Thursday, October 07, 2010

New York 33º Class of 2011

In early September, Ill.'. Peter Samiec, 33º, Deputy for the State of New York, AASR made the following announcement in his "News & Views" newsletter:

Congratulations!!!

These Brothers from the Empire State were elected to receive the 33º next year.

One of the highlights of any State Dinner at the conclusion of the Supreme Council Annual session is the announcement of those who have been elected to be coroneted a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33º Honorary Member of Our Supreme Council.

That honor was bestowed upon these worthy Brethren and they will be a part of the Class of 2011 in Chicago, IL.


Valley of Utica
Daniel L. Clark

Valley of Rochester
M. Donald Darrohn III
Peter J. Van Elzakker

Valley of Schenectady
Ronald C. Edmonson

Valley of New York City
Yves Etienne
Piers A. Vaughan

Valley of Buffalo
Glenn F. Gaskill
Jeffrey M. Williamson

Valley of Rockville Centre
Robert M. Getschel

Valley of Binghamton
Donald R. Magill

Valley of Jamestown
William M. Winchester

And

Valley of Syracuse
Richard J. Powell
Robert M. Tyrrell

On behalf of all the Active and Honorary Members of the New York State Council of Deliberation, congratulations on your well deserved recognition.

Well done, good and faithful Brethren!!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Catching Up

The summer is over, fall has begun and they are already saying we may see a few flakes of snow before the week is out. I wasn't very good at posting any thing over the summer months and I seem to very, very busy Masonically and with my family so postings may be infrequent this fall as well.

I am very proud to report that my son, Conor, was elected the State Junior Councilor for New York DeMolay in August. His life can as busy or busier than my own but I know that he does love DeMolay & has a great time with his Brothers. It's soccer season now & he has begun his second season on the Varsity team (he's only a Sophomore) so that takes up the bulk of his time until early November. In the photo , l-r, Conor Powell, State Junior Councilor, Mike Celetano, State Senior Councilor and Mike Hernandez, State Master Councilor.

My life continues to get busier...

Friday, July 23, 2010

York Rite Video


I understand that Bro. Chris Hodapp wrote & produced this wee video about the York Rite. Very nicely done...

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Past Grand Master Calvin G. Bond Has Passed On

Calvin G. Bond, 85, of Oswego, passed away on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at Seneca Hill Manor.

Calvin (Cal) was born in South New Haven, son of the late John and Bertha L. (Fairley) Bond on June 8th, his mother’s birthday.

He is survived by Constance (Holmes) Bond of Oswego; three sisters, Bertha Emerson of New Haven; Ruth Schneider of Liverpool; Helen Griffin of Mexico; two sisters-in-laws, Shirley Bond of W. Virginia and Barbara Sawyer of Scriba.

Cal was predeceased by four sisters, M. Isabel LaClair, Evelyn G. Bond, Dora M. Thornell, Elizabeth L. Rein and four brothers, Edward T., John D., Theodore H. and James W. Bond.

A graduate of RBI, and I.A.S. School of Controllership and Oswego State University.

Cal was Treasurer of Oswego Package Boiler Co., Inc. until retirement in 1979.

He was involved in many organizations including Oswego Rotary, Red Cross, YMCA, United Way and Oswego Hospital financial matters. Cal was a long time member of the Church of the Resurrection and served in many capacities.

Cal’s interests and talents included landscaping and floral arranging, sharing antiques, and appreciating the beauty of the world in general. His outstanding baritone voice was enjoyed at his church, choral groups, weddings and other special occasions.

Cal had a long Masonic career with the local, district and state offices some which include the Oswego Lodge #127 and Master 1954, he originated and co-chaired the Officers Training Seminars, Trustee of Masonic Home, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York 1984-1986 and in 1988 was appointed Grand Lecturer of Grand Lodge, Grand Governor of the York Rite Sovereign College for seven years, President and Chairman of the NY Masonic Youth Foundation and President of the NY DeMolay foundation for ten years, the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Honorary member in numerous lodges and Chapters receiving many honors and medal.

Cal led US Masons in raising over three million dollars towards refurbishing the Statute of Liberty and presided at the one hundredth anniversary celebration of laying of the Cornerstone of the pedestal.

Throughout his Masonic career he especially enjoyed the opportunity to teach the Masonic Ritual and character building.

He had cherished memories of family and friends throughout his lifetime.

Funeral Services will be held 10a.m. Wednesday at the Church of the Resurrection. Burial will be in New Haven Cemetery.

