World Conference on Fraternalism, Freemasonry, and History: Research in Ritual, Secrecy, and Civil Society, Paris, May 29-30, 2015

The Policy Studies Organization is sponsoring the World Conference on Fraternalism, Freemasonry, and History: Research in Ritual, Secrecy, and Civil Society at the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, France, May 29-30, 2015. The conference will be held biennially in Paris, and hopes to open new doors while promoting multilingual and multicultural scholarship in areas such as, the relations between such Masonic-related subjects as the Companionnage, guilds, friendly societies, and Greek fraternities.

Convened by the journal Ritual, Secrecy, and Civil Society, in cooperation with the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, France, the first World Conference on Fraternalism, Freemasonry, and History: Research in Ritual, Secrecy, and Civil Society, focuses on the study of ritual, secrecy, and civil society vis-à-vis the dynamics of Masonic scholarship around the world. The conference explores how civil society, secrecy, and ritual have been important elements during different episodes of local and world histories, and indeed still are. The WCFFH 2015 is a part of the Policy Studies Organization's support of research into social capital, civility, and the role of non governmental organizations in democracy.

All papers accepted presented will be published by Westphalia Press in three collections: Vital Masonic Scholarship in the 21st Century, New Research in Secret Societies, and European Scholarship in Secrecy and Ritualism, and will be available in-print and electronically.

In order to make possible the attendance of all interested parties, the sponsors have agreed that there will be no registration fee for the 2015 conference and complimentary coffee and refreshments will be provided for those in attendance. This owes much to the great support of the Bibliothèque Nationale in being such a generous host. One of the world's extraordinary libraries with a remarkable Masonic collection, it is well worth exploring while you are in Paris. And although there is no registration fee, it is imperative that all attendees and participants still register, so that we may facilitate the proper arrangements and accommodations. Early inquiry is appreciated in regards to special requests for hearing enhancement, physically challenged access, child care, or other potential needs of our guests. 

Register Here

Click here for more details of the Conference.

Committee on the Francken Documents: All Day Sessions at the Museum of Freemasonry, rue Cadet

A workshop organized by invitation, to view and analyze developments with the Francken Manuscripts and other eighteenth century original documents, will be held at the Museum of Freemasonry, rue Cadet, directly preceding the conference.The workshop will present and discuss a special exhibit of materials not previously on public display. Click here for more information and to reserve a spot... 

4:00 PM Thursday 4pm- Viewing and reception for the Francken Documents at the Museum of Freemasonry (http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/Francken-Manuscript.html)

*Thursday 8:30 PM The French premiere of "Golem", Théâtre des Abbesses, tickets available here. See the discussion, Grand Lodge of British Columbia and the Yukon athttp://freemasonry.bcy.ca/anti-masonry/pentagram/golem.html

*All Day Attraction, Early arrivals might consider the several hundred antiquarian bookshops and the unusual flea markets with various manuscripts and books. The Seine-side booksellers with their familiar green metal display cases will be open in force.http://goparis.about.com/od/shopping/tp/Best-Bookshops-In-Paris.htm

Day One: Friday- May 29, 2015- Taking Stock

9:00AM Coffee in the Foyer

9:30 - 10:00 AM Welcome- Grand Auditorium 

Guillermo De los Reyes, (Conference Chair), Jean-Loup Graton, (Bibliothèque Nationale), Pierre Mollier, (Editor- Ritual, Secrecy, and Civil Society)

10:00 - 10:45 AM Keynote Address- Grand Auditorium 

Margaret C. Jacob, Distinguished Professor of History, University California of Los Angeles- Civil Society in an Uncivil Age: An Agenda for Freemasonry, Past and Present

Introduced by: Paul J. Rich, President, Policy Studies Organization

10:45 - 11:30 AM Special Instrumental Presentation- http://mvmm.org

Special session chaired by: Charles Bonaparte

400 Years of Masonic Music- Special Instrumental Presentation

Mozart actually wrote for a unique instrument called the basset horn, absent from recitals of Masonic music for 200 years. Music historian, Gille Thorne, has restored the proper place of the basset and will share his adventures.

