The Lodge is in the middle of town and is on the THIRD floor. George and I walked up the stairs only to find out that if we came in the back door there was an elevator.
The Lodge room is rather large and has a beautiful east. The flags and the pillars make a great backdrop for the presiding officer The first picture is taken from the balcany in the west and gives some prospective as to the size of the room
. Now the west is nothing to be ashamed of either. The Senior Wardens station is very nice and the balcany is large and roomy. When one adds all the seating on the lodge room floor and in the total balcany, the room can hold a large number of brothers.
I saved the next picture for last on purpose. There is a story behind what you see.
In each corner of the Lodge room there is a shield just like the one in the picture. The gold trim on top and the green leaves and the decoration between them go completely around the room.
Until recently these were all just white trim. Then a new member and his lady friend changed all that. These two painted the 4 shields and all the gold, leaves and trim completely around the room! This new look adds more to the room than I can really discribe.
Now this brother and his lady are not done. Double click on picture four and look at the right side. You will see whitle accent rectangles. Look at the left side and the white accent is not there. That is the task these two are now undertaking
On to the inspection which was in the Past Master degree. The degree was opened in full form at 7:30 in a fine manner. The degree was then conferred in excellent form from beginning to end. The part of Solomon was done so well that another red cross pin was given out.
The only disappointment was that a protem candidate was used. The Chapter has 5 petitions and it was announced that they would probably go the the York Rite festival in Findley.
Companions I am now going to get on my soapbox! I understand the need for festivals but I absolutely do not like them. I urge alll Chapters to try and do the work at home. The use of festivals erodes the ritual work of individual Chapters. Waiting for festivals deprives Courncil and Commanderys of candidates in many cases. The purpose of a festival is to enable Brothers that can not receive the degrees in the usual manner the opportunity to join. They are not meant to be a substitute for ritual work in individual Chapters.
Please understand that this is not a criticism of Crystal Chapter, it is just my feelings in general.
After the Chapter closed we retired to the FOURTH floor for pizza and pop.
Another good day with dry roads, real good ritual, good fellowship and great pizza.
"til the next time.
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