring, bonding, brotherhood, family, fraternity, and exhausting. I’m sure everyone who attended could add at least one more word to this list. It was the greatest One Day Class I have ever witnessed! Sure there were some false starts and a few missed words. But the true Masonic spirit was unmistakable. Four Lodges participated in some way. All were impressive and impressed. All brothers were helping other brothers, making it all work regardless of age or which lodge you were from. From beginning to end, all contributed, even the spectators. WM Brad Young and all of his officers did their part exceedingly well. Mentors were outstanding. Candidates were inspiring. Brother Richard McCleary, DDGM, was very pleased with the day as well. One individual stands out in my mind, one working in the background that few people knew about. First, he mentioned that he was impressed at his own first degree by the “long walk” he took, later learning it was three times around the square, adding more meaning to “traveling the same road that many good and worthy fellows -.” We incorporated that into the One Day Class. Next, he took on the responsibility to design and build eight altars for our candidates, all in a few days. These individual altars were required by Grand Lodge, with no guidelines, and our ideas weren’t working. Then his simple and elegantly designed altars added much to the overall experience. Thank you Brother Sam Smith. Brother Russell Moore conferred a very moving Second Degree from a chair in front of the altar. Few of us will ever forget that memorable Degree. Though our third, One Day Class is now over, it will always remain in our memories. I have personally never seen or felt brotherhood as intense as what we experienced in the Lodge room this day. A great light lunch served by the ladies of Easter Star was a leisurely relaxed time before beginning the Third Degree. Thank you Brother Jim Monson for the food.