1964-65 New York World's Fair Groundbreaking and Dedication Booklets

Start of Construction Ceremonies

Masonic Brotherhood Center

Excerpts from transcription of remarks made by-
Masonic and World's Fair officials at Starr of
construction for the Masonic Center, New York
World's Fair, August 20, 1963.

COVER:

The Masonic Center is a crescent-shaped structure
fronted by a 60-foot arch formed by the square
and compasses, the symbol of the fraternal order.
Chapman, Evans and Delehanty are architects.

DR. ROBERTO DE MENDOZA [Deputy Chief of
Protocol]: Mr. Oserov, Judge Froessel, Mr. Constable,
distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. I have the
honor to welcome you to the Start of Construction Cere-
mony for the Masonic Brotherhood Foundation Pavilion
at the New York World's Fair. The colors will now be
presented by the Masonic War Veterans of the State of
New York.

We will now hear the invocation by Right Worshipful
William F. Rosenblum, Grand Chaplain of the Free and
Accepted Masons of the State of New York, and Rabbi
of Temple Israel, New York City.

RIGHT WORSHIPFUL WILLIAM F. ROSEN-
BLUM, GRAND CHAPLAIN: As always before we
begin our invocation, will you pause for a moment for
your own meditation and prayer at this time.

Father of us all and great Architect of the Universe,
in gratitude do we before Thee stand this day, to dedicate
to our land and all the world this place as witness of our
trust; to manifest that Masons must serve the cause of
faith and freedom for all ; to clearly proclaim that none
be kept enthralled and none denied life's opportunities,
that gone forever be inequalities that hold man and his
neighbor separate, and that there exists no room among
us for the blight of hate; to reaffirm a brotherhood in
love symbolized by this shrine to be built with more than
brick — with gifts of Thine more lasting even than steel
— our faith in Thee and our devotion to democracy.

Oh Lord, let from this building radiate a light of
fellowship so strong, so great, that darkness anywhere

) 1963 New York Wo-ld'l Foir 1964-1965 Corporolion

will no longer reign nor bigotry his head ever raise again,
and mankind in the world soon find surcease from war
and strife — instead be endowed with peace. Oh Lord,
Thy benediction on us rest, and through us this nation
and our world be blessed. Amen.

DR. DE MENDOZA: The New York World's Fair
Corporation is proud that the Grand Lodge of Free and
Accepted Masons of the State of New York, acting for
Masons everywhere, has joined with us through the
Masonic Brotherhood Foundation to erect its own beauti-
ful pavilion at the Fair. Our first speaker on this memo-
rable occasion is a retired judge of the New York State
Court of Appeals and a former Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State
of New York. He is now vice president of the Masonic
Brotherhood Foundation, and chairman of the Masonic
World's Fair Commission. I have the honor to introduce
Judge Charles W. Froessel.

MOST WORSHIPFUL CHARLES W. FROESSEL:
Dr. de Mendoza, Most Worshipful Grand Master, Most
Worshipful Brother Ellis, Vice President Stuart Constable.
Reverend Clergy, officers and members of the staff of the
World's Fair Corporation, distinguished brethren and
friends.

This is an historic occasion for the Masonic fraternity
statewide and worldwide. We would like the world to
know us better, and where is there a more fitting place to
achieve that objective than on these grounds during the

World's Fair.

I have but a few observations to make. First, a welcome

to you brethren and your friends who have assembled
here on this warm, midsummer August day. We of the
Foundation are heartened by the manifest enthusiasm of
our craft which augurs well for the success of this great
enterprise. Next, I wish to thank my good friend, Presi-
dent Moses, for whom we have the very highest esteem
for all that he has done for us — his kind and generous
cooperation in facilitating our participation in this great
enterprise, the willing and friendly assistance given by
his fellow officers represented here today by the vice
president of Operations, Mr. Constable, who has worked
so closely with us, and Bill Ottley, who has been the
liaison between us and the World's Fair and who has
been most cooperative. To them and all the members of
their staff, we are indeed deeply grateful.

We have a splendid site on which we are about to
erect a very beautiful building, the exterior fashioned in
white and gold, approached by a bridge crossing a reflect-
ing pool, and dominated by the square and compasses,
embodying the letter "G" — five stories high — symbols
of our craft that teach us brotherhood among mankind.
Our exhibits in this building will tell the world what we
stand for, and of our historic past.

There are about 300,000 Masons in the State of New
York, over four million in the United States of America,
and at least six million around the world. We are inviting
them to come to the World's Fair in 1964 and 1965, and
to see our magnificent exhibit. I am confident a great
many will. Our ticket sales campaign begins in our 1,062
lodges immediately after Labor Day. We hope to be able

to place our first order for 100,000 tickets next month,
and should readily be able to do so if every Mason in this
State does his part.

My brethren, we have a mission here. Let us together
consecrate every faculty to its complete fulfillment.

