Orange County Chapter - Royal Arch Masons No. 73 Orange County Council Cryptic Masons No. 14 Orange County Commandery - Knights Templar No.

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1 Volume CXXV, Issue 4 - April 2013 Celebrating 125 years of Excellence Orange County Chapter - Royal Arch Masons No. 73 Stated Convocation - DeMolay Center, Anaheim 7:00 PM; Third Monday (dark July and August) High Priest: Chuck Schubert (714) csschubert@live.com Inspector: Duane Nead ( dwnead@verizon.net Secretary: Mark Hoage (951) mshusaac@charter.net Orange County Council Cryptic Masons No. 14 Stated Assembly - DeMolay Center, Anaheim 8:15 PM; Third Monday (dark July and August) Illustrious Master: Jon-Paul Stone (949) jonpaul.stone@icloud.com Inspector: James Sunseri (714) jimsunseri@verizon.net Recorder: Mark Hoage (951) mshusaac@charter.net Orange County Commandery - Knights Templar No. 36 Stated Conclave - DeMolay Center, Anaheim 10 AM; Third Saturday (dark July and August) Eminent Commander: Steven M. Bass (949) begots@cox.net Inspector: Roger Ross rogesq25@sbcglobal.net Recorder: Mark Hoage (951) mshusaac@charter.net S.O.O.B. - Santa Ana Assembly No. 61 Stated Assembly - DeMolay Center, Anaheim 10 AM; Third Saturday (dark July and August) W.P.: (Mrs. W. Joe) Katie Ryland (626) jkryland@sbcglobal.net Recorder: (Mrs. Thomas) Lynda Derby (949) LDerbyHawk@aol.com

2 I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT ATTENDED the Mark Master s Degree on March 11th. It was so nice to see everyone working together and making this Degree a success again. We will be conferring it at least 2 more times this year. For those of you that haven t seen this Degree in sometime, I highly recommend that you make a point of reserving the time in the future. I would like to see the Degree conferred again around June, July or even in August. Remember, it is free to all Master Masons, therefore invite the Master Masons of your lodge to fill out an application and turn it into our Secretary. Don t forget, even though it is free, we still have to vote on the new people. Make sure we get a copy of a current dues card from the blue lodge. Please mark your calendars: This is a reminder to all, that our May Convocation will take place on May 13 at 7 PM, instead of May 20th because of the Grand Sessions taking place on May 20th. The Mark Master Degree was quite a late innovation making its appearance during the mid-1700 s, however we do know that Operative Masons were taking marks 150 years before the mark came into use as part of the ceremony. The Mark used in the Degree takes its name from the mark or symbol which the Stonemasons used to identify their own work, so that they may be entitled to receive wages or be responsible for identifying defective work. The Mark Degree teaches us how to be useful and judiciously employed for our own honor. The themes of the Mark Degree include regularity, diligence, discipline and justifiable, but humble pride in work well done. We should all strive to accomplish the same goal. I want to remind everyone that the Grand York Rite Sessions will take place in beautiful Bakersfield during the dates of May 20-22, It will be located at the Bakersfield Doubletree Hotel, 3100 Camino Del Rio Ct, Bakersfield, CA Make your reservations early. The Chapter meets on Monday, May 20th. At the April convocation, we will be accepting nominations for the position of treasurer for the Chapter. Chuck Schubert High Priest Orange County RA Chapter # 73

