May 12th, 2010
Fort Henry College 61, Wheeling, WV observed its 31st Annual Assembly Saturday, May 8, 2010 in the Scottish Rite Cathedral, Wheeling. S.K. Daniel A. Witschey received the Order Knight of York. Following the business meeting, an open installation was conducted. The Installation Officers were M.P.D. James E. Winzenreid, Past Governor General; D.B.
J. Steven Wilson, OPC and D.B. Harold Vitalie, OPC. Thirty-five of the eighty-four College members were present. The Companion Knights and their ladies joined for a catered dinner following the Assembly. Junior Past Governor Richard D. Riddle was escorted through an arch of steel as he was seated with the Companion Knights. . Pictures submitted by C.K. Stephen Ledergerber
BELOW: Fort Henry York Rite College 61, Wheeling, WV. 2010/2011 Officers:
FRONT ROW: C.K. Ronald R. Mann, Deputy Governor; C.K. Charles R. Riddle, Preeminent Governor;
C.K. Daniel A. Witschey (Candidate); C.K. George D. Jackson, Chancellor.
SECOND ROW: D.B. Harold E. Phillips, Jr., OPC, Secretary; D.B. Harold E. Vitalie, OPC, Treasurer;
C.K. Roger D. Linger, Primate; C.K. Gregory H. Dotson, Seneschal; C.K. Peter Y. Turner, Preceptor.
BACK ROW: C.K. Clarence H. Wyatt, Sentinel; C.K. Donald L. Showalter, Marshal.
BELOW: A Commandery of Knights Templar of WV was formed and escorted the Ft Henry 61 officers.
C.K. Steven Junkins; R.E.& C.K. Seba T. Anderson, Past Grand Commander & Grand Treasurer; C.K. George Myers; C.K. William D. Mushet, Past Governor;
BELOW: Candidate Daniel A. Witschey and lady Amy
BELOW: Most Preeminently Distinguished James E. Winzenreid, Past Governor General
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March 31st, 2010
Masonry, and mankind, has lost a truly good man. I was notified this morning of the unexpected death of Jeffrey Owen Schrader, age 52, of Farmington, WV.
Jeff was a Past Master of :Mannington 31; Triplett Royal Arch Chapter 52, Crusade Commandery 6, and Fort Henry York Rite College 61, among other Masonic bodies.
He was currently serving as Grand Scribe in the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of West Virginia.
He was an underground coal miner operator. He had been sick several months.
I am proud to have known him as my friend and Masonic brother.
May his soul rest in peace.
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March 13th, 2010
Thirty-eight Companions attended the March 6, 2010 Royal Arch Festival in Clarksburg. Most Excellent Donald Peterson, Grand High Priest, participated in the work. Also participating were Right Excellent George Jackson (Grand King), Right Excellent Jeff Schrader (Grand Scribe) and Excellent Marvin Hill (Grand Lecturer).
Pictured (l to r) is:
Rodney Bolyard (Elkins), Vince Price (Elkins), Jeff McMillen (Morgantown), Derek Walker (Bridgeport), Roy Teter (Elkins), Jeff Stovrakis (Bridgeport) and Roger Rohr (Fairmont). NOT PICTURED: Gary Martin (Mannington).
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March 1st, 2010
March 6 Adonbiram No 11 Festival
March 8 Tyrian No. 13
March 9 Point Pleasant No. 7
March 11 Beverly No. 23
March 12 Beckley No. 38
March 13 Tyrian No. 13 Festival
March 16 Jackson No. 48
March 19 Grand Chapter of DC
Martch 22 Wayne No. 18
March 25 West Virginia Conclave Red Cross of Constantine - Charleston
March 27 SRICF in Martinsburg, WV
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February 26th, 2010
Greetings Everyone,
At the State Officer's Meeting this past Friday, we finalized the dates for all the state events from now until Conclave. Descriptions of the events will follow dates.
March 23rd: State Officers' Visitation to Moundsville Chapter
April 2nd: State Officers' Meeting in Clarksburg @ 6PM
April 18th: State Officers' Visitation to Capitol and Clarksburg
April 20th - May 1st: Spring Fling
May 8th: Spring Honor's Class in Clarksburg
May 10th: State Officers' Visitation to Parkersburg
May 21st - 23rd: Battle of Lewisburg
June 11th - 13th: State Ritual Tournament in Charleston
June 25th - 27th: Rafting Trip
July 29th - August 1st: Conclave in Buckhannon
Also in June or July the State Officers will be visiting Buckhannon "Chapter", date TBA
The Spring Fling is a statewide prospect party that will serve as a mini-conclave between Winterfest and Conclave. The goal is to spur membership in existing chapters and possibly new areas. This year it will take place at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley, WV, directly between Parkersburg and Charleston. This will be a weekend event and there is plenty of housing for everyone so Rainbows, DeMolay, and Advisors are all invited.
The Battle of Lewisburg will be a way for DeMolays from around WV to experience the Civil War in full battle. We'll go down on Friday and help setup tents and other various equipment and then be allowed almost full access to everything the re-enactment has to offer. This should be a very cheap trip as housing will be provided.
