King's Dinner

Each year the 3rd District holds a King's Dinner and if he desires the Grand King can come and present his program or if he wants just come and meet the High Priests of the district. This year Keith O'Dell chose to present his program and so tonight in Middletown we got to be the second group to hear about his program for next year. He also brought with him one of his Aides for the year and the person being supported to start in the Grand Chapter Line. We had all three PGHPs from our District MEC Jerry Crawford, MEC Steve Duncan and MEC George Shell. Most of the High Priests were present as were some of the PDDGHPs from the District along with the current officers.

Corwin-Webb #205 Chapter Inspection

Tonight was the final Inspection of the year for the 16th District in Brecksville near Cleveland in the Royal Arch degree. There were two Past Grand High Priests present MEC Robert Draye and MEC Robert Crabbs. In addition, from the Grand Chapter line REC Robert Blankenhorn, Grand Scribe and REC Jeff Addis, Grand Captain of the Host were present along with many Past District Deputy Grand High Priests of the 16th District. This was also the last Inspection where REC Robert Berteau will be a sitting District Deputy Grand High Priest as he will be retiring at Grand Chapter this year having served 3 full years. The Chapter did a nice job on the ritual work for the evening.

Dedication at Ohio Masonic Home

Today was an important day for the Masons of Ohio at the Ohio Mason Home. While the Chapter first was able to get the Ohio Masonic Home started in 1892 for our first resident, today all Masons in every branch contribute and were present for the ground breaking ceremony for the new Wing at the Ohio Masonic Home. The best part is the board is taking the lead in this important effort to ensure our Home's success and future for the next 100+ years. The weather was great and the choir from the Ohio Masonic Home sounded fantastic as they started the day off right. After the posting of colors by the Commandery and the comments by the CEO Bro. Tom Stofac, President of the Trustees MWB Terry Posey, the Springfield Government officials and our Grand Master MWB Norm Mick; the day was concluded by the turning of the dirt for the start of the process to build the new facility. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed refreshments to celebrate a great day in the history of Ohio Masonry and a promise by the Masons of Ohio to always keep their obligations.

6th District Grand High Priest Reception

After the Ohio Masonic Home event today, several travelled over the New Carlisle for the Grand King's Program, District Meeting and Grand High Priest Reception in the 6th District. The afternoon started with the Grand King presenting his program. Next the 6th District held a short District Meeting and to end the day they held their Grand High Priest Reception. All three of the top Grand Chapter Officers: MEC Bob Thomas, REC Keith O'Dell, and REC Bob Blankenhorn were present along with their wives. There were several other dignitaries present at the event with one of those being Past Grand High Priest Bill Berry. It was a good meal and then they presented some awards after which the Grand High Priest spoke. We were out of there at a reasonably early time which was good since the Grand High Priest had at least a four hour drive home and after being in Mansfield Friday, Cleveland and Cincinnati Saturday as well as Springfield and New Carlise today; I'm sure he was ready to head home for some rest.

 

Antioch Potentate's Ball

Tonight was the Potentate's Ball for Antioch Shrine and our Potentate this year is Scott Lipps who is a Past High Priest and Past Master at my Lodge. We both served together in Blue Lodge line as well as the Shrine line. The difference was I worked for him as the presiding officer in Lodge and he got to work for me as the presiding office in Shrine. It was a nice affair with over 200 in attendance.You started off by coming down the red carpet with the Paparazzi greeting you. There were appetizer, drinks and pictures for everyone. They then did the normal introductions and at the end named an Antioch Patient Ambassador for the hospital and crowned her. After that the Shrine Awards (just as at the Oscars) were presented. We had a good dinner and dancing followed. It was a nice night and every Shrine got their very own Oscar to take home with them.

Grand High Priest Reception 10th District

Tonight was the Grand High Priest Reception in the 10th District in Mansfield. This is the home District of Past Grand High Priest Robert Crabbs and Grand Scribe Robert Blankenhorn. Our Grand High Priest Robert Thomas was also of course present. The meal was fantastic and they really had a nice turnout from all of the Chapters in the 10th District. We had Prime Rib, Chicken and Shrimp along with homemade bread and several sides in addition to a nice salad bar and dessert. In talking with our Grand high Priest this is definitely a busy weekend as tomorrow he will head to Cleveland for the Scottish Rite Class in his honor and then to Cincinnati for their Grand High Priest Reception in the 4th District. Sunday we will be together at several activities scattered around the Springfield area which I will report on as they come up.

