Tarheel Grand Commandery. Order of the Knights Templar, PHA Jurisdiction of North Carolina, Inc.

Transcription

1 Tarheel Grand Commandery Order of the Knights Templar, PHA Jurisdiction of North Carolina, Inc.

2 Greetings Sir Knights, I hope this letter finds you and your family in the best of health, mentally, physically and spiritually. Once again, I want to thank each of you for having the confidence in my ability to lead this Great Grand Commandery for another year. We have been and will continue to be a Grand Commandery of Involvement, and I appreciate all the hard work each of you are doing. We have several items on the Trestle board that we need to accomplish, and I know with your assistance and cooperation, they will get done. First, is updating our current Statutes, Rules and Regulations. If you have any recommendations, please feel free to contact me, via . Secondly, I am looking at every Commandery getting involved in Relay For Life in your respective local areas. This may be more of a selfish recommendation on my part but, I am sure that each of you have been affected by Cancer in one way or another; either personally or someone you know and love. I have been fighting my battle with cancer since 2012, and continue to fight! If you do not have one in your local area, I suggest joining with another Commandery that has one. Eminent Commanders, please provide me the name of the Sir Knight(s) that you appoint as the chair for this committee. Volume 1 Issue REGC Greetings 2 TGC Officers Grand Session Grand Chapter Session 5 Ascension Day Lecture 6 Community Activities 7 Community Activities 8 Ascension Day Celebrations 9 Ascension Day Celebrations 10 Giving Back to Community 11 GL Golf Tournament 12 Thirdly, and probably most importantly, we want to continue to work together with our Holy Royal Arch and Royal and Select Houses to ensure we are all on the same accord. This initiative was started a few years back and it has been working, so why try to fix something that isn t broke? I continue to work with MEGHP Robert D. Hood and RGTIM Maurice D. Hamilton, to make this the greatest York Rite Body in the World. Once again, I want to thank each of you for your continued support and look forward to doing everything in my power to ensure Tarheel Grand Commandery continues to move in a positive direction. Fraternally, Floyd A. Duhon Sir Knight Floyd A. Duhon, KYGCH Right Eminent Grand Commander Editor: Damajo Smith damajocs@yahoo.com SK, Floyd A. Duhon, KYGCH Right Eminent Grand Commander 801 Savannah Dr. Jacksonville, NC Phone: (817) duhonfa@gmail.com COMMANDERY OF INVOLVEMENT Page 2

3 Tarheel Grand Commandery Officers SK, Floyd A. Duhon, KYGCH Right Eminent Grand Commander 801 Savannah Dr. Jacksonville, NC Phone: (817) SK William A. Cooke, KYGCH Very Eminent Deputy Grand Commander PO Box 5165 Kinston, NC SK Lee Capehart EG Generalissimo Lakewood Drive, Jacksonville, NC SK Clarence Barnett Jr., KYCH EG Captain General 2313 Kiev Drive Charlotte, NC SK Norman Sims, KYCH EG Senior Warden 714 Dude Ct. Fayetteville, NC SK James Reed EG Junior Warden 3130 Wichita Dr. Fayetteville, NC SK Shawnta Best, KYCH EG Recorder 1470 Sang Pit Road Stantonsburg, NC SK Jaycee Spruill, PGC EG Treasurer 7570 Happy Hill Road Kernersville, NC COMMANDERY OF INVOLVEMENT Page 3

