Reminder - S.R. Masonic Leadership Conference

Companions and Sir Nights,

Just a reminder - this Friday and Saturday (July 22nd and 23rd) is the S.R. Masonic Leadership Conference. If you haven't signed up yet, then please contact the Orient Membership Chairman ASAP!

Hope to see you this Friday at the Conference!

ABQ York Rite Office Closure

Companions and Sir Knights,

The Albuquerque York Rite Office will be closed from Monday, July 11 to Monday, July 18th. If you have a matter of immediate importance during that time and need to reach the Secretary, then please email him at abqyorkrite@yahoo.com

He will be checking his emails daily.

Thank You.

Independence Day!

Did you know?

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is the annual celebration of nationhood. It commemorates the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.

The Congress had voted in favor of independence from Great Britain on July 2 but did not actually complete the process of revising the Declaration of Independence, originally drafted by Thomas Jefferson in consultation with fellow committee members John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and William Livingston, until two days later. The celebration was initially modeled on that of the king's birthday, which had been marked annually by bell ringing, bonfires, solemn processions and oratory. Such festivals had long played a significant role in the Anglo-American political tradition. Especially in the 17th and 18th centuries, when dynastic and religious controversies racked the British Empire (and much of the rest of Europe), the choice of which anniversaries of historic events were celebrated and which were lamented had clear political meanings.

The ritual of toasting the king and other patriot-heroes—or of criticizing them—became an informal kind of political speech, further formalized in mid-18th century when the toasts given at taverns and banquets began to be reprinted in newspapers.

Reference: http://www.history.com/topics/july-4th

ABQ York Rite Bodies - Dark Months

Companions and Sir Nights,

Just a reminder to all members - the ABQ York Rite Bodies will be Dark for the months of July and August, returning for our next regular meeting on Monday, September 19th, 2011 (Pilgram #3 - KT).

Please be sure to visit the ABQ York Rite Blog regularly for news and updates on all things York Rite prior to our next meeting!

Have a good summer break!

S.R. Masonic Leadership Conference

Companions and Sir Knights,

The Scottish Rite Bodies of New Mexico are sponsoring a Masonic Leadership Conference and Workshop in the month of July entitled "If It's Going To Be, It's Up To Me", a look into Masonic Leadership and how we can affect positive leadership to help grow Freemasonry in New Mexico. We are proud to have Ill. Brother Robert Hannon (SGIG - Orient of AZ) as a the Program Moderator for this conference / workshop. Ill. Bro. Hannon is a renowned motivational speaker and he is a welcome part of this conference, providing us with his insight and experience for affecting positive leadership that will help foster growth of Masonry in New Mexico.

If you would like to attend this conference - then please RSVP with the Orient Membership Chairperson (Norm Ribble, 33° IGH) as soon as possible.

Conference specifics are listed below:

CONFERENCE DATES
July 22nd and 23rd, 2011 (Friday and Saturday)

LOCATION
Ballut Abyad Shrine Center
6600 Zuni Road SE, Albuquerque, NM 87109 (Map)

SCHEDULE
Fri. - 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm / Dinner at 6:00 pm
Sat. - 7:30 am to 4:00 pm / Lunch at 12:00 pm

CONFERENCE LEADERS
- Ill. Robert Hannon, 33°, SGIG, Orient of Arizona
- Ill. Tom E. Payne, 33°, SGIG, Orient of New Mexico
- MWB Bobby Arther, Grand Master of Masons in NM

INTENDED AUDIENCE
- Elected Officers of the NM Grand Lodge
- Ballut Abyad Shrine Elected Divan
- Scottish Rite Advisers and Ambassadors
- Grand York Rite Officers
- Grand Lodge Officers (PHA)
- Lodge Masters and Wardens
- Grand Chapter Officers (OES)

LODGING
Sleep Inn (Albuquerque Airport)
2300 International Avenue SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 (Map)
(505) 244-3325
Rate: $50.00 plus tax (King) / $55.00 (Double Beds)
Code: S.R. Leadership Conference

RV'S / TRAILERS
The Shrine has (5) Five 50 amp hook-ups available for use, and there is space for (25) twenty-five additional rigs for dry campers

Hope to see you at the S.R. Masonic Leadership Conference in July!