11:30-11:45 AM Coffee in the Foyer

11:45AM - 1:00 PM Salon Breakout Sessions

Salon One: Unresolved Historical Inquiries

John Belton and Count Alessandro Cagliostro, Problems in Masonic Bibliography

Samuel Biagetti, Freemasonry - The Missing Link Between Jacobitism and the American Revolution?

Zhenya Gershman, Rembrandt's Secret

Jeffrey Kantor, In the Footsteps of Freemasonry in the Holy Land King Solomon, the First Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and Masonic Sites in the Holy Land

Salon Two: French Resources on Fraternalism

Panel Session

Sylvie Bourel, François Rognon, Francis Delon, Françoise Moreillon, Pierre Mollier- Masonic Archives in France  (presented in French with translation)

Salon Three: Issues of Gender and Universalism

Chair and Commentator: David Merchant

Aimee E. Newell, American Female Makers of Masonic and Fraternal Regalia

Ineke Huysman, L'Ordre de l'Union de la Joye- A Women's Order in the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age

Joachim Berger, 'Universal freemasonry' and Transnational Masonic Movements (c. 1870–1930)

László Vári, The Curious Case of Helene Hadik-Barkóczy with the Freemasons

1:00 - 2:15 PM Break for Lunch 

Screening of the BBC's Inspector Morse, Masonic Mysteries, Season 4, Episode 4 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0611646/)

Moderator: Guillermo Izabal

2:15 - 3:00 PM Plenary Address

John Cooper, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of California, Past President of the North American Conference of Grand Masters- Into the Maelstrom: The Issue of Masonic Regularity, Past and Present

Chair: Guillermo De Los Reyes

Commentator: Alain Bauer

3:00 - 3:30 PM TBA

3:30 - 3:45 PM Coffee in the Foyer

3:45- 5:15 PM Salon Breakout Sessions

Salon One: Material Evidence of the Ethereal

Chair and Commentaor: Martin Kanter 

The Masonic Collections of the The Bibliothèque Nationale

François Gruson, The Masonic Temple Between Universal Model and Cultural Tropisms

Dominique Sappia and Herve Hoint-Lecoq, Jewels, Ornaments, Lights and Furnitures, a Historical and Statistical Study Through Time and Countries : Appearance of the Movable and Immovable Jewels (1696-1801)

Hilary Anderson Stelling, Commanding Elegance: The Decoration and Furnishing of Masonic Lodges in New England, 1790-1830

Salon Two: Ancient Ideas in the New World

Chair and Commentator: Terry McCammon

J. Scott Kenney, Contemporary Canadian Freemasonry: Social Dynamics and Possible Futures

Adam Kendall, Pilgrimage and Procession: The 1883 Knights Templar Triennial Conclave and the Dream of the American West

Olga Romero Mestas, Freemasonry, Secret Societies and Civil Society in Cuban Independence

Oscar Alleyne, A Contemporary Look at the Various Forms of Freemasonry among African-Americans in the United States

Salon Three: In Far Places

Emanuela Locci, The Impact of European Freemasonry on Turkish Civil Society

Demetrio Xoccato, A Masonic pretender to the Hungarian throne: François Claude Auguste de Crouy-Chanel

László Vári, Ferenc Pulszky's Masonic Periods

Martin Javor, Orpheus, Mährische Magazin and Prager Gelehrte Nachrichten – Masonry Magazines in Central Europe in the 18th Century

End Day One

*7:30 PM The Magic Flute, performed by the Paris Opera- Tickets with English notes available here 

Day Two: Saturday- May 30, 2015- Setting Agendas

9:00 AM Coffee in Foyer

9:30 - 10:15 AM Salon Breakout Sessions

Salon One: *Special Presentation 9:30- 11:15 AM* - Audutorium

Jean-Michel Mathonière,Savoirs et emblèmes du savoir chez les compagnons tailleurs de pierre à la fin de l'Ancien Régime / Compagnonnage: Knowledge and Symbols of Knowledge Among Stone Cutters at the End of the Ancien Régime

(Presented with English Translation) 

Chair: Margaret Jacobs

Salon Two: Lodge Quatour Coronati- Panel Session

Brent Morris, Gordon Davie, Yasha Beresiner, and John Belton- Masonic Research by Mason and Non-Masons: Can Ever the Twain Meet?