4 2017 Calendar of Events May st Guardian News Letter is being published st Host or participate an Ascension Day Program; Invite all local York Rite Bodies. 3. Volunteer to assist in local schools with proctoring, etc. June th the Elite Honor Guard will be visiting Turner Mears in Durham, NC. Showtime is th escort MWGM in Oxford, NC. Show time is 0800, dress will be White Elite Honor Guard Polos and black belt, slacks, shoes, and socks. If you are not escorting, please dress as Masons and participate in the parade. 3. Host a Canned Good Drive for Salvation Army. July st Escort MWGM into NC Youth Assemblage. North Raleigh Hilton, show time is Host a NAACP Membership Drive. August st Guardian News Letter Published. 2. Put on a school supply drive to include Book bags, Pens Pencils, Paper, Hand Sanitizer, Glue Sticks, etc. September th escort MWGM at Grand Chapter in Winston Salem, NC. Show time is rd York Rite September Session at the Grand Lodge at th escort MWGM at Grand Session in Raleigh, NC. Show time is October st Elite Honor guard will be visiting Rouge Mount Commandery in Red Mountain. Show time is th escort MWGM for Founder's Day at NCCU in Durham. Show time is Host a Clothes & Coat Drive for Social Services or a similar organization. November st Guardian News Letter Published. 2. Partner with Social Services to provide Thanksgiving Baskets for those in need. December With Local RED and PURPLE Houses, provide food baskets and Xmas toys to 6 families in need. 2. Annual Commandery Elections. 3. Ensure that all your Sir Knights have registered for York Rite Convention. January th Elite Honor Guard will be participating in the MLK Parade in Charlotte, NC. Time is TBD th Elite Honor Guard will be participating in the MLK Parade in Dunn, NC. Time is TBD th All Annual Reports due to Eminent Grand Recorder Office th, Deputies, have All Award Recommendations to myself REGC Duhon. *Commandery of the Year *Eminent Commander of the Year *Recorder of the Year *Treasure of the Year *Sir Knight of the Year 5. Ensure that all your Sir Knights have registered for York Rite Convention. 6. Work with your local soup kitchen to participate in a Feed the Hungry Program. COMMANDERY OF INVOLVEMENT Page 4

5 2015 Grand Session 2016 Grand Chapter Session COMMANDERY OF INVOLVEMENT Page 5

6 Ascension Day & The Order of Knight Templar The Ascension of Jesus Christ is the transferring of Jesus Christ from earth to heaven. The ascension clearly marked the end of Jesus s earthly ministry. What began in a manger in Bethlehem ended with His return to Heaven! There is also a direct correlation with this celebration and the Order of the Knights Templar. It is interesting to note that the Malta s Five Flags stand for the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. The Ascension flag represents Jesus Christ leaving his followers to themselves, as he ascends into Heaven. Jesus Christ has given us the ability to be accountable in our journey by leaving us a comforter in the Holy Spirit! The eight points of the Maltese cross equate to the eight beatitudes in the Bible. Two themes attend the Ascension of Jesus Christ. One is the enthronement of Christ and his power. The other is his command to spread the gospel throughout the world. The Ascension was a vital link in a chain of fulfilled prophecy, promised both in the Old and New Testaments, as revealed in Psalms 110:1 and Acts 2: Jesus Christ also indicated his ascension in Matthew 26:64, John 6:62, John 7:33, and John 14:28. Jesus s ascension was forty days after the resurrection according to Acts 1:3 and at the Mount of Olives, as indicated by Luke 24:50, compared with Mark 11:1 and Acts 1:12. After Jesus s resurrection, he realized that he would have to leave his disciples, so they could be on their own. In Acts 1:3-14, Jesus said, You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses... to end of the earth. So Jesus, during his resurrection time, is offering his followers the 3Ps. The three things they would be offered were: a promise, a purpose, and a preparation. Jesus promises his followers the power of the Holy Spirit, as revealed in Acts. 1:8. We can expect to receive power when the promised Holy Spirit arrives. The presence of the Holy Spirit will bring us comfort as indicated in Acts 9:31 to the believers. The power of the Holy Spirit is for the purpose of witnessing to others and sharing God s love and gift of salvation. Why was the ascension of Jesus important? This question can be answered in the following three points: 1. His ascension marked the success of his earthly mission. Jesus completed all that the Father had designed for him to accomplish. His Holy Birth, miracles, teaching, death, resurrection, and appearances had proven His divine nature and had fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah s first advent. 2. His ascension marked the time when Jesus once again enjoyed His Heavenly glory. During His time on earth, with the exception of the transfiguration on the mountain in Mathew 17:1-9, Jesus limited any expression of the Heavenly glory that He enjoyed prior to his earthly birth. 3. His ascension marked the beginning of the time when Jesus was preparing a place for his followers. John 14:2-3 reveals to us In my Father s house are many mansions. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? His ascension established the path for Christ s second coming as the angels in Acts 1 told his disciples. Jesus will return just as he left, as illustrated in Daniel 7: Jesus is in heaven with his Father, waiting for us. His ascension marks the beginning of the time for us to communicate the message of Jesus love and salvation for all. We as Sir Knights must continue to not only be the defenders of the Christion Faith, but be both hears and doers of His Holy Word! We must continue to celebrate the birth, life, death, resurrection, and the Ascension of our Lord & Savior Jesus the Christ! IN HOC SIGNO VINCES PEC Maurice D. Hamilton, KYCH Grand Lecturer Tarheel Grand Commandery COMMANDERY OF INVOLVEMENT Page 6

