Transition of Leadership

by Midnight Freemason Senior Contributor

WB Gregory J. Knott

Admiration Chapter No. 282 of Royal Arch Masons received its charter in September 2017. Leading up to this momentous occasion was a series of requirements that had to be met as outlined by the Grand Chapter of Illinois. Having met all those requirements, the Chapter was then granted a charter.

Early in the process, the key founders of Admiration Chapter knew there were some in the Grand Chapter leadership who were skeptical of our efforts. I don’t blame them as I am sure they have seen other groups of well-intentioned companions who wanted to start a new chapter, but just never could get it off the ground.

At Admiration Chapter we did things differently. We deliberately took our time and assembled a group of Companions who were dedicated to a unified goal of completing the work necessary to obtain our charter. But none of this would have happened without leadership within these aspiring Companions.

In 2015, MEPGHP of the Grand Chapter of Illinois, Sean P. McBride granted the group a dispensation to become Admiration Chapter U.D. (under dispensation). When this dispensation was granted, one of the requirements was that a Companion who had previously served as Excellent High Priest (EHP) of another Royal Arch Chapter, serve as the initial EHP of Admiration. Michael J. Dooley, who was a past EHP of Champaign Chapter No. 50 (Champaign, Illinois), stepped forward and agreed to serve in this capacity.

Over the next three years, Companion Dooley did an outstanding job of leading the efforts towards the chartering. First off, Mike lives nearly 50 miles away from where Admiration Chapter meets and thus has a 100 mile round trip just to make the meetings. Mike has never missed any of our degree work, chapter convocations, special meetings etc.

Mike’s leadership style is one of encouragement to others, always putting in a good word for someone, and a willingness to perform any role. He is not one who worries about titles or medals, but rather looking for the growth of both freemasonry and the individual brothers. He is always the first to say “yes I can do that” and is very quick to acknowledge the contributions and service of others. He exemplifies servant leadership.

Let me extend my sincere thanks to Mike for both his leadership and example to others. This fraternity is better because of men like Mike and I have no doubt that his leadership will continue in not only Admiration Chapter but in numerous other places in Freemasonry.

At our convocation last night we had elections of officers for the upcoming year. Admiration Chapter is now in the very capable hands of Midnight Freemason Founder, Todd E. Creason. I foresee continued strong leadership ahead for Admiration.

~GJK

WB Gregory J. Knott is Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754, Homer Lodge No. 199 and Naval Lodge No. in Washington DC.

Admiration Royal Arch Chapter Meeting

by Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Gregory J. Knott

On November 30, 2017 Admiration Chapter No. 282 held our first regular meeting since receiving our charter earlier this fall. This meeting was the first one in putting into action all the work that had been done over the last three years of working towards our goal of a charter.

At a time when so many other Masonic bodies are barely holding on, we seemed to have found a formula that is working. We provide members something of value and a reason to come to our meetings.

Sure, we must take care of the business at hand, but this is done quickly and efficiently. We didn’t start a new Chapter just for another opportunity to read the minutes. At our last meeting Brian Pettice, who was one of the key organizers of Admiration Chapter, reviewed the original mission, vision and goals for Admiration. Brian also read an email I had put together back in January 2015 with some of my thoughts on what new Royal Arch Chapter could be.

These are the points I listed in my original email to several brothers:

· I want to be part of an organization that has as its primary core values and seeks to exemplify, our core Masonic values, brotherly love, relief and truth.

· I have no interest in another organization that simply reads the minutes and pays the bills. We have plenty of these already. While the business matters of a Chapter are important, they shouldn't be the primary focus of meetings.

· Focus on quality meetings, not quantity of meetings.

· An organization that does not accept mediocrity, but rather strives for excellence in our relations with each other, our exemplification of degrees and our service to Freemasonry.

· A Chapter that has education as a primary means of sharing with its members, the lessons of Freemasonry, thus providing a means for its members to not only learn, but the opportunity to share in the educational opportunities as both student and teacher.

· An expectation that members of the Chapter will share in the obligations of Masonic Education.

· Utilizes the dining room for fellowship and gathering.

· Civility - I think much of our culture has lost the principal of civility. I see it in on-line forums, on the campuses where I spend time, in our government and elsewhere. We as Freemasons have a long history of exemplifying civility. I would challenge a new Chapter to not only exemplify civility within the Chapter, but provide leadership throughout Freemasonry and within our communities on the topic of civility. I think we have a real opportunity with this topic.

One area I am especially proud is our work in Masonic Education. Several Companions have given presentations and we have held facilitated discussions on topics such as civility and honor. It has been rewarding in listening to the Companions engage in these discussions. I have learned something on every topic we have had.

We are preparing for our second annual St. John’s celebration on December 27, where fellowship and education will be the focus, with the companions gathered in our dining room. If you have never held such an event, I encourage you to start one.
Admiration Chapter is just getting started.

~GJK

WB Gregory J. Knott is the Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC.

Chartering the New Royal Arch Chapter

by Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Gregory J. Knott

Admiration Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was established in 2015 with a dispensation by the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Illinois.

From the beginning, we have sought to be something different in an era when so many other Masonic organizations are struggling for membership, purpose and even their very existence. We have focused on masonic education, and a meaningful experience for our members. Let me share our mission and vision statements.

Our mission; “Admiration Chapter intends to positively impact its members, candidates and visitors and through them their lodges, chapter, families and communities by emphasizing the notion that the highest exaltation of man is to love and serve God and to love and serve his fellow man.”

Our vision; “Admiration Chapter will be a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons that practices, exemplifies and shares our Masonic tenets and values in everything we do thereby improving, not only ourselves, but the culture of Freemasonry and our communities.”

So how are we doing two years later? We now have more than 40 members in our Chapter. Almost half of these are new Companions that were exalted in the past couple of years. We have had some outstanding educational sessions on topics such as civility, honor and masonic poetry. We held a St. John’s dinner in December of 2016, the first that I had ever attended.

We have portrayed all four Royal Arch degrees, with several Companions learning parts that they had not done before. This degree work was done well and spurred other Chapters to bring their candidates to partake in the work.

These first two years will come to a culmination on September 30, 2017 with an official chartering ceremony by the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Illinois. A lot of hard work was put in by numerous Companions to get us this far. The leadership of the Grand Chapter has been unwavering in their encouragement and support along the way.

But the chartering is just a beginning, at our next Stated Convocation on November 30, we will be reviewing our mission, and our vision and goals to see if they still reflect where the membership want to go in the future.

When was the last time your lodge, chapter, council or other body sat down and chartered a course to where you want to go? Your organization doesn’t have to be brand new to begin a new path. You will be surprised how simple the process can really be once you embark on it. The rewards can be immense and the opportunity to experience success is very fulfilling.

I invite you to attend one of our chapter events if you are a member of the Royal Arch. If you are not a member, please consider joining your local chapter.

More information about Admiration Chapter can be found on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AdmirationRoyalArch/ or our webpage https://admirationchapter.blogspot.com/

~GJK

WB Gregory J. Knott is the Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC.