The Mark Master Degree and 3,300 Masters, or Overseers

The premier Grand Lodge was formed in 1717 at the Goose and Gridiron Alehouse.  What some forget, though, is that there were only two degrees worked at that time, the Entered Apprentice and the Fellow-Craft.  It wasn’t until the 1720’s that we begin to see evidence of further degrees, in 1725 we have evidence that High Degree Masonry is introduced to the Craft in the form of the Master Mason degree.  Throughout the next few decades, more and more Masonic degrees come and go, some are taken and adopted into the fold of Masonry and some are cast off. The Royal Arch, the Mark Master, Scotch Masters, Knight Templars, the Ancient and Honourable Order of Kilwinning, and many more were being developed and worked during this time. The Allied Masonic Degrees possess and offers many of these degrees for review and discussion to keep them alive. Other degrees developed into other bodies and orders.  All have a lesson to share.

During this period the degrees of Masonry were not codified in their ritual and progression. For example we have evidence that the Five Points of Fellowship were an element of the operative Fellow Craft degree, the Five Points of Fellow-ship, that at some point moved to the Master Mason Degree. Two of those elements of Masonry that were never answered for you during your three degrees but were answered during the degree in the Mark Masters Degree.  

Brenham Commandery’s NEW MEETING DATE & PLACE

Sir Knights,

We have received our dispensation to temporarily relocate to Orphan’s Friend Lodge in Anderson Texas.   

Consequently, our: 

NEXT 

Brenham Commandery Meeting 

Is planned to be held

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

At 7:00 PM

at

Orphan’s Friend Lodge in Anderson Texas 

April 18 Meeting Summary

We had enough Sir Knights present that Brenham Commandery opened in informal business session.  We affiliated a new member and determined that we need three, maybe five, jewels to complete our set of officer’s jewels.  We may also require Generalissimo and Capt. General Shoulder Boards.  

Our dispensation for relocation is anticipated to be received in the near future so we may be able to meet in Anderson on the first  Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM beginning May 1.  Watch here for further information when it becomes available.

We reviewed our sir Knight’s and their families for needed remembrance for sickness or distress.

Knights Templar Easter Observance Message

In Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 Solomon says " 2 I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. ² I said about laughter, “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” ³ I explored with my mind how to let my body enjoy life with wine and how to grasp folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what is good for people to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

Many try to compensate for the hard parts of life by seeking pleasurable experiences. Or they accumulate things attempting to derive a sense of security from them.  We were intended by God to enjoy life, but when we pursue pleasures apart from God, the ultimate pleasure we seek eludes us. Only God gives us lasting joy and contentment.

Brenham York Rite: March 21, 2024

Tentative Concepts for work this meeting

• Chapter & Council work
• Report from Commandery Relocation committee
• Discussion of potential bylaws change for commandery meeting date

Brenham York Rite Meeting Feb. 15, 2024

Brenham York Rite met at Hubert Lodge this evening.  We convened without ceremony and briefly reviewed a program  from our web site reviewing Bernard of Clairveaux’s In Praise of the New Knighthood. 

A relocation committee was appointed by the Commander to coordinate the efforts of Brenham Commandery to locate to Anderson.  We reviewed knights in sickness or distress.  We brainstormed some concepts of “What is Brenham Commandery in need of for 2024?  What is Brenham Chapter & Council in need of for 2024?  What can the Brenham York Rite focus on being or doing that will be of interest to Freemasons?  We shared some insights.  You may enter your comments and ideas below.  We can continue to review them in future meetings.

In March, Brenham Chapter and Council will open normally as desired.  Brenham Commandery will open without ceremony to bring an Easter Message, and perhaps a short Commandery program.

Please make plans now to attend the Brenham York Rite Bodies on March 21st.

A Paraphrase of “In Praise of the New Knighthood”

By Chris Dalrymple, KT, OPC, KC

Somewhere between 1120 and 1136 Bernard of Clairveaux, a major leader in the reformation of the Benedictine Order through the Cistercian Order, wrote the work In Praise of a New Knighthood where he praised the rise of the newly established order of Knights Templar.