7 Community Activities The Knights of Ecclesiastes (KOE) #22 have begun this year as they ended last year by being visible in the community and strengthening masonic ties with other organizations. On 15 April, they conducted their 3rd annual Easter Egg Hunt with the donations from other Masonic Houses. Pictured below (1) is the Right Eminent Grand Commander, SK Floyd A. Duhon with the Eminent Commander SK Randy Dickinson and the winner of the Grand Golden Egg. (2) The Right Eminent Grand Commander with the winners of the Easter Basket giveaways. This year, with the assistance of local organizations, we could give away of 1,000 eggs, toys, and candy. On 16 April, the KOE #22, were the guest of Lewis-Mingo Consistory #316 at Union Chapel AME Zion chucrch as they observed Easter Sunrise Service. Pictured below: (1) Joint photo with the Commandery and Consistory. Photo (2): the EC and the Commander-In-Chief, SP Eddie D. Linkhorn pause for a photo. COMMANDERY OF INVOLVEMENT Page 7

8 Community Activities On April 21st and May 6th, they continued their annual support of the Onslow County Relay for Life by donating to Team Duhon and purchasing luminaries, the REGC s team. Then on May 6th supporting MS Awareness,Team Harris at their annual walk in Wilmington, NC. Below are the Team photos. Ascension Day Program The Commandery held its Ascenion Day this year at Changing Hearts Ministries. We always open any church visitation to all masonic houses. This year we were fortunate to have as our guest: WM Blair, Mount Horeb Lodge #73. SW Lorenzo Jones, Ecclesiastes Lodge #818, PRPM, Royal Grand Conductress of Ceremony Audrea Dickinson, DDGM Libbie Bean along with several members of the 7th Masonic District, OES. Front Row WM Dr. Mike Blair, Sis Ida Teale, Sis Montina Sweeney, Sis Carolyn Jones, Royal Grand Conductress of Ceremony Audrea Dickinson (LOCOP), Rev Merritt, DDGM Libbi Beane, Bro. Stacey K. Ross Sr., WM Kim Duhon, Sis Alechea Guichardo, Sis Nicole Moncoda, Bro. Lorenzo Jones Sr. Second Row SK Richard Ryan, Bro. Chester Harvey, REGC Floyd A. Duhon KYGCH, PGC Todd Goldstein, EDDGC James O. Wright, EC Randolph Dickinson, PGC Bennie Smith COMMANDERY OF INVOLVEMENT Page 8

