january - Grand Encampment, Knights Templar

COSIZPresenting a Unique Knight Templar Fine Leather JacketTHE TEMPLAR ELITE BOMBERRFeaturing A “Seal of the Army of Christ” Woven Emblem• We have commissioned a special Knight Templar “Bomber-style” Jacket fromBurks Bay of Minnesota to honor Sir Knights.• An exclusive 3 1 ⁄2 " “Army of Christ” patch featuring two knights as messengersof the Temple representing man’s dual nature (divine and human) is affixed tothe chest of our jacket. Moreover, if you served in the Military you may chooseto have your Service Emblem patch added to the right chest of your jacket.I P

Grand Master’s MessageThe new year has arrived, and welook forward with anticipation to seewhat 2013 has in store for us. Justas each of you may make some New Year’sresolutions so do the officers of your GrandEncampment. As part of our plan for the 66 thtriennium we resolve that:1. We will return to basics.We will treat each Sir Knight as a Brother,showing true compassion and caring.2. We are a Masonic, Christian, familyoriented fraternity.We will include our faith and our familiesin our activities whenever possible.3. We will increase our visibility.We will make ourselves more attractiveto both members and non-memberswithin the Fraternity, the community, and in our charitable endeavors.4. We will develop leaders.We will continue our Emerging Leaders Program to develop future Templar leaders.5. We will show pride in our order in all that we do.We will exert our best efforts in all that we do in Templary and be proud of thoseefforts and proud to be Knights Templar.6. We will live by our theme, “Chivalry, Christianity, Templary……a way of life!”We will live according to our principles in our daily lives, ensuring the successof our order.These are our resolutions for 2013, and we ask your help in bringing each of themto fruition.Happy New Year!Courteously,David Dixon Goodwin, GCTGrand MasterThe future is ours! We must seize the moment!Every Christian Mason should be a Knight Templar.knight templar5

Prelate’sChapelbyRev. William D. Hartman, Right Eminent GrandPrelate of the Grand EncampmentHAPPY NEW YEAR!If you are reading this, it means that theworld did not come to an end and that weare now in another new year. There hasbeen a lot of “hype” over the end of the Mayancalendar, indicating that the world would end onDecember 21, 2012, and others who have interpretedBible verses as indicating the same time frame. I am sure that many on theNew Jersey coastline when Hurricane Sandy hit, thought the world was coming to anend. And indeed, for much of that coastline property, it was an end.We need to remember that when Jesus was asked when the world wouldcome to an end, he admitted that neither he nor even the angels in heavenknew that. Only God knows when it will happen, and over the succeeding twentycenturies, many have tried to predict this world’s end only to find out that theirpredictions were wrong.Why are people so fixated on the end of the world? Are things that bad in ourdaily living? Are we tired of living this life and want to move on? You will, youknow. Today, for thousands of people, this world will end. I think the fear formany is that they will not be prepared for the end when it comes, and so I say,“be prepared every day.”Many people make New Year’s resolutions to effect changes in their living and, ofcourse, create many laughs and much frustration when they don’t follow through.Then it is back to living as it was, with a sense of failure for trying to make changesbut thinking that they can try again at a future time.Jesus admonished us many times to be ready for “the end,” whenever it wouldcome. Jesus wants us to live a righteous life every day of our lives. Jesus wants us todo good every day of our lives. Jesus wants us to love others as he loves us every dayof our lives. Jesus also knows how imperfect we are, how we “backslide” and caremore for ourselves than for others, and so he offers us forgiveness and guidance andstrength to follow him every day of our lives. He will pick us up when we fall. He willlove us even when we are not lovable. He is our friend every day of our lives, andwhen our end does come, he will lead us through the valley of the shadow of deathto his Father’s house. So “Work, for the night is coming, when earth’s work is done,”and we shall be with our Lord and God and loved ones forever.6 january 2013

A Chat With The Managing EditorThere is not a lot of room for ramblings this month. As I write this, I am in Californiaat the Southwest Department meeting thinking of our Bretheren on theEast Coast who have taken a beating from the hurricane. I am most interestedto see how the West Coast and the new Central Easter observances go this year. I hopeyou will attend and support them. Attendance at the West Coast observance was downlast year. I hope it was because of the Triennial occuring the same year rather thanapathy among the Sir Knights. I will be in Kansas City this year to see how things go.On a positive note, interest in the DepartmentMeetings seems to be on the rise. I am also seeingmore valuable and relevent content being presentedJohn L. Palmerat the conferences. This is a good trend and says importantthings about the quality of ourManaging Editorleadership.Subscriptions to the Knight Templar magazine are available from the Grand Encampmentoffice at a rate of $15.00 per year. Individual issues in quantities of lessthan ten can be obtained for $1.50 each from the office of the managing editor ifavailable. Inquire via e-mail to the managing editor for quantities in excess of ten.Some past issues are archived on our web site. http://www.knightstemplar.org.knight templar7

The Liverpool Masonic Rebellionand the Grand Lodge of WiganThe Wigan Grand LodgeThe Masonic Rebellion in Liverpoolhad included from the outset a number ofWigan lodges, and after 1825, no minutesexist of the Grand Lodge meeting in Liverpool,though in Gage’s resignation letterwritten in 1842, he stated that he had:“not had the pleasure of meeting theGrand Lodge, nor in fact any privateLodge during the last fifteen years.” 25The makeup of the Liverpool andWigan lodges involved in the rebellionwere similar, with the majority beingtradesmen and merchants, all sharingthe same grievances, but the shift fromLiverpool to Wigan was to become apermanent one. Another leading Liverpoolrebel, John Eltonhead, returnedto the United Grand Lodge on the 7 th ofMarch 1827, 26 the same year that Gagehad stated that he had last attended alodge. With these two leading rebelsgone, only a handful of active Liverpoolbrethren such as Thomas Page, ThomasBerry, and John Robert Goepel, mixingwith an influx of leading Wigan rebels,such as John Atherton, Ralph Ball, andRobert Bolton were left.Despite the abolition of slaveryin 1807, the port of Liverpool continuedto grow as merchants and investorsfound new trade and new business.William Ewart, the Liverpool broker andThe last in a series of articlesByDr. David Harrisona leading member of the MerchantsLodge, became a founder of the Committeeto support the proposition of thebuilding of the Liverpool and Manchesterrailway. 27 On the 15 th of September,1830, the Liverpool and Manchesterrailway was finally opened by Freemasonthe Duke of Wellington, an eventattended by an array of local dignitaries,and it connected the port not only to thecotton producing town of Manchesterbut to the whole of the industrial northwestof England, bringing the area closertogether and cutting down the transporttime between Liverpool and Manchesterto an hour.The railway also brought social andbusiness networking closer togetherand especially aided the cotton, coal,and iron making industries in the area. 28The North-west of England soon becamecrisscrossed by interlinking railways,and within a few years of theopening of the Liverpool to Manchesterrailway, the cotton and coal producingtown of Wigan became connected, thisnew easy transport bringing the Masonicrebels closer together. Indeed, itwas not long after the introduction ofthe railways that the Masonic rebelsmoved their center of operations toWigan, though a number of Liverpoolbrethren still attended. The rebellionin Liverpool had struck a blow to Freemasonryin the port, but like Masonryin its neighboring industrial towns, by8 january 2013

