Sir Knights:

Christmas 2003 has come and gone, and 2004 is with us. I trust that all of you had a very good Christmas and will have a very prosperous new year.

Did you make any resolutions for the year of 2004? If so, I hope that you included a resolution to bring in at least one new York Rite Mason this year. As I have said before, if we all bring in just one new York Rite Mason, we will double our membership. What a way to begin a new year, and what a way to end a Chivalric year. I urge you to do this.

Included on these pages are notices of at least two festivals occurring in February 2004. Please get candidates to these festivals, and let's make a great start for this year.

Your Grand Commander, along with all the grand officers who are able to attend, will be conferring the Order of the Temple in Waco on February 28, 2004. Anyone in the Waco area is welcome to bring courtesy candidates.

Also, there is a festival planned for the Corpus Christi area in the asylum of Corpus Christi Commandery No. 57 on February 21, 2004. If possible, attend and support your officers and ritualists in these efforts.

We have an opportunity to advance York Rite Masonry through the efforts of our Grand Master of Masons, Sir Knight Reese L. Harrison, as he travels the state and confers the Past Master Degree. This will give us a leg up on new members because they will have already taken one of our degrees. Honorable Sir Knight Harrison will confer the degree on sitting Masters of Lodges as well as the sitting Wardens of Blue Lodges. Please take not of the Grand Master's visits, and support these efforts.

Plans are almost complete for your Annual Conclave in Tyler on the weekend of April 17, 2004. Again, I extend an invitation to each of you to be the guests of Ascension Commandery No. 25, and your Grand Commandery officers for this annual celebration of competiton, business, and renewal of friendships.

Yours in the Faith,
Jim Smith, Grand Commander,
Knights Templar of Texas

YORK RITE FESTIVAL, FEBRUARY 21, 2004
"ALL THE WAY IN ONE DAY"

Help your friend complete a petition, and send it with check for the initiation fee to: Corpus Christi York Rite, P.O.Box 366, Corpus Christi, TX 78403-0366. It must be in our hands before February 19, 2004. Registration on February 21 will begin at 7:00 A.M. Degree work will begin at 7:30 A.M. Lunch will be served. All ceremonies should conclude at about 5:30 P.M. Candidates will become members of Corpus Christin Chapter No. 91, Royal Arch Masons; Corpus Christi Council No. 55, Royal and Select Masters; and Corpus Christi Commandery No. 57, Knights Templar. For further information, please contact: Sir Knight Obie Etheridge, (361) 855-9100; Tom Wimberly, (361) 992-1946, or Sir Knight John Young, Commander, (361) 358-7419.

YORK RITE FESTIVAL, FEBRUARY 28, 2004
WACO, TEXAS

All activities will be at the York Rite Library and Museum, 724 Washington Ave., Waco, TX 76701. Registration will begin at 7:00 A.M. with the degrees to begin at 8:00 A.M. Lunch will be provided. Courtesy candidates are welcomed. For further information you may call Sir Knight William E. Matyastik, (254) 756-1421, business, or at his home, (254) 752-5844.