My Brothers and Friends of the Scottish Rite:

I would like to thank those Worshipful Masters from Lodges within our service area who joined us for dinner and attended our February meeting. On behalf of the A.A.S.R. – Valley of Orlando it was a pleasure to have them introduce themselves and congratulate them on being elected and installed as the Master of their respective Masonic Lodge. I read to them a paper prepared 130 years ago by William Mercer Wilson, the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada titled “What It Means to be Worshipful Master.”  We presented each one with a Scottish Rite mug, a challenge coin, and a Master Mason lapel pin. It is hoped that each year the attendance of Worshipful Masters from the 36 Lodges will grow.

The evening continued with the 14th Degree Ring Ceremony where new Masters of the Royal Secret were presented their patent and welcomed into the Scottish Rite with their families in attendance. The knighting of new members into the Orlando Chapter of the Knights of Saint Andrew followed, as well as the presentation of Double Eagle Awards thanking many members for their participation and service, and gifts to those brothers who completed the Passport program.

Please note that our March meeting will be the Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal, starting with dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by the Ceremony at 7:30 p.m. This will be an open meeting and will remember and honor those Brothers who were called to the Celestial Lodge above during the 2019 year. Please feel free to invite brothers who are not members of the Scottish Rite to attend this evenings dinner and meeting. It is an effective way to introduce the Rite to Master Masons who might be looking for what else is available to them as they continue their Masonic journey.  

It was recently announced by our Grand Commander, Ill. James D. Cole, 33° that a membership program titled “Be A Freemason” has been launched with the Grand Masters of Grand Lodges in the Northern and Southern Jurisdictions of the Scottish Rite, and the International Shrine. Please take 2 – 3 minutes to listen to Ill. Cole, as he introduces this new and exciting opportunity.

Remember, our spring reunion (April 18th and 19th) is around the corner and now is the time to follow-up with those Master Masons you have been talking with concerning possibly becoming a member of the A.A.S.R. – Valley of Orlando.

As you are aware, the A.A.S.R. is an organization that confers or communicates twenty-nine additional degrees and is structured to provide additional education to assist a Master Mason to grow and expand his knowledge and understanding of our great fraternity.  I am confident that there are many of you out there who have a particular subject, topic, thought or experience that could be shared that would be of interest to brothers that receive our eNews.  If you would like to prepare an article (and I strongly encourage you to do so) for a future edition, please get with me via eMail or text and give me a quick overview of what your topic will be and when you can have it ready. We will then schedule your article in a future edition

Until next time, remember the many things for which you are thankful!  Be safe in your travels; “whisper wise counsel in the ear of an erring brother;” and respect the dignity of all, as it makes you and our fraternity stronger one action at a time.  We want to ensure that what we are enjoying today will be strong for those who will follow.  Simply stated – “We lead the way today, so those who follow us can lead the way tomorrow!”  Thanks for your continued support and participation; and may the “Spirit of Fraternity” reign supreme within our “Valley of Orlando!”

Fraternally,

Ill. Chester A. “Chet” King, 33°
Personal Representative

“People forget what you say, and forget what you do, but forever remember how you make them feel!”