December 2025
A month of celebration, brotherhood, and family fun! We held our annual Open Installation of Officers, enjoyed a fantastic family outing at Dave and Buster's, and witnessed a historic appointment at the Grand Lodge Annual Communication.
Dave and Buster's Family Outing
We started the month's festivities on Saturday, December 6th, with a high energy family event at Dave and Buster's. It was wonderful to see ~50 people in attendance, including our brothers, their families, and children ranging from energetic five year olds to teenagers.
From 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the sound of games and laughter filled the air as everyone enjoyed unlimited gameplay. The kids (and quite a few adults!) stayed busy winning tickets to trade in for prizes. Instead of a formal dinner, we kept things casual with a variety of afternoon snacks and soft drinks. The menu featured mozzarella sticks, chicken bites, quesadillas, and vegetable wontons, which proved to be a big hit with the crowd. Events like these remind us that the strength of our lodge is found in the bonds we share with our families.
December Open Installation
On Thursday, December 11th, Shekinah-Fernwood Lodge No. 246 gathered for one of our most significant traditions. The evening began with a wonderful dinner at Maggiano's Little Italy, where we were delighted to have our families join us to share a meal before the work of the night began.
Our formal business meeting commenced at 7:00 PM. Following the conclusion of lodge business, we opened our doors to families and friends at 8:00 PM for the Open Installation. It was a proud moment for our lodge to share this ceremony with our loved ones, concluding the formal proceedings by 8:45 PM. As a token of our appreciation for everyone who joined us, every brother and guest received a box of chocolate covered pretzels from the Stutz Candy Company.
Elective Officers for 2026
Congratulations to the following brothers who were elected to lead our lodge for the upcoming Masonic year:
| Craig M. Applebaum P.M. | Worshipful Master |
| David C. Roseman | Senior Warden |
| Joel H. Rosner P.M. | Junior Warden |
| Stephen R. Bell | Treasurer |
| Howard L. Glickman P.M. | Secretary |
| Marvin Mandel, P.D.D.G.M. | Trustee |
| Howard P. Cohen | Trustee |
| Joshua M. Glickman P.M. | Trustee |
| Hunter R. Most P.M. | Representative in the Grand Lodge |
| Carl Goldstein P.M. | Substitute Representative in the Grand Lodge |
Appointed Officers for 2026
We also recognize the following brothers who have been appointed to serve the lodge:
| Elliot P. Miller | Chaplain |
| Bryan A, Bennett | Senior Deacon |
| Stephen T. Stratoti | Junior Deacon |
| Eric B. Silberman | Senior Master of Ceremonies |
| Stephen A. Sacavitch | Junior Master of Ceremonies |
| Elan Avi Strominger | Pursuivant |
| Shane Donnelly | Tyler |
| Barry Alan Pincus | Organist |
A Historic Milestone: Grand Lodge Annual Communication
The celebrations continued on Saturday, December 27, 2025, as members and families from Shekinah-Fernwood Lodge No. 246 traveled to the Downtown Marriott and the Pennsylvania Convention Center for a momentous day. We attended the open installation of Brother Robert D. Brink as Right Worshipful Grand Master.
The day began with a closed business meeting for Masons only, where the Grand Lodge conducted year end business. After an hour, we welcomed our significant others and guests for the open communication session and the installation of Grand Lodge Officers for the 2026 through 2027 term.
A highlight of the session for our lodge was the appointment of our own Secretary, Brother Howard L. Glickman P.M., as a Grand Lodge Chaplain. This is a lifetime appointment. Brother Howard now joins a select group of brothers appointed by the Right Worshipful Grand Master to lead invocations, benedictions, and provide spiritual guidance during Masonic events across Pennsylvania.
Following the morning installation, we enjoyed a period of lunch and refreshment before attending the Grand Lodge’s formal banquet. It was a privilege to have more than 40 brothers and their guests from our lodge join the 400 people in attendance for this special dinner. Brother Howard was honored by the new Grand Master as he delivered the evening’s benediction. The night concluded with a stirring performance by The Walnut Street Theater, featuring excerpts from “1776 The Musical” in honor of our country’s 250th anniversary.
Many of our brothers and their families made a weekend of it with a two night hotel stay, providing a unique opportunity for deep fellowship and participation in this historic event.
In Closing...
We look forward to another productive year under the leadership of Worshipful Master Craig M. Applebaum P.M. and his team of officers. Whether you are a regular attendee or haven't been to the lodge in a while, we invite you to join us in 2026 as we continue our good works and strengthen our fraternal ties.
Also, if you are interested in joining our lodge or learning more about the work we do in the community, please reach out to us!
