Page 22 - Sojourner Newsletter-Winter 2023 Final revised

22 THE SOJOURNER
JEREMIAH OSGOOD CHAPTER #562 (Peter TAMPA BAY CHAPTER #252 (Osceola Camp,
M. Stenzhorn, Secretary) During our September Robert N. Kershner, Secretary) Tampa Bay Chapter
2022 meeting held in Hamlin Pennsylvania, held its regularly scheduled luncheon meeting on
Brother Casey appeared in a Baseball uniform of October 19th. After a nice lunch we conducted our
the South Orange New Jersey Villagers. Brother normal business and then surprised our honoree,
Casey recited the poem of “Casey at the Bat”. Sharen St. John with a Patriot of ‘76 Certificate.
After the recitation, Brother Casey described a Sharen was recognized for her continuous and
Baseball Game which was played under 1864 rules dedicated service to both the Chapter and the Camp
over an extended time. She has been a frequent
at Cameron Field in South Orange New Jersey. participant in the various Flag talks and shown the true
This game was played between Flemington and spirit of a Camp Follower. She received the Camp
South Orange. Brother Casey described some of Follower degree at a National Convention many years
the 1864 rules and some of those rules that still ago. She helped develop the presentation support
exist today like a when a Catcher drops a third materials used each time the Camp does a Flag talk.
strike and the batter runs to First Base. In 1864 She shared her thoughts after receiving the award and
there were no fielders gloves and the pitcher threw made special note that she feels that the mission of
the ball underhand. Brother Casey brought with spreading the patriotic aims and history of our
him a replica of a bat made in Cooperstown, New organization is a most needed and important objective.
York and a baseball. Both bat and ball were like
those used in 1864. Brother Casey also spoke of
the history of Cameron Field and the Baseball Hall
of Fame members that played there. The players
included Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson,
and Larry Doby. Many other players rounded the
bases there, as well. After the meeting, members
were shown some old baseball cards of Baseball
Hall of Fame members who were Freemasons.
Two of them were Ty Cobb and Christy
Mathewson, both of whom served as U.S. Army
Captains in France in a Chemical Warfare unit
during World War I. Brother Casey brought a
photo of Captains Cobb and Mathewson taken in
France. They were commanded in France by
Freemason and Hall of Fame member, U.S. Army L-r: President, Charles “Chuck” Bailey, Sharen St. John,
Major Branch Ricky. Branch Rickey was the Camp Commander, Jeffrey “Jeff” Snyder
owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers and it was he who
brought to the major leagues Hall of Famers Stan
Musial, Jackie Robinson, and Roberto Clemente.
Each of them is now enshrined in Cooperstown.
Some of Branch Rickey’s personal Masonic papers
were also reviewed, and a good time was had by all
attending including Brother Casey.

[No picture submitted]

Camp Follower, Mrs. Sharen St. John