TABLE OF CONTENTS MOST EXCELLENT SAM PITASSI, RIP 2 GRAND SESSIONS, GENERAL GRAND CHAPTER AND COUNCIL 2 COMPANION ADEPT OF THE TEMPLE 2

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1 THE CALIFORNIA ENCOMPASSER IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GRAND YORK RITE BODIES OF CALIFORNIA AND IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY TO PROVIDE AN INFORMATION VEHICLE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP Volume 32 April 2017 Number 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS MOST EXCELLENT SAM PITASSI, RIP 2 GRAND SESSIONS, GENERAL GRAND CHAPTER AND COUNCIL 2 COMPANION ADEPT OF THE TEMPLE 2 EDITOR S MESSAGE + TRIP TO ISRAEL 3 SCHOLARSHIPS 3 THE RIFLE RAFFLE 3 GOLDEN STATE RESEARCH CHAPTER 3 RECEPTIONS AND FESTIVALS 4 GRAND YORK RITE CONTACTS 4 THE RIFLE FLYER 6 GRAND SESSIONS REGISTRATION FORM 7 8 COMPTCHE 3, 9-10 Page 1 of 12

2 In Memoriam Most Excellent Companion Xavier A. Sam Pitassi Secretary, Artesia Blvd., Suite 13, Artesia, CA , or to the Shriner s Hospital. GRAND SESSIONS 2017 Dates for the 2017 California Grand York Rite Monday, May 22, 2017 Grand Commandery Tuesday, May 23, 2017 Grand Chapter Wednesday, May 24, 2017 Grand Council Copies of the Registration Form and the Ad Form are copied at the back of this newsletter. Copies of the forms to be used by elected reps or proxies can be found at Remember, each body is governed differently, as to representation, so plan now to have your members properly certified with the necessary documentation GENERAL GRAND CHAPTER Now the laborer's task is o'er; Now the battle is past; Now upon the farther shore, Lands the voyager at last. KNIGHT OF THE YORK GRAND CROSS OF HONOUR EPHRAIN KIRBY AW ARD Grand High Priest ( ), Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of California; Deputy General Grand High Priest ( ), General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International; Potentate (2011), Al Malaikah Shrine Born August14,1942 Called from labor on February 12, 2017 In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Royal Arch Scholarship Fund, c/o Grand The next Triennium will be held in Portland on August 23 through August 30 th this year. General Grand Chapter will be held on Tuesday August 29 th, with General Grand Council meeting on Monday the 28 th. You should put these dates on your calendar now, and plan to register before July 26 th, 2017 to get the best rates. Hotel RSVPs are due July 31 st, This meeting is open to all Companions. This may be the closest the Triennial will be to California in at least 9 years, so give attendance next year your serious consideration. In addition to the meetings, there are numerous other activities planned, and services available, that you may want to avail yourself of. See the 2-page flyer at the end of the February edition of the Workman newsletter, which can be found at: hpriest/theworkmanvolviiino.9.pdf Page 2 of 12

3 COMPANION ADEPT OF THE TEMPLE The York Rite Sovereign College has developed a self-study educational program, similar in concept to the Scottish Rite s Master Craftsman Program, for the York Rite bodies. It is available to any York Rite Mason by enrollment through the Sovereign College Office. Cost is only $30. Eight resources are made available, seven of them at no cost. Your editor purchased the other from Amazon for $1.99! These resources include books by Mackey, Thomas Smith Webb, Jeremy Cross, Bernard Jones, Jackson Chase and George Cooper Connor. You will be happy to have these resources on your PC! Or your ebook reader. For information, contact the College Office at (313) EDITOR'S MESSAGE CALENDARS OF PRESIDING OFFICERS The itineraries can be found at the Grand York Rite website. Hold down the CTRL key and click on the line below. For M.E.C. Rick Baskin go to: h/ghpcalendar.html For M.I.G.M Bill Price go to: dar.html For R.E.G.C. Steve Alderete go to: tinerary.html TRIP TO ISRAEL Right Excellent Companion Randy Downey, Grand King, writes: Have you ever imagined yourself traveling to Jerusalem, and visiting the place which is so significant in the history and symbology of York Rite Masonry? Here is your opportunity. In April of 2018, join my wife, Micki, and me, as the Grand Chapter of California will sponsor a trip to Israel, with an optional excursion to Jordon and magnificent Petra. We will visit the ancient port of Joppa, so significant to Masons, and see the Templar city of Acco. We will stay at the Sea of Galilee, visit Tel Dan in the north, source of the River Jordan, and taste wine in the Golan Heights. We will see Bethlehem, swim in the Dead Sea, and spend three days in Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, we will visit Temple Mount, site of the first and second temples, and headquarters of the Knights Templar in Jerusalem. We will see the Western Wall, and explore the Western Wall Tunnels, an ongoing excavation, reaching to the foundation of the Temple Mount retaining wall, and will be as close as possible to the original site of the Sanctum Sanctorum. Also while in Jerusalem, we will visit King Solomon's quarries, tour the old Jewish Quarter, and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This is but a sampling of what we will see and do on what may be a profound, and in some cases a life-altering journey. Final details are still being assembled. All information will be available by the time of our Grand Sessions in May. For now, block off the last two weeks in April - the trip will fall in that range. COMMUNICATIONS As mentioned in previous editions of the Encompasser, communications are vital to assist those seeking further light in Masonry. So resolve now to ACT: 1) broadcast this publication far and wide, and encourage each of your York Rite bodies to buy a 2-year subscription; 2) broadcast the monthly Workman to the leaders of all your bodies; 3) access the following websites, and see that your Companions are aware of their existence and how to access them: Page 3 of 12