Salon Three: Roots and Branches

Marcus Patka, Austrian Freemasonry and Gunter Kodek

Joi Grieg, The Mystic Tie- Inclusionary and Exclusionary Language Usage in North America

Yasha Beresiner, Medieval Guilds of the City of London and their Later Influence on Freemasonry

Piroska Balogh, The Constitution and Operation of the Draskovics Observance

10:15 - 11: 15 AM Salon Breakout Sessions

Salon One: *Special Presenation 9:30- 11:15 AM* - Auditorium

Jean-Michel Mathonière, Savoirs et emblèmes du savoir chez les compagnons tailleurs de pierre à la fin de l'Ancien Régime / Compagnonnage: Knowledge and Symbols of Knowledge Among Stone Cutters at the End of the Ancien Régime
(Presented with English Translation)

Chair: Margaret Jacobs

Salon Two: Fraternalism Midst Hostility and Challenge

Chair and Commentator: Guillermo Izabal, Royal Arch No. 2

Neil Wynes Morse, Some Masonic Activities in the Australian Military During WWI

David H. Lewis, Freemasonry Under the Nazis

Adam Kendall, Writing History with Lightning: American Nativism, the Ku Klux Klan & the Fraternal Press in the 1920s

Aslak Postad, Anti-masonic trends in Norway 1869 - 2015

Salon Three: Origins of Fraternal Wisdom

Chair and Commentator: Goncalo Amaral

Josef Wäges and Reinhard Markner, The Secret School of Wisdom: The Authentic Rituals and Doctrines of the Illuminati

Philip Carter, That Which Was Lost- The Third Pillar

Karen Kidd, Evolution of Co-Masonic Blue Lodge Ritual

David Merchant, A 19th Century Mexican Masonic Novel as a Vehicle of Liberalism

11:15 AM - 1:00 PM Salon Breakout Sessions 

Salon One: TBA

Salon Two: Brothers Abroad

Chair and Commentator: Guillermo De Los Reyes

Naama Klar, Freemasonry and the Roots of Liberal International Trade: The Enlightenment and the Transatlantic Network in the 18th Century

Brian Rountree, Prairie Charity: Masonic Benevolence in late Nineteenth Century Manitoba

Ralf Bernd Herden, The Grand-Duchy of Baden 1780-1820: State, Politics and Masonry

Lori Lee Oates, Edward Bulwer‐Lytton and the Globalization of Fringe Masonic Philosophies in the Nineteenth Century

Salon Three: 

Philip Ice, Wallace Boston, Karan Powell, Daniel Gutierrez-Sandoval, Paul Rich, Margaret Jacob and Count Alessandro Cagliostro- Taking the Conference to the World: Our Work and Teaching, Publishing, and Surviving the Internet Revolution: New Realities for Fraternal Studies

1:00 - 2:30 PM Break for Lunch Screening, the 1943 Nazi anti-Masonic movie, Forces Occultes (Hidden Froces), original uncut version, with English subtitles (http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/fiction/cinema.html)

Moderator: Guillermo Izabal

2:30 - 4:00 PM Salon Breakout Sessions

Salon One: Evolution of the Fraternal Metaphors

Chair and Commentator: Rex Kallembach

John Acaster, The Voyage from Corruption to Harmony: Fresh Insights Into the Inspiration of Noah and 'the primitive' Within Freemasonry

Klaus-Jürgen Grün, Development of Humanitarian Freemasonry since Anderson's Constitutions

Giulia Delogu, Reshaping Virtue: the Case of Eighteenth-Century French and Italian Masonic Poetry

Andreas Önnerfors, Unveiling the Copiale-manuscript: layers of fraternalism, ritual and politics in eighteenth century Germany

Salon Two: The Bordeaux Vintage

Panel Session

Roger Dachez, Louis Trébuchet, Jacques Simon, Pierre Mollier, The French Sources of the"Scottish" Degrees 

Salon Three: Masonic Biography

Chair and Commentator: Luis-Jose Meja

Simon Mayers, Dudley Wright: His Early 'Truth-Seeking' Years (1906-1916)

