PROCEEDINGS OF THE One Hundred and Sixty-Eighth (168 th ) Annual Convocation OF THE Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Louisiana

Transcription

1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE One Hundred and Sixty-Eighth (168 th ) Annual Convocation OF THE Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Louisiana One Hundred and Sixtieth (160 th ) Annual Assembly OF THE Grand Council Cryptic Masons of Louisiana Baton Rouge, Louisiana March 12 th through 15 th 2015

2

3 Table of Contents GRAND CHAPTER OF ROYAL ARCH MASONS OF LOUISIANA... 1 ELECTED OFFICERS... 1 APPOINTED OFFICERS... 1 Most Excellent Grand High Priest Elected Grand Officers Elected and Appointed Grand Officers... 3 Report of the Grand High Priest... 4 Budget Proposal Distributions Committee Report PERPETUAL MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT... 1 Philanthropies Committee Report... 2 Grand Chapter Resolution GRAND COUNCIL OF CRYPTIC MASONS OF LOUISIANA... 4 ELECTED OFFICERS... 4 APPOINTED OFFICERS... 4 Most Illustrious Grand Master Elected Grand Officers Elected and Appointed Grand Officers... 7 Report of the Illustrious Grand Master... 8 Grand Recorder s Report Budget Proposal Appeals & Grievances PERPETUAL MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT... 1 Grand Council Chapter Foundation of Louisiana... 2 GRAND CHAPTER / COUNCIL MASONIC FOUNDATION OF LOUISIANA... 3 AUDIT REPORT Work and Education... 6 York Rite Awareness Committee Report Grand Council Resolution Order of the High Priesthood Order of the Silver Trowel... 17

4 GRAND CHAPTER OF ROYAL ARCH MASONS OF LOUISIANA ELECTED OFFICERS Gerald H. Houston... M. E. Grand High Priest 426 Greenbriar Street, Deridder, LA (337) Vernon R. Atkinson... R. E. Grand King PO Box 1133, Glenmora, LA (318) John E. Vines, II.... R. E. Grand Scribe 478 Smalling Road, Rayville, LA (318) Timothy J. Riley, Jr.... R. E. Grand Captain of the Host 301 Whispering Pine Drive, Haughton, LA (318) Harold H. Young, PGHP... R. E. Grand Treasurer 214 Helen Street, Apt. 4, Westlake, LA (337) Timothy J. Riley, Sr, PGHP R. E. Grand Secretary 171 Beckhams Camp Rd, Ringgold (318) APPOINTED OFFICERS Nicholas Auck... E. Grand Principal Sojourner Highway 196, Fouke, AR Charles R. Bertrand.... E. Grand Royal Arch Captain 2004 Ruby Drive, Houma, LA Glenn D. Bledsoe... E. Grand Master of the 3 rd Veil 1607 Lisa Lane, Oakdale, LA Eddie A. LeBeouf, III... E. Grand Master of the 2 nd Veil 448 Bayou Folse Road, Raceland, LA Johnny C. Byrd... E. Grand Master of the 1 st Veil 51 Sterling Ranch Road South, Haughton, LA W. A. Morris... E. Grand Chaplin 3904 Castle Road, Alexandria, LA Finly S. Stanly, PGHP... E. Grand Lecturer P.O. Box 1423, Leesville, LA Justin Keith Gates... E. Grand Organist 168 Gates Road, Goldonna, LA Clyde Fletcher... E. Grand Sentinel 169 Boyd Road, Leesville, LA Richard L. James, PGHP...E. Grand Photographer 163 L E Phillips Road, Eros Vernon R. Atkinson...E. Grand Photographer PO Box 1133, Glenmora, LA

5 Gerald H. Houston Most Excellent Grand High Priest Presiding

6 Elected Grand Officers L/R Timothy J. Riley, Sr., PIGM, Right Excellent Grand Secretary; Timothy J. Riley, Jr., Right Excellent Captain of the Host; Gerald H. Houston, Most Excellent Grand High Priest; Vernon R. Atkinson, Right Excellent Grand King Elected and Appointed Grand Officers

7 Report of the Grand High Priest Distinguished General Grand Chapter Officers, and my fellow Companions, I welcome you to Baton Rouge and this 168 th Annual Grand Convocation of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Louisiana. I not only wish to welcome you but to thank you for attending and supporting our Grand Chapter with your presence and your participation. A special thank you goes to Companion and Illustrious Grand Master Carl Jackson and his arrangements committee for the preparatory and hard work to make this Grand Session possible. As you have noted in the schedule, there is little spare time, so please make every effort to be at the appointed places on time as we cannot let one event delay the remainder of the schedule. As I reflect on the past year, I am reminded of how Charles Dickens began his Tale of Two Cities, It was the best of times; it was the worst of times Fortunately the best has far out-weighed the worst and the blessings I have received from this experience are the most rewarding of any position I have ever held. I have witnessed the loss of a chapter through a merger, but have also witnessed the resurrection and growth of several Chapters that have struggled for long periods but failing to get adequate quorums, rising like the fabled Phoenix from apparent ashes. I have enjoyed travel across the State and visiting with Companions in their Chapter meetings as well as our several festivals. I have been treated with an outpouring of hospitality that has rendered me thankful and humble. I extend to each and every one of you, my thanks for this opportunity to have served this Grand Chapter. May God richly bless each of you. Humbly Submitted, Gerald H. Houston Grand High Priest MERGER: Columbia Chapter and Monroe Chapter 18 with Monroe Chapter 18 surviving BY-LAWS APPROVED: Monroe 18 Coushatta 102 DISPENSATIONS APPROVED: Hines 54 to move the charter from Deridder Lodge to Old Magnolia Lodge (Ragley) Lake Charles to change meeting date to Vernon 51 to change meeting date to 1st Monday VISITATIONS and ACTIVITIES: April st Rosepine Lodge 290 3rd Monroe Scottish Rite 4th Beauregard-Anderson 5 th Esther OES initiation 6 th Heroes of 76 (1776) 7 th Rhodes Cmdry 17 8 th Friendship 210 OES 9 th Abe Hinson Lodge th Trinity Cmdry MS OES Grand Chapter 15 th Vernon/Fullerton 16 th L/C Scottish Rite 17 th Monroe Scottish Rite 21 st Monroe Scottish Rite 22 nd Electa 10

8 23 rd Abe Hinson Lodge th Pickering Lodge 26 th Monroe Scottish Rite 27 th Wesley UMC (Lay Speaking) 30 th L/C KCCH Dinner May st Scottish Rite Meeting 2 nd National Sojourners 3 rd WGM OES Homecoming 5 th Rhodes Cmdry 17 6 th Rosepine Lodge 7 th York Rite Bodies 8 th Pinehurst OES 10 th OES School D7 12 th Rosepine OES 13 th Friendship OES 14 th Abe Hinson Lodge 15 th Esther OES 17 th York Rite College th KYCH Priory th OES School D12 19 th S/R Advisory Council 20 th Chapter/Council 21 st S/R Advisory Council 21 st Scottish Rite Meeting 23 rd OES School D8 24 th OES School D10 27 th Electa 10 OES 28 th Abe Hinson Lodge 29 th Coushatta York Rite 31 st LA/MS York Rite Festival June nd Rhodes Commandry 3 rd Rosepine Lodge 4 th Lafayette York Rite 5 th Monroe Scottish Rite 6 th B-A 530 National Sojourners 7 th LA/MS OES Exchange 9 th Rosepine OES 10 th Friendship OES 11 th Abe Hinson Lodge 12 th Allen OES 110 Birthday 14 th Red Cross of Constantine 14 th OES Official Visit Dist th IORG Grand Assembly National Sojourner Conv 19 th Esther OES 20 th OES Official Visit Dist st OES Official Visit Dist th Electa OES 25 th Abe Hinson Lodge Watermelon Festival 28 th OES School Instruction July st Rosepine Lodge (FC Degree) 3 rd Monroe Scottish Rite 4 th DeMolay State Conclave 5 th Old Magnolia Lodge 7 th Rhodes Commandry 8 th Friendship OES 9 th Abe Hinson Lodge th Multi-State Exchange 14 th Rosepine OES 15 th Vernon Chapter 15 th Fullerton Council 16 th Advisory Council S/R 16 th KCCH meeting 16 th Scottish Rite (Flag Pgm) 17 th Mystic Star OES Visit 18 th OES Official Visit Dist th OES Official Visit Dist st Advisory Council S/R 23 rd Abe Hinson Lodge 26 th York Rite Festival 30 th KCCH Dinner 31 st Coushatta Chapter August National Sojourners 4 Rhodes Comdry 17 5 Rosepine Lodge 6 Lafayette York Rite 7 Scottish Rite 11 Rosepine OES 12 Friendship OES 13 Abe Hinson Lodge 14 Pinehurst OES 19 Chapter/Council 20 Scottish Rite 21 Esther OES 26 Electa OES 27 Abe Hinson Lodge September st Rhodes Cmdry 2 nd Rosepine Lodge 3 rd Lafayette York Rite 4 th Scottish Rite

