10/14 Oxford's own Very Worshipful Piers A. Vaughan comes to Alpha

On October 14th, D.W. M. Piers Vaughan*, CBCS, will give a presentation at Alpha Lodge No. 116 (located at 56 Melmore Gardens in East Orange, NJ) on the spiritual and secretive tradition of the Rectified Scottish Rite of Freemasonry as founded by J.B. Willermoz in France and regularly practiced around the World in the USA, England, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Togo, Romania, Italy, Brazil and Switzerland. V.W. Br. Vaughan has served as a grand officer and as the official translator of archives and rituals for several Grand Priories & their Prefectures while currently serving in two separate Directories as Deputy Master and Senior Warden in tw0 Lodges of St Andrew.

*Deputy Zone Commander, Sir Kt. Piers A. Vaughan, KYCH, Past Commander of Morton Commandery No.4* in New York City is in charge of the Grand Commandery KT of NY's Zone 2 - Commanderies: 1, 4, 14, 23, 79


*home to Sir Kt. Folger of the Folger MS

R.'.W.'. Br. George Flemming has passed on to the Lodge on High

The first black man to be appointed a District Deputy Grand Master of Masons in North America, George Flemming was a Past Master at Alpha Lodge No. 116 F&AM in East Orange. He was also a Captain at the East Orange Police Department. He had since retired in Florida, but his Masonic Memorial service will be this Friday (7PM EST) at:

Churchman's Funeral Home
345 13th Ave. (corner of 7th St.)
Newark, New Jersey

Rest In Peace Brother George.

Square & Compass Day: OPEN HOUSE Oct. 3rd, 2009

Join us at the Lodge located at 56 Melmore Garden in East Orange, NJ at Noon for Open House, to meet with the brethren, engage in dialogue, and enjoy some really good coffee!

7 new Apprentices

This month we initiated 7 new Apprentices into Freemasonry.

Child Identification Program CHIPs

Alpha Lodge members teamed up to man a Child ID booth in East Orange on Saturday, providing free packages of DNA swabs, dental impressions taken by a brother employed as a forensic dentist and fingerprints taken by brethren employed in Law Enforcement. None of this is retained by the Masons nor Law Enforcement, rather it is given as a free package to parents for their use in case of an emergency, tragedy or in an event that their child should go missing. This is a preventative measure which is offered free of cost as a service to the community by the Freemasons of Alpha Lodge No. 116.

A Night of Presentation, Peer Review & Discussion

Brother Nathaniel Gibson, who serves as Alpha Lodge's organist, delivered his paper last Wednesday night on Music in Freemasonry. What set out to be an academic exercise exploring the two way influence experienced by Freemasonry and Music, ended up being an introspective and thought provoking probe into the origins of Music in general. The original purpose and atmosphere of music involved a scene similar to the quarries of operative Masons. Brother Nathaniel speculated on the part we each play as individual instruments in the orchestra of the lodge. The conversation drifted into planetary influences of stations in the lodge, vibration (raps of gavels) and eventually we found the lodge engaged in a discussion of the Tree of Life as a diagram of both the human body and the human experience, as well as the layout of the lodge room. Brother Nathaniel (seen pictured here in the middle) works as a Military Police Officer for the Department of Defense.

Installation at St Johns Lodge No. 1 ANCIENT YORK MASONS

Words fail me in describing the magic of last night. From the Emulation style invocations to Installed Master to the chain of union to the Agape. Simply surreal.

Frederick Jones, Retired NYPD Detective

82 year old Brother Frederick Jones, Retired NYPD Detective of Flushing Queens, returned to his Mother Lodge of Alpha No. 116 tonight in order to receive his 50 year pin. 50 years ago he was raised a Master Mason by Worshipful Brother Lester Miller. While reflecting on the spiritual satisfaction he found in being raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason at Alpha some 50 years ago, he also shared with us his earlier memories of growing up in Manhattan during a time when the elementary and middle schools & high schools for that matter, in the Lower East Side, the impoverished Hells Kitchen and both East and West Harlem were without school books. He spoke on how much the world has changed since he was a first grader with no text books in an impoverished New York City school district, where racism ensured that public schools where blacks attended were denied an equal quality of education.