DR. DE MENDOZA: Thank you, Judge Froessel,
Before introducing the next speaker, I should like to pre-
sent Mr. William Otcley, Director of Special Exhibits,
who is specifically charged with making sure that the
Masonic Pavilion will be one of which both the Fair and
the Masons of the world will be proud. Now I have the
great privilege to give you the vice president, Operations
of the New York World's Fair Corporation, Mr. Stuart
Constable.

MR. STUART CONSTABLE: It was about a year ago
that Judge Froessel and I first talked about this exhibit, at
the suggestion of Mr. Moses, and since then things have
proceeded to this happy occasion where we start construc-
tion of this great fraternity's exhibit building on the Fair-
grounds. I'm delighted to see all of you here. This is the
largest crowd which I have seen at a groundbreaking cere-
mony, evidence of your very real interest in your fraternity
and the World's Fair. I welcome you all here and hope to
welcome you here many times in 1964 and 1965.

And it is now my pleasant duty to present the World's
Fair's medal to Judge Froessel and to the Grand Master.
Most Worshipful Harry Ostrov.

DR. DE MENDOZA: Our next speaker is very well
known to most of you. He is a distinguished lawyer and
philanthropist who has been a member of the Masonic

fraternity since 1927. A former Grand Treasurer and
Deputy Grand Master, he is director of the New York
Law School Alumni Association and has received many
awards for his outstanding services rendered on behalf
of humanity. It is my high honor to give you the Grand
Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons
of the State of New York, Mr. Harry Ostrov.

MOST WORSHIPFUL HARRY OSTROV: Dr. de
Mendoza. Judge Froessel, Most Worshipful Brother Ellis,
Mr. Constable, Mr. Ottley, my colleagues in Grand Lodge,
my brethren, ladies and guests. My heart is full this morn-
ing with rejoicing that God has been so good to us that
we are privileged to assemble on what is a truly historic
occasion in the history of our Grand Lodge, in the history
of our community, and we gather here for the purpose of
starting the construction of an edifice which will be a
beacon light to all of mankind, to the millions of men,
women and children who will be privileged to attend the
New York World's Fair in 1964 and 1965.

Dreams are things that all of us have, and there is not
a person among us who hasn't wished at one time or
another that dreams would come true. Well, dreams do
come true — not by wishing for them, but by working for
them. When the New York World's Fair project was first
announced, some of us dreamed that the Masonic fra-
ternity might there be represented, so that the millions
of peoples from all over the world, from every conceiv-
able background and ever)- religious persuasion could
come to the Fair and see what Masonry has done for
mankind in the past, what it is doing now, and what it

hopes to do in the future.

Our fraternity is based upon one word — some call it
"brotherhood." You will understand if I tell you that I
refer to it this morning as "love" — love of God, love
of country and love for the whole human family. As far
as love of country is concerned, I venture to say that
America would not be America were it not for those
dedicated Masons, who from the very beginning of our
history dedicated their lives, their fortunes and their
sacred honor to build the foundations of this nation which
has prospered beyond their wildest dreams. In the Halls
of Congress, in the legislative bodies in each of our states,
among the governors — everywhere you will find Masons
prominent yesterday and today in serving their govern-
ment and their country.

We are proud of the contributions which Masons have
made in every field of endeavor — whether it be in human
relations, in government, in the arts, in the sciences. And
we are proud of the many men in our national life in all
of these spheres of activity who have been the recipients
of our Distinguished Service award down through the
years. They present a galaxy of service — to country, to
God, to humanity — that can hardly be equalled by any
other group of dedicated personalities.

What are we doing at this beautiful structure that we
are about to rear on this ground on which we stand ? We
are building a structure that is going to be devoted to the
prosperity of mankind, to a demonstration of the oneness
of the human family, to promote brotherhood among man-
ic ind. And we hope that brotherhood will be the founda-

Mr. Stuart Constable, vice president in charge of Operations,
New York World's Fair, presents the World's Fair medallion
to Most Worshipful Harry Ostrov, Grand Master, at the
ceremonies marking the groundbreaking for the Masonic
Brotherhood Exhibit at the Fair.

tion for world peace, a world where every man has an
equal opportunity to develop his best self for the benefit
not only of himself but for his fellow man.

Each of us has a potential for good, for bettering the
world and all those who dwell in it. And each of us
should dedicate ourselves fully to the task of giving the
very best that is in us towards reaching this goal. Our
building is going to cost money. Aside from money, it's
going to take the dedicated efforts of many, many of our
brethren. As your Grand Master I feel greatly indebted
to two of our past Grand Masters, both of whom are here
today, without whose help it would hardly be possible for
us to do what we are doing.