9 5 th National Sojourners 8 th Rosepine OES 9 th Friendship OES 10 th Abe Hinson Lodge 11 th Pinehurst OES 16 th Chapter/Council 23 rd Electa OES 24 th Abe Hinson Lodge(FC) 25 th Scottish Rite 26 th OES OV Dist 2 27 th OES OV Dist 1 28 th Dist 10 Open Air October st Lafayette York Rite 2 nd Scottish Rite 3 rd OES OV Dist 6 4 th OES OV Dist 8 6 th Rhodes Cmdry 7 th Rosepine Lodge 8 th Abe Hinson Lodge 9 th Pinehurst OES 10 th Scottish Rite Rehearsal 11 th Scottish Rite Reunion 11 th OES OV Dist 4 12 th Dist 8 Lodge 13 th Rosepine OES 14 th H & I Awards 15 th Scottish Rite 16 th Esther OES 18 th OES Dinner/Auction TX Grand York Rite 21 st Leesville Chapter/Council 22 nd Abe Hinson 24 th OES OV Dist 9 28 th Electa OES 29 th KCCH Dinner 30 th Coushatta York Rite November st Red Cross Constantine 1 st OES OV Dist 18 3 rd York Bodies 4 th Lodge BBQ 4 th Rosepine Lodge 6 th Scottish Rite 7 th S/R Ldr Meeting 7 th National Sojourners 8 th OES OV Dist th Gardner Lodge 11 th Friendship OES 12 th Abe Hinson Lodge 13 th Pinehurst OES 15 th York Rite College 15 th Y/R Past Grands 17 th Merryville Lodge 18 th Pricilla OES 19 th Scottish Rite 20 th Esther OES 22 nd Y/R Festival 25 th Electa th Abe Hinson Lodge December st Leesville York Rite Bodies 2 nd Rosepine Lodge 3-5 th AR OES Grand Session 6 th OES Cancer Lunch 8 th Rosepine OES 9 th Electa 10 OES 10 th Abe Hinson Lodge 11 th Pinehurst OES 17 th Scottish Rite January nd National Sojourners 3 rd Red Cross Constantine 5 th Leesville York Rite Bodies 6 th Rosepine Lodge 8 th Pinehurst OES th Cruise with LA OES 20 th Merryville OES 21 st LC Scottish Rite 23 rd Glenmora Installation 24 th Pancake Breakfast Baton Rouge 24 th Fraternal Relations Day Baton Rouge 26 th SW Shrine Club 27 th Electa OES 28 th EA - Rosepine Lodge st Grand Lodge Session February st Grand Lodge Session 2 nd Leesville York Rite 3 rd Rosepine Lodge 5 th Monroe S/R Advisory Council 5 th Scottish Rite 6 th National Sojourners

10 Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their county. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.

11 ASSETS Current Assets Checking/Savings Dec 31, 14 Dec 31, 13 $ Change % Change Capital One , % Wells Fargo Advisors Cash & Sweeps % Mutual Funds Bond Fund of America Class C 100, , , % Capital Income Bldr Class A 28, , , % Capital Income Bldr Class C 78, , , % Income Fund Amer Inc Class C 84, , % Income Fund of Amer Inc Class A 37, , , % Total Mutual Funds 329, , , % Wells Fargo Advisors - Other % Total Wells Fargo Advisors 329, , , % Total Checking/Savings 329, , , % Accounts Receivable Accounts Receivable % Total Accounts Receivable % Total Current Assets 330, , , % Fixed Assets Furniture and Equipment 10, , % Total Fixed Assets 10, , % TOTAL ASSETS 341, , , % LIABILITIES & EQUITY Liabilities Current Liabilities Accounts Payable Accounts Payable % Total Accounts Payable % Other Current Liabilities Payroll Liabilities Company Medicare % Company Social Secuity % Employee Medicare % Employee SS % Federal Withholding % FUTA Liabitity %

12 State Withholding % SUTA % Total Payroll Liabilities % Total Other Current Liabilities % Total Current Liabilities % Long Term Liabilities Other Liabilities % Total Long Term Liabilities % Total Liabilities % Equity Opening Balance Equity 289, , % Unrestricted Net Assets 39, , , % Net Income 12, , , % Total Equity 340, , , % TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY 341, , , %

13 Ordinary Income/Expense Income Direct Public Support Jan - Dec 14 Budget $ Over Budget % of Budget Rituals % Total Direct Public Support % Investments Dividend, Interest (Securities) 9, , , % Total Investments 9, , , % Membership Income Affiliations % Degree Fees , % Membership Dues 15, , , % Perpetual Fund % Total Membership Income 16, , , % Total Income 26, , , % Expense Annual Convocation Arrangements 4, , % Name Badges % Outgoing GHP Gift % Proceedings , , % Total Annual Convocation 5, , , % Donations Given Council/Chapter Fund % DeMolay % Memorials % Mildred Norman % Rainbow Girls %

14 RARA % Donations Given - Other 0.00 Total Donations Given 1, , % Dues & Per Capita General Grand 1, , % South Central Region % Total Dues & Per Capita 1, , % Office Expense Electricity % Office Supplies , % Phone & Internet , % Postage Meter Lease % Postage - Other 1, % Total Postage 1, , % Printing % Rent 2, , % Software , % Total Office Expense 6, , , % Other Expenses Foreign Corresp. Chair % Total Other Expenses % Payroll Expenses Company Medicare % FUTA Expense % Salaries 5, , % Social Security % SUTA % Payroll Expenses - Other Total Payroll Expenses 6, , %

15 Purchases Order of the High Priesthood Bibles 0.00 Incoming GHP Apron % Incoming GHP Apron Case % Jewels 0.00 Total Order of the High Priesthood % Total Purchases % Travel Grand High Priest 1, , % Grand Secretary 1, % Triennial % Total Travel 3, , % Uncategorized Expenses Total Expense 24, , , % Net Ordinary Income 1, , , % Other Income/Expense Other Income Unrealized Gains and Losses 10, , % Total Other Income 10, , % Net Other Income 10, , % Net Income 12, , , %

16 Budget Proposal Ordinary Income/Expense Income Direct Public Support Jan - Dec 15 Rituals Total Direct Public Support Investments Dividend, Interest (Securities) 7, Total Investments 7, Membership Income Affiliations Degree Fees Membership Dues 16, Perpetual Fund 6.55 Total Membership Income 17, Total Income 26, Expense Annual Convocation Arrangements 3, Name Badges Outgoing GHP Gift Proceedings Total Annual Convocation 4, Donations Given Council/Chapter Fund DeMolay Mildred Norman Rainbow Girls RARA Donations Given - Other 0.00 Total Donations Given 1, Dues & Per Capita General Grand 1, South Central Region Total Dues & Per Capita 1, Office Expense Electricity Office Supplies Phone & Internet Postage

17 Meter Lease Postage - Other 1, Total Postage 1, Printing Rent 2, Software Total Office Expense 6, Other Expenses Foreign Corresp. Chair YRIS 1, Total Other Expenses 1, Payroll Expenses Company Medicare FUTA Expense Salaries 5, Social Security SUTA 5.80 Total Payroll Expenses 6, Purchases Order of the High Priesthood Bibles 0.00 Incoming GHP Apron Incoming GHP Apron Case Jewels 0.00 Rituals Total Order of the High Priesthood Total Purchases Travel Grand High Priest 2, Grand Secretary Triennial Total Travel 3, Uncategorized Expenses Total Expense 26, Net Ordinary Income Other Income/Expense Other Income Unrealized Gains and Losses 0.00 Total Other Income 0.00 Net Other Income 0.00 Net Income 39.55

