Sword & Trowel July 2015 155 th Most Illustrious Companion Brett A. Mac Donald, KYGCH Grand Master Cryptic Masons Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 1
Table of Contents Receptions 3 Itinerary 3 Grand Officer Biograph - Bill 5 Promote Cryptic Masonry 7 CMMRF 7 Order of the Temple 8 Scholarships 8 Cryptic Masonry 8 Contact Information 10 Illustrious Grand Master Cryptic Masons 10 Grand Recorder 10 Editor 10 Website 10 Pictures 11 Grand Council Cryptic Masons Officers 13 Receptions 14 Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 2
Receptions Companions, Our year is progressing well. We are looking forward to the receptions in July. Omega Council always has an excellent reception that includes our Grand Master. A parade in Newhall and an Ice Cream Social in San Luis Obispo will follow. I m looking forward to the Reception in San Diego on July 23rd. It is the home Council of our Rite Illustrious Grand Chaplain of the South Mark Quinto who is also serving as Illustrious Master this year. We also congratulate our Grand Steward Peter Champion who is serving as Grand Pursuivant of the Grand Lodge of California. His Grand Lodge reception will be July 22 in San Luis Obispo. Right Illustrious Bob Morrison our Grand Steward is serving as High Priest of Golden State Research Chapter. Please check the calendar at http://www.yorkriteofcalifornia.org/council/calendar.html and attend when you can. August 1, 2015 will be an important date in our Grand Council history. We are scheduled to issue a dispensation for the formation of a new Council at the Masonic Homes in Union City. Illustrious Companion Edgar Fentum and the companions at the home have worked very hard to see Sword and Trowel Council become a reality. They have been working toward this since the formation of Siminoff Daylight Chapter No. 163 several years ago. October will be the annual Grand Lodge Communication in San Francisco. This year will again see the conferral for the Mark Master degree. As you know this degree is a story about the Fellowcraft in the quarry and their role in the building of the Temple. The importance of this degree in the overall picture of Freemasonry can be seen in the fact that in England there is a separate Grand Lodge just for Mark Masters. Please let your Blue Lodge brothers know of this opportunity. There is no cost for the degree. I d like to thank all of you who have supported Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation so far this year. I have been encouraged by the support our companions have committed to for this vital research into vascular diseases. CMMRF fiscal year runs Jan-Dec unlike our Grand Council that runs till May. In order that your donations be counted this year it is important that they reach Most Illustrious Tiny Potter by mid-november. Hopefully with your help we can again get California to the forefront of CMMRF donations. Sincerely and Fraternally, Brett MacDonald Illustrious Grand Master Itinerary This year I will be emailing out a calendar monthly and if able to attend please make your reservations, in a timely manner. If you have any questions please feel free to call me (626) 991-6688. GRAND COUNCIL CALENDAR 2015-2016 Friday - July 3, 2015 Van Nuys Masonic Center 14750 Sherman Way, Van Nuys 4 Way Masonic Reception Dress Purple coat, apron & jewel Ladies Mid-calf length dress 5:30 pm Social Hour 6:30 pm Dinner 7:30 pm Program Reservations: (213) 369-7926 gonzalez0614@gmail.com Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 3
Saturday - July 4, 2015 Newhall Parade, Casual Sunday - July 5, 2015 San Luis Obispo Masonic Lodge Ice Cream Social Dress Casual Ladies Mid-calf length dress or pants Thursday July 23, 2015 San Diego Scottish Rite Center Grand Council Reception Dress Purple coat, apron & jewel Ladies Mid-calf length dress 6:00 pm Dinner 7:00 pm Meeting Sunday - July 26, 2015 Salinas Masonic Center 48 E. San Joaquin St, Salinas 3 Way York Rite Reception Dress Western or casual 12:00 pm Social Hour 1:00 pm Lunch 2:30 pm Program Reservations: (831) 384-6428 johnwilliams130@comcast.net Cost: $15.00 each Saturday August 1, 2015 Alameda Masonic Hall 2312 Alameda Ave, Alameda 3 Way York Rite Reception Dress Purple coat, apron & jewel Ladies Mid-calf length dress 3:00 pm Social Hour 3:45 pm Dinner Reservations: (925) 596-3312 marion.rogers@comcast.net Cost: $20.00 Sunday - August 2, 2015 Orange Park Orange Park & Tennis Dr., South San Francisco 3 Way York Rite Reception Dress Casual 11:00 am Social Hour aprox 1:00 pm Lunch Program after lunch Reservations: (650) 759-1120 nc46billprice@aol.com Cost: unknown Thursday August 20-22 - DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tucson - Reid Park Arizona Grand Sessions Dress Purple coat, apron & jewel Ladies Mid-calf length dress Reservation Information: http://www.azyr.org/index.php/companions-sir-knights Rooms $77 per night deadline July 19. Saturday November 7, 2015 3 Way York Rite Reception Dress Purple coat, apron & jewel Ladies Mid-calf length dress 3:00 pm Social Hour 3:45 pm Dinner Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 4
