YORK RITE CRUSADER Fall, 2020 York Rite Crusader Governor General’s Message Dear Distinguished Bridges, Grand Herald; James C. McGee, Grand Herald and Brethren and Steven C. Monrotus, Grand Organist. Companion Knights, The 64th General Assembly will be held in Kansas City, This is my first Missouri at the Westin Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center on article for our Crusader Tuesday, July 27, through Sunday, August 1, 2021. We hope as Governor General and that we will be able to greet you with the fraternal friendship I would like to start out that has come to be expected at our General Assembly. Proper by giving some thanks. precautions will be taken by the hotel and the York Rite A special thank you to Sovereign College to ensure the safety of all our members my wife, Roseanna for during our stay. There is an article in this issue of the Crusader her past and continued regarding the 64th General Assembly and more information will support in my Masonic follow as time goes on. journey over the years. We must also remember What about the Pandemic? Some states are basically and thank our Past locked down and no masonic meetings, while others are wide Governor Generals and open it seems. I was privileged to be invited to North Florida Officers for the College No. 114, in Jacksonville, where in compliance with the foundation they have Grand Master, State and local regulations they inducted four prepared for us to build new members into their College. The Deputy Grand Master upon for the future. To each Officer, Grand Governor, Deputy and Grand Master being two of the four. Grand Governor and Committee Member who has agreed to serve, a Big Thank You!! To our Secretary General D. Allen Each College must continue to operate only according to Surratt, I know you will always be there, ensuring that the their Grand Lodge, State and Local officials requests or affairs of the Sovereign College Office remains steadfast and mandates. We need to keep using the technology available able! To our office staff Alicia, Tonia and Danielle, thank you such as newsletters, websites, email, Facebook and phone to for all you do for us. And certainly last but not least, thank you keep our membership aware we care for them and are thinking for allowing me to serve as your Governor General for this of them. One Brother contacting his fellow members by biennium. whatever method will make us better enabled to share our Masonic obligations and responsibilities with one another. On Saturday, August 8, 2020, Governor General Simons called the first Virtual Meeting of York Rite Sovereign College of Statistics show that the majority of new brothers who North America to order. After proper roll call a Quorum was enter our craft do so because of the personal contact of a declared. The election of two new Regents and the Sovereign member. Continued communication and personal involvement College Officers for the next biennium was announced. Bryce are why we continue to engage in programs and seek to B. Hildreth of Iowa, was elected Chancellor General, J. William support the growing of our great fraternity. Look up the words Riggs of Kentucky was elected Deputy Governor General and of the song "Watching You" by Rodney Atkins. As Masons and W. Berry Rigdon of North Carolina was elected Governor Brothers, we need to be mindful that our community, our General. family and the rest of the world are watching us and maybe deciding if they would like to inquire to become a part of this Also elected were the following: Reese L. Harrison, Jr. great Fraternity, or maybe remain a Treasurer General; D. Allen Surratt, Secretary General; Rev. part. One on one, and, as the Army Steven G. Tiner, Primate General; William L. Dill & Rev. Ronald used to say, be the best you can. E. Wood, Jr. Associate Primate General; Dein D. Rein, Preceptor General; Raymond E. Hassell, Seneschal General; Richard A. May God Bless each of you. Rodibaugh, Marshall General; J. David Cashion, Sentinel Sincerely and Fraternally, General; John Donohoo, Grand Standard Bearer; Jay Pearson, W. Berry Rigdon, KCPC, KGCY Herald General; Leland L. Burlison, Grand Herald; Russell E. Governor General 1 YORK RITE CRUSADER FUTURE GENERAL ASSEMBLIES 2020 LEGISLATIVE CALL OF THE YORK RITE SOVEREIGN COLLEGE VIRTUAL MEETING 2021 .......................................................... Kansas City, Missouri The Regents approved the following two pieces of 2022 ................................................... Charlotte, North Carolina legislation at the 63rd General Assembly. 