York Rite MasonVol. 1 Issue 3

This Issue is Dedicated to the Order of DeMolay

The Florida

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THE FLORIDA YORK RITE MASONOfficial Electronic Publication of the Grand York Rite Bodies of Florida Vol. 1 Issue 3

In This Issue

Editorialpage 2

GHP Messagepage 3

Grand Commander’s Messagepage 4

Main Article on DeMolaypage 5

700 Anniversary Friday the 13th page 14

Meet Your York Rite Leaders page 19

Grand Chapter Officerspage 24

Grand Council Officerspage 25

Grand Commandery Officerspage 26

News from Around the State page 27

Souvenir Programpage 31

Masonic Vocabularypage 33

York Rite Leadershippage 34

Masonic Educationpage 37

Calendar of Eventspage 43

Companions and Sir Knights

If you noticed, this edition of the FloridaYork Rite Mason changed a bit. Instead ofpublishing in a newsletter format, we are nowtrying to publish it in a magazine format. TheGrand York Rite Bodies of Florida and you de-serve the best. Your feedback and support arevery important to us. It has kept us energizedand dedicated to publish a magazine that ourGrand York Rite Bodies, Companions and Sir

Knights will be proud of. Our main goal to maintain a communicationtool that will greatly benefit the Craft. On behalf of Ron Blaisdell,Charles “Chic” Cicero and myself, we want to thank all of you for yourcontinuous support.

This issue of The Florida York Rite Mason is dedicated to theOrder of DeMolay. We all believe that our youth are the future of oursociety. In order for a positive future, our society has youth organi-zations worthy of praise, Boy and Girl Scouts of America, Boys andGirls Club, DeMolay, Rainbow, etc. The youth organization thatclosely resembles Freemasonry is DeMolay. This organization instillsvalues, honor, respect, tolerance, brotherly love, charity and com-mitment in its members. Many of our York Rite and Free and Ac-cepted Masons are involved and committed in helping andcontributing to this organization. As our Right Eminent Grand Com-mander states so eloquently, “...DeMolay is one of the quarries wherewe will get members for our Blue Lodges, they are part of our fu-ture...” To all, a big Thank You for the work they are doing. To all the

The Florida York Rite Mason is electronically published quarterly by the Grand York Rite Commu-nication Committee (Members: David A. Aponte, Chairman, Charles “Chic”Cicero and Ron Blais-dell) for all York Rite Masons and Free Masons requesting it. If any Companion, Sir Knight or BrotherMason would like a copy delivered to his e-mail address, please send your request to David A.Aponte or Charles “Chic”Cicero. Copyright 2007

Editorial

If any local York Rite Body, Appendant York Rite Body or Blue Lodge wants to pub-lish an article or announce an event, that will happen within the published trimester,in The Florida York Rite Mason, we will be happy to publish it. Please send your ar-ticle or complete event information to daponte1@tampabay.rr.com or Ciceros@tam-pabay.rr.com prior to the deadline.

Deadline for the 4th Issue : November 17, 2007

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Ink Blots from the Grand High Priest M.E. Daniel Dale

The GRAND HIGHPRIEST’S THEME

THE WAY WE WERE

Masonic Protocol in the Chapter Room1. Remember, when visiting a Chapter wearyour apron as they do in that Grand Jurisdiction.2. Those entitled to Grand Honors: MEGHP,REGK, REGS, all PGHP and DDGHP on their of-ficial visit in their district, new HP at the time oftheir installation only.

In preserving tradition it is extremely important thatthe dignity and decorum of the Chapter should bemaintained not only in the operation of the Chapterbut during social activities. The station of an absent officer should be filled bya competent Companion prior to the meeting andthen open the Chapter on time. It is important tospeak clearly and loud enough for all to hear. Nomeeting should be opened without the pledge ofallegiance to the flag. Remarks of welcome by theHigh Priest should follow the opening of the meet-ing. When addressing the High Priest, stand, waitto be recognized, and then address him as Excel-lent High Priest. All other Companion should beaddressed as Companion (Surname). Rememberyou should not address anyone in the Chapterwithout first gaining permission from the HighPriest to do so,The business of the Chapter is a concern of allCompanions. It is considered disrespectful for anyCompanion, including Officers, to carry on privateconversations during the course of the Chaptermeeting.Finally, to dress up the opening and closing of themeeting the Officers should learn what little floorwork is involved plus where and when what type ofhand salute is to be given.

Reception of Distinguished VisitorsDistinguished Visitors should be recognized by theExcellent High Priest in the opening welcoming re-

marks in the following manner. ME John Doe, theMEGHP of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masonsof Florida or RE John Doe, the DDGHP of the 2ndCapitular District, Royal Arch Masons of Florida,etc.

After the regular alarm has been given and attendby the Royal Arch Captain. The Excellent HighPriest should send the Captain of the Host out towelcome the Distinguished Visitors and conductthem into the Chapter room west of the altar andmake the proper introductions. After Grand Honorshave been given, the ranking Officer should beconducted to the east and offered the gavel by theExcellent High Priest

If the visit is that of the MEGHP or the official visitof the DDGHP it is improper to speak, even if youare generally offered the floor, once they havecompleted their talk. The MEGHP or the DDGHPmay chose to return the gavel to the Excellent HighPriest to close the Chapter. If this is done no otherdialogue should take place other than what is nec-essary to close the Chapter.

EXECUTIVE ORDER #2RELIGIOUS AFFIRMATION CEREMONY

In keeping with the Traditions of the Grand Chap-ter of Royal Arch Masons of Florida it is my orderthat each Chapter of Royal Arch Masons inFlorida hold a Religious Affirmation Ceremonyduring the month of October 2007. This cere-mony may be held at a Church, Masonic Lodgeor any other suitable place that may be availablefor your use.It shall be the duty of the Excellent High Priest tocomplete the required form and mail it to R.E.Darryl A. D’Angina, R.E. Grand Scribe no laterthan the 20th of November 2007.

ORDERED at Palmetto, Florida this 29th day ofAugust 2007 by:M. E. Daniel E. DaleGrand High Priest

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From the Grand AsylumS.K.Leroy Fackler Right Eminent Grand Commander

On August 18th, 2007, I trav-elled to Lakeland, Florida, tohelp thank Duane Young forhis many years of dedicatedservice as Treasurer for the

Grand York Rite Bodies. This was an enjoyabletrip and I was honored to attend. I would also liketo remind everyone that on August 16th I movedto Cocoa, Florida.

On the 27th of September I will be travelling toEola Masonic Lodge (3200 E. Grant Street, Or-lando) for a very special honoring of our ownSoutheast Department Commander, Sir KnightRobert E. Burleson. There is a ticket fee of$15.00 per person or $25.00 per couple. Thisevent will help raise money for the York Ritecharities. I hope that we can pack the lodge full ofSir Knights and their wives for this “Get” Honornight. (It’s our turn to get even with him.)

It won’t be long before all York Rite Bodies willbe back open after the summer break and we willbegin having our district meetings. On Friday,September 21, District No. 10 will have their Dis-trict meeting at Couer de Lion Commandery at189 West Airport Blvd. in Pensacola. District No.9 will have their district meeting at HarmonyLodge No. 3 at 3024 Jefferson Street, Marianna,Florida. Registration will run from 9:30 to 10:30am. The meeting will follow at 10:30 am.The restof the district meetings including dates, times,and locations will be announced later.

By going back to the old way (or as some say)back to the basics, we are hoping that we can getmore members to come out to the district meet-ings. Remember that these meetings are de-signed to find out what the Grand York RiteOfficers can do to help you. Let’s try as much aspossible to get as many of the Officers in thesedistricts to attend. We don’t know what you needif you don’t come out and tell us. The GrandCommandery and the Grand Council Officersdon’t intend on talking just to be heard—we want

to know what you want. This can only be done ifyou come out and let us know. Let’s communicate.

The foundation of effective Templar communica-tions is the everyday practical living of a life that isguided by religious, moral, and ethical princi-ples.There is no substitute for this three-fold ap-proach—no slick advertisement or PR campaigncan take its place. The best way to communicateTemplar values is through the individual SirKnight’s good daily behavior, with his family, hisbusiness, and among the members of his commu-nity. A good communications program would helpto back up this behavior by explaining to Masonsand non-Masons alike how a Sir Knight’s involve-ment in his fraternity can help to develop the moraland ethical basis for this exemplary behavior.

Nevertheless, there is something more that isneeded, especially in today’s world.We are all fa-miliar with the problems our fraternity has facedover the past 30 years especially with regard to de-clining membership. We should concentrate someeffort into public communication, reaching out notonly to the Blue Lodge but also to the non-Masonicpublic. Our goals should be to: 1) develop in-creased and improved recognition of Templarywhere recognition does not now exist; 2) expandthat awareness where it does exist; 3) generate in-terest among potential new members; and 4)renew interest on the part of inactive Sir Knights.

A modern Templar communications program isneeded today, because of the fast-paced environ-ment in which we now find ourselves. The valuesespoused by Christian Masonry—faith, friendship,morality, charity, and brotherly love—have notchanged, but maybe we need to better communi-cate these values to help get our important mes-sage out to more people within the Commanderyas well as outside of it. Newsletters such as TheFlorida York Rite Mason, published in electronicform, are a good step in the right direction.

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Main Article

What is DeMolay?

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DeMolay is an organization dedicated to preparingyoung men to lead successful, happy, and productivelives. Basing its approach on timeless principles and prac-tical, hands-on experience, DeMolay opens doors foryoung men aged 12 to 21 by developing the civic aware-ness, personal responsibility and leadership skills so vi-tally needed in society today. DeMolay combines this

serious mission with a fun approach that builds important bonds of friendshipamong members in more than 1,000 chapters worldwide.

DeMolay alumni include Walt Disney, John Wayne, Walter Cronkite, football Hall-of-Famer FranTarkenton, legendary Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne, news anchor David Goodnow and manyothers. Each has spoken eloquently of the life-changing benefit gained from their involvement in De-Molay.

DeMolay still teaches the same seven precepts or basic life principles upon which DeMolay mem-bers should base their lives: Filial love (love of parents), reverence for sacred things, courtesy, com-radeship, fidelity (faithfulness), cleanness, and patriotism.

The History of DeMolayNine Boys and a Man

It has been said that a day can be changed or a great moment launched by a single phone call.

Such a call came in January of 1919. As Frank answered the telephone he recognized the voiceof Sam Freet, newly installed Senior Warden of Ivanhoe Lodge. "Frank, I have a favor to ask. One ofour members, Elmer E. Lower, who had been initiated as a Fellow Craft, died a year ago. Could youfind a part-time job for the oldest boy, Louis? He is one of the finest young men I have ever seen.

"Sam, you called at just the right time. I would be glad to talk to this boy. Send Louis to me, sayafter school tomorrow if you can arrange it. I shall look forward to meeting him."

The next afternoon Louis arrived promptly for his interview. Shaking hands with this youth broughta response to Land that seemed to blend them into a common experience that would unite them foryears to come. Louis radiated an honesty of character, a natural aptitude for leadership, and the graceof movement of the athlete. Frank thought, "If I had a son, I would want him to be just like this lad."

They talked for a while about school. Louis told him of his aspirations for a place on the track team,

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of his position as a pitcher on a baseball team, and in response to a question said, "I am a fairly goodstudent. Even with the hard time we are having, I want to finish high school and then help with the ed-ucation of the others."

Frank responded, "It is a good goal. You will meet the challenge. Now, tell me about your father. Iknew him but only from very casual meetings." (continue on Page )

Louis hesitated as though reluctant to look into the past but finally said, "My father was the finestfather a boy ever had."

That evening, as Nell Land cleared the dinner dishes, she said, "Frankie, something happenedtoday. You look like you have found a long, lost friend."