Miami Valley York Rite College

Tonight was our annual meeting and Installation of new officers. Our York Rite College has many members who are actively involved in all branches of the York Rite and do parts for them on a regular basis as well. Our Grand Master, MWB Norm Mick is an officer. The Deputy Grand Illustrious Master, Lynn Alexander, is a past Governor and the Deputy Grand Commander, Tom Gault is also an active member. I moved up to the Seneschal position tonight representing the Grand Chapter. We also have as officers Past Grand Commander Richard Holcombe, Grand Standard Bearer Marty Trent and 3rd Arch Inspector Mike Smith. Our College since its' inception has had officers from all the York Rite Grand Bodies with some of our other Past Governors being Past Grand Master Mike Himes, Past Grand High Priest's Steve Duncan and Kermit Zimmerman, Past Grand Illustrious Master Bobbie Campbell and Beecher Vaughn and Past Grand Commander Burch Zehner. But while it may seem as being a Grand Officer is a requirement to be an officer, we have also had many PDDGMs, PDDGHPs, PDDCs serve as officer and our outgoing Governor was PDDGHP Hank Dodson and the current Governor is now PDDGHP/PDDC Robert Oldfather. As you can see our goal is to get workers from all the York Rite to make up our officer line.

Shrine Greeters Meeting

Hopefully, I'm getting back into the swing of things (though I still think that 4 letter word WORK is going to get in the way over the next few weeks) and I attended the monthly meeting of the Greeters. This is a very active Unit in the Shrine and has produced many leaders at Antioch and is almost always among the leaders whenever activities are involved. Tonight they recognized the Past Presidents and really had a great turnout. They also had a great turnout of members as the Unit has around 35 members and last night all were either present or excused and I think there were only 5 in the excused category. When is the last time you could say a group basically had 100% attendance!

Happy Easter

While I originally planned Holy Week to be a light schedule of activities this week, I really did have a few activities planned but unfortunately work decided to call meetings almost every night this week which changed any plans I might have thought that I had planned. And I'm not so sure that over the next month I might not have several more times where work changes my plans since we are in the middle of a critical project with a tight schedule. I am hoping though that winter is now behind us and Easter marks the beginning of a busy but productive spring.

Final Mark Master One Day Class Numbers

Since the last Grand Master's class wasn't held until yesterday, I needed to wait to get a final count. I must also say that I think there are possibly several more that couldn't stay but signed up directly with a Chapter to join. In addition, I heard of numerous requests from Lodges to put on the Peculiar Stone Skit at a meeting as a Lodge Education program. Personally, I think the creation of 25 Peculiar Stone Skit teams may be a bigger benefit to Royal Arch Masonry and the York Rite than the numbers I am going to provide. If you see Most Worshipful Brother Norm Mick please thank him for the opportunity he gave to the York Rite. That being said here are some of the statistics. All but one District had at least one candidate for the Mark Master Degree and the District which had none is the smallest Masonic District in Ohio and had a total of 14 in the Grand Master Class. I should also note that several who joined Lodge in that District did indicate they may be interested in the near future to join. We also had 26 candidates who pre-signed up for local Festivals to receive all the York Rite Degrees. One Capitular District signed up 25 new members for their District and another Capitular District 21 new members. One Masonic District was able to have 17 who signed up to join Chapter. One person who joined Chapter was already a member of Lodge (an officer at that) but comes from a Lodge which really doesn't want their members to join any body except Lodge. He was so impressed with the Peculiar Stone Skit that he chose to join. In total, we signed up 166 persons to receive their Mark Master degree. We did have some logistical issues which hurt the totals in some Districts and in some Districts the candidates who received their Master Mason where released prior to viewing the Peculiar Stone Skit but in those areas we are going to try to follow up in the near future with those who joined in the Grand Master's Class. Now the work really begins to impress those new Mark Master's to go farther in their Masonic journey and most of all to get active in Chapter.