wvyorkrite.org

Saturday, August 21, under the direction of Grand Lecturer Marvin Hill and Deputy Lecturers George Birklein and Carl Nestor a York Rite School of Instruction took place at Tygarts Valley Chapter 39, Phlippi.  Nineteen (19) Companions representing eight (8) Chapters participated in the School focusing on the Royal Arch degree.  This is the last of a series of three (3) schools.  Possibly other Chapters will combine to host three more Schools?  Those attending were:  Orient 9 - Fairmont, Harold Phillips; Adoniram 11-Clarksburg, Don Davis, George Jackson-Grand King, Lynton Ryan, Bob Taylor; Beverly 23- Harold Buchannan, Marvin Hill; Sistersville 27 - New Martinsville, George Birklein, Chester Hair; Upshur 34-Buckhannon, Frank Hyre, Bill Elbon; Elkins 35 - Robert Corbin; Tygarts Valley 39-Philippi, George Davis, Jerry Haney, Charles Malcolm, Carl Nestor, Cecil Springer; and Triplett 52 -Mannington, George Price, Roger Raines and Tom Six (District Deputy Grand High Priest).  The School was followed by a chicken dinner.  The only problem so far is Cecil.  He took pictures (which will follow after they dry).  His camera must have found the bottom of some water - at least he was in the privy for an extended time.  George Davis and Carl Nestor formed a search party.  By the way, the truth finally came out.  A couple weeks ago Cecil got lost between the barn and the house and Carl did find him and got him home - but Cecil had left the front door key back at the barn.  HERE'S YOUR SIGN, CECIL.

The Companion Knights of Fort Henry College #61, Wheeling, WV, held their quarterly assembly at the Scottish Rite Building, Wheeling.  Attendance was impacted by other Masonic activities across West Virginia but fifteen (15) Companion Knights did attend.  Following the business meeting, Distinguished Brother Paul V. Cottrell, OPC and Past Governor - Charles W Wise 137, Huntington, WV, spoke on two topics (1) his railroad experiences and (2) George Washington.  A suggestion was made for Fort Henry to schedule a visit to Golden Triangle College #32, Pittsburgh in late March, 2011.  All three WV Colleges along with Ft Steuben (Ohio) will be invited to make the journey.  Golden Triangle 32 is the mother College of Fort Henry, and Fort Henry is the mother College of C W Wise 137, Huntington, WV and Fort Steuben 194. Steubenville, OH.  Two of Ft Henry's Charter Members - Fritz Doepken and Ophir Vellenoweth - survive.  Golden Triangle confers the Order Knight of York once annually, and already has eighteen (18)  candidates for the March, 2011 Assembly.  Following the Assembly, several C.K.'s had fellowship at a Wheeling restaurant.  The attendees Aug 14 were:  C.K. George Birklein, PG; C.K. William Corbitt; D.B. Paul V Cottrell, OPC, PG Wise 137, Past Grand High Priest, currently Grand Treasurer-GLWV and Past Grand Master, GLWV; Paul Cunningham (PG); C.K. Jerry Digman, PG; D.B. H. Courtney Jones, OPC, PG, Past Department Commander-East Central Department and Past Grand Commander (among many other titles); C.K. Steve Junkins; C.K. Roger Linger, Past Grand Commander; C.K. Ron Mann, Deputy Governor; D.B. Harold Phillips, OPC, Secretary; C.K. Richard Riddle, PG, Grand Sentinel-GCKT; C.K. Donald Showalter, Past Grand Commander; D.B. Harold Vitalie, OPC, PGG, Treasurer, Past Grand High Priest; D.B. J. Stephen Wilson, OPC, PG, Past Grand High Priest, currently Grand Commander KTWV (among other titles); C.K. Charles Witt, Preeminent Governor.  The WV Grand Governor is Ronald E. Jones, OPC, a member of Martinsburg 175.  The next scheduled Assembly of Ft Henry 61 is November 13, 1pm, Scottish Rite Building, Wheeling.  We look forward to greeting you then, if not sooner.

LEFT TO RIGHT)  CHARLIE WITT, PREEMINENT GOVERNOR; PAUL COTTRELL (GUEST SPEAKER); STEVEN WILSON (GRAND COMMANDER)

August 14, 2010 Assembly (Front Row): Paul Cottrell; William Corbitt and Ron Mann.  Second Row: Steve Junkins, Steve Wilson,  Paul Cunningham, Jerry Digman, Roger Linger, H Courtney Jones.  BACK ROW:  Donald Showalter, Charles Witt, Richard Riddle, Harold Vitalie and George Birklein.

August 14, 2010 - Group at Perkins Restaurant, Wheeling following Assembly:  Front to Back, Left to Right) Ron Mann, Jerry Digman, Charlie Witt, George Birklein, Steve Wilson and Harold Vitalie.

FRONT ROW:  Rick Little, Josh Schrader (High Priest, Triplett #52),

Alan Cale (High Priest, Morgantown #30), Donald E Peterson (Most Excellent Grand High Priest), George Jackson (Right Excellent Grand King), and Tom Six (District Deputy Grand High Priest).

MIDDLE ROW:  Kent Pauley, Steve Junkins and Jim Swinler (Secretary, Morgantown #30)

BACK ROW:  Jerry Edens, Carl Flowers, Peter Turner, Bob Robinson and Bill Criado

Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of State of West Virginia

The joint inspection of Division No. 8, consisting of Greenbrier No. 15, Bluefield No. 19 and Mt. Hope No. 22, was held at Mt. Hope on Friday, June 25, 2010.  The Inspecting Officer was Paul O. Davis, Eminent Grand Captain General.

