Our 2018 Year
We had a Roast Turkey Dinner the evening of our December Convocation, thanks to the efforts of our Secretary, Companion Robert Lowry PHP. We retired to the Chapter room and proceeded with several points of business including our election of officers. Our thanks to Companion Robert Lowry for the dinner and Companions Mark Rose PHP and David Hammond for their efforts in setting up the Chapter room prior to our Convocation, as well as for their efforts in cleaning up after our meal.
We had a dinner and Special Convocation on October the 1st. Our dinner featured Puerto Rican cuisine from Sol Food. We held our meeting and attended to some business matters at hand for the upcoming annual Tri-way reception. I would like to thank all of the Companions who took the time to make this second night on behalf of the Chapter. Our thanks to Companion David Hammond for his efforts in setting up for the dinner and for the meeting.
We had a great time hosting the Annual Tri-Way Reception for the Grand High Priest, Grand Illustrious Master and the Grand Imminent Commander of the individual Grand York Bodies of California. Everyone enjoyed themselves. Our local Eastern Star, Star of the Redwoods did a great job in not only providing the food but serving it in a timely fashion and in a friendly manner. After our dinner, the Grand Officers made their presentations to the audience. We then retired for the evening. We thank everyone who attended and those who participated.
In June, we participated in the Comptche Outdoor Degrees Association conferrals of the Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master and Royal Arch Degrees. We welcomed Brother, now Companion, David Hammond, from Marin Lodge to our Chapter. Several Chapters from Northern California put on the degrees, as well as members of the Grand Chapter. It is an outstanding experience to have the degrees conferred amongst the majesty of the redwood trees and to have the support of many Companions doing the degree work. We wish to thank all of our officers who took the time and effort to study and set aside the time to perform the degrees.
The new Grand High Priest, Most Excellent Companion, Tony Yuson and his corps of officers were installed at the Grand Sessions on May 23rd, 2018. On behalf of our Chapter, we wish to offer our congratulations to him and to his officers for the new Capitular year. We now have a new District Inspector, Excellent Companion Jon Monahan PHP, who is the High Priest of Petaluma Chapter No. 22 in Petaluma. One of the District Inspectors first priorities is the return of District Schools of Instruction. These will take place on a quarterly basis throughout the year. Excellent Companion Mark Rose KYCH has been appointed District Inspector at large for part of the district of Northern California
We had a successful Convocation in June. We opened Chapter, we then called down for refreshment and retired to the Lodge library for our dinner, where we enjoyed good food and conversation. Afterward, Companion Michael Paynter showed us some new videos produced by the Grand Lodge. We returned to the Chapter room, addressed a few points of business and then closed Chapter and retired for the evening.
We had our visit to Sturgeons Lumber Mill in Occidental on April 29th. Those who attended found the visit to the Lumber Mill interesting. Afterwards, we enjoyed the food at Negris restaurant in Occidental.
The business of the March convocation was carried out at our Special Convocation on April 2nd, 2018. Our thanks to the Companions who attended the Convocation. We enjoyed Indian cuisine for our dinner and fellowship the entire course of the evening.
2017 Year
We had a successful convocation on December 4th, 2017. Our election of officers for the following year was held, the date for our installation of officers was chosen, as well as other sundry items of business. We would like to thank those Companions who were in attendance. We hope everyone had a pleasant and joyful holiday season.
On November 6th, 2017 we held a special convocation. We would like to thank the Companions who took the time and effort to make this additional meeting. We addressed several items and began the discussion of events for next year. We then retired to the recreation room for refreshments.
We had a good dinner on September 25th, 2017, thanks to the efforts of our Excellent Companion Richard Lyon PHP. Afterwards, we retired to the Chapter room and held our meeting. We accomplished several pressing points of business. We would like to thank all those who were in attendance.
