I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am thankful for my life and for my family some of whom I am spending the day with in Hawaii. I am thankful for the servicemen and women who keep the peace and country safe. I am thankful for all of my Masonic Brothers dispersed around the world. God bless.
Another High Council has come and gone. It was a pleasure to see old friends and make new ones. As is customary, a few of us flew in a day earlier so we could tour a distillery. This year we visited Angel's Envy in downtown Louisville. Thursday evening a group of us had an excellent dinner at the Repeal Oak Fired Steakhouse (one of the best places I've ever eaten at).
Friday morning I attended some training in the morning and then it was time for the Opening Processional. I got upstairs and placed myself near the door when I was informed that I was to be introduced as the Commander-General of the Bath. I hadn't registered as a dignitary so this caught me by surprise and I thank the Most Worthy Supreme Magus for honoring me. The various Masonic organizations were well represented including the Grand Master of Hawaii and Prince Hall Grand Master of Hawaii. It was also great to see representation from our sister Societies in England, Scotland, and Portugal present at the meeting. At the business session, the members of the High Council approved the chartering of a College in Manitoba and the formation of a new officer called the Director of Studies. That afternoon we had presentations by the Supreme Magus of Scotland, then by a Past Junior Deputy Supreme Magus (and our new Director of Studies), and a Texas Frater. Friday night, I again had the greatest honor of conferring with two good friends the VIII° of the Society upon several worthy Fratres. After some were elevated to the IX°, I spent most of the night in the hospitality suite hosted by Kentucky and Alabama Colleges.
Saturday morning, the Supreme Magus installed new Chief Adepts to include the new one for Idaho. That role is being filled by my best friend and constant traveling companion Jeremy. The rest of the day was filled with more educational presentations on various esoteric and occult topics. They were excellent, to say the least.
After a fun night in the hospitality suite with friends and Fratres, I am now at the airport awaiting my flight home. Including my trip to Massachusetts, I have not been home in 10 days and I am ready to relax for a few days.
To all of my Brothers and Sisters of the Armed Forces, past and present, I wish you all a Happy Veteran's Day. God bless all of you and God bless the United States.
This last weekend I had the pleasure of traveling to the Boston area for work. Thursday night I flew in and, after checking in to my hotel, I went into downtown Boston where I took part in the Ghost and Gravestone Tour. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and got into her role.
After finishing work on Friday, I traveled to Lexington to visit the Scottish Rite Northern Masonic Jurisdiction Museum. I then took a tour of Buckman Tavern where the Colonials were staying before fighting the British on April 19, 1775. I walked the Minuteman Trail to Concord before driving up to Salem where I bought a ticket for the Boos and Brews Tour.
I recovered Saturday night after work and got some needed rest. When I finished with work on Sunday I drove around Harvard, MIT, and Northeastern Universities before I walked around Boston and had dinner at Ye Old Union Oyster House then had a beer at the Bell in Hand Tavern and the Green Dragon Tavern.
On Monday I toured the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and then walked the Freedom Trail. I started at the State House then went to the Granary Burying Grounds, Kings Chapel and Burying Grounds, Ben Franklin Statue, Old South Meeting House, Old Statehouse, Boston Massacre Site, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Copps Hill Burying Ground, USS Constitution, and Bunker Hill.
Now I'm off to Kentucky for the annual meeting of the High Council of the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis.
The preliminary schedule of the 2024 Masonic Week has been released. It will be held from February 8-11, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City near the Reagan National Airport.
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Thursday, February 8, 2024
8:00 AM - Trinity Chapel No.2, Ye Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon
10:00 AM - Grand Master's Council, Ye Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon
Terry Plemons - Grand Master
John Elkinton - Grand PriorJeremy Vaughn - Grand Secretary
12:00 PM - St. Thomas of Acon Festive Board
1:15 PM - Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptor
D. Allen Surratt - Grand PreceptorLarry Tucker - Grand Recorder
1:30 PM - Order of Holy Wisdom, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests
3:00 PM - Potomac Court No.107, Masonic Order of Athelstan
4:30 PM - Provincial Grand Court, Masonic Order of Athelstan
Bryce Hildreth - Provincial Grand Master
David Cashion - Provincial Grand Secretary
7:00 PM - Athelstan Banquet
9:00 PM Masonic Order of the Bath
Barry Newell - Commander-General
Bill Snyder - Keeper of the Bath Records
9:00 PM - Masonic Order of Pilgrim Preceptors
Jonathan Roberts - Grand Master
George Haynes - Regional Governor
Alan Beidel - Regional Secretary
Friday, February 9, 2024
7:00 AM - York Rite Sovereign College Breakfast
8:00 AM - Allied Masonic Degrees: Installed Sovereign Master
8:45 AM - Royal Order of the Red Branch of Eri: Knight Commander
9:00 AM - Ladies Breakfast
9:00 AM - Grand Council of Knights Masons of the United States of America
James Winzenreid - Great ChiefDavid Cashion - Grand Scribe
12:00 PM - Knights Masons Luncheon
1:00 PM - Grand College of America, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests
Bill Riggs - Grand Preceptor
Larry Tucker - Grand Registrar
3:00 PM - Grand College of Rites
Russell Bridges - Grand ChancellorChris Gamblin - Grand Registrar
4:30 PM Society of Blue Friars
Arturo de Hoyos - Grand AbbotMark Tabbert - Deputy Grand Abbot
Richard Fletcher - Secretary-General
5:30 PM - Allied Masonic Degrees: Worshipful Commander Noah
6:00 PM - Allied Masonic Degrees: Installed Supreme Ruler
7:00 PM - The Masonic Society Dinner
7:00 PM - CBCS Dinner
9:00 PM - Ye Antiente Order of Corks
Marion Humphreys - Grand Bung of the Americas
Saturday, February 10, 2024
7:00 AM - All Masonic Breakfast
8:00 AM - Royal Order of the Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord: First, Second, and Third Grades
9:45 AM - Royal Order of the Masonic Knights of the Scarlet Cord: Fourth Grade
10:30 AM - Philalethes Society
12:00 PM - Philalethes Society Luncheon
1:15 PM - Council of the Nine Muses No. 13, AMD
2:30 PM - Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees
W. Berry Rigdon - Sovereign Grand Master
Seth Anthony - Grand Secretary
2:00 PM - Ladies Tea
6:00 PM - All Masonic Social Hour
7:00 PM - All Masonic Banquet
Sunday, February 11
8:30 AM - Washington Monument Assemblage
9:00 AM - Lodge of Menatzchim, V
10:30 AM - Lodge of Harodim, VI
12:30 PM - The Operatives Brunch
