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THE CALIFORNIA ENCOMPASSER IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GRAND YORK RITE BODIES OF CALIFORNIA AND IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY TO PROVIDE AN INFORMATION VEHICLE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP

Volume 30 April 2015 Number 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GRAND SESSIONS – 2015 2

HARRY T. HALL, REST IN PEACE 2

C. NED RICHTER, REST IN PEACE 3

THE KIND MESSENGER 4

RITUAL & MEMBERSHIP 4

COMPTCHE OUTDOOR DEGREES 5

OPERATIONS & TRAINING MANUAL 5

EDITOR’S MESSAGE 6

GOLDEN STATE RESEARCH CHAPTER 7

GRAND YORK RITE CONTACTS 7

GRAND SESSIONS AD PROGRAM 8

GRAND SESSIONS REGISTRATION DOCUMENT 9 - 10

COMPTCHE REGISTRATION DOCUMENT 11

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GRAND SESSIONS - 2015

Of course, we would love to have you from the AMD

sessions on Saturday, May 15th, until the reception

after Grand Chapter Installation on Wednesday, May

20! But this is not feasible for everyone.

Following is suggested for your careful consideration.

SUNDAY EVENING, MAY 17 -- Grand Banquet. Not

a requirement. But a great event. Come if you can.

Formal.

MONDAY, MAY 18 -- Grand Council Annual

Assembly. Convenes at 8:00 a.m.. Will be over by

Noon. Purple jacket and apron.

MONDAY, MAY 18 -- Grand Council Luncheon and

Cryptic Ladies Luncheon -- While not required, it is

nice for you and your lady to attend these, if you can.

Purple jacket.

TUESDAY, MAY 19 -- Grand Commandery Annual

Conclave. Convenes at 8:00 a.m.. Will be over by

Noon. Uniform or Blue jacket.

TUESDAY, MAY 19 -- Grand Commandery Luncheon

and Ladies Luncheon -- While not required, it is nice

for you and your lady to attend these, if you can.

Uniform or Blue jacket.

There are MANY other events which you (and your

lady) may want to attend. Breakfasts and luncheons

and etc. It would be nice if you can, but not required.

See the schedule of events on the registration form

below or at www.ca-gyrs.org .

NOTE DEADLINES: April 10 for room reservations

at the hotel. April 18 for registration for events

without penalty.

NOTE ALSO: It is very important that you

register at the hotel with the Grand York Rite

Group. We must guarantee the hotel a

minimum number of room rental nights, to

obtain the rooms they give us for meetings, etc.

This is the only way we get credit for your

room nights. Without the minimum met, we

pay a penalty. Consider also having your local

bodies take out an Ad in the Souvenir Program.

These funds help defray the expense of Grand

Sessions.

HARRY T. HALL

Harry Hall was born in Florence, Alabama, the son

of Roland L. and Donna Hall.Educated in the City

of

Florence school system, he graduated from Coffee

High School, where he participated in football,

basketball,

baseball, and track. He was also a member of the

National Honor Society. Enrolling in Auburn

University in September of 1952, he majored in

Business Administration, and graduated in 1956.

While at Auburn he was president of Delta Sigma

Phi fraternity, and a member of the wrestling team.

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Harry completed his military obligation by serving

in The United States Marine Corps, and had the

honor to know and serve with Carl J. Mundy Jr.,

who later became Commandant. He then returned

to his hometown of Florence and went to work for

the Pure Oil Company as a sales trainee, and later

promoted to Branch Manager. Harry then went on

the road with International Playtex Corporation,

moving to Mount Laurel, N.J., where he held

positions as National Merchandise Manager, and

Vice-President, Department Stores. He then joined

Hanes Knitwear as Sales Director. He transferred

to the Bali Corporation as Senior Vice-President of

Sales, and was named President of Kayser

Lingerie in 1985.

Harry petitioned Killen Alabama Lodge #788 on

his 21st birthday, initiated an Entered Apprentice

Mason on 12-27-55, passed to the degree of

Fellowcraft on 3-15-56, and raised to the sublime

degree of Master Mason on 3-31-56. He later

demitted to Florence Lodge#14 where he is still a

member. He joined the Florence Alabama York

Rite Bodies on April of 1960, and became a

member of Zamora Shrine Temple the following

month.

