Memorial Day, 5.30.11

Today is Memorial Day and our town of Medina has a parade.   It starts at the square, come down about 10 blocks and ends at Spring Grove Cemetery.   It is only a block to the parade route from our house so Julia and I usually walk up and watch it.    We did that today.

Much is said about how people no longer stand when the flag passes by.   Please note that almost everybody is standing.  Not only that, they clapped for every military unit that went by.  I believe that respect for the flag, the country and its service men is very much alive and well in Medina, Ohio.

And we had bands!    First the Medina High School band, then the two two middle school bands went by. All playing patriotic music.

Medina High School Band

Claggett Middle School Band

And Boy Scouts.

And Girl Scouts.

And Fire Engines.

And finally we had motorcycles.

Yes we had a parade to salute the service men that died over the years.   On today's news it was stated that in all the wars the United States has been involved in, more than 1 million men and women have died.   This surely shows that "Freedom is not Free".

I close this posting with short poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1807 - 1882 "Decoration Day", honoring all who served, and remembering those who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice

Your silent tents of green

We deck with fragrant flowers;

Yours has the suffering been,

The memory shall be ours.

God bless the United States of America

14th District Grand High Priest's Reception, 5.27.11

Friday night Julia and I were off to Newark for the 14th District's Grand High Priest's Reception.  Newark is 102 miles a little southeast of Medina.   Going down took 2 hrs and 25 minutes because of traffic.  It was not hard to tell that Friday was the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend.   I am not sure which was worse, traffic or the number of State Highway Patrol cars!   Going home took exactly 2 hours.

The Newark temple is downtown and is a older building.  We met in the dinning room on the third floor.   There was social time from 6 to 7 PM with the dinner at 7:00 PM.  We had the traditional masonic meal of salad, baked steak, mashed potatoes, corn rather than green beans and the biggest piece of chocolate or carrot cake that you can imagine.   A very nice and tasty meal.

Presentation of High Priest Certificates

 Around 7:45 PM REC Paine began handing out the District awards and High Priest certificates.

District Award Presentations

Just prior to dinner I was told that I was going to receive more enlightenment.  Now that usually means that I am going to be asked to do something or be told something that I really did not wish to hear.   Well it meant that I was the Installing Officer for the District Officers.   This was the third time I have been the I.O. and I kind of enjoy it now.

Prior to giving me the floor the District presented Julia and I each with a gift.   We thank them for that.

My talk continued to be about what is going on in Grand Chapter followed by a question and answer period.  Now sometimes the Q & A period is quiet and short with very few questions.   Not so here.  There a good number of questions which I hope I answered to everyone's satisfaction.

A very good night.    Good food, good Companionship and for a change, dry roads coming and going.   What more could you ask for.

"til the next time.

Officers Installation, Valley of Akron, 5/26/11

Thursday night was the installation of the Valley of Akron's officers.   This was done at the Cuyahoga Falls Masonic Temple.    The Installing Offiers was Illustrious and Right Worshipful Brother James F. Easterling, Jr.,  Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Deputy's Representative to the Valley of Akron and the Senior Grand Warden, Grand Lodge of Ohio.

After Ill. Brother Easterling greeted everybody the flag was presented by member of Medina Chapter of DeMolay.   As normal the young men did an outstanding presentation of both the colors and the flag lecture.

Those installed are from left to right:  John Hollin, Most Wise Master, Arras Chapter Rose Croix;  George Shrader, Sovereign Prince, Adar Council Princes of Jerusalem; Installing Officer, James Easterlling, Jr.; Robert Becker, Thrice Potent Master, Aroba Lodge of Perfection; Mark Ohlinger, Commander in Chief, Akron Consistory.





After the initiation the officers, family and guests retired to the dinning room for refreshments.

Medina County #243 Stated Meeting

Wednesday, 5/25, was the stated meeting of Medina County Chapter #243.   At the start of the meeting it was decided that due to the weather we wanted to hold as short a meeting as possible.   There were some really bad storms in the area.

Election of Offices was done with EC Ron Hart, II, being elect High Priest and yours truly again elected secretary.   The Chapter does have a complete slate of officers.

Bulletin 4 was read as required and the Chapter closed.  

There were refreshments after the meeting and since it was raining hard enough to get drowned going to the cars, we waited in the dinning room for a few minutes.

