The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, F & AM

09/04/2026

Blair County's The Daily Herald newspaper introduced or reintroduced its readers to one of Pennsylvania's R.W. Past Grand Masters, Brother John Simpson Africa, Mount Moriah Lodge No. 300, in a recent article, linked below.

From 1891 to 1892, he served as Grand Master. He also served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1860, was deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Internal Affairs and then Secretary of Internal Affairs for the Commonwealth.

As the namesake of J. Simpson Africa Lodge No 628, Free & Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania and with his Grand Master's portrait permanently displayed in The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, his Masonic legacy lives on. His book “History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties, 1883," authored in his professional capacity as a
surveyor, is still used by many for genealogical and historical research.

Learn more: https://www.huntingdondailynews.com/daily_herald/news/surveyors-legacy-woven-into-history/article_e1842074-00c5-4d5d-86f0-8659804ccfa5.html.

09/02/2026

As lodge meetings resume this month, it's the perfect time to start or resume progress on your Master Builder, Master Craftsman or Master Pillar awards!

These awards are designed to help educate and engage members at the lodge, district and Grand Lodge level.

See the requirements for each at https://pagrandlodge.org/resources/honors-and-awards/ and on the GrandView membership platform.

📸: Master Builder awards presented at Lodge No. 2's anniversary banquet. Photo by Brother Stu Konefsky, Grand Lodge Photographer

PA Masonic Blood+Organ Donor Program

09/01/2026

The Kansas Grand Lodge's Grand Master's Trip last week included a stop in Philadelphia to visit with Pennsylvania Masons and tour some of the city's historical sites, including The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia!

The two jurisdictions met in Egyptian Hall, where R.W. Grand Master Robert D. Brink and M.W. Grand Master David W. Hendricks exchanged gifts. All brethren enjoyed sharing ideas and fellowship during a cocktail hour and banquet.

We look forward to growing this relationship with our Midwestern brothers!

📸s: Brother Stu Konefsky, Grand Lodge Photographer

08/28/2026

In addition to rededicating Brother Carl Stotz's statue at the World of Little League Museum, Pennsylvania Freemasons also participated in the Little League World Series Grand Slam Parade!

It was a privilege to participate and share Pennsylvania Freemasonry with not just a local, but global, audience.

Watch WNEP-TV's broadcast of the parade below, with the Grand Lodge float featured from timestamps 1:14:47 - 1:15:41.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_gQHWuNHek.

📸: WSR Venues on Market (Williamsport Scottish Rite)

08/26/2026

The Pennsylvania Widows Sons Masonic Riders Association celebrated 25 years of fraternity, fundraising and fellowship at the 2026 Grand Master's Ride in Johnstown, hosted by Mystic Riders Chapter. Proceeds from this annual event support Pennsylvania's Masonic charities.

In addition to the Grand Master's Ride, each chapter has their own philanthropic endeavors that they engage in locally, some of which have been featured in "The Pennsylvania Freemason" magazine.

Find a Widows Sons chapter near you at https://pawsmra.org/.

📸: Brother Jim Ryan, Sons of Abiff Chapter (Bristol)

08/24/2026

On Saturday, 150+ Masons from Pennsylvania and The Grand Lodge of New Jersey Free & Accepted Masons gathered at The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia for “Bridging Brotherhood," an event to strengthen the bonds of fellowship between the two jurisdictions.

Attendees included Brothers Eric T. Downs, R.W. Junior Grand Warden, Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania; Bruce Golway, M.W. Deputy Grand Master, Grand Lodge of New Jersey; and Glenn Visscher, M.W. Grand Junior Warden, Grand Lodge of New Jersey.

The day featured private building tours, fellowship over breakfast and lunch and the exemplification of the Entered Apprentice Degree by Pennsylvania Masons in Ionic Hall. Several important artifacts from the Masonic Temple, Library and Museum archives were displayed, including handwritten letters from Brothers George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette.

📸s: Brother Stu Konefsky, Grand Lodge Photographer

08/21/2026

The statue of Brother Carl Stotz, John F. Laedlin Lodge No. 707, Williamsport, the Pennsylvania Mason who created Little League, has a new home at Flag Plaza by the World of Little League Museum. R.W. Past Grand Master Robert L. Dluge, Elysburg Lodge No. 414, originally dedicated the statue in 2001 at Volunteer Stadium at the Little League International Complex.

Brother Darrin L. Feerrar, District Deputy Grand Master, 18th Masonic District (with Brother James W. Myers, Labelle Vallee Lodge 232 F&AM, Jersey Shore, and Karen Stotz Myers, James' mother and Carl's daughter), attended the rededication ceremony, which included remarks shared on behalf of R.W. Grand Master Robert D. Brink and the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

"Overall, the best thing I feel about the new location is the view looking at the statue. The beautiful mountains and the Susquehanna Valley behind are stunning, as well as the view of Howard J. Lamade Stadium [named for Brother Howard J. Lamade, PM, Dietrick Lamade Lodge No. 755, a 70+-year Mason and U.S. Army veteran]. It is a great visual and a direct link to two Masons who made such a significant impact on our youth and the community," Brother Darrin said.

08/19/2026

There has again been an uptick in pages claiming to be the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and attempting to sell official merchandise.

We encourage you to be vigilant about what you’re sharing and purchasing online. Unfortunately, once a purchase has been made from a fraudulent seller, there is nothing the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania can do to recoup the funds.

If you’re unsure whether a post or ad is from our official pages, visit pagrandlodge.org and reference the social media sites linked from the home page, or check our other social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter/X and LinkedIn. We post similar content across all platforms. Or, send us a direct message, and we’ll try to respond in a timely manner.

If you come across fake accounts or products, please report them to Facebook.

https://pagrandlodge.org/social-media/

08/19/2026

Scholarship programs through Pennsylvania Masonic lodges and the Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation provide financial aid to young people who are pursuing higher education to better themselves and their communities. Each year, lodges with scholarship programs diligently fundraise throughout the year in order to help area students with education costs.

Congratulations to all of the 2026 scholarship recipients across the Commonwealth! We wish you well in your studies and future endeavors.

📸s: Polaris Lodge 375 F&AM; Ashara-Casiphia Lodge No. 551, First Masonic District of PA. F&AM; Muncy Lodge No 299 F&AM; and Good Samaritan Lodge No. 336 Free & Accepted Masons, 42nd Masonic District of Pennsylvania

08/14/2026

The Philadelphia Citizen featured the Help for Our Heroes program and its latest military baby shower as their Citizen of the Week!

Pennsylvania Masons Brother Thomas Long, the director of the Help for our Heroes program and a retired U.S. Army sergeant, and Brother Bob Smoose, Richard Vaux -Brotherhood Lodge No. 126, were both interviewed, along with staff and families who worked at or attended the shower.

PA Masons' program Help For Our Heroes came up with an ingenious way to help growing military families: mass baby showers