18 Grand Chapter of Louisiana Distributions Committee Report To the Most Excellent Grand High Priest, Grand Officers and Companions of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Louisiana: The committee on distribution has received the Grand High Priest s Address and recommends these portions be referred to the following committees: State of the Order Committee: Carle L. Jackson, PGHP, Chairman Welcome State of the Order Grand Officers appointed In state visitations Recommendations Appreciations Necrology Committee Thomas P. Brown, PGHP, Chairman Law and Jurisprudence Committee Howard F. Entwistle, Jr., PGHP, Chairman Dispensations granted By-laws approved Foreign Correspondence Committee Timothy J. Riley, Sr., KYGCH Out of state visits Commissions issued Commissions recommended The committee appreciates the Grand High Priest s dedication and hard work this year to serve the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of Louisiana with fervency and zeal. Respectfully Submitted, Richard L. James, PGHP, Chairman John L. Belanger, PGHP Vernon R. Atkinson, GCH, PGIM

19 YORK RITE PERPETUAL MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT (Grand Chapter) Most Excellent Grand High Priest: Your committee on Perpetual Membership respectively reports the following activity and statistics for the calendar year 2014 as pertaining to York Rite Perpetual Membership in this Grand Jurisdiction: Most Excellent Sir, on December 31, 2014, we completed nineteen years and three months of participation and activity in the York Rite Perpetual Membership Program. Under your leadership, the dollar amount invested grew by a total of $3, It has been a reasonably good year for York Rite Perpetual Membership investments. Perpetual Membership investments earned a total return of 5.46%. Activity for new membership purchases was normal. Please be assured that your Perpetual Membership Committee continues to seek the very best investment return for dollars invested in the program. Most Excellent Sir, your Perpetual Membership Committee consisting of Companions Ion Lazar, P.H.P. and Roy B. Tuck, Jr., P.G.H.P., have performed magnificently. Each of the committee members go those many extra miles to effect the success of the York Rite Perpetual Membership Program. For their dedication and service, we are eternally grateful. Fraternally submitted, Allen G. Tidwell, P.H.P., Chairman

20 Grand Chapter of Louisiana Philanthropies Committee Report To the Most Excellent Grand High Priest, Officers and Members of the Grand Chapter of Louisiana: Our Royal Arch Magazine (Winter, 2014 issue) reports that as of October 31, 2014, Louisiana has donated a total of $87, in regular donations, and $9, in memorial donations. The RARA supports four organizations researching CAPD (Central Auditory Perception Disorder). Your RARA has provided grants to help support the Autism Speaks early diagnosis and early intervention initiative to investigate auditory processing disorders in children with autism. Many of the precursor symptoms of auditory processing disorders are seen in some children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). These symptoms include trouble paying attention and remembering information; poor listening skills; difficulty in processing information; behavioral problems; difficulty with comprehending language; and anxiety or confusion in social situations. Young children on the autism spectrum who exhibit precursor symptoms may be diagnosed with a central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) at a later age. The RARA grant will enable Autism Speaks to address precursor symptoms of auditory processing disorders in an effort to create better outcomes for children who are at risk for developing both ASD and CAPD. In addition, the grant will go towards funding Autism Speaks efforts to educate healthcare providers and parents about the role of auditory processing disorders in a child s autism diagnosis as well as encourage further evaluation for young children who demonstrate auditory processing difficult. Autism Speaks will also disseminate and share information developed in this effort with caregivers and clinicians including methods to treat auditory processing problems associated with ASD. CAPD is a complex disorder characterized by the sounds a person hears not fully being interpreted and recognized by the brain. Approximately 2 to 5 percent of school-age children have CAPD along with nearly half of children who have a learning disability. There are many signs of CAPD, such as difficulty identifying where sounds are coming from or being able to tell differences between sounds. Making a CAPD diagnosis can be challenging as audiograms (or hearing tests) may be normal. Thanks to support from Royal Arch Masons, HHF has funded several researchers studying causes and better treatments for CAPD. More information can be found from the Royal Arch Mason Magazine, the General Grand Chapter website ( the Hearing Health Foundation ( or Autism Speaks ( Respectfully Submitted, Richard L. James, PGHP, Chairman Gilbert H. Morrison, Jr., PHP Billy R. Foley, PHP Timothy J. Riley, Sr., GS, PGIM

21 Grand Chapter Resolution Section 4 Per Capita & Assessments Currently: Each Chapter in this jurisdiction shall pay to the Grand Chapter annually Seven Dollars ($7.00) for each member on its roll during the year. Each Chapter shall also pay to the Grand Chapter annually, for the purpose of funding the Annual Grand Convocation and supporting the operation of the Grand Chapter, two dollar ($2.00) for each member on its roll during the year. Change to: Each Chapter in this jurisdiction shall pay to the Grand Chapter annually Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) for each member on its roll during the year. Each chapter shall also pay to the Grand Chapter annually, for the purpose of funding the Annual Grand Convocation and supporting the operation of the Grand Chapter, Five dollar ($5.00) for each member on its roll during the year. Submitted By:

22 GRAND COUNCIL OF CRYPTIC MASONS OF LOUISIANA ELECTED OFFICERS Carle L. Jackson... M. I. Grand Master 3025 Murphy Drive, Baton Rouge, LA (225) Donald J. Sonnier... R. I. Deputy Grand Master 712 Kidder Road, Carencro, LA (337) W. Robert Laurents... I. Grand Principal Conductor of Work 503 Jordan Street, Shreveport, LA (318) W. Robert Laurents... I. Grand Captain of Guard 503 Jordan Street, Shreveport, LA (318) Harold H. Young... I. Grand Treasurer 213 Helen Street, Apartment 4, Westlake, LA (337) Timothy J. Riley, Sr I. Grand Recorder 171 Beckhams Camp Road, Ringgold, LA APPOINTED OFFICERS Vernon E. Dawson, Jr.... I. Grand Conductor of Council Fairhaven Drive, Baton Rouge, LA Robert E. Durham, Jr., PIGM... I. Grand Marshall 5297 Carlou Drive, Pontchaoula, LA John C. Sharlow... I. Grand Steward 6135 Pine Hill Road, Shreveport, LA Michael Carpenter... I. Grand Chaplin 6021 Riverbend Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA John L. Belanger, PIGM... I. Grand Lecturer PO Box 1104, Franklin, LA Justin Keith Gates... I. Grand Organist 168 Gates Road, Goldonna, LA J. Andrew Owen.... I. Grand Sentinel South Mall Drive, Apt. 726, Baton Rouge, LA Richard L. James... I. Grand Photographer 163 L E Phillips Road, Eros, LA Vernon R. Atkinson... I. Grand Photographer PO Box 1133, Glenmora, LA

23 Carle Lorenz Jackson Most Illustrious Grand Master Presiding

24 Elected Grand Officers L/R W. Robert Laurents, Illustrious Grand Principle Conductor of Work; Donald J. Sonnier, Rite Illustrious Deputy Grand Master; Carle L. Jackson, Most Illustrious Grand Master; W. Keith Powell, Illustrious Grand Captain of the Guard; Timothy J. Riley, Sr. PIGM, Illustrious Grand Recorder

25 Elected and Appointed Grand Officers Back Row L/R Michael Carpenter, Grand Chaplin; Vernon E. Dawson, Jr., Grand Conductor of Council; Andrew Owen, Grand Sentinel; Carlton Conaway, Jr., DDIGM Dist. 1; Conrad Gauthier, DDIGM Dist. 3; Unknown; Gerald H. Houston Front Row L/R W. Robert Laurents, Illustrious Grand Principle Conductor of Work; Donald J. Sonnier, Rite Illustrious Deputy Grand Master; Carle L. Jackson, Most Illustrious Grand Master; W. Keith Powell, Illustrious Grand Captain of the Guard; Timothy J. Riley, Sr. PIGM, Illustrious Grand Recorder

26 Report of the Illustrious Grand Master To our honored guests and the Companions of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of the State of Louisiana, Salutations, Welcome to the 160 th Annual Assembly of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of the State of Louisiana; thank you for coming. To our guests, we are proud and honored that you have elected to come and participate in the excellent fellowship of our Louisiana Grand York Rite Bodies. I hope you enjoy your time in Baton Rouge and take the opportunity to visit with the local Companions and see our beautiful city. I especially thank all those Louisiana Companions who made time in their busy schedules to be here and attend to the affairs of their fraternity. It is the voice of the Companions, freely expressed from a position of love for the craft that assures us a bright future. Thanks The very first thank you I must give is to my wife, Melanie, without whose patience, understanding, and assistance, I would not have survived the year. I must also thank the Companions of my home Councils, Baton Rouge No. 11, Istrouma No. 33, and Joseph W. Robinson No. 36, for their kind support, advice, and on occasion correction. It is their enthusiasm for Masonry in general and Cryptic Masonry in particular that has served as an inspiration to me and many others. To the officers of the Grand Council, Committee Chairmen, and Committeemen, I owe a deep debt of gratitude for their many labors and courtesies. Many of these individuals went far beyond the call of duty to make this a successful year. I offer a special thanks to my fellow travelers: M.E.C. Gerald Houston and R.E.G.C. Andrew Stevenson. Thanks fellows for the friendship and mutual support, it has been a great trip together, and the York Rite in Louisiana is the better for it. Finally, I wish to thank the Companions of the Cryptic Rite of Louisiana, for their love of the Craft and their tireless efforts on its behalf. You make everything we do worthwhile. Necrology I am happy to report that the Great Architect of the Universe has extended his loving hand upon you Grand Council elected and appointed Officers and permitted our Grand chain of fellowship to be unbroken. While we are thankful for the health and wellbeing of our Grand officers, we are also saddened with the loss of so many of our Companions and their ladies. Our prayers and condolences are extended to each of our grieving families. We share their losses and honor their memories.