Worshipful Master & the Governor

Official Proclamation Recognizes Alpha Lodge No. 116

The Mayor's Office in the City of East Orange gave an official proclamation to Alpha Lodge on Saturday, May 2nd, 2009, recognizing our efforts to secure the safety and well being of children in the City of East Orange. Brethren were manning the Child Identification Booths and servicing parents with their CHIP (includes DNA, dental impressions taken by Masons who are board certified Dentists, fingerprints taken by Masons who are Law Enforcement Officers and digital photo) packages for free all day Saturday while sponsoring other games and giveaways for the children in the community.

http://twitter.com/alpha116

Keep up with us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/alpha116
This Wednesday we will be hosting the Orator of the Swedish Rite, and all present will receive light on the same.

W.'. Br. Abram Cooke's KT sword

Here the Worshipful Master presents the Knights Templar sword of Alpha's first black Worshipful Master, Abram Cooke. The sword was discovered in Delaware by Brother Daniel M. Brandt.

March 18, 1905

Alpha Lodge No. 116 Marches in St Patrick's Day Parade

Here we are in West Orange, New Jersey with Governor Corzine (Governor for the State of New Jersey) and a few thousand Irish folk. We progressed through the village up Main St. with blocks and endless blocks of taverns, porches and corners full of groups of hundreds of people spilling into the street. There was the smell of wonderful Irish food wafting through the air, there were prizes for the beautiful children playing about, and it was a generally uplifting St Patricks Day celebration.

Giving away bikes and books to children at Adelaide L Sanford Charter School 53 in Newark, New Jersey

Brother Johney Leake, the Tyler of Alpha Lodge No. 116 F&AM in East Orange, made us aware of a new Charter School nestled in the heart of Newark's Lincoln Park. Upon arriving today, I detected a certain intimacy about the school. Charter schools are always special in their own right, but this new school is named "Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School, after an extremely important African American woman and educator. The classic old decor is decorated with African sculpture and artwork. The classrooms are equipped with brand new wireless routers and computer equipment. The children are the full range of Elementary School, and the school is expanding to take on Junior High Middle Schoolers as well. There is a waiting list for this school with well over a hundred people. This the result of word of mouth only at this point, but word of mouth has done great things. This new school's Principal, Delacy Davis (of Black Cops Against Police Brutality fame) has just received word that the children of Adelaide L. Sanford have been invited down to the White House! Delacy is a charismatic leader with a vision, and he radiates energy and light. As principle, he has the children running a tight ship, with uniforms, manners, cultural appreciation and a disciplined yet loving environment that fosters a love of learning and a love of their fellow students whom they address as "geniuses".

The officers of Alpha Lodge No. 116 were there to give away bicycles to children who had excelled in a recent reading contest which had been implemented with no promise of prizes other than the self gratification of accomplishment. Certificates were signed, sealed in wax and delivered to the runner ups (along with a gift from the school that included $25 gift cards for Barnes & Noble) and to the two teachers responsible for educating the group of four students selected by the school to receive the rewards. The first three prizes were brand new bicycles and helmets. The children lined the staircases, the walls and all parts of the school. They make good use of space, brags Davis. They appear to make good use of funds as well. The modern classrooms are clean, attractive and each fitted with private bathrooms for the students. All movement in the school is orderly and with purpose.

The ceremony was effectively drummed in by the drum team of various grades, as another team of students performed a mantra of positive affirmation and reinforcement of empowering goals and approaches to life, learning and knowledge. It was a moving experience, and I will be back soon to visit...with books in hand.

Later that same day, David Lindez (currently serving as Master of the Lodge) organized & managed the clothing drive for the homeless, care packages for soldiers in Afghanistan and the reading mentor program for local students to receive tutoring and free books at the lodge.

