A Trip to Cedar Rapids

Today I drove across Iowa to Cedar Rapids to attend the St. Ignatius Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine. We have two Conclaves in Iowa and each Conclave is limited to 50 members each so it is quite an honor to be asked to be a member of these Conclaves. I belong to St. Bartholomew Conclave which meets the first Saturday in October and St. Ignatius meets on the First Saturday in November. I enjoy this meeting very much because I do not have to do anything except go and attend. Being the Recorder of St. Bartholomew (for 23 years) involves a lot of work to get ready for the meeting.

It was a beautiful late fall day and the traffic was not heavy.

Iowa farms dot the country side and the sky today was awesome.

Tim Anderson was the Puissant Sovereign. He always has a welcoming smile on his face.

Past Grand Masters Blinks and Stamy. Don Stamy served as Iowa's Intendant General for over 10 years. Now as a Past he gets to wear a Gold Ribbon on his Jewel.
Several Knights Companions being Knighted.
Glenn Holmes is the Intendent General for Iowa and the Recorder of St Ignatius Conclave.

The ladies are a part of this meeting and we always like having them with us. Red Cross is essentially a social organization and we had a relaxing time between the meeting and the Banquet.

Jeff Bauchman is the Sovereign of St. Bartholomew Conclave.

I took this picture of Cindy that Jimmie has on his cell phone. Biker Mama!
The "obligatory" picture of Jimmie and Cindy Arnold. Jimmie started through the line and it was my pleasure to Install the Officers today and to confer the College of Viceroys and the Senate of Sovereigns on the new Viceroy and Sovereign.

The new Sovereign Bill Duesenberry receiving his Presiding Sovereign's Jewel
from Glenn Marshall.

Don Stamy presenting the Viceroy's Jewel to new Viceroy Marion Reinhart

Gene Aldrich presented a Sovereign's Jewel to Tim Anderson.
Once a Sovereign always a Sovereign.

Tim Anderson having finished his term as Sovereign the smile on his face is much more relaxed.
Great job Knight Companion Tim.

Bill is the new Sovereign.

I missed the Scottish Rite Gala in Des Moines. There were supposed to be over 300 people there and I am sure they had a great time. But I really am glad to be a part of the Red Cross of Constantine. When I received the invitation to join the Order I was more honored than I was to be Grand High Priest. And that was a very high honor. I am very humble to be a part of it and it means a great deal to me.

This year I have helped start two new Masonic Organizations. Specialis Procer Lodge U. D. (Under Dispensation) and the Iowa College SOCIETAS ROSICRUCIANA IN CIVITATIBUS FOEDERATIS. I hope that both of them will thrive and continue to be a part of Iowa Masonry I find that since I am no longer working that my energy needs to go somewhere. In the Masonic Fraternity I can find a useful place to be with my Brethren and work to improve myself and our world.

I am not perfect and I know that there are some people who don't like me. Some do. That is the way of this human world. I just hope that everyone who does know me can see that I am trying. Sometimes when I am hurt I will not give a perfect response and I obsess about some other things. That is just the way I am. I have been accused of preaching on this F^&*ing Blog like I wrote the scriptures. I do not try to hold myself up as an example for others. I know what is inside my head and it isn't always my highest self.

I live alone and Bailey and Max and Cassie give me a lot of love but they don't always give me good feedback. When I can be a part of the Fraternity and build the friendships that I have built and am building it fills a void in my life. I let you in on my thoughts and my activities. I have one sister and one nephew and they both mean the world to me but they aren't around much so I "get" to be by myself a lot. I used to go down to a Lodge in Des Moines but found that some of the people down there really didn't want me around and I know when I am not wanted. So I withdrew. I have my other Lodges and Organizations. I miss the Brothers at the Des Moines Lodge and I do see them sometimes. I had hopes at one time that I could be someone's Chaplain down there but that dream went out the window. I doubt I would have been asked anyway.

But I am so very grateful for the Brothers at Arcadia and Specialis Procer and the York and Scottish Rite. The world is good and I hope I can continue to grow and enjoy it and make some small contribution to it in the years I have left. I kind of obsess about that also. Every year I grow older. I almost died 5 years ago. But I made it through and I am so very grateful for all of you and for the friends I have made on here. My I have gone on a bit. Enough for now. Thanks for stopping by. We get an extra hour of sleep tonight.

I am very excited about a meeting we are having tomorrow. I have been obsessing about it also I have my things ready. I hope it will be the start of something good. Always Remember That You Are Loved. Hugs, j-bear