3 No article available. Jon-Paul A. Stone Illustrious Master Orange County Cryptic Council # 14 S ir Knights, This being the month of May, there is plenty of work to be done. I wish to congratulate our new Sir Knights that received their Orders last month. Welcome and hopefully we can fulfill what your desire leads you in York Rite Masonry. Remember, it is not what Masonry can do for you, it is what you can do for Freemasonry. There are plenty of avenues to travel upon, and many aspects to Freemasonry. We look forward to your participation. Fun things are happening, The IORC is reforming, let me know your desire to participate in this august Degree. Rose Ceremony, Sword presentations for the Youth Groups to name a few. We need your help to support our Youth, support our Chapter, Council and Commandery and support your Blue Lodge! Grand Sessions is this Month, the 18-22nd of May in Beautiful Downtown Bakersfield. I hope to see you there watch us continue to exemplify the C Team Drill Team competition with another Championship trophy under the direction of Drill Team Capt. SK Jim Sunseri, KYCH, PC, ADR Dept. 2 Div. C We would like to start planning a festive event. Let myself or 1 of the other Pedestal Officers know of your interest and ideas, we will need all the help we can muster.

4 There is plenty of open seats available at our Conclave meetings and we would like to see the Sir Knights attend as much as they can find the time. If you cannot attend, we would love to hear from you, let us know how you are doing, the highs and the lows. Be well, travel safely and I hope to see you soon! Sincerely and Fraternally, Steven M. Bass Eminent Commander Orange County Commandery # 36 Officers: ANNUAL INSPECTION This is a reminder that we have our annual inspection on April 20, 2013 for Orange County Commandery # 36. Please review the I sent (page 2 only) prior to attending the 9 AM practice. This is the most important meeting of the year and we will be deducted points for those of you that are absent. Therefore, please make every attempt to attend as possible. Call the Commander if you are to be absent as soon as possible prior to the meeting. Chuck Schubert Officers Coach

5 April Birthdays 2nd - Russell Hennings 3rd - William Mills 3rd - Mary Hunter 4th - Matthew Williamson 5th - David Kussman 7th - Ruth Purdy 8th - Eugene Jumper 10th - Carlito Lesigues 12th - John Cafferty 13th - Ronald Smith 13th - John Bitar 14th - George Morton 14th - Lawrence Morris 17th - Rose May May 18th - Meyer Goetz 19th - Fred McCuistion 26th - Bernard Truax III

6 D ear Sisters, A reminder that our reciprocity is planned for April 20, This as you know is an opportunity to enjoy a meeting and fellowship with all of the Beauceant sisters in the area. We will also be recognizing Mrs. Robert Gannaway, Supreme Chaplain, Mrs. Robert C. Coe, Supreme Inner Guard, and Mrs. James Burkett, member of the Examining Committee of the Supreme Assembly, Social Order of the Beauceant for their service to the Order in these appointed positions. The theme for the reciprocity is April Showers. I have been asked what one should wear wear whatever the theme makes you think of. We will not robe for the meeting. Perhaps I should come up with a prize for the most innovative outfit?? Beauceant love, Katie (Mrs. W. Joe) Katie Ryland, PSWP Worthy President Orange Coast AMD Council #162 Our next Quarterly meeting will take place on June 15, 2013, following Orange County Commandery No. 36 Stated Conclave at 1:00 P.M. Wayne Caverly Sovereign Master

7 Garden Grove AMD Council # 465 Garden Grove Council # 465 will have its next meeting on June 8, 2012, at 7 P.M. at the Garden Grove Masonic Lodge. If you are unable to make the meeting, please contact me at mpg1022@aol.com Peter Goetz Sovereign Master April 15th April Events 6:15pm: Fellowship Meal ($7.00) 7:00pm: Orange County Royal Arch Chapter #73 - Nominations for Treasurer 8:15pm: Orange County Cryptic Council #14 April 20th 10:00am: Orange County Commandery #36 (9:00am Practice, 10:00am Start) - Annual Inspection 10:00am: Santa Ana Assembly No. 61 Social Order Of The Beauceant - Reciprocity (theme: "April Showers") May Events May 13th *** DATE CHANGED DUE TO GRAND SESSIONS *** 6:15pm: Fellowship Meal ($7.00) 7:00pm: Orange County Royal Arch Chapter #73 8:15pm: Orange County Cryptic Council #14 May 20th - 22nd Grand Sessions in Bakersfield. Hotel reservations available at the Bakersfield Doubletree Hotel, 3100 Camino Del Rio Ct, Bakersfield, CA Make your reservations early!

