The Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Virginia Correspondence and Contact Information 3701 Point Elizabeth Drive Chesapeake, VA 23321-5754 Phone: 757 - 515 - 6184 -- [email protected] Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Virginia Grand Commander’s Trestleboard February - March 2020 Fraternal Greetings Fratres, Templar Leadership “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall. (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, page 101, Stephen R. Covey) In the past, we have focused our efforts on Masonic Education, which is a lot like Masonic Management. Masonic Leaders talk constantly about the decline in our various organizations: Symbolic Lodges, Royal Arch Chapters, Knight Templar Commanderies, Scottish Rite Valleys, and every other group that bases its membership on being a Mason. We have tried many different approaches to the collective problem, but the decline in our membership roll continues to increase. I am convinced to strengthen our Templar organizations and begin to enact changes necessary to improve our Commanderies—we need to focus more on Templar Leadership. Leaders are not born; they are made. Leadership is not a natural trait; something inherited like the color of eyes or hair; it is a skill that can be studied, learned, and perfected by practice. Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher from the city of Ephesus on the coast of Asia Minor, said: “A man’s character is his fate…and the destiny of the led is bound to the leader.” This is a profound and potentially poignant philosophical observation. In basic and direct terms, it simply means a person's achievements and outcome will be determined by his own 'self' meaning, how he conducted himself and co-existed with his fellow man. Templar Leadership is a knightly system of religious, moral and social code. The Leader be he a Commandery Dias Officer, District Officer, Grand Officer, or Committeeman at any level, he is expected to be an ideal knight with the qualities of courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help others. Templar Leadership is focused on the Christian consciousness and the essential principles of Christian virtues. The Leader must be a highly motivated man of strong moral and ethical qualities; apply Masonic and Chivalric lessons and principles; extol the doctrine of human brotherhood and benevolence; and draw his sword in defense of the weak, destitute, and the Christian Religion. Templar Leadership in our Commanderies should never be based on years of service or years ahead, but those who will be the best for Templary—regardless of personalities; only then will we have a clear conscience. When Line Officers, Committeemen, Instructors, Directors of Work, or Mentors, after a reasonable time, fail to measure up, they should be privately encouraged to step aside or should be passed over. This is a delicate matter but it is too important to just “sweep under the rug.” The truth is, we need to improve Virginia’s Templary by selecting the best leaders we can find. Only then can we go forward revitalizing, reinvigorating, and move Chivalric Masonry forward in a positive way. We show our leadership by the way we act toward others. It’s as simple as setting the example by the conduct we expect from those on the sidelines, or as complicated as controlling the discussion on an emotion-packed motion. Each of us has some leadership potential or ability. It’s a trait worth developing and practicing. The story at the end this Trestleboard – When Templar Swords Clash – is the story of two men, Masonic leaders of two different organizations. It is the story of two Christian men, Knights Templar, who allowed a combination of misunderstandings and petty jealousy to cause a rift in 1866-1867 between Sir Knight George Frank Gouley, Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Missouri, and Sir Knight Albert Pike, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the Southern Jurisdiction. It is the story of two men who pretended to be “grand” while their ego battle raged-on as they each attempted to diminish the greatness of the other man's office. It is an excellent, true story about what can happen when Brethren, Companions and Christian Knights, lose sight of the power of the Trowel: “spreading the cement of brotherly Love and Affection which unites us into one band or society of friends and Brothers—a Temple of living stones, among whom no contention should ever exist, save that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who can best work and best agree.” Grand Commander’s Schedule for… February 01, Saturday Finance Committee – York Rite Building, Richmond VA February 03, Monday Portsmouth Valley, Scottish Rite – Portsmouth VA February 10, Monday Mt Nebo RAC No. 20 - Suffolk VA February 