Rufus Putnam #108 Inspection

Well today Julia and I went to Beverly, Ohio for Rufus Putnam's inspection. Now let me tell you about Beverly, Ohio. You can not get there from Medina! It is on state route 339 just a little bit north of Marietta. When you turn on route 339 there is a sign that says "Beverly, 12 miles" but by the way the crow flies it is about 5 miles. Route 339 is one of the crookedest roads I have driven on so far this year.

Now when you get to Beverly, you find one of my favorite Lodge Buildings. Not because it is large and fancy, but because it is exactly what the Lodge needs. Several years ago the Lodge in Beverly burned and this is the new building. The members of the lodge had what they needed built rather than what they probably wanted. The have a functional building that doesn't eat them alive in taxes, utilities and insurance. Look at the pictures and tell me that what you see is was built by the Morgan pole barn folks. The dinning room is nice sized and the kitchen is efficient for what what meals they serve. Enough about the building! Let's talk about the Chapter inspection.

Rufus Putnam's inspection is normally on a Saturday morning with a breakfast. When Julia and I got there food was just about ready to serve. They had pancakes, sausage, biscuits and sausage gravy, orange juice and coffee. A really nice breakfast.

At 10:00 AM the Chapter opened the Mark Master Degree in full and proper form in a fine manner. The degree was then portrayed in an excellent manner on one candidate.

One the way home Julia and I decide to take the long way through Amish country. We went through Sugarcreek and Mt. Hope and ended up at Heine's Cheese Shop. Our dinner consisted of swiss cheese, or hot pepper cheese and crackers, Troyer's trail bologna and pastry from the bakery across the street from Heine's.

My string of good inspections continues, we had a great dinner and a good end to a fine day.

'til the next time.

Heights #206 Inspection

My string of good inspections continues. Heights Chapter #206 portrayed the Past Master degree last night in as fine a form as I have seen in some time.

The Chapter opened in the RA degree at 7:30 PM so that the Deputy could see the opening. Candidates, of which there were five, were brought in for the introductions after which a Lodge of Past Masters was opened. The High Priest, Kenneth Kubach, gave me the honor of having this class named after me.

Once the degree started there was no wasted time. The only lost time was when they took out the RA degree paraphernalia and set up for the PM and that was minimal. The officers were already in the robes of their character and the degree just flowed from one part to another.

Now about Excellent Companion Kubach. There is the regurgitation of words with out any feelings or emotions and then there is ritualistic work. Last night I saw ritualistic work at its finest. Each candidate was inducted into the oriental chair, given the covering and jewel and the gavel in the same very fine manner. The only deviation was when on candidate asked if he could try the gavel to see if it really worked!

The altar lecture was done by EC Kubach in the finest manner I have ever seen. There was passion in the delivery and I do not think one candidate looked away except when the flag was pointed to. It was absolutely great.

MEC Steve Oliver's little red cross is being given for exceptional ritualistic work or devotion to Capitular Masonry. I had given 6 out this year. I have now given 7, with EC Kubach receiving his.

My closing remarks were once again about being proud to be a Mason and showing it. I closed with my commercial message about Western Reserve Masonic Community and Browning Masonic Community.

Just a note to any High Priest that reads this blog. Take a look at the pictures from each inspection and you will see how your Grand Officers are traveling. Usually the Chapter has no notice they are coming because it is more fun that way. Just don't be suprised if we show up.

Another exceptionally good night.

'til the next time.

Warren #6 Inspection

Last night REC Nockengost and I saw our first Royal Arch degree of the year. Warren Chapter #36 in Newark did an excellent job of portraying the degree.

As you can see in the picture the Lodge is not hard to find. They have signs that are hard to miss. The Lodge is an old lodge that still has a pool room, beautiful lounge and great furniture. I was told that they have a large and a small Lodge room and that we were meeting in the small room. The only problem with the small room is that it has purple seats and is painted purple. I'm sure that Most Illustrious Grand Master Lively felt right at home.

When I arrived I asked REC Paine what type of degree work I was going to see and he informed me that Warren Chapter only did good work. If the Royal Arch Degree I saw is typical of the Chapter's work, he is most certainly correct. There was almost no wasted time, very little prompting and all the paraphernalia was ready.

The only disappointment of the evening would be that of the three candidates, two were protems. The one candidate was from Horeb Chapter #3 and was receiving courtesy work.

