Temple No. 4 Inspection

What a night. Last evening Temple Commandery No. 4 in Des Moines held its annual inspection.
The Sir Knights did an outstanding job opening the commandery, even better than their first place finish at the competition at Grand Commandery. It was touching to be received as Grand Commander in my home commandery under an arch of steel for the first time.

S.K. Rust did an outstanding job as the commander for the Order of the Temple, it was his first time doing the entire part. The other officers did good also, but I tend to expect perfection, so more practice is due for them.

Inspections and our ritual and tactics are important. The ritual is how we communicate our legends, our history, our teachings. To impress the candidate is our ultimate goal. To inspire within him something new, something worth being a part of. As a Christian Order this inspiration has even greater meaning. It reminds me of a song I heard today, "Everybody wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die." Let our teachings remind each of us that we are born to die, and the wisest noeth not how soon, but our labors while here on earth are worthy of favor in the life to come, with our blessed Saviour.
Peace be with thee.