The Royal Arch apron of John Mort, Sr., the last Grand Master of the Rebel GrandLodge, which he wore at all times in the lodge room. Photo by the author.knight templarthe mid-nineteenth century, the societyhad started to expand. The newly constructedProvincial Grand Lodge of WestLancashire, formed in 1826 to make thelarge province of Lancashire more manageable,soon made its presence knownin Liverpool, and prominent local figuressuch as Robertson Gladstone wereappearing in the membership list of St.George’s Lodge of Harmony, especiallyas the lodge could now claim to be theoldest surviving lodge in the area. 29There is a large gap in the minutebook from the last known meeting inLiverpool in 1825 until April 13 th , 1838,when the Grand Lodge suddenly metin Wigan at the Hole I’ th’ Wall tavernin the market place. Gage was not inattendance, but original rebels ThomasPage from the “Antient” LiverpoolLodge No. 31, (renumbered to its originalpre-Union number of 20 after therebellion) and Robert Bolton from theWigan based Sincerity Lodge No. 492were present. A new Grand Master,William Farrimond Esq., was elected,officially replacing George Woodcockwho, according to the surviving minutes,had never actually attended the GrandLodge meetings, and the rebel GrandLodge began a new phase as it took onmore of a Wigan identity, gradually severingits ties with Liverpool.After 1838, the meetings of the GrandLodge took place regularly every quarterin various Wigan taverns, some of whichwere run by its own Freemasons suchas the Hole I’ th’ Wall, which was run byBrother Thomas Johnson; the Banker’sArms, which was run by Brother ThomasBolton; and the Angel Inn in nearbyAshton-in-Makerfield, which was run by9

Brother Timothy Turton. Wigan was wellplaced in the center of Lancashire, and atits height in the early 1840s, the WiganGrand Lodge had lodges in Wigan, Liverpool,Ashton-in-Makerfield, and Warringtonand had been in close contactwith an “Antient” lodge in Lynn Regis inNorfolk, which may have had to do withGage having originated from there andhaving continuing links with the town. 30By mid 1842, Gage finally resignedfrom the Wigan Grand Lodge, angry atnot being asked to review the renumberingof lodges and the granting ofnew Warrants, a decision that had takenplace in a meeting held on the 15 th ofAugust, 1838. The Wigan based SincerityLodge became Lodge No. 1, and theLiverpool Lodge No. 20 became LodgeNo. 2, a move which may have added toThe collar of John Mort, Sr. Photo by the author.10 january 2013

Gage’s anger and revealed how Wiganhad become more dominant and moreproactive in the administration. Thisnew proactive stance by the new, Wiganbased Grand Lodge began to pay off, andit slowly began to spread its influence,having five lodges under its jurisdictionby the early 1840s, though GeorgeWoodcock’s Barnsley lodge had declinedan offer to join the Wigan Grand Lodge,and a lodge in nearby Warrington calledthe “Lodge of Knowledge” was relativelyshort lived. Two more lodges were givenwarrants; one based in nearby Ashtonin-Makerfieldnamed Harmony andPerseverance, the other named the St.Paul’s Lodge, which was based in Ashton-under-Lyne.All of these lodges exceptfor the Lodge of Sincerity seemedto have disappeared by the 1860s.Gage had always been given the titleof Deputy Grand Master, courteously beinggiven the task of overlooking someof the activities by correspondence.However, he was deeply upset that theMagna Charta had been breached, asit had originally stated that on the creationof the rebel Grand Lodge, all lodgenumbers per 1823 had been revertedback to their pre-Union numbers before1813. On the 10 th of June 1842, Gagewrote a lengthy letter of resignation inwhich he outlined his feelings at not beingasked to review the decision of thenew warrants. He was a proud man, andas he was the person who had instigatedthe Liverpool Masonic Rebellion, he appearedto have been hurt by the decision.In the letter, he made references tothe Magna Charta of Masonic Freedom,reminding the brethren of their origins:knight templar“It was therefore from an ardent desireto hand down to posterity the ancientlandmarks, customs, and usageof Masonry that we reestablished theAncient Grand Lodge; this act howevercould only be justified by a strict adhereanceon our parts to the ancient laws,landmarks, and usages of Masonry.” 31Gage also sternly refused a requestto write a pamphlet detailing the causesof the rebellion. Despite Gage’s coldness,he was still the spiritual leader of the“Antients,” and in the reply to his resignation,Gage was described by the GrandMaster as a man whom:“the tyrants in the Masonic worldwould have always looked uponwith dread.” 32Perhaps Gage’s opinion was notsought by the Wigan Grand Lodge in fearof his reaction to the changes. The MagnaCharta of Masonic Freedom, originallywritten under the influence of Gage, wasrewritten in 1839. This reorganization, decidedby a Grand Lodge now dominatedby Wigan brethren, began to forge a newidentity. The original rebels, Gage in particular,were still held in high regard andseen as the founding fathers of the resurrected“Antient” Grand Lodge, and RobertBolton’s reply to Gage’s resignation,though tinted with expectation and hintingat Gage’s lack of interest, effectivelyleft the door open for his return. Gagehowever, never came back and never repliedto Bolton’s letter. Increasing the isolationof the Wigan Grand Lodge, ThomasPage and John Robert Goepel, two of thelast remaining original rebels from Liverpool,returned to the United Grand Lodgeon the 1 st of December, 1858. 33 Like Gage,John Robert Goepel had dramaticallychanged his career, going from a jeweler11

to a dentist after the Masonic Rebellion,a profession in which he engaged until hisdeath in 1862. 34Gage was by this time older and wasstill based in Liverpool, and thoughseemingly showing a lack of interest inMasonry, he still held a sense of importancewhen it came to his position withinthe Wigan Grand Lodge. His disinterestmay have been as a result of his closecolleague John Eden’s embezzlement ofMasonic funds, the relocation of theGrand Lodge to Wigan, or of Gage havinga family and changing his career froma tailor to a land surveyor. Gage went onto publish a map of Liverpool, whichwas based on his surveys of the portin 1836. 35 He was however, to remaina rebel to the end, effectively rebellingagainst the rebels. Gage was always anobstinate man, passionate, arrogant,and confident in the face of opposition,and his fight for the cause of AntientFreemasonry had been extremely fierceand proactive.He held the respect of his fellow rebels,and without Gage, there would havebeen no Wigan Grand Lodge, his leadershipinfluencing its original design. Hehad aspired to greater things, Gage, amere tailor having written to the Dukeof Sussex complaining about the waycertain brethren in Liverpool were beingmistreated being an excellent example ofan attempt to break down the class andsocial divisions. Gage died in 1867, aged79, though as his ex-Masonic rebel hadnoted, Gage would continue to inspirethe Wigan Grand Lodge. 36 The success ofthe rebellion, albeit on a local basis, isrevealed in its organization and the proactivestance of the Wigan Grand Lodge,its effect on the United Grand Lodge alsoproving to be permanent with the ratherlarge Lancashire province being dividedin two shortly after the rebellion, creatingthe more manageable western andeastern divisions.The End of the “Antients”The minute book for the Wigan GrandLodge ends in 1866, though James Millerwho wrote his memories of the Lodge ofSincerity in the 1950s stated that theGrand Lodge of Wigan did survive, supervisingthe last remaining lodge, theLodge of Sincerity, its last Grand Masterbeing John Mort who served as GrandMaster from 1886 until the lodge returnedto the United Grand Lodge in1913. James Miller was a young manwhen he was initiated into the Lodge ofSincerity in 1908. He followed his father,grandfather, and great-grandfather, inbecoming a Freemason under the WiganGrand Lodge and would become instrumentalin the survival of its memory.Miller discusses in his memoirs the festivalof St. John, which was celebratedby all lodges before the Union and mentionsthe practice of the Royal Arch, itsapron being worn by the Grand Master,John Mort, at all times. The Knight Templarorder was also practiced, and Millermentions a sickness and burial societywithin the lodge, which may have been acontinuation of the “funeral fund” whichwas mentioned in the minutes of theWigan Grand Lodge in 1839.John Mort seems to have heldthe Grand Lodge of Wigan togetherduring its final years, and he appearsin the Wigan Grand Lodge minutes forthe first time in 1866 when Peter Seddonwas Grand Master. Mort, like Miller,passed on his memories of the WiganGrand Lodge, enabling Eustace Beesley12 january 2013