REC Tom Krepp had picked me a driven to Wadsworth.   When we left there was water on route 94 that I was not sure we should have driven through.   Neither one of us had ever seen water running across the road like it was that night.   It was especially bad around Sharon Center.  We got home without either us or the car being drowned so I guess it was a good night.    Later we find out that approximately 2 inches of rain  had fallen.   A lot of rain in short time!

"til the next time.

9th District Grand High Priest Reception

Well I got home from the King's School about 11:30 AM and by noon Julia had us on the way to the local garden center to buy plants.   She loves having a garden and wanted one at home this year instead of at our daughter's place which is 26 miles south.   So we now have a raised garden, not very big but enough to satisfy her.   I just mention this because it had to be done between Chapter meetings.

At 5:00 PM we were off to Huron Chapter in Norwalk and the 9th District's Grand High Priest's Reception.  This is only a 42 mile trip of about 50 minutes.

Dinning room waiting on diner

We started the evening with the notorious Masonic meal of salad, swiss steak, mashed potatoes, green beans and cake.

The meal was very good and served HOT.   The cooks must of thought every body was really hungry because the portions were really big.   At least they were at our table.

The "good looking cooks"

The "not so good looking cooks"

Nice Cake!  It was half white and half chocolate.

East in the Lodge

At around 7:30 went retired to the lodge room for the presentation of High Priest certificates and District Awards.

I had been to this building once before but had never been in the Lodge Room its self.

It is a nice sized room.   Not overly big but as the pictures show, bigger than many lodges.

The room in not fancy at all but it is well maintained.   It is air conditioned but apparently not turned on early enough has the room was just a tad warm.

West in the Lodge

REC Smith made the presentation of High Priest certificates and the District awards.  The picture is all those who received awards and REC Smith.










Before I was given the floor REC Smith presented Julia and I checks from the District to be used for whatever cause we wanted.   Julia took them both and said they were going to Western Reserve Masonic Community to be use for the dementia unit.  At least I got to see my check before I was told what I was going to do with it.

I talked too long on my normal topic of what is going on the your Grand Chapter but we we still where out of the reception at a few minutes past 8:30 PM.

Another good night with good food, good Companionship and dry roads coming and going.

"til the next time.

Region "E" King's School in Lyndhurst

Saturday morning I traveled to Lyndhurst Masonic Temple to listen to Right Excellent Companion George Shell present his Grand King's program.

The day started with a surprise!   Usually there is coffee and donuts prior to the meeting.   This morning there was a real breakfast of sausage and french toast.    Sadly I had already had breakfast of cold cereal before I left home.  As if I needed french toast or sausage!

The school started promptly at 9:00 A.M.  and lasted until approximately 10:30.

Now REC Shell is a big time fisherman.  Now he admits that he doesn't always catch anything but he still enjoys fishing.

This is what his pin looks like.   I scanned it and it didn't come out real well but it does give you an idea of what it looks like.

George explains his pin thus: You see a Brother standing in a boat casting the line and hook, and he has caught the symbol of Royal Arch Masonry.  This is to signify that as a Mason you are to cast you line and as in fishing you will have to cast more than once, to encourage a person to join a Masonic Lodge or receive more light in Masonry by joining a Royal Arch Chapter and the York Rite.

The blue water represents the peace and tranquility within the Brotherhood of Masonry.

The boat represents the foundation of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth that are the principle tenets fo Freemasonry.

The outer circle Represents the emblem of eternity  and having neither beginning or end is a symbol of God.

I really thing RWB Shell gave his pin a tremendous amount of thought and his explanation of the pin was very nice and well thought out.

George was having a little problem with his throat and asked that I talk about R.A.R.A. and its new charities which I did.   He also asked REC Ross Black to talk about organ donation which he did.

He has some new awards which I think the Chapters will find interesting and worth working for.  In particular he has something for the Ladies.   I won't say any more about the awards.   If you had gone to one of his schools you would know about them.

I think that REC Shell had a nice school and presented a really nice program.   He has some changes as does every Grand High Priest.

Good meeting.

"til the next time.

20th Masonic District, Grand Master's Reception

The 20th Masonic District honored Most Worshipful Brother Bradford A Goebel, Grand Master of Masons in Ohio, at the Mansfield Masonic Complex on Friday evening.

Mansfield dinning hall

Approximately 214 were in attendance to receive MWB Goebel and the other Grand Lodge Officers.. This makes it the largest Reception in many years.  The evening stared with a social hour in the dinning room and dinner following.  The dinner consisted of salad, Chicken  Cordon Bleu, baked potato, corn and cake with a lemon sauce topping.   A very nice dinner served buffet style.

