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Annual Regional School of Instruction Conference

Members of Lodge 531 participated at the Annual Regional School of Instruction Conference held on Mach 17, at the Masonic Temple in Scranton. As Principal of the School of Instruction for District 12, Bro. Lynn Sheehan, P.M., led the group which included Bro. Jim Byers as well as brothers from Kingston Lodge No. 395; Coalville No. 474; Landmark No. 442; and Bro. Barry W. Littleford, District Deputy Grand Master.

District 12’s presentation pertained to opening a Lodge of Master Masons, accepting a visit from a District Deputy, voting upon a petition, and closing a Lodge. The day’s other programs included a discussion on Officers in respect to their stations and places and the conferring of Degrees.

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Bro. John Holdredge

John C. Holdredge Sr., 83, of Dallas, passed away Sunday, February 19, 2012. He was an inspector with the Tobyhanna Army Depot for 28 years. Bro. Holdredge was a member of George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531 being raised a Master Mason on December 11, 1957. He was also a member or Keystone Consistory, Scranton, Irem Temple Shriners and the Shrine Board of Governors. John was a veteran of the Korean War and a member of Daddow Isaacs American Legion, Post 672, Dallas.

Masonic Funeral Services were conducted by Dallas Lodge 531.

Please join us in prayer and remembrance of Brother Holdredge.

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Bro. Ralph Garris

Ralph Charles Garris, 89, formerly of Dallas, died Thursday, January 26, 2012, at Indian River Medical Center in Florida. He was born in Trucksville and resided in Dallas until moving to Vero Beach, FLA., 18 years ago. Brother Garris became a Mason at George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531 in 1954. He was a member of Irem Temple Shrine and a member of Dallas United Methodist Church. He was a WWII veteran of the Army Air Force.

Please join us in prayer and remembrance of Brother Garris.

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Bro. Robert Belles

Robert Zane Belles, 95, of Beaumont, PA, passed away Thursday, December 22, 2011. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. After the war, he returned to teaching at the Noxen High School and in 1965 he was appointed supervising principal of the Lake-Lehman School District. Years later, he was appointed Superintendent of Lake-Lehman School District retiring in 1978. The Lake Elementary Building at Harveys Lake was named the Robert Z. Belles Building. He was made a Master Mason in 1954 at George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531 F.& A.M. and was a member of Caldwell Consistory for more than over 50 years, and the Irem Temple Shrine.

Interment was held in the Orcutt Grove Cemetery, Noxen.

Please join us in prayer and remembrance of Brother Belles.

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Bro. Robert Lewis, P.M.

Robert Kramer Lewis, 77, of Andover Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA, passed away Thursday, December 15, 2011. Brother Lewis became a Master Mason in 1960 at Lodge 531 and later served as its Worshipful Master in 1966 and 2010. He was the quintessential Mason serving in many capacities throughout his 51 years as a Member of Lodge 531. He was also a former member of Caldwell Consistory and Irem Shriners. He owned and operated Wilkes-Barre Printing for 60 years and printed most of the materials used by our Lodge and others throughout the area. If he wasn’t in the Lodge he was in his shop, if he wasn’t in his shop he was fishing.

Masonic Funeral Services were conducted by George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531 along with several Brothers and Officers from other District 9 lodges. Internment  was held in Oaklawn Cemetery, Hanover Township.

Please join us in prayer and remembrance of Brother Lewis.

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Bro. Edward Powell

Edward S. Powell, 81, of Idetown Road, Dallas, died on Friday, December 9, 2011, at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. He graduated from Newport High School in 1947. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Prior to his retirement, he was employed as a salesman for Whiteman Tower Paper Co. Earlier, he was employed by Zoeller Paper Company. Mr. Powell was a 50-year member of Idetown United Methodist Church. He was past president of the Lehman Fire Company. Brother Powell was made a Master Mason in 1959 at Lodge 531 and later joined Caldwell Consistory, Bloomsburg. He was active with the Irem Temple for 50 years, serving as Potentate in 1983. He was Captain of the Arab Emeritus Patrol for many years.

Masonic Funeral Services were conducted by Lodge 531. Interment was held in Chapel Lawn Memorial Park, Dallas.

Please join us in prayer and remembrance of Brother Powell.

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Bro. Bill Haddle, P.M.

J. William “Bill” Haddle, 73, died on Tuesday, December 6, 2011. He was born in Homestead, PA, and moved to Kunkle, PA, in 1945, where he had attended the Dallas Township school. After graduating in 1956, he joined the U.S. Navy and retired after 20 years as a Chief Quartermaster. His last years in the Navy were spent teaching Navigation to the Navy ROTC students at Penn State University. Following retirement from the Navy, he returned to Kunkle and established Pet Care Associates. He discovered golf late in life, but he made up for that by retiring in 2003 to live on the Blackmoor golf course in Murrells Inlet, S.C. Brother Haddle was made a Master Mason in 1990 at Lodge 531 and later served as its Worshipful Master in 1997 & 1999. He was also a member and active in the Irem Shriners and the American Legion, Post No. 178, Murrells Inlet, and Blackmoor Golf Club.

A Funeral will be held Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at noon from The Richard H. Disque Funeral Home Inc., 2940 Memorial Highway, Dallas. Interment will be with military honors at Oak Lawn Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. until time of service. Source: The Times Leader.

Masonic Funeral Services were conducted by Lodge 531. An interment with military honors was held at Oaklawn Cemetery, Hanover Township.

Please join us in prayer and remembrance of Brother Haddle.

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Masons March in Veterans’ Day Parade

Members from George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531 joined Brothers from neighboring Lodges to march in the 66th annual Wyoming Valley Veterans Day Parade on Sunday, November 6. The 12th Masonic District marched along with more than 1,000 people from military units and community organizations to honor Veterans. The Parade traveled along Market Street in Kingston and ended at the Square in Wilkes-Barre.

Pictured at left are Brother Grant Barall, PM, of Nanticoke Lodge No. 541, and Barry Wagner PM, Lodge 531. Pictured below are Brothers from Dallas No. 531; Nanticoke No. 541; Lodge No. 61; Coalville No. 474; Landmark No. 442; and Bro. Barry W. Littleford, District Deputy Grand Master.



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1-Day Masonic Journey

George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531 participated in the 1-Day Masonic Journey held on Saturday, Nov 5, 2011, at Masonic Temple, Wilkes-Barre. Worshipful Master Chris Matus gave the First Degree and Senior Warden John Sinclair gave the Second Degree. They were assisted by Brothers Lynn Sheehan, P.M., Noel Kline, and Jim Byers as well as Brethren from Landmark Lodge No. 442. The Third Degree was given by Members of 442. District Deputy Grand Master Barry Littleford led and officiated the day’s program. The event was attended by about 100 members from District 12 lodges. 25 candidates were made Master Masons, 14 from 531. The program was for Blue Lodge only, but candidates were introduced to Consistory and Irem Temple.

The 1-Day Masonic Journey was introduced several years ago as an opportunity to invite interested, quality men who may have busy schedules and numerous business and personal time commitments to join our ranks. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge’s 21st Century Masonic Renaissance, click the logo.

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