Minnesota Chapter #1 Royal Arch Masons |
|
|
A Message to Minnesota No. 1 from the High Priest
Companions:
This is later than it should have been. Its May and We have just conferred the Most Excellent Master Degree. After Which we had a small celebration to honor our new and Excellent Brothers. We celebrated with wine and Cheese and good fellowship.
Next Month is the Royal Arch Degree. We will be conferring the degree of the Royal Arch on as many as fifteen masons. It would honor them if the membership could make a good showing. we will also have a discussion of our investment options with a presentation from Ben Cohen. This discussion will take place during the supper on the night of our next degree. Your attendance is encouraged.
As I noted this letter is a bit late in coming. To be honest, I have been scrambling a bit to pull this year together. The success I have had has been due in no small part to the willing and active assistance of the members and I sincerely and deeply thank each one of you who have put your help and aid in this year.
Though I can claim only modest credit for the successes so far, I do believe that we have had a good year so far and have what I believe will be an interesting and active Fall Schedule. Please come and participate.
In January we had our Installation. In February we had an exciting presentation of operative masonry and many of the Brothers had the hands on experience of carving on their own Keystone. as well as our annual Valentines Day celebration. In March we conferred the Mark Master and in April we have held the Past Master. In both the Past Master and the MEM we have opened the lodge on the degree conferred and followed the meeting with fellowship to build the fraternal ties of the Chapter. We have a fine bunch of candidates and many of them are young enough to give us a highway to the future.
I know for years many of us have wondered about the future of masonry with the dreary decline of membership. The Fraternity has started growing with young men and while the overall trend has no yet reversed itself, I personally feel confident predicting that we are on the way.
I suspect this turn around is more demographic than a result of the efforts of the fraternity but the other half of this equation is not. Once we get members who are excited and interested, we must keep them interested by offering them the respect and the fraternal experience that makes Masonry worthwhile. Keeping them and keeping them active is our ongoing job. I would encourage all of us to be mindful and greet and engage these new Companions and let them feel the Masonic Brotherhood for which our Chapter is renowned.
After the Royal Arch we will have the opportunity to attend Grand Chapter and then go dark until September. At the September Meeting Past Grand High Priest Loren Scroeder, will speak on his career as a Bridge Builder. For those of us who are interested in how things go together, stay together and how they work, this should be fascinating. He may (or may not) have some observation on some infamous bridges in Minnesota.
At Grand Chapter, if tradition prevails, Our own Jimmy Turner will be exalted to the position of Grand High Priest. In anticipation of this event we are planning a Table Chapter for October. At that Table Chapter in addition to honoring our Illustrious Grand High Priest, we will also have other entertainment. It would be good to get a head count and not waste food or money. I would appreciate it if I could get and RSVP. We will perform the Mark presentation that was dropped at the February meeting so due to time. I am working on several other bits of entertainment that I hope will be of general interest.
In November, we will have an Education Night where I have received the promise of four speakers to come and present matters of interest. The topics include Health Care, Acupuncture, Masonry and the Buckskinners, history of Religion and the Craft, Masonic Reflections.
The December meeting will be our annual elections and the closing of the Chapter of Sorrows which I hope to do with some ritual and reflection to honor our departed brethren. There are also a number of people who need to be recognized so we will have and Awards presentation at that meeting,
It has been my hope to fill this year with ritual, education and fellowship. I hope that you will enjoy the rest of the year and I look forward to seeing each of you at the five meetings
Fraternally yours, John Stitely
Here lies the tragedy of our race: Not that men are poor; All men know something of poverty. Not that all men are wicked; Who can claim to be good? Not that all men are ignorant; Who can boast that he is wise? But that men are Strangers!
|
|