4 And as you continue into this York Rite year, make every effort you can to continually remind your membership of the Colorado River Fall Festival this October. Confer the Mark Master as often as you can and build interest in our brethren of pursuing further light. SCHOLARSHIPS The Masonic Family has a large number of scholarships available to our youth, but how many of those in need of assistance really "KNOW" they are available? California Royal Arch $1,000 Scholarship requirements: A member of the Masonic Family (ie: Rainbow, Jobs Daughter or Demolay) A US Citizen A California Resident A 3.0 Grade Point Average Deadline to apply: To be determined Once chosen, the award of $1,000 is renewable for a total of 4 years, as long as the requirements are maintained. Do you know a Rainbow Girl, Job's Daughter or DeMolay that could benefit by knowing this information? What are you waiting for - make that call! THE RIFLE RAFFLE The Henry Repeating Arms Company has donated one of their Golden Boy Freemason Tribute Edition rifles to each Grand Commandery in the United States. See the flyer on page 11 below. Here in California, the Grand Commandery is holding a raffle with 100% of the proceeds to go to the Educational Foundation, which could generate as much as $50,000 for scholarship purposes. Please note that such a raffle is permitted under terms of Section of the California Masonic code. See Grand Commandery line officers or Inspectors to find out how to purchase tickets for this worthy educational cause. COMPTCHE OUTDOOR DEGREES The 45th Annual Comptche Outdoor Royal Arch Degrees are scheduled this year for June 24th at Tunzi Ranch. All four Degrees will be conferred on Saturday, with the Prologue beginning at 8:30 a.m. The reservation deadline is June 16th. You could make a vacation around this event. Selfcontained RVs and tent campers are welcome to setup from June 21st through the 26th. There are no 120V hookups but there are chemical toilets in the meadow. There is a hot water shower in the restroom shack, as well as men s and women s bathrooms. Fish Fry Friday night -- $15.50 Breakfast Saturday morning -- $10 Dues Registration -- $12 Companions Lunch -- $12.50 Tri-tip Barbeque Saturday Night -- $20 Breakfast Sunday morning -- $10 Children half-price; only companions pay the registration. Make checks payable to COMPTCHE OUTDOOR DEGREES, and complete and send the registration document below to Guy Chalmers, 50 Lohrrman Lane, Petaluma, CA Page 4 of 12

5 GOLDEN STATE RESEARCH CHAPTER flagship publication is publishing the Grand Orations of the Grand Chapter, Grand Council and the Vespers Service of the Grand Commandery. RECEPTIONS AND FESTIVALS The mission of the Golden State Research Chapter is to stimulate interest among Royal Arch Masons by expanding their knowledge of Royal Arch Masonry through research leading to the publication of educational materials that expand the understanding of Royal Arch Masons in their history, traditions, and symbolism. Information describing why this Chapter was formed is available at Date Event Location Apr 8 Chapter Palo Alto Festival Apr 15 Templar Van Nuys Orders June Chapter Comptche 24 Festival October York Rite Festival Colorado River, Laughlin, NV If you would like to attend any of these events and need to know particulars about where and when and cost, please call any of the contact numbers below The next meeting for our Research Chapter will be held in Bakersfield during the York Rite Grand Sessions in May. All Companions are invited and encouraged to attend. I encourage all Royal Arch Companions to join the Golden State Chapter of Research in order to receive further light in our beautiful Capitular Degrees. Our website address is where we post many papers and newsletters. This is also where you will find an application of affiliation to the Chapter. To become a member of the Research Chapter candidates must submit an application form and a $10.00 fee. There are no annual dues in the Research Chapter. Our Page 5 of 12

6 GRAND YORK RITE CONTACT INFORMATION Most Excellent Grand High Priest: Richard D. Baskin, KYGCH (619) (C) Most Illustrious Grand Master: William E. Price, KYGCH (650) (C) Right Eminent Grand Commander Stephen E. Alderete (909) (Cellular) Grand Secretary: Ken Hope E. Artesia Blvd, #13 Artesia, CA (562) (W) (562) (C) Editor: Phil Hardiman, PGHP 2713 Hoffman Woods Lane Carmichael, CA (916) (C) Websites: If you need access to the confidential features of the website, contact one of the officers above for userid and password. Page 6 of 12

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12 GRAND CHAPTER ROYAL ARCH MASONS OF CALIFORNIA E. Artesia Blvd, #13, Artesia, CA RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID LONG BEACH, CA PERMIT NO. 799 W E N E E D S U B S C R I B E R S The California Encompasser is requesting subscribers to assist with the ever increasing costs of paper, printing and postage. We are also in constant need of new items, fillers, pictures, jokes, educational papers (short) and anything else you might be able to think of. S u b s c r i p t i o n F o r m Yes! I would appreciate receiving the California Encompasser. You will find my check for $ enclosed for a lifetime subscription or $40.00 for a two-year subscription. NAME: ADDRESS: CITY, ST & ZIP: California Freemasons The Family of Freemasonry Masonry on the Rise Page 12 of 12