Before I go any further I want to thank RWB Mike Cecil for the pictures.  I forgot my camera (again) and Mike was kind enough to forward me some of those he took.

This picture is just to prove that Julia and I were really there and that she still takes a good picture.   Lately most pictures of me are messed up.   They all show me with gray hair and being rather "hefty".

Presentation of Colors by the 8th Division Sir Knights

In the 20th District the 8th Division Sir Knights usually present the colors at functions such as this and this was no exception.    The do an excellent job and the flag lecture given by Sir Knight Ron Vicars was done in an outstanding manner.

Most Worshipful Brothers Goebel and Iceman

The evening's high light was the introduction of MWB Goebel by the 20th District's own Most Worshipful Brother Daniel F. Iceman, Past Grand Master of Masons in Ohio and the most respected Mason in the District if not the state.

Worshipful Masters and their Ladies with MWB Goebel

Among those reserving presentation were the Worshipful Masters receiving there Master's pins from MWB Goebel.









The rest of the evening consisted of the presentation of the "Traveling Gavel Award", "Grand Lodge Scholarship", "Community Service Award" and the "Excellence in Youth Award" after which MWB Goebel and his wife imparted their words of wisdom to the Brothers, Ladies and guests.  One point made by MWB Goebel was that he and his wife had now attended 199 receptions in the past 8 years with number 200 Saturday.   He estimates that each meal had 4 ounces of green beans.   This calibrates to 50 pounds of green beans over the last 8 years.   He thanked the 20th District for the corn.  Most Worshipful Brother Goebel's biggest point was that each day we should try to do "one random act of kindness".   It does not have to be a big thing.   Just something as simple as holding a door open for a stranger is a random act of kindness.   Just think how much better this world would be if every body did just one random act of random kindness every day.

All in all in was a very nice reception with good food, good fellowship and a chance for everyone to meet and be greeted by the Grand Line Officers.

And the best thing about the evening was NO RAIN!   Julia and I had dry roads coming and going.

"til the next time.

Order of the Amaranth Grand Court

Thursday, May 29th, Julia and I attended Informal Opening of The Grand Court of Ohio, Order of the Amaranth, in Worthington.   This was at the Holiday Inn on High Street just south of I-270.  This Grand Session runs 4 days, Wednesday through Saturday.  This was our first time to Grand Court and it was quite interesting.  I am sorry that there are not pictures but they  were prohibited.

Unlike other Masonic Bodies honored guests were not escorted to the east but rather to the throne.   Men set on on one side and ladies on the other.  The first thing I want to say is that there was a program with the agenda for the evening and that agenda was followed.

The meeting is really a meeting for all heads of other bodies to speak for a few minutes.   I am going to list the groups that were represented and given a few minutes to speak.   I do not think anybody spoke more the 5 - 7 minutes and most less.  This is the first time that I have ever seen some of these groups honored at a Grand Session, and in fact I had not heard of the group called Order of the True Kindred.  The groups were, in order of speaking: International Order of Rainbow for Girls; International Order of Job's Daughters; Order of DeMolay in Ohio; Ohio White Shrine Association; Order of White Shrine of Jerusalem; Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star; Order of True Kindred; I-Care Team Leader; Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Grand Council of Royal and Select Masons of Ohio; Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Ohio; High Twelve International; High Twelve of Ohio; Ohio Masonic Home; Grand Lodge of Ohio.

Now for you Brothers that are thinking "they introduced everybody but the janitor" please note that these were either the head of a body or their representative.   The entire meeting lasted just over 2 hours which introductions taking about on hour.  And this included a Tribute to the Flag, awarding of scholarships and a presentation of a check to their charity which is diabetes research.  Just think how long introductions are at one of our Grand Sessions and add speaking times for the guests.  I'll bet we spend more than the hour.

All in all it was interesting and enjoyable.   I am glad that Julia and I attended.

One side issue.   We still traveled in rain!   It rained on us going to Columbus and going back home.

"til the next time.

13th District Grand High Priest's Reception, Athens, OH

Rain! Rain! and more Rain!  Well we left Findley and got as far as Delaware before Mother Nature tried once again to drowned us.  We had one storm after another all the way to just a few miles from Athens.  The first one in Delaware was bad enough to have more cars on the shoulder than on the highway.

There is a antique and craft mall on Route 33 about 30 miles from Athens.   Every time Julia and I have went to Athens, we have stopped.    It is kind of fun looking a antiques and some real nice craft articles.  Usually we spend about and hour or two here then its on to Athens. Oh, and by the way it was still raining hard.

