John W. Toole In Holyoke on February 12th, 1882, there came into the world a little fellow whom the parents named John William. On June 27, 1913 he received his Master Mason degree in Mount Tom Lodge. What is ordinarily considered a great affliction came to him in later years but the dimming of his eyes did not dim his undaunted courage nor dampen the eternal well-spring of good spirits and mirth which continually bubble forth. We call him "Jack" because we love him so much and we love him if for no other reason than that we just can't help it. It is love, not prompted sympathy, for Jack is to be envied not sympathized with. We see the physical outline of our brothers and know them by sight. Jack sees us through the mind and by our voice and through his intuition he knows us well. We almost envy him in his knowing of the Masons, not only of our local lodges but of the surrounding country-side. When. we are lonely, downhearted or discouraged; Jack can cheer us up. When we feel life has not been very kind to us we think of Jack and are ashamed of ourselves. When we hear his stentorian voice, "All up for Mount Tom Lodge," we know that everything is well. And does he know the ritual, especially the lectures! Just ask the Past Deputies, or the Past Masters, or the regular members. They will all tell you to ask our one and only one, ordinary, grand or super-grand lecturer Jack and he will give you the right answers. He is a life member of Mount Tom and one of the three whom the Grand Master has seen fit to honor with the Joseph Warren Medal and no breast is more worthy of wearing it. God bless you, Jack, for your wonderful way of living and the inspiration you have been to us all. May the blessing of Heaven rest upon you and be with you always, even unto the end of the world. | Previous Page | Contents | Next Page | | Mt. Tom 100th Anniversary | | Mount Tom Lodge Home | | HolyokeMass.com Blog | HolyokeMass History | Hampden County | | Western Mass History & Genealogy | © Laurel O'Donnell 1997 - 2012, all rights reserved This is an adaptation of the original publication This document may be downloaded for personal non-commercial use only and cannot be reproduced or distributed without permission.