May 2000 - Grand Master's Message
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May 2000 - Grand Master's Message THE COUNTDOWN TO THE 61ST TRIENNIAL CONCLAVE CONTINUES. Reservation, registration, a schedule of events, and other pertinent data on the Triennial were given on pages 14-15 of the April issue of this magazine. Again, I invite you to come to Nashville and be a part of this Triennial Conclave. Hopefully, you have already made your room reservations and sent in your registration. If you have not, I urge you to do so NOW. Time's a-wasting! THE NEW MEMBER PACKET developed by the Committee on Membership under the direction of Sir Knight Stan Simons, H.P.D.C., is very good. It is, in my opinion, an excellent work. Copies of this packet have been distributed to all the "key men" coordinating the Templary 2000 Crusade with a request that every new Knight Templar be given a copy of the new member packet. Many times, Sir Knights, we fail to adequately inform our new members as to who we are, where we came from, and what our purposes are. In fact, I have firsthand information that some new members do not know to which Commanderies they belong or when and where their Commanderies meet. This situation is a serious shortfall, and we must take the actions needed to correct it. Preparations are being made to have the new member packet printed and distributed through our headquarters office. In the meantime, I urge you to communicate with the "key man" in your jurisdiction to ensure that a sufficient number of copies are available to give to each new member at the time he is Knighted. THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR DIAMOND WATCH by Hamilton was commissioned to mark the new millennium and the Templary 2000 Crusade. It is a beautiful work with a dial showing a Templar Cross and replicas of the jewels of Templar officers shown in high relief. The Templar watch has a proven, reliable ETA Swiss quartz movement and can be personalized with your initials, Commandery number, and exclusive serial number. This unique presentation is worthy of your consideration. SIR KNIGHT JOHN L CROFTS, SR., Most Eminent Past Grand Master of the Grand Encampment, died February 28, 2000. He was ninety years of age. Until recent years, he was active and made significant contributions in many professional, civic, religious, and fraternal organizations. It was my privilege to be associated with John Crofts and to know him to be a man of high moral and spiritual standards, a man of integrity who was respected and admired by his many friends and acquaintances. John Crofts was a man of vision, of intellect, and of learning whose many ideas, plans, and programs for the benefit of our Christian order have in their season come to pass. As I reflect on the life and times of John Crofts, I am reminded of the many other staunch Masonic Warriors who have passed to their eternal reward and whose equals we are not likely to see again in our lifetimes. Sir Knights, it is fitting that we keep them in our memories and honor them for their service to our great Fraternity. I join with you in mourning their deaths and in offering my condolences to their families and friends. Let us thank GOD HE allowed them to come our way. It was truly a blessing to have been in their company. May they rest in peace. * * NASHVILLE 2000! * * MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS WORK! 5/50 AND TEMPLARY 2000 CRUSADE NO NEGATIVISM! I'm done pumping! You do make me proud! Godspeed! EVERY CHRISTIAN MASON SHOULD BE A KNIGHT TEMPLAR! James Morris Ward, Grand Master, KGC May 2000 2 Knight Templar "The Magazine for York Rite Masons - and Others, too" MAY: By the time you receive this magazine, the 32nd Annual Voluntary Campaign will be history. We will print some final figures in June and a comprehensive breakdown of the results in the July issue. Thanks to all Sir Knights, ladies, and friends of the Eye Foundation for their participation in the campaign! Campaign Chairman Games has information on recent progress in the Permanent Donor Fund program, starting on page 7. Don't miss Grand Master Ward's usual message on page 2 and his special alert on page 5, concerning proposals that could affect Knights Templar and the other bodies of the Fraternity. The Templary 2000 Crusade, as such, concludes this month. There is more concerning progress on page 10-11. Several interesting biographies are included in this issue of the magazine and some pertinent information about the York Rite on the Internet on page 25. And there is plenty of good news to be enjoyed! Contents May 2000 May 2000 - Grand Master's Message Volume XLVI Number 5 Grand Master James M. Ward - 2 Published monthly as an official A Special Message for All Sir Knights