March 11, 2016 Grand Officer Conference, Bakersfield Department GO only Sunday May 22-25, 2016 Doubletree Bakersfield Grand Sessions 5-22-16 SUNDAY GRAND BANQUET 5-23-16 MONDAY GRAND FAMILY BANQUET 5-24-16 TUESDAY GRAND COUNCIL Grand Officer Biograph - Bill William E. Price, KYCH born November 13, 1946 Bill comes to us from San Mateo, California. He is married to Janet and has two grown children, Amanda (31) and Dylan (21). He was born in Pensacola, Florida but was raised in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Bill has been a member of the Stationary engineers Union, Local 39 since 1983. He served as an auditor on their executive board until 2010. He was a rand file contract negotiator and delegate to the San Mateo Labor Council. Blue Lodge: Raised December 08, 1983 San Mateo Lodge No. 226 2003 Served as Master for San Mateo Lodge No. 226 2008 Served as Master for Burlingame Lodge No. 400 2007 Hiram Award recipient San Mateo Lodge No. 226 Served as a candidate coach for both San Mateo Lodge No. 226 and Burlingame Lodge No. 400 2205 2010 Temple Board, San Mateo Lodge No. 226 2010 2014 Inspector for Grand Lodge of California Masonic District No. 333. 2015 Grand Lodge Youth Orders Committee Scottish Rite, Burlingame Bodies, AASR 2004 Venerable Master, Lodge of Perfection 2009 Wise Master, Chapter of Rose Croix 2011 Master of Kadosh of the Consistory 2004 2005 Fellow of the Craft 2004 Chieftain of the Knights of St. Andrew 2005 Knight Commander Cross of Honor (KCCH) recipient Scottish Rite Lodge Membership Lodge Diplomat Stage Manager Chairman of the Quiz Kids Scholorship Program for the Scottish Rite and Peninsula York Rite Bodies 2013 & 2014 Chairman for Scottish Rite Golf tournament 2014 to Current General Secretary Peninsula York Rite Bodies 2005/2006 High Priest of King Solomon s Chapter No. 95, Royal Arch Masons, San Mateo 2007 Eminent Commander, Golden Gate Commandery No. 16, Knight Templars, San Mateo 2009 Illustrious Master, California Cryptic Council No. 2, San Mateo 2010 Knight of the York Cross of Honour Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 5
2010 & currently Secretary/Recorder of Peninsula York Rite Bodies Officer s Coach, King Solomon s Chapter No. 95 2004-2009 Inspector, Department IV, Division A. Grand Commandery of California 2009-2014 Assistant Director of Ritual, division A, Grand Commandery of California 2010 Cryptic Council Recorder of the Year 2010 Royal Arch Mason Grand High Priest Distinguished Service Award 2010 Knight Templar Distinguished Membership Award Order of High Priesthood Past Commander s Association Past Virtual Pryor Thrice Illustrious Master California Commandery No. 1, San Francisco affiliated member 2011 Knight Templar Recorder of the Year 2012 Meritorious Service Medal Award Knights Templar 2011-2012 Appointed advancing line as Grand Sentinel Grand Council of Cryptic Masons California 2012-2013 Appointed Grand Steward Grand Council of Cryptic Masons California 2013-2014 Appointed Grand Conductor of the Council Grand Council of Cryptic Masons California 2014-2015 Elected Grand Principal Conductor of the Work Grand Council of Cryptic Masons California 2015 Appointed Grand Council State Representative to Missouri 2015-2016 Deputy Grand Master Grand Council of Cryptic Masons California Other Masonic Memberships El Camino York Rite College currently Herald Allied Masonic Degrees, Golden Gate Council No. 95, Sovereign Master 2006 Red Cross of Constantine, St. Phillip Conclave, currently the Puissant Sovereign Golden Gate Masters and Past Masters Association President in 2011 Knight Masons, Clanna Ruid Ruide No. 58, Past Excellent Chief Southern California Research Lodge Scottish Rite Research Society Golden Gate Research Society Non-Masonic Organizations King s Mountain Archers, Inc E. Clampus Vitus, Lord Sholto Douglas Chapter Adult School Advisory Council for San Mateo, California Right Illustrious Lee P. Whelan; Grand Principal Conductor of the Work will be our next feature. Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 6
