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Welcome to Mount Tom Lodge

Photo Courtesy of Senior Warden Robert O'Neill

Come Join Us for Dinner

Mount Tom Lodge would enjoy having you come by and join us for dinner. We have a dinner the first Friday of every month except July and August. Please check the Up Comin Events to right to see what is on the menu for next month. If you are planning on coming to the next dinner, we ask that you make a reservation; this is to ensure that we plan for enough people as well as to greet you and introduce you to some of our members while you are there.

We do ask for an $8.00 donation for dinner.

Also, we collect non-perishable food donations for Kate's Kitchen and Margret's Pantry; if you can, we ask that you bring a can or two to help those in need.

Reservation Link.

For a map and directions, please go to our Directions page.

Mount Tom Lodge

Summer Picnic July 17, 2010

The Lodge - Latest
Written by JMG
Monday, 19 July 2010 16:20
On July 17th. 15 members of Mount Tom lodge there family and friends enjoyed a summer cook out at the home John Gauger. Although rain had been predicted the sky remained clear, but hot and humid. A cool breeze and shade helped make it a fun day. There was plenty of food brought by those attending and with hot dogs and hambergers, potato salad, and baked beans there was more that enough to go around. The following photos show those attending.

Begining the Journey

Public - Stories
Written by From a book by Carl H. Claudy JMG
Sunday, 20 June 2010 09:37
No man has a mind big enough, quick enough, open enough, to absorb and understand in an evening, even the introduction to what Freemasonry knows; not in a month of evenings. No degree, no matter how impressively delivered, can possibly take him far along this road. All that the E.A. degree can do is to point the way, and give the seeker sustenance by which he may travel. And equally true it is that while men do receive the degrees of Freemasonry at the hands of their brethren, there is no Freemasonry in a man's heart if he is not willing to sacrifice some time, give some effort, some study, ask some questions, digest some philosophy, to make it truly his own. The candidate is designated an Entered Apprentice because we have conferred the initiatory degree, in which he took a central part. No man however, can in reality be "Entered" unless he is willing to enter. In the character of a candidate you were brought into a large place - a very large place - a universal brotherhood. Henceforth a pathway lies before you, and whether you will travel blindly or not, depends only and wholly upon you. As a newly initiated craftsman you should ask yourself this question, "Have I become a real Freemason, or merely joined the Lodge as another member?" An Entered Apprentice is barely born, Masonically. He must learn and learn well, if he is to enter into his heritage. That which is worth having is worth working for. Experience in life teaches that what comes without labour turns soon to ashes in the mouth. Without labour there can be no rest; without work there can be no vacation: without pain there can be no pleasure; without sorrow there is no joy. You have crossed the threshold of a very old and very ancient craft. What you do in the future, and how well you learn the lessons taught you as an Entered Apprentice, will be the yardstick by which your craftsmanship is measured. In your Lodge you will find faithful brethren ready and willing to help you, on your journey. In your Masonic Library you will find a literature replete with the story of Freemasonry, and these books may be borrowed simply by asking for them.

Laus Deo

Public - Stories
Written by JMG
Sunday, 13 June 2010 14:29
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > In Washington , D.C. There can never be a building of greater height than the Washington Monument . > > With all the recent uproar about removing the ten commandments, etc., this is worth a moment or two of your time. > > On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington , DC , are displayed two words: Laus Deo. > > No one can see these words. In fact, most visitors to the monument are totally unaware they are even there and for that matter, probably couldn't care less. > > Once you know the history of “Laus Deo”, you will probably want to share this. > These words have been there for many years; they are 555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward to the Father of our nation, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise the District of Columbia , capital of the United States of America . > > Laus Deo! Two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words. Out of sight and, one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the highest point over what is the most powerful city in the most successful nation in the world. > > So, what do those two words, in Latin, composed of just four syllables and only seven letters, possibly mean? Very simply, they say ' Praise be to God!' > > Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James Polk was President of the United States , it was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty-five years to finally cap the memorial with a tribute to the Father of our nation, Laus Deo 'Praise be to God!' > > From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into four major segments. From that vantage point, one can also easily see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l'Enfant... A perfect cross imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the north. The Jefferson Memorial is to the south, the Capitol to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west. > > A cross you ask? Why a cross? What about separation of church and state? Yes, a cross; eliminating mention of God under the cloak of separating church and state was not, is not, in the Constitution. So, read on. How interesting and, no doubt, intended to carry a profound meaning for those who bother to notice. > > Praise be to God! Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the memorial stones share a message. On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore ; on the 20th is a memorial presented by some Chinese Christians; > > On the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6. Praise be to God! > > > When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848 deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible presented by the Bible Society. “Praise be to God!” Such was the discipline, the moral direction, and the spiritual mood given by the founder and first President of our unique democracy 'One Nation, Under God.' > > I am awed by Washington 's prayer for America Have you ever read it? Well, now is your unique opportunity, so read on! > > ' Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large.. And that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.' > > Laus Deo ! > > When one stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places all over our nation's capitol, he or she will easily find the signature of God, as it is unmistakably inscribed everywhere you look. You may forget the width and height of ' Laus Deo ', its location, or the architects but no one who reads this will be able to forget its meaning, or these words: 'Unless the Lord builds the house its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.' (Psalm 127: 1)

