Dear Editor,
”
Life in Gilroy
”
was so popular that 125 people turned out Saturday afternoon to
see our new DVD copied from the 56-minute film!
Wonderful Turnout for ‘Life in Gilroy Film; DVD Available to the Public
Dear Editor,
“Life in Gilroy” was so popular that 125 people turned out Saturday afternoon to see our new DVD copied from the 56-minute film!
Even those who didn’t know the Gilroyans in the film enjoyed seeing the 1950 lifestyle with its cars, trucks, telephones, typewriters, the Dispatch composing room with its linotype machine, our police and fire equipment, men smoking big cigars, women wearing dresses, stockings and hats and school life of the era. Thanks so much for the great coverage in The Dispatch. Credit also goes to the Gilroy Museum and the City of Gilroy for co-sponsoring our program, providing the facilities and staff.
The DVD is on sale for $10. at the Gilroy Museum and profits will benefit the museum. Museum hours are every weekday except Wednesday from 10 to 5. There may only be a dozen left right now, but the Society will quickly have more made, thanks to our local firm, Express Media Graphics. Readers can also view over 900 stills from the film by accessing them at http//lifeingilroy.shutterfly.com.
Connie Rogers, Gilroy Historical Society
Council Favoritism for a Religious Group at PD Building Ceremony Suspect
Dear Editor,
Since my name is mentioned by Mr. Bob Winter in his “Golden Quill” letter to the editor (3/27), it appears that I need to make some further comments. First, is the matter of representation-equality in a public setting. Did Gilroy’s City Council invite any other organization besides the Freemasons to participate in the dedication of the public Gilroy Police Department building? If so, who?
Who in the City Council will answer my question? Just because the Masons still conduct public dedication ceremonies in “ancient tradition,” my question to Council is: (1) does singling out of the Masons show a level of favoritism to one organization by a governmental agency that is unfair? And (2) does such action by Council pass the equality test that government supposedly uses where religious inference might be construed to be present in a public function that government hosts?
Second, given the fact that California state Masonic authorities were given a prominent place seated at a head table by themselves in the front of the audience at the PD building dedication ceremony hardly puts GPD Chaplin Rev. McPhail’s activity on an equal level of participation, especially timewise.
And finally Mr. Winter apparently does not follow his own advise, vis-a-vis, “people whose minds are closed to reason seldom consider arguments counter to their convictions, no matter how shaky.” I would direct Mr. Winter to consider this quote from one of his own exalted high-Masonic authorities of years-past, Albert Mackey, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite of Freemasons: “Look at its [mansonry’s] ancient landmarks, its sublime ceremonies, its profound symbols and allegories-all inculcating religious observance, and teaching religious truth, and who can deny that it is eminently a religious institution? … Masonry, then, is indeed a religious institution; and on this ground mainly, if not alone, should the religious Mason defend it.” (Albert G. Mackey, Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, p. 619)
Congratulations Mr. Winter for the defense of what you’ve sworn to uphold.
James Fennell, Gilroy
