November 18, 2020
My Brothers: Each year, a "Christmas in July" toy drive is held at Evergreen Lodge in Riverside; always in mid-July. The toys are collected for delivery to the Shriners’ medical center in Pasadena. It will come as no surprise that the event did not happen this July. However, a team of people is putting together an event in December. This will simply be a toy collection at Evergreen Lodge, for the same purpose. There will be no meal, no party, no Santa, and no elves – other than the volunteers who decide to dress up as elves. The drop off…
July 10, 2017
Walter Fleming and William Florence in 1872 In 1870 a group of Masons gathered frequently for lunch at the Knickerbocker Cottage on Sixth Avenue in New York City. At a special table on the second floor a particularly fun-loving group of men met regularly. Among the regulars were Walter M. Fleming, M.D. and William J. “Billy” Florence, an actor. The group frequently talked about starting a new fraternity for Masons – one centered on fun and fellowship, more than ritual. Fleming and Florence took this idea seriously enough to do something about it. Knickerbocker Cottage on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan…
