My Brothers all:

This past weekend we were pleased to welcome to the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and the Valley of Orlando twenty-six new 32° Masters of the Royal Secret. On behalf of the A.A.S.R., the Orient of Florida and most especially the members of the Valley of Orlando, we all offer you a hearty welcome. We look forward to many of you becoming active in the degrees or support groups such as the stage crew, lights, sound, costumes, etc.

As you are aware, we conferred only the five mandatory degrees (4th, 14th, 18th, 30th and 32nd) to ensure a safe and healthy reunion experience for all. We followed the wearing of masks, minimizing contact with the candidates in each of the degrees, and distancing as appropriate. In spite of COVID and the limitations placed upon us, and those many members who enjoy attending a reunion to catch up with Brothers not regularly seen, and to the degree teams and support groups, the membership offers sincere thanks for your participation and understanding. We will look forward to the new Masters of The Royal Secret attending both spring and fall reunions so they can see those degrees not conferred this time. We plan to enjoy the conferring of all twenty-nine degrees between spring and fall of 2021 in anticipation of more control over COVID. Remember to obtain your Passport books and get them stamped for every degree you see. We offer a nice acknowledgement of accomplishment for those who observe each degree twice.

At our upcoming October meeting on the 23rd we will officially receive and welcome our Deputy of the Supreme Council, Ill. Rick Hoover, 33°. Also, we will have a visit via ZOOM Video Conferencing, from Kim and Kirsten, who will bring us up to date with activities taking place at the Orlando clinic. Dinner starts at 6:30 pm and the evening’s program, which is open to all, will start promptly ay 7:30 p.m. in the Lodge Room. I hope to see many of our new members and their ladies in attendance.

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!”