On June 24th, 2017 officers from Marin Royal Arch conferred the Most Excellent Master degree upon Brother Tom Beniot and a number of Companions of Royal Arch Chapters from Sonoma, Mendicino and other counties up north. Thanks to the officers of the Grand Chapter, the Royal Arch Degree was conferred and these brethren are now Royal Arch Companions. We wish to offer Companion Tom and the other new Companions of other Chapters congratulations on their achievement.
In March, we held our regular convocation. Our guest speaker for the evening was the Grand Scribe Tony Yuson PHP.
2016 Wrap Up
We met four times in 2016 at our appointed date and hour. In June, we conferred the Most Excellent Master Degree at the Comptche Outdoor Degrees. Three local Chapters and members of the Grand Chapter conferred the four capitular degrees of the York Rite among the redwoods of the Tunzi Ranch in Comptche, California. We were proud to confer the Most Excellent Master Degree that day upon many Companions. We welcomed Companions Michael Painter and Warren Grabowski as our newest members.
2015 Year
The District Award's Night and Table Lodge took place at Petaluma-Hamiton Lodge on December 5th, 2015. Excellent Companion Robert Petersen Past High Priest was presented with the Meritorious Service Award.
Award Night Dinner and September Convocation
On September 21st, 2015, Marin Royal Arch sponsored a dinner followed by an Awards Ceremony honoring the members of Star of the Redwoods Chapter Order of Eastern Star and particularly Sister Mynetta Davis, Past Worthy Matron who was presented with the Keystone Award. Approximately 30 Brothers and Sisters were in attendance. The Awards Ceremony began at 7:05 PM with the Pledge of Allegiance by Richard Lyon PHP High Priest, Invocation by Companion Gary Towery PM. Frank O'Connell PHP, Captain of the Host escorted Marsha Price Worthy Matron to the East where she was given a small gift basket. The Worshipful Masters or their representatives Victor Hanson PM Mill Valley Lodge, Andrew Kraft Master Fairfax Lodge, Bob Lowry PM PHP Marin Lodge, and Richard Lyon PM PHP Marin Royal Arch each presented Worthy Matron Marsha Price Certificates of Appreciation on behalf of her Chapter. Excellent Companion Mark Rose KYCH, Royal Arch District Inspector gave a biographical sketch of masonic service of Sister Mynetta "Mimi" Davis and presented her with the Keystone Award from the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in California and read a congratulatory letter from Most Excellent Companion Jon Humphreys KYCH Past Grand High Priest. Closing remarks were given by Brother Michael Paynter PM, District Inspector. Attendees visited for some time afterward.
Our Convocation began at 7:40 p.m. We accomplished all of several important items of pending business and retired promptly at 8:45 PM.
Earlier in the year, we had the pleasure of conferring the Mark Master and Past Master degrees upon three brethren from local Lodges,
Brothers Alan Glas and Wor. Brother Michael Paynter PM of Fairfax Lodge
and Brother Anderson Silveira of Mill Valley Lodge.
In June 2015, the Comptche Outdoor Degree Association met to confer the four capitular degrees of the York Rite among the splendor of the redwoods at the Tunzi Ranch in Comptche, California.
We were proud to confer the Most Excellent Master Degree that day upon Brethren,
now Companions Michael Gusek, Alan Glas and Anderson Silveira.
For those of you who are interested in the higher degrees of the York Rite, Redwood Empire Cryptic Council and Santa Rosa Commandery (Knights Templar) meet in Petaluma at Petaluma-Hamilton Lodge on Western Avenue on the third Saturday of the month at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. respectively. Petaluma Royal Arch Chapter No. 22 meets on the first Monday of the month at the same location. They have a dinner before their meeting at 6:15 p.m. There is a Cryptic Council that meets on the peninsula. Cryptic Council No. 2 meets at San Mateo Lodge on Tilton Avenue in San Mateo. California Commandery No. 1 meets at the San Francisco Scottish Rite in San Francisco on 19th Avenue.
For reservations for our dinners or questions about our other activities, please contact our Chapter Secretary, Excellent Companion Robert Lowry PHP at (415)456-0410. If you are interested in joining our chapter, or if you have other questions about Royal Arch Masonry, please contact him.