Riggins Field E.R.- Brother Riggin of Boiling Spring Lodge #152

On Sunday 14th October 2018 the East Rutherford Historical Society along with Rev. Bro. Donald Pitches (Eclipse Lodge) from the Carlstadt First Presbyterian Church will be sponsoring the re-dedicating of Riggin Field at 1:00PM at Riggin Field. This is the 100th anniversary of this death.

The original memorial stone and a new plaque will be on site along with the planting of a tree to memorialize the passing of Capitan Charles Holland Riggin who was killed in action near Cunel Meuse, Lorraine France on October 14th 1918 one hundred years ago  The memorial stone was originally dedicated along with the planting of a tree at the old East Rutherford High School site somewhere around 1919 or 1920. The records we have indicate that the field was originally dedicated in his name in 1927.

Riggin was born in Maryland on September 1, 1890. Riggin left East Rutherford to enter into military service in August 1917 during WWI as first a second Lieutenant and then promoted to a Army Captain. Riggin was a educator and then principal who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country while serving in France.

He was married to Miss Lillian Biglow of East Rutherford on August 1st 1917. He as married only a littler over 14 months before his untimely death.

Riggin was buried in Arlington Cemetery with full honors. His wife Lillian was buried by his side 32 years later in 1952.

Bro. Charles H. Riggin was also a Master Mason and member of Boiling Spring Lodge. 

Please join us for this re-dedication ceremony on October 14th at 1PM at Riggin Field. The Worshipful Master will be hosting a lunch after the ceremony for all the Brethren who attend. It should not be a long dedication and we would like to have a nice showing of Brothers in attendance.

Masons Meet on the "Level" Part 2

 

Below is

an interesting account

of how masons

"Meet on the Level".  

“While he was president, Teddy Roosevelt visited his home lodge, Matinecock #806 in New York, in September 1908.  Afterward, he spoke of the experience of seeing his own gardener serving as Master of the Lodge that evening while he sat on the sidelines.  ”Clearly I could not call upon him when I came home.  It would have embarrassed him.  Neither could he, without embarrassment, call on me.   In the lodge it was different.  He was over me, though I was president, and it was good for him, and good for me.”

In Masonry, all the trappings of status or prestige worn in the outside world are left on the other side of the door of the lodge - even for presidents.”

— Excerpt from the book Freemasonry for Dummies

Let me "Level" with you...

It has been said that "All men are created equal".  Freemasons meet "On the Level", regardless of social class, religion, military rank, geographical origin and financial wealth...in the Masonic Lodge Room all masons level themselves with one another just as the kings scepter lays next to the farmers shovel in the grave.  Why wait for death to level ourselves with our fellowman?  Can we begin during the course of our lives to be brought together by our differences rather than being repulsed by them?    

Do external attributes such as public power, financial wealth, or material possession make one great?  Extrinsic values do not mark the greatness of a man but rather his intrinsic values such as the merits of his character.  

Integrity, Self-Control, Fortitude are but a few of the qualities that "build a strong character" thus building an individual who stands as pillar of strength which is able to bear the weight of responsibilities he owes to his country, his family his neighbor and himself; sustainably. 

Just imagine what can be accomplished if more citizens of our world can come together through their commonality as "people" rather than be repulsed due to their differences.  Peace and harmony might then exist when differences are put aside and ones ability to recognize and respect their fellowman as a "fellow-man" allowing love to prevail and truth to be observed.  

President Roosevelt addressed the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in 1902 on the anniversary of Washington's initiation. In his speech, he reflected on some of his own reasons for joining the Freemasons: 

"One of the things that attracted me so greatly to Masonry, that I hailed the chance of becoming a mason, was that it really did act up to what we, as a government and as a people, are pledged to — of treating each man on his merits as a man. When Brother George Washington went into a lodge of the fraternity, he went into the one place in the United States where he stood below or above his fellows according to their official position in the lodge. He went into the place where the idea of our government was realized as far as it is humanly possible for mankind to realize a lofty idea."

Let us then explore the practice of demonstrating the merits of our character which communicates to our fellowman who we are for that "Actions speak louder than words".  As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "Who you are shouts so loud I can not hear the words you are saying."  Also, getting off our high horse level ourselves with others so as to listen and understand others with compassion, empathy and mutual respect.  Meeting "on the level" will foster peace among fellowmen, first in our hearts and then in our world.