Article: 11381 of alt.freemasonry Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!newsxfer2.itd.umich.edu!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!ix.netcom.com!netnews From: fldrmaus@ix.netcom.com(David Madara ) Newsgroups: alt.freemasonry Subject: Tall Cedars of Lebanon Date: 18 Dec 1995 17:57:46 GMT Organization: Netcom Lines: 51 Message-ID: <4b4a2q$dhn@ixnews6.ix.netcom.com> References: <4ahl9l$8js@utopia.hacktic.nl> <4apgjn$dth@newsbf02.news.aol.com> <30d0c404.1395334016@USENET.INTERRAMP.COM> <4atdre$3ba@suba01.suba.com> <4au618$qp3@opera.iinet.net.au> NNTP-Posting-Host: atc-nj1-25.ix.netcom.com X-NETCOM-Date: Mon Dec 18 9:57:46 AM PST 1995 This year I will be the Grand Tall Cedar of Atlantic City Forest #11, meeting at Hiram T. Dewey Lodge in Egg Harbor City, of which I was the Worshipful Master this past year. The following is an article explaining the history and purpose of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America. This article appeared in the December 1995 New Jersey Freemason and was written by Albert H. Hensinger, Past Supreme Tall Cedar, Public Relations Chairman. The origin of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon goes back to 1843 when some energetic and imaginative master Masons came up with the idea of the Tall Cedar Degree. It was some time around 1846, after the meetings of some Blue Lodges in PA and NJ that the Tall Cedar Degree was performed. Glassboro, NJ seemed to be the focal point for this performance. Finally, on March 18, 1902 in Trenton, NJ the Tall Cears of Lebanon were officially constituted and became an appendant body of Freemasons. Individual lodges are called Forests, and the official headgear is a tri-cornered cap called a "Pyramid" which is tied in with the ritual work. In 1971, the 70th year of our existence, a Forest was instituted in Canada, and since then the Fraternity has been known as the Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America. The only requirement for membership in the Tall Cedars is that an applicant be a member in good standing in a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. The objectives are basically to provide social entertainment and clean, wholesome recreation, to promote wider acquaintances and friendships among Master Masons and thier families. Our theme, therefore, is "Fun, Frolic, and Fellowship" with a purpose. That purpose is to help combat Muscular Dystrophy, which basically afflicts young people. Tall Cedar involvement with the Muscular Dystrophy Association began in 1951, when we became the first national organization to adaopt the Muscular Dystrophy program as a charity. Since 1952 the Tall Cedars have given over $8,000,000 to the Muscualr Dystrophy Association, making annual presentations to Jerry Lewis at the Labor Day Telethon. This money is raised through donations received from our Rose Program, hoagie sales, garage sales, pancake breakfasts, dances, etc., with entire familes participating in these events. Our youth Programs are an integral part of our Tall Cedar agenda. A scholarship is awarded annually to the outgoing Miss Inetrnational Job's Daughter for a school of higher learning to assist in fulfilling her education. We are proud to underwrite the entire financial cost of the DeMolay Past Master Counselor's Meritorious Service Award every year. The International Order of Rainbow for Girls also submits names of members from each state to the Tall Cedar Scholarship Committee, and one Rainbow Girl is annually awarded a financial grant in aid. Our leaders continually stress to all of our members that their first allegiance is to their Blue Lodges, the life blood of our Fraternity. I hope the above gives the brethren an idea of what this growing (27 States and Two Canadian Provinces) appendant body of Masonry is all about.