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The purpose was to make a great impression on members of the Pennsylvania
Grand Court of the Order of the Amaranth that DeMolay is
alive and well and doing good things in Pennsylvania. Thanks to
Joe Pullin and the members of Northeast Chapter,
State Master Councilor Justin Killian, and a member
of our brand new New Castle Builders Chapter the purpose
was accomplished!
The Amaranth is an organization primarily for ladies who have a
Masonic relative, and while smaller in number than the well-known
Order of the Eastern Star, they have a very BIG charity project
in supporting diabetes research, and a BIG interest in supporting
Masonic Youth. Their informal opening session was a public program,
and was kept light-hearted with a gaggle of peacock feathers and
top hats. It's hard to explain-- you just had to be there to see
it for yourself! Besides the serious opening ceremonies, the humorous
songs, and the usual speeches by guests, Honored Lady Barbara
Ullrich, Grand Royal Matron, used the opportunity to highlight
Rainbow, Job's Daughters AND DeMolay to her members.
The Rainbow Girls presented a program called "Keeper of the
Colors" to showcase their 7 colors in the Rainbow. Job's Daughters
presented a program called "The Light of Masonry" explaining
their understanding of what a Mason is, and how Masonic heritage
is important to their membership.
Joe Pullin of Northeast Chapter presented
an excellent exemplification of the Flower Talk, and had the added
bonus of having a "real" candidate to receive it for the
first time, in Bro. Dennis Lennox, who is a member
newly inducted into DeMolay at the Rose Croix Class in Pittsburgh.
He is part of the new Chapter being started in New Castle, north
of Pittsburgh, to be called New Castle Builders Chapter.
He had been invited to present a special flag tribute at the beginning
of the program, and showed how he will be an excellent officer for
his new Chapter.
State Master Councilor Justin Killian was introduced
by Executive Officer Thomas R. Labagh, who highlighted
Justin's outstanding commitment to DeMolay and Freemasonry, and
his pending 5-hour drive back to Pittsburgh waiting for him following
the meeting. Bro. Killian then made brief but pointed remarks about
the current state of DeMolay in Pennsylvania and encouraged their
continued support of DeMolay. He also invited all the ladies and
Masons present to join us at the Eastern
PA Paintball event on April 23rd! Maybe they'll attend, camouflaged
by their Peacock Feathers! (Now wouldn't THAT be a sight?)
Pa DeMolay made a good impression on them, but Amaranth also made
a good impression on us, and set an example for us to follow with
our own State Charity. The highpoint of the evening for the Amaranth
members came when they presented a check for $52,000 to the Supreme
Royal Matron to go for diabetes research, after which
it was announced that this amount had put the Pennsylvania Grand
Court over the $1,000,000 mark in total contributions
over the past 20 years. Now that's impressive!
"Dad" Thomas R. Labagh,
Executive Officer
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