_{Greetings Brothers and Friends} 

_{Bro. Larry A. Derr, P.M., D.D.G.M.}

Welcome to the 1^st Masonic District Website. The Officers and Members of the 1^st Masonic District are very excited about the installation of our new Right Worshipful Grand Master, Bro. Jay W. Smith.  Bro. Smith is a member of Ashara-Casiphia Lodge # 551, Mount Joy, Pa. The 2012 Masonic calendar is shaping up to be another very busy year.  Details of the 2012 Masonic year’s activities and events are listed below  this article.  I would also like to personally welcome all the new Officers of the Lodges, for the 1^st Masonic District, who held their first Stated meetings in January.  The New Member Recognition at the January Stated meetings was a great success and we look forward to the New Members participation at more Stated meetings of the Lodges. The Masonic Fraternity is at its best when all the members participate in one way or another. Come out to the Stated meetings of your Lodges and enjoy the comrade of Your Masonic Brothers and meet the New Members of your Lodges. The upcoming activities and events are as follows:

• The 1^st Masonic District will Enter the Pa. Grand Lodge Float in the Mount Joy, Memorial Day Parade, May 26, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.  The Float will carry the RWGM and Youth Groups followed by all the Officers of the Lodges in the District.  After the parade the Officers of the Lodges will travel to the Masonic Villages to visit guest from their Lodges.
  
• Table Lodges to held by each Lodge in the 1^st Masonic District during the 2012 year, check you Lodges’ schedule for dates and times
• Blood Drive June 23, 2012 held at the Donegal Masonic Center and the Lancaster Masonic Center.  The District is looking to eclipse the 200 donor mark.

• Lodge No. 551, Ashara-Casiphia Lodge, OX Roast August 4, 2012, Donegal Masonic Center, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m 

• District wide Open Houses August 18, 2012, each Lodge to provide their own theme and ideas for a successful Open House. 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

• ONE DAY CLASS,  October 20, 2012 at the Lancaster Masonic Center, the RWGM will be present for this class.

• The 1^st Masonic District will be sponsoring a worthy student to  the Life Skills Conference, July 22-27, at the Masonic Conference Center—Patton Campus, Elizabethtown, Pa. through their Donations to this cause.

• The 1^st Masonic District, School of Instruction, will be awarding a permanent Plaque, to the Lodge with the best participation at the School for the 2012 year.

I would like to also welcome the 1^st Masonic District’s new Masonic Education Chairman, Bro. JP Meyer  PM of Lamberton  Lodge No. 476. He has already prepared this year’s masonic education topics, which are very interesting and unique. We are again holding the ONE DAY MASONIC JOURNEY in the 1^st Masonic District on October 20, 2012, and are looking forward to a great turn out. Please do your part to bring your new candidates to this meeting. Remember your Brothers who are unable to attend the Lodge meetings, send them a card, call them or stop and visit them, it would mean a great deal to them.I want to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication for making this Great Fraternity in the 1^st Masonic District such a great success.

Bro. Larry A. Derr, Past Master of Casiphia Lodge No. 551, Mount Joy, Pennsylvania was appointed District Deputy Grand Master of the First Masonic District in December 2008.  The First Masonic District consists of nine lodges with approximately 3200 members.  Brother Derr was raised January 11, 1974 in Casiphia Lodge.  He resides in the Mount Joy area with his wife, Rochelle, and they are proud parents of a son Dustin.

Contact Information: Larry A. Derr, DDGM, 715 Terrace Ave, Mount Joy, PA 17552. Cell 717-329-4221 Fax 717-737-7078 lderr@carettimasonry.com