Sickness & Distress,
News and Glad Tidings (13)

	From RW Bill Thomas:  "I spent the afternoon  of October 19 with two great-granddaughters of one of our earliest Brothers. Brother Raphael Hurwitz is Shakespeare Lodge No.33, and was raised in July, 1874. His son was Worshipful David E. Hurwitz, who was raised in 1908. Together we reviewed Lodge returns, by-laws signatures and ledgers. What was most interesting was looking at the signatures in the by-laws books. I noted that the signature under Raphael Hurwitz was another Brother named Hurwitz: "That's Uncle Louis!" one of the visitors exclaimed. Upon closer review, they recognized about half a dozen Shakespeare Brothers who were their relatives - they didn't have a clue they were a part of the Lodge. They presented the Livingston Library with the Past Master's apron of David E. Hurwitz, who was Master in 1915. I commented to them that it had been a custom in that era for the Lodge to give a grandfather clock to its Past Masters, and one of the visitors exclaimed that a relative in Syracuse had a grandfather clock - more to investigate. However, one of the most intriguing things I learned had to do with Brother Raphael Hurwitz. It seems that he was quite a philanthropist, and was one of the founders of Beth Israel Hospital. I have a recollection from our history that we had a room or bed endowed to Shakespeare Lodge at Beth Israel, but had not been heretofor been able to get anywhere with finding more about it. Now we have a clue.
	Boyer Lodge No.1 (MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of NY) hosted brethren of Shakespeare Lodge No.750 and Allied Lodge No.1170 (GLNY), as they conferred the Master Mason Degree. Worshipful Master Gregory Smith (Boyer) welcomed Worshipful Christopher Winnicki (Shakespeare) and Keith Barclay (Allied) in the Lodge on October 8, 2005, along with 10 other visiting brothers. Degree was conferred in an exemplary manner on eight Brothers. The lectures were superb. The brethren spent another few hours discussing what they had observed, and committed themselves to additional visits in the interests of Masonic Education and Brotherhood.
	Congratulations to Brother Lawrence Martino! Brother Larry has accepted a position with United States Customs and Border Protection.  At the end of October, Larry will be leaving for Georgia, where he will stay until mid February, to train for his new job.  Customs and Border Protection are on the front line of our country's war on terror.  We are all very proud of Larry as he joins the ranks of people who are working to keep our country safe.
	Congratulations to Brother Julio Duran and his lovely wife Evy!  They celebrated their anniversary on August 8 by rededicating themselves in a beautiful ceremony.  RW Shelley Richman and RW Walter Schraeter joined them for this loving event.
	Master Mason "Class of 2005":  Brothers Bryan Berson, Jason Malone, Jamie Barr, Jay Malave, J.D. Davis, and Kosciusko Lodge Brother also raised.  (Thanks to Bryan Berson)
	Our annual summer reunion was a splendid event! We had 18 Brothers, candidates and petitioners joining us at Orsay on June 26, along with many of our wives. The work of the evening was good times and friendship; and in that regard we were completely successful.  Many thanks to the Worshipful Master as our host, and to Worshipful Michael Gold for arranging the evening's events.
	Many thanks to RW Walter Schraeter, DSA, for traveling to Utica on St. John's weekend to be with our DDGM, RW Bill Thomas.  It was a very special event as Bill was reinvested by the Grand Master for his work in the year to come.

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