"Not a lost friend but a new young friend. This boy I talked to today is tremendous. One of thefinest young men I have ever met. He is going to work with me in the office and I know I shall enjoyhaving him around. Perhaps we could take him to church with us Wednesday evening. The teachingsof Christian Science would be good for him and you could meet Louis Lower."

"Yes, we should do just that," she said. "I suggest that you have him bring a few friends over to theapartment some evening. I would like to meet him."

It was not until the middle of February that the opportunity for such a meeting took place. "Louis,"said Mr. Land, "who do you run around with?"

"I have some friends in my neighborhood," said Louis.

"How would you like to form a Club and meet here at the Temple?"

Louis thought the idea had possibilities and showed up the next week with eight other boys. Thatwas February 19, 1919.

The boys came early that Wednesday evening and each in turn was introduced to Mr. Land byLouis Lower with, "I want you to meet Ralph Sewell, Elmer Dorsey, Edmund Marshall, Jerome Ja-cobson, William Steinhibler, Ivan Bentley, Gorman McBride, and Clyde Stream. There are nine of us."

They were a group destined to form a great youth organization and each was to advance throughhis efforts and determination to prominence in his chosen field of work.

Mr. Land acknowledged each introduction with a handshake and word of welcome. "Before we getdown to business, let's make a tour of this building. I think you will find it just about right if we shoulddecide to form a Club and use it as a meeting place."

It was a radiant group that gathered about the long table in one of the meeting rooms that night.There was no doubt that they should continue to meet as a Club. The only question was a name. Onesuggested they use Greek letters as the college fraternities did but this was instantly voted down asmaking them only a part of other organizations. The name must be distinctive and carry meaning.They turned to Land for suggestions. He pointed to a recent series of prints on the wall that showedthe adventures of Sir Galahad and the Knights of the Round Table. There was a negative shaking of

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heads.The greatest of wars had ended only a few months before and the adventures of knights of old

seemed far away. Then names were mentioned from history and from the Bible. Stories such asDamon and Phythias, David and Jonathan and of Nathan Hale. Nothing seemed to click until one ofthe boys, Clyde Stream, said "Mr. Land, tell us something connected with Masonry. They must havegreat names and we are meeting here in one of their buildings."

Frank smiled, "This year I am serving as the head of one of the Masonic Groups. I am the Com-mander for the DeMolai Council of Kadosh. There are many names and stories directly connected withMasonry, but I think I should tell you about the last leader of the Knights Templar. His name wasJacques DeMolay or as they say in history books, James of Molay."

The story and the name caught the imagination of the boys. Here was heroism. Here was a greatexample of loyalty, of courage. Here was a theme from knighthood and chivalry, at its best, and thename of a martyr to fidelity and toleration. The boys were ready without further consideration to ac-cept this name as the name of the group. But Land interrupted, "Now let's wait just a little bit and sleepover this. Let's not rush into it. Perhaps with a little more thought we can come up with a better name.One that might be more in keeping and more appropriate. It is growing late and you should all begoing home. Come back next week and bring a few more of your friends. We will talk more togetherabout it then. Good night and thanks for coming."

While the boys talked to Land about the Club when they came to the Temple, it was their long talkstogether at school and as they walked from school to home that heightened their interest and gave mo-mentum to their organization. One afternoon after a chemistry class, Elmer Dorsey caught up withLouis Lower to ask, "Louis, I think this club idea is terrific. But what is it all about? What does Mr. Landget out of it? Do they want us to become junior Masons?" "I don't have all the answers, Elmer, I onlyknow that Frank Land is one of the greatest. His only motive is the one he tells us. He likes to be withyoung people and sincerely believes that if we do form such a group each of us will benefit from it. Howhe ever talked the older boys into letting us use their temple is beyond me. They must be interestedin us as Land is, because he has told me that we are not to be a junior Masonic group. He told methese men are concerned about only one thing and that is that we should grow into decent men whowill be respected in the community."

March 24, 1919 was the day in history that launched the Order of DeMolay. During the next fewyears, however, the date of March 18, the date in the past that had witnessed the death of JacquesDeMolay, came to be more frequently used.

Thirty-one boys, all from the same high school, came to the Scottish Rite Temple that night. FrankLand made each boy welcome and then explained briefly his ideas of a Club. Land said, "This is yourmeeting. I will serve as Advisor but it is your meeting. Why not proceed with an organization and electa few officers. I will take charge until you have completed your election."

During the next few months the group grew in numbers, in activities and interest. Then a fear cameto some of them that they were growing into too large a Club.

Someone suggested that a committee talk with Mr. Land and endeavor to convince him that mem-bership should be limited to 75. Land neither criticized or admonished the committee at the time. Infact they didn't know whether he agreed or disagreed to their suggestion.

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Later when the meeting was called to order, the chairman reported and moved that the member-ship of DeMolay be limited to 75. The motion quickly received a second and was unanimously adopted.It was then that Dad Land rose from the back of the room where he had been more or less out of sightfor he wasn't the type to take the spotlight, or the forefront in their meetings. He wanted them to con-duct their own meetings.

As he came to the front of the room that night, he proceeded to tell them—and in no uncertainterms—how selfish and how inconsiderate they were. He told them that they were operating and think-ing absolutely contrary to every idea that he had in mind for this organization. He reminded them thatthere were three other high schools in Kansas City which had young men who were just as capable,just as qualified, and just as upstanding as they were. In fact, he indicated he thought they were prob-ably much, much better than what they thought they were. He said that if it was good for one boy, itmust be good for all eligible boys. He reminded them that 'to become big, they must be big.' The mo-tion to limit membership to 75 was rescinded. It was then that DeMolay was permitted to grow and de-velop.

And grew it did. DeMolay continued its growth initiating new member and instituting new chaptersin all states of the continential USA. DeMolay then crossed the oceans and the organization was de-veloped in many foreign countries. Thousands upon thousands of young men have had their life en-riched by the recinding of the motion to limit the Order of DeMolay to just 75 members.

The Order of DeMolay was founded in 1919, in Kansas City, Missouri, by a young man namedFrank S. Land. Land was a community leader who, at the age of 28, already had a successful busi-ness career as a restaurateur behind him.

The main event that lead to the founding of the DeMolay movement was World War I. This was atime when the nation was caught up with a passion and desire to bring democracy to the world. Whenthe United States joined in the fight against German power, every resource of men and materials waspoured into the war effort. America suffered not only the loss of its men who had fallen in battle, buton the homefront as well. A positive response to this critical situation came about with the developmentof many charitable organizations. Frank S. Land was selected to act as the director of the Masonic Re-lief and Employment Bureau of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. This charity would come to helphundreds and hundreds of families.

Near the end of the war, Land became concerned with the problems of boys who had lost their fa-thers. He thought "how lonely it must be for a boy not to have a man to talk with, or a man to providesome type of inspiration and direction." Frank decided there was a need for an organization whereboys would have the opportunity to associate with other boys, a place they could share common in-terests, learn responsibility and other skills that would benefit them throughout their lives. His idealmodel for this organization included having business or professional men, Masons, taking interest inthe young people, being a friend to them, advising them, and perhaps even providing them with em-ployment opportunities.

Bro. Frank S. Land The Founder of DeMolay

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In March, 1919, Land met with young Louis Lower. Louis' father had died, leaving the young manwithout a father figure in his life. Land took the time to listen to Louis, learn about his dreams, and tohelp him. He learned that others, like Louis, sought companionship, leadership, inspiration and com-petition. He asked Louis to invite some friends to a meeting, the original group of nine DeMolays:Louis G. Lower, Ivan M. Bentley, Edmund Marshall, Gorman A. McBride, Jerome Jacobson, WilliamW. Steinhilber, Elmer Dorsey, Clyde C. Stream, and Ralph Sewell. At the second meeting, there wasa total of 31 young men present. They were excited about their new club!

The group needed its own identity and its own name. After Dad Land related the story of JacquesDeMolay, the group decided to name itself for this historical figure connected with Masonry.

Dad Land, as he came to be called, provided the philosophy and principles to be embodied. As in-terest in DeMolay spread, Land answered many requests for information and authority to start chap-ters. Initiations and ceremonies took place in all locations. By the fall of 1920, Mother Chapter haddeveloped activities for its members as well. These included an outstanding baseball team, a DeMo-lay marching unit, and even a 100-piece band!

By the end of 1921, Dad Land realized he had to devote full time to this new organization and be-come a full time DeMolay employee. As DeMolay chapters grew in numbers and strength, the organ-ization as a whole grew in prestige. With this greater prestige, interest developed in the Masonicfraternity. Official recognition and approval by Masonic groups began giving their seal of approval tofoster DeMolay in their states. Many distinguished organizations endorsed DeMolay including theGeneral Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Grand Lodges, Knights Templar, etc.

A devoted champion of Freemasonry and of its teachings, Land would become a figure of inter-national prominence within Masonry, eventually becoming Imperial Potentate of the Shrine of NorthAmerica. He counted among his friends U.S. Congressmen, state governors, movie and radio stars,military leaders, leaders of industry, Presidents of the U.S. and a veritable legion of young men in theirteens.

Dad Land worked tirelessly for the Order of DeMolay until his death on November 8, 1959. Hun-dreds of other devoted workers aided in the creation and extension of the Order of DeMolay, butlooked to one man for guidance. Frank S. Land was the charismatic leader of the Order. Frank S.Land was truly a great man, a proud American, and a person who came to be known by millions, sim-ply as "Dad". Frank Land's life touched, and continues to impact generation after generation of youngpeople, young men looking to better themselves by emulating the lessons and examples by which hehimself lived.

An Update on Florida DeMolay

Reversing a nearly 20-year trend in membership loss - Florida DeMolay has been making out-standing strides since 2005 to become active and vital in our communities. In fact the net gains inmembership during 2007 have wiped out losses incurred in 2006 and 2005, and making Florida De-Molay the International leader in positive membership growth for the year. Much of this is due to thededicated efforts of the State Officers and Executive Staff who have travelled across Florida workingwith the existing chapters, and helping to start a number of new chapters.

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Membership:Over the last term (07/01/06 – 06/30/07) we have initiated 101 new members against 71 majoritiesfor the same period. Florida DeMolay overall active DeMolay membership is again over the 400mark.

For the calendar year 2007, we have initiated over 100 new members against 64 majorities. Thismeans that at the International Supreme Council meeting in Anaheim (2008) Florida DeMolay willreceive both the Frank S. Land Award, for initiations exceeding majorities, but also the GormanMcBride Award, for initiating more new members than the previous year.

New Chapters:Thus far in 2007, 5 areas have applied for either Letters Temporary, or Charter Re-instatement.Crawford Chapter applied for Charter Re-instatement, and new Letters Temporary have been ap-plied for new Chapters in Vero Beach, Ocala (District 15), and Miami (Biscayne Bay) and Mahi. Ofthe 4 new Chapters, Masons who had become members of the King Solomon Chapter program di-rectly influenced two. (Vero Beach & Ocala) In August and September, Greater Titusville and Bis-cayne Bay Chapters received their Charters and are no longer under letters temporary. It is alsoimportant to talk about the Mahi Chapter. This chapter is a pilot program to bring DeMolay to theyoung men who are hospital patients at the Tampa Shrine Hospital, for whom Mahi Shrine providestransportation. It is hoped that this will become a model chapter program, so that DeMolay may beenjoyed by more of the young men in our hospitals.

In 2006, letters temporary were issued for: Gainesville, Boynton Beach, and Melbourne Chapters.In addition, in 2006, West Volusia Chapter received their Charter, and the Charter for Col. James"Nick" Rowe Priory was re-instated.

Additional New Chapter Development:Florida DeMolay is actively managing the development of new Chapters in the following areas ofthe state:- Boca Raton/Delray- Clearwater*- Edgewater- Inverness* - Jacksonville (Hyde Park)*- Kissimmee- Lake City*- Lakeland*- Marianna- New Port Richey- Orange Park- Panama City*- Stuart*- Temple Terrace- Venice* - Homestead- Key WestThose locales indicated with an asterisk have come about by interest generated by the KingSolomon Chapter Program.

