Paschal Lamb time 2

Companions and friends over the last several years I have seen the Feast of the Paschal Lamb observed in 4 different Valleys.   Each has its own way of doing the same drama.  All of them are done well ritualistically but the floor work changes.

On Wednesday Julia and I attended the Valley of Toledo's Feast of the Paschal Lamb.  The Valley of Toledo does things entirely different than the other three Valleys I have attended.   The additions that they add to the Feast make it exceptional.   The program was at the Franciscan Center in Sylvania.   This is a large and extremely nice Catholic complex.   The theater when the program was presented probably holds 1,500 people and there were, at my guess, some 300 plus in attendance.  The program started with two air national guardsmen presenting the colors while "God Bless America" was sung.   After the Pledge of Allegiance the program began with a trio of ladies singing "Amazing Grace".   These same ladies closed the program with a hymn that I did not know.    After the ladies left the stage the backdrop behind the cast was raised and DaVinci's "Last Supper" was portrayed by Brothers in costume and exactly as in the painting.   The "Story of the Cross" was one done in an exceptional manner.

 There were 17, that I could count, widows in attendance at at one point in the program they were asked to stand and were given roses.

At the front of the stage there was a cross on a green mound covered with flowers.   As it turns out this was meant to represent a grave.   When the program concluded the cast members each placed a rose on the "grave" just before they left the stage.

I almost forgot two things.  It is terrible to get old and forgetful.   At the opening a large screen is dropped and the pictures of the following are shown with their titles:
MWM Bradford Goebel, Grand Master
Ill Bro. John McNaughton, Supreme Commander
Ill. Bro. William Powers, AASR Deputy for Ohio
Ill. Bro Clarence Hartzell, Deputy's Rep. for Toledo
Ill. Bro. James Olmsted, Active Emeritus
Ill. Bro. Gary McElfresh, Executive Secretary,
James Himmelright, Grand High Priest
Pat Lively, Illustrious Grand Master
John Clime, Grand Commander
George Mitchell, The Imperial Potentate
Robert Secoy, The Potentate of Toledo Shrine.

The same screen was use during the Mystic Roll to list the Brothers that had passed to the Celestrial Lodge during the past year. Pictures of many of the Brothers were included.

All in all the visit to Toledo was worth the two hour trip.

On Friday Julia and I went to Cuyahoga Falls for the Valley of Akron's portrayal of the Paschal Lamb.  Being a small Valley it can not put on the production that was done by the Valley of Toledo.  What was shown was that the size of the Valley doesn't matter when it comes to ritual work.    The work was exceptional, especially the "Story of the Cross" as done by Brother Terry Regenos.  The Feast was directed by Brother James Amlung, M.S.A., who has done it for over 20 years and is again saying this is the last time.  The only trouble is we think he means it this time.

After the portrayal we retired to the dinning room for what is a Valley of Akron tradition, hot cross buns.

Another good night.

"til the next time.