2010 Tag Sale Our Best Yet

The Lodge - Lodge News
Written by JMG
Monday, 31 May 2010 08:33
On May 29, 2010 Mount Tom held its third tag sale to benefit the dishwasher fund. We had a beautiful day with rain coming only at the end. We started bringing our items out at 7:30 with the help of many of our brothers and almost immediately we were selling some things.During the day other members showed up to help in the selling and later putting our remaining items away. We made $565 during the day mostly selling small priced items. Everyone had a great time and we now have enough money not only to purchase the dishwasher but to have it installed. We are planning another tag sale for the fall and this time we will be earning money for a card entry system to replace the key system that we now have. Brethren remember when cleaning out attics, closets, garages and basements to save salable items to donate to your lodge. We will gladly arrange a pick up for your items if you need help in getting them to the lodge.

The Story behind the Forget-me-not

Public - Stories
Written by From Masonic Vibes
Monday, 31 May 2010 06:33
In early 1934, soon after Hitler's rise to power, it became evident that Freemasonry was in danger. He issued two decrees on the same day: all local control over schools, colleges and universities was at an end; all the educational processes in Germany would henceforth be controlled by the Nazi Party and centralized in Berlin. The other decree was to proscribe Freemasonry and make membership and/or activity in Freemasonry a crime. Thus members of the Fraternity were to be regarded in the same category of common criminals or traitors. Hitler had long viewed Freemasonry as a part of "the Jewish conspiracy" and he lost little time in trying to eradicate Freemasonry. German Masonic lodges went dark; the organized Craft was broken; the Working Tools were either seized by Storm Troopers or secreted before their arrival; the Great Lights were extinguished. Freemasonry, as an organization, was no more in Germany. In that same year, the "Grand Lodge of the Sun" (one of the pre-war German Grand Lodges, located in Bayreuth) realizing the grave dangers involved, adopted the little blue Forget-Me-Not flower as a substitute for the traditional square and compasses. It was felt the flower would provide brethren with an outward means of identification - in public, in cities and in concentration camps throughout Europe - while lessening the risk of possible recognition in public by the Nazis, who were engaged in wholesale confiscation of all Masonic Lodge properties. He never quite understood that though he could desecrate or destroy Masonic Temples and disperse Masonic gatherings and imprison Freemasons that he was unable to invade the Temple that is in man and which is invulnerable except to God. Freemasonry went undercover, and this delicate flower assumed its role as a symbol of Masonry surviving throughout the reign of darkness. At no time did the Nazis ever detect this or learn of its having a special significance. And so did Freemasonry survive this great holocaust. During the ensuing decade of Nazi power a little blue Forget-Me-Not flower worn in a Brother's lapel served as one method whereby brethren could identify each other . The Forget-Me-Not distinguished the lapels of countless brethren who staunchly refused to allow the symbolic Light of Masonry to be completely extinguished. When the 'Grand Lodge of the Sun' was reopened in Bayreuth in 1947, by Past Grand Master Beyer, a little pin in the shape of a Forget-Me-Not was officially adopted as the emblem of that first annual convention of the brethren who had survived the bitter years of semi-darkness to rekindle the Masonic Light. At the first Annual Convent of the new United Grand Lodge of Germany AF&AM (VGLvD), in 1948, the pin was adopted as an official Masonic emblem in honor of the thousands of valiant Brethren who carried on their masonic work under adverse conditions. The following year, each delegate to the Conference of Grand Masters in Washington, D.C., received one from Dr. Theodor Vogel, Grand Master of the VGLvD. Thus did a simple flower blossom forth into a symbol of the fraternity, and become perhaps the most widely worn emblem among Freemasons in Germany; a pin presented ceremoniously to newly-made Masons in most of the Lodges of the American-Canadian Grand Lodge, AF&AM within the United Grand Lodges of Germany. In the years since adoption, its significance world-wide has been attested to by the tens of thousands of brethren who now display it with meaningful pride.

