Grand Chapter of New York

At 7:00 A.M. Thursday morning, 3.1, Julia and I headed for Albany, New York, to attend the grand session of the Grand Chapter of New York.   Please note that I took no pictures because I was unfamiliar with what I could and could not do.  As it turned out I could have taken about 100 pictures.

We arrived around 3:30 PM and  got ourselves checked into the Holiday Inn Express.   I will just try to  give you a listing of the events and some things that happened..

One of the nicest things to happen was when the Grand King, Michael Dunn, came to our room and gave us his business card.   It had his cell phone number on it and we were to call him with questions or problems.   He told us where the meetings were going to be held and what the proper dress was for the meetings.   It was a great way to be made to feel welcome.

Thursday night was a "Meet and Greet" dinner.    It was an informal buffet style dinner.  Open seating meant to get strangers together.  The meal was either beef carved from the biggest roast I've ever seen or turkey.  After the meal there was entertainment by a local magician who was very good.   They got the Grand Master, MWB Vincent Libone, up on the stage with the magician.   Now let me tell you that MWB Libone is not a stuffed shirt.   He had everybody laughing and seemed to be having a great time.  The event closed about 9:30 P.M.

Thursday night activities were not over!   Next came the infamous "Yellow Dog Degree".   This is a fun degree that was done after the banquet.  There was probably 50 new member admitted to the kennel.  I was one of them and had a great time receiving the degrees.    Prior to the degree one of the Ladies told Julia that after the degree all she had to do to get me was call "here boy" and whistle.  I don't think so!

 On Friday morning the Grand Session opened at 8:15 A.M.   Now things change from what I am used to and from what is normally done in New York.   MEC Jeffrey Williamson called the Chapter to refreshment and invited the Ladies in for introductions and to hear the Youth Groups speak.  I really liked it.   The Youth Groups did not speak later at the Grand Banquet.

Now it turns out that there are FIVE youth groups in New York.   They have DeMolay, Rainbow for Girls and Job's Daughters the same as we have here in Ohio.   They then add "Organization of Triangles" which is another group for girls from the age of 10 to 21.   And there is yet one more group for girls age 10 to 21 and that is the "The Constellation of Junior Stars".   All of the groups did have a speaker at the opening.

One thing of particular note was the attendance Royal Arch Masons from Lebanon .   There are, I believe I'm correct, 10 lodges in Lebanon with about 600 Brothers.  These Lodges are Chartered under the Grand Lodge of New York.    MEC Ted Harrison, King of the General Grand Chapter,  went to Lebanon and and opened Chapter of Royal Arch Masons.   A second Chapter may soon open.

At approximately 10:00 A.M. all the Ladies and guests were excused and the Grand Session resumed.  Normal business was conducted and the Grand Session closed at 1:00 PM. 

At 3:00 P.M. the "Order of Anointed High Priest" was convened.  There were 31 candidates for the degree.  The degree is somewhat different than that portrayed in Ohio.   It is still a fine degree done in a fine manner.

The Grand Banquet began at 7:00 P.M. Friday night.   Attendance was between 325 and 350 as best as I could tell.  The banquet was much like ours here in Ohio.  You had a choice of London Broil or crab stuffed cod.   There were only a few speakers. There were Grand High Priest awards and several awards from General Grand Chapter given to various Companions.   The Grand Master spoke next to last so that the Grand High Priest could speak last.   Both of these Companions spoke only for a short time.  The dinner was supposed to conclude at 9:30 P.M. but it was after 10:00 before it ended.

After the dinner the "Order of Old Saratoga" was conferred.   I had every intention of going but since it was not going to get under way until almost 11:00 P.M. I decided not to attend.

Saturday morning there was a 7:00 A.M. breakfast for members of the Red Cross of Constantine.   It was the typical banquet breakfast buffet.  There was a guest speaker who spoke about the emperor Constantine.

The Grand Session opened at 8:00 P.M. to conclude and business and for a closed installation of officers.   There was a public installation at 10:30 A.M.

Companions and friends,  this trip was most enjoyable.   We saw some different ways of doing things.  Learned about a sister jurisdiction.   New York has approximately 4,000 Companions and just went through a redistricting.  We met a lot of new people and saw a few we had met before.  All in all a good trip.

I want to thank MEC Kermit Zimmerman and REC Keith O'Dell for attending and bringing their Ladies.

We travelled 1,082 miles on this trip.   The trip out was dry roads and good weather.   The trip back was mostly wet roads and rainy weather.   The most we paid for gas was $3.56 per gallon in New York and the cheapest was $3.35 in New York.  

 Even with this, I still say,

"til the next time.