Brethren,

Our Worshipful Master is busy taking care of some family
business. While he is squaring things away there are some
important things going on that the Brethren need to be
informed of.

Mt. Vernon has been gracious enough to extend an
invitation to allow our EA’s to go through their Fellow Craft
Degree with them. We don’t have a date and time for that
yet but we will release that information as soon as we have
it. It is important that we go and support them at Mt.
Vernon when the time comes.

The DDGM visitation to Charity Lodge has been pushed up
to this month. You might be thinking, “Hey W. Br.
Secretary, we just went to Charity for the DDGM
visitation”. Yes we did, but our new DDGM RW Eric Grist
has requested the opportunity to enjoy his visitation to
Charity Lodge be in their outdoor lodge. They have also
changed the date. Instead of meeting on a Thursday they
have decided to meet on Saturday June 15th opening at
12:00. They will have cheese and crackers for friends and
family available inside their dining hall while the Brethren
conduct the meeting. They will keep it short, breaking for a
cook out to follow the meeting. So, please if you can, mark
June 15th 12:00 on your calendar and bring your family
down to Charity Lodge. They have received dispensation
allowing members and officers to switch from tuxedo to
white collared shirts and dark slacks for their summer
meetings. So, leave your tux at home. Officers, wear your
jewels and apron.

What’s going on at Franklin you ask? W. Br. Ralph Brunson
did an excellent job welcoming our previous DDGM RW
Gilbert Fontes Jr. into the lodge at our last meeting.
Apparently sitting back in the East is like riding a bike.
Strawberry shortcake is back by popular demand! You have
asked and Br. Bob Caron has promised to deliver. Before
we go dark for the summer he will be bringing back this
popular Franklin Lodge tradition for our June meeting. Our
candidates are moving along nicely and Br. Caron and the
Foundation has several projects planned for the summer. It
looks like the front porch will be getting a new coat of paint
and the fire pit along with the horse shoe pit in the back is
moving along quite nicely. We look forward to years of new
memories back there!

See everyone on the 11th!
​
Daniel Rzewuski, P.M.
Secretary , Franklin Lodge #20

Wardens and Brethren,
Greetings Brethren,

First off, thank you to all the brethren that
attended Hope Lodge’s District Deputy Visitation.
We had 10 brethren attend and I heard a Hope
Lodge brother comment “There’s Franklin’s
Army”. Music to one’s ears. We had a great EA
degree done at Charity Lodge in March for two of
our candidates and have one coming up at
Franklin in April for an additional candidate,
making 3 EA’s. May’s meeting is RWDDGM Gil
Fontes Visitation to Franklin Lodge, so PLEASE
mark your calendar. We need a full house to
support Gil and his GMC Jason Nystrom. Some
things coming up in the next few months include
our annual CHIP event at the Westerly Y.M.C.A,
an Open House, and a Table Lodge. But a big
challenge that faces us is to fill the shoes of a
Brother who has moved down to Texas. W.
Leverett F. Andrews, Jr. has been our Musical
Director for many years. When he is absent,
meetings just do not have the warmth and grace
that they do when his hands are on the ebony
and ivory. We will miss him dearly but hope he
has many joyful years ahead down in the warmth
of Texas and I plan to visit once he gets affiliated
with a lodge.
​
I hope the warming weather is seeing you all in
good health,

Fraternally,
Brett Marggraff
Master, Franklin Lodge #20

Wardens and Brethren,

Greetings.

We have three challenges coming up, two of
which are a big part of Franklin Lodge being
able to earn the Grand Master’s Award,
those being visitations by the Right
Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master Gil
Fontes and his Grand master of Ceremonies
Worshipful Jason Nystrom. The first one is
Hope Lodges Visitation on Wednesday
March 13th. Then our good friends at Charity
Lodge have their Visitation on Thursday April
18th. Those two events are two of the three
most difficult for Franklin, but with planning
and some praying I know we can get it done.
I will be going over some additional small
projects that we need to do which can most
probably be done by just a couple brethren
attacking each task. I will also will be
reviewing Franklin’s annual “Clam Bake”
with some possible options. And last but not
least will be reviewing upcoming candidate
ritual work as well as assigning Trestle
Board parts. They should be the same parts
that you previously had, so no memorizing of
new text.

May the Great Architect of the Universal
watch over us, guide us and make us all
better Masons and gentlemen.
​
Fraternally,
Brett Marggraff
Master, Franklin Lodge #20

Wardens and Brethren,

As our January regular communication
approaches, I have the pleasure of wishing
you all a very Happy New Year even as my
Masonic year comes to a close. But
although we are almost done with the labors,
there is yet one more thing to do.