WV is known for its white water rafting, so it's about time that we experience it first hand. The rafting trip will also include camping. The general idea is to camp all weekend and raft most of the afternoon on Saturday.
Other Reminders:
The Foundation has $200 for any chapter that would like to put on an event, hopefully focusing on membership. If you feel your chapter qualifies get in touch with "Dad" Taylor at eo@wvdemolay.org and let him know!
The new website is live and being updated almost on a daily basis, let us know what you think http://www.wvdemolay.com
Alongside of the events listed above, the State Officers will be venturing out into areas in WV that once held a chapter, or a place we feel could hold a chapter. Areas include: Lewisburg, Huntington, Moorefield, Beckley, and possibly many others. If you have a contact in any city that currently doesn't support a DeMolay Chapter, let us know!
The Calendar on the website is being a little funky, but I hope to have it sorted out in the next week, so check back for all of these events to be on there.
As always, if there is anything that the State can do for you, or more specifically the state officers, please let me know and we'll find someway to provide you with assistance.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Mitch R Combs
59th SMC of WV DeMolay
PMC of Parkersburg Chapter
"Believe you can and you're half way there." Theodore Roosevelt
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February 2nd, 2010
Companion and Sir Knight Woodruff Franklin Buckles is a member of Elk Branch #93 in Shenandoah Junction, Bethesda Chapter #16 , Potomac Commandery #5 and Martinsburg Valley KCCH, AASR.
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — America’s last surviving World War I veteran marked his birthday Monday with family and close friends, noting that he has much to be thankful for as he blew out 109 candles.
Frank Woodruff Buckles, who lives on Gap View Farm near Charles Town, was born Feb. 1, 1901, in Harrison County, Mo.
He’s often said that he knew he would have a long life, but he never expected to become the very last “doughboy” — after all, there were 4,734,991 Americans who served from 1917 to 1918 during the Great War. Now there is one left.
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January 31st, 2010
By Sir Knight D. David Will, Jr.
The title stems from an old saying in the Craft, and I have come to realize that it is every bit as important today as it always has been. The Blue Lodge, or what we sometimes call “Old Craft Masonry,” is a splendidly beautiful expression of our Brotherhood in this holy order, but for many of us, we realize that it is not complete. There is much more to the journey through Masonry that we cannot find just through the three degrees alone. I personally discovered this when I was Knighted in January of 2010.
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January 19th, 2010
All four heads of the West Virginia Masonic Bodies were present and received at the KCCH Investiture in the Scottish Rite Temple in Charleston on November 20, 2009. Sixty-two brethren were invested with the Rank and Decoration of a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. This preceded the 100th celebration of the Valley Of Charleston in which 115 brethren elevated to the 32 Degree in a class honoring Edward Delano Layne, 33, who had been active in all Masonic Bodies.
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January 19th, 2010
6 of 8 men with 50+ years Chapter Service were recognized at a SPECIAL Convocation Saturday, January 15, at Tygarts Valley Chapter 39, Philippi. Approximately 24 Companions attended including MEGHP Donald E Peterson; ME PGHP Lonnie Carpenter; RE Jeffrey O Schrader, Grand Scribe; E Marvin O Hill, Grand Lecturer; and E Orval L Perry, Grand Master 2nd Veil, Comp Gary Runion also traveled with ME Carpenter.
One of the honorees was Comp Homer McDaniels with approximately 65 years service. The Companions enjoyed lunch in the dining hall following the Convocation.
The honored 50 year companions seated, left to right in the group photo, are: Robert "Buck" True, Ken Fenstermacher, Homer McDaniel,
George Everitt, Byron Boyles, Don Frey. Two additional honorees live in Ohio and Arizona and were unable to attend.
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January 19th, 2010
Our many thanks to our inspecting officer, Sir Knight Edward E. Ball, Eminent Grand Captain General, and his wife Sandy for their visit.
We at Mountain State #14 are happy to count them and the Grand Commander among our personal friends in the Commandery.
I want to thank the wives of Sir Knight Hubert E. Roberts, PC and Sir Knight Roland Knight, PC whose efforts to ensure none of us went hungry were a resounding success.
I would like to thank Debbie Lowe, sister of our Eminent Commander George N. Myers, PC for her advance support of the meal preparations.
For as long as I can remember, these ladies have been the cornerstone of the wonderful meal which has followed our inspections.
I would also like to thank Amy Witschey, wife of Sir Knight Daniel A. Witschey, PC for her efforts with the ladies program.
Most of all, I would like to thank our 10 newest Sir Knights in West Virginia:
They represent the future of the Commandery.
(named as shown in candidate photos from left to right)
Fred Fazalare
Billy D. Arnolds (Father)
John D. Anderson
Nathan Kelley Nelsen
Mark E. Eller
Glen Edward Clark II (Father)
Anthony E. Clark (Son)
Jesse Mack Kiger II
Francis Lee Arnolds (Son)
Robert Jay Yeager
Please excuse any photographic mistakes I made, as I am by no means a professional photographer,
and please remember the father of PC Witschey in your prayers as he undergoes brain surgery this week.
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