27 State of the Order As far as I know, the purpose of the Grand Council is to support our constituent Councils in their efforts to provide each and every companion of the Cryptic Rite the most fulfilling Masonic experience possible. While that sounds relatively simple, at least on the conceptual level, it is very difficult in implementation as there are many legitimate notions as to what constitutes a fulfilling Masonic experience. When I was installed in office last March, it was my goal to stabilize the Councils in distress, improve the ability of the Grand Council to support the operations of our constituent Councils, and improve the Masonic life of our Companions as experienced in those Councils. We were greatly aided in this effort by the work accomplished by M.I.C. Larry Plaisance, and his focus on accountability last year. When the year began we had ten Councils in varying degrees of distress; some had been in this condition for a considerable period of time. As we close the year, I am pleased to report that seven of those Councils have turned the corner and are well on the way to recovery. This remarkable turnaround is due entirely to the efforts of the Companions of those Councils who saw the great treasure they had in the Cryptic Rite and decided to do something to preserve it for future generations. There is still much to be done, but I am confident, that with enthusiasm and diligence of those Companions, the progress of the past year will be sustained and gain in momentum. This experience stands as an example to us all that any Masonic body can be saved if there is but one member with the love of the craft in his heart, and the fire in his spirit to make it happen. As for the remaining three Councils in distress, one, Columbia Council No. 44, surrendered its Charter and merged with Monroe Council No. 8. This is a sad occasion, for that Charter represented the hopes and dreams of the Companions who formed it years ago. This makes it all the more imperative that the surviving Companions turn to their new mother Council, and support it with everything they have. In this way the spirit of Columbia Council will never be lost, just relocated, and Monroe Council No. 8 will be even better for it. The two other Councils remain in deep distress, but there is hope, as we have a plan or at least ideas for that may sustain them, provided this is what the Companions want to do. The efforts to improve the ability of the Grand Council to support our constituent Councils took two forms: Education and Planning. First, we launched a major effort in the area of education. Packets were presented to each Council in Louisiana with the basic information and reference material that should be available to every companion in the state. There is now at least one copy available at each Council. We have also continued the Educational Program begun by M.I.C. W.A. Morris, which he conducted almost single handedly for many years, and which I am recommending be named in his honor. This year the topic was the festival system. The Companions in attendance were presented the opportunity to

28 discuss the strengths and weakness of the system, how we might build on the strengths and mitigate the weaknesses, and improve the presentation of our degrees and orders. We were also presented insights from two areas that currently put on first rate festivals, not to copy them as such matters are often heavily influenced by local conditions, but to learn from them and find our own way of improving things in our own areas. Second, we encouraged the junior officers in the Grand Lines to work together on a long term strategic plan that would be revised each year in light of the prior year experience. The idea here is for the York Rite Bodies to plan and act in concert where it is advisable to do so, as we can accomplish more together than separately. In this we follow the example of the General Grand Bodies and the Grand Encampment, as well as that of our constituent bodies which have a long history of working together. The junior officers have engaged this process with enthusiasm, and I am certain that it will support their efforts and help them to achieve even more for the advancement of the York Rite than those of us who have gone before them. The efforts to improve the experience of the individual Companions are more difficult, as this is accomplished at the local level within the individual Councils. This year we began an initiative that it is hoped will directly enhance each Companions experience of the Cryptic Rite, by creating a Cryptic Rite Monitor for the first time in our history. A first rate monitor will place in the hands of each and every Companion the history of our Rite and Degrees, how they fit into the overall scheme of York Rite Masonry, and enrichment material that will enable the interested Companion to further explore the riches of Masonry. The work is not yet completed as this proved a major task, there being so few models from other Cryptic Rite bodies and verifiable information concerning the history and structure of our degrees is difficult to obtain where it exists at all. Yet through all this difficulty, Companion Dr. Michael Carpenter, has made substantial progress which will be presented to you today. It is my hope that once you have seen the work that has been accomplished, that you will further endorse the project and allow it to move to completion in the coming year. It should be noted that the progress accomplished thus far has come at no expense to the Grand Council of Louisiana; rather it has been obtained by a few dedicated Companions working without hope of fee or reward, beyond the advancement of the Rite and an enhanced experience for our Companions. Legal Actions Emergency Meetings Called pursuant to Section 36 of the Grand Council By-Laws 2 January 2015 Columbia Council No. 44 for the purpose of considering a By Law Change and the possible merger of the Council with Monroe Council No December 2014 Louis B Frusha No. 32 for the purpose of reorganizing the Council and electing officers and candidates

29 By Laws Rejected Columbia No. 44 no quorum to conduct business at the meeting during which By Law Change to surrender Charter and merge with Monroe No. 8 was adopted By Laws Approved Columbia Council No. 44, at the emergency meeting of 2 January 2015, a sufficient quorum was present to pass the by-law change; therefore, the by-law change was approved surrendering the Charter of Columbia Council No. 44, and affecting a merger with Monroe Council No. 8. Dispensations Calcasieu Council No. 19 to temporarily change meeting date to the third Thursday in an effort to improve attendance and participation Louis B Frusha Council No. 32 to temporarily move meeting place to Magnolia Lodge No. 238 in an effort to reorganize, improve attendance and participation Jos W Robinson Council No. 36 to temporarily change meeting date to the third Monday in an effort to improve attendance and participation Herman L Feske Council No. 47 to temporarily change meeting date to the fourth Saturday in an effort to improve attendance and participation Fullerton Council No. 26 to temporarily change meeting date to first the Monday in an effort to improve attendance and participation Visitations Out of State It was my honor to represent the Grand Council of Louisiana at several out of state events: April 2-5 Grand York Rite of Kansas, Manhattan, KS June 29-July th Supreme Assembly, Order of the Amaranth Incorporated, Cincinnati, Ohio July 6-10 Shriners International, 140 Imperial Session, Minneapolis, Minnesota Sept South West York Rite Conference, Topeka, KS Sept. 27 Mid-Atlantic Departmental Conference, Alexandria, VA Oct Northwestern York Rite Conference, Boise, ID Oct North Central York Rite Conference, Sioux Falls, South Dakota Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the 45th Triennial Assembly of the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons due to illness. The Grand Council of Louisiana was very well represented by R.I.C. Keith Powell, Grand Captain of the Guard, and M.I.C. Tim Riley Jr., Past Illustrious Grand Master, and M.I.C. John Belanger, Past Illustrious Grand Master.

