Saturday, April 13, 2019

Grand York Rite of Idaho

Well, it has been a busy three days; this weekend was the 2019 annual sessions of the Grand York Rite of Idaho in Burley, ID. As usual, Thursday was filled with conferring the chair and honorary degrees: Order of High Priesthood, Order of the Silver Trowel, Knights Preceptor, Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill, Knights of the York Cross of Honor, and Knight Commander of the Temple. I advanced in the appointed line with both Knights Preceptor and Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill. In Idaho Priory of the Knights of the York Cross of Honor, I was elected as Deputy Prior for the ensuing year. I then was one of three candidates that received the Knight Commander of the Temple, the second-highest decoration awarded by the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, USA.

Friday morning started with the Public Opening and Joint Session of the Grand York Rite. After that was done, we then re-opened the Idaho Chapter of the Knights Preceptor to confer on 5 candidates who couldn't make it the day before. After lunch, the 116th Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar reconvened where I was elected and installed as the Eminent Grand Junior Warden. We held the Divine Services and Holy Land Pilgrimage Dinner at the Burley Masonic Lodge. After dinner, I presided over the annual meeting of Tri-Valley College No.178 of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America. It was a good meeting and I passed the reigns to a very worthy Companion Knight.

Saturday brought the 86th Annual Assembly of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Idaho. I was honored to be elected and installed as the Right Illustrious Deputy Grand Master for the ensuing year. After lunch, it was my big moment as I presided over the 111th Annual Convocation of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Idaho. Everything ran smoothly and went off without a hitch. This past year was a very busy one. For work, I traveled roughly 70,000 sky miles and spent over 3-months in a hotel for work. For Freemasonry, I traveled roughly 11,000 miles excluding those Masonic activities that coincided with a work trip. I would like to thank the Companions of the Grand Chapter for electing me to this most honored position and for their support throughout the year. I would like to acknowledge Steven Hall, Most Illustrious Grand Master, and Larry Lathrop, Right Eminent Grand Commander, for their friendship and advice. I wish he were here now, but I remember and thank Most Excellent Companion Ronald G. Berto for appointing me to the Grand Line. I’d like to thank again my Installation Team: Most Excellent Companion Johnny Willis, Most Excellent Companion David Grindle, Most Excellent Companion Jim Herndon, and Most Excellent Companion Joe MacIntyre. I’d like to thank my Grand officers and Committees for putting up with me this year. Lastly, I’d like to acknowledge and thank Companions Jeremy Vaughn and E. Jeffrey Craig for all of their support and constant friendship during this last year. While I will miss serving as Most Excellent Grand High Priest, I am confident in the newly installed Grand High Priest and I look forward to some time off.

After a great banquet and fellowship, it is time for bed as there is still a meeting of Intermountain Chapel No.27 of the Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon tomorrow morning before going back home.

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