2011 Membership Dues Notice!

Companions and Sir Nights,

Please check your dues cards, if you have not paid for your 2011 membership by Thursday, June 30th, you will be subject to suspension.

If you still haven't done so - you have (9) nine days from today to pay your 2011 dues to avoid possible suspension from the ABQ York Rite Bodies and York Rite Freemasonry.

The Albuquerque York Rite Office is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am - 3pm. Please call (505-884-2737) or email the Secretary today!

ABQ York Rite Meeting Tonight!

Companions and Sir Nights,

The Albuquerque York Rite June Meeting (Hiram # 1 - R&SM) will be held tonight at Temple 6 (Map).

SCHEDULE

5:30 p.m. - Board Meeting
6:00 p.m. - Dinner
7:00 p.m. - ABQ York Rite Meeting

Guest Speaker: Gerard Kaye
Topic: Ancient Cryptic Masonry

Hope to see you tonight!

Father's Day!

Did you Know?

Father's Day, in the United States, is a holiday (third Sunday in June) to honor fathers. Credit for originating the holiday is generally given to Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, whose father, a Civil War veteran, raised her and her five siblings after their mother died in childbirth. She is said to have had the idea in 1909 while listening to a sermon on Mother's Day, which at the time was becoming established as a holiday. Local religious leaders supported the idea, and the first Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, the month of the birthday of Dodd's father. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge gave his support to the observance, and in 1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson officially proclaimed it a national holiday. Observance on the third Sunday of June was decreed by law in 1972.

Although it was originally largely a religious holiday, Father's Day has been commercialized with the sending of greeting cards and the giving of gifts. Some observe the custom of wearing a red rose to indicate that one's father is living or a white rose to indicate that he is deceased. Other males—for example, grandfathers or uncles who have assumed parenting roles—are often also honoured on the day. Some Roman Catholics have continued to observe the feast day of Saint Joseph, on March 19, as a tribute to fathers.

Reference: http://www.history.com/topics/fathers-day

Flag Day

Did you know?

The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as 'Flag Birthday'.

In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as 'Flag Birthday', or 'Flag Day'.

Reference: http://www.usflag.org/flag.day.html

Memorial Day!

Did you Know?

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because it was a time set aside to honor the nation's Civil War dead by decorating their graves. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former sailors and soldiers.

Memorial Day officially became a federal holiday in 1971.

Reference: http://www.history.com/topics/memorial-day-history

ABQ York Rite Meeting Tonight!

Companions and Sir Nights,

The Albuquerque York Rite June Meeting (Hiram # 1 - R&SM) will be held tonight at Temple 6 (Map).

SCHEDULE

5:30 p.m. - Board Meeting
6:00 p.m. - Dinner
7:00 p.m. - ABQ York Rite Meeting

Hope to see you tonight!

2011 ABQ Y.R. Spring Class - Royal & Select Masters / Knights Templar

Companions and Sir Nights,

The Albuquerque York Rite Spring Festival (Parts 1 and 2) - were held on Saturday, May 7th and Saturday, May 14th at Temple Lodge 6 with several Master Mason Candidates completing the York Rite Cryptic Degrees (Royal Master, Select Master, Super Excellent Master) and the Chivalric Orders of the Knights Templar (Illustrious Order of the Red Cross, Order of Malta, and Order of the Temple).

This Festival produced 6 new members for the Albuquerque York Rite Bodies:

- Dalford Baker
- Michael Emery
- Patrick Josey
- James Overfelt
- Daniel Stouffer
- James Vautier

We would like to congratulate the 2011 ABQ York Rite Spring Class for completing their first steps in York Rite Freemasonry and look forward to their continued journey as Companions and Sir Nights with the Albuquerque York Rite Bodies.