After his move to California, He served as Master

of Van Nuys Lodge #450 in 1996. He served as

High Priest of Van Nuys Chapter, #135, and was

also a member of Signet Chapter #57. He was

named High Priest of the year in 1994. He was

appointed to the Grand Chapter as Grand Royal

Arch Captain in 1998, serving as Department

Officer of Department III. He joined San

Fernando Council #40 in 1992, consolidated into

Omega Council #11 in 1995, and served as

Illustrious Master in 1997. He was named

"Illustrious Master of the Year" and received the

"Master of Ish Sodi" Award in 1998. He affiliated

with San Fernando Council # 75, which was

consolidated into Los Angeles # 9. He served as

Eminent Commander in the year 2000.

Other Masonic organizations to which Harry

belongs include Al Malaikah Shrine Temple, Los

Angeles Priory No. 27, Knight York Cross of

Honor; Valley of Los Angeles Scottish Rite,

KCCH, Royal Order of Jesters Court # 84, Santa

Monica A.M.D. Council # 214, The Royal Order of

Scotland; Brian Boru Council # 38, Glenwood York

Rite College #183 and is a Knight Mason. Harry is

the father of Les Hall, and Grandfather of Lauren

and Beth, all living in Winston-Salem, North

Carolina. He is engaged to Los Angeles native

Sharon Rubel.

C. NED RICHTER

Charles Ned Richter, KCT; KYGCH passed away on

Monday, March 23, 2015.

1947 - Raised a Master Mason in Corpus Christi, TX

1957 - Moved to San Fernando, CA, to work with

AiResearch Mfg. Co. of California.

Joined the York Rite of Freemasonry.

Harbor Light Chapter No. 160, Redondo Beach,

P.H.P.

Alpha Council No. 39, Santa Monica I.P.M.

Santa Monica Bay Commandery No. 61 P.C.

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Opportunity Lodge No. 704, Hawthome P.M.

Masonic Activities:

Inspector in the Council for 2 years.

Inspector in the Commandery for 3 years.

A.D.R. in the Commandery for 2 years.

Appointed into the Grand Commandery line in

1985.

Past Sovereign Master, San Fernando & San Juan

Council No. 105, Allied Masonic Degrees.

Past Holy Priest and Prophet of the Holy Cross of

the Alpha-Omega

2nd time Master of Opportunity Lodge No. 740

Governor, York Rite College No. 110

Puissant Sovereign of Inland Empire Red Cross of

Constantine

Knight Crusader of Knight Crusaders of the Cross

of the Grand Commandery of KT of Connecticut

Grand College of Rites of the United States

Brian Boru Council No. 38, Knight Masons

Royal Order of Scotland

The Philalethes Society

EI Bekal Shrine, of Anaheim, Califomia

Long Beach Scottish Rite of Freemasonry

Knight York Grand Cross of Honor, Los Angeles

Priory No. 27

Societas Rosicrucianis in Civitatibus Foederatis

Texas Lodge of Research

Southern California Research Lodge

THE KIND MESSENGER

In addition to MEC Harry Hall and RE Ned

Richter, we have recently lost several others

devoted to the York Rite family: Lady Kim

Kussman, wife of RE Dave Kussman, KYGCH,

and EC/SK Kevin Conragan are now also with the

Almighty and under his protecting care. The Grand

York Rite bodies extend the deepest sympathy to

the families and friends of these wonderful

Christian servants.

RITUAL AND MEMBERSHIP

Our four bodies exist to preserve and perform the

Ritual with which we are entrusted. We use, and

maybe over-use, words like “sublime,” “august,”

“holy,” “sacred,” but it is indeed sacred work that we

do as we administer our bodies, market our work,

perform our ritual, gain new members, and build our

bodies. It is “sacred” in the sense that our work is

based on Scripture and is intended not just to make

good men better but to make them better in a

spiritual sense – hence, as webster would put it, our

ritual is “hallowed by association with the divine.”

