Rajah News - June 2022

Freemasonry at Freemasonry the Battle at of the
at Gettysburg the Battle
Battle
of Gettysburg
of
by Sam Ellis with contributors Gettysburg
Don Houston & Bill Quinn
by Sam Ellis with contributors Don Houston and Bill Quinn
The battle of Gettysburg
The battle of Gettysburg The took
took battle place
place of July Gettysburg July 1
1st st to July
to July took 3
3rd, rd place , 1863.
1863. July 1 st to July 3 rd , 1863.
An interesting historical An fact interesting is that two historical of the fact opposing is that two of the opposing
generals An interesting were both historical friends fact is that two of the opposing generals were both friends
generals and were Masons. both General friends and Lewis Masons. ‘Lo’ General Lewis ‘Lo’
and Armistead Masons. General fighting Lewis for ‘Lo’ Armistead fighting for the Confederacy and Union
Armistead the Confederacy fighting and for Union the Confederacy General and Union General
General Winfield Winfield Hancock Hancock both both served together in California before the war.
Winfield served together Hancock both in California served together before in California before
the The War. battle culminated the with War. the failure of Pickett’s charge led by General Armistead.
Gen. Lewis ‘Lo’
The general and a few of his men breached the Union line only to be repelled and
Armistead
Gen. Winfield Hancock
the The general battle fatally culminated wounded. with When the failure he fell, of Union Pickett’s Captain charge Henry led
Gen. Lewis 'Lo' Armistead Gen. Winfield Hancock
The battle culminated with the failure of Bingham, Pickett’s charge himself led
Gen. Lewis 'Lo' Armistead
a
Gen. Winfield Hancock
Mason, by General rendered Armistead. aid to the by The fallen General general Confederate Armistead. and a few general. The of his general men and a few of his men
breached the Union line
This historic moment
breached only to
became the
the be repelled
theme
Union
for
line and
the
only the
Friend
to general be
to
repelled fatally
Friend Memorial
and wounded. the general When fatally he fell, wounded. Union When he fell, Union
Captain Henry Bingham,
that was donated by the
Captain himself
Grand
Henry a Mason
Lodge
Bingham, rendered
of Pennsylvania
himself aid a to Mason the fallen
and dedicated
rendered Confederate
on
aid to the general. fallen Confederate general.
August 21, 1993. In his speech at the dedication, Edward H. Fowler, Jr., Right
This historic moment
Worshipful Grand Master, said, “The unique bonds of friendship This became historic the theme
among moment for became the Friend the to theme Friend for the Friend to Friend
Memorial that was donated
Freemasons enabled them to remain a brotherhood undivided, Memorial by the
even as that Grand
they was donated Lodge of by Pennsylvania the Grand Lodge and of Pennsylvania and
dedicated on August 21,
fought in a divided nation, faithfully supporting the respective dedicated 1993. In
governments on his August speech 21, at 1993. the dedication, In his speech at the dedication,
Edward H. Fowler, Jr.
under which they lived.”
Edward Right Worshipful H. Fowler, Grand Jr. Right Master Worshipful said, “The Grand Master said, “The
unique bonds of friendship unique among bonds Freemasons of friendship enabled among them Freemasons to enabled them to
The sculpture on the monument depicts remain a prone a brotherhood General Armistead, leaning
remain undivided, a brotherhood even as they undivided, fought in even a divided as they fought in a divided
on a knapsack, handing his watch and nation, personal faithfully effects supporting to Captain the Bingham, respective governments under which
Gen. to Armistead be taken with to his hat friend, on his sword
nation, faithfully supporting the respective governments under which
Gen. Armistead Union General with hat on
they Hancock, his sword
lived”. who was in command of
leading Pickett's Charge
the Union line and, leading as fate Pickett's would Charge
they lived”.