8 W ELCOME TO April! A quick reminder to the Heads of Bodies that articles for the March York Rite Newsletter are due by May 1, This month's newsletter is a little behind, and I blame myself; perhaps I shouldn't have said article were due on April Fools Day! I know our lives can get a little hectic at times, but writing a short article can be done in an afternoon. If any other member would like to submit an article for publication, please make sure you get them to me by the submission deadline above. Articles should be ed to: meat@cobratrader.com. This newsletter and the York Rite are only as good as you make it, so get involved! Shawn Bell Editor, York Rite Newsletter MASONIC KNIGHTS TEMPLAR SUBMITTED BY SIR KNIGHT STEVE BASS T HE HISTORY OF THE MASONIC KNIGHTS TEMPLAR, is very different than the historical Knights Templar. Some of these myths trace the Freemasons back to the Knight Templars of old. Most reliable authorities concur in judgment that Masonic Templary, as recognized in the 18th and 19th centuries, is not historically connected with or lineally descended from the chivalric orders of the Crusades. A truer theory, is to credit the whole system of Masonic Templarism to the inventive genius of the ritual makers of the 18th century. We recognize that tradition must yield to history. Masonic Templarism began in the mid-18th century. The earliest record of Templarism in England comes from a Royal Arch Chapter, whose minutes say they were permitted in 1778 to make Knight Templars. The

9 Grand Lodge of the Antients in England permitted its Lodges to confer degrees beyond the three we know namely the Royal Arch, Knight Templar and Rose Croix (AASR). Templarism was first introduced in the Masonic lodges known as the Ancients under the Duke of Atholl, who was also Grand Master of Scotland, in the 18th century, and that about 1780 the Templar Degree was merged into the Masonic system, following the Royal Arch in the sequence of additional degrees and encampments of the Order were during that period formed at London, York, Bristol, and Salisbury, more or less intimately connected with Craft Masonry. The English Freemason, William Preston ( ), was one of the first Masonic authors to refer to the Knights Templar. It was not until the early 1700 s that documents began to draw connections between the Masons and the Templars. It was James Anderson s Constitutions, published in 1723 in London, that alluded to the idea that Orders of warlike knights borrowed many of the Masons usages. An interesting item appears in the proceedings of the Great Priory of England and Wales for the year 1941 that on 2o June, 1791, in London, was held the first general representative meeting of Masonic Knights Templar of England. The great English Masonic author and scholar, James Hughan ( ), makes the positive statement that the first authentic record of the conferring of the Order in America is found in the minutes of St. Andrews Royal Arch Lodge in Boston under date August 28, 1769, where we read that "the petition of Bro. William Davis coming before the lodge begging to have and receive the parts belonging to a Royal Arch Mason, which being read, was received and he unanimously voted in, and was accordingly made by receiving the four steps, that of Excellent, Super- Excellent, Royal Arch, and Knight Templar." Thus the first American to be created a Knight Templar was William Davis, he was a close friend of Joseph Warren and Paul Revere. Warren and Revere were the 2nd and 3rd men to be made Knights Templar in America. The records of this same St. Andrews Royal Arch Chapter show that in December, 1769, "the petition of Bro. Paul Revere coming before the lodge begging to become an Arch Mason, it was received and he was unanimously accepted and accordingly made." He subsequently became in the same body a Knight Templar. In 1770 it was voted "that the M. M. Joseph Warren, Esq., should be made a Royal Arch Mason this evening, and he was accordingly made, gratis."