The fine folks we have remembered above all

recognized this and supported our work, directly and

indirectly. With the same fervency and zeal they

brought to the work, we should do the same. Success

in all our enterprises begins with success in the Mark

Master Degree. There can be no new Royal Arch

Masons, Cryptic Masons or Knights Templar if there

are no new Mark Master Masons. We are, in duty,

bound then to educate ourselves in the ritual and to

discipline ourselves to give it priority, WHENEVER

POSSIBLE. We must simply do the following in

each and every Chapter. And this involves Council

and Commandery members, as they are per force

Chapter members:

1. Establish a team to practice and perform

the Mark Master Degree

2. Calendar a date for the conferral

3. Identify and exhort prospective members

at Blue Lodge gatherings

Planning is crucial as, of course, you must allow time

for receipt of petitions and balloting. But get

creative. One Chapter recently held an information

night for Blue Lodge members, explained the York

Rite and the Mark Master opportunity, and offered to

meet later that night and ballot and confer for those

who were prepared to submit their petitions then!

Remember that no money need exchange hands or

delay the process, as the fees are not due until the

candidate wants to proceed beyond the Mark.

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COMPTCHE OUTDOOR DEGREES

The 43rd Annual Comptche Outdoor Royal Arch

Degrees are scheduled this year for June 26th at

Tunzi Ranch. All four Degrees will be conferred on

Saturday, with the Prologue beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The reservation deadline is June 18th. You could

make a vacation around this event. Self-contained

RVs and tent campers are welcome to setup from

June 23rd through the 28th. There are no 120V

hookups but there are chemical toilets in the

meadow. There is a hot water shower in the

restroom shack, as well as men’s and women’s

bathrooms.

Fish Fry Friday night -- $15.50

Breakfast Saturday morning -- $10

Dues Registration -- $12

Companions Lunch -- $12.50

Tri-tip Barbeque Saturday Night -- $20

Breakfast Sunday morning -- $10

Children half-price; only companions pay the

registration. Make checks payable to COMPTCHE

OUTDOOR DEGREES, and complete and send the

registration document below to Guy Chalmers, 50

Lohrrman Lane, Petaluma, CA 94952-3609.

OPERATIONS & TRAINING MANUAL

For decades, we have all clamored for a single

document that gives us what we need to effectively

run our organizations. General Grand Chapter has

now produced the Manual which meets this need

for Chapters – and each Chapter should acquire at

least one copy for use by its Dais Officers.

Councils and Commanderies can benefit from this

production as well. Although it is oriented to the

Chapter needs, and contains some info specific to

the capitular ritual, it does contain the following

chapters, which will be found to be useful by all

bodies:

A. The Art and Science of Leadership

B. Officer Selection & Development

C. Protocols and Governance

D. Membership Management

E. Presentation and Education

F. Dues, Fees and Budgets

G. Communications and Public Relations

H. Strategic Planning and Development

This new Manual is well worth the cost of $25.00. It

can be ordered from the General Grand Chapter as

follows:

By writing to General Grand Chapter

RAM, PO Box 128, Greenfield, IN 46140;

or via email at: ramintl@sbcglobal.net

OPERATIONS & TRAINING MANUAL

Here are some snippets from the Manual Chapters on

Leadership and Membership Management.

LEADERSHIP

“There dwells in every Royal Arch Mason the

capacity to be greater than himself. As long as the

human race has existed there have been men who

rose up among their

peers to guide and build, or command and destroy,

the world around them. Whether as priest, king,

general or prophet, they brought a kind of

confidence, charisma and comprehension that excited

others to follow and trust in their vision of a new

order.

…..

“Determining a single definition of leadership is akin

to declaring a standard interpretation of

Freemasonry. The concepts are generally known, but

each carries an understanding of meaning unique to

every person. Still, we have some idea of what a

leader and leadership is. One certainly knows a

leader, as well as those who pretend.

…..

“But again, to become a good leader, an effective

leader, an inspirational leader, one must equally

commit to a never ending process of self-study,

education, training, and experience. To guide others

and help illuminate their path, there are certain things

a “good” High Priest must be, know, and do. These

sorts of things do not usually come naturally, but are

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acquired through continual work and study.

…..

“Good Royal Arch Masons continually strive to

improve their leadership skills. They do NOT rest

on laurels of past personal or professional

accomplishments to carry them through, but instead

seek out opportunities for increasing responsibility

in the Craft to learn and refine the experience of

leading other Companions; yet remain cognizant of

the length of their cable-tow.

…..

