Grand Commandery of Iowa Conclave

The 146th annual conclave of the Grand Commandery of Iowa will be held June 3,4,& 5th, 2010 at the Quality Inn and Suites in Ames, Iowa. Natalie and I invited and encourage all Sir Knights, friends and guests to attend.

Reservation information is on the website: www.knightstemplar.org/gckt/ia, or contact the Grand Recorder of Iowa or myself. Reservations must be made by Wednesday May 19th. Even if you cannot attend the entire conclave, we encourage you to come for some part of it...we are planning a great party!!....There will be two outstanding hospitality rooms around the pool, one including free "adult" beverages. Come and celebrate "Our Days of Glory"

Thursday will be the competition for Sir Knights in the afternoon. Dinner will be at 6:30 pm followed by the informal opening and memorial vespers service. The Retreat Ceremony will be at dusk, Iowa is the only Grand Commandery that conducts this impressive ceremony. It will be my pleasure to present streamers to the Commanderies carrying their beauscants in the retreat. Afterwards the hospitality rooms will be open for good fellowship and fun.

The ladies will have a nice lunch Friday at 11:30 am followed by a tour of Reiman Gardens in Ames. The tour is included with the lunch and charter bus transportation will be provided to and from the famous "butterfly" gardens.

Friday afternoon at 3:30 pm there will be an educational program on the Knights Templar open to all to attend.

Friday evening is the Grand Commander's Banquet. Of course there will be some introductions, comments, etc. There will be some special awards given people recognized, the menu includes the hotel's famous smoked pork loin which is a small smoked pork roast and it is good. We will try to keep the banquet short so that afterwards we can go to the courtyard and listen to the live bluegrass band which will play as long as we want to listen..the hospitably rooms will also be open.

Iowa's Grand Commandery is know for hospitably, and this year will be no exception. There will be special gifts given out and I even heard a member has donated a red chevy corvette to be given away.....must be present to win....

Natalie and I look forward to greeting our many friends and guests as this Templar year comes to a close.

I am still alive

Since my trip to Masonic week in DC I have actually been quite busy. Just haven't blogged about it, so here goes in short form.

Antioch Commandery in Mason City had a very good inspection and Order of the Temple for one candidate Wed Feb 18th. It is good to see some activity in this commandery. They also had a bake sale and raised $600 for the Eye Foundation. Well Done Sir Knights!
The next week my lodge had a second degree and I gave the middle chamber lecture.
Scottish Rite had a University of Freemasonry program very interesting about the dead sea scrolls.
Saturday Feb 27 began the first of four Grand Commandery Schools across Iowa. It was held in Waterloo, with a great attendance, at least 25 Sir Knights by my count.
My lodge had a third degree the next Tuesday which I put the cast together for. Many visiting brethren assisted.
Saturday the 6th was a very busy day. The morning was AMD and Knight masons followed by a fine lunch, then the Grand Commandery School in Des Moines. That evening I attended my friends reception as Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Iowa in Prairie City. The next day was to be a meeting of the Iowa York Rite Leadership group, but calendars prevented most from attending so it was canceled. To bad as this group is making some new ground in York Rite cooperation in Iowa.
The ninth I gave the middle chamber lecture at Auburn/Union Park Lodge in DSM.
Saturday the 13th was Grand Commandery School in Clinton, number of Sir Knights was down, but a good school with enough to cover all parts of the instruction.
The week of the 15th to the 20th I had meetings every night. The 18th was the DeMolay Legion of honor dinner, which I try never to miss. Last year I was Preceptor of this group, and my friend Charlie was this year. It was a nice evening. The 20th was the start of our Scottish Rite Reunion in DSM.
The Past week I have had meeting each night, mostly Scottish Rite practices. And am now in Fargo, North Dakota at their Grand York Rite Session.

More to follow.....

Masonic Week

Two weeks ago after 6 canceled flights I arrived in Alexandria Va for my first trip to "Masonic Week". I was a day and half late getting there because of the winter storms. Wow what a group of fine, dedicated, and knowledgeable masons. I really enjoyed see many friends and made many new ones.
One of many highlights was being installed as Chief of Great Chief's Council No. 0, Knight Masons. This came as a complete surprise.
The two most enjoyable events was the Order of the Scarlet Cord and the Operatives.
Many brothers from the U.K. came to confer these degrees and orders. I was very impressed with their ritual and the content of the message portrayed. The Scarlet Cord told much of the genealogy of King Solomon. Impressive.
The operatives are dedicated to preserving the art of the operative masons. They have three Grand Master Masons. The work was extensive and very complex with many many working tools and props. They consecrated three new Assemblages, making four in the United States.
It was a fun and educational week, although the weather was bad, masonic brotherhood prevailed and warmed my heart.

Educationall Foundation of the Grand Commandery of Iowa

Saturday I drove to Cedar Falls to meet with the Iowa Grand Commander's Educational Foundation. This foundation is in cooperation with the Grand Encampment. In the past their primary cause was student loans. Over the years they have made many loans to deserving Iowa Students. Last year three loans were made with one more being processed.

The ability to collect on some of the loans has been troublesome. The Foundation is considering giving scholarships also. I recommended that they start a scholarship program. They approved the idea and are going to start writing the details and structure for a scholarship program. The idea is that it will be a locally generated recipient. And the local Commnadery will receive credit for the scholarship and be responsible for selecting a recipient and making the presentation. Of course, not every Commandery will receive approval for their recipient. We are considering starting with just six scholarships, with one to be given to a Commandery in each district to award. I would welcome any comments on this new undertaking. I am proud the Grand Commandery is utilizing some of the funds of this foundation to help Iowa's students. Let me know what you think and if the Foundation is going in the right direction.