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King Solomon Chapter:

King Solomon Chapter currently includes 180 Master Masons who have become Class 8 members ofDeMolay International. The program has become a model for the rest of DeMolay International, andhas been implemented in three states (Kentucky, Michigan, Georgia) and under development in ap-proximately 8 others. At the Expo held in conjunction with Supreme Council this year, we handed outover 125 information packets on the King Solomon Chapter program. The program was expandedduring the 2nd half of 2006 to allow Sr. DeMolay to join as members of the Advisory Council (Chair-man, and Chapter Dad excluded), and for local Chapters to accept members when they are confer-ring both degrees in full-form. Discussions are underway to start a "Sorority" for the King SolomonChapter, as Class 8 membership is not limited to Master Masons. At Supreme Council, the first non-Florida Master Mason joined KSC – Howie Damron, best known for his songs "The Masonic Ring"and "The Rite Stuff" joined after the Hall of Fame banquet (with permission of DeMolay InternationalGrand Master Pat Hart).

Florida DeMolay wishes to thank the York Rite of Florida for all their efforts and assistance. We lookforward to working hand-in-hand for many years to come.-- Ron BlaisdellDeputy Member, ISC Asst. Executive Officer Florida DeMolay

York Rite Leaders in the Florida DeMolay Hall of Fame

The following distinguished Companions and Sir Knights have been elected as mem-bers of the Florida DeMolay Hall of Fame:

Marvin Gerhard M. W. Michael A. Padron, Jr. Harry Andrew Rosenthal, Jr.

The remaining members of the Florida DeMolay Hall of Fame are:Gov. Reubin O'Donovan Askew

Hon. David Gray RossDr. William F. Glynn*

G. Lawrence Hunt, P.G.M.Dr. Dennis L. Jones

Julian Grady Kicklighter, Jr.*James Kirby, PSMC (FL)Hon. Lawson L. Lamar

Sen. Jack Latvala, PSMC (FL)M. W. Roy Theodore Lord*

Elmer O. McBride*Gene Muir

Rev. George A. PriceOwen E. Reuterwall, Jr.

Sen. Jerry Thomas*Sen. Pat Thomas*

Dr. Edward K. Walker

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A Brief History of the Beginnings of DeMolay in Floridaby Harry Rosenthal, PGC

Paul Revere Chapter of Tampa was the first Chapter in Florida,instituted on April 2, 1921. Lake Worth Chapter, in Lake Worth,was the second Chapter instituted on September 27, 1921. It wassponsored by the Lake Worth Scottish Rite, as Masonic Lodges in

Florida were not allowed to sponsor a DeMolay Chapter until1947.

Later, the West Palm Beach York Rite took over the sponsor-ship, and the Charter was moved to West Palm Beach, and theChapter was renamed Thomas A. Edison Chapter.

Jacksonville was the location of the next Chapter, American Cru-sader instituted on November 22, 1921. Fidelity Chapter in Bartowwas the fourth Chapter. It was instituted on February 1, 1922. Theywere followed by Roy P. Davis Chapter in St. Augustine (February 6, 1922)and St. Petersburg Chapter (March 22, 1922).

Key West joined the party, with Robert J. Perry Chapter on April 7, 1922. The Chap-ter was later renamed to Fernando E. Camus in honor of Brother Camus who was the2nd State Master Councilor of Florida in 1923.

The eighth chapter was Pensacola Chapter which was instituted on May 17, 1922;they were followed closely by Florida Chapter, In Gainesville, which was instituted onMay 24th.

The tenth Chapter was Haven Chapter, which met in Winter Haven. They were in-stituted on June 23, 1922.

Now of course, any history of DeMolay in Florida would be remiss, if it did not men-tion John M. Cheney Chapter which was instituted on September 18, 1922. Many dis-tinguished Florida Sr. DeMolay were members of John M. Cheney, including BobBurleson, and Rick Ricks. Yours truly was a member of Daytona Beach.

John M. Cheney was the 12th Chapter for Florida DeMolay, and they later moved toWinter Haven. When John M. Cheney Chapter was started, the Brothers of Robert J.Perry Chapter (Key West) came to Orlando to confer the Initiatory Degree.

Remember, it was the York and Scottish Rites that were largely responsible for theformation of DeMolay Chapters in Florida. 26 years would pass before Masonic Lodgeswere allowed to sponsor a Chapter.

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Current York Rite Leaders Working With DeMolayM:. W:. Richard Lynn, OPC, 2006 recipient of the Cryptic Masons Adult Youth Leadership AwardActive Member, DeMolay International Supreme CouncilExecutive Officer for Florida Member of the Board of Directors

Ill:. Comp:. Charles Levan

2007 recipient of the Cryptic Masons Adult Youth Leadership AwardDeputy Member, DeMolay International Supreme CouncilRitual Director, Florida DeMolay Member, Board of Directors, Old South Ritual Tournament

Ill:. Comp:. A. Ray Kinser, KYCH Chairman, Jupiter-Tequesta Chapter

Ill:. Comp:. Ben Herron, KYCH Chapter Dad, Melbourne Chapter

Most Ill:. Comp:. Robert E. Burleson, KYGCH

Honorary Member, DeMolay International Supreme Council

SK Harry A Rosenthal, KYGCH

Honorary Member, DeMolay International Supreme Council

SK Marvin Gerhard, KYGCH

Honorary Member, DeMolay International Supreme Council

Most Ill:. Comp:. Richard Agster, KYGCH Advisor, Paul Revere Chapter

SK Walter Hammond Grand Commander in the East, Florida Legion of Honor Investiture Team

SK Allan Graulich

Honorary Member, DeMolay International Supreme Council Assistant Executive Officer - Field Services, Florida DeMolay

Most Ill:. Comp:. Ron Blaisdell, KYGCH

Deputy Member, DeMolay International Supreme CouncilAssistant Executive Officer - Administration, Florida DeMolay Chapter Chairman, Greater Titusville Chapter

Distinguished Companions working to start new DeMolay Chapters in their area

Most Ill:. Paul Friend, KYGCH Stuart

Most Exec:. Comp:. William Wyllie, KYGCH Lakeland

Ill:. Comp:. Lou Ortt Venice

14

Friday th

e 13th - 700 Years

On October 13, 2007, Knights Templar around the world will celebrate the seven hundred years ofthe arrest of the Knights Templar and their Grand Master, Jacques DeMolay. Friday the 13th has al-ways been a superstitious day for bad luck. No one ever told me when I was in school how this su-perstitious originated. It was later in my college years after reading non-related books, I found outabout how the King of France in 1307 ordered the leadership of the Knights Templar and their follow-ers to be arrested. Pope Clement V did likewise. On that morning the Knights Templar fleet disap-peared and many Knights Templar went underground. All this happened precisely on Friday, October13, 1307. The last known Knights Templar Grand Master, Jacques DeMolay was burned at the stakeseveral years later. Talk about bad luck . Now that I knew how Friday the 13th came about, my atten-tion was drawn to Jacques DeMolay.

Jacques De Molay, a minor Frankish noble, served as the 23rd and officially last Grand Master ofthe Knights Templar.[2] He is probably the best known Templar besides the order's founder and firstgrand master, Hugues de Payens. Upon his election before 20 April 1292, he promised to reform theorder and adjust it to the situation in the Middle East. With no crusader states remaining to protect andwith other problems surfacing, the right of the order to exist was in question. However, he was unableto lead the Templars through the inquisitions made against them and was burned at the stake on theÎle de la Cité, an island in the Seine river in Paris on 18 March 1314. The execution was ordered byPhilippe le Bel (Philip the Fair) after Jacques retracted all of his previous confessions, which outragedthe French king.

He was received into the order at Beaune by Humbert de Pairaud, the Visitor of France and Eng-land in 1265. Independently of Guillaume de Beaujeu, who was elected grand master in 1273, Jacquesde Molay went to the East (Outremer) around 1270. He spent all his career as a Templar in the East,although he is mentioned to be in France in 1285. It is not known if he held any offices in either the

15

West or the East, or if he was present when Acre, the last crusader city and capital of the Latin king-dom fell in May 1291 to the Mamluks.

After the fall of Acre, the Franks who were able retreated to Cyprus, this including Jacques deMolay and Thibaud Gaudin, the 22nd Grand Master of the Temple. During a meeting assembled onthe island in the autumn of 1291, J. de Molay spoke and pointed to himself as an alternative and re-former of the order. Before 16 April 1292 Gaudin died, leaving the mastership open for Jacques deMolay, as there were no other serious contenders for the role at the time. The election took place be-fore 20 April, as a document in the archives of the Crown of Aragon attests and recognizes Jacquesde Molay as the Knights Templar's new grand master by then.

Once elected, the rapid establishment of the command of the order was meant to deal with the mostserious matters first. These were the subjects of Cyprus and Armenia of Cilicia, which both were underthe threat of an attack from the Mamluks. In spring 1293 he began a tour to the West which broughthim to Provence, Catalonia, Italy, England and France. There he settled several local and internalproblems, but mainly the goal was to ask for help from the western rulers and the Church in the re-conquest of the Holy Land, strengthening the defense of Cyprus and the rebuilding of Templar forces.Talk of a crusade was even at hand, but a more troubling issue was brought upon de Molay, the merg-ing of the orders of the Temple and the Hospital, an idea he was opposed to and would continue tobe against. He held two general meetings of his order at Montpellier in 1293 and at Arles in 1296,where he tried to make reforms. During his journey, Jacques de Molay made a close relationship with

Pope Boniface VIII and relationships of trust with Ed-ward I of England, James I of Aragon and Charles II ofNaples. Nothing is known of his relationship with PhilipIV of France.

In the autumn of 1296 de Molay was back inCyprus to defend his order against the interestsof Henry II of Cyprus, which conflict had itsroots back in the days of Guillaume de Beau-jeu. From 1299 to 1303 de Molay was press-ing forward an alliance with the Mongolsagainst the Mamluks. The plan was to co-ordinate actions between the Christian mil-itary orders, the King of Cyprus, thearistocracy of Cyprus and Little Armeniaand the Mongols of the khanate of Ilkhan(Persia). In 1298 or 1299, Jacques deMolay halted a further Mamluk invasionwith military force in Armenia possibly be-cause of the loss of Roche-Guillaume, thelast Templar stronghold in Cilicia, to theMamluks. However, when the Mongolkhan of Persia, Ghâzân, defeated the

Mamluks in the Battle of Wadi al-Khazandar inDecember 1299, the Christian forces were notready to take an advantage of the situation. In

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1300, Jacques de Molay made his order commit raids along the Egyptian and Syrian coasts to weakenthe enemy's supply lines as well as to harass them, and in November that year he joined the occu-pation of the tiny fortress island of Ruad (today calledArwad) which faced the Syrian town of Tortosa.The intent was to establish a bridgehead in ac-cordance with the Mongol alliance, but the Mon-gols failed to appear in 1300. The samehappened in 1301 and 1302. In Septem-ber 1302 the Templars were driven outof Ruad by the attacking Mamlukforces from Egypt, and many weremassacred when trapped on the is-land. The island of Ruad was lost,and when Ghâzân died in 1304Jacques de Molay's dream of arapid reconquest of the Holy Landwas destroyed.

The incident on Ruad waswrongly interpreted by contempo-raries as a bizarre attempt byJacques de Molay to permanentlystay close to the Holy Land, but itwas merely a key in the strategy in-volving the Mongols in the recap-ture of the Holy Land. Still, criticismwas starting to grow back in Europeabout the order's reason of being.

