sword & trowel october 2018 volume 6 no. 05 page 1 · 2018-10-03 · sword & trowel october...

Sword & Trowel October 2018 Volume 6 No. 05


Table of Contents

Vision Statement ..... 2 Beautiful Colors in October ..... 4 Formalized Group Planning: Part One ..... 5 Great Reception ..... 6 Great Degrees – Alameda ..... 8 A New Way to look at Education ..... 9 Driving a Bus Through King Solomon’s Most Retired Apartment 10 York Rite ..... 11 Scholarships ..... 13 Contact Information ..... 14

Illustrious Grand Master Cryptic Masons ........ 14 Website .......... ............................................. 14

Officers: Grand Council Cryptic Masons California .. 15 San Bernardino ..... 16 Grand Sessions ..... 17

Vision Statement


Beautiful Colors in October

With the greatest respect and humility,

William S. (Bill) Dann Most Illustrious Grand Master Cryptic Masons California


Formalized Group Planning: Part One

Companions,

It has always been my pleasure to write articles that wax poetic and witty. However, I’m afraid I will have to postpone them for now and instead lavish you with articles that are work related. Actually, that is the space in which I am most comfortable when there is something very important to be accomplished. For that reason it gives me great pleasure to inform you that the purpose of this article will be to impress upon you the importance of engaging in formalized group planning-Part One.

From time to time, I hear mutterings and innuendo from Companions who complain that we are faltering as an organization on various measures of success. As a big fan of fact-based

intel, I reviewed the latest set of reports submitted by your Department Grand Officers regarding the performance of our Constituent Councils along five principal fields of endeavor or strategic areas: Expansion of Membership, Retention of Membership, Excellent Opening and Closing Ritual, Regular and Proficient Degree work, and Financial Stability.

Here is the essential conclusion of my review: Only a few Councils are delivering full throttle on these measures. Most don’t conduct their own Degree work and must send their applicants to Festivals, which I think is alright, for now. Many don’t bring in a sufficient number of new members or retain members to offset attrition. Some don’t deliver adequate Opening and Closing Ritual, and several hang in there by a financial thread. I dare say, these are existential threats to our viability as an organization. You knew it all along you say. Well, you can wipe that Mona Lisa smile off your face because it’s time to get down to

business.

I declare that I am not a Chicken Little and I am certain that the sky is not falling. Having been a presiding officer over six masonic organizations, and a member of many others, I have come to appreciate both, their common and unique characteristics, and the challenges endemic to each group. Interestingly, there is one attribute that each and every one of these groups lacked-The desire to engage in a formalized method of group planning. My personal and simple definition of planning is: The process of developing Strategies, Designs, and Specific Actions for achieving a desired outcome.

So why don’t many masonic groups prepare in this manner? There are probably many reasons why this is, but high on my prediction list is the peculiarity of one-year rotations, during which mandatory Stated Convocations, an Installation Ceremony, and the planning for other traditional events that must occur. All past presiding officers and their core will tell you that these activities consume plenty of time and energy.

With this restraining force in mind, and in anticipation of being honored next year as your Most Illustrious Grand Master (If elected), I am motivated to formulate a plot (Or a method of madness) with various partners in crime (Grand Council Officers and their cohorts) to help our Constituent Councils reconcile limited resources of time, energy, and financial wherewithal, by ensuring that we do some of the planning leg work ourselves. With that in mind, by the grace of our MIGM Bill Dann, your Grand Officers will ensconce themselves at the Covina Masonic Homes, during the second weekend of November, to attend a planning retreat and to commit themselves not to emerge therefrom, until a viable plan is developed

to aid and assist our Constituent Councils in their own development of a Blueprint For Success. More on this next month.

Right Illustrious Companion Eduardo Estrada Deputy Grand Master Grand Council Cryptic Masons of California


Great Reception

Good afternoon Companions,

What a great reception it was on Sunday, August 5th at Orange Park on the SF peninsula. Beautiful weather with great food and excellent companion. It was a well attended event with all three bodies being well represented along with thier families and friends. Our Most Illustrious Grand Master, Bill Dann has a great surprise in store when he, not only explained his pin this year but also pulled out his guitar and sang for those in attendance. Everyone had smiles as bright as the day after he finished his performance and thanked all for the continued support of the Grand Cryptic Council charities and how they received him and our lovely first Lady Anne.

