THE WORKMAN Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of California Randy Downey, GHP SEPTEMBER 2017 Vol. IX No. 4 GHP MESSAGE 1 EDITOR S BROODINGS 3 SECRETARY ESSENTIALS 4 GRAND SESSIONS 2018 4 ORDER OF HIGH PRIESTHOOD 4 GOLDEN STATE RESEARCH CHAPTER 5 GRAND CHAPTER SCHOLARSHIPS 5 THE CLOTHES LINE 5 THE ENCOMPASSER 6 TRIP TO ISRAEL AND JORDAN 6 GRAND HIGH PRIEST S CALENDAR 6 CONTACT INFORMATION 6 SECRETARY ESSENTIALS 7-8 GRAND SESSIONS 2018 9 RECEPTIONS & FESTIVALS 10 COLORADO RIVER FALL FESTIVAL 11-13 STAR & COMPASS TRAVEL INFO 14 TRIP TO ISRAEL AND JORDAN 15-18 Grand High Priest s Message Companions, Micki and I just returned from Portland, Oregon, where we attended the 70 th Triennial of the General Grand Chapter. It was a unique experience. We met a lot of great folks from all over this country and from all over the world. I want to congratulate Most Excellent Companion Jerry Wohlfarth, who just completed a successful term as General Grand Treasurer. I also congratulate Most Excellent Companion Gary Spriggs, who was just appointed Ambassador for General Grand Chapter to California, and Most Excellent Companion Rick Baskin, who was appointed General Grand Sentinel, as well as Assistant Deputy General Grand High Priest for the Southwest Region. We all wish them well in their new responsibilities. Companions, I need to discuss a subject that is very serious, and more than a little somber. A couple of weeks ago, a Companion in my own Chapter stood up during the stated convocation and said something that took me aback, and set me on course of thinking which may change the way the rest of my term goes. This Companion is a young man, and has been a Mason for only a short number of years, but has already been through the chairs in many organizations, including Commandery, and is currently progressing through the line in Page 1 of 18
the Chapter. On this occasion, he rose to let us know that there is a definitive reason that our Companions are not showing up for meetings. He told us, in no uncertain terms, that he is rapidly becoming bored with Masonry, in its many forms, especially York Rite. He said that as he sat there that evening, I m dying here. I m bored to death. He explained that Masons his age and younger were not so much interested in just the social aspect of Masonry. They are looking for more. They are looking for content, for fulfillment, for education and enlightenment. He said that the Chapter has great lessons in its ritual, but that we don t really ever do it. Degrees are done at festivals, and opening and closing really doesn t cut it as for as meaningful ritual. Meetings are the same old thing over and over. He concluded by saying that he is not sure how much longer he could continue to attend meetings of the various bodies that provided him nothing. My Companions, it is no surprise that meetings can be boring. We have talked for years about having something extra when we gather. But a lot of us attend meeting after meeting, because that s what we do, without regard for what content is in those meetings. We do it because, for lack of a better term, we are addicted to Masonry. But this instance brought home to me the fact that not all of us think alike. For a growing percentage our members, the same old thing is not ever going to be enough. It emphasized to me how urgent this situation is. With our dwindling numbers, we cannot afford to let lessons like this one pass us by. We must take this as a call to action to change what we do and how we do it. I ve talked all year about letting your light shine. Well now is the time. We must let that light shine on our Companions who need fulfillment. But just how do we go about this? I challenge each Royal Arch Chapter in California, and each of its officers and members to do the following: Each stated convocation, provide an educational talk, an historical lecture, a powerpoint presentation on a relevant Masonic topic, or something else that is designed to educate or enlighten. Invite the newer or younger members to make some of these presentations, so that they are involved and interested. The presentation can be done before the meeting at a dinner, during the meeting, or after the meeting, perhaps over refreshments. Each Chapter should make a sincere effort to confer at least two degrees during the calendar year even if it is only the same degree twice and to confer those degrees within the confines of its home Chapter room, not a festival. This will form a bond or connection between the candidates and their home Chapter. This doesn t normally happen at festivals. Invite guest speakers from non-york Rite bodies to speak about their organizations. Or ask someone from outside Masonry, such as local government or from the private sector, to speak at a dinner or other event. Endeavor to hold at least two social events for your Chapter in the calendar year. But don t make it strictly social. Perhaps make it a York Rite information night for lodge brothers, which can be fun and convivial, but can also be used for education. Page 2 of 18