30 Special In State Visitations March Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star of Louisiana April 15 Plains Lodge No. 135, Honoring the York Rite Night, Zachary LA April 19 Baton Rouge Masonic Family Day: Easter Egg Hunt OA, Knight Templar Easter Observance, AASR extinguishing and lighting of the lights at Baton Rouge Scottish Rite June 14 Day They Stopped the War, Feliciana Lodge No. 31, St. Francisville, LA June 16 International Order of Rainbow for Girls, Louisiana Grand Assembly August 7-9 Grand Court of Louisiana, Order of the Amaranth Jan 17 York Rite Leadership and Educational Seminar, Alexandria, LA Jan 30-Feb 1 Grand Lodge of Louisiana Councils Visited Baton Rouge Council No. 11 Istrouma Council No. 33 Monroe Council No. 8 (Festival) Summit Council No. 12 (Festival) Calcasieu Council No. 19 Jack L. Stephens Council No. 24 Louis B. Frusha Council No. 32 Jos W. Robinson Council No. 36 Columbia Council No. 44 Houma Council No. 49 (Festival) Morehouse Council No. 50 (Festival at Monroe) Festivals Attended Mississippi-Louisiana Joint Festival, Monroe LA 1 st District Festival, Houma LA 2 nd District Festival, Baton Rouge LA Statewide Festival, Alexandria LA I missed the Shreveport Festival (6 th District) due to illness. Routine Visitations The following bodies were visited routinely during the year East Gate Lodge No. 452 Lodge of the Nine Muses No. 9 Baton Rouge Court No. 4 OA Baton Rouge Chapter No. 163 OES Valley of Baton Rouge, AASR

31 Downtown York Rite Bodies, Baton Rouge Acacia Shriners, Baton Rouge Feliciana Chapter No. 11, St. Francisville, LA St. Charles Conclave, RCC, Lake Charles LA Men of Mt. Moriah Council No. 38 AMD, Baton Rouge LA Tara Council No. 29 Knight Mason, Jackson MS Ray Wesley Burgess Council No. 103, Alexandria LA Charities Our Cryptic Mason Medical Research Foundation has done well this past year. Companion Charles Bertrand chaired the effort in the state of Louisiana and M.I.C. Vernon Atkinson serves as a member of the national board. The achievements of our research foundation have the greatest scope of all Masonic Charities in as much as the research being conducted has great potential for a wide range of conditions affecting people of every age. The Chapter-Council Foundation which supports Nursing Scholarships was revitalized this year by M.I.C. John Belanger. His efforts in bringing the Foundation s legal/tax status up to date, educating the Companions about the Foundation and what it does, and in fund raising to support its activities have been the most significant in recent years. Recommendations 1. That the Louisiana Cryptic Monitor program be completed and that the finished product be published 2. That the participation of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons in the leadership development program of the General Grand Chapter, General Grand Council, and Grand Encampment be expanded by requesting each constituent Council to submit the names of emerging leaders in their bodies to the Illustrious Grand Master for nomination to the national program 3. That the participation in the York Rite Leadership and Education Conference held each year on the third Saturday of January be expanded to include more Companions as well as leadership, and that the Conference be named the W.A. Morris York Rite Leadership and Education Conference. 4. That the strategic planning process begun this year for all three Grand York Rite Bodies continue, and that the plans so developed are annually reviewed and modified to reflect the experience of the prior year, new ideas from the Companions, and the input of newly elected members of the Grand Line.

32 5. That a committee be appointed to update the material currently contained on our website, and to keep it current in the future in an effort to improve communications within our organization 6. Continue the efforts to work with Councils in distress, and, whenever possible, preserve the Charters for future activation 7. That a committee be appointed to develop and improve communications within our organization Conclusion It has been a great honor and privilege to serve the Companions of the Louisiana Cryptic Rite as Illustrious Grand Master for the past year, and I thank you for the opportunity to serve. It is my fervent hope that those who come after me are even more successful in serving the Companions of our beloved Rite. In Masonry, you have been given one of the greatest intellectual and spiritual treasures in the world, and as Cryptic Masons you are charged with its preservation for the benefit of future generations. What a magnificent purpose you have. I wish you God s speed and may he greatly bless your work for the betterment of all mankind. Carle L. Jackson Illustrious Grand Master,

33 Grand Recorder s Report To: The Most Illustrious Grand Master, Officers and Companions of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Louisiana: Statistics Councils on Roll 1/1/ Councils on Roll 12/31/ Degrees Conferred 86 Membership as of 1/1/ Work Greeted 43 Affiliated by Plural Membership 5 Affiliated by Demit 1 Affiliated by Transfer 1 Affiliated by Certificate 0 Reinstated 3 Total Gain 53 Demit by Demit (17) Transfer of Membership (1) Died (35) Suspended NPD (63) UMC (0) Dropped (14) Expelled (0) Total Loss (130) Net Gain or (Loss) (77) Corrections (5) Membership as of 12/31/ Council Wins Bible Baton Rouge No 8 had a 8% gain in membership. Certificates All Certificates issued and passing through this office have been recorded. Closing Most Illustrious Larry J. Payne Grand Master, it has been a pleasure working with you this past year and I know you ll continue to promote and assist this Grand Council in years to come. A question arises on using the Grand Encampment WEB based system for our Grand Council. The initial cost would be roughly $1,000 with a yearly charge of $0.06 per entry which comes to about $120 for the 1 st and increases from there. It is my humble opinion that this might help on the timeliness if the Recoders buy in. Respectfully submitted, Tim Riley, PIGM, Grand Recorder

34 ASSETS Current Assets Checking/Savings Dec 31, 14 Dec 31, 13 $ Change % Change Capital One 1, , % Wells Fargo Advisors Cash & Sweeps , , % Mutual Funds Bond Fund of America Class C 11, , % Capital Income Bldr Class A 28, , , % Capital Income Bldr Class C 14, , % Income Fund Amer Inc Class A 40, , , % Income Fund Amer Inc Class c 16, , , % Total Mutual Funds 111, , , % Total Wells Fargo Advisors 111, , , % Total Checking/Savings 112, , , % Accounts Receivable Accounts Receivable % Total Accounts Receivable % Other Current Assets Undeposited Funds % Total Other Current Assets % Total Current Assets 112, , , % Fixed Assets Furniture and Equipment 6, , % Total Fixed Assets 6, , % TOTAL ASSETS 119, , , % LIABILITIES & EQUITY Liabilities Current Liabilities Accounts Payable Accounts Payable % Total Accounts Payable % Other Current Liabilities Payroll Liabilities Company Medicare % Company Social Security %

35 Employee Medicare % Employee Social Secutiyy % FUTA % State Withholding % SUTA % Payroll Liabilities - Other % Total Payroll Liabilities % Short Term Liabilities % Total Other Current Liabilities % Total Current Liabilities % Long Term Liabilities Other Liabilities % Total Long Term Liabilities % Total Liabilities % Equity Opening Balance Equity 99, , % Unrestricted Net Assets 17, , , % Net Income 2, , , % Total Equity 119, , , % TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY 119, , , %

36 Ordinary Income/Expense Income Direct Public Support Jan - Dec 14 Budget $ Over Budget % of Budget Rituals % Total Direct Public Support % Investments Dividends 3, , % Interest-Savings, Short-term CD % Total Investments 3, , % Membership Income Affiliations % Degree Fees % Membership Dues 14, , , % Perpetual Fund % Total Membership Income 14, , , % Other Types of Income Unrealized Gains or Losses 3, , % Total Other Types of Income 3, , % Total Income 22, , , % Gross Profit 22, , , % Expense Annual Assembly Arrangements 3, , % Name Badges % Outgoing IGM Gift % Proceedings , % Total Annual Assembly 4, , %

37 Donations Given CMMRF % Council/Chapter Fund % DeMolay % Mildred Norman % Rainbow Girls % Total Donations Given % Dues & Per Capita General Grand 1, , , % South Central Region % Total Dues & Per Capita 1, , , % Office Expense Electricity % Postage, Mailing Service Equipent Lease % Postage, Mailing Service - Other % Total Postage, Mailing Service 1, % Printing and Copying % Rent 2, , % Sofware % Supplies % Telephone & Internet % Total Office Expense 5, , % Other Expenses Foreign Correspondence Chai % Officer Aprons & Jewels % Promotion & Education % Total Other Expenses % Payroll Expenses FUTA %

38 Grand Recorder 2, , % Medicare % Office Help % Social Security % SUTA % Payroll Expenses - Other % Total Payroll Expenses 3, , % Purchases Order of the Silver Trowel Incoming IGM Apron % Incoming IGM Case % Jewels 0.00 WEB Page % Total Order of the Silver Trowel % Service Items Council Rituals % Total Service Items % Total Purchases % Travel Grand Illustrious Master 1, , % Grand Recorder 1, % Triennial Total Travel 3, , , % Uncategorized Expenses Total Expense 19, , , % Net Ordinary Income 2, , , % Net Income 2, , , %

39 Budget Proposal Ordinary Income/Expense Income Direct Public Support Jan - Dec 15 Rituals Total Direct Public Support Investments Dividends 3, Interest-Savings, Short-term CD 0.40 Total Investments 3, Membership Income Affiliations Degree Fees Membership Dues 14, Perpetual Fund 0.00 Total Membership Income 14, Other Types of Income Unrealized Gains or Losses 3, Total Other Types of Income 3, Total Income 22, Gross Profit 22, Expense Annual Assembly Arrangements 3, Name Badges Outgoing IGM Gift Proceedings Total Annual Assembly 4, Donations Given CMMRF Council/Chapter Fund DeMolay Mildred Norman Rainbow Girls Total Donations Given Dues & Per Capita General Grand 1, Total Dues & Per Capita 1,612.00

