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S.K. Leslie Loomis, GC, Publisher December, 2008 Vol. 1 No. 3

Sir Knights:

erry Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year! We are now halfway through this Templar year. Have you recruited and conferred the Orders on new Sir Knights? Have your attendance and programs improved? Is each of us doing our best to be a Soldier of Christ? Ponder these questions and let us each develop and improve our approach to Templary the last half of the Templar year and make sure we can honestly say we sure gave it our all and we succeeded!

“Let’s Be the Best We can Be.”

Yours in Templary, S.K. Leslie J. Loomis, GC

Gettysburg: A Memorable Weekend

Sir Knights marching to Friend to Friend Monument

Attendance at the Gettysburg Weekend this fall was great. The weather was mild and sunny, the sermon of S.K. and Rev. Richard L. Stinson, PC, our Grand Prelate, was impressive, and the fellowship of the many Sir Knights from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, and Virginia enjoyable.

A tremendous job was done in the preparations for the Division 11

Reception and the Memorial Service at the Friend to Friend Monument. Credit goes to S.K. Ray K. Shaeffer, DC of Div. 11, his wife Sonja, S.K. William K. Peters, PDC, and S.K. Edward B. McCartney, PDC, Aide to the Grand Commander is greatly appreciated.

Next year’s Gettysburg Weekend will be held on September 19-20, 2009; plan now to attend. See you there!

R.E.G.C. Receives Honorary Membership

S.K. Leslie J. Loomis, REGC receiving honorary membership from S.K. Daniel E. Tarafas, E.C.

S.K. Leslie Loomis, REGC, was pleased to receive an honorary membership to Allen-Beauceant Commandery #20 at the North-East Reception.

A great time was had at the North East Reception for the R.E.G.C. He wishes to extend thanks to all who attended, and especially to the Chairman, S.K. John Ellermann and his wife, Jackie.

The patriotic decorations were appreciated, the food was excellent, and the entertainment by S.K. Barney Wilkins was especially enjoyable.

Topping the occasion was the presentation and of a mini Carbide Cannon, which is particularly meaningful as the Grand Commander was in the Artillery. The demonstration of a twin Carbide Cannon in the Barn House parking lot was the climax.

Progressing Towards The Award of Excellence

Are you keeping track of your points for the Award of Excellence? Be sure you include all your Patriotic and Religious activities, as well as, the workshops and trainings that your Sir Knights participate in. You are improving the quality of your Templary program, through these activities.

Elizabethtown Assembly No. 265 Contributes to Charities

Many of the items donated by SOOB members

The Ladies of Elizabethtown Assembly are always thinking of others. In addition a large donation given to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, the ladies contribute numerous articles to the Ronald MacDonald House in Hershey. Large print magazines and numerous hand made lap robes and are donated to the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown each year. The ladies are also collecting grocery store coupons, which are then trimmed, sorted and shipped overseas to families of servicemen. Already, thousands of dollars worth of coupons have been sent abroad, just a small way to say thank you for helping our country.

Line Officers’ Seminar

Well Attended

Attendance at Line Officers’ Seminar Tops 120! For the first time in recent history, the attendance at the Line Officers’ Training Seminar exceeded 120. Almost 35% of those attending were Sir Knights coming out for the first time. This shows increased dedication and commitment to our precepts and ideals.

Let’s keep up the good work and help make them better. Plan now to attend next year’s session on November 13-14, 2009. Mark it on your calendar! Let’s top 150 attendees!

File Your Forms!

All Commanderies must file at least a form 990 EZ to the IRS by December 31st. Any Commandery whose income from all sources exceeds $25,000.00 MUST file a form 990 (not the EZ).