10 Thomas Smith Webb ( ), founder of St. John's Encampment in Providence, R.I. was Deputy Grand Master from 1816 until his death in 1819, of the General Grand Encampment of the United States. He was the author of several successive editions of The Free Mason's Monitor, and was an organizer of great ability. Held as a Masonic ritualist he has been said to have invented the American system of Templary, and there is no doubt that he, along with Henry Fowle, is responsible for the present impressive ceremonies, not only of the Templar Order but, in a large measure, of Craft Masonry and the Royal Arch system. He died suddenly July 6, 1819, while on a visit to Cleveland, Ohio. Henry Fowle ( ), first Sovereign Master of Boston Encampment of Red Cross Knights and Grand Master of that Encampment when it was reorganized as a Templar body in 1806, was named Grand Generalissimo of the General Grand Encampment at its organization in 1816, and was elected Deputy Grand Master at the Triennial Conclave in Sir Knight Fowle was a member of St. Andrew's Chapter of Boston, where he received the Knight Templar degree on the January 28, He was a great friend of Webb, and a ritualist of a very high order. He was a well known lecturer and his powers of organization made him, when working in conjunction with Webb, a potent factor in all branches of Masonic work. To the efforts of these two men is due the organization of what is known as our present governing body. DeWitt Clinton ( ), was born at Little Britain, New York, and was the father of the Great Canal System of the Empire State, served as its Governor, having resigned a seat in the United States Senate for the purpose, was in 1812 a candidate against James Madison for President of the United States. He was Grand Master of Masons of New York from 1806 to 1819, was selected first Grand Master of the General Grand Encampment of the United States in 1816, and served as such until his death on February 11, He devoted a busy and useful life to the service of his community and to an Order which he considered as wielding a great influence for good in the government, both of his state and country. He was at the head of the Order during the early days of the unfortunate Morgan Affair, and did much by his influence to alleviate the disastrous conditions which resulted therefrom. He was a lawyer, a statesman, and a patriot, and with Webb and Fowle formed a combination to which is largely due the present status of Templarism in the United States. In 1816, Webb and Fowle organized what is today the Grand Encampment Knights Templar of the United States of America and

11 adopted a constitution, carefully prepared by Webb, which remained essentially unchanged until They wisely subordinating themselves to Governor DeWitt Clinton, whose civil position, along with his Masonic record and his powerful influence rendered him eminently fit to act as Grand Master of the organization. With the founding of the Grand Encampment of the United States in 1816 this introduced the peculiar way American Knight Templars dress and act. Early Templars wore capes and sashes, but after the Civil War, a great wave of fraternal excitement arose here, along with an interest in marching in military formations. This was not just true for the Templars, but also for the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of Pythias, the Grand Army of the Republic, and scores of other groups. The cookie cutter uniforms and regalia were a direct result of the influence of the regalia companies of the time. This phenomenon was unique to the United States. In 1890, the Grand Master of the Canadian Templars wrote: Imitation military displays and processions of the Knight Templar body, so much indulged in on this Continent, quite unknown in the British Empire, are out of place, although harmless in themselves. They are entirely opposed to the true meaning and object of Christian Templary, entailing a great and unnecessary expenditure, and serving no other purpose but to pander the vainglory and self-gratification of the members who take part in them. Are all the poor and needy in the land provided for? Are there no more hospitals and schools required, to which the great outlay at those gatherings might and could be legitimately applied, instead of wasting the means in idle shows?" While we admire and model ourselves on the Order of old, the original Knights Templar only survived for 194 years. The Masonic Knights Templar have struggled and survived for over two centuries. It is no little irony that chivalric masonry began with stories of Templars dressed as Masons, which resulted in a large number of Masons returning the favour by dressing up as Templars. But since we are dressed up as Templars, whether in the mantle and chapeau of the United Kingdom and Canada or the Civil War uniforms of our American Fratres, let us pay honor and respect to the men who once took great pride in wearing them. IHSV

12 ORANGE COUNTY YORK RITE NEWS c/o Mark Hoage 303 W. Lincoln Ave. Anaheim, CA TIME DATED MATERIAL RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED