Lodge No. 2 Attends Prince Hall Visitation

/ Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania/

On Sat., 16-Mar-2024, members of Lodge No. 2, Mitchell Lodge No. 81 and St. Alban’s Lodge No. 529 attended a conferral of the Master Mason degree to a candidate applying for membership in Tuscan-Morning Star Lodge No. 48 of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Also, in attendance were Prince Hall Grand Lodge delegations from Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. After the degree conferral, Honorable Paul Anthony Hibner, M.W.G.M., paid tribute to the veterans and active military in the audience, including Lodge No. 2’s very own Bros. Peter B. Lavelle, P.M. and Seth P. Lavelle—the latter of which is currently serving in the U.S. Navy.

It was truly a pleasure and honor to witness the pageantry of Prince Hall Freemasonry replete with allegories, masterful stagecraft and a level of camaraderie unparalleled in the Commonwealth. For those Pennsylvania Masons who have not yet witnessed Prince Hall degree work, it is a powerful and moving experience that underscores the true meaning of fellowship and brotherhood inculcated by the fraternity. It should be noted that Prince Hall ritual work—though sharing the basic framework of Pennsylvania Masonic ritual—introduces additional dramatic elements that enhance the overall experience for both the audience and participants, leaving an especially lasting impression on the candidate.

Representing Lodge No. 2 that afternoon were Bros. Peter B. Lavelle, P.M., Seth P. Lavelle, Ariel Gonzalez, P.M., Stephen W. Long, P.M., Barry Epstein, P.M., Manuel Villalba-Martinez, Stephen C. Meister, Michael Vivas, Jonathan Teysko and Jeffrey Leknes.

In the interest of furthering the amity between the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Lodge No. 2 will be scheduling additional opportunities to visit each other’s lodges in the coming months and years. It is enjoined upon you to take every opportunity to attend.

Photos courtesy of Peter B. Lavelle, P.M. and Ariel Gonzalez, P.M.