Tuesday, July 28, 2020

RIP Jerry D. Parson

It is with a heavy heart and great regret that I report the death of Worshipful Brother Jerry D. Parsons. Jerry was born on August 8, 1944, in Seattle, WA, but was raised in Boise, ID. Jerry enlisted in the US Air Force in 1964 and served with the Idaho Air National Guard until 1970. He held jobs in Golf, Food and Beverage, and Bus Transportation industries.

He joined Freemasonry in 1989 when he was initiated into Boise Lodge No.2 where he served as Worshipful Master in 1994 and 2009 (the same year when I was Master of my Lodge). He is a Past Grand Tyler, Past Grand Historian, and Past Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Idaho. Jerry was a Charter member and Past Master of Idaho City Historic Lodge No.1863

He joined the York Rite in Boise in 1991 where served as Excellent High Priest of Boise Chapter No.3 in 2009 and 2020, Illustrious Master of Idaho Council No.1 in 2010, and Eminent Commander of Idaho Commandery No.1 in 2011. He also received the Order of High Priesthood, Order of the Silver Trowel, and Order of Knights Preceptor. He was a Past Grand Historian of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Idaho, Past Grand Chaplain of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Idaho, and Right Eminent Past Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Idaho. He was also a recipient of the Knights Templar Cross of Honor and Knight Commander of the Temple.

He was also a member of the Redemption Tabernacle No.XL of the Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests, current Deputy Prior of Idaho Priory No.13 of the Knights of the York Cross of Honor (and recipient of the Knights of the York Grand Cross of Honor), Past Governor of Tri-Valley College No.178 of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America, and a Past Sovereign of St. Michael's Conclave of the Red Cross of Constantine. He was also a member of Syringa Order No.121 of the Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill, Boise Valley of the Scottish Rite, and El Korah Shriners.

Jerry died this morning from complications due to cancer. He is going to be greatly missed. I've known Jerry my entire Masonic journey and he was a constant companion. He was an extremely skilled Brother. He was always positive and was always willing to help out.

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Holy Mary Magdalene

Today is the Feast Day of Mary Magdalene (also known as Mary of Magdala). An enigmatic and marginalized figure whose role with the Savior has transformed in recent times, particularly with the discovery of the Gnostic texts. With many Christian denominations and traditions, and for many centuries, Mary was seen as a repentant whore who was saved by Jesus, the witness to the Resurrection, and messenger to the Apostles. However, with Gnostic traditions, Mary was much more than a mere follower and in Gnostic Gospels, she is depicted as a prominent disciple of the Savior.

Without question, we can be sure that the early leaders of the Roman Catholic Church amended, revised, and sanitized the Holy Bible to conform to their beliefs and policies rather than the pure message of the Savior. Due to her prominence and interaction, Mary couldn't be wholly expunged from the Gospels, but they did much to wash away her status. Even with that, she is mentioned in the Bible more times than most male apostles. Ultimately, this inaccurate portrayal of Mary comes from Pope Gregory I which came through in the form of a sermon given on Easter in 591 AD.

It is not surprising that the Magdalene has been so defamed and diminished as for centuries Christendom was under the thumb of the Roman Catholic Church established through Peter. Peter and his followers hated women and you can see this aggressive sexist tone in much of the books compiled and revised by that church. With the discovery of the suppressed Gnostic Gospels, this anti-Marian narrative is expressed in several verses.

The Gospel of Philip notes that she was a constant companion of the Lord. In the Gospel of Thomas, Peter proclaims that females are not worthy of life and wishes the Savior to dismiss her from their company. The Pistis Sophia ("Wisdom of Faith") recognizes Mary as insightful and wise, and that Mary will surpass all other disciples. This codex also records Mary stating that she fears Peter as he threatens her and hates her race. This latter statement has to be interpreted to mean the feminine race while others see it to mean that Peter hated Gnostics (which he did). In the Gospel of Mary, there is recorded one instance where Peter and his brother, Andrew, attempt to bully her because of her standing with the Savior; the profane often despises the enlightened.

In recent years, Magdalene's role has been reviewed and found to be more than just a saved prostitute. Even the Roman Catholic Church has acknowledged her as "Apostola Apostolorum" or "Apostle of the Apostles" or "the First Apostle." It also has come to be known that Mary of Bethany (sister of Lazarus) is one and the same as Mary Magdalene. The use of the epithet of Magdalene or Magdala further demonstrates that she was a prominent woman or possessed wealth in some way. The Gospel of Luke even states that Mary supported the Savior and his entourage which gives credence to her being a wealthy woman.

In the Templar Revelations by Clive Prince and Lynn Picknett, they provide evidence to a theory that Mary was wife and companion to the Savior, that the episode with Lazarus was an initiatic tradition, not a literal resurrection, and that Lazarus was St. John the Beloved. This latter point is supported by the Johannite tradition that the name "John" is a title.

To me, Mary stands as an exemplar for one who is transformed by the Logos and achieves Gnosis. As I alluded to on the Feast Day of Adam and Eve, Christ fulfilled his role and completed the Advent and being the New Adam and, in this instance, Mary fulfills the role as the New Eve. Some have even called her an incarnation of the Holy Sophia, the Divine Feminine.