have it, was wounded at almost the same
Gen. Armistead with hat on
time as the Confederate general. He would survive while his friend General
his sword leading Pickett’s Charge
The sculpture on the monument The sculpture depicts on the a prone monument General depicts a prone General
Armistead, would succumb to his wounds
Armistead,
a few days
leaning
later.
on Armistead, a knapsack, leaning handing on his a knapsack, watch and handing personal his watch and personal
These officers were among an estimated effects 15,000 to Captain Freemasons Bingham, effects who to fought to be Captain taken at Gettysburg. Bingham, to his friend, to The be Union incident taken General to testifies his friend, to the Union unyielding General
bonds of brotherhood among Freemasons Hancock, during America’s who was in divisive command Hancock, Civil who of War. the was Union in command line of as the fate Union would line and as fate would
An interesting point of fact is that the have Friend it was to Friend wounded monument have at almost it was is not the wounded the same first time involvement at almost as the Confederate
the by same the Grand time as Lodge the Confederate in honoring
those who fought at Gettysburg. general. He would survive general. while He his would friend survive General while Armistead, his friend General Armistead,
would succumb to his would wounds a few days later.
On
succumb
July 4,
to
1865,
his wounds
only two
a few
years
days
after
later.
the battle, the Grand
Close up on monument of Captain Close up Bingham on monument of Captain Bingham
rendering aid to General Armistead
Lodge of Pennsylvania dedicated the cornerstone to the Soldier’s
rendering aid to General These Armistead officers were among These an estimated 15,000 Freemasons who
National
officers
Monument
were among
in the
an
National
estimated
Cemetery.
15,000 Freemasons
That monument
who
fought at Gettysburg. fought The incident testifies to the unyielding bonds
was
at
the
Gettysburg.
first of any
The incident
type to
testifies
be placed
to the
on the
unyielding
battlefield
bonds
in
of brotherhood among of Freemasons brotherhood during among America’s divisive Civil War.
Gettysburg. Freemasons during America’s divisive Civil War.
An interesting point of An fact interesting is that the point Friend of fact to As Friend is we that near monument the the Friend July is to 4th not Friend holiday, the monument first the Gettysburg is not the National first
involvement by the Grand involvement Lodge in by honoring the Grand Military those Lodge Park who in fought is honoring truly at worth Gettysburg. those a who visit. fought The park at Gettysburg. is approximately
On July 4, 1865, only two On July years 4, after 1865, the only battle, a two 2-hour years the Grand after 10-minute Lodge the battle, of Pennsylvania
drive the Grand from Allentown Lodge of Pennsylvania and a 1-hour
dedicated the cornerstone to the Soldier’s and National 30-minute Monument drive from in the Reading National via I-78 and US-15 South.
The Soldiers National
Close up on monument dedicated of Captain the Bingham cornerstone to the Soldier’s National Monument in the National
Monument Cemetery. rendering That monument aid to Cemetery. General was Armistead the That first monument of The any Friend type was to the to be Friend first placed of monument any the type battlefield to is be located placed in within on the the battlefield National in
Gettysburg. Gettysburg. Cemetery Annex on Steinwehr Avenue.
The Soldiers National
Monument
Walter Lamm, Sec.
by Sam Ellis with contributors Don Houston & Bill Quinn
HOSPITAL SERVICES
As The we Soldiers near National the July 4 th As holiday, we near the the Gettysburg July 4 th holiday, National the Military Gettysburg Park National is truly worth Military a Park is truly worth a
visit. Monument The park is approximately visit. The park a 2 hour is approximately and 10-minute a 2 drive hour from and 10-minute Allentown drive and a from 1 Allentown and a 1
The HSU parade float is being prepared for the 2022 season. We still need Nobles to ride on the float
to give it a human interface. We feel that the float is a great advertisement for the Shrine hospitals and our
mission to transport patients to and from the hospital.
The float had been modified since it was last entered in a parade. It now has an access door for easy
entry. And flood lights to light up the entire float.
If interested in riding the float, contact HSU President Ken Flynn at 610-223-5145.
Because, it’s all about the Kids.
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