In 1305, the newly elected popeClement V asked the leaders of themilitary orders of their opinions on a new crusade and the merging of the orders. Jacques de Molaywas asked by the Pope to write two memoranda, one on each of the issues, which he did during thesummer of 1306. On 6 June, the leaders were officially asked to come to Poitiers, where the Pope hadhis seat, to discuss these matters. The meeting at Poitiers was delayed due to the Pope's illness, un-beknownst to de Molay, who had already left Cyprus around 15 October. De Molay arrived in Francein late November or early December, but nothing is known of his activities during the first five monthsof 1307. In the second half of May he was in Poitiers attending the meeting with the Pope. The GrandMaster came into conflict with Philippe IV because he rejected the idea of merging the two orders intoone with Phillipe as leader (Rex Bellator, or War King). This made more difficult the Pope's problemwith the King, who wanted at all costs to condemn the memory of Boniface VIII. Also, it furthermorethwarted the attempts to get a new crusade on its way. These conflicts were weakening the TemplarOrder along with something that would turn out to be far more serious, something Jacques de Molayhad discovered during his journey through France: scandalous and perverse rumors and whispersabout the order had begun to surface. The king and his councillors, among them Guillaume de Nog-aret, knew to exploit this weakness.

17

Jacques de Molay spoke with the king in Paris on 24 June 1307 about the accusations against hisorder and was partially reassured. Returning to Poitiers, he asked the pope to set up an inquiry toquickly clear the order of the rumors and accusations surrounding it. When the pope announced thatan inquiry would be convened the 24 of August, the king acted decisively. On 14 September, in thedeepest secrecy, he sent out his orders throughout all of France which resulted in the mass arrests ofTemplars and confiscation of their possessions in the whole country on Friday, 13 October 1307.Jacques de Molay was arrested in Paris, where he intended to be present at the funeral of Catherineof Valois.

Pope Clement V ordered the arrest of all the Templars throughout Christendom.

The Pope still wanted to hear Jacques de Molay and dispatched two cardinals to Paris in Decem-ber 1307. In front of them, Jacques retracted his confessions made to the agents of Philippe IV. Bythen, the affair had resulted in a power struggle between the King and the Pope which was finally set-tled in August 1308. The King and the Pope agreed to split the convictions. Through the Bull Fasciensmisericordiam the procedure to prosecute the Templars was set out on a duality where the first com-mission would judge individuals of the order and the second commission would judge the order as anentity. In practice this meant that a council seated at Vienne was to decide the future of the Temple,while the Temple dignitaries, among them Jacques de Molay, were to be judged by the Pope. In theroyal palace at Chinon, Jacques de Molay was again questioned by the cardinals, but this time withroyal agents present. He returned to his admissions made on 24 October 1307, after which there wassilence for a year. Slowly the commissions and inquisitions were put in place, and finally, in Novem-ber 1309, the Papal Commission for the Kingdom of France began its hearings. On two instances, on26 and 28 November, Jacques explicitly stated that he did not acknowledge the accusations broughtagainst his order. By so doing, he thus turned to a strategy of silence before the Commission, count-ing on the power of the Church to prevail over thewill of the King.

By remaining silent, Jacques de Molay deprivedthe Templars of leadership; thereafter, the order wasable to offer little resistance to the threat it faced.Any further opposition was effectively broken whenthe archbishop of Sens, Philippe de Marigny, sen-tenced 54 Templars to be burnt at the stake on 10-12 May 1310. At the Council of Vienne on 22 March1312, the order was abolished by papal decree. Al-most two years later, on March 18, 1314, three car-dinals sent by the pope sentenced the Templedignitaries Jacques de Molay, Hugues de Pairaud,Geoffroy de Charney and Geoffroy de Gonneville tolife imprisonment. Realizing that all was lost,Jacques de Molay rose up and recanted. Along withGeoffroy de Charney, he proclaimed his order's in-nocence, before challenging the king and pope be-fore God. Furious, Philippe IV ordered them bothburned at the stake. On the eve of 18 March 1314,Jacques de Molay and Geoffroy de Charnay were

18

taken to Île de la Cité where they were executed.

In 2002, Dr. Barbara Frale found a copy of the Chinon Parchment in the Vatican Secret Archives,a document which explicitly confirms that Pope Clement V secretly absolved Jacques de Molay andother leaders of the Order in 1308. She published her findings in the Journal of Medieval History in2004.

CurseIt is said that Jacques de Molay cursed Philippe le Bel and his descent from his execution pyre.

And, indeed, the rapid succession of the last Direct Capetian kings of France between 1314 and 1328,the three sons of Philippe IV, led many to believe that the dynasty had been cursed – thus the nameof "The Accursed Kings" (Les Rois Maudits). Also, de Molay apparently challenged the King and thePope to meet him before the judgment of God before the year was over, although this story is recordedin no contemporaneous accounts of de Molay's execution. Philip and Clement V in fact both died in1314. The 300 year old House of Capet collapsed during the next 14 years. This series of eventsforms the basis of Les Rois Maudits (the Accursed Kings), a series of historical novels by MauriceDruon.

Trivia

1. Pascal, Cobol and Basic are all types of what?2. Which ...ologists study bumps on the human skull?3. Neil Armstrong was a pilot in which war?4. The infection of wounds by ________ can bring on tetanus?5. Which animal weighs the most - polar bear, grizzly bear or a walrus?Answers on page 47

Neighborly Talk

- Christopher Lloyd Dennis works for a living as Super-man, dressing in the hero’s costume each day and posingwith tourists on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. It’s become somuch a part of his persona that when he married his wifeBonnie, the groom arrived at the church in costume. Thebride wore the traditional wedding gown, but she had an Sfor Superman on her veil. The couple married in Metropo-lis, Illinois.

- Belle, a 17-pound beagle, saved his owner’s life whenhe hit 911 oh his cell phone. The dog belongs to KevinWeaver, who is diabetic. He trained Belle to detect whenhis blood sugar dropped to low levels. One morning,Kevin mistook Belle’s warning bark for a sign she wantedto go outside. He suffered diabetic shock. Belle bit downon the speed dial button on the phone that calls 911. TheOcoee, Florida, medics responded quickly and Kevin wassaved. Belle won the VITA Wireless Award for her canineactions.

19

M.: E.: Daniel DaleGrand High Priest

Royal Arch Masons of FL2007-2008

M.: I.: George MaloneIll. Grand Master

Royal & Select Masters of FL2007-2008

S. K. Leroy FacklerR.: E.: Grand CommanderKnights Templar of Fl

2007-2008

M.: W.: Robert HarryGrand Master

Free & Accepted Masons of Fl2007-2008

20

M.: E.: Daniel E. Dale was born in Oneida, N.Y. on October 16th 1941. His family moved to Or-lando in 1949 and on to Palmetto in 1952. He graduated High School in 1958 and entered the U.S.Air Force in March 1959 serving 7 plus years in the Air Force’s Intelligence Service. He married hislovely wife Linda in 1969. Their family includes 2 daughters and 4 grand children. He retired from hisjob in 2003.

M.: E.: Dan was raised a Master Mason in Palmetto Lodge #110 ion July 1978, He served as Wor-shipful Master in 1984 & 1998, He served as DDGM in 1988, and on various Grand Lodge Commit-tees for 12 years. He was Grand Pursuivant in 2002 - 2003. Nominated in 2001 as GrandRepresentative. He was the President of his district’s Masters & Wardens Association in 1984. Hewas a charter member of DeMolay in 1957 and honored with the Legion of Honor in 2003. He belongsto the Florida Lodge of Research and was its Worshipful Master in 1995.

M.: E.: Dan was Past High Priest in 1987 and DDGHP in 1990. He was elected Thrice Past Ill. Mas-ter in 1988, DDIGM in 1991 and, in 1997, elected the Most Illustrious Grand Master of Royal and Se-lect Masters of Florida. In 1998, he was the Illustrious King of the Council of Annointed Kings. He wasEminent Commander in 1992 and DDGC in 1993. He was honored by his Royal Arch Companionsby being elected Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons of Florida on May 14, 2007.

M.: E.: Dan is a member of the York Rite College, the Allied Masonic Degrees, the Knights Masons,Red Cross of Constantine and the Royal Order of Scotland. He received the Order of the PurpleCross in 1993. He served as Governor of his local York Rite College in 1998. In1993, his local KnightsMason chapter elected him Excellent Chief. He is also a Past Puissant Sovereign (2001) in the RedCross of Constantine. . He was knighted a KYCH and served as a Prior of Florida Priory #60 in 2004.He is a KYGCH 1st and 2nd Quadrant (1198 and 2007, respectively). In the Allied Masonic Degrees,he served as Sovereign Master in 1995. He received the Red Branch of Erie in 1995 as a testamentto his work in the Allied Masonic Degrees.

M.: E.: Dan is a Scottish Rite member since 1988. His brothers elected him Class President. Hewas Venerable Master in 1996. He also belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star were he is a Past Pa-tron. He is a charter member of the Grand Brotherhood of Past DDGM and served as its Vice Presi-dent since 2004. M.: E.: Dan became a Shriner in 1989 and belongs to the White Shrine since 1991.

Daniel E. DaleMost Excellent Grand High Priest 2007 - 2008

21

M.: I.: George Edgar Malone was born March 31, 1934, in Valhalla, N. Y., married to Barbara Vir-ginia Kelsey a registered Cherokee Indian on December 31, 1957. Residing at 1707 Golfview Drive,Rockledge, Fl. 32955. They are the proud parents of four Boys (all GEMS), George E. Jr., Glenn Earle,Gene Edward and Gary Edmond and eight grand children. He attended schools in N.Y., California andNew Hampshire. He began a career in the newspaper industry as a computer tech for Gannett Inc.Retired from the Florida Today/USA Today Newspaper, Melbourne, FI, as Computer Systems Manageron Dec. 1998, after 36 plus years.

M.: I.: George was raised to Master Mason on August 22, 1987. He served as Worshipful Mas-ter in 1987. He held various District and state Grand Lodge Committees from 1983 to 2002. He wasGrand Standard Bearer 1997 under M:.W:. Sam Cowan and District Deputy Grand Master under M:.W:. Keith W. Dean.

M.: I.: George is a Past High Priest of the Indian River Chapter, Past Ill. Master of Hiram Coun-cil and Past Eminent Commander of Brevard Commandery in the Cocoa York Rite Bodies. He was Dis-trict Deputy for two terms in the Grand Council, the Grand Chapter and the Grand Commandery. Hereceived the Ish-Sodi Award in the Grand Council and Gold Key award in the Grand Chapter. He is aPast Prior of Priory 60, KYCH in 1991, a Past Governor of John Phelps York Rite College, receivingthe Purple Cross in 2000). He is a member of Societas Rosicrucianan In Civitatibus Foederatis Cel-ebrant 2005, Allied Masonic Degrees, Royal Order of Scotland, Labrum Conclave Red Cross of Con-stantine

M.: I.: George is a Past Wise Master of Rose Croix Orlando Scottish Rite, Past Venerable Masterin the Lodge of Perfection and Degree Master of the 18th degree Light Section. He received the KCCHin 1991 and was coronated a 33rd Mason in 2005. He is a member of the National Sojourners andHeros of 76, High Twelve, Past Grand Tall Cedar of Tall Cedars of Lebanon ,Past Watchman of Shep-herds four times of Alpha No 30 White Shrine of Jerusalem. A member of Order of Eastern Star.

As for the DeMolay, M.: I.: George joined the International DeMolay Alumni Association in 2006 andstated at the DeMolay conclave a few months back, “...Where I grew up, they were very anti Masonic”.What I have seen during my visits in the past to the Titusville chapter and the young men I have seenin Orlando I can think of no greater organization for the young men to belong to. They show there re-spect to Mothers and elders which was instilled to me by my family as I grew up but don’t see that todayin family life. When I moved to Florida in 1980, the DeMolay chapters were closing very rapidly andmy boys missed out on a good introduction to Masonry and a good youth organization. But due to mywife’s bringing up and her family’s Masonic heritage they were raised in the proper ways. I only wishthat I had that chance as a youth. I spent most of my time working to bring money into the house tohelp out with food and rent, as I had a very sick father who passed away at an early age...”