40 Office Expense Electricity Postage, Mailing Service Equipment Lease Postage, Mailing Service - Other Total Postage, Mailing Service 1, Printing and Copying Rent 2, Software Supplies Telephone & Internet Total Office Expense 5, Other Expenses Foreign Correspondence Chai Total Other Expenses Payroll Expenses FUTA Grand Recorder 2, Medicare Office Help Social Security SUTA 3.00 Payroll Expenses - Other Total Payroll Expenses 3, Purchases Order of the Silver Trowel Incoming IGM Apron Incoming IGM Case Jewels 0.00 Total Order of the Silver Trowel Service Items Council Rituals Total Service Items Total Purchases Travel Grand Illustrious Master 1, Grand Recorder 1, Triennial Total Travel 3, Uncategorized Expenses 0.00 Total Expense 20, Net Ordinary Income 1, Net Income 1,493.56

41 Appeals & Grievances To the Most Illustrious Grand Master and Companions of the Grand Council Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Louisiana the Committee on Appeals and Grievances has not received any Appeals and Grievances. Submitted this date March 1, 2015 Chairman John L. Belanger PGHP

42 YORK RITE PERPETUAL MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT (Grand Council) Most Illustrious Grand Master: Your committee on Perpetual Membership respectively reports the following activity and statistics for the calendar year 2014 as pertaining to York Rite Perpetual Membership in this Grand Jurisdiction: Most Illustrious Sir, on December 31, 2014, we completed nineteen years and three months of participation and activity in the York Rite Perpetual Membership Program. Under your leadership, the dollar amount invested grew by a total of $2, It has been a reasonably good year for York Rite Perpetual Membership investments. Perpetual Membership investments earned a total return of 5.46%. Activity for new membership purchases was normal. Please be assured that your Perpetual Membership Committee continues to seek the very best investment return for dollars invested in the program. Most Illustrious Sir, your Perpetual Membership Committee consisting of Companions Vernon Atkinson, P.I.G.M. and Donald Sonnier, have performed magnificently. Each of the committee members go those many extra miles to effect the success of the York Rite Perpetual Membership Program. For their dedication and service, we are eternally grateful. Fraternally submitted, Allen G. Tidwell, P.I.M., Chairman

43 Grand Council Chapter Foundation of Louisiana 43 rd Annual Report January 1, 2015 To the Most Illustrious Grand Master and Most Excellent Grand High Priest, Officers and Companions all. The Board of Directors wishes to express our appreciation to those who have made donations to support this foundation. We would like see more of the Chapters and Councils make an Annual donation to support worthy cause so that we could increase the value of our scholarships. Currently, this year our nursing scholarships were $ for each of the four Louisiana State Colleges. (Southeastern, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Northwestern State Foundation, University of Louisiana at Monroe) I cannot stress that we need a better participation through donations or memorials from all the chapters and councils to maintain our investment for that purpose. Financial Status: The Grand Council/Chapter Foundations of Louisiana Funds are with: LPL Financial Account # French/French 7607 Fern Ave. Suite 902 Shreveport, LA Under FIN Beginning Balance January 31, 2014 M.M. Act. $ 89, (Balance reported last year) Disbursements (4 Scholarship of ) $ 3, Receipt received $ 2, Breakdown from (Did not equal Scholarship) GCRAM $ GCCM $ Baton Rouge Festival $ Monroe $ Lafayette $ Other Donations $ TOTAL 01/31/14 M.M. Acct. $ 90, NOTE money market gain of $ 2, Your Committee wants to thank the Ill. Grand Master and Grand High Priest for all of the help and support this committee has received. I want to personally thank Larry Plaisance on trying to put this Foundation headed in the right direction in connections with questions concerning our standing with the IRS. Our new FIN is copy attached. Fraternally submitted, John L. Belanger, PIGM Sec. /Treas. Clyde Strout PIM Sec. / Treas. merits Larry Plaisance PIGM SE Chairman W. A. Morris, Central Joseph Patterson NW Keith Powell, SW Bill Blake NE

44 GRAND CHAPTER / COUNCIL MASONIC FOUNDATION OF LOUISIANA AUDIT REPORT 2015 DATES Beginning & Ending Year Totals END OF MONTH TOTAL NUMBER OF CHECKS ISSUIED NUMBER OF DONATIONS RECEIVED GAIN OR LOST TOTAL GAIN FOR YEAR 01/01/2014 $89, /31/2014 $90, NONE $ $ /28/2014 $91, NONE $1, $1, /31/2014 $92, NONE $ $1, /30/2014 $94, NONE 5 -$1, $2, $4, /31/2014 $96, NONE $1, $5, /30/2014 $96, $ $ $6, /31/2014 $93, $1, $2, $3, /31/2014 $94, $1, $ $ $3, /30/2014 $93, NONE 3 - $ $ $2, /31/2014 $93, NONE $ $2, /30/2014 $92, NONE -$ $2, /31/2014 $90, NONE 1- $ $1, $ $3, $2, Page 1 0f 3

45 GRAND CHAPTER / COUNCIL MASONIC FOUNDATION OF LOUISIANA AUDIT REPORT 2015 DATE FROM AMOUNT 4/9/2014 GRAND CHAPTER $ /9/2014 GRAND COUNCIL $ /9/2014 JAMES $ /24/2014 MONROE CHAPTER $ /24/2014 MONROE COUNCIL $ /11/2014 DONATIONS $ /18/2014 BARDWELL $ /18/2014 DONATIONS $ /18/2014 ROYAL ARCH $ /31/2014 REV NSF FEE $40.00 $2, Page 3 of 3

46 GRAND CHAPTER / COUNCIL MASONIC FOUNDATION OF LOUISIANA AUDIT REPORT 2015 CHECK NUMBER DATE ISSUIED PAID TO: REASON AMONT OF CHECK /17/2014 SIR PRINTING SPEEDIE PRINTING (HANDOUTS) $ SOUTHEASTERN DEVELOPMENT /23/2014 FONDATION SCOLARSHIP $ /1/2014 SECRETARY OF STATE REINSTATEMENT OF CHARTER $ /23/2014 UNIVERSITY OF LA AT MOROW SCOLARSHIP $ /23/2014 U.L. LAFAYETTE FOUNDATION SCOLARSHIP $ /23/2014 NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY SCOLARSHIP $ /30/2014 SECRETARY OF STATE RENEWAL OF CHARTER $10.00 $3, Page 2 of 3

47 Work and Education To the Most Illustrious Grand Master, grand officer and companions all: I am disturbed about the several Councils in the state using the short form to open up the Councils. I understand that they have three meeting Chapter, Council and Commandry to open that same night but we are slowing losing the work and the reason we are hear to educate the members. The other night we opened our Chapter and I asked for the High Priest not to just give one sign but all the signs. All he said was you must lead us then. The Councils need to start doing more of their own work and not just rely on the Festivals. If we just open read the minutes of each of the bodies then go home then why should any young person come and waste their time to go to a meeting. We had a very good York Rite Workshop this year and I wish we could have at least two a year, one just on educating the members how to properly confer degree and understanding the degree they confer. The Education Report Monitor for the Cryptic Degrees in Louisiana Working Outline and Bibliography as of March 5, 2015 by Michael Carpenter I. Introduction purpose of this work a. Since the Cryptic degrees get short shrift in one day classes, we need something to help our members recall the material, and use it to meditate on the meaning of their experiences. It will give them something to refer to in the future. b. We can t have a major textbook such as that which you ll find in the New York Royal Arch; we lack the needed support, but it sure would be nice. II. A short history of the degrees and the Cryptic Rite; heavy but critical use will be made of the material in Hinman, Hunt and Denslow, A History of the Cryptic Rite. a. The prehistory i. The Stuart theory reprint and comment on Edward Sherman s 1893 piece reprinted on pp of History of the Cryptic Rite; discuss Schuchard s work in this commentary. ii. The American theory iii. The French theory b. Organized granting of degrees i. Scottish Rite side degrees to 1870 ii. Jeremy Cross iii. Columbian Grand Council iv. Early Grand Rite of Scotland story v. Independent grand councils vi. General Grand Council development vii. Mississippi Plan and its failure viii. Export to other countries 1. England 2. Scotland note the contradiction with the Early Grand Rite theory above III. The Legend a. Chronology of the Tradition and where it belongs in the scheme of Masonic degrees using traditional dates (taken from the Scofield Reference Bible for ease in finding some sort of standard scheme, not for theological reasons)