Ottumwa York Rite Festival

Yesterday, Saturday Jan. 23, the York Rite Bodies of Ottumwa held a York Rite Festival. It had been many, probably at least 10 years since their York Rite has had much activity. The York Rite College in cooperation with the Grand York Rite Bodies put together the degrees and orders for them.

My day started off around 5:30 when I picked dad up to go met Dave at the Wal Mart in Altoona. Dave and dad were going together to help with the festival. I would join them latter in the day. By seven I was at the Scottish Rite Temple helping get ready for the annual blue lodge officers free breakfast. The breakfast is free to all area masons, but more especially the local lodge officers. We fed approximately 100 masons. After breakfast there were some committee meetings. Then Rusty and Greg rode with me to Ottumwa. We got there just in time for lunch.

I was impressed with the crowd, and how everyone was working together. I didn't hear any arguments about how to do things as sometimes happens at a festival. Because of weather concerns a few cast members did not make the trip, but the parts were filled.

The Grand Commandery was responsible for the Commandery Degrees. The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross and The Order of Malta were conferred in short form to save some time. Two of the Grand Officers and I conducted the short forms. The Order of the Temple cast was filled with Grand Commandery Officers, Past Grand Commanders, and one past Grand Commandery Officer. Our Grand Generalissimo presided as Commander, while I was prelate. I thank all the participants who helped contribute to the success of the festival. Special thanks to our Grand Recorder, who hauled props and equipment from Burlington to Ottumwa and made sure everything for the Commandery was set up and working, thanks Willard. The ritual was very good. At the end of the long day 14 new Sir Knights and Companions were created. 12 of the new Sir Knights were for Malta Commandery No. 31 in Ottumwa. It was a productive day for Iowa York Rite Masonry.

I am very proud of the members of the Ottumwa York Rite. They took the initiative and assumed the leadership to see that their York Rite would not fade away. The "Grand" bodies didn't take over or make them do this. They wanted to. Because of that local commitment and leadership I look for the York Rite in Ottumwa to grow and become more active (as it was many years ago) in the future. I wish them success, and stand ready to assist them in any way possible.

Tis the Season

Tis the Season in Iowa. The weather is cold cold, the snow is pilled high, and installations are going on all around. Yes, tis the season to install the new officers and leaders of our local masonic orders and bodies.

I have attended only five of the sixteen or so lodge installations around Des Moines. I used to make more when serving as an officer. I had the great privilege of being Installing Master for Capital Lodge No. 110 and Gnemeth Lodge No. 577, and will be installing Lodgic Lodge No. 636. The public installation ceremony, while a bit dry, does explain to the officers and those in attendance the responsibilities of office. I enjoy several of the "admonitions" given. Like,

"The very conscientiousness of the possession of great authority will ever make a

generous man cautious and prudent in its exercise. To rule well has been the

fortune of few, and may well be the object of an honorable ambition. It is not

by the strong arm or iron will, that obedience and order, the chief objects of

good government are secured, but by holding the key to the hearts of men."

Last night my chauffeur John, did a wonderful job driving to and from Dubuque. John is a good friend and likes to drive and I really appreciate his willingness to escape from his home duties to drive the Grand Commander around the state. It was the installation of officers for Siloam Commandery No. 3 of Dubuque. As Grand Commander I was honored to conduct the installation. They served a wonderful meal and while it was zero outside, inside the warmth of masonic fellowship burned. Next week I will be installing the Commandery in Iowa City, and the week after that my home Commandery in Des Moines.

Tis the Season, for the change of the guard in our Commanderies. As Sir Knights across Iowa assume new offices, new responsibilities, may our Blessed Lord keep watch over them and protect them now and forevermore.

I extend to all new Eminent Commmanders, their officers, and members all the best for the coming year.

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009

Christmas Day I spent at the Jerry Marsengill Masonic Christmas Day Dinner. We had a snow storm on Christmas Eve, but the main roads were clear and people were moving about. As in years past I loaded up the van drivers and went out to Stew Hansen's Dodge to pick up the four vans they donated to haul people and dinners. We have radios donated to communicate with the office and the vans. Before the doors opened at 11 am we already had over 50 deliveries ordered. We thought it would be a very busy day. After that first rush the delivery orders slowed down, but several people came in for dinner. The cooks did an outstanding job, the turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie were delicious. Our number of volunteers was down (must have been the weather) but we still had plenty of help....no volunteers are turned away...and no person is turned away for a meal. Around noon the tables were full of volunteers and non volunteers (our guests, whether they be the homeless, lonely, or anyone else). The total number of meals served was down, but the spirit of Christmas was alive and well. Around 3 pm I helped take the vans back, full of fuel, and finished clean up. Brother Darrell Fremont and his wife Ann are taking over the dinner from Bud Erickson, Kris Erickson, and myself. They did a great job and I know they will improve the dinner next year.

The day after Christmas mom and dad came to our house.

They are pictured below with our two dogs, Lucy and Jenny.

We had our family Christmas and gift exchange.

I hope all our friends and loved ones had a blessed and merry Christmas.