May 2019

General Grand Recorder\’s Update: July 2019Steve BalkeGeneral Grand Recorder Stephen BalkeGeneral Grand Recorder Good Morning Companions, The past few months has indeed been interesting (hectic), but there are as many opportunities as there are challenges (aren’t they the same thing?). In spite of loss of internet to the office, transition issues (for me), and competing […]

Snyder\’s Synopsis of three of the Thirteen Degrees in the American York RiteA Case for the Three Degrees of the Cryptic RiteBill SnyderGeneral Grand Principal Conductor of the Work Bill Snyder, General Grand Principal Conductor of the Work, and Kansas General Grand Ambassador Rodney Middleton at Emporia, KS, Grand Council Session May 3, 2019 It

Companions, We have recently starting sending out the Weekly Decryption again on a weekly basis.  We hope you are enjoying it and we could use your help in a few areas. We are actively looking for contributions to the newsletter.  If your Council of Royal and Select Masters is doing something that you would like

The Beginnings of the Thrice Illustrious Master\’s DegreeBy Will Highsmith Image courtesy of Companion Calvin Rogers When I served as Illustrious Master of a Council of Royal and Select Masters in North Carolina, I had the privilege of receiving the Degree of Thrice Illustrious Master also known as the Order of the Silver Trowel.  The

By Rod Wagoner, GCOG, Frank Edens, MIPGM, GL, and George Weil, GR Recently, Companions in Arizona performed their annual conferral of the Order of Ish Sodi and the Super Excellent Master Degree. Arizona is among very few jurisdictions who offer both of these conferrals on an ongoing basis. Because of its scarcity, the Illustrious Grand

Passing of Betty J. VanEtten, Widow of Charles VanEtten GGM 2002-2005 Companions, It is my sad duty to inform you of the loss of one of our Past General Grand Master’s widows.  The wife of Most Puissant Companion Charles VanEtten, 2002-05, Betty J. VanEtten has passed.  Her Obituary follows: Betty J. VanEttenNovember 09, 1931 –

Austria, GEKT Easter Observance, Maine, GGC-PHA, and Georgia Monty J Glover Deputy General Grand Master Greetings Companions, As usual, it’s been a while since I have written an article. Being a person that just doesn’t like writing a lot, it’s easy for me to get distracted and put it off. Next thing you know, I’m

The Regular Alarm of the Mysterious Nine? By: Peter G. Champion, Grand Captain of the Guard, California 2018-2019 How many times during my Cryptic travels have I encountered the question, “Who are these mysterious nine Companions mentioned in our ritual, and what is their regular alarm?”  I don’t recall how many rituals, ciphers, Masonic encyclopedia,