more light #42
Dancer's Crown
by Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Minnesota
24 October 2005
Attention: Thomas R. Dougherty, PGM
Director of Hospital Visitation
Dear Brother Dougherty, PGM:
I am proud to of my membership in Pyramid Lodge. #92, F.& A.M.
I was raised on March 15, I960, about 23 year ago and it seems like
yesterday.
One of the reasons I am proud to say 1 belong to the fraternity is because of
the charitable nature of Freemasonry.
When I think oŁ the countless thousands oŁ Veteran Patients in V. A.
Hospitals and homes across the United States who have suffered great personal
loss and sacrifices for us to live in this great country, I wish I could visit
each one and tell them how much I appreciate how much they have done.
This is impossible for me to do, however, I am happy to know that every day
of the year we have M.S.A. Hospital Volunteers representing me and you at the
Medical Centers and Homes across the continent showing that we have not
forgotten them and never will. I am grateful to the M.S. A. Volunteers. .
I urge all members of the Masonic Fraternity to get behind this dedicated
work in whatever way they can; by personally volunteering or supporting the
program financially. Our Craft will be better for it.
... "I am glad to have the M.S.A. representing me" ... Our Craft will be
better for what they're doing"
Brother Stanley F. Dancer a member of Pyramid Lodge No. 92 F. & A.M. in New
Egypt, N.J. is probably the best known trainer and driver of standard bred
horses in the world. During his brilliant 38 years of racing he has accumulated
a total of 25 million dollars in purses. Starting in 14,387 races and finishing
in the money 7,976 times. He has driven horses under the two minute mile 335
times and is considered the best in his field. Among his many achievements was
the training and driving of the famous Cardigan Bay, the first harness horse to
earn over one million dollars. Brother Dancer has had and is still having an
exciting career. The only horse that he personally named was "Dancer's Crown" -
one he considered the best he ever trained or owned. This Magnificent horse won
his nine starts as a two year old and purses over $400,000. Stanley had great
hopes for Dancer's Crown and entered him in the 1983 Hambletonian with visions
of winning the race. However, tragedy struck and within a few weeks before the
race Dancer's Crown became ill and died suddenly. Stanley was heartbroken over
the loss. A friend of his entered a filly by the name of Duenna hoping that our
good Brother would do the driving which he did and won the race in two straight
heats. Thus Duenna became only the third filly to accomplish that prestigious
feat.
Brother Dancer thought so much of Dancer's Crown that he had him buried in
the infield of his training track in New Egypt, next to Candor, the first horse
he ever owned.
Being a very charitable minded person, his letter tells how proud he is of
his Masonic membership and the charitable work of the M.S.A. Hospital
Volunteers.
We thank Brother Dancer for writing to us and helping us tell the M.S.A.
Story.
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