George E. MaloneMost Illustrious Grand Master 2007 - 2008

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Sir Knight Leroy E. FacklerRight Eminent Grand Commander 2007 - 2008

Sir Knight Leroy E. Fackler was born on August 23, 19934 in Van Wwert,Ohio. He attended MiamiJackson High School. He served honorably in the United States Marine Corp from 1951 through 1953.He married Barbara Marie Goughler on June 24, 1957. Their union produced 4 boys: Rockey, David,Douglas and Darin. He worked as Plant Superintendent at Willard Shutter Company from 1965through 2007. He has coached the 65 pound Football team for NW Boys Club for 9 years. He likeshunting, fishing, stock car racing and gardening.

S.K. Leroy was raised as Master Mason on November 10, 1980 at Pioneer Lodge # 311 ( nowOleeta West Dade Lodge #145). He served his lodges as Worshipful Master in 1985 and 1989, Treas-urer from 1986 through 1988 and as Secretary in 1990 and1991 until the Lodge consolidated withOleeta West Dade Lodge. He joined Hurricane Lodge #401 in 2001. He served as Secretary there in2003. He was appointed District Deputy Grand Master (Masonic District #34) in 2004 and has servedin various Grand Lodge Committees from 1994 through 2003.

S, K. Leroy is Past High Priest of Jericho Chapter #11 (1992), Past Thrice Ill. Master of AdoniramCouncil #10 (1990) and Past Eminent Commander of Miami Commandery (1991). He was the Treas-urer for the Miami York Rite Bodies from 1995 through 2002. He was appointed District Deputy forthe Grand Commandery in 1992, for the Grand Chapter in 1996 and for the the Grand Council in 1997and 1998. He was honored with the Gold Key Award in 1988, Ish Sodi Award in 1998, and the Cryp-tic Mason of the Year in 1998. He was knighted KYCH in 1993 and served as Eminent Prior of his Pri-ory in 2002.. He is a member of Space Coast Council #32, Knight Mason and Solas Rosslyn Council#84, Knight Mason. He served both Councils as Excellent Chief , 2001 and 2007, respectively. He be-longs to Mystic Tie #374, Allied Masonic Degrees and served as Sovereign Master in 2003. A mem-ber of Everglades York Rite College, he served as Governor in 1999. He received the Order of thePurple Cross in 1999. He belongs to the Red Cross of Constantine and is a Past Puissant Sover-eign.. He was appointed to the Grand Commandery line in 2001 and was elected as Right EminentGrand Commander on May 16, 2007.

S.K. Leroy is also a Scottish RIte Mason. He received his 32 degree on May 3rd 1981. He wasinvested as a KCCH in 1983 and coronated 33 degree in 2001. He was the Chairman for the StageCommittee from 1998 through 2007. He received the DOUBLE EAGLE AWARD in 2005 and ONERED BAR in 2006.

Sir Knight Leroy is a Mahi Shriner since 1981. He was appointed as the Shrine’s York Rite Rep-resentative from 2000 through 2007. He also belongs to the Royal Order of Scotland. Presently, heis a member of the Order of the Eastern Star (Laskeside Chapter #271) and served as Worthy Patronin 1982, 1992,1997, 2001, 2003 and 2004.

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M.: W.: Robert P. Harry, Jr.Grand Master of Free & Accepted Masons of Florida2007 - 2008

M.: W.: Robert P. Harry, Jr. is a native Floridian, born November 28, 1944, in Daytona Beach,Florida. A graduate from Seabreeze High School, he attended the University of the South in Sewanne,Tennessee and later graduated from the University of Florida. He is the father of two, Margaret Gar-cia Harry and Robert Fentress Harry and has two granddaughters, Alice Rose Harry and GraceKathryn Taylor.

M.: W.: Harry spent most of his working career in the outdoor advertising/billboard business. Hegrew up in that business and managed his family’s company. He has been active in his state and na-tional professional trade associations, rising to president in one and chairman of the board in the other.He has been a member of Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, the Council on Aging, United Way andhas been involved in other civic activities in the St. Augustine area.

M.: W.: Harry was raised a Master Mason in 1989 in Ashlar Lodge #98 in St. Augustine. He servedas its Worshipful Master in 1996. M.: W.: Harry a Gold Card Proficiency holder and is a member ofZone 3 Blue Gold Card.He was appointed District Instructor in 1997 and again in 1998. In 2001, hewas appointed District Deputy by M.: W.: Glenn Phillips II. He is a member of the 13th Masonic Dis-trict Masonic Association. He is also the Grand Representative to Luxembourg.

M.: W.: Harry is a member of the St. Augustine York Rite Bodies, the William Bessett III Allied Ma-sonic Degrees Council (Gainesville), the Scottish Rite, Valley of Jacksonville, Morocco Shrine and theSt. Augustine Shrine Club.

M.: W.: Harry was elected by the Craft and installed Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge ofF. & A. M. of Florida in 2004, Senior Grand Warden in 2005 and Deputy Grand Master in 2006. In2007, M.: W.: Harry was elected by the Craft and installed on May 30, 2007 as the Most WorshipfulGrand Master of Free and Accepted Masons of Florida.

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Grand Chapter Officers 2007 - 2008

Seated (from left to right):Exc. Anthony J. Marrotta Jr. - Grand Capt. of the Guard; R.Exc. Richard E. Foreman -Grand Treasurer; R. Exc. James P. Rudman - Grand King; M. Exc. Daniel E. Dale -Grand High Priest; R. Exc. Darryl D’Angina - Grand Scribe; Exc. John G. Allen -Grand Master of the 3rd Veil; Exc. Calvin A. Bonnet - Grand Royal Arch Captain; Exc.Robert G. Kirkpatrick - Grand Principal Sojourner

Standing (from left to Right):Exc. William Jacobs - Grand Master of the 1st Veil; Exc. John F. Wermann - GrandMaster of the 2nd Veil; M. Exc. Glen e. Chandler - Grand Historian; Exc. Richard A.Wolfe - Grand Sentinel; Exc. David Meade - Grand Organist; Exc. Louis King - GrandChaplain

Missing from Photo - M. Exc. Steven Q. Steele - Grand Secretary

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Grand Council Officers 2007 - 2008

(From left to right)Ill. Howard H. Gardner - Grand Capt. of the Guard; R. Ill. Richard E. Foreman - GrandTreasurer; R. Ill. Dencel R. Smith - Grand Deputy Master; M. Ill. George E. Malone -Ill. Grand Master; R. Ill. Carl Gilmore - Grand Principal Conductor of the Work; Ill. RonBlaisdell - Grand Chaplain; Ill. M. Daniel Fullwood - Grand Conductor of the Council;Ill. E. Randy Spradling - Grand Marshall; Ill. Larry Gillespie - Grand Stewart; Ill. DayleL. Schrock - Grand Sentinel

Missing from Photo - R. Ill. Steven Q. Steele - Grand Recorder

Remember You Are the Mirror of York Rite Masonry... Teach by Example

26

Grand Commandery Officers 2007 - 2008

(From left to right)S.K. Billy Collier - E. Sentinel; S.K. Robert G. Stearns - E. Grand Warder; S.K.Richard E. Foreman - Grand Treasurer; S.K. Ideal Baldoni II - E. Grand Captain Gen-eral; S.K. Charles Perez - V.E. Deputy Grand Commander; S.K. Leroy Fackler - R. E.Grand Commander; S.K. Franklin Glenn - E. Generalissimo; S.K. Charles “Chic”Ci-cero - E. Senior Warden; S.K. Dean Harwood - E. Grand Standard Bearer; S.K.Henry A. Adams - E. Grand Sword Bearer; S.K. John G. Allen - E. Grand Organist

Missing from Photo:S.K. Steven Q. Steele - E. Grand Recorder; S. K. Rev. Daniel Williams - E. GrandPrelate; S.K. David A. Aponte - E. Grand Junior Warden

Remember You Are the Mirror of York Rite Masonry... Teach by Example

27

Grand High Priest Visits Jacksonville No. 12 Table Chapter

Jacksonville Chapter No. 12 R. A. M. held its annual Table Chapter on August 9th at the Jack-sonville York Rite Temple. A fine number of companions turned out on a warm evening for the festiveevent. Most Excellent Companion Daniel E. Dale, Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter, Royal ArchMasons of Florida drove up from Palmetto, Florida, and several other Grand Chapter Officers and PastGrand High Priests were on hand to enjoy the evening and show their support.

Pictured above were Most Excellent Grand High Priest Daniel Dale and several of the officersand dignitaries after the table chapter meeting. Shown, left to right, in the first row were: Darryl A. D’Ang-ina, R. Ex. Grand Scribe, and Daniel E. Dale, M. Ex. Grand High Priest, of the Grand Chapter R.A.M.of Florida; C. Robert Cooper, DDGHP, District No. 7, Ex. High Priest of Jacksonville Chapter No. 12; andGlenn E. Chandler, MEPGHP and Ex. Grand Historian of the Grand Chapter R.A.M. of Florida.

Seen in the second row, left to right, were; Harvey L. Ward, Sr., MEPGHP; John F. Wermann,Ex. Grand Master of the Second Veil of the Grand Chapter; and Wayne Y.. Thigpen, DDGHP, District No.8

Remember You Are the Mirror of York Rite Masonry... Teach by Example

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

Gainesville Chapter No. 2 Royal Arch Masons held its Summer Antient Craft Table Chapter Convo-cation on Tuesday, August 21, 2007. The site for the event was the Gainesville Shrine Club, which lasthosted the Table Chapter about ten years ago.

By all accounts the Table Chapter was a big success. A total of 35 Companions attended, includingthe three dais officers of the Grand Chapter of RAM of Florida:

MEGHP Daniel Dale, Grand. King James Rudman, and Grand. Scribe Darryl D’Angina.In addition there were a number of other Chapter Grand Line officers and two Past Grand High

Priests: ME Harvey L. Ward, Sr, (1996-97) and ME Michael Padron, Jr (2006-07). Grand Line officersfrom other Grand York Rite Bodies were also present as well as RW Dale Goehrig, Senior Grand War-den of the Grand Lodge of F&AM of Florida.

ME Dale was the guest of honor and after a few introductory remarks, he turned the floor over to REJames Rudman who went into some detail about the long range planning a foot to make the GrandChapter a more efficient, unified organization and to continue those plans well into the future. It was ob-vious that much thought had gone into these blueprints for the future course of Royal Arch Masonry inFlorida.

Three Companions received various honors at the Table Chapter Convocation: newly exalted Com-panion Donald F. Rothwell received his patents not only from Gainesville Chapter but also fromGainesville Council No. 27 R&SM and Pilgrim Commandery No. 7. Companion Richard L. Waterswas awarded his 25-year longevity certificates and pins from all three Grand Bodies of Florida. Lastly,E. Comp. William H. Schreiber was awarded the Gold Key Award from ME Padron for his service toRoyal Arch Masonry.

The usual toasts as required by the Table Chapter ritual were given as well as a number offered byCompanions in honor of a number of the Craft and organizations. Among them so honored were PHPand current DDGM of the 14th Masonic District D.F. “Lyn” Williams, who, along with Kevin Hanson, Dis-trict Instructor the 14th District and President of the Shrine Club, prepared the excellent steak dinner;our Masonic connections; the USMC; Harvey L. Ward and Hugh Smith for their actions leading to thedevelopment and formal ritual for the Table Chapter in Florida; good relations between the Gainesvilleand Jacksonville Chapters; harmony between the Grand Lodge and York Rite Masonry; and so on.Comp. Schreiber, Secretary for Chapter No. 2, noted that there Companions from 9 different Chapters(Gainesville 2, St. Petersburg 14, Manatee River 18, Island 65, Jacksonville 12, James Yeager 62, Sara-sota 35, Ocala 13, and Jericho 11) in attendance, and 19 different Lodges were also represented by theCompanions present.

