2010-2011

Last Issue
From the Apartment of the Commander

Dear Sir Knights,

I humbly thank the Knights for their vote of confidence and election as your Commander of Portsmouth Commandery No. 5 for the 2010-2011 Chivalric year. I will strive to the utmost of my ability to see that your faith and confidence was not misplaced. I will also see to a strong bond between Commandery No. 5 and the Freemasonic family.

For the next Chivalric year, the Commandery will concentrate on improving its stability and membership and providing good and wholesome instruction. Sir Knight Randy Reed (Generalissimo), Sir Knight John “Jack” Goodwin (Captain General), and I have instituted a team-oriented approach to the Dias leadership. The Recorder (Sir Knight Bruce Van Buren, PC) and the Treasurer (Sir Knight Byron Goodwin, PC) will serve as mentors to the leadership team. Our team-oriented approach will provide a broader base of information and communication, spreading the workload, and have a positive impact on the future of Commandery No. 5.

The Sublime Degree of Master Mason is not intended to be a finishing lesson; rather a directional sign on the highway of life wherein he learns to find a series of interpretations, to have his faculties awakened to the vista of sight, sound and ideas to which he can constantly return for new meaning and fresh understanding. With that guidance, wholesome instruction will be in the form of Marching Drill, Use of the Sword, Ritual Work, and Educational Templar Presentations.

In selecting the educational presentations, I have selected a cross-section of papers that have been presented by Masonic Authors in various Masonic publications or elsewhere. There will be a presentation at each of our Stated Conclaves.

I have asked Sir Knight Byron Goodwin, PC, to serve as the Director of Work, Sir Knight Eric Sisco to serve as the Drill Captain, and Sir Knight Leonard Fredette, PC, to serve as the Sword Captain.

There will be two membership objectives:

• One focused on helping Master Masons and Companions with their journey through the York Rite. If each of us can bring a petition just one Companion during the Chivalric year, imagine the work we will have exalting Sir Knights into the Templar Orders.
• Second focused on retaining Sir Knights, motivating men of proven leadership skills, and providing a framework for effective stability and long-tem success of the Commandary.

Sir Knights, we have a fine, motivated elected line—the officers will recite their ritual, no one will read at the opening and closing of a Conclave. Your attendances at Commandery meetings provide strong support for the officers and encourage good ritual. There is nothing more rewarding than looking out and see the sidelines full of members. If you attend the meetings, you will not have to sit in chair, even if I have to open the Commandery in short form.

A major stroke affected my communication capabilities. Every time I attend a Conclave I have to review ritual for 1-2 hours before arriving at Commandery—I will not ask you to do something that you are not prepared to do. I did not give up because of my affection; I relearned how to communicate. I challenge you not to give up on your Commandery; rise up and strengthen Portsmouth Commandery No. 5. Bring a Sir Knight with you that we can all expand our acquaintances and better understand this fraternal community we call Templar Masonry.

I have served as Worshipful Master in two Lodges, High Priest of a Royal Arch Chapter, Master of each of the Scottish Rite Bodies, and Sovereign Master of two Councils of the Allied Masonic Degrees. Meetings of the Commandery will be focused and to the point so we can move to fellowship. Fraternal bonding is important to the health the Commandery and this will be aided through refreshments and lively discourse.

My will trestle boards will be sent by Sir Knight Major Stephenson to those Sir Knights with an e-mail address and Sir Knight Bruce Van Buren (the Recorder) will post the trestle boards to the Portsmouth Commandery’s home page.

If you have a gripe or want to present an issue or problem to the Conclave call me first (843-6209) or send me am e-mail (church_land@msn.com).

In Closing I want you to think about the teachings provided by the tale of Masonic men surrounding a campfire in the Old West, at night, discussing the Fraternity and its teachings. See box at right.

Benjamin F. Hill
Commander

Telephone: 483-6209
E-Mail:

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Chivalric District 2 News & Itinerary

Plans

Apr-Jun — Jul-Sept — Oct-Dec — Jan-Mar 2011

This Month

Select "List Style" view and then "Notes" for details.

Conclave Locations

Portsmouth No. 5	Portsmouth Scottish Rite Center, Hatton Point & Cedar Rd.
Grice No. 16	Norfolk Masonic Temple, Granby St.
Hampton No. 17	Newport News Scottish Rite Center, 65 Saunders Rd., Newport News, VA

Grand Commander's General Orders

The following General Orders are available on the Grand Commandery Web Site:

• General Order No. 1
• General Order No. 2

Petitions

NOW is always a good time to get petitions from your Companions and Brothers.

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Dues Portsmouth Commandery Dues $ 40.00 Eye Foundation $ 1.00 G E Assessment $ 9.00 G C Assessment $ 15.00 Total Dues $ 65.00 Life Sponsorship $ 30.00 Life Membership $1152.00 Total PLM $1182.00 Degree Fees Fees for the Orders of Knighthood are $150.00 and new members automatically receive a Knight Templar Eye Foundation Life Sponsorship. Petition for the Orders Application for Affiliation

Knight Templar Eye Foundation Life Sponsorship Life Sponsorship is $30.00 and entitles $1.00 to be taken off your dues. There is also a Patron sponsor for $100.00, and an Associate Patron sponsor for $50.00. Permanent Life Membership The Permanent Life Membership fee is Eighteen (18) times your dues plus the current dues. The Life Membership is transferable to another Virginia Commandery. It is NOT transferable out of state. At death, the Commandery will continue to receive the funds. You will always be on the rolls as a member! A payment plan can be arranged, call the Recorder Portsmouth Commandery No. 5 Endowment Fund Portsmouth's operational revenues depend on the interest from this fund. Although you are not required to pay dues, we request that you contribute to our endowment. Baldwin-Brown Fellowship Funds generated by this program go into the Grand Commandery of Virginia Permanent Endowment Fund to increase the interest earning power of that fund. None of the money donated to the Baldwin-Brown? Fellowship will be used for any other purpose. The interest earnings from the already existing Grand Commandery of Virginia Permanent Endowment Fund are used to pay for the costs of operating Knights Templar Masonry in Virginia. This is essential as the Grand Encampment Assessment has almost tripled and Grand Commandery expenses have unexpectedly risen as office rent has gone up considerably. Eye Foundation Please make additional contribution to the Eye Foundation. If you reach a total of $500 you are eligible for the Knight of Siloam Award.

Bruce L. Van Buren, KYCH Webmaster/Recorder

Deputy Grand Marshal Grand Commandery Webmaster Grand Commandery Awards Committee Grice Merit Award

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