Thanks to all Companions and Sir Nights who supported the 2011 ABQ Y.R. Spring Festival over the last two weeks - without your help, none of this would have been possible.

Mother's Day!

Did you Know?

Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, whose mother had organized women's groups to promote friendship and health, originated Mother's Day; on May 12, 1907, she held a memorial service at her late mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia. Within five years virtually every state was observing the day, and in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday.

Reference: http://www.history.com/topics/mothers-day

May York Rite Festival

Companions and Sir Knights,

The Albuquerque York Rite Bodies will be hosting a York Rite Festival tomorrow at Temple Lodge 6 for Master Mason Candidates who wish to receive the York Rite degrees from the Chapters of Royal Arch Masons, Council of Royal & Select Masters, and the Commandery Knights Templar.

The York Rite Festival will be held on two consecutive Saturday’s in the month of May starting at 8 am each day:

1st Saturday - May 7th
2nd Saturday - May 14th

If you know any Master Masons who are interested in joining New Mexico York Rite and going through the degrees - then they must act now and submit a petition. Contact the NM York Rite Grand Secretary (Paul Brehm) at 505-362-9959 or the Albuquerque York Rite Bodies Secretary (Arland Blackburn) at 505-884-2737 for more information on how they can submit a petition.

ABQ York Rite - Easter Service

Companions and Sir Nights,

The Albuquerque York Rite Bodies will be hosting an Easter Service on Sunday, April 24 th, 2011 at 7:00 am at Temple Lodge 6 (Map).

Ashlar Assembly 58 (IORG), will also be hosting an Easter Pancake Breakfast (Pancake Flyer) in the Temple 6 dining room immediately following the ABQ. York Rite Easter service - starting at 8:00 a.m.

We hope to see everyone this Sunday for what should be a wonderful service and social opportunity!

ABQ York Rite Meeting Tonight!

Companions and Sir Nights,

The Albuquerque York Rite June Meeting (Hiram # 1 - R&SM) will be held tonight at Temple 6 (Map).

SCHEDULE

5:30 p.m. - Board Meeting
6:00 p.m. - Dinner
7:00 p.m. - ABQ York Rite Meeting

Hope to see you tonight!

ABQ York Rite Meeting Tonight!

Companions & Sir Knights,

The Albuquerque York Rite March Meeting (Rio Grand Chapter #4 - RAM) will be held tonight at Temple 6 (Map) - starting time of 7:00 p.m.

Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m.

Dinner Menu:

- Irish Stew
- New Potatoes
- Rolls
- Salad
- Tea & Coffee

We hope to see you tonight!

St. Patrick's Day!

Did you know?

St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Reference: http://holidays.kaboose.com/saint-patricks-day/quick_facts.html

ABQ York Rite Meeting Tonight!

Companions & Sir Knights,

The Albuquerque York Rite February Meeting (Rio Grand Chapter #4 - RAM) will be held tonight at Temple 6 - starting time of 7:00 p.m.

Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m.

Dinner Menu:

- Steak Fingers
- Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
- Green Beans
- Salad
- Dinner Rolls
- Tea & Coffee

We hope to see you there tonight!

Presidents Day!

Did you know?

Fun Facts about Presidents Day:

- Some states, including Illinois, still observe Lincoln's birthday on February 12, in addition to Presidents Day.

- Some states only observe Presidents Day.

- Some states celebrate neither birthday.

- The state of Alabama, has gone its own way. Despite the fact that no one else celebrates Thomas Jefferson's birthday, Alabama has decided that the third President of the United States is worthy of a celebration in their state during the month of February, despite the fact that his birthday is actually in April.

Reference: http://www.life123.com/holidays/more-holidays/february-holidays/fun-facts-about-presidents-day.shtml