As luck would have it the rain stopped before we got to Athens so at least we got in the building without getting soaked.  To say that the Athen's Masonic Temple is nice would be and insult.   It is extremely nice as the picture of the dining room shows.

Dinner was a nice salad, baked potato, grilled steak and strawberry shortcake.   Not a bad meal at all.  The steaks were tender and the baked potato hot.  It was a very nice dinner.



After dinner the District Awards were handed out as usual but here the District Deputy, Lee Peterson, gives out some Certificates of Appreciation to Companions that helped him throughout the year.  It is a very nice touch.

I did not take many picture as two Companions were taking a lot of them.   Thanks to email I had them before  Julia and I got home last night.  Here are just a few of them.

It sure is nice to see young people at a Chapter meeting.

 REC Peterson is starting to give out awards.

 What strange thing do you see in this picture?  Look at the Lady's feet.  Here the server is exempt from the "No Shirt, No shoes, No service" rule.  I was kidding her after the meeting and she said her feet hurt and her shoes were giving her a blister.  Considering how good the food was and how hard she was working I think she deserved to be comfortable.   Forget the shoes and thank you for the meal.

Julia is given a certificate that states a donation has been made to the Western Reserve Masonic Community's dementia fund.  

She thanks the district for that donation.

Another great night of good food and warm fellowship.




Now the going home story.   We got as far as the Delaware/Sunbury exit on I-71 north before the RAIN came again.   We had rain almost the entire way to Medina.   Some of it was really hard and some of it was just annoying but it was still RAIN.  Any way we got home safe and sound, and dry.

'til the next time.

Northwest York Rite Festival in Findley, OH

Saturday morning it was off to Findley for Julia and I.   This is a 100 mile trip almost straight west.  The trip was a lot better than the Friday night drive.   We only got sprinkled on once or twice but nothing major.  Julia went along because we were leaving at lunch for Athens and the 13th District Grand High Priest's Reception.

The Findley Masonic Temple is a large and very nice facility.   The fist floor is the dinning room, pool room, lounge and some offices.   The Lodge room is on the second floor.  This is a big room and really nice.  Julia and I got there just in time for the Mark Master closing. As you can seen the east is not fancy but very nice.  I did not any other pictures of the room because of the number of Brother wandering everywhere.

Most Excellent Companion Wayne Dill is the General running the show and it is ran well.  Everything is done on time and according to the schedule.   I saw the Past Master Degree and Most Excellent Master Degree before needing to leave for Athens.   Both were done exceeding well.

Was it a successful event?   How about if I tell you there were 40+ candidates.    I would call that very successful.  The Festival was in honor of our Eminent Grand Commander Sir Knight John Clime.    I sat with John for the Chapter degrees and he was happy with the degree and was honored by the number of candidates.

At 11:45 Julia and I headed south for Athens.  This was a journey of 172 miles south east.

'til later in the day.

18th District Grand High Priest's Reception

Friday night, 5.10, found Julia and I on our way to New Philadelphia for the 18th Districts Grand High Priest Reception.  New Philadelphia is about 70 miles southeast of Medina and take about an hour and 20 minutes.  This night was different however.   It is an understatement to say it rained!   From Barberton to Massillon it rained hard.   Then from Massillon to just north of Strasburg it decided to really rain!  In Navarre the water was running curb deep across the entire road.  After and 1 hour and 50 minutes we arrived in New Philadelphia.

The reception was held a Jim's Place which is next door to the Masonic Temple.  It is nothing fancy but it is nice.   We had a room up front while in the back a high school prom party was going on.
We had a very nice dinner of salad, roast pork, cooked apples, rice, roasted veggies and carrot cake.

After the dinner we were treated to dulcimer music.   The ladies played for about 20 minutes.   They talked about the dulcimers which where Mountain Dulcimers rather than the larger Hammered Dulcimer.   Two of the dulcimers were made in Newcomerstown.   The ladies were quite enjoyable.



After the entertainment District awards were handed out. Julia and I both received gifts from the District and we thank for that.

Once again safe, but wet, traveling, good food and good fellowship.

'til the next time.

Commandery Festival Canceled

Companions I regret to inform you that the Knight Templar festival at Mansfield on May 21st has been canceled.   Apparently not enough petitions were received to have a meaningful festival.

