Saturday was a fantastic evening in Albuquerque, NM, as W:.B:. Ken Davis is New Mexico's Masonic Society 2nd Circle Chairman (He is a Past Master of Lodge Vitruvian No. 767 in Indianapolis, and now transplanted to NM). Ken arranged the first dinner meeting of the New Mexico 2nd Circle last Saturday evening. It was the perfect way to end the Rocky Mountain Masonic Conference weekend.
We had about 32 brethren, non-Masons and ladies come out for the evening, including New Mexico Grand Master R:.W:. Gary M. Deck. We received wonderful support, especially from members of Albuquerque Lodge No. 60 and Sandia Mountain Lodge No. 72. I was honored to speak to this gathering (dinner at the Chama River Brewing Company was fantastic, BTW), and engage in the 7 traditional toasts. My deepest gratitude goes to Ken Davis and his wife Betty for their hard work setting up the evening.
This is exactly what the 2nd Circle groups were envisioned as - good food, a little education, with a lot of fun and new friendships. The 2nd Circles are the local component of the Masonic Society. When you join TMS, you are automatically a part of the 2nd Circle in your state, province or region. The goal is for these groups to meet occasionally, get to know each other, share ideas, and expand the Society among the Masonic community. We'd like 2nd Circles to man tables at Grand Lodge sessions and other state or regional meetings. They can arrange local symposia, as was done in May in London with authors Bob Cooper and Michael Baigent. We have no intention of trying to replace research lodges or other Masonic clubs or organizations—it is our aim to be their supportive partners and take part in local events. And The Journal of the Masonic Society is always receptive to papers and articles from brethren in research lodges and groups. It is unfortunately the nature of these groups for a brother to read a paper at a lunchtime meeting, and for it to never be seen again. The Journal gives brethren the opportunity to share their hard work with a wider audience (we currently have members in 16 countries).
Thanks especially to W:.B:. Adam Hathaway for the gift, and to Brother Jay Williams for the beautiful sand painting and book. And I want to especially express my appreciation to Grand Master Deck and his officers for their warm hospitality and the wonderful gift of honorary membership in the Grand Lodge of New Mexico. It was truly a fantastic weekend.
Jay Williams and Grand Master Gary Deck. Yes. Gary is that tall.
We had about 32 brethren, non-Masons and ladies come out for the evening, including New Mexico Grand Master R:.W:. Gary M. Deck. We received wonderful support, especially from members of Albuquerque Lodge No. 60 and Sandia Mountain Lodge No. 72. I was honored to speak to this gathering (dinner at the Chama River Brewing Company was fantastic, BTW), and engage in the 7 traditional toasts. My deepest gratitude goes to Ken Davis and his wife Betty for their hard work setting up the evening.
W:.B:. Adam Hathaway and me.
This is exactly what the 2nd Circle groups were envisioned as - good food, a little education, with a lot of fun and new friendships. The 2nd Circles are the local component of the Masonic Society. When you join TMS, you are automatically a part of the 2nd Circle in your state, province or region. The goal is for these groups to meet occasionally, get to know each other, share ideas, and expand the Society among the Masonic community. We'd like 2nd Circles to man tables at Grand Lodge sessions and other state or regional meetings. They can arrange local symposia, as was done in May in London with authors Bob Cooper and Michael Baigent. We have no intention of trying to replace research lodges or other Masonic clubs or organizations—it is our aim to be their supportive partners and take part in local events. And The Journal of the Masonic Society is always receptive to papers and articles from brethren in research lodges and groups. It is unfortunately the nature of these groups for a brother to read a paper at a lunchtime meeting, and for it to never be seen again. The Journal gives brethren the opportunity to share their hard work with a wider audience (we currently have members in 16 countries).
Thanks especially to W:.B:. Adam Hathaway for the gift, and to Brother Jay Williams for the beautiful sand painting and book. And I want to especially express my appreciation to Grand Master Deck and his officers for their warm hospitality and the wonderful gift of honorary membership in the Grand Lodge of New Mexico. It was truly a fantastic weekend.
If you're not a member of the Masonic Society, join up here.
(Photos courtesy Jay Williams)
I had to smile to myself just now as I ran across this post. The New Mexico Second Circle wasn't recognized by the Grand Lodge until the following March, when MW Brother Gary was the outgoing GM. And that recognition was tightly contested, though granted in the end.
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