Sincerely,

Right Illustrious Companion Efren Prado Grand Marshall of the North

A Tuesday night, on July 17th turned out to be a very special night for our brothers in the East Bay York

Rite. A special companion from Oakland York Rite, Ill. Comp. Loren Piper who was honored our Ish Sodi

award from our Illustrious Grand Master of Cryptic Masons of California, Most Illustrious Grand Master, Bill Dann. It was a great and touching night to see him being honored for years of service and to see his

wife and son present for this once in a lifetime event. What made this night even more special was our

Illustrious Past Grand Master of Cryptic Masons, Most Ill. Comp. Bob Whitfield, conducted our honored

recipient around the lodge and recited a poem to which our other Illustrious Past Grand Master of Cryptic


Masons of California, Most Illustrious Bill Price, met and greeted our brother and reaffirmed that no matter where our companion may travel, he will always be received with a hand shake and a smile.


Great Degrees – Alameda

18 candidates at the Alameda Festival Council Degrees 9/29/2018


A New Way to look at Education

Companions

I had the opportunity to discuss this idea with several masons. The conversations were noteworthy in that no matter what their masonic history was they all agreed that perhaps we need to more closely consider utilizing some basic and simple materials to help stimulate the new mason in to commencing his lifelong association with the craft. Universally, they agreed that the following suggestions might allow the new mason and the seasoned member to better understand our craft.

These suggested books are; “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Freemasonry, by S. Brent Morris,

Ph.D., and “Freemasons for Dummies”, by Christopher Hodapp.

Our discussions centered on the simple but informative information contained within the various pages of the books. Particularly, towards the inclusion of the various other degrees such as The York and Scottish Rites, Order of the Eastern Star and the three youth orders just to mention a few.

Why would we consider using such materials? The answer is simple: It provides the our most curious masons that of the Entered Apprentice with the knowledge abet beginning knowledge of the vast expanse of our Masonic Universe and what could be awaiting them once they complete their craft degrees. Does this work for the Fellowcraft and Master Mason as well? You bet, for the same reasons but I would now add that they have a better understanding of

what the craft is about, so these materials could make them more curious.

Both books offer a history of the craft, the meaning of various things that occur or can occur throughout the EA’s masonic life and more importantly how their wife or significant other can participate or fit in! If you had read about the Royal Arch or Cryptic Council and became intrigued with York Rite. How about the youth orders for your son or daughter? Did we mention the Shrine, or The order of the Eastern Star?

Recall back to the time (a maybe a long time ago) when you first entered the craft and how much you really did not know. Yes, the internet provides materials today, however, can they be fully relied upon to present what we are truly all about?

I suggest, these materials be made available by anyone of our York Rites bodies (hint) and are presented to the newly initiated Entered Apprentice Mason after his degree with the positive injunction to read these materials for future discussions with their candidates coaches. These books are available at the usual places, Amazon, Barnes & Nobel and kindle and do not cost more than $11.00 often less. Make sure to order the second edition has it contains the most current information about our craft. To these books I would add, “The Craft and It’s Symbols, by Allen Roberts (written in 1975).

What a marvelous way to present our craft and truly create a lifelong member of our craft. Can we afford not to consider this option?

Right Illustrious Companion Bill Miklos

Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Cryptic Masons of CA.


Driving a Bus Through King Solomon’s Most Retired Apartment

John L. Cooper III, IPM Deputy Master, Gateway Council No. 13, Cryptic Masons

Auburn, California

In 2015 I had the experience of riding on a bus that was driving through King Solomon’s “Most Retired Apartment.”

Now all Cryptic Masons know the purpose of “King Solomon’s

Most Retired Apartment,” and the events that transpired

there. So how and why was a bus driving through King

Solomon’s Palace in the first place, and especially through one of the most important rooms in the palace? In order to

understand this situation it is important to take a look at the

topography of Jerusalem, and to know a little about the

history of the city.

Jerusalem is locate on three ridges which generally run in a north-south direction. The earliest settlement was on the southern portion of the central ridge near an all-

year spring, called the Gihon Spring. This water source was indispensable for the inhabitants of the earliest

settlement because the streams in the valleys below were difficult to reach, and in any case could be

unavailable if the town were besieged. The spring was within the town walls, and thus could provide water for

the defenders inside the defensive works which surrounded the small community.

A tribe otherwise unknown called the Jebusites occupied Jerusalem when our story begins. According to

Second Samuel in the Bible, David conquered the Jebusite city, renamed it Jerusalem, and made it his

capital. Archaeologists have found the remains of a large building on the northern edge of the former

Jebusite city, and believe that this was a palace that David build for himself against the inside of the city wall.

Further along the ridge, as one travels in a northerly direction, was located a threshing floor on an elevated portion of the ridge – which King David selected at the location of the future temple. Between this site, and

his palace was a saddle on the ridge – an ideal place for his son, Solomon, to expand David’s palace to meet

his more extensive needs. This “saddle” is called the Ophel, and the extension of David’s palace built on it

adjoined what became the Temple Mount, and – symbolically at least – became the probable location of King

Solomon’s “Most Retired Apartment.”