The boxes of fraternal charity were passed and $72 was collected, with the host Chapter donatingan additional $28 to raise the donation to RARA to $100 in honor of ME Dale. Everyone enjoyed them-selves and EHP Bill Jackson thanked everyone for coming. The festive board was then closed at 10:30PM.

Submitted by William H. Schreiber, Secretary, Gainesville Chapter No. 2, RAM

GAINESVILLE ANTIENT CRAFT TABLE CHAPTER CONVOCATION

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

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A

B

C

D

Photos taken at the Gainesville Antient Table Chapter EventA. Head Table (from left to right): R.: W.: Dale Goehrig, Senior Grand Warden Grand Lodge F.&A.M.ofFL; M.E. Dan Dale, MEGHP; Exc. , High Prest Gainesville; R.: E.: Wayne Thigpen, DDGHP.

B. M.: E.: Dan Dale during his speech

C. Companion Richard L. Waters receiving his 25-year certificates and pins.

D. M.: E.: Michael Padron, PGHP 2006-2007, awarded Exc. William Schreiber his Gold Key Award.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

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Pilgrim Commandery No. 7, K. T. of Gainesville knighted two new Sir Knights on August 11, 2007.This completed the York Rite journey, which began on June 19, 2007, for the new Sir Knights. The

final Chivalric Orders began on August 7, with the Illustrious Order of Red Cross, and continued onAugust 11 with the Order of Malta and Order of the Temple.

The new Sir Knights are Robert Trask, Sr., and Donald Rothwell. Pictured above are thenew Sir Knights with officers and cast from the Order of the Temple, following the Order.

Shown, in the first row, left to right, are: Walter Hammond, Recorder of Damascus Com-mandery No. 2; Daniel L. Williams, Grand Prelate of the Grand Commandery K. T. of Florida, andCaptain General of Pilgrim Commandery No. 7; new Sir Knight Robert Trask, Sr., new Sir Knight Don-ald Rothwell, Dennis Haskins, E. Commander of Pilgrim Commandery No. 7; and Howard D. Hall,Generalissimo of Bradford Commandery No. 43. In the back, from left to right,are: S. K.CharlesJones; Robert Bullard, Prelate of Bradford Commandery No. 43; William H. Schreiber, KYCH,Recorder of Pilgrim Commandery No. 7; David Hemond, Warder, Pilgrim Commandery No. 7; WayneY. Thigpen, KYCH, DDGHP of the Grand Chapter R.A.M. of Florida; Francisco T. “Frank” Camacho,District Instructor, District No. 8, Grand Commandery K. T. of Florida, and Harvey L. Ward, Sr., KYGCH,MEPGHP of the Grand Chapter R.A.M. of Florida. Not pictured was Corbin P. Elliott, KYCH, of Dam-ascus Commandery No. 2, who took the part of Commander for the Order of the Temple. Sir KnightWilliam Schreiber, KYCH, presided as Prior for the Order of Malta.

A great day of York Rite cooperation and camaraderie was enjoyed by all, and the new SirKnights expressed their appreciation for the work of the Sir Knights, and the Orders received.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

NEW SIR KNIGHTS RECEIVE ORDER OF THE TEMPLE IN PILGRIM COMMANDERY NO. 7, GAINESVILLE

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ECCK fÉâäxÇ|Ü cÜÉzÜtÅCompanions and Sir Knights:The members of your Grand York Rite Souvenir Program Committee are pleased to anhave begun our efforts early this year to sell ads for our 2008 Souvenir Program. We have 3 objectito accomplish:

1) To increase the ads from previous years. 2) To publish a more enticing, professional and informative Souvenir Progra3) To financially help offset a grand portion of the Grand Convention expen

In order for us to meet our objectives, we need the help and assistance of all oKnights in Florida. How can you help?

First: Have your York Rite Bodies purchase an ad.Second:Have the Companions become boosters and purchase a name line which w-cluded in the program.Third:go out and sell, sell, sell. Sell ads to your local Blue Lodges, Appen& Wardens Associations, Masonic brethren that are business owners and local your area. Target business leaders with whom you may have some influence. -yond the box to make this a success.

We are including a copy of the Souvenir Program form. Make as many photocform as necessary. Once you get the ad, with the form filled out, the ad layouts, anGRAND SECRETARY/RECORDER ’S OFFICE ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 31, 2008. The success of thisenterprise no longer lies with the Committee but with the Craft. This will be your s

A word of caution, NO AD WILL BE PUBLISHED THAT IS NOT PAID FOR.

So before you send those ads back to the Grand Secretary / Recorder’s office, make surethe ad layout, form and payment are included. Donations / contributions are not -itable Contributions as the Grand York Rite Bodies are not a “501(c)(3)Corporation”; however, the Do-nation / Contribution may be deductible as an ordinary business expense. Sponsorwith their tax advisor.

If you have any questions or need to contact someone in the Committee, :EGSW Charles Chic Cicero PHP Randy Spradling4124 Raccoon Loop, New Port Richey, FL 34653 Suite 318 PMB 212, 5100 S. Cleveland Ave, Fort MePhone: 727-372-1320 E-mail: Ciceros@tampabay.rr.com FL 33907

Phone: 239-634-3267 E-mail: freemason@aol.com

EGJW David A. Aponte Ex. Grand Master of the 1stVeil William Jacobs6620 W. Constitution Ln., Homosassa, FL 34448 4057 Sheridan Drive, Pace, FL 32571-2260Phone: 352-503-3030 E-mail: Daponte1@tampabay.rr.com Phone: 860-995-9369 E-mail: wrbillyjacobs@yahoo.com

REPGC Edwin Moore, III Ex. Grand Master of the 3rd Veil John G. Allen8 Barbara Court, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 P.O. Box 19117, W. Palm Beach, FL 33416Phone: 386-677-2602 Phone: 321-917-6523 E-mail: dayle318@earthlink.net

IGS Dayle L. Schrock490 Sail Lane #405, Merritt Island, FL 32953Phone: 561-588-8686 E-mail: capt.john@scuba.fla.com

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AppealThe Master is supreme in his lodge, so far as regular lodges are concerned. He is amenable forhis conduct in the government of the lodge, not to its members, but to the Grand Lodge alone. Indeciding points of order, as well as graver matter, no appeal can be taken from that decision tothe lodge. If an appeal were proposed, it would be his duty, for the preservation of discipline, torefuse to put the question. If a member is aggrieved with the conduct or the decision of the Mas-ter, he has his redress by an appeal to the Grand Lodge, which will, of course, see that the Mas-ter does not rule his lodge “in an unjust or arbitrary manner.” But such a thing as an appeal fromthe Master to the lodge, is unknown in masonry. (Similar decision has been determined by theGeneral Grand Chapter and the Grand Encampment.)

Ancient Craft MasonryThe degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow-Craft, and Master Mason, including the Holy RoyalArch, are thus called, because they were the only degrees which were anciently practised by thecraft.

AugustA title bestowed upon the Royal Arch degree, in consequence of the imposing nature of its cere-monies, and the important contains.

BrightA mason is said to be “bright” who is well acquainted with the ritual, the forms of opening andclosing, and the ceremonies of initiation. This expression does not, however in its technical sense,appear to include the superior knowledge of the history and science of the institution, and manybright masons are therefore not necessarily learned masons, and on the contrary some learnedmasons are not well versed in the exact phraseology of the ritual. The one knowledge depends onretentive memory, the other is derived from deep research.

Creed of a MasonThe creed of a mason is brief, unentangled with scholastic subtleties, or with theological difficul-ties. It is a creed which demands and receives the universal consent of all men, which admits ofno doubt, and defies schism. It is the belief in GOD, the Supreme Architect of heaven and earth;the dispenser of all good gifts, and the judge of the quick and the dead.

Masonic Vocabulary

from the book “Lexicon of Freemasonry” by Albert G. Mackey

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In response to a discussion on the effect of a leader's mood on the performance of a team, a par-ticipant in a recent leadership workshop made this heartfelt and realistic remark: "I cannot see how Iam expected to be in a good mood for four quarters in a row."

The point is well taken. But can you afford, as a leader, to even entertain this thought? All of theresearch on employee performance points to the contrary. There is a concept in French which is called"Noblesse oblige". It means, roughly, that wealth, power and prestige go hand-in-hand with certain so-cial responsibilities – in other words, with privilege comes duty. It is a privilege when we have the op-portunity to lead a team of people, but with it comes many responsibilities, chief of which, someleadership pundits would contend, is managing moods.

Research which shows that up to 30% of a company's financial results (as measured by key busi-ness performance indicators such as revenue growth, return on sales, efficiency and profitability) aredetermined by the climate of the organization.

So what is the major factor that drives the climate of an organization? It's the leader. Roughly 50-70% of how people perceive their organization's climate is attributable to the actions and behaviorsof their leader. A leader creates the environment that determines people's moods within the organi-zation and their mood, in turn, affects their productivity and level of engagement.

Afterglow or Aftermath?

Witness the number of times you may have driven home with an internal glow, reliving a positiveencounter with an upbeat and supportive leader, perhaps savoring a "bon mot" about your perform-ance that he left with you on a Friday afternoon. How great it made you feel, and how eager you wereto get out of bed the following Monday morning, and get back to your organization and give the verybest that you had to offer. That's the "afterglow" that lingers and gives you renewed energy to be moreproductive, to bring your finest talents to work.

And think about the reverse of the afterglow – the aftermath, or bitter aftertaste. That's what lingerswith you after being the recipient of some acrid remarks from a leader in a negative mood. How didthat affect your determination to overcome difficulties in a project, to keep your heart fully engaged inthe process, to want to continue to give that person your very best game?

Contagion and Consequences

Leadership literature is full of studies attesting to the consequences of a leader's mood. One studyinvolving 62 CEOs and their top management teams showed that the more upbeat, energetic and en-thusiastic the executive team was, the more co-operatively they worked together, and the better thecompany's business results. The study also showed that the longer a company was managed by anexecutive team that didn't get along well, the poorer the company's market returns.

In one of a multitude of such studies involving 53 sales managers in retail outlets who led groupsranging in size from four to nine members, it was found that when managers themselves were in anupbeat, positive mood, their moods spilled over to their staff, positively affecting the staff's perform-

York Rite Leadership Adapted from A Leader's Mood The Dimmer Switch of Performance By Bruna Martinuzzi

3434

ance and increasing sales. We can all take an inspiration from organizations such as Starbucks whoplace great value on the importance of creating a positive climate for employees which, in turn, en-sures a pleasant customer experience and repeat visits. "We are always focused on our people" is anexplicit statement to new recruits on the company's career site.

When we move the curtain a bit, we can see clearly that a leader's bad mood is a source of infec-tion – an emotional contagion that eventually spreads across people to entire units. We can learn athing or two from leadership in the military. Imagine the effect on troop morale and energy that an"overwhelmed", "anxious", "worried" or "irate" leader would have? And how about a leader who isplagued by uncertainty? "Indecision," as HA Hopf puts it, "is contagious. It transmits itself to others."It can become debilitating and habit-forming in an organization, as people take their cues from theleader's state of mind.

Inconsistent Means Unpredictable

We could argue that the occasional bad mood, the occasional rant is excusable. Often, we referto this type of behavior with statements such as: "He can't control his temper sometimes, but he is sobrilliant". Or, "He has an amazing mind but he has a tendency to shout at people when it's stressful."It is as though brilliance is an excuse for bad behavior. And it may very well have to be in some envi-ronments – but the message it sends to constituents is one of inconsistency, which is an undesirabletrait in any leader. We want our leaders to be predictable because there is comfort and safety in pre-dictability. Predictability engenders trust and an unpredictable leader elicits anxiety and, in some cases,even fear, both of which negatively affect performance and productivity.