publication of the Grand Grand Master James M. Ward - 5 Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America. The 32nd Annual Voluntary Campaign JAMES MORRIS The Campaign has ended, but the need has not! WARD Sir Knight Charles A. Garnes - 7 Grand Master Now You Can Add "Membership Development Skills" to and Publisher Your Résumé.. Or Can You? PO Drawer No. 685 Sir Knight Bill R. Clutter - 10 Water Valley, MS 38965 Strong Lineage, Native Tradition, and Masonry CHARLES R. NEUMANN Sir Knight Stephen R. Greenberg - 21 Grand Recorder Rod Cameron: Silver Screen Cowboy and Once a Mason and Editor Sir Knight Ivan M. Tribe - 23 JOAN B. MORTON Assistant Editor Announcing: www.yorkrite.com Sir Knight Dan Pushee - 25 Grand Recorder 5097 N. Elston Avenue, Suite 101 Brother Claude D. Pepper - Southern Senior Icon Chicago, Illinois 60630-2460 Sir Knight Norman G. Lincoln - 26 (773) 777-3300 Fax: (773) 777-8836 Grand Master's Clubs – 9 nd Mail magazine materials and 32 KTEF Voluntary Campaign Tally - 6 correspondence to Editor, 57 N. Elston Avenue, Suite 101, Chico, I1- May Issue – 3 60630-2460. Editors Journal – 4 In Memoriam – 18 Material for the Grand History of the Grand Encampment, Book Il – 16 Commanderies’ two-page supplement is to be directed to the Recipients of the Membership Jewel - 18 respective Supplement editors. On the Masonic Newsfront – 12 Knight Voices - 30 Address corrections from members are to be sent to the local Recorders May 2000 3 Announcement: Knight Commander of the both are a great gift for that Sir Knight or anyone Temple Award: All nominations for the Knight else who is fascinated by Templar history. As a Commander of the Temple award should be made set, the two books are $25.00 plus $3.50 S. & H. to a HOLDER of the award in the state of the ($28.50). Separately, each book is $15.00 plus nominee. These nominations will be reviewed by $2.50 S. & H. ($17.50). Make check or M.O. the holders and then forwarded to the Grand payable to the Grand Encampment and send to: Encampment. NO nominations will be accepted if the Grand Recorder; Grand Encampment. Knights sent directly to the Grand Encampment office. Any Templar; 5097 N. Elston Avenue, Suite 101; further questions should be directed to the Grand Chicago, IL 60630-2460. Recorder of the Grand Encampment. A Pilgrim's Path: Freemasonry and the Religious Announcing: The Widow's Pin - to commemorate Right: This is John J. Robinson's last book, and it those who were active Templars: The Grand is available as a hardbound copy. Every Mason Encampment continues a program to honor should want this intriguing and educational book in widows of Knights Templar. A green pin is for his library. The book is available for $15.00 each, widows of those below the rank of Commander, plus $2.50 shipping and handling. and a red Templar Cross pin is for widows of Sir Born in Blood: The exciting book by John J. Knights who held office below the rank of Past Robinson is available at the price of $16.00, Grand Commander (this Includes Commanders, including shipping and handling. • Dungeon, Fire, Past Commanders and grand officers). Honor your and Sword. This history of the Knights Templar by widows at regular or special programs of your the late John J. Robinson is available' for $20.00 Commandery. Pins are $5.00 apiece, payable to each, plus $3.00 shipping and handing. Please the Grand Encampment. Send to the Grand make checks payable to the Grand Encampment, Recorder; Grand Encampment, Knights Templar; and send them to the Grand Recorder; Grand 5097 N. Elston Avenue, Suite 101; Chicago; IL Encampment, Knights Templar; 5097 N. Elston 60630-2460. Avenue, Suite 101; Chicago; IL 60630-2460 Now available: 2-volume set of History of the Complimentary for Widows: Widows of Knights Grand Encampment Knights Templar of the United Templar are eligible to continue receiving our States of America by Francis J. Scully, M.D., and magazine as long as they desire. To retain or History of the Grand Encampment Knights reinstate the mailing, simply instruct your local Templar of the United States of America - Book II Recorder or the Grand Encampment of your by Lt. Col. Jacob C. Baird, Chairman, the wishes. Committee on Knights Templar History. One or YORK RITE FREEMASONRY ON THE INTERNET - Official Web Sites Grand Encampment, Knights Templar of the United States of America http://www.knightstemplar.org General Grand Council, Cryptic Masons, international http://members.aol.com/GGCOUNClL/HomePage.html General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, International http://members.aoI.com/GGCHAPTER/HomePage.html York Rite Freemasonry - The International Information Site http://members.aol.com/YorkRiteFM/HomePage.html May 2000 4 A Message to All Sir Knights from James M.