Division 8 had the honor of receiving Right Eminent Grand Commander J. Stephen Wilson, Eminent Grand Captain General Paul O. Davis and Eminent Grand Standard Bearer Johnnie Sluss.  Total attendance was 26 including candidates and visitors.

Ladies from Mt. Hope cooked a delicious meal which the Sir Knights and candidates enjoyed prior to the inspection and degree work.

The Inspection and Order of the Temple was conducted by the three Commanderies.  Three (3) candidates, Douglas Fuller of Greenbrier No. 15, Curtis Honaker of Bluefield No. 19, and Seth M. Phillips of Mt. Hope No. 22 became Sir Knights with the intent of being active in their respective Commanderies.

Four Past Grand Commanders participated in the Inspection—(left to right) Robert Caldwell (#15), James Coleman (#15), Right Eminent Grand Commander J. Stephen Wilson, James P. Allen (#22) and John Arbuckle, Jr.( #15).

Also participating was Charles Mann, Past Grand High Priest and Commander of Bluefield No. 19.

The Division No. 2  Inspection of Palestine No. 2, Martinsburg, Potomac No. 5, Charlestown, and  Damascus No. 23, Keyser was held in Charles Town on Saturday, June 12, 2010.

We had the honor of receiving Grand Commander SK J. Stephen Wilson, Deputy Grand Commander Edward Ball, Grand Warden Ronald Jones and Inspecting Officer R. Vance.

Seven new Sir Knights in Eastern Panhandle. Front row: SK Frank Bradley No. 2, SK Gary Nelson, Jr. No. 23, SK Ryan Frye No. 2, SK Sam Earl, No. 2.  Back row: SK Carl Smith, No. 23, SK William Champ, No. 23, SK Alan Dunsmore.

After Inspection, the Order of the Temple was conducted by the three Commanderys and the assistance of Past Grand Commander Butler Adkins as Prelate. Seven new Sir Knights have now joined and stated they intend to be active in attending their Commandery conclaves

Shoppers saw more than the usual amount of flags outside of Pullman Square in Huntington on June 14.  It was Flag Day—the day commemorating the adoption of the flag of the United States.  Shoppers, pedestrians and patrons of outdoor restaurants observed several organizations participating in a ceremony honoring the Flag of the United States and the values it represents.
For more than 50 years, Huntington Commandery No. 9 has been observing the day by holding an event or participating in patriotic activities with other organizations.  Sir Knights assembled at the Huntington Masonic Temple and marched to Pullman Square to join with Huntington Elks Lodge #313 for the ceremony.  During the program, Huntington Sir Knights joined Cabell County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Chiles in singing the National Anthem and “God Bless America.”
Teenagers from Huntington Police Explorers Post 65 presented the flags of the country’s history.
Guest speaker, Dr. Gary Patton, counselor for the FBI in southern West Virginia, serving the Huntington, Charleston and Beckley offices, reminded the audience that “the flag stands for power, safety and freedom.”
Dr. Patton said, “Many people throughout the world are willing to desecrate our flag, but there are many more who are quick to run under it because of the freedom it represents.”
Attending the event were Paul O. Davis, Grand Captain General of the Grand Commandery of West Virginia along with Past Grand Commanders David DeMent and G. Butler Adkins, Jr.

Huntington Sir Knights march for “Old Glory” and sing “God Bless America.”

Grafton, West Virginia has hosted an annual Memorial Day parade for 143 years.  Thousands of school children dressed in white or pastel clothing and carrying flower bouquets from their home yards along with an American flag, bands, floats  dignitaries and marching units parade down Main Street and end up at the "old, downtown" National Cemetery.  Again this year, the Knights Templar of West Virginia, led by J. Stephen Wilson, Grand Commander, marched in uniform.  The day was glorious and hot, and now it's in the record books.  Special thanks to Grafton Lodge 15 for providing a location to assemble, change clothing and eat a light meal.

HUNTINGTON — Hundreds took time to remember the nation’s heroes at Huntington’s 63rd Annual Memorial Day Program on May 31, 2010. The event and wreath laying ceremony took place at the Veterans Memorial Arch, located on the west end of Ritter Park.

The annual event is organized by the Veterans Committee for Civic Improvement and the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District. Mayor Kim Wolfe, himself a naval Vietnam veteran, greeted the crowd saying his city has sent many warriors abroad to preserve the nation’s freedoms.

This year’s featured speaker was retired Lt. Col. Harold Vance Huston. His 23-year military career includes deployments in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, along with the piloting of Marine One under Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson.

Sir Knights of Huntington Commandery No. 9 gathered at the Memorial Arch to honor members of the military who have given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

Vincent Perry, Commander of the Huntington Commandery No. 9, said he attended the ceremony because of what it means to him. “I could be a lot of places,” Perry said. “But what could be more important than honoring the veterans of this country.”

Sir Knights of Huntington Commandery No. 9 were the featured group this year and were seated in the front rows. Twenty Sir Knights participated with 16 dressed in full uniform.  Helping to lay a wreath was Paul Davis, Eminent Grand Captain General of the Grand Commandery of West Virginia.

Eminent Grand Captain General Paul Davis, first on left above

Paul Davis, center