My Brothers all:

Our Fall Reunion is just round the corner and will be held on Saturday the 10th of October. With the Corona Virus, safety is important for a positive reunion experience, the Brothers who have petitioned to join us, and members. Please pay attention to the second reminder message that follows.

The Fall Reunion, conferring the 5 Mandatory Degrees, will be held in a modified format. We want to ensure we are complying with distancing and face mask requirements associated with COVID-19. The day will begin with a simple breakfast of Bagels and Donuts along with a good cup of coffee.

We will offer the 4th and 14th degrees or Ineffable Degrees of the Lodge of Perfection; the 18th degree representing The Chapter of Rose Croix and the degrees of the second temple; the 30th Degree representing the Philosophical or Chivalric degrees; and representing the administrative degrees will be the 32nd degree. While there is only five-degrees they each represent the four bodies of the Scottish Rite (The Lodge of Perfection, The Chapter of Rose Croix, the Council of Kadosh, and the Consistory).

While we would normally encourage your attendance at any Spring or Fall reunion, this is not a normal reunion. It is focused on receiving new members, while at the same time minimizing the number of Brothers who attend to ensure we are following the required distancing and face mask requirements. If you are participating in one of the five degrees, or are a working as a member of a committee that supports the operation of a reunion (i.e. Stage Crew, Wardrobe, Lights, Sound, Kitchen Crew, etc.) we look forward to having you join us. However, if you are not participating, please do not attend this reunion! We have coordinated with the five degree teams, and supporting committees, and they are ready to make it happen. As is the case with Grand Lodge, if you are working with a candidate or potential new members please ensure you have on a face mask and gloves to minimize contact.

Your continued support and compliance of guidelines aligned with COVID-19 is greatly appreciated.

Please get those petitions in to let Ill. Keith so he can continue building the class of Fall ’20.

THE MASONIC BOOK CLUB (MBC) is back!

The Masonic Book Club (MBC) was formed in 1970 by two Illinois Masons, Alphonse Cerza and Louis Williams. The MBC primarily reprinted out-of-print Masonic books with a scholarly introduction; occasionally they would print original texts. After some 40 years of service to the craft, the directors in 200 decided to dissolve the MBC. The club originally was limited to 333 members, but the number eventually expanded to nearly 2,000, with 1,083 members when it dissolved in 2010.

In 2017 MW Barry West, 33°, the last president of the MBC, transferred the MBC name and assets to the Supreme Council, 33°, SJ USA. The revived Masonic Book Club has the goals of publishing classic Masonic books and of supporting Scottish Rite SJ USA Philanthropies. Membership is open to anyone 18 years or older who id interested in the history of Freemasonry and allows you to purchase MBC editions at a pre-publication discount.

The new MBC will have a different busines model than the old. Most significantly, there will be no dues; being a member entitles you to purchase books at a pre-publication discount. For additional information including FAQ’s and past publications, and to join, please visit the below site.

https://scottishrite.org/media-publications/masonic-book-club/

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 reliable 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!”