Vol. 1 No. 2 Pennsylvania Musings Page 2

CHAPTER CONFERRALS

Sat. Dec. 20th, 8:45 a.m. all Degrees Butler Tues, Jan. 6th, 7:30 p.m., Royal Arch, Bellefonte Sat, Jan. 31st, 9:00 a.m., all Degrees, Slatington Tues, Feb. 3rd, 7:15 p.m., Mark Master, Pittsburgh Sat, Feb 14th, Mark and Most Excellent, Penn Hills Tues, March 3rd, 7:15 p.m., Most Excellent, Pittsburgh Sat, March 14th, Royal Arch, Penn Hills Tues, April 7th, 7:15 p.m. Royal Arch, Pittsburgh

COUNCIL CONFERRALS Sat, March 28th, 8:30 a.m., all Degrees, Wilkes-Barre Sat, April 11th, Royal and Select, Penn Hills

CONFERRAL OF ORDERS

Tues, Jan. 6th, 7:30 p.m. Royal Arch, Bellefonte Thurs, Jan. 8th, 7:15 p.m., Order of Malta, Allentown Sat, Jan. 24th, Wilkes-Barre Sat, Jan. 10th, 7:30 a.m. O.T., Elizabethtown Thurs, Feb. 12th, 7:15 p.m., O.T., Allentown Tues, Feb. 24th, 7:00 p.m., R.C., Altoona Tues, March 24th, 7:00 p.m., O.M., Altoona Sat, March 28th, 8:30 a.m., Duquesne, Penn Hills Fri-Sat, April 3-4th, Pittsburgh #1 Fri, April 10th, O.T., Altoona Sat., April 18th, 8:30 a.m. R.C., O.M., and OT, Latrobe

125th Anniversary Held

Oriental Commandery #61, in Johnstown, celebrated its 125th Anniversary on November 20th, 2008. A great dinner, reception, and Ladies’ entertainment marked the event.

Plans for 156th Annual Conclave Finalized

The 156th Annual Conclave of Pennsylvania will be held at the Inn at Pocono Manor, Pocono Manor, PA from Sunday, May17-20, 2009. The facility has just completed a six million dollar refurbishment. The Conclave Committee is excited to hold the Conclave in the picturesque Pocono Mountains, rather than a large city atmosphere.

Information will be sent out in early 2009. Those staying overnight must make their reservations directly with the Inn by April 21st, 2009! After that, the block will be dropped and availability is not guaranteed! Meals for daily guests need to be made with payment by May 10th.

Don’t miss out on the fabulous events planned for the Poconos.

Vol. 1 No. 1 Pennsylvania Musings Page 3

Western Visitations Enjoyable

The Commanderies in the Western Sections

of the state had an excellent attendance at the official visits of the R.E.G.C., thanks in a large part to the efforts of S.K. Kevin Colledge, DC of Div. 8, S.K. Ronald Rearick, DC of Div. 2, and S.K. Richard N. Swanson, DC of Div. 10. Kevin and Ron even took vacation days to be available for S.K. Loomis’ visitations.

Attendance at the Asylums ranged from twenty-nine to seventy-eight Sir Knights!! How many were at your last Asylum?

Many thanks to Lorraine, Pittsburgh, DeMolay, Beaver Valley, Duquesne, Mt. Calvary, Mt. Olivet, Franklin, and Holyrood Commanderies for the fine reception, hospitality, presentations, entertainment, and refreshments extended to my Lady Sandy and me.

Fraternal Relations Promoted

On November 2nd, the R.E.G.C. attended the second of six All in the Family Gatherings, sponsored by the Order of the Eastern Star, held at the Jaffa Shrine Center in Altoona.

All Masonic Organizations are being encouraged to have a display table of pictures, literature, petitions, charitable endeavors, and scholarship programs, at each of the events. The purpose of these Gatherings is to raise public awareness of who we are, and what we do. The public is invited to attend and will cost $12 a person.

Others will be held in Elizabethtown on February 1st, 2009, (contact S.K. Larry Q. Hall, DC, 717-964-3447); in Pittsburgh on March 1st, 2009, (contact S.K. Ronald Rearick, DC, 724-664-6985); and in Dallas, on March 22nd, 2009 (contact S.K. Keith Murray, DC, 570-675-4990).

An ecumenical Church Service will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by lunch, youth presentations, and time to visit information tables from the various Masonic organizations.

This is a good opportunity to recruit new members, improve our Fraternal Relations, and become aware of the numerous Masonic Organizations we all belong to.