11, Tuesday Portsmouth Lodge No. 100 - Portsmouth VA February 12, Wednesday Masonic Home Board Meeting – Richmond VA February 17, Monday Portsmouth Commandery No.5 – Portsmouth VA February 19, Wednesday Mt Horeb RAC No. 11 - Portsmouth VA February 20-22, Thursday/Saturday Grand Court of Amarant – Williamsburg VA February 24, Monday Grice Commandery No. 16 – Norfolk VA February 25, Tuesday Craddock RAC No. 72 – Chesapeake VA March 02, Monday Hampton Commandery No. 17 – Poquoson VA March 07, Saturday Finance Committee/Audit – Masonic Home, Richmond VA March 07, Saturday Portsmouth-Chesapeake Chapter 155 – Chesapeake VA March 10, Tuesday Portsmouth Lodge No. 100 - Portsmouth VA March 11, Wednesday Masonic Home Board Meeting – Richmond VA March 13-14, Friday/Saturday Grand Commandery of Delaware - TBD March 16, Monday Portsmouth Commandery No.5 – Portsmouth VA March 18 Wednesday Mt Horeb RAC No. 11 - Portsmouth VA March 20-21, Friday/Saturday Grand Commandery of District of Washington – DC March 22-23, Sunday/Monday Grand Commandery of North Carolina - TBD March 24, Tuesday Craddock RAC No. 72 – Chesapeake VA March 28, Saturday Scottish Rite Workshop – Richmond VA March 30, Monday Eastern Shore Scottish Rite Association In conclusion, “Be Proud to be a Knight Templar.” Aid your Masonic Brethren in preparing the use of symbolic stone for that Spiritual Temple, teach them in the allegorical use of additional operative tools of the craftsman, and finally instruct them in the allegorical use of the weapons and tactics whereby the Moral Temple can be defended and beatified by the precepts of Christianity. Use the trowel to spread the spiritual cement that unites Freemasonry into many "Temples" of living "stones" who can best work and best agree. “Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid . for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV) “Embrace the Challenge” “Stand Up --- Stand Out --- Be Visible --- Be Proud To Be A Knight Templar" BE PROUD TO BE A TEMPLAR LEADER Courteously, Benjamin F. Hill, Knight Templar Cross of Honor Grand Commander WHEN TEMPLAR SWORDS CLASH By Frater JAMES A. MARPLES, VIIº, Nebraska College M.S.R.I.C.F. When people see an Honor Guard composed of Knights Templar wearing their plumed chapeaus and uniforms, along with the beautiful swords which they thrust upward and outward to form a peak or arch --- the public sees the brightest and best use of those ceremonial swords. It is regarded as a high honor to walk under an "Arch of Steel". That protective canopy serves as a reminder of the protection, distinction, and eloquence that Templars have possessed from the days of the Crusades to the present time. Templar drills, when done with precision, illustrate the unity of joint efforts put forth in a common cause. Perhaps that is why the Templars of old were so good at putting forth precision efforts of feeding the hungry; caring for the widow; educating the orphan; relieving the distressed and homeless; and burying the dead. Templary, being at an upper level of York Rite Masonry was accustomed to operating with a chain- of-command with regard to its governance. The Scottish Rite was originally smaller than the York Rite. Its membership was (and still is) composed of men ---some of whom are Knights Templar in the York Rite....including myself. Of course, both Rites have numbers of men who have not yet affiliated with "the other Rite." It was a combination of misunderstandings and slightly petty jealousy which caused a rift in 1866-67 between Sir Knight George Frank Gouley and Sir Knight Albert Pike. On most occasions, Knights Templar literally carried their swords with admirable ability measured by Justice, supported by tactfulness, and restrained by mercy. Sir Knights Pike and Gouley merely had a clash of ideas and thoughts. But figuratively speaking --- as if it were a clash of figurative swords, it cut and slashed fierce wounds along two vital arteries in the Masonic Body as a whole. The wounds developed a scar and seemingly healed. But, I maintain that we can accomplish more healing TODAY if we will go back in time and see the evolution of this catfight. George Frank Gouley of St. Louis, Missouri, was an energetic Mason. He had been active in nearly all the York Rite Bodies of his area and, in 1866-68, he was serving as the top officer in Templar Masonry in Missouri. He held the fine office of R.E. Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Missouri. Albert Pike was then living in Memphis, Tennessee. He was born & raised in Massachusetts, and had attended Harvard University. He had explored the American Southwest; had served in the Confederacy as a General; and had lived in a multitude of domiciles ranging from Little Rock, AR; to New Orleans, LA; to Memphis TN; to Charleston, SC; and lastly to Washington DC.