Haitian Freemasonry

Last night we had guests from the Grand Orient of Haiti and a multimedia program on Haitian Freemasonry that included a talk and paper given by the Master of the lodge, a powerpoint and a video. There was a greatly stimulating discussion on the historical and spiritual content of the presentations over an Agape of homemade Haitian Cuisine that included fish pate, goat and peppers, baked chicken, gravy and onions, rice and peas, and more. Br. David Lohier and Bro. Francois Voltaire demonstrated various movements, steps and variations in practice regarding ritual and regalia as confined to Haiti, and the French influences as well as the indigenous factors were all covered in great detail.

Alpha Lodge Brethren, Commanders and Department Commanders

W.'. Bro. Balvin Dunn is seen above with Br. Oliver Kruse (Orator for the Swedish Rite in Germany) while we find Br. Robert Morton, the Junior Warden of Alpha Lodge, High Priest of Alpha Chapter Royal Arch Masons & current Eminent Commander of Trinity Commandery No. 17 of Knights Templar is seen here relaxing in DC with Masonic legend, the Most Rev. Herbert A. Fisher...

New Fellows in the Craft, and a look at our Charter

Two brothers were passed through the pillars as fellows in the craft at Alpha recently...


(our historical charter is seen pictured here)

Operative Companion in the Craft meets Freemason

An Honorary Alpha Lodge member, Worshipful Brother Trevor Stewart (GLoS & UGLE) , came to admire the striking architecture & sacred space of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, & what he ended up encountering was an actual stone mason (complete with a temporary lodge area) who was equally enthusiastic in exchanging certain curiosities with a Freemason who just so happens to have dedicated much of his life documenting early operative lodges that turned to speculative lodges and speculative lodges that turned to operative lodges for that matter. Thankfully, Br. Aaron Shoemaker (who has been known to visit Alpha Lodge) was on hand to capture the moment on film.

FC this Wed

January 28th at 7:30 PM @ Alpha Lodge No. 116 in East Orange, NJ...we will pass our EA brethren to the degree of Fellowcraft, making them Fellows In The Craft.

Lord Cannock & W.'. Peter Hamilton Currie

The Worshipful Master of Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 (EC) in London, ENGLAND is seen here proudly sporting his Alpha Lodge No. 116 F&AM sweatshirt (if you click on the photo, you can see "East Orange" underneath our winged hourglass) while enjoying some good wine with Br. Granville Angell, PProvSGW, Past Prestonian Lecturer.

E,', Commander Sir Knight Robert Morton

On Monday January 19th, Alpha's Junior Warden (CEO of Mortonbooks Publishers in Irvington, New Jersey)will be installed as the Commander of Trinity Commandery No. 17, Knights Templar on Central Ave in Westfield, New Jersey. A former US Marine and learned man, Brother Morton is rising to senior leadership in the craft and well beyond. The Knights Templar is a CHRISTIAN MASONIC ORDER & requires of its candidates a profession of faith in Jesus Christ in addition to being an exalted Royal Arch Mason and Cryptic Royal & Select Master.

schedule this year

Alpha Lodge No. 116 Schedule 2009
Worshipful Master, David Lindez

Wed. Jan. 14th Talk given by our Junior Warden, Br. Robert Morton entitled "From Whence We Come"

Wed. Jan. 28th: Fellowcraft degree (officers tux)

Wed. Feb. 11th: Special ‘Step Up Night’ EA degree by Br. Senior Warden (officers tux)

Wed. Feb. 25th: Special Multimedia Presentation on Haitian Freemasonry (catered Haitian Agape) $20 at the door. 7:30 PM

Wed. March 11th : Official Visit of the DDGM (officers tux)

Sat. March 21st: World Famous Masonic Author and Lecturer, Dr. Tim Wallace-Murphy to speak on "The Enigma of Rosslyn Chapel" (Emmergent)

Wed. March 25th: WM lectures on the raising ritual (MM only)

Wed. April 8th: Visit by Oliver Kruse, Orator of the Swedish+Rite in Germany, to give a paper "An Introduction to the Swedish Rite"

Sat. April 11th : Joint Master Mason with our daughter lodge, Allied No. 1170 at 71 W. 23rd St. in their lodge room on the 10th fl.

