Altoona Brethren Welcome Japanese Brother

Photo: Left-right: Brothers Gary L. Davis, Worshipful Master; Michael C. Kessling, Secretary; David Ingram, R.W. Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Japan; Bud Baker, R.W. Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of PA; Jason A. Wilkinson, District Deputy Grand Master for District 20; and Charles Davis, Past District Deputy Grand Master

By Brother Michael C. Kessling, Secretary, Mountain Lodge No. 281, Altoona

Mountain Lodge No. 281, Altoona, enjoyed a memorable evening of fellowship and international Masonic friendship at its June Stated Meeting, as the lodge welcomed R.W. Senior Grand Warden Lynn “Bud” Baker and R.W. Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Japan David Ingram.

The visit came about after Brother Ingram, an Altoona native, contacted the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania while planning a return trip to his hometown. Hoping to attend a lodge meeting during his visit, he was connected with Mountain Lodge Secretary Brother Michael C. Kessling and District Deputy Grand Master Jason A. Wilkinson, who coordinated arrangements with Worshipful Master Gary L. Davis and the Mountain Lodge officers.

Gary welcomed the distinguished guests and assembled brethren for an evening filled with spirited discussion, fellowship and the exchange of Masonic traditions. The Mountain Lodge brethren learned about Freemasonry in Japan, while sharing their own experiences as Pennsylvania Masons. Despite the thousands of miles separating the two jurisdictions, the evening served as a powerful reminder that the timeless principles of Freemasonry transcend geography, language and culture.

As a token of friendship from the Grand Lodge of Japan, Brother Ingram presented Brother Baker with a Grand Line-signed edition of the Grand Lodge of Japan’s annual publication, jurisdictional pins and commemorative items to be delivered to R.W. Grand Master Robert Brink. In addition, he presented Mountain Lodge No. 281 with a ceremonial Torii, a symbol deeply rooted in Japanese culture.

Brother Baker presented Brother Ingram with Grand Master Robert Brink’s Medallion on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. In recognition of his distinguished service to the Craft, his achievements within the Grand Lodge of Japan and his connection to the Altoona community, Mountain Lodge No. 281 conferred Honorary Membership upon Brother Ingram.

Following his visit, Brother Ingram reflected on both the differences and similarities between Freemasonry in Pennsylvania and Japan. In addition to the numerous differences in lodge customs and officer stations, he estimated that the ritual itself is approximately 65–75% different between the two jurisdictions.

“If I intended to become an active participant in a Pennsylvania lodge, I would pretty much have to learn everything over again,” he said.

Despite those differences, Brother Ingram emphasized that the true essence of Freemasonry remains unchanged:

“The one thing—and the most important thing—that was the same was the friendly grip of one brother to another and the fellowship and friendships that develop when brothers meet. One of the things I like to emphasize is that there are no strangers here, only friends who haven’t met. That was certainly true during my visit home. By the end of the evening, I felt I could call all of those brothers ‘friends.’”