The Magna Charta of Masonic Freedom, 1839. Photo by Fred Lomax.to write his history in 1920. Accordingto Miller, Mort was initiated in 1864. Heserved as Master of the Sincerity Lodgeon a number of occasions and becamethe last Grand Master in 1886. Millerpaints a cosy picture of an isolated lodgefilled with friends and family members.Mort’s son, also called John, was a member,and Miller’s uncle, Richard Warburton,was initiated on the same dayas Miller. Miller recited the merrimentof the lodge festive board, where eachmember of the lodge was allowed onedrink from the lodge funds. When thedrinks had been consumed, the WorshipfulMaster would call out “mortar,”and a Steward would take the trowelaround so that each Brother could givehis contribution to the next round ofdrinks. After these funds had been exhausted,a cry for “more mortar” wouldensure further drinks, accompanied bythe fine tenor voice of John Mort, Jr.,who was also a member of the Wiganknight templarParish Church Choir.These eccentricities reflect the lodgeas an apparent time capsule, surviving inisolation, having an independent and inwardlooking attitude. The drinking andsocializing seemed to have created adeep bond between the brethren, keepingthe last remaining lodge alive. TheGrand Lodge had met at numerous innsand taverns around Wigan, some meetingstaking place in the center of Wigan,such as the infamous Dog Inn at WiganMarket Place where the Grand Lodgemet on a number of occasions in 1839.Other meetings took place on the peripheryof the Wigan area, such as theAngel Inn in Ashton-in-Makerfield. Theuse of these inns was vital as importantmeeting places for the Grand Lodge.Many of them, like the Angel Inn and theRope & Anchor Inn in Scholes, were runby fellow brethren, enabling the GrandLodge to establish regular meetings, ensuringits continuity and allowing it to13

carry on its own unique culture.As the Wigan Grand Lodge descendedinto solitary isolation, “regular” Freemasonryunder the United Grand Lodgeof England flourished in Wigan. The ProvincialGrand Lodge of West Lancashiremet there in October 1886, and in Novemberof the same year, the WiganFreemasons under the United GrandLodge celebrated the centenary of theLodge of Antiquity No. 178. More visitsby prominent figures within the UnitedGrand Lodge followed. In October 1889,the Freemasons accompanied the Mayorto church, and a sermon was given bythe Grand Chaplain of England, the ReverendT. Barton Spencer. Perhaps thesevery public displays by the ever morepowerful and confident United GrandLodge sent a message to the dwindlingWigan Grand Lodge.Indeed, “regular” Freemasonry inWigan, like in other industrial towns atthe time, attracted the local aristocracy.One such local aristocrat was JamesLudovic Lindsay FRS (Fellow of the RoyalSociety), who resided at Haigh Hall, anelegant neo-classical manor house onthe outskirts of Wigan. 37 Lindsay was tobecome the 26 th Earl of Crawford and9 th Earl of Balcarres, and he founded theLindsay Lodge No. 1335 in 1870, LordLindsay serving as a Conservative MP(Member of Parliment) for Wigan from1874-1880. Lindsay became a central figurefor Freemasonry in Wigan, becominginvolved in the development of localeducation and charity. His family hadbeen concerned in the opening of thelocal mining and mechanical school, andLord Lindsay had been involved in thebuilding of local school houses. 38 Lindsaybecame a celebrated astronomer, andtogether with his father, they had builtup one of the most impressive librariesin Britain, the “Bibliotheca Lindesiana.”In 1910, Haigh Hall played host to a visitingcontingent of Manchester Masons,again confirming the power and statusof “regular” Freemasonry against the increasinglysecluded Wigan Grand Lodge.Miller was to witness the end of theGrand Lodge of Wigan, its last survivinglodge being isolated and alone, and as arelic of the “Antients” of the eighteenthcentury, it was not recognized by otherlocal Masonic lodges. Despite the rulingpassed in the early days of the GrandLodge that it was forbidden to discussthe United Grand Lodge, Miller mentionsthat “heated arguments” on rejoininghad been going on for two or threeyears leading up to 1913. The matterwas brought to a head, as Miller puts it,in 1912, when an unnamed newly raisedbrother received an invitation to visit aMasonic lodge under the United GrandLodge of England. On presenting himselfto the lodge and showing his certificate,he was refused admission, whichled him to write a rather abusive letter,calling the lodge a bogus institution andstating that he was the victim of a fraud.This incident seemed to confirm that theSincerity Lodge, the last surviving lodgeunder the Grand Lodge of Wigan, had ableak future, and if it was to survive, itneeded to adapt.A meeting between both Grand Lodgeswas sought, and the Sincerity Lodge wasvisited by Worshipful Brother J. D. Murreyfrom Provincial Grand Lodge, who wassatisfied with what he witnessed of theworking of the lodge. Miller recites thatdevelopments moved quickly and that thelodge could keep the name “Sincerity” butwould have to be renumbered. Ironically,the issue over the renumbering of lodges14 january 2013

