Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Louisiana Grand Council Cryptic Masons of Louisiana

60 Pages·2017·2.51 MB·English

PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
th
One Hundred and Sixty-Eighth (168 )
Annual Convocation
OF THE
Grand Chapter
Royal Arch Masons
of Louisiana

th
One Hundred and Sixtieth (160 )
Annual Assembly
OF THE
Grand Council
Cryptic Masons
of Louisiana

2014-2015

Baton Rouge, Louisiana
th th
March 12 through 15 2015

Table of Contents
GRAND CHAPTER OF ROYAL ARCH MASONS OF LOUISIANA ................................ 1
ELECTED OFFICERS ................................................................................................. 1
APPOINTED OFFICERS ............................................................................................. 1
Most Excellent Grand High Priest ................................................................................... 2
2014-15 Elected Grand Officers .................................................................................. 3
2014-15 Elected and Appointed Grand Officers .......................................................... 3
Report of the Grand High Priest ...................................................................................... 4
Budget Proposal ..................................................................................................... 13
Distributions Committee Report ............................................................................. 15
PERPETUAL MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT ............................................ 1
Philanthropies Committee Report ............................................................................ 2
Grand Chapter Resolution 2015-1 ............................................................................... 3
GRAND COUNCIL OF CRYPTIC MASONS OF LOUISIANA ......................................... 4
ELECTED OFFICERS ................................................................................................. 4
APPOINTED OFFICERS ............................................................................................. 4
Most Illustrious Grand Master ......................................................................................... 5
2014-15 Elected Grand Officers .................................................................................. 6
2014-15 Elected and Appointed Grand Officers .......................................................... 7
Report of the Illustrious Grand Master ............................................................................. 8
Grand Recorder’s Report ....................................................................................... 15
Budget Proposal ........................................................................................................ 21
Appeals & Grievances ............................................................................................ 23
PERPETUAL MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT ............................................ 1
Grand Council Chapter Foundation of Louisiana ..................................................... 2
GRAND CHAPTER / COUNCIL MASONIC FOUNDATION OF LOUISIANA ........... 3
AUDIT REPORT 2015 ............................................................................................. 3
Work and Education ................................................................................................. 6
York Rite Awareness Committee Report ................................................................ 12
Grand Council Resolution 2015-1 .............................................................................. 13
Order of the High Priesthood ......................................................................................... 14
Order of the Silver Trowel ............................................................................................. 17
GRAND CHAPTER OF ROYAL ARCH MASONS OF LOUISIANA
2014-2015

ELECTED OFFICERS
Gerald H. Houston .................................................................................................................. M. E. Grand High Priest
426 Greenbriar Street, Deridder, LA 70634-2180
[phone]
Vernon R. Atkinson ........................................................................................................................... R. E. Grand King
PO Box 1133, Glenmora, LA 71433-1133
[phone]
John E. Vines, II. ............................................................................................................................ R. E. Grand Scribe
478 Smalling Road, Rayville, LA 71269-7202
[phone]
Timothy J. Riley, Jr. ................................................................................................... R. E. Grand Captain of the Host
301 Whispering Pine Drive, Haughton, LA 71037-9537
[phone]
Harold H. Young, PGHP ........................................................................................................... R. E. Grand Treasurer
214 Helen Street, Apt. 4, Westlake, LA 70669-3419
[phone]
Timothy J. Riley, Sr, PGHP... ................................................................................................... R. E. Grand Secretary
171 Beckhams Camp Rd, Ringgold 71068
[phone]

APPOINTED OFFICERS
Nicholas Auck ................................................................................................................. E. Grand Principal Sojourner
15213 Highway 196, Fouke, AR 71837-9527
Charles R. Bertrand. ...................................................................................................... E. Grand Royal Arch Captain
2004 Ruby Drive, Houma, LA 70363-7040
Glenn D. Bledsoe ........................................................................................................ E. Grand Master of the 3rd Veil
1607 Lisa Lane, Oakdale, LA 71463-4064
Eddie A. LeBeouf, III ................................................................................................... E. Grand Master of the 2nd Veil
448 Bayou Folse Road, Raceland, LA 70394-3701
Johnny C. Byrd ............................................................................................................ E. Grand Master of the 1st Veil
51 Sterling Ranch Road South, Haughton, LA 71037-8546
W. A. Morris ...................................................................................................................................... E. Grand Chaplin
3904 Castle Road, Alexandria, LA 71303-3214
Finly S. Stanly, PGHP ..................................................................................................................... E. Grand Lecturer
P.O. Box 1423, Leesville, LA 71446-1423
Justin Keith Gates ........................................................................................................................... E. Grand Organist
168 Gates Road, Goldonna, LA 71031-3102
Clyde Fletcher ................................................................................................................................. E. Grand Sentinel
169 Boyd Road, Leesville, LA 71446-2513
Richard L. James, PGHP ........................................................................................................E. Grand Photographer
163 L E Phillips Road, Eros 71238-8371
Vernon R. Atkinson .................................................................................................................E. Grand Photographer
PO Box 1133, Glenmora, LA 71433-1133
Gerald H. Houston
Most Excellent Grand High Priest
2014 – 2015

