Grand Commander’s Message (November 2022)
Greetings Sir Knights,
Is it just coincidence that Inspection Season occurs during Halloween Season? I remember when I served Worth Commandery as Eminent Commander I was certainly scared at the prospect of being inspected by a Grand Officer. I got through it, just as all of you will. When it is over you will realize it wasn’t scary at all, it was fun; much like this scary holiday. Just relax and enjoy the moment. Your inspecting officer wants you to do well. Just remember, he is there to help. I also find it comforting to realize Thanksgiving is just around the corner. You get all worked up at the prospect of inspection then soon thereafter you have a holiday to give thanks for getting it done. All is good.
The Knighting’s Contest is in full stride. Here are the standings as of October 30, 2022.
- 20 – McKinney No. 34
- 11 – Alexander C. Garrett No. 103
- 6 – Tancred No. 82
- Tied at 5 – El Paso No. 18, Beaumont No. 38, Temple No. 41, Denton No. 45, Lubbock No. 60 and Port Arthur No. 73
Regardless of the contest results, this shows how well the Commanderies are growing. I asked SK Michael Malone to find out how McKinney and Alexander C. Garrett were getting it done.
McKinney – “We gave a stack of petitions to Lewis Bell and got the hell out of his way…” But, in speaking with Lewis Bell about this, he said he simply always has a stack of petitions with him at all times and he is actively talking to guys in Masonry NOT in Templar Masonry and selling what the Order has to offer. He is not passively waiting for people to come to him, he is going to them. Always have a York Rite petition handy! Seems simple, but when discussing the benefits of York Rite and Templar Masonry specifically, having the petition in-hand will help the process of getting an interested Brother the necessary next step in his journey towards the York Rite. The petitions even include a quick synapsis of each of the Degrees and Orders which you can use to help explain what the York Rite rituals have to offer.
For Alexander C. Garrett, their success has been in closely working with the Chapters and Councils in the area to track their Candidates to understand who has shown an interest in York Rite Masonry, and making sure that they take the next step into Templar Masonry from there. The active members in the Commandery are also active in the Chapters and Councils and have their finger on the pulse of the members, they actively help the Chapters and Councils with their Degree work even if it’s not their Chapter or Council, and follow up with the potential members to make sure they don’t lose momentum. Remember, Templar Masonry is an Order based on service to others. By applying this idea to our own interactions with our Brethren and Companions in need of assistance in their work, whether it be for Degrees or just by being present at Chapter and Council meetings, you will be setting a good example of what Templar Masonry means.
Between these two Commanderies, 31 new Knights have been made this year alone. We might want to follow their example.
These numbers are based upon what is entered into the MMS system. If your Commandery has Knighted more than what is shown, that means some of your Knighting’s have not been entered into MMS. It is very important for Recorders to enter information into MMS as quickly as possible. Not only is this contest based upon it, but all our processes are also based upon what is in MMS. Your web site link from the Grand Commandery Web site, the Membership Cord program, and others are based on MMS. If you will look at your Commandery and check to see if your meeting nights and locations, your officers and all your other information is correct, it would help us out greatly. If the information is wrong, please get it corrected. We use this information for scheduling events at your Commandery and contacting your Officers. Recently I made a call based on what was shown on a Commandery site to the Recorder. I got his widow on the phone. Little did I know this Sir Knight had passed during this year. My call brought sadness to his Lady as it reminded her of her late husband. We did talk and I pray I was able to comfort her to some extent but how many other calls is she getting? Please, please Commanders and Recorders, check your information and make certain it is correct.
Soon we will be putting a link on the Web site to a recording of the recent District 9 School of Instruction in which RE Past Grand Commander, SK John Elkinton, taught a short class on how to use MMS. If you missed the class, look for the link in the coming weeks and view it. Our Fraternity will be much better off with accurate information.
Registration is now open for the Grand Conclave next April. Many have already taken advantage of the early availability of registration, so I encourage you to register today and reserve your spot at the Banquet and especially get yourself a room at the hotel. The link is on our website. So far, 46 have registered for Grand Conclave and 61 Banquet tickets have been purchased. Sales are also available for the Ladies Luncheon and the Social Order of the Beauceant Luncheon.
How is God working through you? Do you realize what you mean to others? We often forget what an impact we make on others. To us, what we do, how we act, is just normal life. You might be a role model to others, however. It’s a funny thing in life, often those individuals that do a great deal for others often do not allow others to do for them. Many of you are the first to stand up when someone needs help. When the call for assistance rings, you answer. You help them and you get some fulfillment by doing so.
Answer this, if you need help, if you are suffering and others offer to help, what do you say? Do you even let others know when you are in need? Do you always tell those trying to offer help that you are okay and don’t really need anything? Why would you not allow someone the joy of helping you when you receive joy from helping others? It’s not something we often consider. Many that are used to helping others find it difficult to accept help or even admit when we need help. But shouldn’t we give others the opportunity to help us, to minister to us when we need it? It seems to me that part of being a Christian is allowing others the chance to be of service when you do need something. It could even be argued, it is selfish to never allow others the joy and satisfaction of showing you their love by allowing them to help.
In the book “90 Minutes in Heaven” the author describes how he fell into this trap. He was miserable, suffering, in pain, but also too prideful to allow others to help him. He had always been the one giving help. In the book he talked about receiving a messenger from Heaven that told him bluntly, get over it, get over your pride, accept the help. Stop taking away the only thing others can do to show how much they loved him. Let them do things for you. When he did, his life changed for the better. He was still in pain, but he was no longer the miserable coot he had become.
The phrase “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is normally understood to mean be nice to others. Well, it could also be telling us to help others so that they will help us. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you is meaningless if we never allowed others to show their love for us.
God bless each of you and God bless the Grand Commandery of Texas
Richard R. Jernigan
Grand Commander 2022 – 2023