after the Union was an issue which hadmoved Gage to rebel against the UnitedGrand Lodge in the first place. The lodgewould lose its original number of 486, itwould surrender its old Warrant, anddespite being founded in 1786, it wouldhave a new number of 3677. In the officialUnited Grand Lodge records, the Lodge ofSincerity would have the 26 th of September,1913, as the date of its consecration.All the brethren of the Wigan GrandLodge then had to be initiated, passed,and raised, in a ceremony which wasreminiscent of the pre-Union “re-making”ceremony, when an “Antient” Masonjoined a “Modern” lodge. Millerseemed to have mixed feelings of hislodge rejoining the United Grand Lodge,and he ended his memoirs with a hauntingimage:“But one can still wonder if the ghostsof those old brethren of an unrecognizedLodge still linger around Sincerity.” 39Miller was speaking with some regretof the surrender of what was effectivelythe last surviving relic of the “Antients”and was perhaps referring to the ghostof Michael Alexander Gage, still lingeringin the lodge room with his Masonic rebels.It had been ninety years since Gagepresided over the first meeting at theShakespeare Tavern in Liverpool, andin the Masonic Rooms at Wigan, Gage’sdream finally ended, as the last survivinglodge under the Grand Lodge of Wiganrejoined the United Grand Lodge of England,bringing the rebellion to an end.The rebellion represented feelings ofdissatisfaction and discrimination amongsome Freemasons, especially within thethen large Lancashire province. Feelingthat their grievances were being unanswered,they broke away from the UnitedGrand Lodge in London and went theirown way. The rebellion can also be seento reflect a revolt by the merchants andtradesmen of Liverpool against the “tyranny”of the Duke of Sussex, Freemasonsand tradesmen such as Gage and Broadhurstseeing the leadership of the UnitedGrand Lodge as being firmly in the handsof the London based aristocracy, a leadershipthat had neglected the issues raisedby the brethren of the leading port in theindustrial North-west of England. This isevident, not only in the name and thewording of the Magna Charta of MasonicFreedom, but also in the aggressive attitudeof the leading rebels, some of whom,such as Gage, clearly had personal aspirations.The rebellion was the last stand ofthe “Antients,” and despite it taking place,the expansion of Freemasonry underthe United Grand Lodge of England continuedapace during the later half of thenineteenth century.End Notes25An excerpt from Michael Alexander Gage’s resignation letter, 10 th of June, 1842,in Beesley, Wigan Grand Lodge, p.85.26Michael J. Spurr, “The Liverpool Rebellion,” in AQC, Vol. 85, (York: Ben Johnson& Co. Ltd, 1972), pp.29-60, on p.42.27John Macnab, History of The Merchants Lodge, No. 241, Liverpool, 1780-2004,Second Edition, (Liverpool, 2004), p.34.28“The Manchester and Liverpool Rail-Road” in the Monthly Supplement of Theknight templar15

Penny Magazine of The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, March 31 toApril 30, 1833, pp.1-3.29List of Members for Lodge No. 35 held at the Adelphi Hotel – Liverpool, December18 th , 1839. Masonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool. Not listed.301851 Census for Liverpool, Lancashire. Liverpool Library. Ref: HO153/2183.31A transcribed excerpt from Michael Alexander Gage’s resignation letter, 10 th ofJune, 1842, in Beesley, Wigan Grand Lodge, p.84.32Ibid., pp.83-88.33Spurr, “The Liverpool Rebellion,” AQC, Vol. 85, p.42.34Goepel’s occupation is given as “Dentist” age 50 and his birthplace as London inthe 1851 Census for Liverpool, Lancashire. Liverpool Library, Ref: HO107/2180. However,Goepel was listed as a “Jeweler” aged 40 in the 1841 Census for Liverpool, Lancashire.Liverpool Library, Ref: HO107/556/28. Deaths registered in June, 1862, JohnRobert Goepel, Liverpool. Ref: 8b. 113.351851 Census for Liverpool, Lancashire. Liverpool Library. Ref: HO153/2183, whereGage’s occupation is listed as a “Civil Engineer” and also in the Church Records forSt. Peters, Liverpool; Baptism of William Henry, son of Michael Alexander Gage,Land Surveyor, and his wife Sarah, 25 th of December, 1833. Liverpool Library. Ref:283PET2/21. Also see the 1841 Census for Liverpool, Lancashire. Liverpool Library.Ref: HO107/558/3. Gage’s occupation is given here as “Land Surveyor.” A map ofLiverpool published in 1836 was based on Gage’s expert survey of the port, see LiverpoolMap, 1836, M. A. Gage, Maritime Archives and Library, Drawer Z/F3.36Deaths registered in January, February and March, 1867, Michael Alexander Gage,aged 79, West Derby, Liverpool. Ref: 8b. 331.37James Ludovic Lindsay was first initiated into the Isaac Newton University LodgeNo. 859 in Cambridge in February 1866. He subsequently joined a number of otherlodges including the Prince of Wales Lodge No. 259 in 1868 and the Lodge of EdinburghNo. 1 in 1870. Lord Lindsay, as he was styled from his grandfather’s death in1869 until he succeeded to his later titles on his father’s death in 1880, also servedas Deputy Provincial Grand Master for West Lancashire.38See Cornelius McLeod Percy, History of the Mining and Technical School, Wigan,(Wigan, 1900). The agent of the Earl of Crawford had chaired a public meeting in1857 which duly decided that the Wigan Mining and Mechanical School should beestablished. Many public buildings in the Wigan area bear the distinctive Crawfordand Balcarres mark on the date stone. An example of one such building is the SchoolHouse on Red Rock Lane near Haigh Village, which was built in 1871.39Reminiscences of an UnrecognisedLodge, namely Old Sincerity Lodge No.486 by James Miller. Some of Miller’sregalia is currently held by the Libraryof the United Grand Lodge of England.Many thanks to the Reverend NevilleCryer who supplied a copy of the memoirsof James Miller. Not Listed.Dr. David Harrison is a history lecturer, havingcompleted his Ph.D. on the history ofFreemasonry in 2008 at the University ofLiverpool. The thesis was published by LewisMasonic titled The Genesis of Freemasonryand is available at all good book outlets. Theauthor can be contacted via the Lewis Masonicwebsite: www.lewismasonic.co.uk16 january 2013

Dear John Palmer:knight templarLetters to the EditorI just received Knight Templar magazinefor May 2012. In it was an articleabout Ernest Borgnine, the actor. How refreshingto have this type of stuff in printrather than all the information aboutHalton Castle, or other items alluding tothe history of the Knights Templar. I’d liketo see more Masonic study of people weknow or Masonic history about America’sforefathers. I liked what was said aboutErnest Borgnine and would strongly encouragestill further information aboutother Masonic Brethren and places elsewherein the United States. In the meantime,keep up the good work.David N. Woods, P.M. and 50 year memberof Wayfarer’s Lodge, No. 1001, A.F. &A.M., Evanston, Illinois.Sir Knight Woods,Thank you for your feedback. Thereappears to be a diversity of opinionabout what people would like to see inthe magazine. It may even be due to ageneration gap. At any rate, we will continueto try to put both types of materialin the magazine so there will hopefullybe something everyone enjoys.Dear John,The Ed.Congratulations to you and to SirKnight Ivan M. Tribe for the outstandingarticle about Sir Knight Ernest Borgnine. Ithink it would be very appropriate to adda footnote to that article in order to pointout that Sir Knight Borgnine has also beenhonored in a particular manner by theGrand Encampment of Knights Templar.At the Triennial of the Grand Encampmentin August, 2000, in Nashville, Tennessee,the Grand Encampment, underthe leadership of Grand Master JamesWard, presented Sir Knight Borgnine withthe prestigious National Award. This isthe most unique recognition given by theGrand Encampment.This award is allowed to be presentedonly once in each triennium, with the recipientto be recommended by a specialcommittee and approved by the GrandMaster. The qualifications for the awardare broad. It is given based on serviceto Knight Templary, Freemasonry, theUnited States government, the military,or the community as a whole. BrotherBorgnine’s receipt of the National Awardis significant since the number of recipientsis extremely small. The committeesin 1991, 1994, and 2006 reported thatthey could not locate a suitable candidatefor the award. In 1997 the committee reportedthat they found two possibilities,but neither could attend the triennium,so no award was given. No mention ofthe award or a committee report can befound in the 2003 Proceedings. Therewas an award presented in 2009.It is unfortunate that, when a committeeon national awards makes itsreport during the Triennial business session,no name is given, only that a candidatehas or has not been found. Theannouncement is not made until theContineud on page 20. 17

General SupplementThe space on these two pages is provided by the Knight Templar magazineto be used by the Grand Commanderies to communicate with the individualSir Knights in their jurisdictions on a monthly basis. From timeto time and for various reasons, we fail to receive any material from theeditor of the state supplement for a given month. When this happens,we take the opportunity to offer you the information below. – The Ed.18 january 2013

Photos of temples on the Acropolisin Athens taken by the editor.knight templar19

Continued from page 17Letters to the Editorformal banquet when the presentationis made. Consequently, the Proceedingsof the Grand Encampment containno record of who the National Awardrecipients are. This lack of record tendsto minimize the knowledge of the awardand tends to overshadow its importance.Most Sir Knights are probably not evenaware of its existence.We can at least be proud, I think, thatSir Knight Borgnine has been rewardedfor his service by the Knights Templar aswell as the Scottish Rite and the ScreenActors’ Guild.Fraternally,W. Bruce Pruitt, PGC, Californiastandard of a Mason. Even if his assertionswere correct, the manner in which he expressedthem was, at best, coarse and vulgar.I would hope that a Sir Knight near tohim will whisper wise counsel in his ear andhelp him see the error of his ways, and I willpray that this happens.Please know that your efforts as ManagingEditor of the Knight Templar magazineare greatly appreciated. May the hand of theAlmighty rest upon you and your endeavors.Fraternally, and with Kindest Regards inHis Majesty’s Service:Sir Knight Ric KinneyIvanhoe Commandery No. 21Kansas City, KansasDear Sir Knight John Palmer:I bid you greetings in the name of ourbeloved Fraternity and that of our mostChristian order. I trust this note finds allwell with you and yours.First, let me say that I enjoy theKnight Templar magazine very much.You and your “staff” do a fine job eachmonth, bringing us relevant and interestingreading.Sir, I must apologize for your being sentsuch a hateful and venomous letter from SirKnight Rickheim. While I do not know himin any fashion, he is a member of the orderthat I cherish. It is the reputation and perceptionof this order that I take a great dealof care in upholding. His letter was riddledwith inaccuracies, false accusations, andconduct that should be beneath the lowestYour PS is absolutely brilliant; really putsthe whole question into perspective.[May 2012 Letters to the Editor]Fraternally,Roger HannemannClaremont Commandery No. 9Rockland, MaineJohn,Just a quick note of thanks for all ofyour hard work with the Knight Templarmagazine. I always enjoy reading it andappreciate the time and energy you putinto it.Yours,Peter W. Brusoe20 january 2013

.knight templarknight templarTO ORDERCall toll-free at 1-800-426-5225 or35visit www.lighthouseuniform.com 521

HIGH POTENTIALLEADERSHIP TRAININGB yEdmund D. Harrison, GGHPAn objective of long-range planning is the development of individuals who willbe able to lead the organization into the future. With that premise in mind,the Grand Encampment, General Grand Council, and General Grand Chapterhave joined together to expand a very successful program originally developed bythe Grand Encampment. The Emerging Leader Training Program is the first programoffered under the banner of York Rite unity.Here is how the enhanced program will work:At the regional/departmental conferences, the leaders of each grand body will beexpected to nominate members of their organizations who show signs of leadership,and who they feel that their value would be enriched by leadership training. Thosenames will be provided to Steve Rubinstein, who has been designated as the administratorfor the program sponsored by the three General Grand York Rite Bodies. Hewill need specific contact information (addresses, phone numbers, and especially, e-mail addresses) for each nominee. Providing adequate time for personal scheduling,each nominee will be sent an e-mail, stating that he has been selected to participatein this program and inviting him to the training session which will be held at the nextregional/departmental conference in which his jurisdiction/department will participate.Two months prior to the conference, he will again be contacted via e-mail andasked to respond as to whether he is interested in participating and is planning toregister for the conference (which is his individual responsibility). The invitee mayarrange for his meals and lodging with the conference registration if he desires, buthe must register for the conference.This year, a second session has been added to the training, and a third year “internship”will be required to fully complete the program.It is hoped by the leadership of the three General Grand Bodies that this effort willidentify and provide leadership for the future to guarantee the continued success ofthe Grand Encampment, the General Grand Council, and the General Grand Chapter.For further information, please contact Steve Rubinstein atyorkriteemergingleaders@aol.com or (516) 564-1762.22 january 2013

Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc.1033 Long Prairie Road, Suite 5Flower Mound, TX 75022-4230Phone (214) 888-0220Fax (214) 888-0230.The new year has arrived far more quicklythan any of us thought. We each madeour resolutions, and the task of trying tofulfill them is upon us. I also set personal goals.This year as I sat down, I considered the wisdomof my ninety-eight year old Grandmotherwho I lost this past October. Perhaps her advice to me would also serve us as KnightsTemplar, and you might join with me to make 2013 a watermark year in Templary.She lived her life in great measure based upon this writing from the Book of EcclesiastesChapter 3: “To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose underheaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluckthat which is planted.”With the new year, we have in essence a “new season.” It is ours to do with aswe please. The 45 th Voluntary Campaign is off to a good start, but we can do more.All across this great country, our Commanderies will soon begin efforts in full for theKnights Templar Eye Foundation. I wish each of you great success in your plans andlook forward to hearing about your results.I am particularly reminded from the verse I shared earlier of the portion that says,“a time to plant.” This is where we come together, combining our efforts to providethe needed dollars to fund the critical research our doctors do every day. Throughour research dollars, we plant the seed that will one day grow and bloom into morethan we could ever possibly imagine.I would like to take a moment and personally thank each of you who work to raisefunds for the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. From the Sir Knight who works overa hot stove all day to the Sir Knight who works over a sink washing countless potsand pans from a spaghetti or chili dinner and our Sir Knights who, though on fixedincomes, find a way to make a donation, money sent from a pure heart filled withlove. Those countless unsung heroes make the Voluntary Campaign a success everyyear. I thank you!Happy New Year Sir Knights and God’s richest blessing upon you.Terry L. Plemons, KGCknight templar23