{Grand Lodge at Bally’s in Atlantic City on April 15th to 16th}

Wed. April 22nd: Presentation by the Master on the Johannite elements in Freemasonry

Wed. May 13th: Gold Token night at Alpha Lodge

Wed. May 27th: Academic Presentation of Masonic Research Papers by brothers of Alpha Lodge ("Archetypical Influences and the Molecular Impact of Sacred/Secret Words In Masonry" by Dr. Mardoche Sidor; "The Pillars of Masonry" by Michael Terry; "Reactions to Music in Freemasonry" by Nathaniel Gibson)

Wed. June 10th: Degree Night (officers tux)

Wed. June 24th: Summer Solstice Agape Observation of St Johns Day (talk given by the Worshipful Master: 'Planetary, lunar and solar influences in Masonic Movement, Stations and Places') EA’s & FC’s are invited

Wed. Sept. 9th: R.W. Br. Rashied Sharrieff-Al-Bey of Cornerstone Lodge No. 37 of the MWPHGLNY will be speaking on the Hidden Work of our Gentle Craft

Tues. Sept. 22nd: Grand Lodge of Instruction

Wed Sept.: Master Mason degree (officers tux)

Wed. Oct. 14th: Presentation on "Willermozism" by Rev. Kt. Piers A. Vaughan, world renowned expert on the RER

Wed. Oct. 28th: Dr. R.A. Gilbert speaking on the Br. A.E. Waite's mystical approach to Freemasonry

Wed. Nov. 11: Historic visit by Most Worshipful Thomas R. Hughes, Grand Master of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New Jersey (giving a talk on Freemasonry's historic position within the Black Community)

Wed. Nov. 25th: Election of Officers

Head Table and more...

MW John S. Ryan, Past Grand Master of Masons for the State of New Jersey, Right Worshipful Charles Secallus, PDRI with RW Rev. Dr. Gene Hill, Trevor Stewart from Scotland and the Honorable Robert Bowser, Mayor of East Orange, NJ

Alpha Lodge's New Officer Line

Alpha Lodge had a very successful installation on Wednesday of last week, and the photos are available here. I would like to thank the Honorable Mayor Bowser for joining us in East Orange at Alpha Lodge for both dinner and the public installation ceremony. I would also like to thank the custodians of the George Washington Inaugural Bible for their invaluable aid in making the night all the more special with the presence of that priceless National treasure, extracted from Federal Hall at rush hour in NYC for the occasion. I would also like to thank Right Worshipful Chuck Secallus for being my installing Marshall, and the Rev. Dr. Gene Hill for administering the entire installation ritual in such an impressive and excellent fashion. Most Rev. Piers A. Vaughan is another brother to whom I am forever grateful both for his spiritual work and his grand assistance as the Chaplain on the Installing Team. Additionally, our own Right Worshipful Brother Al Wright was instrumental in my installation by his reading of the Ancient Charges.

We received guests from Scotland, England, Bermuda, New York, North Carolina, France and Haiti, and I received many personal notes of congratulations via correspondence from brethren in Germany, Ireland, New Zealand and Puerto Rico. We have started off the year with the proper foot and in the right manner.

Yours In the Mystic LVX,

David Lindez
Worshipful Master
Alpha Lodge No. 116 F&AM




David Lindez............................Worshipful Master

Kevin Washington Senior Warden
Robert Morton Junior Warden
Ezra Eaddy, PM Treasurer
Matthew Aaron, PM Secretary
Daniel Walker Chaplain
Howard Crocker Sr. Deacon
Vincent Brannon Jr. Deacon
Lester Lockhart Sr. Master of Ceremonies
Edward Sunwolf Jr. Master of Ceremonies
Tyrone Gordon Sr. Steward
Alvin Branch Jr. Steward
Kyle Lampkin Marshal
Nathaniel Gibson Organist
David Lindez Historian
R. Eugene Hill, PGC Historian Emeritus
Johney Leake Tyler

James H. Daniels, DWA Proxy to Grand Lodge