At least once a year, call a special meeting, where you work hard to get as many of your members present as you can, just to talk and find out what interests are and what everyone would like to get out of Royal Arch Masonry or York Rite Masonry. Companions, at the Grand Chapter level, we will do what we can to support your local Chapter. We will be working on ideas and materials to help you accomplish the points I ve set out above. But it is going to be up the Companions, especially those who have been around awhile, and who can serve as mentors to those coming up, to take this effort seriously and make something happen. My door is open by means of email and telephone. I invite you to contact me with questions, concerns, ideas, or suggestions. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE! Randy R. Downey, KYGCH 163 rd Grand High Priest, Royal Arch Masons of California EDITOR S BROODINGS I have been planning at some point to share the following thoughts with our Companions of the Royal Arch, but given our Grand High Priest s suggestions above, it seemed that now is a good time to do so so that HP s in our local Chapters can share with their membership. And by doing so, stimulate a deeper appreciation of the Capitular Masonry in three respects: 1) the accuracy of the Bible in its rendition of historical facts and events; 2) the nature of the hidden manna referenced in the Lecture of the Mark Master; and 3) the need to be careful in evaluating claims made by scientists that a particular theory had been settled! Many decades ago, I read a number of books written by Immanuel Vellikovsy Worlds in Collision, Earth in Upheaval, Ages in Chaos, and several others, and recently had occasion to read accounts of his journey through the scientific world in Page 3 of 18 the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Vellikovsky was a brilliant researcher, and as a consequence of his researches he made rather startling advance claims about our Solar System, which were widely derided at the time by fools like Carl Sagan, but later proved to be correct for example, the surface temperature of Venus, radio noises from Jupiter, and so forth. In any event, as the theory goes, Jupiter expelled a large mass sometime before 1500 B.C., which travelled around the solar system for an unknown period time as a large comet, and finally encountered the Earth, causing considerable turmoil, as described by the Ten Plagues of Egypt. Apparently the Earth travelled up the tail of the comet and in doing so received many deposits, especially of petroleum, and hydrocarbons which were plentiful in the Jupiter atmosphere from which the comet came. The electrical discharges and gravitational consequences of the encounter caused Moses to take the Hebrews out of Egypt, and the parting of the Red Sea was occasioned by the
same events, as was the closing of the waters at the peril of the pursuing Egyptians. The hydrocarbons were converted to carbohydrates as a consequence of the chemical reactions inspired by the naphtha fires, the electrical discharges, and the vast amounts of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. Without going into extensive detail, these carbohydrates constituted the manna which the children of Israel were supplied with that article of food forty years in the wilderness. The Comet continued to traverse the solar system, encountering Earth again 50 years later. And again in 700 B.C., plus or minus, another encounter with Earth, Mars, and the Moon, pushed Mars farther out in orbit (whereas before it was within the orbit of Earth) and, most interestingly, pushed Earth a little farther out, creating the 365.25 day year. Prior to March 23, 687 B.C., our calendar was 360 days of 12 30-day months!!! The Comet then settled itself into a circular orbit inside the orbit of Earth but outside that of Mercury, and is now known as the planet Venus. So you see, historical accounts in the Bible can be taken as accurate, and the Ark of the Covenant did surely at one time contain a Pot of Manna. For a more complete description of Vellikovsky s theory, start with Worlds in Collision. It may keep you up for nights at a time but is well worth your study. You may also want to research the use of