The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher
Sunday, January 16th, enjoy a delicious turkey and ham dinner with all the trimmings at the La Harpe Masonic Lodge from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This humanitarian group is responding to the call of the Grand Lodge of Illinois
For the last four years, La Harpe Masonic Lodge #195 has had a Post Harvest Feast for the community asking only for a free-will donation to benefit a worth-while cause.
Please, join in the effort to aid those effected by the world's most powerful earthquake in more than 40 years. It struck deep under the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Sumatra, triggering massive tsunamis that obliterated villages and seaside resorts in more than 10 countries. The death toll has exceeded 150,000!
It is important that the aid effort continue gathering strength, as the fear of disease makes more deaths by the thousands imminent.
The Officers of the Grand Lodge of A.F.& A.M. of Illinois are asking the individual lodges in Illinois to be as generous as possible in contributing to this extraordinary humanitarian aid effort. The La Harpe Lodge has stepped up to send a portion of their proceeds from their 5th annual Post Harvest Feast to aid the cause.
Since there is virtually no Masonic presence in the affected areas, there is no organized Masonic group there to receive and distribute contributions; so we are asking that donations be made to a humanitarian and group of your choice.
The Lodge will be donating to either the:
American Red Cross/International Response Fund www.redcross.org,
C.A.R.E. www.care.org.
Habitat for Humanity/Asia Tsunami Response Fund, www.habitat.org.
or OXFAM America/Asia Earthquake Fund www.oxfamamerica.org.
According to Larry Johnson, a Masonic Lodge past Grand Master, your donations will go to the organization with the least holdups.
Bring an offering and enjoy a feast of roast turkey and ham, wild rice dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, salads, desserts and drinks at the Masonic Lodge. It is your support that helps the Masons serve so many others in need.
The La Harpe Lodge have 120 members with 10-15 active members who will be serving you this Sunday. The dinner is open to all with all funds going to charity after expenses.
Frank Hutchinson is Grand Master and Bill Hasten is Secretary.
Freemasonry welcomes men from every religious denomination or creed, requiring only that they affirm their belief in a Supreme
Being, and that they are of high moral character and are good citizens. Masonic lodges are nondenominational and non-political. Partisan and sectarian discussions are not permitted in Lodges.
Masonry is not a substitute for church or religion. The Fraternity urges its members to practice their own particular religious beliefs in their daily lives.
A basic teaching of Freemasonry is charity. The tradition of its members helping one another and humankind in general is practiced extensively.
In the United States alone, Freemasons provide over $1 million a day, for charitable causes to support scholarships, medical research, hospitals for crippled children, facilities for those who have speech disorders or mental illness.
Groups also help people with serious eye problems and with respiratory difficulties. They provide retirement homes for members, their wives and widows.
They are active in Veterans' Hospitals, sponsor summer camps for children, work with the handicapped, and perform many public service activities in their communities.