Tall Cedars of Lebanon

The Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America is one of the various appendant bodies of Freemasonry, open only to Master Masons in good standing in a regular Masonic Lodge. Unlike the York Rite or Scottish Rite, which confer Masonic degrees which extend or expound upon basic craft Masonry, Tall Cedarism is more a social body, like the Shriners. Its motto, "Fun, Frolic, & Fellowship," is indicative of this social bent. Its members are distinguished by the pyramid-shaped hats they wear at their functions.

Organization

Cedars meet in groups called "Forests," each headed by a Grand Tall Cedar. These forests most often meet at the local Masonic hall. The Tall Cedars claim 15,000 members, mostly in the eastern United States. The group was incorporated in 1902, but has antecedents in American Masonry from the 1840s. Its center of activity was, and is the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania; the Tall Cedars' national governing body, The Supreme Forest, is headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The current Supreme Tall Cedar — the TCL's highest-ranking officer — is George Morgan of Bethlehem, Pa.

The Tall Cedar Foundation exists as the body's charitable arm, supporting research into Muscular Dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases. In 1951, it became the first organization to join permanently with the Muscular Dystrophy Association in sponsorship. Tall Cedars often provide the site and volunteers for local telephone banks for the annual Jerry Lewis Telethon.

External links

* [http://www.tallcedars.org/ Tall Cedars of Lebanon of North America]
* [http://tyros.leb.net/ Lebanon, the Cedars' Land]