In our January meeting, we will be raising
Brother Patrick Mahoney-Balestrucci to the
sublime degree of Master Mason. As the
Brothers and I have been working diligently
to squeeze in what practices we can during
the holidays and our own time, I have had
ample opportunity to reflect on the manifold
meanings of our greatest ritual. I think I can
speak for all the present officers when I say
that this is a labor of love and sacrifice,
much like that of our lost Grand Master.

As Solomon's temple bound Israel to God in
both a physical and spiritual way, so too, I
think, does our recapitulation of the story of
its construction bind us all closer together as
Brothers, and to the Great Creator in the
Heavens.

I eagerly look forward to your attendance
and participation in this degree!
Fraternally,
​
Joseph Giancaspro
Master, Franklin Lodge #20

Wardens and Brethren,

December is scarcely on us and already
the winter is in full swing. The holidays
are upon us and we ourselves have
occasion to celebrate this Regular
Communication.

In addition to the work of the evening, we
will receive the report of the investigation
committee for Mr. Cameron Dickson, and
vote on whether to begin his masonic
journey.

But, in keeping with the joyous times, our
main pleasure will be the honoring of Br.
John Grossomandes and his
seventy years of Freemasonry. It is not
a feat often matched, nor is it one always
paired with as much service to Franklin
Lodge as his own journey, so please join
myself and the officers of the Lodge in
paying respects and reflecting on a life
well spent!
​
Fraternally,
Joseph Giancaspro
Master, Franklin Lodge #20

Much as the fall weather has come on us
fast, so too has October passed and
November approaches.

We shall be seeking to accomplish two main
events this coming November meeting.
One, we shall enjoy a visitation from a
Brother from the Collegivm, Dr. Josh Irizarry,
who will engage us with a program on his
much acclaimed topic: "Was Confucius a
Mason?" This is sure to be an invigorating
presentation, to say nothing of the
discussions that could follow.

In addition, we have received requests for
Masonic Relief from our Brethren in the
Carolina's and the other affected
Southeastern States, in the wake of the
hurricanes. It is our intention to raise funds
through the meal and a raffle to make a
donation. We would appreciate any
donations to the raffle, as well as any other
contributions in kind, to this cause of charity.

I think it would be quite fitting for those
organizations to have Masonic charity as a
reason to give thanks this coming
Thanksgiving! I look forward to all of you
attending!
​
Fraternally,
Joseph Giancaspro
Master, Franklin Lodge #20

Wardens & Brethren,

October has come to us, and a busy month it
is looking to be.

Sunday the 7th is the Columbus Day Parade,
and Franklin Lodge will be marching again!
Please join me and the other officers as we
bring Light to our Fraternity.

October the 10th is our regular
communication, wherein we will be passing
brothers to the Degree of Fellowcraft. The
officers have done an outstanding job
roaring back from Summer’s relaxation to
the significant work that this degree entails.

20 October is the Grand Lodge Open House
in Providence. DDGM Gil has specifically
asked that we make the trip up if we can to
support.

21 October is the Special Ladies Luncheon –
for which there is yet time to RSVP if you
haven’t!

The 27th is a Halloween Party being put on
by the Rainbow Girls, for any of us Brethren
with young kids.

Like I said, a busy month indeed! I look
forward to sharing in all these good labors
with you all!
​
Fraternally,
Joseph Giancaspro
Master, Franklin Lodge #20

Wardens &Brethren,

It is my pleasure to welcome you back to
regular business after a very hot and humid
summer.

Getting back into the swing of things is
always a chore, but like riding horses and
bikes, we'll get back into it quite well once
we take that first step.

We have a bevy of candidates moving
through the degrees for this fall, and new
candidates waiting in the wings. This
September meeting we will hear the results
of the Investigation Committee set up for
Sean Ryan and vote on whether to confer
the degrees of Freemasonry upon him.
Another candidate's application is to be
read, and a discussion on the Budget
Framework Worshipful Ray Geer generously
worked up as a starting point will be had,
along with a discussion and vote on the
setting of dues and assessments, in
accordance with our By-Laws.

Finally, Worshipful Geer will be speaking on
the National Camping Traveler's to round out
the season, and the evening.

I look forward to seeing you all soon!
​
Fraternally,
Joseph Giancaspro
Master, Franklin Lodge #20