The Phoenix York Rite Mason Trestleboard Phoenix York Rite Bodies (602) 248-5466 Winter 2009 Feb - Mar 2009 The Eminent Commander's Message Sir Knight Zach Zachary, EC www.arizonamasonry.org/pyr/pyr.htm Sir Knights, The holidays are behind us, families are getting back to normal, taxes are due, bills are coming in, and some have lost their jobs -- it can be a tough time. But I say, THANKS! We live in a great country -- our President had left office and a new one has stepped in. Lest we forget, this just did not happen -- it took lots of lives to get to this point. Many brave Masons have performed their duty to the Craft and our country over the years, but we sometimes forget who we are and where we come from. Masons are always around -- just look for them. I was reading about our fellow Mason and Sir Knight William McKinley, our 25th President. It seems fitting to write a little about this man. We have just installed our 44th President; let's see how the perception of Masonry has changed over the years between President McKinley and President Obama: William McKinley (1843-1901) - 25th President of the United States McKinley enlisted as a private in the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, rising through the ranks to Captain by 1864, then to brevetted major by President Lincoln on March 13, 1865, for gallantry in combat. After the war he attended Albany Law School in New York and was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1867 in Canton, Ohio. He was elected to Congress from Ohio from 1876-91. After his district was changed by a Democratic legislature, he was defeated in the election of 1890 -- but in 1892 he was elected as Governor of Ohio for two terms (1892-1896). He was then elected President in 1896 and re-elected in 1900. He was shot by Leon Czolgozs on September 6, 1901, in Buffalo, N.Y., he died on September 14. [continued on Page 4] Contents The Eminent Commander's Message 1 Honors in the York Rite 2 PYR Reminders 2 The Illustrious Master's Words 3 Trestleboard by Email 4 York Rite Officers 5 Important York Rite Dates 6
Page 2 HONORS IN THE YORK RITE Compiled by SK Joe Zito, PC (This issue, Commandery and York Rite College) One of our Sir Knights asked if I could provide information on the various awards in York Rite Masonry for the benefit of some of our newer members. Following is a list that I have compiled with brief descriptions: Commandery Companion of the Temple This award recognizes ladies (and non-templar males) that have supported the work of the Grand Commandery in the Grand Commandery itself or in support of the subordinate Commanderies. It is presented by the Grand Encampment based upon the recommendation of the Grand Commander. Commander s Meritorious Service Award The Arizona Right Eminent Grand Commander s Meritorious Service Award is awarded to the Junior Past Commander of the Commandery that is selected as Commandery of the Year at the annual York Rite Grand Sessions. Details of the points distribution for various Commandery functions are specified in General Order #1. Also, when a Commandery undergoes their Official Visit, the Commander of a subordinate Commandery is eligible for the award if he presides over the Commandery on the night in question, and his Commandery earns sufficient points. The point assessment will be in accordance with General Order # 2. In addition, the Right Eminent grand Commander may grant one additional award to a Sir Knight he deems worthy. Knight Templar Cross of Honor The Knight Templar Cross of Honor is awarded by the Grand Encampment upon the recommendation of the Grand Commander for exceptional and meritorious service to the Order. One award per year is made in each Grand Commandery, but Grand Commanderies with membership over 75,000 may award a second medal. Knight Commander of the Temple The Knight Commander of the Temple may be awarded to one or more Sir Knights in a jurisdiction each year with this award. It recognizes the honoree s service to the causes of Knights Templar. This honor is awarded by the Grand Encampment based upon the recommendation of a national Selection Committee. Sovereign York Rite College of North America Strictly speaking, these next three awards are not honors of the York Rite. They are awarded by the Sovereign York Rite College of North America, an appendant body whose members are all York Rite Masons. York Rite College Gold Award This award is presented to any Mason for outstanding service. Each College may nominate one or more Masons in their area to receive this award from the Sovereign College. York Rite College Service Award One of these awards may be made each year in each jurisdiction. The Grand Governor of the State or Province makes the nomination based upon leadership, service, moral and intellectual qualities. Order of the Purple Cross This award is made to members of the subordinate Colleges by the Sovereign College. Each College may nominate one member for this award. This nomination must be first approved by the Grand Governor of the State or Province, and then by the Sovereign College itself. PYR Reminders Support your York Rite Attend and participate in Meetings Attend and participate in the Degrees Learn the work Support your York Rite Charities RARA CRMFF Eye Foundation Holy Land Pilgrimage Furnish the Dining Room We need new tables and chairs for the dining room. Please see John Ruth for additional information.