I hope everyone has a blessed day and I leave you with a great article written by Most Reverend Timothy Mansfield, Bishop of New South Wales for the Apostolic Johannite Church: https://www.johannite.org/bishop-tim-mansfield-the-magdalene/

References

1. Apostola Apostolorum. (2017). Retrieved from Project Muse: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/659085/summary 

2. Conner, M. (2015, July 15). Why Do Gnostics Consider Mary Magdalene the Greatest Apostle? Retrieved from Aeonbyte Gnostic Radio: https://thegodabovegod.com/why-do-gnostics-consider-mary-magdalene-the-greatest-apostle/ 

3. Kelly, B. (2016, July 19). St. Mary Magdalene is the Same Mary, the Sister of Lazarus and Martha of Bethany. Retrieved from Catholicism.org: https://catholicism.org/st-mary-magdalene-is-the-same-mary-the-sister-of-lazarus-of-bethany.html 

4. Mansfield, T. (2018, September 2). The Magdalene. Retrieved from Apostolic Johannite Church: https://www.johannite.org/bishop-tim-mansfield-the-magdalene/ 

5. Mary Magdalene. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Magdalene 

6. Mary Magdalene, apostle of the apostles. (2016, June 10). Retrieved from Vatican Press Office: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2016/06/10/160610c.html 

7. Picknett, L., & Prince, C. (1997). The Templar Revelation. New York: Touchstone. 

8. Price, R. M. (2009). Mary Magdalene: Gnostic Apostle? Retrieved from RMP: https://www.robertmprice.mindvendor.com/art_mary_magdalene.htm 

9. The Gospel of Mary. (1998, April). Retrieved from Public Broadcasting Service: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/map

Sunday, July 12, 2020

On the Road Again

Well, after 3.5-months of my job stopping all travel, I am back out on the road for work. It's been interesting adjusting to the new travel policies, but it feels good to be back out and traveling.

Saturday, July 4, 2020

Happy Independence Day

2020 has been a rough and strange year, to say the least. Today, let us stop with the pettiness of politics and remember the sacrifices of all of the forefathers who established this amazing Nation. God bless the United States of America and its Founding Fathers! God bless the members of the Armed Forces! God bless all First Responders!

Have fun today and celebrate, but be safe and stay healthy.


Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Masonic Week 2021

Here is the tentative schedule of events for the 2021 Masonic Week that will be held from February 10th - 14th, 2021, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, VA. Registration and hotel links are not yet available.


Wednesday, February 10th, 2021


07:00pm - Masonic Order of Pilgrim Preceptors

George Haynes - Regional Governor
Alan Beidel - Regional Secretary


Thursday, February 11th, 2021

   

08:00am - Trinity Chapel No.2, Ye Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon

10:00am - Grand Master's Council, Ye Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon

Matthew Dupee - Grand Master 
Joseph MacIntyre - Grand Prior 
Seth Anthony - Grand Secretary

12:00pm - Festive Board, Ye Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon

1:00pm - Grand Chapter, Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptor

Ronald Wood - Grand Preceptor
Larry Tucker - Grand Recorder

2:45pm - Potomac Court No.107, Masonic Order of Athelstan

4:30pm - Provincial Grand Court of the United States of America for the Masonic Order of Athelstan

Bryce Hildreth - Provincial Grand Master
David Cashion - Provincial Grand Secretary

7:00pm - Athelstan Banquet

9:00pm - Ye Antiente Order of Corks

Don McAndrew - Grand Bung of the Americas
Bobby Kitchen - Grand Bung of the USA


Friday, February 12th, 2021

    

   

7:00am - KYCH and York Rite Sovereign College Breakfast 

8:00am - Allied Masonic Degrees: Installed Sovereign Master 

8:15am - Grand Council of Knight Masons of the USA

Robert Maynard - Great Chief
David Cashion - Grand Scribe

9:00am - Ladies Breakfast

11:45am - Society of Blue Friars Luncheon

Arturo de Hoyos - Grand Abbot
Richard Fletcher - Secretary General

1:30pm - Special degree conferral, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest 

1:30pm - Grand College of Rites of the U.S.A. 

Robert Malwitz - Grand Chancellor 
Gerald Klein - Grand Registrar

3:15pm - Council of the Nine Muses No.13, AMD

5:00pm - Grand College of America of the Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest 

James Herndon - Grand Preceptor 
Lawrence Tucker - Grand Registrar

5:00pm - Knight Commander, Royal Order of the Red Branch of Eri

5:30pm - Worshipful Commander Noah, Royal Ark Mariner

6:00pm - Installed Supreme Ruler, Order of the Secret Monitor

7:00pm - Dinner for the Masonic Society

Jay Hochberg - President
Nathan Brindle - Secretary-Treasurer

7:00pm - Dinner of the Great Priory of America of the Chevaliers Bienfasants de la Cite Sainte (CBCS)

Andre Lovas - Great Prior

9:00pm - Masonic Order of the Bath

Leslie Bale - Commander-General
Bill Snyder - Keeper of the Bath Records


Saturday, February 13th, 2021

  

7:30am - All Masonic Breakfast

8:00am - Royal Order of the Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord

4th Grade: Councillor 
5th Grade: Keeper of the Hidden Secret

11:00am - Philalethes Society

Rashied K. Sharrieff-Al-Bey - President
Terry Tilton - Secretary

12:00pm - Philalethes Society Luncheon

1:30pm - Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the USA

Glen Cook - Sovereign Grand Master
Clyde Schoolfield - Grand Secretary

2:00pm - Ladies Afternoon Tea

6:30pm - All Masonic Social Hour 

7:00pm - All Masonic Banquet


Sunday, February 14th, 2021


8:30am - Washington Monument Assemblage

9:00am - Lodge of Menatzchim V°

10:30am - Lodge of Harodim VI°

12:30pm - The Operatives Brunch