2023 .................................................. Connecticut/Rhode Island 1. Delete Paragraph F, Section 7: Grand Governors & Deputy If your Jurisdiction is interested in hosting a General Grand Governors, Paragraph F: Currently reads - Assembly please contact the Sovereign College Office at PO Box 368, Denton, NC 27239-0363 * Tel: (336) 859-9772 * F. Grand Governors and Grand Governors at Large and Email: [email protected] Deputy Grand Governors may serve a maximum tenure of two (2) biennial terms. However, an additional two year term may be considered upon the recommendation of the Governor General Elect, supported by the unanimous vote of the Board of Directors present and voting, should circumstances render it advisable in the interest of the Sovereign College and/or to ensure continuity. (7/97) (7/06) Paragraph was deleted. York Rite Sovereign College 2. Section 109, Membership Status, Paragraph B: Currently Of North America reads: PO Box 368, Denton, NC 27239-0368 B. A Companion Knight who is dropped from membership Tel: (336) 859-YRSC (9772) Fax (336) 859-0454 in any of the above mentioned bodies automatically ceases to be a member of a College. Email: [email protected] Notice of suspension or expulsion from one College Website www.yrscna.org shall be promptly sent to other colleges, shall be entered in the minutes and shall have a like effect on all Colleges.” Officers 2020-2021 Be amended to read – Words appearing below in black W. Berry Rigdon ................................. Governor General underlined italicized are added to the section: J. William Riggs ...................... Deputy Governor General B. A Companion Knight who is dropped from membership Bryce B. Hildreth .............................. Chancellor General in any of the above mentioned bodies automatically Reese L. Harrison, Jr. .......................... Treasurer General ceases to be a member of a College. The honor, title, rank D. Allen Surratt ................................... Secretary General and privilege of any such Companion Knight ceasing to be a member of a College are automatically vacated. Rev. Steven G. Tiner. .............................Primate General Notice of suspension or expulsion from one College William L. Dill ........................ Associate Primate General shall be promptly sent to other colleges, shall be entered Rev. Ronald E. Wood, Jr.. ..... Associate Primate General in the minutes and shall have a like effect on all Colleges.” Dean D. Rein ...................................... Preceptor General Raymond E. Hassell. ......................... Seneschal General Newly Elected Regents Richard A. Rodibaugh ........................... Marshal General Installed in Denton, North Carolina J. David Cashion .................................... Sentinel General John Donohoo ........................... Grand Standard Bearer The York Rite Sovereign College Jay Pearson ..............................................Herald General would like to congratulate Russel E. Bridges ................................... Grand Herald Stanton T. Brown, II, Missouri Leland L. Burlison. ................................ Grand Herald Ballard L. Smith, Louisiana James E. McGee .................................... Grand Herald They were elected to the rank of Regent Steven C. Monrotus................................ Grand Organist at the 63rd General Assembly, the first Virtual Meeting. 2 YORK RITE CRUSADER 64th GENERAL ASSEMBLY VALLEY OF VIRIGINIA No. 161 KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - July 27 - August 1, 2021 Winchester, Virginia Esteemed Companion Knights: We welcome you to Kansas City and St. Joseph. Our hotel for the 2021 year will be the Westin Kansas City at Crown I received word yesterday that our College received the Center. It is a short distance Spencer Award at the 2020 General Assembly. I am overjoyed from Kansas City Airport and to say the least, and would like to share a picture of our group other places of interest. in the hope that we might receive a spot in the Fall Edition of the York Rite Crusader. Thank you for bestowing this The hotel was remodeled wonderful honor on us and for making the hard work the men several years ago and is in fine of our College have put in for the York Rite Bodies of condition. Travel by car finds Freemasonry well worth the effort. the hotel easily accessible off I- 29. Patee House From Left to Right: 1st Row – Leslie H. Flowers, Joel D. Ratliff, There is a restaurant in hotel that offers good food for a William R. Fuzia, Frederick R. Dixon (Deputy Grand Governor), snack and or a meal. Jason C. Trenary (Governor), Joshua W. Payne (KOY Candidate), Kevin P. Walek, Donald L. McAndrews (Deputy There are several places of interest close to the hotel. St. Grand Governor), Terry R. Shaffer, and Bruce A. Richardson. Joseph offers the Remington 2nd Row – Kevin M. Levan, Raymond M. Moats, and Dennis M. Nature Center, the Patee House Haas Museum and the Pony Express Museum. Kansas City offers the Sincerely and Fraternally,