Casey D. Stanislaw, Santa Anna, the Mason

Maria Danova, The Master's Mask: Richard Wagner & Freemasonry

4:00 PM Closing Plenary Session

Brent Morris, Emperors, Princes, and the Francken Mysteries: What Paris Has Revealed- Report on the Conference Special Committee on the Francken Documents

End Day Two

6:00 PM Farewell Reception at the Museum of Freemasonry

7:30 PM Les Enfants du Paradis (Ballet l'Opera de national de Paris) exploring illusion and reality in the provocative production by Jose Martinez https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/saison-2014-2015/ballet/les-enfants-du-paradis-jose-martinez?genre=2

8:30 PM Music Festival, the famous music festival in the quarter Saint Germain will be at its height on Saturday evening: http://festivaljazzsaintgermainparis.com/the-festival/

Sunday- May 31, 2015

~~Informal walking tour of local Masonic sites and architecture led by François Gruson (details forthcoming)~~

A Sunday brunch will be hosted by Professors Guillermo de los Reyes and Paul Rich, for discussion and suggestions about the May 2017 World Conference on Fraternalism, Freemasonry, and History.  Contact Whitney Shepard if interested.

A self-guided tour of locations and curiosities from Dan Bown's novel, The Da Vinci Code is easily put together using the site http://www.da-vinci-code-paris.com

The Catacombs extend for more than 150 miles under Paris with much of fraternal and ritualistic interest. For the museum and tours see: http://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en/homepage-catacombs-official-website

Fortuitously, an antiquarian book and manuscript flea market, Le Marche du Livre Ancien, convenes Sundays at the Parc Georges Brassens, rue Brancion, 15th arr, Porte de Vanves metro, 9-6 pm. The adjacent park include interesting sculpture, a marionette theatre and a beekeeping school.

New History Channel Series About Knights Templar Is In Development

Actor Jeremy Renner is developing a new series for the History Channel about the Knights Templar. From UPI today:

LOS ANGELES, March 23 (UPI) -- Jeremy Renner will develop new series Knightfall for the History channel.
The 44-year-old actor and his production company, The Combine, have teamed with A+E Studios and Midnight Radio on the project. Renner will also executive produce with The Combine co-founder Don Handfield and author Richard Rayner.
Knightfall will be a scripted series about the events leading up to and following the persecution of the Knights of Templar. Hundreds of members of the Christian military organization were burned at the stake Friday the 13th in 1307, and the order was officially disbanded in 1312.
Renner previously produced and starred in Gary Webb biopic Kill the Messenger. The actor appeared in a first teaser for Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation over the weekend, and will return as Marvel superhero Hawkeye in Avengers: Age of Ultron come May 1.


Read more: http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2015/03/23/Jeremy-Renner-to-develop-Knights-of-Templar-drama-series/5501427134466/#ixzz3VEzhZxcI

Robert Davis Speaking in Nashua, NH

Ancient York Lodge No. 89 in Nashua, New Hampshire is presenting the 4th Evening of Masonic Light on Saturday, April 18 at 4 PM.  The keynote speaker will be noted author, Worshipful Brother Robert G. Davis, and the event will also feature Brother Chris Murphy and Brother Rick Jones.

Robert Davis is a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason and the author of Understanding Manhood in America, and The Mason's Words: The History and Evolution of the American Masonic Ritual.

This will be a Special Master Mason Communication of the Lodge and an Agape Dinner will immediately follow the meeting.

Tickets are only $25 and are available to purchase on the Ancient York Lodge event link.

Download the Flier

Visit the Ancient York Lodge No. 89 Webpage

Brother Saves Another During Ceremony

Good job, Brother. Well done! From WWLP in Massachusetts:

EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) – When a friend’s heart stopped beating during a Masonic initiation ceremony for both men at the Masonic Temple in East Longmeadow, Matt counted on all of his skill as an EMT and first responder to overcome the odds against saving his friend’s life.

“The percentile of people who come back is very low,” he explained. “Either they don’t come back at all or there’s some type of brain damage. because by the time you get to the person it’s too long. Usually when you’re able to get to the person in the first two minutes that’s the best chance of living.”