Introductions were done by REC Randy Williams who is the Deputy's Representative from the Valley of Cambridge. He also worked in the degree. It is encouraging to see Scottish Rite and York Rite working together.

Receiving MEC Oliver's cross pins from REC Paine were EC Lyle Bowers, Jeshua; EC Randy Williams who gave the Scribe Lecture among others parts. I presented the pin to EC Mark Bruns, Principal Sojourner. This is the first inspection that three Companions have received this pin. That should underscore how good the work was.

The group pictures shows the number of Grand Officers in attendance. Notice there is Chapter, Council, Scottish Rite and Allied Masonic Degrees represented in the picture. This is a first for me this year. Note also that Council officers are wearing their jewells and aprons in a Chapter meeting. Both MIC Lively and I agree that Grand Officers can wear their aprons and jewells at either Chapter or Council meetings. I don't think I have been to an inspection yet that did not have at least 4 Grand Offices in attendance. I thank them for the travelling they are doing.

After the meeting we retired to the dinning room for light refreshments and fellowship.

'til the next time.

Eminent Prior's Reception

The Eminent Prior, William Stratton, held his reception at the Wadsworth Temple on Sunday beginning at 2:00 PM.

Entertainment for the day was watching 5 men try to put together the stand to hold the Grand Prior's banner. I offered to run out an see if I could find a 12-year old boy to do it for them.

If you look real close you will once again see Julia in the kitchen. She can not stand to sit down and relax when there is work going on in the kitchen.

I have no idea how many attended this open house type of reception but it was extremely well attended. (sorry about the one picture being upside down) Julia and I had gotten there around 10 AM to help and ended up leaving around 3:30 PM.

Another good day. They just seem to keep coming.

'til the next time.

Grand Commander's Reception1

It is now Saturday afternoon, 11.20 and I have just treated Julia to one of her favorite lunches. Sliders at White Castle!

We are now off to the Marriott at Tuttle Crossing in Columbus for the Grand Commander's reception. When we get there we have about 4 hours before the reception. Off we go to the hospitality room for snacks that neither of us need. I do O.K. except for the chocolate/peanut butter buckeyes. Everybody is sort of waiting for the Buckeye's football game but it is not on the TV in the hospitality room. The room kind of empties out when it is announced that it is on in the bar. Sounds kind of like a good way to get more bar business.

The reception begins at 6:40 PM with introductions and the meal beginning at about 7:00 PM. Great dinner of chicken, pork, red potatoes and vegetables. Served in an excellent manner. After dinner there were the normal presentations, Presiding Officers talking and finally the Grand Master spoke.

Most Worshipful Brother Goebel continued his theme of "Do a Random Act of Kindness" everyday. It doesn't have to be a be thing, just a random act. Holding a door open or letting a car out in traffic are examples he gave. He points out how much better things like this make you and the person you do it for feel.

The reception ended at approximately 9:30 PM.

A good end to a great day.

Julia and I headed for home and were in bed by 11:20 PM making a great end to a great day.


'til the next time.

Blanchester, Morrow, Loveland Combined Inspection

Blanchester #153, Morrow #143 and Loveland #211 had a combined inspection at the Loveland Masonic Temple on Saturday 11.20. I saw Blanchester and Morrow's inspection but left before Loveland's so that I could attend the Grand Commander's reception in Columbus.

Julia and I went to Cincinnati Friday night to avoid a 4:00 AM departure from home Saturday. We had dinner at the Montgomery Inn in Montgomery. For those of you that like barbeque, you have got to try this place if you ever get to Cincinnati. It is absolutely fantastic!

Approximately 40 Companions enjoyed coffee and donuts to started the day at Loveland.

Blanchester #153 began the degree work with the Mark Mastger and Most Excellent Companion Kermit Zimmerman in the east. He did an O.K. job. Just joking. The entire degree was done in a fine manner for two candidates.

Morrow #143 then did the Past Master. The two candidates again got a very nice degree.

The highlight of the day was the presentation of a 50-year pin to Companion Donald Volkerding. MEC Zimmerman had the pleasure of putting the pin on Companion Volkerding's lapel. Later in the day I watched this 50-year member do Noah in the Past Master degree. And believe me he did a very fine job.