Of course, in the years since the building of King Solomon’s palace extension, and the Temple itself, many

changes have occurred. Today the Temple Mount is still there, but

the Temple is gone. And nowadays a paved road is located around

the southern end of the Temple Mount – right on top of what was

probably King Solomon’s “Most Retired Apartment.” And thus it

was that our tour bus drove right over the top of one of the interesting features of the Cryptic degrees. We did, indeed, drive a

bus through (or over) King Solomon’s “Most Retired Apartment!”


York Rite

Both our Deputy Grand Master Cryptic Masons Right Illustrious Companion Eduardo Estrada and Right Illustrious Companion Bill Miklos Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Cryptic Masons wrote excellent articles for the Sword and Trowel. I have read both articles three times, not that they were that good and I do not expect you to read them three times. Let me elaborate:

• The articles were read with the belief “I received articles without asking” – good feeling

• The articles were read for errors, actually I was looking for the wavy line underneath a word

• Actually, the articles were read

I have written several articles about York Rite and the attempt to keep our heritage, our ritual, our traditions, alive and well. Our Master at Lodi Lodge No. 256 does an excellent job of ritual &

traditions of the Blue Lodge which requires a lot of work and I honestly say this because we are Brothers; not friends. I am proud of the work he accomplishes and my point is we need this type of work and dedication in York Rite.

We must become proud of our ritual, proud of our American York Rite accomplishments and we must become proud of our local York Rite body:

• Our membership is declining and is still declining

• Our per-capita was raised and we must again think about raising per-capita

• We must think about our accomplishments and activities in our communities

• Our young members want to learn the ritual but also want activities for their wives and activities within the community

In the above paragraph I mentioned our blue lodge & work required of Master and his officers:

• Memorization of Ritual: when was the last time you saw an officer pull out his book and read

• Getting ready for the stated meeting

• Getting ready for the monthly officer’s meeting and if he has a role in that meeting, getting prepared.

• A degree, must be prepared

In the above bullets, outlined is a month’s work for the Master and his Officers. I have done this “work” twice and hopefully will do it again, if I can remember where is my “blue” book.

We must bring this dedication to the York Rite.

We do not learn tradition nor do we learn ritual and I have asked “WHY”.

• I am busy with the blue lodge”;

• I am a Blue Lodge “officer”;

• I am the “Master” of my lodge;

• I am “Cook & Master”; and

• I am, I am, I am.

As an officer coach, I held monthly meetings to discuss ritual and practice and many, many of these meeting myself and one other person showed. But I have seen progress, some of the “Past” who have sat through the chairs are beginning to state “We must do something”.

Each Chapter, each Council, and each Commandery must begin to work, play, and have fun as their blue lodge. Some of us must give up their “prestigious” assignments and dedicate their time to either Chapter, Council, or Commandery.

If you look at Committee assignments, ADR’s assignments, Inspector assignments, many, many names appear on Chapter, Council, and Commandery.


I know several people who are Blue Lodge Inspectors, Chapter Inspectors or ADR’s, Council Inspectors or ADR’s, and also Commandery Inspectors or ADR’s and are in the progressive line; and still Married.

Richard E. Thornton

And let’s end this with a beautiful joke I found on the internet: A man is driving down the road and his car breaks down near a monastery. He goes to the monastery, knocks on the door, and says, "My car broke down. Do you think I could stay the night?" The monks graciously accept him, feed him dinner, even fix his car. As the man tries to fall asleep, he hears a strange sound. A sound unlike anything he's ever heard before. The Sirens that nearly seduced Odysseus into crashing his ship comes to his mind. He doesn't sleep that night. He tosses and turns trying to figure out what

could possibly be making such a seductive sound.

The next morning, he asks the monks what the sound was, but they say, "We can't tell you. You're not a monk." Distraught, the man is forced to leave.

Years later, after never being able to forget that sound, the man goes back to the monastery and pleads for the answer again. The monks reply, "We can't tell you. You're not a monk." The man says, "If the only way I can find out what is making that beautiful sound is to become a monk, then please, make me a monk." The monks reply, "You must travel the earth and tell us how many blades of grass there are and the exact number of grains of sand. When you find these answers, you will have become a monk."

The man sets about his task. After years of searching he returns as a gray- haired old man and knocks on the door of the monastery. A monk answers. He is taken before a gathering of all the monks. "In my quest to find what makes that beautiful sound, I traveled the earth and have found what you asked for: By design, the world is in a state of perpetual change. Only God knows what you ask. All a man can know is himself, and only then if he is honest and reflective and willing to strip away self-deception." The monks reply, "Congratulations. You have become a monk. We shall now show you the way to the mystery of the sacred sound."

The monks lead the man to a wooden door, where the head monk says, "The sound is beyond that door." The monks give him the key, and he opens the door. Behind the wooden door is another door made of stone. The man is given the key to the stone door and he opens it, only to find a door made of ruby. And so it went that he needed keys to doors of emerald, pearl and diamond. Finally, they

come to a door made of solid gold. The sound has become very clear and definite. The monks say, "This is the last key to the last door." The man is apprehensive to no end. His life's wish is behind that door! With trembling hands, he unlocks the door, turns the knob, and slowly pushes the door open. Falling to his knees, he is utterly amazed to discover the source of that haunting and seductive sound...... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

But, of course, I can't tell you what it is because you're not a monk.


Scholarships

Companions, your children, grandchildren, & for some, great-grandchildren may receive financial help for attending school. After opening up Scholarship Center website, have them go to bottom of page & find the Scholarship Manual in (PDF format – 450KB) to download.

There they will find instructions for filling out the forms.

This is the link which will take you to the public Grand Lodge web page on scholarships. All the information you need should be right there. This is a complete manual that you can download that talk about all of the scholarships available from the California Masonic Foundation as well as the Scottish Rite, York Rite, Eastern Star, High Twelve, DeMolay, Job’s Daughters, & Rainbow for Girls.

http://www.freemason.org/scholarshipCenter/index.htm


Contact Information

Illustrious Grand Master Cryptic Masons:

Most Illustrious Companion, William S. Dann, KTCH, KYGCH Pacific Council No. 37 Grand Master Cryptic Masons of California

Grand Secretary/Recorder:

Philip Hardiman, OSV, KYGCH, PGHP Grand Secretary Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons California, Grand Recorder, Grand Council Cryptic Masons California, &

Grand Recorder, Grand Commandery Knights Templar California 1123 J Street Sacramento, CA 95814 E-mail: [email protected]

Assistant Secretary/Recorder:

Thomas Krummell, KCT, KYCH 1123 J Street Sacramento, CA 95814 e-mail: [email protected]

Website:

Grand York Rite of California

Note: Hyperlinks or links to other pages or web sites are prevalent throughout the document.

mailto:[email protected]


http://www.yorkriteofcalifornia.org/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Grand.York.Rite.of.California/


Officers: Grand Council Cryptic Masons California

158th

Most Illustrious Companion Grand Master Cryptic Masons

William S. Dann, KTCH, KYGCH Pacific Council No. 37 & Anne

Right Illustrious Companion

Eduardo Estrada, KYCH

Deputy Grand Master

Omega Council No. 11 & Natasha


Robert A. Morrison, KYCH

Grand Principal Conductor of the Work

Butte Council No. 50 & Pauline

Most Illustrious Companion

Robert A. L. Whitfield, KYGCH, MIPGM GRAND TREASURER

Oakland Council No. 12 & Genie


Philip Hardiman, KTCH, KCT, KYGCH, PGHP Grand Recorder

Sacramento Council No. 1 & Nancy


William E. Price, KYGCH, MIPGM

GRAND DIRECTOR OF RITUAL

California Council No. 2 & Janet

Right Illustrious Companion Richard E. Thornton, KCT, KYCH

GRAND CHAPLAIN (North)

Stockton Council No. 5 & Cara

Right Illustrious Companion John Edward Bickerstaff

GRAND CHAPLAIN (SOUTH)

H. Edward Barr's Oasis Council No. 64 & Jennifer


Peter G. Champion, KYCH Grand Captain of the Guard

San Luis Obispo Council No. 38 & Janice


Guy M. Chalmers, KYCH GRAND CONDUCTOR OF THE COUNCIL

Redwood Empire Council No. 46 & Jeanne


Michael T. Sherman, KYCH GRAND STEWARD

Helix Council No. 58


Jeffrey A. White, KYCH GRAND SENTINEL

Pacific Council No. 37 & Lisa


William Miklos III, KYCH

GRAND ORATOR

Amador Council No. 31 & Angelica


Thomas A. Krummell, KCT, KYCH

ASSISTANT GRAND RECORDER

Gateway Council No. 13 & Marcia


Efren D. Prado, KYCH

GRAND MARSHAL (North)

King Solomon's Council No. 29


Ronald W. Alcorn III, KYCH

GRAND MARSHAL (South)

Alhambra Council No. 25


K. Mark Harris

GRAND SOLOIST/MUSICIAN

Oakland Council No. 12


Andrew B. Pippin, KYCH

GRAND BIBLE BEARER

Ventura Council No. 15 & Julia


Gary Richard Quintrell, KYCH

GRAND STANDARD BEARER

Pacific Council No. 37 & Heidi





















San Bernardino


Grand Sessions

sword & trowel october 2018 volume 6 no. 05 page 1 · 2018-10-03 · sword & trowel october...

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