microbes to convert asphalt (a hydrocarbon) into an edible substance. Come to the next Research Chapter meeting on October 14 at 12:15 pm at Grand Lodge, if you d like to discuss further. SECRETARY ESSENTIALS Secretaries new and old: near the end of this newsletter you will find a two-page document that serves as guidelines for Secretaries especially new ones. GRAND SESSIONS 2018 Dates for the 2018 California Grand York Rite Monday, May 21, 2018 Grand Council Tuesday, May 22, 2018 Grand Commmandery Wednesday, May 23, 2018 Grand Chapter A copy of the flyer announcing the change to the Wyndham Hotel in Visalia, and showing future years as well, is included at the back of this newsletter. ORDER OF HIGH PRIESTHOOD It is a requirement of the Constitution that all High Priests receive this Order. Altogether, 22 candidates received this Order in the afternoon of May 23 rd. If you are a newly elected or installed High Priest, or a past High Priest who has not yet received the order, you should plan to do so at the Grand Chapter Convocation on May 23 rd next year, at 2:00 pm in the afternoon. See the application below in the document labeled SECRETARY ESSENTIALS. Page 4 of 18
GOLDEN STATE RESEARCH CHAPTER Companions, I hope when you receive this message, you are in good spirits and in good health. Of particular note is the upcoming Research Chapter meeting at Grand Lodge on Oct 14 th, at 12:15pm, place to be determined. The new Grand Orations booklet will be available at that time, and we should have some lively discussion and presentations! Hope to see many Companions there! Fraternally, Anthony Tony Yuson, KYCH High Priest, Golden State Research Chapter GRAND CHAPTER SCHOLARSHIPS Enrolled or Accepted at an Educational Institution Deadline to apply for the 2018 Scholarship Program will be published in January 2018. Scholarship requirements will remain the same. Early submissions can be forwarded to the Office of the Grand Chapter Secretary at Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons Attn: Grand Secretary 11428 East Artesia Blvd. Suite 13 Artesia, CA 90701-3872 Telephone: (562) 924-6500 E-mail: FDB.Scholarship@gmail.com 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! For further info about Scholarships, go to the following website: http://www.yorkriteofcalifornia.org/royala rch/rara.html 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 Page 5 of 18 THE CLOTHES LINE A line of Jackets for our York Rite bodies continues to be available at MP. ENTERPRISES. The price for red and blue is great -- $75.00 plus tax and shipping, for sizes 34 to 49 in short, regular and tall; and $87.00 plus tax and shipping for sizes 50 to 60, also in short, regular, and tall. Purple Jackets are little more expensive at $95.00 for the smaller and $107.00 for the larger. Also available are Men s and ladies vests, tuxedos and shirts, pins, patches, and flags, and OES T-Shirts. Contact Max Luy at (510)
502-3224; or at his website: www.mpenterprises.weebly.com; or directly to his email at maxluy@hotmail.com. ENCOMPASSER The July 2017 edition of the Encompasser is now available at the following website: http://www.yorkriteofcalifornia.org/encom passer_issues.html OR. Go to http://www.yorkriteofcalifornia.org and click on The Encompasser on the left of the top toolbar. GRAND CHAPTER TRIP TO ISRAEL AND JORDAN You should seriously consider the trip planned by M. E. C. Randy to the Holy Land in late April to early may next year. See the last 4 pages of this newsletter for details. GRAND HIGH PRIEST S CALENDAR JULY 2017 TO MAY 2018 Date Event Location Sept 7-9 Grand Chapter Colorado Sept 16- Scottish Rite Trip New Orleans 24 Sept 29- Grand Family Los Osos Oct 1 Weekend Oct 12- Grand Lodge San Francisco 15 Oct 15- Colorado River Laughlin, NV 18 Fall Festival Oct 24- Grand Chapter Visalia 28 OES Oct 29 3-Way Reception Santa Monica Nov 2-3 Southwest Las Vegas, NV Regional Conference Nov 9-11 SCIOTS Supreme Morgan Hill Nov 24- NorCal DeMolay Sacramento 25 Jan 30 Scottish Rite Installation San Jose Page 6 of 18 Feb 9 3-Way Reception Santa Rosa Feb 17 3-Way Reception San Diego Mar 9-10 Officers Visalia Conference Apr 19- Grand Chapter New Mexico 21 Apr 22- May 5 Grand Chapter Trip Israel and Jordan May 19-24 Grand York Rite Visalia 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, or go to the Grand York Rite website calendar at: http://www.yorkriteofcalifornia.org/royala rch/ghpcalendar.html GRAND CHAPTER CONTACT INFORMATION Grand High Priest: Randy R. Downey, KYGCH (408) 674-8341 (C) oldmandowney@msn.com Grand Secretary: Ken Hope 11428 E. Artesia Blvd, #13 Artesia, CA 90701-3872 (562) 924-6500 (W) (562) 484-1611(C) sec-rec@californiayorkrite.org Editor: Phil Hardiman, KYGCH (916) 712-4814(C) philipandnancy@aol.com Website: WWW.YORKRITEOFCALIFORNIA.ORG GOLDEN STATE CHAPTER OF RESEARCH Website: WWW.GOLDENSTATECHAPTER.ORG GRAND SESSIONS, FORMS & SCHEDULES Website: WWW.CA-GYRS.ORG