Presiding
2014-15 Elected Grand Officers

L/R – Timothy J. Riley, Sr., PIGM, Right Excellent Grand Secretary; Timothy J. Riley,
Jr., Right Excellent Captain of the Host; Gerald H. Houston, Most Excellent Grand High
Priest; Vernon R. Atkinson, Right Excellent Grand King

2014-15 Elected and Appointed Grand Officers
Report of the Grand High Priest

Distinguished General Grand Chapter Officers, and my fellow Companions, I welcome you to
Baton Rouge and this 168th Annual Grand Convocation of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of
Louisiana. I not only wish to welcome you but to thank you for attending and supporting our Grand
Chapter with your presence and your participation. A special thank you goes to Companion and
Illustrious Grand Master Carl Jackson and his arrangements committee for the preparatory and hard
work to make this Grand Session possible. As you have noted in the schedule, there is little spare time,
so please make every effort to be at the appointed places on time as we cannot let one event delay the
remainder of the schedule.
As I reflect on the past year, I am reminded of how Charles Dickens began his Tale of Two Cities,
“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…” Fortunately the best has far out-weighed the worst
and the blessings I have received from this experience are the most rewarding of any position I have
ever held. I have witnessed the loss of a chapter through a merger, but have also witnessed the
resurrection and growth of several Chapters that have struggled for long periods but failing to get
adequate quorums, rising like the fabled Phoenix from apparent ashes. I have enjoyed travel across the
State and visiting with Companions in their Chapter meetings as well as our several festivals. I have been
treated with an outpouring of hospitality that has rendered me thankful and humble. I extend to each
and every one of you, my thanks for this opportunity to have served this Grand Chapter. May God richly
bless each of you.

Humbly Submitted,
Gerald H. Houston
Grand High Priest

MERGER:
Columbia Chapter and Monroe Chapter 18 with Monroe Chapter 18 surviving

BY-LAWS APPROVED:
Monroe 18
Coushatta 102

DISPENSATIONS APPROVED:
Hines 54 – to move the charter from Deridder Lodge to Old Magnolia Lodge (Ragley)
Lake Charles – to change meeting date to ______
Vernon 51 – to change meeting date to 1st Monday