Meet Our New Department CommandersSir Knight David Joseph KussmanRight Eminent Southwestern Department Commander 2012-2014Sir Knight David Joseph Kussman was born on April 5,1953, in Houston, Texas to parents, Frederick JosephKussman, Jr. and Hazel Evelyn Kussman. Sir KnightKussman was raised in Anaheim, California, attending publicschools and graduating from Loara High School in 1971.He began working for the Anaheim Police Departmentin 1971 while also attending Fullerton College andAugust Vollemer University, pursuing a degree in CriminalJustice. He retired from the City of Anaheim as a PoliceSergeant but remained as a consultant until 2005.David met Kimberly Ann Schmidt at the Police Department.They were married in 1988 and blessed with threechildren, Jennifer (21), Stephanie (19), and David Jr. (15).The Kussman family fellowships at Plaza Bible Church inOrange, California, where he has served as an Elder and on the Church Council. He is currentlyattending Cottonwood Leadership College, School of Ministry.He served as Master of Mother Colony Lodge No. 750, which consolidated in 1991. Henow holds membership in Anaheim Lodge No 207. Companion Kussman served as HighPriest and Treasurer of Fullerton Chapter No. 90, Ritual Instructor and Inspector, and holdsthe Meritorious Service and the Distinguished Service awards. He served as IllustriousMaster and Treasurer of Santa Ana Council No. 14, Cryptic Masons, as the Thrice IllustriousMaster of the Order of the Silver Trowel, Ritual Instructor, Inspector, and AssistantDirector of Ritual and holds the Ish Sodi award. Sir Knight Kussman served as Commanderand Treasurer of Fullerton Commandery No. 55, is a member of several drill teams, andhas served as Ritual Instructor, Inspector, Assistant Director of Ritual, and on several GrandCommandery committees. He holds the Meritorious Service Medal, the Knight TemplarCross of Honor, and Knight Commander of the Temple.He served as Master of Kadosh of the Scottish Rite in the Valley of Santa Ana and is aKnight Commander of the Court of Honour. He served as Grand Prelate of the Grand Collegeof America, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests and is currently serving as DeputyGrand Governor of the York Rite Sovereign College for California; as Prior of Fresno PrioryNo 71, Knights of the York Cross of Honor; and as Intendant General for the Divisionof Southern California, Red Cross of Constantine. He is a IV Grade in California College,Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis and is a past Excellent Chief of Brian BoruCouncil No. 38, Knight Masons where he was honored with the Order of Brian’s Harp.He is a Knight Commander Red Branch of Eri of the Allied Masonic Degrees and isa member of Lone Star Chapel No. 45, Commemorative Order of St. Thomas of Acon;of the Royal Order of Scotland; and of the Order of the Eastern Star.He served as Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Californiain 2010 and as the Chairman for the newly created West Coast Easter Observance.24 january 2013

A Matter of MembershipBySir Knight R. William PerkinsCommandery membership begins withthe first knock on a Lodge Room Door.Almost from the time we beginour Masonic travels, we are remindedabout membership andthe need to increase our ranks. Often atour Lodge, at the conclusion of a man’sThird Degree, he is given; in addition tohis Bible, apron, and lapel pin; two petitions,one to replace himself and one togrow. We see our own mortality as weattend funerals for family, friends, andBrethren. In these we are reminded,not only of the frailty of our own bodiesand to live a just and upright life, but ofthe need to help make good men betterby increasing our ranks. It is not a contestof who can be the better recruiterbut rather having a sincere desire tocreate a better community for our familiesby getting others constructively involvedin the things that lead down thatpath, or the familiar adage of “makinggood men better.”Membership is a problem in nearlyevery organization in our country todayfrom fraternal organizations like ours tocivic and community targeted organizationssuch as the Lions, Optimists, andRotary Clubs. Even the Boy Scouts andthe Girl Scouts have problems with gettingand keeping members. Those thatseem to have little problem with gettingand keeping members are those withfew membership requirements or vaguestandards for membership and theyknight templargenerally serve alcohol. It is as if peoplehave little or no interest in belonging toanything or desire to expand their horizonsbeyond the end of their drivewaysunless it includes being around peoplewho tend toward vices and excess.Of course, many will say that theproblem rests with computers, videogames, and a general apathy that permeatesour society, and they would bepartially right. However, this is not anew malady, as it had its birth years ago.I believe that the roots of this cancer canbe found in the late 1960s. Many of usremember those times. For those whodon’t, it was a time when it was “uncool”to be a part of the “establishment.”To be a part of what our fathers and otheradults held in such high esteem wasnot for us. The idea of a husband kissinghis wife on the cheek as she said “havea nice time at your meeting dear” wasnot for us. It wasn’t “what was happening.”We had found the way. We weregoing to save the world through peaceand love. We were going to commit ourselvesto helping others who were lessfortunate by giving of ourselves. Soundsrather familiar, doesn’t it?Remember the battle cry of the day?It was “peace, love, and ban the bomb.”Yes, we had all the answers, or so wethought. Well, it has been over fortyyears since those days. That’s right, almostforty-three years since Woodstock.If a reunion concert were held today, itwould have to include handicapped25

parking and Depends dispensers.Since that revolution, those of us whodidn’t succumb to its excesses and debaucheryhave pretty much settled intoconventional lives. For many, what weremembered most was the idea of ourfathers kissing our mothers, of runningamuck at the reception after an installation,of the elegance and solemnity ofwhat we experienced that we remember,of seeing our neighbor taking his Commanderyuniform and sword out to hiscar, or an uncle wearing his Fez while ridingsome contraption in a parade. It wasthen that the Masonic seed was planted.It is a seed that is in others we talk to everyday.It just needs cultivating.Of course, there were a good numberof us who looked beyond the turbulenceof those times and wondered whatwould become of the world and of theorganizations that so many men held insuch high regard. Knowing, to some degree,the good that these organizationsdid, the pleasure that these honorablemen experienced, and the pride theytook in their efforts while seldom sayingso, many of us wanted to join them andbe a part of it.This concern and admiration naturallybled over into the Eastern Star, theAmaranth, and a host of other organizationsunder the umbrella of our fraternity.Many members of our familieshad belonged to any number of them,worked hard at maintaining them, andenjoyed themselves. A good numberof their issue joined DeMolay, Job’sDaughters, and Rainbow, wanting tobe like their parents or their friend’sparents. In the process, they learnedof civic responsibility, family unity, andservice to God.Have you ever spoken to your sonabout membership in the Lodge or toyour daughter about the Eastern Star?Does your wife belong? Have you mentionedit to your son-in-law or grandson?If your response to these questionsis any of the following: “Well I haven’tbeen very active myself and as a resulthe doesn’t have an interest,” “I haven’tfound the time to sit down and talk tohim about it,” “He’s never expressed aninterest in it,” then you are at fault! Yourfailure to be active, to take sixty secondsto incite their curiosity, to talk to yourchildren and know them is your fault!We have to set an example, an examplethat others will want to follow andto emulate, or there will be no “others.”This all starts with our families, thepeople that we would give our lives for,the ones we spend so much of our timewith (or should), and the ones that wewant to make the world a better placefor. We should want to share with theones we love our passion and joy forour Fraternity and show them the goodit does for society.I see the same problems and the sameapprehension and lack of involvement inother organizations to which I belong,all which have tighter membership requirementsthan the aforementioned“drinking clubs.” I am vice president ofour union local which has ninety-onemembers, and we average ten membersat our monthly meetings. I am a pastCommander of my VFW Post, which hasapproximately 1300 members. At ourmonthly meeting we average twentyfivemembers present. Even our VFWPost Ritual Team that marches in thelocal parades, performs dedication ceremonies,and renders honors at funeralsfor veterans lacks attendance. There arethirty-one members on the team, yet at26 january 2013