Promote Cryptic Masonry Companions, Summer is on us and most of the York Rite bodies are dark. There are a lot of receptions accruing throughout the state. Come out and meet the grand officers and let them know what you would like to see happen to improve our craft. Your opinion is important to use because you are the heart and soul of our Rite. Try to use this time of year to set some time aside to study our craft, improve your ritual and plan your involvement in your York Rite Bodies. The more knowledge you have the better you can let your Brother Masons understand the importance of the York Rite in their Masonic life. Also educate yourself on our charity. Try not to use the acronym CMMRF, use Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation. This will show pride that it is the Cryptic Masons charity and lets everyone know it is second to none in importance. The research is in Indiana University Center for Vascular Biology & Medicine and has made huge advancements in finding treatments and potential cures relating to Diabetes, stroke, poor circulation, wound healing, kidney disease, blindness, Alzheimer s and more. These diseases have more than likely affected all of us and it is up to us to provide the funds necessary to continue this research. Get together and plan a fundraiser and donate what you can to this worthy cause. This year s fundraising was kicked off, thanks to our Grand Steward Bob Morrison, with a check for $500 donated by the Grand Officers at Grand Sessions in May. I hope this turns in to our best year for donations and I think, with all your help, this will happen. Have a safe and happy summer and I hope to see you down the road. Fraternally, Bill Price Deputy Grand Master CMMRF Our Charity (Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation) can really use your support with Dollars. Please send all donations to me, so that I may process the proper receipts and mail all donations to Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation in Nashville, Indiana. Please take a few minutes and think about our charity. Fred J. Tiny Potter, MIPGM Chairman, CMMRF (California) 345 Otono Ct. Camarillo, CA 93012-6822 Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 7
Order of the Temple On June 27 th Stockton Commander No. 8, delivered the Order of the Temple. Eight Candidates, from Modesto and Sacramento were dubbed and created Knights of The Valiant and Magnanimous Order of the Temple. All of the candidates very impressed with the hard work, performed by Stockton Commandery. Sir Knight Fenton Mereness, KYGCH, Right Eminent Grand Commander of Knights Templar of California was in attendance with several of his Officers. A job well done, to the Officers and members who took part in the Order of the Temple. Fraternally Clive Moss Grand Marshal of the North Scholarships Companions, your children, grandchildren, & for some, great-grandchildren may receive financial help for attending school. After opening up Scholarship Center website, have them go to bottom of page & find the Scholarship Manual in (PDF format 450KB) to download. There they will find instructions for filling out the forms. This is the link which will take you to the public Grand Lodge web page on scholarships. All the information you need should be right there. This is a complete manual that you can download that talk about all of the scholarships available from the California Masonic Foundation as well as the Scottish Rite, York Rite, Eastern Star, High Twelve, DeMolay, Job s Daughters, & Rainbow for Girls. Cryptic Masonry The following article first appeared in The Cryptic Freemason a publication of the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons. What does General Grand Council do for my Council or Grand Council? This is a question that is sometimes not answered directly or properly. We will attempt to answer that question and clarify the many aspects of the activities of General Grand Council. Everything that it does has the individual Cryptic Mason in mind, working to make his membership more valuable. There are presently over 1,100 Councils in the continental North America, Europe, Central and South America, and in the Pacific Theatre, who are members of the General Grand Council. One important concept it lives by is, the General Grand Council does not exercise any authority over the several Grand Councils, which govern the Councils in their respective jurisdictions. First and foremost, Freemasonry needs cooperation, coordination, and unity on all levels. We do not believe there has ever been a time in our history when this meant so much as they do today! Although the tangible reasons may appear small, we believe collectively they mean a great deal. We operate the General Grand Council on a Per Capita of $1.00 (USA domestic) and $1.50 (other Counties), which is small indeed when you look at the fees charged by other National and International Masonic Bodies. Nevertheless, the Per Capita enables us to do so many things. Look at what is being accomplished: 1. We support and maintain the Cryptic Room at the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia. It is a showcase of the Cryptic World for all to witness, including non-masonic visitors. This is a worthwhile program to support. All of us gain notice and stature from our presence with other Masonic organizations of the world. Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 8