Fellow Mason Ken White is among those who nominated his Masonic brother as a Hometown Hero. “One brother helping another brother at the instant they became Masonic brothers. You look and see a man stretched out on the ground and your heart sinks,” he told 22News, “you’re very nervous, you’re praying for the man.”

Matt Gosselin advocates widespread CPR training at Masonic Temples throughout Western Massachusetts. As an EMT, he knows the value of being prepared. “Four hours out of your life, 40 bucks out of your life, and it might be your grandmother, your sister, your brother that goes down or your child.”

At the Mass Mutual Center on the morning of March 19th, the Western Massachusetts Red Cross will honor Matthew Gosselin and six other extraordinary individuals as 2015 Hometown Heroes.

100 Man Meeting in Crestwood, MO

The brethren of Crestwood Anchor Lodge No. 443 in Crestwood, MO are planning a 100 Man Meeting for March 26th, 2015. This is a suburb of St. Louis.

Dinner begins at 6:30 PM and the lodge meeting begins at 7:30 PM. Bro. Mark Breckenridge will give a presentation on "Strength" for the night's education. The lodge will be opened on the First Degree, so EA's and FC's are most welcomed.

Interested brothers can visit their homepage at: http://crestwoodanchor443.org/  The Events tab of the homepage will open an expanded Google Calendar that Brothers can view.

"Complete" List of Secret Societies and Fraternal Organizations in the US

For researchers or the curious, here is a list of all fraternal organizations that have existed in the United States, by initials. In case you have found a medal or sword with unknown initials on it in grandpa's attic chest or on a tombstone.

Go here, Secret Society. Fraternal Organizations, Abbreviations, Slogans, Mottoes, a Complete List.

I'm not sure how complete it is. They list my favorite, the International Order of Hoo Hoo, but by a shortened name. It's official name is the International Concatenenated Order of Hoo Hoo, Incorporated. But interesting for collectors and geneologists.

New Publication From the Vatican Reinforces the Innocence of the Templars

UPDATE: Sorry, I didn't notice this was from 2007. I know the Grand Lodge of New York's library has one. It must have popped up on my Google News Alert because of Friday the 13th. I thought it was another document. My mistake.

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For Templar scholars, this is enormous news. From Reuters:

The Knights Templar, the medieval Christian military order accused of heresy and sexual misconduct, will soon be partly rehabilitated when the Vatican publishes trial documents it had closely guarded for 700 years.

A reproduction of the minutes of trials against the Templars, "'Processus Contra Templarios -- Papal Inquiry into the Trial of the Templars'" is a massive work and much more than a book -- with a 5,900 euros ($8,333) price tag.

"This is a milestone because it is the first time that these documents are being released by the Vatican, which gives a stamp of authority to the entire project," said Professor Barbara Frale, a medievalist at the Vatican's Secret Archives.

"Nothing before this offered scholars original documents of the trials of the Templars," she told Reuters in a telephone interview ahead of the official presentation of the work on October 25.

The epic comes in a soft leather case that includes a large-format book including scholarly commentary, reproductions of original parchments in Latin, and -- to tantalize Templar buffs -- replicas of the wax seals used by 14th-century inquisitors.

Reuters was given an advance preview of the work, of which only 799 numbered copies have been made.

One parchment measuring about half a meter wide by some two meters long is so detailed that it includes reproductions of stains and imperfections seen on the originals.

Pope Benedict will be given the first set of the work, published by the Vatican Secret Archives in collaboration with Italy's Scrinium cultural foundation, which acted as curator and will have exclusive world distribution rights.

The Templars, whose full name was "Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon", were founded in 1119 by knights sworn to protecting Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land after the Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099.

They amassed enormous wealth and helped finance wars of some European monarchs. Legends of their hidden treasures, secret rituals and power have figured over the years in films and bestsellers such as "The Da Vinci Code".

The Knights have also been portrayed as guardians of the legendary Holy Grail, the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper before his crucifixion.

The Vatican expects most copies of the work to be bought up by specialized libraries at top universities and by leading medieval scholars.

Read more here. With the dollar vs. Euro price at incredible lows, this lowers the price to just $6,252.58 today.