An Advertisement for Commandery

On May 21st the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Ohio is having a one day festival honoring Sir Knight John R. Clime, Right Eminent Grand Commander, Knights Templar of Ohio.

This festival is being held at the Mansfield Masonic Temple, Mansfield, Ohio.   Details are as follows:

8:00 AM until 9:30 AM:   Registration
9:30 AM:  Commandery opens
10:00 AM: Illustrious Order of Red Cross, full form
11:30 AM: Order of Malta, full form
12:30 PM: Lunch
1:30 PM: Pre-Chamber & Chamber lecture
2:00 PM: Order of the Temple

The Order of the Temple will be conferred by Sir Knight William H. Koon, II, Most Eminent Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of the United States of American and the Sir Knights of the Grand Commandery of Ohio.   All new Sir Knights will be knighted by Sir Knight Koon.

The dead line for registration of candidates is May 14, 2011.   The same is true for lunch reservations. Lunch is $7.50.    Both reservations are to be made by calling or e-mailing SK Robert Blankenhorn.   His phone number is 419.589.2174 and e-mail address is rblankenhorn@neo.rr.com.

Any Commandery bringing a candidate is to bring a Malta Jewel and letter requesting courtesy work.  For any further information please call SK John I Miller at 330.644.7706.

Lyndhurst York Rite Festival

Today, Saturday 4.7, I was off to Lyndhurst for a York Rite festival.   The 16th District does it a little bit different.   They do the Chapter and Council degrees one weekend and then the Commandery Orders the next weekend.   There was coffee and donuts from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM with the Mark Master degree starting at 8:30.  

The Mark Master and Past Master Degrees were done in the basement social room and the Most Excellent and Royal Arch Degrees in the 1st floor lodge room.   By doing this it let the Chapter have everything set up for the degrees and they only at about 15 minute breaks between the degrees.  I've probably been to this building a dozen times but today was the first time I've ever been in the basement social area.  

It is a nice room and worked really well for both degrees.   Both degrees were done very well

After the Past Master went we upstairs and the Most Excellent Master was conferred on the four Candidates.  This degree was done in a fine manner just like the first two.

After the MEM I had to leave do to family commitment in the afternoon. l have no doubt that the Royal Arch Degree was done in a fine manner and regret that I did not get to see it done.

The District had hoped for more Candidates but the four that they had received excellent work and the District should be quite happy with its festival.   Hopefully next weekend the Commandery section goes as well for their division.

"til the next time.

11th District GHP Reception

Friday night, 5/7, Julia and I were off to Columbus for the 11th District Grand High Priest's reception.  This was held at the Grand Lodge building in Worthington.   Unfortunately the dinner got a late start due to a relatively bad wreck at I-270 & route 23.  Traffic was backed up badly so the District held things up a about 15 or 20 minutes to let those caught in the traffic to join us.

The dinner was extremely nice with pepper roast beef, nice and rare, mashed potatoes, carrots,  broccoli and assorted pies.   The salad before the meal was exceptional and since the meal was a buffet I think everybody at our table but me had two salads.  If anybody did not get enough to eat, it was there own fault.

After the meal the normal District awards were given out which I always enjoy helping with.

 

After the District awards Julia was brought up and several gifts were presented to her.  They knew that she collects Santa Claus figures and they gave her two cute ones.

As I have posted before, Julia has asked that the Districts donate the to Western Reserve Masonic Community dementia unit fund rather than give her gifts.  The 11th District was kind enough to also give her a check to WRMC for that fund.  

Last fall some of the Companions from Medina County Chapter #243 came down to Columbus to go the the Mark Master Cave degree.  I was presented a certificate showing that I had went 55 feet below the surface for the degree in a cave once used by the Wyndot Indians.  Here the District got a surprise.   Julia's grandfather was 100% Wyndott.

 The Grand Master of the 2nd Veil Ralph Curtiss got into the act by giving me a gnome that  is dressed in red and carrying what looks like an apron case.   It is a cute little bugger.

I then got a small replica of the Ark of the Covenant.  On it is engraved my name, title and year of service.   This has become a traditional gift from the district.   It is a very nice memento of my year.

A really good dinner and good fellowship made for a nice evening.

"till the next time.

FOOTNOTE:   When we left Grand Lodge it started to rain.   God opened up the sky and tried to drowned us.   We just got onto Route 161, about 2 blocks from Grand Lodge, and right in the middle of Worthington a big doe runs across the road in front of us.  I had already hit one deer in my travels last year as Grand King.   I definitely don't need to get another one.