9 Ascension Day Celebrations By order of the Right Eminent Grand Commander, Sir Knight Floyd Duhon, KYGCH, the Sir Knights of the Tarheel Grand Commandery will celebrate Ascension Day 2017 on Sunday, May 21st. The Sir Knights of E.R. Hopkins Commandery No. 15 Order of Knights Templar PHA and the Princesses of Nazarene Court No. 5 Order of the Cyrene Crusaders PHA celebrated Ascension Day 2017 at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. Eminent Grand Junior Warden, PEC James Reed and Eminent Commander James L. French Commandery No. 16 Lumberton, NC and Michael Faulk from Pilgrim Rest Commandery No. 11 Fayetteville, NC, also joined us in the Ascension Day Celebration. Men s Day 2017 was also being celebrated at Bethel AME Church. The theme for the service was Strong Men Arise! The service was inspiring, the Bethel Male Chorus sung spirit filled selections, one led by PGC Colen E. Craven, Jr. and another PEC Ray K. Flowers. The Prince Hall PHAmily was well represented as the Men s Day speaker was Brother Dr. Robert J. (Bob) Brown of Toussaint L Overture Lodge No. 524 PHA and the Bethel AME Church Man of the Year was awarded to Brother Larry Burnett, Sr. (Ret. LTC) from C.W. Lawrence Lodge No. 837 PHA. A great time was had by all in attendance and the Sir Knights and the Royal Princess Commandress made a donation to the church in support of the Men s Day Celebration. Submitted by: PEC Maurice D. Hamilton, KYCH Grand Lecturer Tarheel Grand Commandery Pictured (Seated (l to r) EDDGC PEC Alonza Ollison, KYCH, Royal Princess Commandress Chanel Hunter, and Eminent Commander Rodney Baldwin Standing (l to r) Grand Lecturer PEC Maurice D. Hamilton, KYCH, SK Brent Maynard PGC Henry Tindal, PGC Colen E. Craven, Jr., PEC Kenneth Mullins, Eminent Commander Michael Faulk, SK D. Antoine Lilly, Eminent Grand Junior Warden James Reed COMMANDERY OF INVOLVEMENT Page 9

10 Ascension Day Celebrations Sir Knights of Alpha Commandery No. 1, Paul Poston Commandery No. 6 & Joshua Commandery No. 12 celebrating Ascension Day Turner Mears Commandery #8 Region #5 (King Solomon Commandery #14, Trinity Commandery #17 and Elijah Haddock Commandery #21) Joint Ascension Day Program was held at Spring Garden Baptist Church in Washington, NC Deputy Samuel Whitted, PEC Left to Right- EC Michael L. Hughes, SK Larry Briggs, Deputy Samuel Whitted, SK Glenn Ford COMMANDERY OF INVOLVEMENT Page 10

11 On Thursday, April 27, 2017, the Sir Knights of E.R. Hopkins Commandery No 15 Order of Knights Templar PHA and the Princesses of Nazarene Court No. 5 Order of the Cyrene Crusaders PHA held their 1 st joint service project of the year. The Commandery and the Court teamed up to provide and feed dinner to the homeless of the Pathways Center located at 3517 N Church St, Greensboro, NC Approximately 40 people who are currently housed at the Pathways Center enjoyed their meal and there was plenty to go around. It is always a joy to give back to those who are in need! says Royal Princess Commandress Chanel Hunter. Eminent Commander Rodney Baldwin believes the thought, It is always better to give than to receive! The Sir Knights and Cyrenes put that philosophy into practice and served with joy in their hearts. Both the Sir Knights and the Cyrenes are looking forward to doing this again in the months ahead. Submitted by: Sir Knight Rodney Baldwin Eminent Commander E.R. Hopkins Commandery No. 15 Giving Back to the Community (1 st Row (l to r) PRPC Brenda McCauley, PGC Colen E. Craven, Jr., Royal Princess Commandress Chanel Hunter, Princess Carrielelia Graves, Eminent Commander Rodney Baldwin (2 nd Row (l to r) PEC Kenneth Mullins, EDDGC Alonza Ollison, KYCH, SK Harold Singleton, Grand Lecturer Maurice D. Hamilton, KYCH RPC Chanel Hunter PRPC Brenda McCauley, Princess Carrielelia Graves & her daughter Alahna Dickson EDDGC Ollison, GL Hamilton, EC Baldwin, PEC Mullins & SK Singleton ready to serve the people! RPC Chanel Hunter & EC Rodney Baldwin COMMANDERY OF INVOLVEMENT Page 11

12 Grand Lodge Golf Tournament COMMANDERY OF INVOLVEMENT Page 12