After the Past Master there was a lunch of soup and sandwiches. Since I had Julia and at the La Quinta in Mason, I thought it best if I didn't eat and took her to lunch instead.

All in all a good start to what was going to be a fine day.

'til the next time

Wooster #27 Inspection

I just got home from Wooster Chapter #27's inspection. The Grand Guard, Bill Young, accompanied me. This is one of the closest Chapters to my home and I attend Council in the building. Wooster Lodge is in my Blue Lodge district so I know most of the Companions in this Chapter.

We were pleased to have MWB Daniel Iceman, who lives in Wooster, in attendance. Also Past Grand High Priests Robert Crabbs, John Gartrell and Kermit Zimmerman joined us for the evening. MEC Zimmerman's wife Sue was with him and it was a pleasure to see her.

There were 47 Brothers in attancance. The inspection was in the Past Master degree and according to REC Porter, inspecting officer, it was done in a fine manner. We now have 1 new Past Master.

After the degree we retired to the dinning room for refreshments made up of a mason's major food group, PIE. After a short period of fellowship Bill and I headed home.

'til the next time.

Hoarce W. Wright #226 Inspection

Last night Julia and I headed for Worthington for Horace W. Wright Chapter #226's inspection. It was not a good night to travel! It is 107 miles from home to the Chapter. On the way there we had rain for about 75 miles and on the way home for about 100 miles. The last 50 miles on the way home Mother Nature added wind gusts just to make it interesting.

The inspection started with a dinner but since I wasn't sure I was going to make it, I did not make reservations so Julia and I stopped at a Bob Evans. I had a meat loaf dinner and when we got to the Lodge that was the inspection dinner. Theirs sure looked better than what I had at Bob Evans.

The inspection was at 7:00 PM and while we were upstairs the Ladies' had a program that was a movie about the twin towers. After the movie they played cards.

The inspection degree was in the Mark Master and let me tell you it was well done. They had 4 candidates so they had to do each one and there was not a minute of lost time between them. The Chapter was opened with the cast in robes and the degree started about 5 minutes after the last introduction. No wasted time.

When they started doing the individual work, they did not have a minute between sitting one candidate down and bring the next one in. I don't think I ever saw such efficient use of time.

REC Richard Snow was the Master Overseer and the "old marine" in him came out when he did his part. He did one of the best Master Overseers that I have seen. It earned him the little Red Cross. REC Hollback did such good job inflecting the penalty that he earned a little Red Cross.

All in all it was a great evening. Saw a Chapter get 3 new MkMs and another one get 1. Stopped in Delaware and got a Tim Horton's coffee. Yep, a real good evening.

'til the next time.

State Wide GHP Reception

The state-wide GHP's reception is now behind the 17th District!! I'm sorry that I haven't got the pictures back from the young lady who took them. As soon as I get them I'll add them to this post.

It went well with only the slightest of problems. We had approximately 200 in attendance at the Galaxy Restaurant. The dinner was a choice of lemon butter scrod or pork loin in a apple cider reduction. Both were exceptionally well done. I can not say enough good about the staff of the restaurant. Mr. David Cavalier, the banquet manager, never quit walking around the dinning room making sure everything was in proper order and that everybody was satisfied with their meal. The meals were completely served in just over 10 minutes and they were served hot. As normal, Julia asked for a different dessert than what was on our table. We were served two platters of freshly sliced fruit. For those who don't know, she doesn't like chocolate and the dessert was double rich chocolate cake.

The Grand Illustrious Master, Grand Commander and Grand Master were in attendance and spoke just a few words.

Julia and I both have small families so the fact that our two grand kids were there was special. Dylan, 12, and Julia, 4, were on their best behavior and Grandma and Grandpa were really proud of them. I will make sure their pictures get in this post so everybody can see how good looking Dylan is and how cute Julia is. Dylan is a Russian child that was adopted at 6 months and Julia is a Guatemalan child adopted at 13 months. Julia and I love them and could not be prouder of them. Just to let you know that Dylan is a growing boy, he ate his dinner, my fish and his sister's pork. Then he got upset when his mom took him home before he managed a run at the hospitality room.

Now the day had to have some excitement and I provided it. At 3:00 AM Julia took me to the hospital with gull bladder problems. Luckily I got sent home with a prescription for happy pills that enabled me to get through the meetings and reception. I did take two naps though!

Stay tuned for the pictures!

'til the next time.