September 2018

Stephen A. BalkeGeneral Grand Recorder Stephen A. BalkeGeneral Grand RecorderPhoto by Michele Balke It was truly an honor to be Appointed (Elected by the Trustees of the General Grand Council) to the position of General Grand Recorder. The honor isn’t wholly in the position, but being included on one of the most effective and communicative […]

James (Jim) BaumSouthwest Regional Deputy General Grand Master RPC Jim Baum welcomed with RPPDGGM Dennis Detrow by MIC Joe Zito and MIPGM Don Moyer (then MIGM), as well as the Grand Council officers. Well summer is over, and all of the Grand Sessions in the Southwest are done. It\’s time to start thinking about advancing

Anthony T. (AJ) JohnsonNorth Central Regional Deputy General Grand Master Pictures courtesy of the Grand Councils of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin The North Central Region of the General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons, International is always its busiest from the April to September time frame and this 2018 year has been no different.  It

Jay S. Williams, Ph.D.IllustriousMasterSanta Fe Council No. 5Santa Fe, New Mexico Castle Burgruine Fortress – Courtesy of Creative Commons The following presentation is an amalgamation of the following works: Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia, 1961 Bro. S. Brent Morris, The High Degrees in the United States: 1730–1830, Pietre-Stones Review of Freemasonry Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons

Bill SnyderGeneral Grand Principal Conductor of the Work Castle Burgruine Fortress – Courtesy of Creative Commons Mysterious Nine Update: Thus far, I have received a number of responses concerning the question of this Triennium:  What is the regular alarm of the Mysterious xxxx?  A couple of those responses included well-researched or well-written observations and conclusions. 

C. Jackson, MIPGMChairman, Education CommitteeSouth Central Regional Deputy General Grand Master Brick Freemasonry Bobeda Arch Tunnel – Courtesy of Creative Commons (Click to see more of this and other pictures.) The General Grand Council of Cryptic Masons International, under the leadership of our General Grand Master, M.P. David Grindle, has made a major commitment to

Robert A. FarrowNorthwest Regional Deputy General Grand Master The Northwest Region York Rite Conference will take place on October 18-20, 2018 at the Red Lion Downtowner hotel in Boise Idaho. The Northwest Region consists of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.  It is held annually in Boise since it is a central location.

Stephen A. BalkeGeneral Grand RecorderColorado River Fall Festival Committeeman The 2018 Festival is being held on October 21st, 22nd, and 23rd 1991 saw the beginning of what is now the Southwest\’s premier York Rite Festival! The Companions of the Mohave York Rite Bodies in northwestern Arizona started the tradition of four states gathering and providing

David A. GrindleGeneral Grand Master Hello Companions, Greetings from the General Grand Council.  This month hasn’t been particularly busy, but things are moving along. \”The Four Pillars of the American Rite\”(Left to Right)Dale Sandstrom, Grand Master of Masons in North Dakota representing Blue Lodge; Jeffrey N. Nelson, Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights

John M. Pratt, MIPGMGrand High PriestGrand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of WisconsinGeneral Grand Council Ambassador to Wisconsin When our Most Puissant General Grand Master, David Grindle asked me to write something for this publication, I told him to be careful what he asks for.  Here goes. Freemasonry is 300 years of tradition, unimpeded by