York Rite...

[Vortex]

I tried to bring the operatives to my state, but my GL essentially said no, didn't the fact they had 3 degrees, wanted it to be a lodge of education and just for emulation puroposes and then torched it by saying there wasn't enough room on the masonic calendar for it.

As for the ROS...all you need is a letter from an existing member and be either a 32nd who's been in the SR for 5 years or a Knight Templar...i think you've made that requirment.

St. Thomas of Acon probably won't come my way but one year I plan on going to Masonic week and seeing if I can't get in. I'd like to see what the fuss is about.

[KSigMason]

As I said: Masochistically inclined! Since my 4 I have added Ven. Master of my Allied Masonic Degrees Lodge, am heading rapidly to the East in both Secret Monitor and YRC. On the other hand my Brother has all those plus Prior of KYCH Governor York Rite College and HRAKTP RCC etc. He realised last year thaat he had been in the East in one body or another for about 20 years straight. Some of course repeats but....! That is real masochism at work!

20-years! Good lord! If you do a job well, you might as well keep going. As long as I'm having a good time I wouldn't mind sitting in the East in different organizations for the next few decades.

[Vortex]

Sitting in the east can be fun, but depending on the unwritten rules, can be quite costly also...between furnishing snacks for after or before a meeting, logging the miles for meeting for the invitational bodies if they move around the state. It can add up.

When I was HP I spent well over 500.00 on food, certificates, 1st round of drinks at "outer chapter" misc. items for the chapter same went for Commander between soda, wine, and food for after order social time. As Master, there was an old unwritten rule where the master would make a donation after his term to the lodge, usually it was few hundred or a few thousand dollars as seed money for the next master's term or events. Those who could afford it would do it. Depending on the old guard your time in the east could cost you.

Don't get me started on the money involved in a grand line that comes out of your pocket. One PGHP spent 34,000 on gifts for his officers, travel expenses, gas, and trips to other states for their sessions. After all his traveling he had to buy a new car which isn't included in that bill. You can get away for less, but being in a grand line isn't cheap.

[KSigMason]

Sitting in the east can be fun, but depending on the unwritten rules, can be quite costly also...between furnishing snacks for after or before a meeting, logging the miles for meeting for the invitational bodies if they move around the state. It can add up.

When I was HP I spent well over 500.00 on food, certificates, 1st round of drinks at "outer chapter" misc. items for the chapter same went for Commander between soda, wine, and food for after order social time. As Master, there was an old unwritten rule where the master would make a donation after his term to the lodge, usually it was few hundred or a few thousand dollars as seed money for the next master's term or events. Those who could afford it would do it. Depending on the old guard your time in the east could cost you.

Don't get me started on the money involved in a grand line that comes out of your pocket. One PGHP spent 34,000 on gifts for his officers, travel expenses, gas, and trips to other states for their sessions. After all his traveling he had to buy a new car which isn't included in that bill. You can get away for less, but being in a grand line isn't cheap.

Yeah, there have been some costly events; during our highway clean-up the Master fits the breakfast bill. The miles weren't too bad as some of it is covered under our GL's per diem and my Lodge always pays for registration for attending the Annual Communication of our GL. Drinks do hit me in the wallet though, we usually always hit the wine bar after meetings and several of our members have been hit hard by the current state of the economy so I usually get some drinks (as I have a good paying job). I will be paying $600 to the Lodge at the end of my term. I'm not even in the Grand line, but I've spent a lot of money doing its bidding. Example: Traveling to Lodges around Idaho to introduce Lodges into the Child Identification Program.

Well this last weekend, I was talking with the High Priest of my Royal Arch Chapter and it looks like they are going to keep me in the Senior Warden position in the Commandery because otherwise I would be up for leading all 3-bodies at the same time which goes against our local by-laws. Pending elections of course, I will lead the Chapter and Council in 2012 then the following year lead the Commandery.

[KSigMason]

Well today was elections for the local York Rite bodies and I was elected to: Excellent High Priest of Boise City Chapter #3, Royal Arch Mason; Principle Conductor of the Work of Idaho Council #1, Cryptic Masons; and Senior Warden for Idaho Commandery #1, Knights Templar. I was really surprised about being elected to High Priest. Next month I will be installed in each of my respective offices in the York Rite. I was going to have the current Grand High Priest of Idaho install me, but he has prior engagements that evening so I am having a close friend and Past Grand High Priest install me.

[Vortex]

Congrats on the elections. Out of all the YR easts, I enjoyed the HP chair the most. then again I'm a chapter junkie.

For your mental state, I do hope you have degree teams vs. the office you hold you do that chair's ritual. SW in commandery has a lot on his plate and if you're presiding on the RA, start learning it if you haven't already...just wait till you get to do the Commanders part. That's 6 months or more worth of studying, at least it was for me. I still enjoy presiding on the RA, even though I'm still trying to get new guys to give the key lecture and give me a break from talking, but so far no luck. From the moment the discoveries are returned its your show as HP till you close it down.

Good luck to you and I hope you have a good year.