VISITATIONS and ACTIVITIES:
April 2014 9th Abe Hinson Lodge 472
1st Rosepine Lodge 290 11th Trinity Cmdry
3rd Monroe Scottish Rite 12-14 MS OES Grand Chapter
4th Beauregard-Anderson 15th Vernon/Fullerton
5th Esther OES initiation 16th L/C Scottish Rite
6th Heroes of ’76 (1776) 17th Monroe Scottish Rite
7th Rhodes Cmdry 17 21st Monroe Scottish Rite
8th Friendship 210 OES 22nd Electa 10
23rd Abe Hinson Lodge 472 21st OES Official Visit Dist 15
24th Pickering Lodge 24th Electa OES
26th Monroe Scottish Rite 25th Abe Hinson Lodge
27th Wesley UMC (Lay Speaking) 26-28 Watermelon Festival
30th L/C KCCH Dinner 28th OES School Instruction
May 2014 July 2014
1st Scottish Rite Meeting 1st Rosepine Lodge (FC Degree)
2nd National Sojourners 3rd Monroe Scottish Rite
3rd WGM OES Homecoming 4th DeMolay State Conclave
5th Rhodes Cmdry 17 5th Old Magnolia Lodge
6th Rosepine Lodge 7th Rhodes Commandry
7th York Rite Bodies 8th Friendship OES
8th Pinehurst OES 9th Abe Hinson Lodge
10th OES School D7 11-13th Multi-State Exchange
12th Rosepine OES 14th Rosepine OES
13th Friendship OES 15th Vernon Chapter
14th Abe Hinson Lodge 15th Fullerton Council
15th Esther OES 16th Advisory Council S/R
17th York Rite College 99 16th KCCH meeting
17th KYCH Priory 43 16th Scottish Rite (Flag Pgm)
17th OES School D12 17th Mystic Star OES Visit
19th S/R Advisory Council 18th OES Official Visit Dist 16
20th Chapter/Council 19th OES Official Visit Dist 17
21st S/R Advisory Council 21st Advisory Council S/R
21st Scottish Rite Meeting 23rd Abe Hinson Lodge
23rd OES School D8 26th York Rite Festival
24th OES School D10 30th KCCH Dinner
27th Electa 10 OES 31st Coushatta Chapter
28th Abe Hinson Lodge August 2014
29th Coushatta York Rite 1 National Sojourners
31st LA/MS York Rite Festival 4 Rhodes Comdry 17
June 2014 5 Rosepine Lodge
2nd Rhodes Commandry 6 Lafayette York Rite
3rd Rosepine Lodge 7 Scottish Rite
4th Lafayette York Rite 11 Rosepine OES
5th Monroe Scottish Rite 12 Friendship OES
6th B-A 530 National Sojourners 13 Abe Hinson Lodge
7th LA/MS OES Exchange 14 Pinehurst OES
9th Rosepine OES 19 Chapter/Council
10th Friendship OES 20 Scottish Rite
11th Abe Hinson Lodge 21 Esther OES
12th Allen OES 110 Birthday 26 Electa OES
14th Red Cross of Constantine 27 Abe Hinson Lodge
14th OES Official Visit Dist 12 September 2014
16th IORG Grand Assembly 1st Rhodes Cmdry
17-19 National Sojourner Conv 2nd Rosepine Lodge
19th Esther OES 3rd Lafayette York Rite
20th OES Official Visit Dist 13 4th Scottish Rite
5th National Sojourners 11th Friendship OES
8th Rosepine OES 12th Abe Hinson Lodge
9th Friendship OES 13th Pinehurst OES
10th Abe Hinson Lodge 15th York Rite College
11th Pinehurst OES 15th Y/R Past Grands
16th Chapter/Council 17th Merryville Lodge
23rd Electa OES 18th Pricilla OES
24th Abe Hinson Lodge(FC) 19th Scottish Rite
25th Scottish Rite 20th Esther OES
26th OES OV Dist 2 22nd Y/R Festival
27th OES OV Dist 1 25th Electa 10
28th Dist 10 Open Air 26th Abe Hinson Lodge
October 2014 December 2014
1st Lafayette York Rite 1st Leesville York Rite Bodies
2nd Scottish Rite 2nd Rosepine Lodge
3rd OES OV Dist 6 3-5th AR OES Grand Session
4th OES OV Dist 8 6th OES Cancer Lunch
6th Rhodes Cmdry 8th Rosepine OES
7th Rosepine Lodge 9th Electa 10 OES
8th Abe Hinson Lodge 10th Abe Hinson Lodge
9th Pinehurst OES 11th Pinehurst OES
10th Scottish Rite Rehearsal 17th Scottish Rite
11th Scottish Rite Reunion January 2015
11th OES OV Dist 4 2nd National Sojourners
12th Dist 8 Lodge 3rd Red Cross Constantine
13th Rosepine OES 5th Leesville York Rite Bodies
14th H & I Awards 6th Rosepine Lodge
15th Scottish Rite 8th Pinehurst OES
16th Esther OES 11-18th Cruise with LA OES
18th OES Dinner/Auction 20th Merryville OES
19-21 TX Grand York Rite 21st LC Scottish Rite
21st Leesville Chapter/Council 23rd Glenmora Installation
22nd Abe Hinson 24th Pancake Breakfast Baton Rouge
24th OES OV Dist 9 24th Fraternal Relations Day Baton Rouge
28th Electa OES 26th SW Shrine Club
29th KCCH Dinner 27th Electa OES
30th Coushatta York Rite 28th EA - Rosepine Lodge
November 2014 29-31st Grand Lodge Session
1st Red Cross Constantine February 2015
1st OES OV Dist 18 1st Grand Lodge Session
3rd York Bodies 2nd Leesville York Rite
4th Lodge BBQ 3rd Rosepine Lodge
4th Rosepine Lodge 5th Monroe S/R Advisory Council
6th Scottish Rite 5th Scottish Rite
7th S/R Ldr Meeting 6th National Sojourners
7th National Sojourners
8th OES OV Dist 10
10th Gardner Lodge
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their county. Now is the time for all good men to
come to the aid of their country.