“To help a Capitular Officer better exercise

planning leadership, the “PlanAhead” chart

developed by John Maxwell offers a strategy for

successfully utilizing the Law of Navigation:

Predetermine a course of action

Lay out goals

Adjust priorities

Notify key personnel

Allow time for acceptance

Head into action

Expect problems

Always point to successes

Daily review progress

MEMBERSHIP MANAGEMENT

G.1.2.1. Short Form Investigation

:

“Certainly any member Master Mason eligible to

attend a Lodge under the jurisdiction of the Grand

Lodge of the Jurisdiction is qualified to petition a

Chapter in the same Jurisdiction. Although no such

process exists in official form, many Chapters have

nonetheless taken to accomplishing a practice akin to a

shortened form of investigation. In this instance, the

most significant tasks a Chapter needs to accomplish

to ballot on a petition is verification of the Candidates

“good standing” in a Jurisdictional Lodge, and

determination of any waiver requirement. Despite any

relaxed processes the Chapter may follow, every effort

should be made to accomplish this duty discretely and

privately, with submission of a complete report as may

be otherwise accomplished.

EDITOR'S MESSAGE

WEST COAST EASTER OBSERVANCE

The Observance this year will be held in Tempe, AZ

on April 3-5. More details are available now on page

27 of the January issue of the monthly Knight

Templar magazine. Registration will be available

soon at www.WSEO.us.

CALENDARS OF PRESIDING OFFICERS

The itineraries can be found at the Grand York Rite

website. Hold down the CTRL key and click on the

line below. For M.E.C. Jon Humphreys go to:

http://www.yorkriteofcalifornia.org/royalarch/ghp

calendar.html

For M.I.G.M David Chesebro go to:

http://yorkriteofcalifornia.org/council/calendar.ht

ml

For R.E.C. Carlos Gonzalez go to:

http://yorkriteofcalifornia.org/commandery/itiner

ary.html

COMMUNICATIONS

As mentioned in previous editions of the

Encompasser, communications are vital to assist

those seeking further light in Masonry. So resolve

now to ACT: 1) broadcast this publication far and

wide, and encourage each of your York Rite bodies

to buy a 2-year subscription; 2) broadcast the

monthly Workman to the leaders of all your bodies;

3) access the following websites, and see that your

Companions are aware of their existence and how to

access them:

www.yorkriteofcalifornia.org

www.goldenstatechapter.org

www.yorkrite.org

And as you continue into this York Rite year, make

every effort you can to continually remind your

membership of the Colorado River Fall Festival

this October. Confer the Mark Master as often as

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you can and build interest in our brethren of

pursuing further light.

GOLDEN STATE RESEARCH CHAPTER

The website at www.goldenstatechapter.org now

contains a copy of the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Grand

Orations booklets. Also included is a copy of “The

Royal Arch Path,” by MEC Phil Hardiman,

KYGCH.

The next Semi-annual meeting will be held during

Grand Sessions on Tuesday, May 19th

, after lunch

in the Lake Rooms.

For information about membership, contact:

Ex. Comp Joseph Dongo, High Priest

alacabo@gmail.com

Dr. Paul Arthur Clark, King

steward_lvx@hotmail.com

Ex. Companion Bob Morrison, Scribe

bpmorrison@sbcglobal.net

Ex. Comp Casey Latham, Secretary

casey.latham@mycampus.apus.edu

GRAND YORK RITE

CONTACT INFORMATION

Most Excellent Grand High Priest:

Jon D. Humphreys (Sylvia)

580 Village Dr.

Galt, CA 95632-8156

(209) 745-9193 (H)

(916) 205-8104 (C)

jonhumphreys42@yahoo.com

Most Illustrious Grand Master:

David L. Chesebro (Sarah)

1615 9th St

Los Osos, CA 93402-2222

(805) 528-7468 (H)

(805) 459-2618 (C)

dlchesebro@gmail.com

Right Eminent Grand Commander

Carlos Gonzalez

1745 Camino Palmero St Apt 530

Los Angeles, CA 90046-2942

(213) 369-7926 (C)

gonzalez0614@gmail.com

Grand Secretary:

Ken Hope

11428 E. Artesia Blvd, #13

Artesia, CA 90701-3872

(562) 924-6500(W)

(562) 484-1611(C)

ca.yorkrite@verizon.net

Editor:

Phil Hardiman, PGHP

2713 Hoffman Woods Lane

Carmichael, CA 95608

(916) 712-4814(C)

philipandnancy@aol.com

Websites:

www.yorkriteofcalifornia.org

If you need access to the confidential

features of the website, contact one of the

officers above for userid and password.

WWW.GOLDENSTATECHAPTER

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