Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow American Brothers around the world.

2020 General Grand Chapter

Well, the day was supposed to start off with a meeting of Idaho College SRICF in the morning, but due to COVID19 and the state's rollback to Stage 2, the Chief Adept canceled the meeting.

The afternoon was devoted to Royal Arch Masonry as today was the 71st Triennial of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International. I'd like to congratulate Most Excellent Companion Jim Hodge on his tenure as 2017-2020 General Grand High Priest and congratulate the newly elected officers of the General Grand Chapter:

General Grand High Priest: M:.E:.C:. Steven Tiner

General Grand King: M:.E:.C:. Teko Foly

General Grand Scribe: M:.E:.C:. Chadwick Burks

General Grand Treasurer: M:.E:.C:. Berdette Bryngelson

General Grand Secretary: M:.E:.C:. Larry Gray

There are several officer positions that are appointed by the General Grand High Priest to include Regional Deputies who act as his personal representatives. I am honored to have been appointed and installed as the Deputy General Grand High Priest for the Northwest Region. My territory covers the Grand Chapters of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.

Happy Veteran's Day

This year I'm a Veteran working on Veteran's Day, but I am working with the men and women of the US Army. I'd like to take a moment to thank all of my Brothers and Sisters of the Armed Forces, past and present. God bless all of you and God bless the United States. 

Words & Phrases: Chapter

The next article in the Words & Phrases series is on the word "Chapter." This term is used in several concordant and appendant bodies within the Masonic family. The term in Freemasonry often indicates a basic organizational unit, but can also be used within a degree or as a name of a national/international governing body.

The word "chapter" is defined as the main division of a publication, a unit of measure specified period of time ("I opened a new chapter in my life"), or a local branch of an organization. The etymological root of "chapter" is in the Latin word "caput" meaning "head," but could also be "leader, guide, chief, summit, origin, or source."

Within Freemasonry, a Chapter is used to indicate the basic organizational unit for a variety of concordant and appendant bodies such as a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in the York Rite of Freemasonry, Chapter of Rose Croix (15° - 18°) within the Scottish Rite, Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Order of DeMolay, and the 7° - 10° in the Swedish Rite. There are some degrees within groups like the Scottish Rite, Ancient Toltec Rite, Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests, Royal Order of Scotland, and Chevaliers Bienfaisants de la Cité Sainte. Within Royal Arch Masonry, the use of Chapter is appropriate as the Capitular or Royal Arch degrees include the keystone which crowned or completed the Royal Arch and the Temple of Solomon.

References

1. Chapter. (n.d.). Retrieved from Etymology Online: https://www.etymonline.com/word/chapter 

2. Chapter. (n.d.). Retrieved from Merriam-Webster Dictionary: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chapter 

3. Chapter. (n.d.). Retrieved from Masonic Dictionary: http://www.masonicdictionary.com/chapter.htm