SECRETARY ESSENTIALS Forms and Documents you will need are located at the Grand York Rite website, which is: www.yorkriteofcalifornia.org. Scroll down and click on "York Rite Forms and Documents" Then click on Grand Chapter logo. A window opens where you enter the userid, which is "cagyr" and the password, which is "brio" Scroll down to Officers Manual, which has info for the Secretary, and print that out. Priorities are as follows: 1. Membership control -- Especially important is the very last item, Royal Arch Monthly Report. If you fill this out each month, whenever you encounter changes to the membership, you will find it much easier at the end of the year to produce the year-end report, which is used to compute the amount of per capita the Chapter needs to pay. That payment is due by Jan 15th each year. Important changes to your membership include new members, demits, remits and deaths. Maintain e-mail addresses for members and you can easily then forward the monthly newsletter, The WORKMAN, to them. 2. Per Capita -- The Per Capita payment, due each Jan 15 th, does not require action by the Chapter to be paid. You will need good, up-to-date membership data in order to compute the end-of-year number of active members that is crucial to computing your per capita payment. Without good data you will most likely overpay your per capita requirement. It is sensible to wait until the first of the new year to begin your process. It is also sensible, if you have access to the Grand Lodge database, to check each member to see if they are still alive 3. Insurance -- The Insurance payment, due each July 15 th, does not require action by the Chapter to be paid. You will be billed for the payment by the Grand Secretary. 4. Lodge Book of Marks Maintain this up-to-date, or perhaps arrange for a PHP to take on the responsibility of maintaining. 5. Minutes Take good minutes, but don t over-do it by trying to capture everything that is said. Focus on having a clear representation of motions made and the vote count by which they passed or failed. In addition to keeping petitions in a separate file, it is good practice to replicate the basic petitioner information in the minutes. It is also a good practice to keep the names of attendees at each meeting in the minutes. If conferring a degree, keep a copy of the cast members and the candidate(s). Page 7 of 18
6. Grand Chapter Before the May meeting, remind the Dais officers they are responsible to attend, and arrange a stipend if your Chapter can afford it. Remind members who expect to attend to be sure to take their dues cards. If Dais Officers cannot attend, they may issue a proxy, or the Chapter may elect a representative. The appropriate forms can be obtained on the Grand York Rite website: Scroll to "Elected Representative and Proxy Credentials." 7. Order of High Priesthood Be sure the current HP and PHPs know they are eligible to receive this Order. In fact, it is a Constitutional requirement! Share the petition below with them and send to the Grand Secretary: ORDER OF HIGH PRIESTHOOD PETITION Chapter No. High Priests and Past High Priests, who have not received the Order of High Priesthood, may complete the following petition for membership and submit it with the required fee of $35.00 to the Chapter Recorder prior to February 15. - The Order will be conferred during Grand Sessions Make check payable to: ORDER OF HIGH PRIESTHOOD To the Grand Convention of Anointed High Priest of California: Companion First Middle Last Address City State ZIP Birth Date Office Tel # incl. area code Home Tel # incl. area code I am a member of Chapter No. I (am the Elected)(am)(was) High Priest of Chapter No. Located at having served during. Companion Signature ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For Grand Secretary s use only: Life Membership - fee $35.00. The below listed items were issued: Bible Honorary Membership - no fee. Membership Card By-laws / / Date petition received. History Lapel Pin / / Date initiated. Certificate The completed petition with fee must be in the Grand Secretary s Office, 801 Elm Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813 no later than April 1. If not, the certificate may not be prepared for presentation during the next conferral of the Order. Page 1 of 1 R.A. Form No. AP-7 (2004) Page 8 of 18
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