Coming Attractions!

Sat, Nov. 29: North-West Section Reception, Grove City Mon, Dec. 1: Cyrene #34 o.v. GC, Elizabethtown Thurs, Dec. 4: Grand Chapter, Philadelphia Fri, Dec. 5: South-East Section Reception, Philadelphia Sat, Dec.6: Grand Lodge, Philadelphia Sun, Dec. 7: Mizpah #96, Xmas Observance, Doylestown Thurs, Dec. 11: Hermit #24 o.v. GC, Elizabethtown Fri, Dec. 12: Mt. Horeb Council #34, Wilkes-Barre Sat, Dec. 13: SOOB Installation, Elizabethtown Mon, Dec. 15: Shekinah Chapter #182, Wilkes-Barre Tues, Dec. 16: Reading #9 o.v. GC, Reading Wed, Dec. 17: St. John's #8 o.v. GC, Carlisle Thurs, Dec. 18: Nativity #71 o.v. GC, Pottstown Sun, Dec. 20: Cyrene #34 / Hermit #24 Christmas

Observance, Elizabethtown Mon, Dec. 22: Dieu Le Veut #45, Wilkes-Barre Thurs, Jan. 8: Crusade #12 o.v. GC, Orangeville Sat, Jan. 10: Order of the Temple, Elizabethtown Sat, Jan. 17: Central Section Reception, REGC, UMC,

LaMont (Bellefonte) Mon, Jan. 19: Shekinah Chapter #182, Wilkes-Barre Tues, Jan. 20: Baldwin II #22 o.v. GC, Williamsport Thurs, Jan. 22: St. Alban #47, Springfield Mon, Jan. 26: Warren #63 o.v. GC, Warren Tues, Jan. 27: Lawrence #62 o.v. GC, New Castle Sun, Feb. 1: OES Fraternal Relations, Elizabethtown Fri- Sun, Feb. 6-8: Div. Commanders' Seminar Elizabethtown Sat, Feb. 7: Past Division Commanders’/Line Officers’

Reception, Elizabethtown

Vol. 1 No. 2 Pennsylvania Musings Page 4

Sun, Feb. 8: Grand Officers’ Session, Elizabethtown Thurs-Sat, Feb. 12-14: AMD Week, Alexandria, VA Mon, Feb, 23: Huntingdon #65 o.v. GC, Huntingdon Tues, Feb. 24: Mountain #10 o.v. GC, Altoona Wed, Feb. 25: Allegheny #35 o.v. GC, Wexford Thurs, Feb. 26: Chartiers #78 o.v. G.C., Carnegie Sat, Feb. 28: South-West Section Reception, Bridgeville Mon, March 2: Continental #56 o.v. G.C, Chambersburg Thurs, March 5: Hospitaller #46 o.v. G.C., Lock Haven Fri-Sat, March 6-7: Annual Conclave, New Jersey Wed, March 11: SOOB, Elizabethtown Thurs, March 19: St. Omers #7 o.v. G.C., Uniontown Sat, March 21: Lorraine Commandery #87 100th

Anniversary Military Ball, Butler Sun, March 22: OES Fraternal Relations, Dallas Tues, March 24: Kedron #18 o.v. GC, Greensburg Thurs, March 26th: Centennial #55 o.v. GC, Coatesville Fri, March 27th: York Rite Night, St. Johns #8, Carlisle Wed, March 31st: Div. No. 6 and 9 Line Officers, Bath Fri-Sat, April 3-4: Annual Conclave CT Sun-Wed, April 5-8: Annual Conclave, Florida Sat-Sun, April 11-12: Grand Encampment Easter,

Alexandria, VA Thurs, April 16th: Trinity #58, o.v. G.C., Bradford Sun-Tues, April 19-21: Grand Council, Grantville Wed, May 13th: SOOB, Elizabethtown Sun-Wed, May 17-20: Annual Conclave, Inn at Pocono

Manor

Let Commandery Shine Don’t hide it under a bushel!

Yours in Templary, S.K. Leslie J. Loomis, GC