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What Freemasonry means to me.

What Freemasonry means to me.

I recently received a letter in which the writer asked: "Why are you a Freemason?" The question caused me to think and reaffirm my feelings about Masonry. At first I thought about my own forebears. My grandfather was a Mason for 50 years, my father for 50 years, and I have been a Mason for 60 years. This means that my tie with Freemasonry extends back to 1869 when my grandfather joined the Masons. My feelings on my first entrance into a Masonic Lodge are very clear in memory. I was a young man and it was a great thrill to kneel before the altar of the Lodge to become a Freemason. This must have been the same feeling my father and grandfather experienced before me.

And it must also have been identical to the one that many great leaders of America and the world felt as they became Masons. Prominent among this select group are George Washington, Harry Truman, and 12 other Presidents as well as countless statesmen and benefactors of humanity. So I found myself thinking: "What does Freemasonry mean to me?"

Of course Masons say that Freemasonry actually begins in each individual Mason's heart. I take this to mean a response to brotherhood and the highest ideals. I recall the story of a man who came to me once and said: "I see that you are a Freemason. So am I."

As we talked, he told me of an experience he had years ago. It seems that he joined the Masonic Fraternity shortly after he became 21 years old. When he was stationed in the military, he decided to attend various Lodge meetings. On his first visit to a Lodge in a strange city, he was a bit nervous. One thought was constantly in his mind; could he pass the examination to show that he was a Mason? As the committee was carefully examining his credentials, one of the members looked him squarely in the eye and said: "Obviously you know the Ritual, so you can enter our Lodge as a Brother Mason. But I have one more question. Where were you made a Mason?" With that he told the young visitor to think about it because when he knew the answer the examiner would not have to hear it. He would see it in his eyes.

My friend told me that after a couple of minutes a big smile came to his face and he looked at the examiner, who said: "That's right, in your heart." "Through Masonic teachings, good men practice love and charity. As a Fraternity they spend millions of dollars..." Freemasonry is not a religion though, in my experience, Masons have predominately been religious men and, for the most part, of the Christian faith.

Through Freemasonry, however, I have had opportunity to break bread with good men of other than my own Christian faith. Freemasonry does not promote any one religious creed. All Masons believe in the Deity without reservation. However, Masonry makes no demands as to how a member thinks of the Great Architect of the Universe. Freemasonry is, for all its members, a supplement to good living which has enhanced the lives of millions who have entered its doors. Though it is not a religion, as such, it supplements faith in God the Creator. It is supporting of morality and virtue.

Freemasonry has no dogma or theology. It offers no sacraments. It teaches that it is important for every man to have a religion of his own choice and to be faithful to it in thought and action. As a result, men of different religions meet in fellowship and brotherhood under the fatherhood of God. I think that a good Mason is made even more faithful to the tenets of his faith by his membership in the Lodge.

Freemasonry is much more than a social organization. Through Masonic teachings, good men practice love and charity. As a Fraternity they spend millions of dollars to support hospitals, childhood language disorders clinics, and research into problems that plague man's physical and mental being. Whenever I visit a Masonic hospital, of which there are many, my eyes fill with tears. As I see a youngster, who could not walk, now able to get from one end of the corridor to the other with the aid of an artificial leg, I am thrilled. For a young person to have the opportunity to become whole and productive is to me exciting and wonderful. And this opportunity is given at no cost to his or her family or the state. Living is beautiful but sometimes life can be harsh and cruel.

Whenever or wherever people are in need Masons are there to help. From large undertakings to the smallest of needs, Masons are always there, caring and serving. I have always been interested as to why Masons devote so much time to their Fraternity. A good answer to this question came from a Grand Master who once told me that he enjoys his involvement because it gives him another dimension to living.

The same answer is echoed by Brethren as they meet in Lodge rooms from one end of our Country to the other and around the world. Many of my best friends, associates, and fellow Christians are Freemasons and good churchmen as well. In my travels at home and abroad a goodly number of Freemasons notice my Masonic ring, which I always wear. With pride they say: "I, too, am a Freemason." To me, Freemasonry is one form of dedication to God and service to humanity. I too was a Freemason in my heart and so I will remain. I am proud of my involvement. I am proud to walk in fraternal fellowship with my Brethren.

By The Reverend Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, 33*

About Us

This is the website of Mount Tom Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons located in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Mount Tom Lodge was established on March 14th, 1850 (the same date the city of Holyoke was incorporated as a town) when it was granted a Warrant from the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts.

The building seen in the photo above was begun in 1920 and completed the following year. Our museum has many photos of the conerstone laying ceremony (which we will soon have online).