Feb - Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Independent Order of Odd ...

4 THE PENNSYLVANIA ODD FELLOW Fehruary 2007GRAND MASTER'S COLUMN CupidBarney was looking at some old Valentine'sDay cards, late on a blustery afternoon inearly February. He liked to reminisce. Hewent out to feed Warden and Conductorand then returned tohis easy chair. When hegot home from school, his wife was gone.Her Rebekah lodge was having a covereddish before the meeting. She left Barney'sdinner in the oven. Barney always lookedthrough things he had accumulated over theyears, while his wife was away. Mrs. Wellswas a fastidious housekeeper and would notallow Barney to spread out his preciouscollections in the house.Barney noticed that one ofthe cards fromhis youth had a photo of a statue of Cupid,in Rome, as its cover. Strangely, he noticedthat Cupid's sash was fastened by a threelinkpin.Barney thought there might besome meaningto the pin. On most days, Barneywasstllckworking on the farm after he was done teachingschool.Sinceitwas 1943 and the war hadmonopolized all aspects of life, the opportunitiesfor diversion were limited.The week before Valentine's Day, Barneythought he would take a trip to the library atPrinceton to see if one of his Army buddiesfrom World War I, and a lodge brother, wasstill a librarian at the University.Barney brought the old Valentine Cardwith him. He entered the library and sawTom performing some maintenance on thecard catalog.Barney walked over to Tom and said, "Isee the old soldiers are still working on thehome front."Tom looked up and began laughing. Hegrasped his right lapel and asked, "Are youlooking for me?" Barney replied, "For you."FROM THE DESK OFTHE GRAND SECRETARYAfter more than an hour catching up on oldtimes and the events of several years, Barneypulled outthecard. Heasked Tom ifhe knewanything about the statue or the pin. Tomsuggested Barney give him a week to do someresearch. Barney agreed to come back thenext Saturday.Tom was waiting for Barneywhen he returned the followingSaturday. The answerlong and surprising. Tomhad spoken to the ArtHistory faculty membersand poured overmany books.The sculpture wasover 1,700 years old.The artist was unknown.He was believed to be a member ofa secret group in Rome that used thethree links as its recognition symbol. Thegroup was formed as a response to the repressionofthe Roman government. The societyused the principle of friendship, love andtruth as guides.Barney exclaimed, "Wow, it sounds likethey were Odd Fellows."Tom replied, "Yes, but it gets even moreinteresting.""How?" Barney asked."Well" said Tom, "This is where the storygets a little hard to believe."Barney was quite anxious, so Tom told thestory."The ancientsociety used cupid as its guideand protector. When hesaw a person wearinga three-link symbol in trouble, he wouldshoot an invisible arrow at the assailant andall that person's anger and ill feeling would beconverted to friendship, love and truth. Thisseems to be what we follow in the Odd Fel­Dear Readers,To all you gardeners that are looking at your seed catalogs planning for the coming growingseason. Two things to think about: 1-What can you do to make your lodge look better? Afteryou come up with something, get your lodge brothers to he lp you in doing the project. 2 -Sinceit will be the growing season, think about what you can do to make your lodge grow. Becomeactive in your community as a group ofOdd Fellows. This way the people to your commuOitywill get to know about your Lodge, and may even want to join to he lp you with your projects.By this I do not mean to limit this to gardeners - you can all be gardeners plantmg the seedsof good will in your community, with the end result your lodge will grow.Fraternally,William L. Locke, Grand Secretarylows, except without Cupid."Barney thought this may be the ancientbeginning of our Order. Tom agreed andfelt that they needed to spread this story.A t the next meeting ofhis lodge, Barneytold the story to the members. The memberswere interested and started thinkingofways to use the newfound know ledge.The lodge decidedthat it would commissionthree-link pinswith cupid as the background.The lodgemembers would givethe pins to their wives.After much pleading, a memberwho was a jeweler was able toget the pins done before the end ofFebruary.The pins were distributed at the lastmeeting in February. The members tookthe pins home and gave them to theirwives. The magic happened.After receiving the attractive pins, thewives began responding more favorablytoward the lodge. It was as though Cupidhit all the wives with an F.L.T. arrow.The moral of the story is that we shouldinclude our families in our lodge activities.If we don't bring in our family members,our lodge will not continue. We needto use the family as the seed for lodgegrowth and expansion.Next month - Barney goes on vacationComments and questions are alwayswelcomed by the Grand Master. You cancontact him by email atjcupp@verizon.netor conventional mailat2 West Main Street,Suite 517, Uniontown, PA 15401-3403.INSTALLATION ATMIDDLETOWN HOMEOnT uesdayeveningOctober 3n:1, TriuneLodge # 307 & Bowmansdale Lodge #1179 held an open joint Officer Installationat the Middletown Home.This installation was preSided over byD.o.G.M. Ronald P. Gerhart, who isD.o.G.M. for District 5.This installation gave the Publica chanceto witness some of the Odd Fellowship &a chance to learn what Odd Fellowship isall about.The event was well attended and manycompliments were given to Mr. Gerhart &his installation team.