ROJ Lunch Meeting

Today we had a lunch meeting at the Shrine which was mainly to discuss upcoming events and to have some fun and fellowship. The group was small in number but several who normally come were under the weather. We discussed our new member orientation and an upcoming meeting to bring in new members. Afterwards, I started the long track to Cleveland for an Inspection but quickly turned around and headed back home when I heard they were going to have a large snow accumulation tonight. I decided I would head down to Hamilton in my District for their Inspection. This, however, did not happen as a sat down to rest late in the afternoon and when I woke up it was already past time to leave.

Logan and Lancaster Chapter Inspections

Today was the Inspections in the Past Master and Most Excellent Master for Logan and Lancaster held at Lancaster Ohio. They had several candidates and REC Rod Carr was also present as he belongs to Logan Chapter. The keep the day moving and had lunch in between the degrees. I was glad they decided to start at 10AM since it made the drive over a little nicer (being a little later). As we were finishing the second degree I had to leave so I could get back in time for our GHP reception

3rd District Grand High Priest Reception

This year our District decided to step up the Grand High Priest Reception and they put in lots of extra effort to make it look and feel first class which I think they accomplished. We have a florist in our Chapter who provided some very nice flowers and a very nice dinner. We also promoted it better and had one of the best turnouts in several years. We also had some professional entertainment, which was covered by the District, as a Mark Twain performer did a presentation for us. MEC Steve Duncan and MEC George Shell, both from our District, were also present. I think our Grand High Priest Jeff Addis was impressed with the events of the evening.

Fish Fry and Hollywood Squares

We had a Fish Fry at Antioch to defray costs for the fuel for the units to attend Imperial session in Daytona Beach this summer. There was a good crowd present and all enjoyed a good meal. Afterwards, we headed upstairs for some fun playing our version of Hollywood Squares. The Past Potentates and their wives were the panel in the squares (wonder if they were trying to tell us something). We had a fun time as did the contestants.

Chagrin Falls Chapter #152 Inspection

My attempt at a selfie ...
guess I should stick to taking
pictures of others ... wait a
minute the lower bottom
right side part of the red
coat sleeve is mine!

Well I thought tonight almost wasn't going to happen. Let me explain...as I got around 10 minutes from the temple after nearly 4 hours on the road, the power went out at the location I was at and as I progressed towards the temple all power seemed to be out, until I got to the temple and the power was on, dodged a bullet there. I got upstairs for the Royal Arch degree and we went in and sat down for introductions and the power went off. As we proceeded through the introductions around 6 more times we lost power and it then came back on. The good part was we never lost power again as the Chapter proceeded right along with a very good Royal Arch degree on 5 candidates in a class named for MEC Jeff Addis. Our Grand High Priest Jeff Addis was present as were almost all of his appointed officers from the Cleveland area. As I started to head back the wind was still very bad and I knew I was in for a long ride home fighting to keep the car on the road.

WHAT A DAY

While not Masonic related, today was my daughter's 21st birthday. We arrived from our drive into Knoxville around 3:30 AM and caught a little sleep at her apartment before getting up at 6:30 AM to drive over to Nashville to pick up her boyfriend at the airport. Laura had requested to enjoy her 21st birthday in Nashville, so after picking him up, we headed down to Music Row in Nashville to spend the day and then leave in the morning to go back to Knoxville and then back home to Ohio. We started out the day at Merchant's Restaurant for lunch. This was a fantastic place and her boyfriend surprised her with an engagement ring (though the wedding will probably not happen until she finishes school). We then spent the afternoon going from bar to bar as she wanted to show off her license (along with her new ring) to prove she was 21. We then headed back to the hotel late in the afternoon to rest up a little and then went back to Music Row for dinner and some more proving she was 21. In all, it was a fun but exhausting day and I'm glad to be ready for some sleep.  

Reese #9 and Silver Trowel #141 Council Insp & SEM

Today was the all day degrees in the Royal Master, Select Master and Super Excellent Master degrees with the first two being their respective Inspections. Grand Conductor of Council RIC Mike Smith, Grand Fraternal Corespondent John Johnson and Ill Comp Ed Cole Grand Aide were present as was Grand Illustrious Master MIC Ed Herrick. MEC Steve Duncan did their make-up for them as he has been doing all week. They kept things moving fairly well as some were going to head up to the KYCH meeting today (I decided it was going to run it too close for me to go since I have a Red Cross of Constantine meeting this evening in Sidney).

Charlemagne Red Cross of Constantine

Sketch of castle

Tonight we had an enjoyable evening with the ladies as we met at the Great Castle in Sidney Ohio. It was a very nice catered meal in a great atmosphere and the evening ended with some music by a very talented piano player. Prior to our entertainment, we had a very short business meeting and introduced Past Grand Sovereign Burch Zehner who gave us some words of wisdom. We then started the travel done the road to Knoxville for our daughter's 21st birthday.

Mt. Moriah #230 Chapter Inspection

Today was the end of the chapter degrees in Dayton with the Royal Arch degree being done by Mt. Moriah Chapter.  They will get the Commandery Orders tomorrow and the Council degrees on Saturday. MEC George Shell and MEC Steve Duncan were both present along with PGC Burch Zehner who is also member of this Chapter. The class honoree MWB Kaylor was also present.

Victory Chapter #210 Inspection

Tonight was a little closer to home as I went to York Rite Week at the Dayton Temple. You can join all of the York Rite this week in Dayton. The honoree this week is MWB Doug Kaylor and he is also a member of Victory Chapter. (A little known fact is that in the 1990's MWB Kaylor was Adoniram in the Royal Master Degree at Adoniram Council). I normally don't comment on ritual work any more than what the DDGHP says, but tonight was an outstanding Most Excellent Master degree. There is actually a part to be sung in the MEM degree which most have never heard but as the HP EC Dan Frye sings in the Scottish Rite choir as a soloist, he sang the song and it was a magnificent addition to the degree. They also had PGM Neil Smalley and PGC Burch Zehner in attendance along with MEC Steve Duncan who is doing the make-up for this week.