One of those is Most Worshipful Brother Froessel who
addressed you earlier, and is now chairman of the World's
Fair Commission of our Masonic Grand Lodge. And the
other is a vice chairman and chairman of our ticket sales
committee, Most Worshipful Brother Ellis. There are
others among us today whom I would like to present: our
Grand Secretary, Right Worshipful Brother Wendell K.
Walker; our Grand Treasurer, Right Worshipful Brother
Walter Dobler; our Senior Grand Deacon, Right Wor-
shipful Daniel Eidler. I saw Brother Proctor somewhere
around; Right Worshipful Brother Frank Cucurullo. Then
we have two distinguished Masons among us who are
trustees of our Masonic Hall and Asylum Fund at Utica:
Right Worshipful Brother Leslie C. Riggs, and Right
Worshipful Brother Frank Staples.

We have been most fortunate in the selection of our

architects and our builder. Mr. Powell is here today, rep-
resenting the firm of Chapman, Evans and Delehanry and
Mr. Crow is here, of the William L. Crow Construction
Company. These men have given us more than just their
professional advice. They have given us their time, their
energy, their thinking, and they have been of great assist-
ance to us.

Our building will be a beacon call to men of good will,
whether they belong to our fraternity or not. We will wel-
come veterans, past and present, and see that they are made
welcome and comfortable at this Masonic Center. Any-
one who wishes will be more than welcome to come and
see what we stand for, to see what we have done in our
craft and what we will do in the future ; to come, to sit,
to see, to be refreshed and to go away with what we hope
will be a correct and proper image of Free Masonry.

I issue the call to all of my brethren, to join with me
not only in proving to ourselves that what we are doing
is something truly worthwhile, but also in showing to
the world that Free Masons practice what they preach.
We are working toward that goal, when there will be
hardly any gap at all between preachments and practice
— not only among Masons, but on the part of men of
good will the whole world over. Thank you very much.

DR. DE MENDOZA: Thank you, Mr. Ostrov. Dr.
Henri F. Gondret, Grand Chaplain of the Masons of the
State of New York, and president of the Brooklyn Divi-
sion of the Protestant Council of the City of New York,
will now deliver the Benediction.

DR. HENRI F. GONDRET: Almighty Father, and
gracious Lord God: we lift our hearts to Thee in deep
gratitude for this memorable and historic day, despite the
weather, marking the start of the construction of the
Masonic Brotherhood Center at the World's Fair. We are
also mindful of the presence of outstanding luminaries in
the Masonic firmament. We will give thanks, profound
thanks, for the leadership of this very notable project, our
energetic and dedicated Grand Master, Most Worship-
ful Harry Ostrov; the ingenious pioneering and labor of
love of the vice president of the Masonic Brotherhood
Foundation, the Honorable Charles W. Froessel, our es-
teemed past Grand Master; the presence of the indefati-
gable worker in Masonry and in every worthwhile
project, Most Worshipful Raymond C. Ellis, Past Grand
Master of Masons ; the Honorable Robert Moses, presi-
dent of the World's Fair, and the vice president, Mr.
Constable, for their very gracious cooperation.

We invoke Thy blessing, Almighty Father, on this
strategic witness on behalf of Masonry's inclusive brother-
hood and benevolent idealism, with its welcome to all
visitors to the World's Fair from near and far. And all
this we pray in the name of our kinsman, redeemer and
Lord. The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make
his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, the
Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and
give you peace, both now and in the life everlasting.
Amen.

Shown left to right ore: Mr. Edwin H. Baumann, past Com-
mander General, Masonic War Veterans; Most Worshipful
Charles W. Froessel, president of the Masonic World's Fair
Commission; Mr. Stuart Constable; Mr. Charles B. Massef,
First Lieutenant Commander General, Masonic War Veterans;
Most Worshipful Harry Ostrov; and Mr. Harold C. Miller,
past Commander General, Masonic War Veterans.

MASONIC BROTH

HARRY OSTROV, Grand Master
CHARLES W. FROESSEL, Chairman, Masonic
H. LLOYD JONES, Vice Chairman
RAYMOND C. ELLIS, Vice Chairman
WENDELL K. WALKER, Secretory
WALTER DOBLER, Treosurer

ERHOOD FOUNDATION

World's Fair Commission

The Masonic Brotherhood Center

v will occupy

a 25,114 sq. ft. site

in the

International

w» sa«i i'~i

NEW YORK

WORLD'S FAIR

1964-1965

C O R P O RAT I O N

Flushing, N. Y. 11380

Tel. 21 2 -WF 4-1964

ROBERT MOSES, President

THOMAS J. DEEGAN, JR., Chairman of the Executive Committee

WILLIAM E. POTTER, Executive Vice President

CHARLES POLETTI, Vice President, International Affairs and Exhibits

STUART CONSTABLE, Vice President, Operations

WILLIAM BERNS, Vice President, Communications and Public Relations

ERWIN WITT, Compfro/Jer

MARTIN STONE, Director of Industrial Section

GUY F. TOZZOLI, (Port of New York Authority) Transportation Section

ERNESTINE R. HAIG, Secretory of the Corporation and Assistant to the President

WILLIAM WHIPPLE, JR., Chief Engineer