A Masonic Service will be held 7p.m. Tuesday at the Funeral Home.

Calling hours will be held 4-8p.m. Monday and 4-8p.m. Tuesday at the Nelson Funeral Home, 11 West Albany St. Oswego.

Donations: Church of the Resurrection, 120 West Fifth St.

I had the pleasure of knowing Past Grand Master Bond. He was a very inspirational person, a great Mason and a true gentleman. He was always quick with encouragement and brotherly advice. He will be missed, not only in our immediate area of the Onondaga & Oswego Districts, but everywhere. Please make time for a moment of silence sometime today to reflect on his memory.


Sunday, May 30, 2010

Oklahoma DeMolay 'Sweetheart' Tori Sebrant Found

Brother Chris Hodapp passed this onto me: "It was announced at 10AM Sunday, May 30th that Tori has been found, and she is safe. Thanks to all who helped to search for her."

Friday, May 28, 2010

Oklahoma DeMolay 'Sweetheart' Tori Sebrant Missing

I hope that Chris Hodapp doesn't mind my blatant stealing of his post but this involves a Oklahoma DeMolay Chapter Sweetheart. Please take heed of this posting...

The young lady pictured, Tori Sebrant, has been missing since May 24th. Tori was last seen on Monday, May 24th, 2010, leaving for lunch from Stillwater High School, Stillwater, Oklahoma. It is my understanding that she is this year's sweetheart for the Stillwater DeMolay Chapter.

She is 15 years old, 5'8", around 160 with hazel eyes and fair skin. She has brown hair with blond highlights (although one report from a friend says she colored her hair solid auburn the night before she went missing).

Tori is an avid walker. If you are local to the Stillwater area, please look for her in parks, quiet neighborhoods and on walking trails. Please spread the word.


Contact the Stillwater Police Dept. at: 405-372-4171
Tori's family can be reached at: 503-888-0479
Find Tori Facebook Page
Or e-mail: helpfindtori@gmail.com


Tuesday, May 25, 2010

What have I been up to?

Ok, I know what you're thinking: "where the hell have you been?" And you are right, I have been very lax in my posting s here of late but I have been busy with Masonic activities.

Earlier this month, I attended the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of New York. Congratulations to the new Grand Line headed by our new Grand Master M.'.W.'. Vincent Libone.

The following weekend was the Installation of Officers for Trinity Chapter, Order of DeMolay. My, son Conor was the outgoing Master Councilor and the incoming Scribe. Always the proud father, I am extremely happy to report that Conor was presented the Representative DeMolay award that evening - the first for Trinity! On top of that, he also was awarded the Past Master Councilor-Meritorious Service Award which is given for excellence in term planning & execution (also a first for Trinity and, I have heard, possibly the only active DeMolay in NYS to have it). His Chapter Brothers have been inspired with most of them asking for the Representative DeMolay paperwork and the Senior Councilor asking what he needs to do to get the PMC-MSA when he is the Master Councilor. I am very, very proud! (in the photo, left to right: Dad Keith Rung, Finger Lakes Division Councilor; Conor Powell, PMC-MSA; Andrew Roberts, NY State Master Councilor; Katie Heller, NY State Sweetheart)

I have also been doing Scottish Rite & Royal Arch Degrees as well as making long overdue appearances at Commandery and Council Meetings. I have started Facebook Pages for the Valley of Syracuse, AASR; the NY Council of Deliberation, AASR; and Trinity Chapter. So you see, I have been busy.

I hope to begin regular posts gain very soon - keep your eyes open...

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Liverpool-Syracuse Lodge No. 501

Congratulations to Liverpool-Syracuse Lodge No. 501, F&AM on being awarded the Mark Twain Masonic Awareness Award from the Masonic Service Association of North America.

From the Masonic Information Center:

The goal of the award is two-fold - The MIC intends for the Twain Award to recognize those lodges, regardless of size, that demonstrate energy, innovation and creativity communicating the values of Freemasonry as suggested in the MIC report, It’s About Time.

~and~

Lodge participation in the Twain Award means signing up as early as March to benefit from a MIC-sponsored communications forum, the Twain Award Participant Forum, designed to bring lodges closer together through Internet resources. The Twain Forum links lodges with Masonic resources through online forums, chat rooms, listservs, and emails. Using improved communications, lodges across North America can share with each other new and exciting ways of bringing Freemasonry into the social fabric of the community.