our every-other-month meetings, lessthan half show up. By the same token,our monthly Ritual Team fish fry willhave seven to nine show up to work it.Then there is the exception. This is thelocal Marine Corps League Detachment,of which I am a Charter Member. TheDetachment has ninty-five members,and we average between forty-five andfifty members at our monthly meetings.We will easily get twenty to thirty volunteersfor any project or fund raiser, andwe have members that will also help theother Veterans’ organizations.Then of course, as most all of youreading this are fully aware from yourown experiences, when the food flowsfreely, the members seem to come outof the woodwork. Our union local hasa yearly party where we will averagesixty-five to eighty people in attendance,which is roughly thirty-two to fortymembers and their guests.Our VFW Post has three such eventseach year, and we will average 130 to 150people or 65 to 75 members and guests.On the other hand, our Marine CorpsLeague Detachment has two such eventseach year and averages 170 to 185 formerMarines and guests in attendance.You may ask, “What’s the difference?How is it that the Marine Corps Leaguefairs better than the rest? Why do moremembers show up for and participate inmore activities than the others?” It mayinterest you further to know that nationwide,the Marine Corps League is steadilygrowing while other clubs, fraternities,and organizations remain stagnant orare in decline.So what is the reason for this exception?A commonality. Within the Leaguethere is a commonality. We are all Marinesor Navy Corpsmen or Chaplainsknight templarthat have served together in combat. Itis part of what we have in common, abrotherhood or kinship. It is this commonalitythat we, within the Fraternity,need to exploit to our advantage. Nowsome may argue, and rightfully so, thatthere is a commonality within the otherorganizations to which I belong, andthey would be correct.So what is the difference? The makingof a Marine, our rebirth and theesteem in which we hold “Doc” and“Padre” creates a family that oftentranscends definition.This same concept can be found inour fraternity. Are we not reborn, raisedinto a brotherhood, a family that oftentranscends the ability to offer a definition?We have to look for the commonalitiesthat drew us to the fraternity andthat drive our passion to participate andexcel in our travels. It is this “commonman” theory, the “strength in numbers”idea that we need to exploit. It is by this,I believe, that we, as a fraternity, will surviveand grow.The beginning of the solution of thisproblem is simple but somewhat costly.In my opinion, a survey needs to be sentto every member of every Commandery.A questionnaire, accompanied by astamped return envelope, thus reducingthe number of non-participants andshowing a sincere effort on the part ofour leaders at the Grand Commanderylevel for growth and participation. Whileit could be nationwide, a more logicalapproach would be by state or region.An alternative, less expensive way wouldbe to make the questionnaire an inclusionin our magazine, postage paid, andthe reader would send it to his respectiveGrand Commandery. Within thisquestionnaire we will find our commonalities,enabling our Knights to better27

target Brethren and those in the dark without. One can quickly see how thisby the activities and occupations that questionnaire would benefit both theare most common among members in a Commandery and the Lodge and couldcertain area.easily spill over into the other appendantbodies of Freemasonry. Growth inIt should begin with the usual questionssuch as your age, when you joined any one of them means growth withinyour Lodge, a brief reason why you the Fraternity, and this growth will undoubtedlyinclude collateral growth in alljoined including choices such as familytradition and the number of family bodies. You never know, your gin rummymembers that have been or are members,your occupation at the time you tell him how he can begin his journey.partner may just be waiting for you tojoined, and if you are retired. The same Next door, her grandmother may havequestions can be posed as when you been in Eastern Star, but she and herwent into the York Rite such as why you husband know nothing about how towent the York Rite. Here again, choices join. The Lodge Brother that works incould include family tradition, an obligationto payback, or to expand your ManentCommander. These are some of thethe bay next to you may be a future Emisonicknowledge. What were you lookingfor, and did you find it? Space should of life, the countless things that havemany things that are the commonalitiesbe provided to elaborate and to give a pulled us together as a society and flowview of commonalities, what impressed over into our Fraternity.you most about the degrees, and what At the beginning of this article, Ido you enjoy about your membership spoke about the counterculture of theand activities in the York Rite?late 1960s. As I pointed out, it wasPayback, that was my original reason there that I believe the problem originatedand became the source of today’sfor going the York Rite. Franklin ChapterNo. 8 sponsored our DeMolay Chapter, membership problems at both ends. Aan organization that turned me around. generation that rejected membershipI am a Past Master Councilor of Alton has raised a generation that does notChapter, so for me it was a “no-brainer.” appreciate membership which in turn isThen would be a list of questions that one raising another generation centered onwould find on almost any questionnaire self. No history exists of seeing otherssuch as your present occupation, your off to meetings or participation in children’sChristmas parties at a Lodge oreducational level, if you are a Veteran,the hobbies and past time activities you Post. There are children who do not experiencethe thrill of advancing in theirenjoy, your church and community work,activities in which you enjoy participatingsuch as hunting or fishing, etc. By of those achievements by peers, parents,own right or the positive reinforcementhonestly completing the questionnaire, and other like minded adults. All this isthe demographics will appear, showing compounded today by the cyber maladythe greatest likelihood for membership of mind-numbing video games and thebased upon the greatest number of internet. As you read this, somewhere,commonalities within a particular area. another Knight passes on to final formation.You will turn on the news tonightRemember that commonalities withinthe Fraternity are also common to those and see a killing or some other act of28 january 2013

senseless violence. Like our Fraternity,our society is crumbling from within dueto the lethargic mentality of a vast majorityof its members and society’s unwillingnessto look at reality.If we are to survive, we must be proactive,not only for our family and fraternitybut for society!“To be one ask one.” We have all seenthe bumper sticker or heard the expression.Well, if you are going to be one, BeOne! The age old adage of “I want to bejust like him” rings as true today as whenit was first uttered. If we are to surviveand if our society is to survive, we haveto set an example that others will notonly want to emulate, but will want to bean active part of. This will be by strengththrough numbers and the numbers areGrand EncampmentMembership Awardsactive, fresh, new ideas and new peoplemeshing with the “old-timers.” We needto listen and evaluate in an impartialmanner, as fresh is new and very oftenproductive. Think about the ChristianBrethren you know, the men outside theFraternity who you would want at yourside in a battle to defend the Christianfaith, to protect our way of life, our communities,and our families. Who wouldyou want to help you uphold the virtuesof a moral society, to maintain equalityand freedom for all, and to halt the moraldecay of our society?It is a battle of mortal attrition withinour ranks and a moral war around theglobe as Satan himself dances across thelandscape duping the people. The clock isticking Sir Knights, not only for the moraland intellectual survival of our society butfor the survival of our Fraternity.Sir Knight William Perkins is EminentCommander of Belvedere CommanderyNo. 2 in Alton, Illinois and can be contactedat gunnyperk@gmail.com.919 William H. Poole, Jr.Joliet Commandery No. 4Joliet, IL November 2, 2012920 George A. ReedLake Ontario Commandery No. 32Pulaski, NY November 3, 2012921 Charles “Mick” OlsonIvanhoe Commandery No. 24Milwaukee, WI November 2, 2012922 James T. CouchTrinity Commandery No. 44Norwood, OH November 20, 2012knight templar29