E-books Go Out of Fashion As Book Sales Revive

From Time Magazine:

British book stores have good news for bibliophiles, reporting that more people have been buying physical books recently. What’s more, sales of e-readers have apparently slumped according to their reports. Waterstones, a U.K. book store chain which also sells Amazon’s Kindle, told the Financial Times that demand for the e-reader has all but disappeared.

The Crescent and the Compass by Angel Millar

Brother Angel Millar, author of the beautiful book Freemasonry: A History is coming out later this month with what looks like a fascinating study of Freemasonry and Islam. The Crescent and the Compass is the first book to explore the many connections between Muslim activists, Islamic spirituality, Freemasonry, and the Western spiritual underground, of the modern era. For more information, look at http://islam-freemasonry.com

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UPDATE on 3/15/2015: The book is now available for $39.95 on Amazon.com. Click here.

Spring Pennsylvania Academy of Masonic Knowledge

The 2015 Spring session of the Pennsylvania Academy of Masonic Knowledge will be held March 21st, 2015 in the Deike Auditorium of the Masonic Cultural Center of the campus of Masonic Village in Elizabethtown, PA. Registration will open at 8:30AM and the program will begin at 9:30. Lunch, with a suggested donation of $10, will be served at noon with the program ending at 3:00PM. All Masons are invited to attend. Dress is coat and tie.

The day's program features:

Professor Kenneth Loiselle will speak on topics from his recently published book "Brotherly Love: Freemasonry and Male Friendship in Enlightenment France. Professor Loiselle PhD is an Associate Professor of history and international studies at Trinity Unoiversity in San Antonio, TX.

There has been a change in speakers. Replacing Brother George Braatz is Brother Rashied K. Sharrief-Al-Bey, Second Vice-President of the Philalethes Society. Brother Rashied is a Past Master of Cornerstone Lodge No. 37, M.W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge F&AM of New York.

Pre-registration is required. To preregister, send your name, Lodge number, and home zip code via email to: AMKSecretary@pagrandlodge.org

London Masons Donate £2 million ($3 million) For Helicopter

London Freemasons have donated more than $3 million for a air ambulance helicopter for the city.

From the Harrow Times today:

London Air Ambulance said they have been “blown away” by a £2 million donation from the London Freemasons.The money will now provide a second emergency helicopter as a result form the ‘Your London, Your Helicopter’ campaign.Graham Hodgkin, CEO of London’s Air Ambulance, said “We are blown away by the generosity of London Freemasons which brings us significantly closer to our aim of having a second emergency medical helicopter up and running by this summer.“For many years, London Freemasons have been regular supporters of our work and we thank all those Freemasons across the Metropolitan area who will be working tirelessly to raise the two million pounds.”Metropolitan Grand Master Russell Race added: “Freemasons both in London and all over the country have been donating to Air Ambulances for many years. We at the Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London are delighted, however, to have an opportunity to specifically assist in the provision of this vital second helicopter for London”.

Voltaire Collection

Two brethren have worked for over a year to design a line of Masonic jewelry - rings and cufflinks - called the Voltaire Collection. The pieces are quite beautiful, the prices reasonable, and 10% of the proceeds will be sent to charity. See it here http://www.voltairecollection.com

London Freemasons

A generally fair minded article appeared about London Masons on the GetWestLondon website, written by Danya Bazaraa on February 20th. Read it here.

The United Grand Lodge of England is working hard to promote the fraternity in the historically hostile British press, and is generally doing a good job of it.

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/news-opinion/exclusive-insight-uk-freemasonry-what-8658428?fb_ref=Default#ICID=sharebar_facebook

Grand Secretary of the GL of New Jersey Has Passed Away

It is with great sadness that I report that MW William L. Morris Jr., Past Grand Master and Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, and Past Master of Atlas Pythagoras Lodge Number 10 was called to the Celestial Lodge on High last night.

To quote Brother Mohamad Yatim in his Facebook post, "MW Morris was a great man and an outstanding Mason. He dedicated his life to the service of our fraternity and the brethren, and he will be sorely missed."

There are no details on funeral arrangements yet. Please keep his wife Betty in your thoughts and prayers.