Liverpool- Syracuse Lodge is very deserving of this award. Their website is one of the best in the world. Check'em out at http://www.syracusemasons.com/ Good work my Brothers!

24 Hours of Brotherhood

or rather, 24 Hours of No Sleep...

I spent my last weekend in February with the New York State DeMolays when Trinity Chapter (of which I am an Advisor and my son is the Master Councilor) hosted their "24 Hours of Brotherhood" in Liverpool, NY.

It was very well attended with over 70 DeMolays and Advisors from all over New York State. There were video game,competitions, poker games and a pool tournament. We went to a Syracuse Crunch hockey game and rushed back to catch the second half of the Syracuse University-Villanova basketball game. Everyone camped out in the Lodge building but, as I said, there was very little sleep to be had.

The highlight of the weekend for me was a Medieval Swordsmanship demonstration by Todd Sullivan from the Lake Ontario Fechtschule. The presentation was well received and I highly recommend you check out Todd's site if you have even a passing interest in the Knightly Art of the Sword.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

GRAND MASTER'S URGENT APPEAL FOR HAITIAN RELIEF

Most Worshipful Edward G. Gilbert, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York, has issued an urgent appeal to all Masons in the jurisdiction for all individual Brother Masons and Masonic Lodges to come to the aid of those who have been devastated by the disaster in Haiti. The Grand Master is requesting that tax deductible contributions be made in the form of checks to the Masonic Brotherhood Fund, Inc and marked "Special Haitian Relief Fund" and mailed to Masonic Brotherhood Fund, Inc., 71 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010. These monies will be made available directly to provide and augment aid and assistance to those members of our Masonic family that hail within the Grand Orient d’Haiti that have been devastated by the earthquake and its collateral damage in the Caribbean.


The full text of the Grand Master's appeal follows:

January 20, 2010

My Dear Brethren and Friends,

This past decade has seen the world stage beset by a multitude of cataclysmic events caused by Nature and others far too frequently caused by the consequents and interventions of Mankind. The Masonic Fraternity has consistently and swiftly hastened to the calls of the needy and the distressed as is wont by our basic tenets and obligations. A code of belief that emanates from that enduring biblical verse, “and now abideth Faith, Hope, Charity, these three: but the greatest of these is Charity.”

Today, we have barely set foot upon the path of a new decade; when Nature has tested our resolve by unleashing a devastating earthquake of monstrous proportions, which has rained havoc, destruction and ruin upon our fellow brothers and sisters of the human family in Haiti. We at the Grand Lodge of New York shall do our part toward answering the call of these distressed Masons and their families in providing a source of much needed help, support and comfort. Together, we will stand united with our fellow brethren in Haiti, providing them with brotherly love to cement and heal their current hardship, and to offer a beacon of hope to rebuild stronger bonds of friendship for a better tomorrow.

Heeding the call I have established a Special Haitian Relief Fund under the umbrella of the Masonic Brotherhood Fund, to provide and augment aid and assistance to those members of our Masonic family that hail within the Grand Orient d’Haiti that have been devastated by the earthquake and its collateral damage in the Caribbean.

In an effort to help supplement and thereby better enable our Grand Lodge to offer financial assistance, I am appealing to every Lodge to keep these unfortunate Brethren and their families paramount in your prayers and to give genuine consideration in supporting this Special Haitian Relief Fund. Checks and Money Orders should be made payable to the Masonic Brotherhood Fund earmarked for the Special Haitian Relief Fund and mailed to the Masonic Brotherhood Fund, 71 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010.

Brother James Buchanan, fifteenth President of the United States, once said, “The test of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there.” Brethren, as members of our gentle Craft, I know that I can depend on each of you to lead with your heart, because you are truly a great brotherhood.

With kindest fraternal regards, I remain your friend and brother,

Edward G. Gilbert

Grand Master

Saturday, January 09, 2010

Translation of the Processus Contra Templarios

The Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library recently added a translation of the Processus Contra Templarios.

According to Director Tom Savini, "the single volume is slightly smaller in dimension than the volume included in the actual Processus, and it is surrounded by a leather 'dust jacket' similar in appearance to the leather binder included with the Processus. The translation is divided into two parts: the first translates the contents of the Processus from Latin into Italian; the second translates the contents into English. Each section is preceded by an abstract of all the facsimile documents. Each document is then transcribed in its entirety. Our translation is numbered the same as our copy of the Processus itself, 355/799, which indicates some thought and consideration on the part of the publisher."

Another excellent acquisition to this great Library's collection!