30WEST COAST EASTER OBSERVANCE 2013MARCH 29 – 31, 201323015 AshwoodLake Forest, CA 92630-5409Tel: (949) 829-6802 - lderbyhawk@aol.comREGISTRATIONEaster Package is available at $100.00 per person(Includes: Meals, Parking Fees, Registration Fees and Tour of theEndeavor Space Shuttle)PLEASE PRINT NAMES OF THOSE ATTENDING_______________________________________@ $100.00_______________________________________@ $100.00_______________________________________@ $100.00Please include your Name, Address, Telephone and EmailTotal $________________Please send enclosed form with your check payable to:“Grand Commandery Easter Observance”(Mail to address provided above)YOUR TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE HOTELON FRIDAY MORNING in the HOSPITALITY ROOMRoom Rates: $95.00 + taxWhen making room reservations, inform them you are with:“Grand Encampment Knights Templar”For Hotel Reservations: Radisson Hotel at USC3540 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90007(800) 395-7046 - or online at:http://www.radisson-midtown.comjanuary 2013

1 st ANNUAL MID-AMERICAEASTER OBSERVANCEThe Grand Encampment will sponsor the1 st Annual Mid-America Easter ServiceHosted by the Grand Commandery of KansasSunday, March 31, 2013, at 8:00 a.m.Liberty Memorial100 W. 26 th Street, Kansas City, MissouriHost Hotel – Westin Crown Center1 East Pershing Road, Kansas City, MissouriFull details are available at www.knightstemplar.orgknight templar31

83 rd ANNUAL EAST COASTEASTER OBSERVANCE – 2013The 83 rd Annual Easter Sunrise Service,sponsored by the Grand Encampment ofKnights Templar, will again be held on thesteps of the George Washington MasonicMemorial, Alexandria, Virginia, on Sunday,March 31, 2013, under the direction of theRight Eminent Grand Prelate, Sir KnightWilliam D. Hartman.HEADQUARTERS HOTELThe headquarters hotel will be the HyattRegency Crystal City, 2799 Jefferson DavisHighway, Arlington, Virginia. Our specialKnights Templar rate will be $109.00 perroom, based on double occupancy. Pleasemake your reservations directly with thehotel by calling 703-418-1234 or 800-HYATT, (mention Knights Templar). Ahotel reservation link is available atwww.knightstemplar.orgGrand Commanders and their ladies areinvited to attend the Saturday eveningdinner, courtesy of the Grand Encampment.Prior reservations are required withthe Grand Encampment office.TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNSThe following Grand Commanderies havereported that their delegations will travel toArlington National Cemetery on Saturday,March 30, 2013, to lay a wreath at the Tombof the Unknowns:Indiana – 10:15 a.m.Tennessee – 10:15 a.m.Georgia – 12:15 p.m.North Carolina – 12:15 p.m.EASTER MORNING SCHEDULEBreakfast buffet - 6:00 a.m.Buses begin to leave hotel - 6:30 a.m.MEALSParade will step off at 7:40 a.m.Easter Memorial Service – 8:00 a.m.A meal package is available for $60.00 per Buses return to the hotel after the service atperson, which includes Saturday eveningapproximately 9:30 a.m.dinner and Sunday morning breakfastbuffet. Order your meal tickets from theOTHER DETAILSGrand Encampment office. Registrationforms are available online atGrand Commanders are requested towww.knightstemplar.org for credit cardappoint a delegation chairman and notifyprocessing or may mail your check, payableSir Knight Lawrence E. Tucker, R:E: Grandto the Grand Encampment, to 5909 WestRecorder, 5909 West Loop South, Suite 495,Loop South, Suite 495, Bellaire, TX 77401-Bellaire, TX 77401-2497; Phone: 713-349-2497. Additional tickets may be ordered8700; Fax: 713-349-8710, E-MAIL:separately: Saturday dinner, $40.00; john@gektusa.orgSunday breakfast buffet, $20.00. Reservedseating at the Saturday night dinner will beassigned on a first come first served basis. Ifyou would like to be seated together pleasesend in your payment as a group.Note: The hotel and meal ticket cutoffdate is March 7, 2013. No tickets will besold at the door.32 january 2013

At a meeting of the Past SupremeWorthy Presidentsheld during Supreme Assemblyin Ft. Worth, Texason September 23-28, Mrs.John A. Brogan, retiringSupreme President, presented(Mrs. Harry S.)Phyllis Maddock Rogerswith a membership in theGrand Master’s Club of theKnights Templar Eye Foundation,Inc. This membershipwas given to her by ananonymous Knight Templarin appreciation of her yearsof service to the Social Orderof the Beauceant andKnight Templar activities.The members ofWestminster AssemblyNo. 245,Westminster,Maryland, SocialOrder of theBeauceant, presenteda checkfor $1,000.00 toDoor to VirtueLodge No. 46as a contributiontoward thehandicapped accessibility ramp on September 13, 2012, at the dedication of the ramp.Pictured left to right are Worshipful Master James Helm of Door to Virtue Lodge; Mrs.Joseph F. Chalker, Past President, Supreme Recorder Emeritus; Mrs. J. Michael Robbins,Past President; Mrs. Kenneth Cole, Worthy President; Mrs. Carl J. Wisner, Past President;Mrs. Howard E. Roe, Past President; and Mrs. William Baldwin, Past President.knight templar33

Knightsat the BookshelfBySir Knight John L. PalmerThe St. Croix Ark by J. P. Noel, copyrighted 2009, an electronic book downloaded inPDF format from http://www.thestcroixark.com.This book was written by an artist who has done some of our covers for themagazine. On the web page, he states that the book will be controversial,and with that, I agree. He puts forth a new theory involving the Knights of St.John, the Ancient Templars, the ark of the covenant, and the island of St. Croix in theU.S. Virgin Islands. One thing I learned is that the Knights of Malta actually ownedthe island of St. Croix at one time!In constructing his theory, Noel tracesthe history of the Knights of Maltaand the ancient Templars from their beginningsuntil modern times. Many of hisconclusions are in conflict with the currentthinking of historians. While I founda few errors in dates and facts about theKnights, none of them affected the basisof his theory.The author believes that the Templarswere formed secretly by the Knights ofSt. John for the purpose of finding andhiding the ark of the covenant and thatthe Hospitallers ultimately preservedthe ark by hiding it in the western hemisphere.He has made several trips to St.Croix, and a good deal of material aboutthe island and its association with theknights is included in the book as well asa lengthy section about the involvementof Christopher Columbus.We publish letters and articles from a variety of sources and points of view. The opinionsexpressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policy of the GrandEncampment, the Knight Templar magazine, or the Editorial Review Board.34 january 2013

Russell A. BauerNew JerseyGrand Commander 1992Born: January 31, 1926Died: November 10, 2012knight templar35

“...that exquisite and indescribabletingling of the scalpwhich has no name, but mightfairly be called bliss, andwhich gives one thesense of being under aspell while it lasts - aspell which one longsto remain under, anddreads to see broken.”Knight Templar5909 West Loop South, Suite 495Bellaire, TX 77401-2402Samuel Clemens 1878