48 b. The Vault c. Dramatis personae i. Chronology related to Biblical personages which don t fill in the degrees use of them. 1. HA 2. Ahishar through Zedekiah, discussed with Biblical references, as well as the material in Comay and in Van Gorden. Provide their original names in Hebrew, plus the gematria (numerical values for their names). We provide the Gematria for the names for those interesting in Kabbalistic interpretations, such as we find in the pages of the transactions of the Masonic Study Society and the Dormer Masonic Study Circle. 3. Characters listed in the rituals of other jurisdictions IV. Lessons to be learned from the degrees on three levels: a. Exoteric (the plain text) b. Deeper meaning (the allegories) c. Symbols d. Esoteric meaning (what is truly hard if not impossible to communicate). V. General observations on the Ritual (no secrets given away here) a. Drama theory: i. From candidate participation to spectacle. ii. From soliloquy on death in the lodge room to capture and destruction of Jerusalem. iii. RM and SM suitable for single candidates, but not SEM. iv. Note the lack of blindfolding in all three degrees, unlike what we have in the chapter with Mark and RAM degrees. Where are the journeys? It s like a Scottish Rite class degree with a single active candidate. b. Development of the ritual; see the sketches in Pike s Masonic Formulas and Rituals. c. The monitorial part of this book. i. Every Biblical verse, in spite of Mackey s warnings not to do so. ii. Prologues from the several degrees. (Reprint as much as possible, remembering that not all Biblical verses are identified). Use graphic symbols, such as a coffin, a triangle, a square, etc., to fill in gaps. d. One page discussion, to be provided by Carle Jackson, on the Order of the Silver Trowel (Thrice Illustrious Master) which is a chair degree within the US; purely honorary in England. Not known outside North America, except for England. VI. The organization of Cryptic Masonry a. National level b. Louisiana level. NOTE: I will need to do more research on this matter for which I have no secondary sources except for the nineteenth century, while the proceedings are not easily accessible. But I should reexamine the translation into French of Jeremy Cross in the 1828 Manuel maçonnique; how much of the Cryptic material got included? I know that the crypt diagrams are not included. c. Cryptic Masonry in other jurisdictions I have the material for England; post mid-1920s for the US is difficult to obtain with any granularity from the General Grand Council Triennial proceedings

49 d. Charities for the Cryptic Masons VII. Conclusion: Although we preface each of these questions with some necessary factual information, we ask the reader either to write up a short essay, or to prepare for a discussion in a council setting on topics such as: a. What are we to make of Ahishar s execution? He s only banished in another jurisdiction s ritual. b. Adoniram, in charge of tribute, i.e. corvée or forced labor, gets stoned to death years after the incidents in the degree. What are we to make of this? c. Where is the here to which HA points? What does it mean? d. What is the undescribed object? e. How do we reconcile the arch structure with the keystone removal in the Royal Arch? f. What is the Foundation Stone? Tell both what the ritual says and what it means for your life. g. What can we gain from the story of the Bath Qol? Does it predict the future? Does it help us to improve ourselves morally? h. What can we say, in addition to the text in the ritual, about the square, circle and triangle? i. There is an inconsistency between the Royal Arch degree and a text used in the Super- Excellent Master ritual. What should we do or say about it? j. [More questions will be developed as the text gets prepared, tested, and used] VIII. Bibliographies: a. Sources used completed see attached file. b. For further reading will draw special attention to some of the material from the in the bibliography. IX. Working Notes: a. Problems with uniting the Royal Arch portion with the Cryptic portion of the monitor: b. The GGC ritual is evidently fluid in its content. I ve seen stuff occur here in Louisiana that is NOT in the printed GGC ritual. c. Look at how much material is available for Capitular Masonry, such as the new textbooks for the Grand Chapter of New York, and the amount of material I could easily obtain, with the paucity of material on the Cryptic Rite. d. Reproduction of engravings from Z.A. Davis Monitor, plates 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 dealing with an arch and altar, room layout for the Select Master degrees, Council jewels, two plates on the nine arches remade from the Cross monitor. Bibliography for Cryptic Masons Monitor Bernheim, Alain. Ramsay et ses deux discours. Paris : Éditions Télètes, Includes transcriptions of manuscript as well as a critical edition of the printed versions of Ramsay s two orations. Bible (Jewish canon). תורה נביאים וכתובם The Holy Scriptures. Jerusalem : Koren Publishers, c1992. A revised version of the translation by M. Friedlander facing the Hebrew original. The Hebrew forms of names has been employed in the revision instead of the familiar ones in English. Spine title : The Jerusalem Bible. Bible (Jewish canon). The Jewish Study Bible : Jewish Publication Society TANAKH Translation. Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, editors. 2 nd ed. New York : Oxford University Press, c2014.

50 Bible (Christian canon). The Scofield Reference Bible. The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments, Authorized Version. Edited by C.I. Scofield. New York : Oxford University Press, c1917. Brown, Francis, S.R. Driver and Charles A. Briggs. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, With an Appendix Containing the Biblical Aramaic. Coded with the Numbering System from Strong s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Peabody, Mass. : Hendrickson Publishers, Reprinted from the edition published : Boston : Houghton, Mifflin and Co., Chase, Jackson H. The Text Book of Cryptic Masonry : a Manual of Instructions in the Degrees of Royal Master, Select Master and Super-Excellent Master, Together with the Ceremonies of Installing the Officers, Constituting and Dedicating a Council and Installing the Officers of a Grand Council. New York : Masonic Publishing Company, Reprint : New Orleans, LA ; Cornerstone Book Publishers, Coil, Henry Wilson. Coil s Masonic Encyclopedia. Edited by William Mosely Brown, William L. Cummings, and Harold Van Buren Voorhis. Revised edition, 1995, by Allen Roberts. Richmond, Va. : Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co., Inc., c1996. Articles on Degrees. 28. Royal Master, Select Master, Super-Excellent Master, p. 204; Rites, Masonic. Cryptic Rite, pp ; Rites, Masonic. Early Grand Rite in Scotland, p Comay, Joan. Who s Who in the Old Testament, Together with the Apocrypha. New York : Oxford University Press, Originally published New York : Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Cross, Jeremy L. The True Masonic Chart, or, Hieroglyphic Monitor, Containing All the Emblems Explained in the Degrees in the Degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mason, Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, Royal Arch, Royal Master, and Select Master.. Plano Texas : Stone Guild Publishing, Reset version of the edition originally published : T.G. Woodward and Company, Cryer, Neville Barker. Delving Further Beyond the Craft. Hersham, Surrey : Lewis Masonic, Cryptic Masons (Organization), see under Royal and Select Masters. Dalcho, Frederick. Orations of the Illustrious Brother Frederick Dalcho Esq., MD. Masonic Book Club. Publications, v. 37. Bloomington, Ill. : Masonic Book Club, c2006. Reprint of the edition published : Dublin : printed by John King Westmoreland, Davis, Z.A. The Freemason s Monitor : Containing a Delineation of the Fundamental Principles of Freemasonry, Operative d Speculative, as Well in a Religious as a Moral View, with Explanations and Plates of all the Emblems of the Degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mason, Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, Royal Arch Mason, Royal Master, Select Master s Degree and Order of Priesthood. Philadelphia : R. Wilson Desilver ; Cincinnati : Desilver & Burr ; New Orleans : B.M. Norman, Denslow, Ray V. Masonic Rites and Degrees. Transactions of the Missouri Lodge of Research, Volume No. 12, 1955; pp. v-vii, Evans, Henry Ridgeley. A History of the York and Scottish Rites of Freemasonry. In Little Masonic Library, Book III. Richmond, Va. : Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co., c1977, c1924, p. [1]-[68]. Even-Shoshan, Avraham. Qonqordantsyah hadash l Torah, Neviim ukhetuvim. Yerushalyim : Kiryat Sefer, c1996. Added title-page: A new concordance of the Bible. Title information Romanized, Fox, William L. The Lodge of the Double-Headed Eagle : Two Centuries of Scottish Rite Freemasonry in America s Southern Jurisdiction. [Fayetteville] : University of Arkansas Press, 1997, p. 70. Grissom, Eugene. The Cryptic Degrees in History of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons and Concordant Orders. Boston ; New York : The Fraternity Publishing Company, 1891, pp

