Texas Grand Commander's Message
Page updated November 12, 2003

Grand Commander's Message - October 2003
Taken from the Texas Insert for the Knight Templar Magazine
Volume IL, Number 10, October 2003

"WOW" What a Triennial for Texas. First, we had six drill teams in competition. McKinney Commandery took first place in the "D" competition. Ruthven took first place in the "C" competition while Ascension took third. Melrose took first place in "B" competition while Dallas took third place. And, in the "A" competition, the composite team from Houston took second. All six of our teams placed in the top three of their class. Congratulations to each team. You are all "No. 1" in our eyes.

Then, to top off the Conclave, our own Past Grand Commander, Sir Knight Kenneth B. Fischer, was installed as Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of the United States on Wednesday, August 20, 2003. Our best wishes to you, Sir, for a very good triennium. We are all looking forward to Houston in 2006.

We are in the process of trying to line up transportation to Washington, DC, for Easter 2004. The Grand Recorder is getting pricing for both air and rail, with the possibility of a chartered trip. Ohio has bragged about having 100+ Sir Knights in the annual march up Shooter's Hill. I personally believe Texas can easily beat them. Please correspond with me or Loyd Chance if you would like to go with us. We need to show our support for our Grand Master.

There must be festivals occurring across the state that we don't know about. Get the dates to our editor, Sir Knight Doye Sudduth, so that they can be advertised for you. Any other newsworthy item that you would like to see in the Texas edition, send to Doye. He will see that it gets to Chicago for printing.

Our membership loss has decreased. Only 35 over the past two months. We have some momentum going now, so let's push harder to get us back to positive. I believe, thanks to you Sir Knights' hard work, we can recoup our losses before the end of this Grand Commandery year. Remember what our Lord said, "Ask and you will be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened unto you." Ask a Blue Lodge Mason to become a "complete" York Rite Mason. All he needs to do is to "complete" his work. None of us likes rejection, but you never know until you ask, whether it will be yes or no. You just might get a yes! Someone asked you to become a Sir Knight, or you would not be reading this article. Overcome your fear of rejection, and at the very least, replace yourself. The effect would be to double our present membership. "GO TEAM."

Yours in the faith,
James P. Smith
Grand Commander



AN EDITORIAL
Taken from the Texas Insert
Volume IL, Number 10, October 2003

Recently, we watched on TV and read in our newspapers as the Ten Commandments were removed from the Federal Building in Montgomery, ALabama. That was a sad day. The Ten Commandments were given to Moses for his presentation to the people of Israel. They applied not only to the Israelites, but to all people, as a guide by which to live their lives. A reference to a particular people or religion is not mentioned anywhere in the Ten Commandments. They are God's words. So, how will the Judges answer when they are asked by God why they had his words removed?

Doye Sudduth, Editor



SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL SIR KNIGHTS IN TEXAS:

  • The Texas Insert for the Knight Templar Magazine is written for all Sir Knights of Texas. If you have information about the activities of your Commanderies that would be of interest to the general membership, please contact the Magazine Editor, Doye Sudduth, (903) 509-2292, Fax: (903) 509-2299.
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