Page 3 The Illustrious Master's Words Companion Joe Zito, IM My Companions All, Since the last edition of the Trestleboard, activities have been relatively quiet. Thanks to all Companions who have shown support to the Scottsdale York Rite bodies by attending their sessions as well as ours. Thanks also to those companions who attended the Council practice on January 19 th 2009. As you are reading this, we will have received our official visit by Companion Michael T. Bishop, the Right Illustrious Grand Principal Conductor of the Work of Cryptic Masons in Arizona. I expect we will have a successful visit. A warm thank you goes out to Companion Jim Gibson for several things. Companion Jim has graciously volunteered to accept the Conductor of the Council position, recently vacated by Companion Sam Leabo. In addition, he has prepared a Cryptic Ritual booklet for new Companions. Currently, we don t have any Royal or Select Master Degrees scheduled through the end of the Cryptic Year. As a reminder though, we are hosting the annual Super Excellent Master degree on 18 April 2009 at the Masonic Temple. Start time is 12:00PM to eat; 1:00 PM degree. Companion Foy Yancey, in his capacity as Illustrious Grand Lecturer, is the Degree Master. I ask all to come out and support this Degree in any capacity. It requires many actors, help is needed with the stage crew and we need sideliners as well. Finally, I would like to discuss The Line. This discussion is not specific to any Masonic body, or even specific to Freemasonry. In general, the Line is about commitment. When you commit to the Line, you are pledging that you will serve that body to the best of your ability at meetings, practices, degrees, parties or any other event that is held while you are In The Line. And when you have finished serving in the Line, hopefully you have left a better place for others to serve. However, I have experienced both ends of the commitment continuum while in the York Rite Bodies. There are those who accept a position in the Line and don t commit, and those who commit whether they have a position in the Line or not. At our upcoming elections, I charge and challenge every officer who stands to be elected in any of the Lines to stand up in front of the assembled brethren and voice his commitment to each respective body s Line. Each appointed Line Officer should be willing to so commit to his respective appointing head. Zealously, Joe Zito Illustrious Master Phoenix Council #4 Support the Temple! The Phoenix Masonic Temple Board is selling laser engraved memorial Masonic Bricks to continue the refurbishment and maintenance of our historic Masonic Temple. Please see Paul Doré for additional information.
Page 4 [Commander s Message from Page 1] While a Union Major, McKinley received his degrees in a Southern Lodge during the war. He was protecting and managing the Army hospital at Winchester, VA., and was struck by the ties he saw between the Union doctors and the Confederate Prisoners. When he learned the reason for such a bond between the men while war raged around them, he asked to be admitted to Hiram Lodge No 21 of Winchester and was initiated May 1, 1865, passed May 2, and raised on May 3, 1865, by J. Reed -- a Confederate Chaplain who served in the East. On August 21, 1867, he affiliated with Canton Lodge No. 90 in Ohio, and on June 2, 1868, he became a charter member of Eagle Lodge No. 431 of Canton (this Lodge was later named William McKinley Lodge in his honor). He was also a member of Canton Chapter No 84 of RAM and received his Mark, Past, and Most Excellent degrees on December 27, 1883, and the Royal Arch on December 28, 1883. He received his Commandery Orders on December 18-23, 1884, with Canton Commandery No. 38. On December 23,1896, he was elected a life member of the Washington Commandery No. 1, Washington, DC. During his career in Congress he was a frequent visitor to the Lodges in the District of Columbia. He was the Grand Orator at the dedication of the Masonic Temple in Canton on June 25,1890, and on December 14, 1899, while he was the sitting President of the United States. In May 1901 he attended a reception given in his honor by California Commandery No. 1, San Francisco. On May 23,1900, he received the members of the Mystic Shrine at a reception in the White House. Many other times McKinley performed Masonic duties while in office. His remains were escorted by five Commanderies of Knights Templar from the White House to the Capitol on September 17, 1901, and at his funeral on September 19 over 2,000 uniformed Knights Templar formed the Fourth Division of the funeral escort. It seem in those days our elected officials were proud of their Masonic affiliations. Are you a proud Mason, or do you keep it a secret? Can we expect anyone to ask us to be one if they do not know we are one? We do good work for our fellow man; we try to become better men, we try to help our fellow Brothers in their times of need. We vote, we volunteer, we serve. Let people know who you are! Again, be proud of our Masonic heritage. Courteously, SK Hamilton (Zach) Zachary Commander, Phoenix Commandery #3 PYR York Rite Trestleboard via Email! To try to save mailing costs, from this issue forward we are going to send out the Phoenix York Rite Trestleboard via email to anyone who has a valid email address on record with us. If you have a valid email address that you want us to use and have not yet made it available to us, please send a message via email to Tom Thompson at Tom.Thompson@AZLodge2.org and I will add you to the list for the email Trestleboard. Thank you.
Page 5 Arizona Chapter #1 Phoenix York Rite Officers 2008-2009 Position Name Address City, State, Zip Phone Spouse Email Address HP Ken Fitschen 646 E. Calavar Phoenix, AZ 85022 602-863-6805 a032309@allstate.com King Tom Thompson 3530 S. Kachina Dr. Tempe, AZ 85282 602-316-7313 Laurie tom.thompson@azlodge2.org Scribe Zach Zachary 9902 W. Bright Angel Cr. Sun City, AZ 85351 623-977-6576 Mary z_zachary@yahoo.com Treasurer Bill Garrard 436 W. Glen Eagles Ln. Phoenix, AZ 85023 602-466-8204 April bgarrard1@cox.net Secretary John Ruth 7807 W. Turney St. Phoenix, AZ 85033-2428 602-647-9359 Terry john.ruth@azlodge2.org Capt. Host Eric Hannah 26144 W. Burnett Road Buckeye, AZ 85396 602-885-1922 Rachel erichannah@hotmail.com Prin. Soj. RAC M 3rd Veil M 2nd Veil M 1st Veil Chaplain Joe Zito PO Box 128 Meridianville, AL 35739 480-357-5992 Angie jzito35759@aol.com Sentinel Phoenix Council #4 Position Name Address City, State, Zip Phone Spouse Email Address IM Joe Zito PO Box 128 Meridianville, AL 35739 480-357-5992 Angie jzito35759@aol.com DM Zach Zachary 9902 W. Bright Angel Cr. Sun City, AZ 85351 623-977-6576 Mary z_zachary@yahoo.com PCW Eric Hannah 26144 W. Burnett Road Buckeye, AZ 85396 602-885-1922 Rachel erichannah@hotmail.com Treasurer Bill Garrard 436 W. Glen Eagles Ln. Phoenix, AZ 85023 602-466-8204 April bgarrard1@cox.net Recorder John Ruth 7807 W. Turney St. Phoenix, AZ 85033-2428 602-647-9359 Terry john.ruth@azlodge2.org Capt. Of G. Tom Thompson 3530 S. Kachina Dr. Tempe, AZ 85282 602-316-7313 Laurie tom.thompson@azlodge2.org Conductor Jim Gibson 454 W. Nopal Ave. Mesa, AZ 85210 480-813-9394 Mary gibson454@cox.net Steward Gerry Massey 725 S Power Rd #215 Mesa, AZ 85206 623-229-0545 Chaplain Sentinel Phoenix Commandery #3 Position Name Address City, State, Zip Phone Spouse Email Address EC Zach Zachary 9902 W. Bright Angel Cr. Sun City, AZ 85351 623-977-6576 Mary z_zachary@yahoo.com Generalissimo Eric Hannah 26144 W. Burnett Road Buckeye, AZ 85396 602-885-1922 Rachel erichannah@hotmail.com Capt. Gen. Tom Thompson 3530 S. Kachina Dr. Tempe, AZ 85282 602-316-7313 Laurie tom.thompson@azlodge2.org Sr. Warden Ken Fitschen 646 E. Calavar Phoenix, AZ 85022 602-863-6805 a032309@allstate.com Jr. Warden Gerry Massey 725 S Power Rd #215 Mesa, AZ 85206 623-229-0545 Treasurer Bill Garrard 436 W. Glen Eagles Ln. Phoenix, AZ 85023 602-466-8204 April bgarrard1@cox.net Recorder John Ruth 7807 W. Turney St. Phoenix, AZ 85033-2428 602-258-5466 w Terry john.ruth@azlodge2.org 623-873-2245 h 602-647-9359 c Std. Bearer Joe Zito PO Box 128 Meridianville, AL 35739 480-357-5992 Angie jzito35759@aol.com Sw. Bearer Rick Thomas 2343 W. Hayward Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85021 (602) 864-0972 Janet rt3mn@yahoo.com Prelate Sam Leabo 314 E Belmont Phoenix, AZ 85020 602-943-6902 Warder Sentinel
Phoenix Masonic Temple 345 W. Monroe Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85003 Phoenix York Rite Bodies Recorder: John P. Ruth (602) 258-5466 «F3» «F2» «F5» «F6», «F7» «F8» What's coming up through Summer 2009 Mar. 9, 2009 Mar. 21, 2009 Mar. 30, 2009 Apr. 13, 2009 Apr. 18, 2009 Apr. 27, 2009 (Mon.) PYR Stated Meeting Commandery Opening (Dress uniform) (1830 eat; 1930 meet) (Sat.) YR Mid-Winter Conference, Phoenix Masonic Temple (0800 donuts; 0900-1200 meet) (Mon.) Mark Master at AZ#2, Phoenix Masonic Temple (1800 eat; 1900 degree) (Mon.) PYR Stated Meeting Chapter Opening (2010 Elections) (1830 eat; 1930 meet) (Sat.) Super Excellent Master, Phoenix Masonic Temple (0900 setup; 1000 degree) (Mon.) Table Council, Stewart Council (1800 eat; 1900 meet) May 4, 2009 (Mon.) PYR Installation of 2009-10 Officers, Phoenix Masonic Temple (1830 eat; 1930 meet) May. 11, 2009 (Mon.) PYR Stated Meeting Council Opening (1830 eat; 1930 meet) May. 25, 2009 (Mon.) Memorial Day at Pioneer Cemetery (Dress Uniform) (arrive 0815; form up 0830) Jun. 4-6, 2009 Jun. 8, 2009 (Thurs.-Sat.) AZ Grand Lodge, Grand Sessions Chaparral Suites, Scottsdale (Mon.) PYR Stated Meeting Commandery Opening (Summer uniform) (1830 eat; 1930 meet) Aug. 12-16, 2009 (Wed.-Sun.) AZ York Rite, Grand Sessions Chaparral Suites, Scottsdale Aug. 15-19, 2009 (Sun.-Thurs.) U.S. Grand Encampment, York Rite Triennial Conference, Roanoke, VA