My Brothers All: Our March 24th stated meeting, an open meeting, will honor those members who passed to the Celestial Lodge above during the 2021 year. Dinner will be served at 6:30pm, followed by the “Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal” in the Lodge Room at 7:30pm. Family and Friends are encouraged to attend.

The spring reunion is fast approaching, and is scheduled for April 22nd and 23rd. It is not too early to start following up with Master Masons who have expressed an interest in joining the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. (A.A.S.R.). The Valley of Orlando will confer those degrees associated with the spring reunion.

In each eNews article, you are encouraged to read the bi-monthly Scottish Rite Journal, and enjoy the excellent articles and information contained therein. Also, to continue growing and learning about Freemasonry, the Short Talk Bulletin (STB) offers short stories about many varied topics. Each Masonic Lodge should receive a copy of the STB each month. Please take 10 minutes to read and reflect.

As a reminder, our both Master Craftsman study groups started up again in January 2022. If you are interested in participating in this monthly study group, please contact Ill Keith at the Valley office via 407-657-4550 or via eMail at GenSecOrl@gmail.com to ensure you are added to the mailing list to receive all invitations to participate via ZOOM. Keep in mind that participating in a study group enhances the Master Craftsman experience for everyone and starts the building of fraternal friendships between those brothers who participate.

At the start of the 2022 year, the eNews started sharing short articles on notable Brothers within the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. This section as been expanded and is titled “Notable Brothers of Free and Accepted Masonry.” Each month this section provides an article on a notable Brother Mason(s). This edition of the eNews will feature J. Edgar Hoover and will be an interesting read. I hope you enjoy!  

The next item that warrants your attention is our up and coming Second Annual Golf Event on Friday the 26th of May 2023 with a shotgun start at 8:30 AM. It is named a golf event because it is not necessary that you play par golf, but rather enjoy golf simply to experience some fraternal fellowship. It is not limited to just Masons, so please ask your friends, and work associates who play golf to come and have some fun and fellowship. Please note that the proceeds from this Golf Event support the Scottish Rite Foundation of Florida, Inc. which is a 501(c)(3). This Foundation funds a network of fifteen Language and Speech Clinics for children in the State of Florida. There are sponsorship opportunities, and now is the time to “step-up and sign-up!” All information on this event can be found online at GolfScottishRite.com. Please sign up to play, and consider a sponsorship by your Lodge, or a friend or associate who has a business. It would sure be nice to have a foursome from each of the 37 Lodges in the four District area that is served by the Valley of Orlando.

I have been asked to include in my article on the up and coming KCCH Spring Social, which will be on Sunday the 30th of April at 5pm at the “Dixie Crossroads” restaurant in Titusville. Please RSVP directly to Brother Chris Durie at 321-266-4515 or cdurie@gmail.com. This is a popular get together and seating is limited so contact Bro Chris as soon as possible.

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 available for those who 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!”

May you and yours be blessed with the spirit of the season, and may we all stay COVID free, and enjoy a healthy, happy and prosperous 2023.

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!”