2. General Grand Council has an extensive Awards program: a) Medal of Honor Award given to one outstanding individual per Triennial. b) The Mordhurst Medal given to any Grand Recorder who has served fifteen years or longer. c) A Columbian Medal given to an outstanding Companion in each of the ten Regions, plus three given at large per Triennial. d) An Adult Leadership Award, given one per jurisdiction per year. e) The Cryptic Mason of the Year Award, given one each year, per jurisdiction, for an outstanding member. f) A Lady of the Council Award, to recognize our ladies for their support and involvement in Cryptic Masonry. g) The Most Illustrious Grand Masters Award, given each year to a retiring Grand Master of the Council. This includes a plaque, certificate, lapel pin and Permanent Membership Card in General Grand Council. Also, a Representative of General Grand Council is always in attendance at each Annual Assembly to assist in presenting the awards and make suitable remarks. 3. General Grand Council sponsors ten Regional Conferences each year in conjunction with the other York Rite Bodies, so that the entire Rite may be presented for all to review. These conferences present interesting programs and appear to be growing in interest and enthusiasm. These Regional meetings have many advantages, both for the membership and for General Grand Council. 4. The Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation is one of the most effective charitable programs of any Masonic organization, supporting research into Vascular Biology and Medicine. This is an internationally recognized program at the Indiana University School of Medicine, working to combat a wide range of diseases. So far the Companions have contributed over $2.5 million to the endowment fund, which supports the research program at Indiana University. *from Volume 1, Issue 3, 2010 Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 9
Contact Information Illustrious Grand Master Cryptic Masons: Most Illustrious Companion, Brett MacDonald, KYGCH Grand Master Cryptic Masons of California (626) 991-6688 Grand Recorder: Ken Hope 11428 E. Artesia Blvd, #13 Artesia, CA 90701-3872 (562) 924-6500 (W) (562) 484-1611(C) Editor: Richard E. Thornton (209) 747-9518 (C) Website: Grand York Rite of California Note: Hyperlinks or links to other pages or web sites are prevalent throughout the document. Please notice the reference Sword and Trowel; if you run your mouse over these names you will see Ctrl + Click to follow link. These are valid links to York Rite information. Have you gone to our Grand Council website lately? www.yorkriteofcalifornia.org/ Do you know that there you can find rosters of officers, forms that you need, and a complete copy of the Officers Guide. The Officers guide helps you plan and know what is expected you. Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 10
Pictures Sir Knight Richard Cooper, KYGCH, PGC receiving the Life Time Achievement Award from Most Illustrious Companion Robert Whitfield, KYGCH, MIPGM Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 11
Sir Knight Bruce Pruitt, KYGCH, PGC receiving the Life Time Achievement Award from Most Illustrious Companion Robert Whitfield, KYGCH, MIPGM Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 12
Grand Council Cryptic Masons Officers We, Grand Council of Cryptic Masons Grand Officers, are here to assist you, please let us help. 155 th MOST ILLUSTRIOUS GRAND MASTER Brett A. MacDonald, KYGCH & Donna Shekinah Council No. 35 C.M. DEPUTY GRAND MASTER William E. Price & Janet California Council No. 2 C.M. GRAND TREASURER Robert A. L. Whitfield, MIPGM & Jeanne Oakland Council No. 12 C.M. GRAND PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR OF THE WORK Lee P. Whelan & Teresa Riverside Council No. 59 C.M. GRAND RECORDER Kenneth G. Hope, HMIPGM & Sonny Shekinah Council No. 35 C.M. GRAND DIRECTOR OF RITUAL David L. Chesebro, MIPGM & Sarah San Luis Obispo Council No. 38 C.M. GRAND CHAPLAIN (North) Richard E. Thornton & Cara Stockton Council No. 10 C.M. GRAND CHAPLAIN (South) Mark A. Quinto & Trudy San Diego Council No. 23 C.M. GRAND CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD William S. Dann & Anne Pacific Council No. 37 C.M. GRAND CONDUCTOR OF THE COUNCIL Eduardo Estrada & Natasha Omega Council No. 11 C.M. GRAND STEWARD Robert A. Morrison & Pauline Shasta Council No. 6 C.M. GRAND SENTINEL Peter G. Champion & Jan San Luis Obispo Council No. 38 C.M. GRAND ORATOR James M. Sunseri Orange County Council No. 14 C.M. GRAND MARSHAL (North) Clive Moss & Betsy Modesto Council No. 61 C.M. GRAND MARSHAL (South) Paul A. Clark & Cindy Pomona Council No. 21 C.M. GRAND SOLOIST K. Mark Harris Oakland Council No. 12 C.M. GRAND MUSICIAN Roderick E. Betham Marysville Council No. 3 C.M. Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 13
Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 14
Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 15
Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 16
Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 17
Sword & Trowel July 2015 Volume 3 No. 02 Page 18