51 Harris, Ray Baker. History of the Supreme Council, 33 (Mother Council of the World) Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S. A. : Prepared for publication by James D. Carter. Washington, D.C. : The Supreme Council. 33, Hinman, Eugene E., Ray V. Denslow, Charles C. Hunt. A History of the Cryptic Rite : Preparation Authorized by the General Grand Council R:. & S:. M:. of the United States, [S.l. : s.n.] volumes, consecutively paged. Reprint Hoffman, Kurt, and Kevin Christians. Adoniram to Zabud : a Guide for Royal and Select Masters in Iowa. Edited by Frank & Peg Osdoba [and] Jay Cole Simser. [S.l. : s.n.], c2013. Jackson, Keith B. Beyond the Craft. 6 th ed. Hersham, Surrey : Lewis Masonic, Jacobs, Louis. Bat Kol in his The Jewish Religion : a Companion. Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1995, 47. Josephus, Flavius. The New Complete Works of Josephus. Translation and dissertations by William Whiston ; introduction and commentaries by Paul L. Maier. Grand Rapids, MI : Kregel Publications, c1999. Kervella, André. Le chevalier Ramsay : une fierté écossaise. L univers maçonnique. Paris : Éditions Véga, Lobingier, Charles Sumner. The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Kila, Mont. : Kessinger, Reprint of the original : Louisville, Ky. : Standard Printing Co., [ ]. The Supreme Council, 33, Mother Council of the World, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A. Louisville, Ky. : The Standard Printing Co., Reprinted Kila, Mont.: Kessinger, Cover of reprint has John A. Cowles on it, but the material was collected by Charles Sumner Lobingier (see foreword). Mackey, Albert G. Cryptic Masonry : a Manual of the Council, or, Monitorial Instructions for the Degrees of Royal and Select Master, With an Additional Section on the Super-Excellent Master s Degree. New York : Maynard, Merrill & Co., Originally published Vault, Secret. In his: Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, revised and enlarged by Robert L. Clegg with illustrations and descriptive index. New ed., revised and enlarged. New York : Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Company, c1946, reprinted 1966, vol. 2, Masonic Formulas and Rituals Transcribed by Albert Pike in 1854 and [Edited] by Arturo de Hoyos ; foreword by Ronald A. Seale. Washington, D.C. : The Scottish Rite Research Society, Royal Master and Select Master, as furnished by the Sec y Genl of the Supreme Council of the 33 d Degree in Charleston, So. Carolina in May, A.D. 1853, or A:.Dep: p Moore, Charles W. The New Masonic Trestleboard Adapted to the Work and Lectures as Practiced in the Lodges, Chapters, Councils and Encampments of Knights Templars in the United States of America. Stereotype ed. Boston : Charles W. Moore, Pike, Albert, compiler. Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry : The Constitutions and Regulations of 1762, Statutes and Regulations of Perfection and Other Degrees with the Statutes of 1859, 1866, 1868, 1870, and New York : Masonic Publishing Company, A.M. 5632, New Edition Printed by J.J. Little & Co., 5664, fourth printing Ramsay, André-Michel de. Discours prononcé à la réception des Francs-maçons. Présentation, édition par Georges Lamoine. Toulouse : SNES [no date, after 2000]. For another edition, see Bernheim, and the biography by Kervella above and the treatise by Sessa below. Royal and Select Masters. England. Grand Council. The Order of Royal and Select Masters of England and Wales and its Districts and Councils Overseas : Ritual no. 1. London: Grand Council of the Order of Royal and Select Masters, Contains rituals for the Select Master, Royal Master, Most Excellent Master and Super-Excellent Master degrees, plus a key.

52 . General Grand Council, Cryptic Masons, International. The Connecting Link [DVD]. Produced by Bernard F. Mandlebaum [and Allen Roberts]. [S.l.] Transferred version of video originally produced on VCR tape. 17 minutes. For the Good of the Order : a Guide for the Innovators. 3 rd ed. [S.l.] : General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons, International, Manual Prepared for Use by the General Grand Council, Cryptic Masons, International. 4 th ed. [S.l. : s.n.], Super Excellent Master Degree : As Authorized by the General Grand Council Cryptioc Masons International, September 27, 1927, Denver, Colorado. 16 th ed., [S.l.], c [Ritual] Printed and Published by Order of the General Grand Council Royal and Select Masters, Under the Supervision of the Ritual Committee, Adopted September 24, 1900, as Revised October 10-11, 1960 in New Orleans, Louisiana, 24 th Edition. [Kila, Mont.] Kessinger Publishing, [2003].. General Grand Council Cryptic Masons, Under the Supervision of the Ritual Committee, Adopted September 24, 1900, as Revised October 10-11, in New Orleans, Louisiana, 24 th Edition. [S.l. : Available from General Grand Recorder, n.d.] New setting of the item above, and contains multiple misprints. Hand-corrected copies are in circulation. Sessa, Luigi. Il mito di Ramsay : a duecento anni dalla fondazione del Rito scozzese antico ed accettato. Biblioteca massonica. Foggia : Bastogi editrice italiana, Sperber, Daniel. Bat Qol in The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion. Editors in chief R.J. Zwi Werblosky [and] Geoffrey Wigoder. New York ; Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1997, p Strong, James. Strong s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Updated ed. Peabody, Mass. : Hendrickson Publishers, c2007, reprinted Van Gorden, John H. Biblical Characters in Freemasonry. Lexington, Mass. : published jointly by Supreme Council Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, United States of America, and The Masonic Book Club. 1982, c1980. Although the material in this volume is keyed to the York Rite bodies, it is also keyed to former rituals of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, and thus cannot be used as a guide to current Southern Jurisdiction rituals. Additionally, it contains notices for individuals to be found in cryptic degree rituals who are not found in the General Grand Council version.s Vassily, Wm. Geo. The History of Bath Qol. 1p. PDF file; available at Pdf (accessed January 31, 2015). There is no date for the file. Wells, Roy A. Some Royal Arch Terms Examined. Shepperton, Middlesex : A. Lewis (Masonic Publishers), c1975. John L. Belanger PIGM, Chairman Michael Carpenter, Co-Chairman

53 York Rite Awareness Committee Report To the Most Illustrious Grand Master, grand officer and companions all: This year, we had several festivals throughout the state, Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, and Hammond. We have seen festivals in Leesville which was always a great success not to have one again this year. We encourage the Chapter to start the Festival again this will help them possible in growth in membership and activity in their York Rite Bodies. This Year we know that through festivals the majority of our membership has received their degrees. Therefore, we your committee encourage additional festivals for Your Committee thanks you for allowing us to serve you this year. John L. Belanger PIGM, Chairman

54 Grand Council Resolution Section 7 Fees and Per Capita Currently: Each Constituent Council in the jurisdiction shall pay to the Grand Council Five Dollars ($5.00) for each degree conferred and Seven Dollars ($7.00) for each member on its rolls during the year Each Council shall also pay to the Grand Council, annually, for the purpose of funding the Annual Grand Assembly and supporting the Grand Council, the sum of two dollar ($2.00) per member for each member on its roll during the year. Change to: Each Constituent Council in the jurisdiction shall pay to the Grand Council Five Dollars ($5.00) for each degree conferred and Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) for each member on its rolls during the year Each Council shall also pay to the Grand Council, annually, for the purpose of funding the Annual Grand Assembly and supporting the Grand Council, the sum of Five dollar ($5.00) per member for each member on its roll during the year. Submitted By:

55 Order of the High Priesthood

56 Dec 31, 14 Dec 31, 13 $ Change % Change ASSETS Current Assets Checking/Savings Wells Fargo Advisors Bank Deposit & Sweeps % Mutual Fund Bond Fund of America Class C 10, , % Capital Income Bldr Class C 11, , % Income Fund Amer Inc Class C 12, , % Total Mutual Fund 33, , % Total Wells Fargo Advisors 33, , % Total Checking/Savings 33, , % Total Current Assets 33, , % TOTAL ASSETS 33, , % LIABILITIES & EQUITY Equity Opening Balance Equity 27, , % Unrestricted Net Assets 5, , , % Net Income , , % Total Equity 33, , % TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY 33, , %

57 Jan - Dec 14 Jan - Dec 13 $ Change % Change Income Investments Dividend, Interest (Securities) % Total Investments % Other Types of Income Unrealized Gains or Losses 1, , , % Total Other Types of Income 1, , , % Total Income 1, , , % Expense Uncategorized Expenses 1, , % Total Expense 1, , % - Net Income , , %

58 Order of the Silver Trowel