Of course, no leader steps out of the elevator in the morning with an intention to spread a badmood around but, as sure as there is gravity, events occur during the course of some days that canderail even the best among us. To be clear, we are not advocating that leaders turn into a shrinkwrapped version, complete with false smiles and fake cheerfulness. Constituents spot a non-genuinesmile anyway and are very adept at noticing when a leader infantilizes them.

The Right Mood?

There are, of course, no easy solutions to managing emotions on an hourly basis in the often dif-ficult circumstances in which leaders must operate and make decisions. First of all, it's important tonote that a leader's mood has the greatest impact on performance when it is upbeat. But it must alsobe in tune with those around him.

The most effective leader display moods and behaviors that match the situation at hand, with ahealthy dose of optimism mixed in. They respect how other people are feeling – even if it is glum ordefeated – but they also model what it looks like to move forward with hope and humor." The opera-tive threesome here is "optimism", "hope" and "humor". As someone once put it, leaders are dealersin hope.

Steps Towards Better Performance

So what are the specific recommendations? Your mood and behavior affects performance. How doyou work on attaining the consistent, emotionally intelligent leadership behaviors that breed successin yourself and others? Here are a few other suggestions to consider that can improve your and yourteam's performance:

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1. Model Meeting Behavior

Take a hard look at your behavior in meetings, which are often "cauldrons of emotion." Do youmodel the way by setting a positive tone right from the start? Or do you impose your own "pace" basedon how you feel at the moment? Aim for a calm, relaxed mood, and a consistent, positive approach.

2. Look For Good In Others

One of the central objectives of a leader is to make others aware of the greatness that lies in them.Be known in your organization as someone who is always on the lookout for what is right with people.It engenders good will and is good for business.

3. Read The Climate

Do you have a good reading of the climate of your organization? Can you accurately sense whatthe emotional atmosphere is? Is it upbeat? Is it energized? Is it down or dejected? Do people seemslightly apprehensive and somewhat cautious in your presence?

4. Be Pleasant and Cooperative

If you are an emergent leader, and working on having a pleasant personality is not a priority for you,consider putting some effort into cultivating this prized quality. It is almost impossible to have execu-tive presence without it. Be cooperative, for example sharing ideas and shortcuts. This is another ex-ample of how mood affects productivity.

5. Be Emotionally Attractive

Along that vein, focus on being emotionally attractive. Resonant leaders are individuals who havethe ability to manage their own emotions and those of others in a manner that drives the success oftheir teams and organizations. Resonant leaders create a positive emotional tone in the organizationand engage and inspire people. These leaders possess three core qualities which are: mindfulness,hope, and compassion. Consider making these a part of your arsenal as a leader.

6. Manage the Emotions of Change

Be particularly mindful of how you manage emotions if your organization is undergoing change: howyou handle emotions during these crucial times can help or hinder the change process. It's a knownfact that if the resistance to change is emotional, it is the hardest form of resistance to overcome. Asthe leader handling a change initiative, don't avoid the emotions that accompany the change process.Set the mood and manage the emotions – or they will manage you.

If you cringe at the whole notion of emotions in your organization, talk of empathy and compassion,intuition or discussions of emotional intelligence, I encourage you to reconsider this mindset. Hone yourintuitive ability, and listen to those hunches that hint to you that something in your behavior and ac-tions on bad days is causing a ripple effect on others. These are the whispers we try to dismiss whenwe elect to focus only on "rationality". Intuition is a precious tool worth including in our kit. Einstein putit best: "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have createda society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift."

As the leader, you have in your hand the switch that can control the intensity of engagement of thepeople who do the work in your organization. It's like being a director in a movie: "The first work of thedirector is to set a mood so that the actor's work can take place" (William Friedkin, American movieand television director/producer.) A leader's upbeat mood metaphorically oxygenates the blood of fol-lowers – it's a transfusion into the corporate arteries. It may be one of the most potent contributionsyou can make as a leader.

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Illustrated bySymbols

Reproduced from THE SHORT TALK BULLETINThe Masonic Service Association of the U.S.

The Most popular definition of Freemasonrystates that it is "a System of morality, veiled in al-legory and illustrated by symbols."

Many a brother has asked "Why illustrated bysymbols? Why not illustrated by plain statementsof truth, completely defining the 'system of moral-ity'?"

There are many answers. Among them is thetruth that definition limits what is defined. Seldomhas this been better expressed than by thatphilosopher who asked "Do you believe in God?"His answer: "Define what you mean by God. Andwhen you have defined, no matter what your defi-nition, I shall reply 'No, I do not believe in God, be-cause a God defined is a God limited, and a limitedGod is no God!"

All mathematics are written in symbols, sinceour digits are symbols for quantities. Algebra useda symbol for a symbol, expressing quantities by let-ters, instead of numbers.

In the algebraic equation "a + b = c" any quan-tity may be assigned to any one, or any two of theletters and the equation still be true. Thus a + b =4 is true if a is equal 1 or b to 3: it is true if a and bare each equal to 2; it is true is a is equal to 3 andb to 1. But note that the replacing of a symbol by aknown quantity limits the equation. Go a step fur-ther and replaced two symbols by two quantities;write that 2 + b = 4 and the necessity for b as asymbol disappears; it can only equal 2.

If you are so fortunate as to receive a blankcheck, signed, it may immediately become a sym-bol of almost anything; a new house, a yacht, a triparound the world, a valuable jewel. But if acrossthe face of the blank check is stamped "Not over$100" your symbol is limited. It can no longer rep-resent any of these things. It can be a symbol of anew radio, a suit of clothes, a watch. If the check isfilled in and reads "Ten Dollars" it becomes sym-bolic of only those things which can be bought forten dollars.

There is a pretty story-its truth is not vouchedfor-that when a certain king came to this countryfor a difficult eye operation, the physician who op-erated was nonplussed as to what sort of bill tosend. Should he charge a thousand dollars? Hehad done the operation for nothing, for a hundred

dollars, for a thousand, even for ten thousand, de-pending on the ability of his patient to pay. But aking! A king wealthy, and a king who would havebeen blind without the operation.

The physician sent a bill reading:To saving eyesight. The King can do no wrong.To the king the bill became a symbol, a re-

minder of kingly wealth, of kingly gratitude, of kinglyneed to see. It is said that he sent a check for ahalf a million dollars!

“...A symbol is a word in that lan-guage. Translate that symbol intowords which appeal only to themind...”

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It is thus seen that definition of a symbol limitsits scope, and Freemasonry, by using symbolswhich are not closely defined, makes it possible formany men of many minds, each to read his ownconception of the truth into the symbols. Freema-sonry thus becomes as great a "System of moral-ity" as the mind of him who attempts to understandit may admit.

In his introduction to Hunt's fine volume "Somethoughts on Masonic Symbolism" the late JacobHugo Tatche, noted student and Masonic historianwrote:

"Freemasonry permits each individual to inter-pret and apply the lessons of the Craft as he seesbest. It is this unique spirit of tolerance and free-dom which frequently confuses opponents of theFraternity. One Mason places his interpretationupon a certain symbol or attribute of Freemasonry;another may take an entirely different view, and willcite evidence with which a third may be in entirevariance; yet these three men can gather about ouraltars and labor together in perfect amity.

Long before Tatche, the great Albert Pike ex-pressed the same thought in different language:

"Masonry . . .follows the ancient manner ofteaching. Her symbols are the instructions shegives; and the lectures are but often partial and in-sufficient one-sided endeavors to interpret thosesymbols. He who would become an accomplishedMason must not be content merely to hear or evento understand the lectures, but must, aided bythem, and they having as it were marked out theway for him study, interpret and develop the sym-bols for himself."

Many years ago, the present writer tried to ex-press the reasons for symbols as illustrations of thesystem of morality by asking:

Why does Freemasonry veil in allegory andconceal in object or picture a meaning quite differ-ent from its name? Why should Freemasonry ex-press immortality with acacia, brotherly love with atrowel, the world by a lodge, right living by aMason's tools?

That Freemasonry conceals in symbols in order

to arouse curiosity to know their meaning is oftenconsidered the only explanation. But there aremany more lofty ideas of why this great system oftruth, philosophy and ethics is hidden in symbols.

Man has a triple nature; he has a body, andsenses which bring him into contact with, andtranslate the meanings of, the physical world ofearth, air, fire and water which is about him. He hasa brain and a mind by which he reasons and un-derstands about the matters physical with which heis surrounded. and he has a Something Beyond;call it Soul, or Heart, or Spirit, or Imagination as youwill; it is something which is allied to, rather than apart of, reason, and connected with the physicalside of life only through its sensory contacts.

This soul or spirit comprehends a languagewhich the brain does not understand. The keenestof minds have striven without success to make thismystic language plain to reason. When you hearmusic which brings tears to your eyes and grief orjoy to your heart you respond to a language yourbrain does not understand and cannot explain. It isnot with your brain that you love your mother, yourchild or your wife; it is with the Something Beyond;and the language with which that love is spoken isnot the language of the tongue.

A symbol is a word in that language. Translatethat symbol into words which appeal only to themind, and the spirit of the meaning is lost. Wordsappeal to the mind; meanings are expressed inwords appeal to the spirit.

All that there is in Freemasonry which can beset down in words on a page leaves out completelythe spirit of the Order. If we depend on words orideas alone the Fraternity would not make a uni-versal appeal to all men, since no man has it givento him to appeal to the minds of all other men. ButFreemasonry expresses truths which are univer-sal; it expresses them in a universal language, uni-versally understood by all men without words. Thatlanguage is the language of the symbol, and thesymbol is universally understood because it is themeans of communication between spirits, souls,hearts.

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When we say of Masonry that it is universal wemean the word literally; it is of the universe, notmerely of the world. If it were possible for an in-habitant of Mars to make and use a telescopewhich would enable him to see plainly a squaremile of the surface of the earth, and if we knew itand desired by drawing upon that square mile asymbol to communicate with the inhabitants ofMars we would choose, undoubtedly, one with asmany meanings as possible; one which had a ma-terial, a mental and a spiritual meaning. Such asymbol might be the Triangle, he might reply withthe 47th problem. If we showed him a circle, hemight set down 3.1416- the number by which a di-ameter multiplied becomes a circumference. Wecould find a language in symbols with which tobegin communication even with all the universe!

Naturally then Freemasonry employs symbolsfor heart to speak to heart. Imagination is heart's

collection of senses. So we must appeal to theimagination when speaking a truth which is neithermental or physical, and the symbol is the meansby which one imagination speaks to another. Noth-ing else will do; no words can be as effective (un-less they are themselves symbols); no teachingsexpressed in language can be as easily learned bythe heart as those which come via the symbolthrough the imagination.

Take from Freemasonry its symbols and but thehusk remains: the kernel is gone. He who hearsbut the words of Freemasonry misses their mean-ing entirely. Most symbols have many interpreta-tions. These do not contradict but amplify eachother. Thus, the square is a symbol of perfection, ofrectitude of conduct, of honor and honesty, of goodwork. These are all different, and yet allied. Thesquare is not a symbol of wrong, or evil, or mean-ness or disease. Ten different men may read ten

different meanings into a square, and yet eachmeaning fits with, and belongs to the other mean-ings.

Ten men have ten different kinds of hearts. Notall have the same power of imagination, the sameability to comprehend. So each gets from a symbolwhat he can. He uses his imagination. He trans-lates to his soul as much of the truth as he is ableto make a part of him. This the ten cannot do withtruths expressed in words. "Twice two is equal tofour" is a truth which must be accepted all at once,as a complete exposition, or not at all. He who canunderstand but the "Twice" or the "equal" of the"four" has no conception of what is being said. Butten men can read ten progressive, different, cor-rect and beautiful meanings into a trowel, and eachbe right as far as he goes. The man who sees itmerely as an instrument which helps to bind has apart of its meaning. He who finds it a link with op-erative Masons has another part. The man whosees it as a symbol of man's relationship to Deity,because with it he (spiritually) does the Master'swork, has another meaning. All these meaningsare right. When all men know all the meanings theneed for Freemasonry will have passed away.

Freemasonry uses symbols because only bythem can the Craft speak the language of the spirit,each to each, and because they form an elasticlanguage, which each man reads for himself ac-cording to his ability. Symbols form the only lan-guage which is thus elastic, and the only one bywhich spirit can be touched. To suggest thatFreemasonry use any other would be as revolu-tionary as to remove the Altars, meet in the publicsquare or elect by a majority vote. Freemasonrywithout symbols would not be Freemasonry; itwould be but dogmatic and not very erudite phi-losophy, of which the world is full as it is, and noneof which ever satisfies the heart.

An undefined and therefore unlimited truth re-sults from the slow growth in meaning of a symbolnot tied down by confining words. The first flag wasa skin raised on a banner that the savages of onetribe could tell their friends from their enemies. Atfirst the skin but said "This is your tribe, do not slayus who carry it." But as skins gave way to banners

Many a brother has asked "Why

illustrated by symbols? Why not

illustrated by plain statements of

truth, completely defining the

‘system of morality'?"

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and banners to flags, the meaning of the symbol grew. Today the American flag symbolizes far more thanthe thirteen original colonies (stripes) and the states of the union (stars). It stands for home. It standsfor democracy. It stands for liberty, freedom, justice, religious tolerance. To one man it means merely hisfarm and his children. To another it means all the farms and all the children. To a third it means all thatlife holds which is dear. To others it means the hope of the world. Define it; say that it means only con-stitutional government, only an association of forty-eight states and under one president, legislature, ju-diciary, and it loses tremendously in value.

The Cross, now the symbol of Christianity the world over, was once a symbol of life; then it fell to thelow estate of being but a means of a tortured death. Now it means love and hope and mercy and the in-finite goodness of God; it means church and religion and faith and charity and all good works; it meanssalvation and heaven and the hereafter. And there will be many to testify that the more organized reli-gion attempts to define it, the less beautiful and the less emphatic are its teachings.

Thus the reason for illustrating our "system of morality" by symbols, rather then by definitions, maybe summed up; they symbol is as broad in meaning as the mind and heart which understand; the de-fined truth is no broader than its words. Freemasonry, universal in meaning and in content, can not beillustrated with anything less and still remain Freemasonry.

Seers seek for wisdom's flowers in the mind,And write of symbols many a learned tome.

(Grow roses still, though rooted in black loam);The mystic searches earth till eyes go blind

For soul of roses, yet what use to findA spirit penned within a catacomb?

Nay, all they learn is weightless as sea-foamThat drifts from wave to wave upon the wind,

In rushes Cap and Bells. How very drollThe ways of students and the foolish books!

He finds no secrets of Freemasons' artIn mind nor rose nor tomb nor musty scroll.

Where no wit is, where all loves are, he looksAnd reads their hidden meaning in his heart.

THINK YORK RITE THINK PETITIONYOUR BLUE LODGE BRETHREN ARE

WAITING TO FIND THE TRUE MASTER MASON WORD

Any York Rite or Blue Lodge Mason that wants to write a review (must beon a book or article related to Freemasonry), article, announce an event orreport on an event, please submit the same to daponte1@tampabay.rr.comor Ciceros@tampabay.rr.com . Please submit by the deadline (see page 2).

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Puzzle Answers on Page 47

Can You Solve The Puzzle?

41

To Be A FLORIDA YORK RITE MASON Reporter

Wanted 1 or 2 Reporters per GrandYork Rite District. Experience notneeded. All we ask is from theCompanion or Sir Knight is to beenergetic, creative and submit onor before the deadline an article ona local or district event or newswith pictures, if possible.

Be part of the team of The FloridaYork Rite Mason.

Those interested please submityour name, local York Rite Bodyand a picture by e-mail tooyrb@tampabay.rr.com or mail thesame to S.K. David A. Aponte 6620W. Constitution Lane Homosassa,FL 34448.

York Rite UniversitySeptember 28 - 30, 2007

Lake Mary Marriott - Lake Mary, FL

Tuition : $299 per couple $255 for a single

Includes : Two nights at the Lake Mary Marriott, Lunch and Banquet on Satur-day, Breakfast on Sunday

Events Begins at 6:00 PM Friday ends at Noon on Sunday.

Registration: Walter Hammond 904-866-8634 on or before September 14th.

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43

Calendar of Events

Ocala Council No. 22 Table Council

Ill. Master C. Alan Walls invites all Cryptic Masons to Ocala Council’s Semi-AnnualTable Council for an evening of good food, fellowship, toasting and songs. Our GuestSpeaker will be Right Ill. Dencel Smith, Deputy Grand Master. This will be an open TableCouncil to all Blue Lodge Masons and our Ladies. Proceeds of the Table Council willbenefit the Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation (CMMRF).

RSVP, with your check, payable to Ocala Council No. 22. Please return no later thanMonday, October 1st to allow the Country Club to prepare for our group Send to: AlanWalls, 12821 E. Big Buck Trail, Floral City, FL 34436. You may e-mail to get your nameon the list and pay at the door: E-Mail awalls37@netsignia.net.

Date: Wednesday, October 10, 2007Place The Country Club, Silver Spring Shores 565 Silver Rd. Ocala, FL 34472Club Phone: 352-687-3484Registration: 6:30 PMDinner: 7:00 PMCost per Person: Dinner - $30.00 A Toasting Glass may be purchased - $5.00 donation.

Super Excellent Master Degree

Date: October 20, 2007Place: Tuscan Lodge 320 So. Florida Ave. Bartow, FLTime: 7:30 PM

Candidate registration will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the rear of the dinningroom. BRING YOUR DUES CARD.

Dinner will be provided for a donation between 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

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Calendar of Events

45

Calendar of Events

Friday, September 14, 20078th District Belleview Lodge Belleview

Saturday, September 15, 20077th District Jacksonville YR Bodies Jacksonville

Friday, September 21, 200710th District Pensacola York Rite Center Pensacola

Saturday, September 22, 20079th District Harmony Lodge #3 Mariana

Friday, October 5, 20073rd District St. Petersburg Lodge St. Petersburg

Saturday, October 6, 20074th District Tuscan Lodge Bartow, FL

Friday, October 12, 20075th District Eustis Lodge Eustis, FL

Saturday, October 13, 20076th District Harbor City Lodge #31 MelbourneTable Council scheduled for 5:30 PM. Contact Eric Dean Hall (321-259-8527 or

Screeno@bellsoth.net). RSVP no later than Oct. 5, 2007. Dinner cost is a donation to C.M.M.R.F.

Friday, November 9, 20072nd District Tropical Lodge #56 Ft. Myers

Saturday, November 10, 20071st District Harmonia Lodge #138 W. Palm Beach

***FRIDAY NIGHT - REGISTRATION BEGINS AT 5:30 P.M. .****SATURDAY MORNING - REGISTRATION BEGINS AT 10:30 A.M. .

Grand Council and Grand Commandery District Meetings

Come out to your District Meetings and meet your Grand Line Officers. Your Dais Of-ficers and you can make a difference to better York Rite in Florida. Be active and par-ticipate. Your stated concerns and ideas will help upcoming officers plan for future years.

Monday Oct 8th, District #09, 7:30PM, Florida Chapter #1, Jackson LodgeTallahassee, Dinner 6:30PM, RSVP by Oct 3rd.

Tuesday Oct 9th, District #04, 7:30PM Lakeland-Winter Haven Chapter#29, Lakeland York Rite Temple, Lakeland

Thursday Oct 11th, District #07, 7:30PM, Jacksonville Chapter #12, McDuffAve, Jacksonville, Dinner 6:30PM

Thursday Nov 8th, District #05, 7:30PM, Eureka Chapter #7, Eola LodgeOrlando, Dinner 6:30PM – No Charge, Ladies Program

Monday Nov 12th, District #10, 7:00PM, Mount Horeb Chapter #6,York Rite Masonic Center, Pensacola

Monday Nov 19th, District #01, 7:30PM, Palm Beach Chapter #24,Harmonia Lodge, West Palm Beach, Dinner 6:30PM

Tuesday Nov 20th, District #08, 7:30PM< Gainesville Chapter #2,R.T. Schafer Lodge, Gainesville, Dinner 6:30PM

Wednesday Dec 5th, District #03, 7:30PM, Clearwater Chapter #45,Dunedin Masonic Lodge, Dunedin, Dinner 6:30PM

Thursday Dec 13th, District #06, 7:30PM, Melbourne Chapter #59, HarborCity Lodge, Melbourne

Saturday Feb 16th 2008, District #02, 1:00PM, Braidentown Lodge #99,Bradenton, Lunch 12:00 Noon,

SATURDAY FEB 16TH 2008, GRAND HIGH PRIEST HOMECOMING RECEPTION 5:00PM, DINNER 6:00PM - SARASOTA

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Calendar of Events

Grand Chapter District Meetings

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Calendar of Events

October the 13th RallyDamascus Commandery #2, K.T. invites you and your family to attend a Rally, Sat-

urday October 13, 2007 at noon beginning at the Old City Gates of St. Augustine to apoint outside of Castillo de San Marcos. We will display our support of our Troops . Wewill have a procession in uniform or civilian attire flying our Flag departing from the oldcity gates to a point outside of Castillo San Marcos.Once there, we will hold a brief cer-emony for all our Men an Women in th Armed Forces. We do have to emphasize thatthis event is a non-political activity.

Table Commandery

Honoring S.K. Robert “Bob” Burleson, REPGC

When: Thursday, September 2, 2007Where: EOLA Lodge Orlando, FL

Registration 6:30 PM Activity to follow afterwards.

Other Events

Red Cross of Constantine

St. Bernard De Calirvaux Conclave - Saturday, October 20, 2007San Carlos Conclave - Saturday, November 10, 2007

KYCHFlorida Priory #60, KYCH Saturday, October 27, 2007 - Lake City Lodge

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Answers to Trivia 1. Computer languages2. Phrenologist3. Korean4. Soil5. Walrus

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THE CRYPTIC FREEMASON

Name: ______________________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________

City: ________________________________ State: ______ Zip: ______________

Name: ______________________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________

City: ________________________________ State: ______ Zip: ______________

Name: ______________________________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________________________

City: ________________________________ State: ______ Zip: ______________

Here are two more forms for other Cryptic Masons who are interested.

The Cryptic Freemason is a publication of the General Grand Council of Royal & Se-lect Masters. It is published quarterly. It has very interesting articles and information.If you are interested in subscribing, the rates are as follows:

Domestic Rates:5 Years - $20.00 10 Years - $35.00 Life - $50.00

Foreign Rates (outside the USA):5 Years - $35.00 10 Years - $62.00 Life - $87.50

If you wish to subscribe, please fill out the form below and mail it to:

Ronald E. FullerloveGeneral Grand Recorder

P.O. Box 310Sherrard, IL 61281

Grand York Rite Bodies of Florida

The Florida York Rite Mason

The Florida York Rite Mason is electronically published quarterly by the Grand York Rite Com-munication Committee (Members: David A. Aponte, Chairman, Charles “Chic”Cicero and RonBlaisdell) for all York Rite Masons and Free Masons requesting it. If any Companion, Sir Knightor Brother Mason would like a copy delivered to their e-mail address, please send your requestto David A. Aponte or Charles C. Cicero. Copyright 2007

P.O. Box 292 Lecanto, FL 34460-0292

Remember You Are the Mirror of York Rite Masonry... Teach by Example

THINK YORK RITE THINK PETITIONYOUR BLUE LODGE BRETHREN ARE

WAITING TO FIND THE TRUE MASTER MASON WORD

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